ã€ŠPaladin of the Dead Godã€‹


 Chapter 1:

    Chapter 1:

    [Achievement Unlocked: Midas¡¯ Touch]

    [Congrattions! You have sessfully seen all the endings of the avable faiths!]

    Isaac smiled at the pleasant notification sound.

    As he achieved the ending of the ¡®Golden Idol¡¯, Isaac saw the world around him, including the people, turning into treasures of gold and silver. It was the result of him manifesting in the world as an agent of the Golden Idol.

    Though unsure what would be of the world now, Isaac had seen the ending, and the aftermath was not his concern. This was the eighth time he had seen the ending of the notoriously difficult game, ¡®Nameless Chaos¡¯.

    The game, created by ¡®Unknown Software¡¯, was known for its insane difficulty and user-unfriendly gamey. However, it also had a fanatical user base due to its unparalleled freedom, open-world universe, and intricate details.

    Soon darkness fell, and eight characters appeared.

    Humans, orcs, elves, giants¡­ These were the characters Isaac had created and yed until now. Isaac muttered with a hint of regret, ¡°Hmm¡­ it seems I¡¯ve milked this game for all it¡¯s worth. Maybe there¡¯s nothing left to do?¡±

    In Nameless Chaos, yers choose from eight different faiths and races to aplish the objectives set by their gods. The interactions and storylines varied greatly with each choice, offering an immersive experience that was hard to tire of.

    But having seen all the faith endings meant he had nearly exhausted all the content. As he hesitated to quit the game, an unfamiliar message appeared before Isaac.

    [Tomemorate the world¡¯s first achievement, a new faith is now avable.]

    [Hidden Faith: You can now choose the Nameless Chaos.]

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    A ninth faith selection, which he had never seen before, appeared on the character creation screen. It featured a bizarre tentacle symbol with shing red eyes. Isaac was taken aback by the name ¡®Nameless Chaos¡¯.

    ¡°¡­A monster faith?¡±

    The major faiths in Nameless Chaos were known as ¡®The Nine Faiths¡¯. However, only eight were yable, the ninth faith was not an option.

    The ninth faith, ¡®Nameless Chaos¡¯, was a monstrous faith, worshipped by mindless tentacle monsters, maggot swarms, and writhing flesh. As a result, it was universally regarded as an enemy in the intertwined rtions of the gods.

    ¡®A real hidden faith?¡¯

    Isaac searched online for any information about the Nameless Chaos, but found no mention on any strategy sites, wikis, or forums. Though there were discussions about it being a mere easter egg, nothing substantial was found.

    Not surprising. Nameless Chaos was a world of despair, notorious for its impossible difficulty and permanent character deletion upon death. That Isaac cleared all faiths was an anomaly.

    ¡®Come to think of it, it said it¡¯s a first-time achievement¡­ no wonder there¡¯s no information.¡¯

    He immediately started creating a character.

    ¡°Let¡¯s see¡­ how can I create an interesting character?¡±

    Having gained a unique faith, Isaac decided to fully embrace its concept.

    Nameless Chaos was a game of diverse professions and races, but faith was the core element. To bring out the concept of a special faith, a priest ss would be ideal, but Isaac was tired of the priest endings.

    ¡®What about a pdin?¡¯

    The idea seemed fitting. If Nameless Chaos embodies its concept, it would be shunned by all other faiths. Unlike priests, whock survival skills, pdins, also called ¡®Holy Bugs¡¯, could survive tenaciously.

    ¡®Anyway, I can change professions anytime during the game. Let¡¯s aim for the pdin ending.¡¯

    Race: Human.

    As Isaac rolled the character creation dice, a beautiful figure with gray hair and ashen eyes appeared. Although the game allowed high flexibility in character appearance, Isaac didn¡¯t prefer the so-called ¡®veteran fashion¡¯ of bizarre looks.

    ¡®A character should have a certain charm, after all.¡¯

    Fortunately, most random character appearances were beautiful. But Isaac didn¡¯t stop there; he meticulously set the character¡¯s appearance. It might seem meaningless, but he believed that the more effort put into a character, the more attachment one feels.

    After finishing character creation, the attribute allocation window appeared. Isaac examined the stat window divided into strength, agility, vitality, intelligence, and faith. For a pdin, focusing on vitality and faith was ideal. However, Isaac, without much thought, filled up faith, excluding only the minimum stats necessary for initial equipment.

    ¡®If it¡¯s a special faith, I should enjoy its concept.¡¯

    Being a seasoned yer, Isaac wasn¡¯t worried about dying in the early stages. Once grown, the pdin¡¯s strong defense would ensure survival. A priest-like pdin was what Isaac envisioned.

    Then, thest choice appeared.

    [The Nameless Chaos watches over you.]

    [The Nameless Chaos wishes to grant you a power. Choose one of the following.]

    [The Intestines of a Dead God: Absorb a portion of the abilities and traits of your ¡®devoured¡¯ foes.]

    [The Sheep¡¯s Cries in the Night: Open a portal to another world to summon followers.]

    [Beneath the Skin: ¡®Devour¡¯ the insides of your opponent and use their skin as your outeryer.]

    ¡°¡­¡­¡±

    The choices were bizarre. However, Isaac was more surprised by the power of these abilities than their strangeness. Any other faith would have required significant achievements to unlock such high-level powers.

    ¡®To offer such powers right from the start?¡¯

    While other faiths also granted decent abilities at the start, these powers were outright cheat-level.

    However, Isaac also thought inversely.

    Nameless Chaos was not a game that gave without taking. If it offered a great gift, there was sure to be a catch.

    After some thought, Isaac chose the first power, ¡®The Intestines of a Dead God¡¯.

    Although the exact nature of ¡®devouring¡¯ was unclear, the ability to absorb the opponent¡¯s stats and traits was a potent advantage.

    Traits were more crucial than stats. Some traits couldn¡¯t be learned even if desired.

    Even a slim chance to acquire those traits was worth it.

    As Isaac made his final choice, his vision started to turn white.

    The real game was about to begin.

    And soon, his head felt dizzy.

    ***

    [The Nameless Chaos watches over you.]

    The first thing Isaac saw was a shimmering blue eye.

    It was a beautiful eye. The problem was that it wasn¡¯t just one or two eyes. There seemed to be over a thousand, surrounded by red flesh, writhing muscles, and pulsating veins.

    It was a bizarre vision Isaac had never seen in his previous eight ythroughs.

    He felt like fainting but couldn¡¯t close his eyes or look away.

    Eventually, Isaac had no choice but to engage in a staring contest with thousands of eyes. It wasn¡¯t an advantageous situation.

    Blink.

    Despite the odds, it was the thousand eyes that blinked first. However, Isaac didn¡¯t feel victorious. Although one wouldn¡¯t normally hear a sound when eyes blink, it¡¯s different with thousands.

    [The Nameless Chaos sees through such fakes]

    An iprehensible sound reached his ears, like a mechanical whisper right next to him.

    [And guides you to a world truly fitting for you.]

    Isaac felt the message, the designation, was oddly familiar. As he tried to remember what it was, another voice called out.

    ¡°¡­Get up and grab your sword, Isaac!¡±

    Crack.

    The mass of eyes and flesh that filled his view vanished in an instant, reced by the sight of a burning vige. Isaac quickly felt dizzy from the acrid smoke and the smell of blood.

    Bang! Rumble¡­

    The darkness of night strangely rippled. A massive stone tower copsed with a loud crash. Houses were burning. Silent, skeletal figures swarmed among the mes.

    ¡°Isaac!!¡±

    A scream-like shout echoed from somewhere. Isaac turned his head. A middle-aged man, struggling with three skeletal soldiers using a broken sword, was in view. Isaac then realized the man¡¯s cries were directed at him, that he was Isaac.

    Sitting down, Isaac realized he was holding a sword and tried to stand to hand it to the man. But before he could fully rise, the rusted des of the skeletal soldiers pierced the man.

    ¡°Gugh, hah¡­¡±

    Isaac couldn¡¯t stand either. His head spun. Touching his forehead, he felt his hand wet with blood.

    In a dizzying state, Isaac recalled the memory of building debris rushing towards him. He thought he was going to die, but somehow he was alive.

    ¡®What¡¯s this?¡¯

    Building debris? That wasn¡¯t his memory.

    Wasn¡¯t he ying a game? Isaac tried to recall, feeling disoriented.

    But those memories weren¡¯t of ¡®Isaac¡¯ but of someone else.

    Memories of ¡®Isaac¡¯, not the yer, but the character.

    Isaac¡¯s head began to spin with the onught of a 14-year-old¡¯s memories. The excruciating pain, burning smell, slimy touch of blood, and above all, memories that shouldn¡¯t belong to him.

    Isaac finally saw his reflection in a broken window.

    Gray hair, lifeless ashen eyes, a frail figure looking no older than a young teenager. It was precisely how the character Isaac would have looked as a child before entering the game.

    Then, a strange window appeared before him.

    [Isaac (EX+) / Shock, Exhaustion]

    [Race: Human/Nephilim]

    [Job: Child (F)]

    [Abilities: The Intestines of a Dead God, Touch of Chaos]

    ¡®What?¡¯

    Even in his dizzy state, Isaac sensed what it meant. Isaac was the name he had given his character. But Nephilim? Isaac had never chosen the Nephilim race.

    In the game, Nephilim meant a hybrid of angels and humans.

    Blessed with beautiful appearances and innately high faith abilities but cursed with frail bodies due to the ¡®Cursed Blood¡¯ trait.

    ¡®I¡¯ve heard it¡¯s a race awarded at an extremely low chance during character creation, but why now?¡¯

    Isaac thought back to his character creation process. He haphazardly increased faith, meticulously sculpted the appearance, and chose the faith with the worst rtions with the gods. All these variables might have led to being awarded the Nephilim race.

    Realizing this, Isaac understood.

    He had truly entered the world of ¡®Nameless Chaos¡¯, and now he had to live as the character he created, ¡®Isaac¡¯.

    Ssssshhhh©¤!

    A sharp sound of air escaping came from somewhere. The skeletal soldiers that killed the middle-aged monk were approaching Isaac.

    ¡°Ugh¡­!¡±

    Isaac started to run away hastily. He thought about resisting with the sword, but fighting was impossible in his weakened state.

    However, he soon started to run out of breath.

    It was the worst physical condition characteristic of Nephilims.

    Although supposedly charismatic, Isaac doubted that charm would work on the undead.

    Suppressing his urge to vomit, Isaac moved as stealthily as possible, avoiding the skeletal soldiers¡¯ gaze.

    Walking, he recalled the promotional catchphrase of Nameless Chaos.

    [This is a world dominated by giants and gods.]

    [You will die here, worthless and meaningless.]

 Chapter 2:

    Chapter 2:

    The man with ck hair gazed expressionlessly at the burning vige. The white holy armor engraved with the ¡°Codex of Light¡± indicated he was a high-ranking Pdin, but his expression remained unchanged even as the vige burned and civilians were massacred around him.

    Instead, he spoke coldly.

    ¡°There¡¯s an escape route to the east. Women and children are probably fleeing there; send the soldiers that way.¡±

    At this, the Death Knight ying the violin beside him paused, changing his tone. As the sound of the violin pierced through the noise of the fire, some of the skeletal soldiers started moving eastward.

    The Death Knight, while ying, said,

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you mention this earlier?¡±

    ¡°There are over ten escape routes in this vige that I know of. To be sure, we need to move without them knowing. We have to observe the situation as well.¡±

    The Death Knight seemed skeptical of the man, but Kalsen Miller, themander of the Millishar Pdin Order guarding the frontline of the White Empire, did not even nce at the Death Knight.

    Kalsen Miller.

    Among the Pdins of the White Empire, he was so powerful that he was known as the ¡®Saint of Swords.¡¯ It was expected that he would ascend to the ranks of angels after death, and there were even rumors that he might reach the ¡®Hierarchy of the Named Angels¡¯ bestowed by the gods.

    But he chose to betray.

    When he revealed his true colors, not only his fellow knights but even the Immortal Order that had agreed to ept him were in disbelief.

    Then, Kalsen proved his faith by sacrificing all his knights. Not satisfied with that, he received a ¡®special¡¯ mission from the ck Empire and came here.

    ¡°All the vessels that could be seeds of cmity are now gone,¡± murmured the Death Knight.

    The vige they attacked was one of the secretly hidden ces within the White Empire. Just revealing its existence would have been considered an act of betrayal, yet it was exposed by Kalsen.

    However, neither Kalsen nor the higher-ups of the order knew why this ce was so secretly guarded. Whether to protect or destroy, it was just carried out under the mysterious orders of the gods.

    ¡°The east side is done. How about we take a look around personally?¡± asked the Death Knight, provocatively to Kalsen.

    Thanks to Kalsen, the vige¡¯s towers and defense walls were all neutralized. But during the betrayal, Kalsen had never directly swung his sword at anyone.

    He had tricked his knights into being captured or had the skeleton soldiers kill them, and in attacking the vige, he had only brought down walls and towers.

    The Death Knight¡¯s words were a question of whether it was time for Kalsen to start getting his hands dirty.

    Kalsen, expressionless, stared at the burning vige and then moved his horse. The trained warhorse walked into the ruins, unfazed by the mes.

    ***

    ¡°Huff, hah!¡±

    Isaac was running desperately. Skeleton soldiers were everywhere. They seemed to increase as time passed.

    ¡®This is crazier than any difficult game¡­¡¯

    Despite the chaos, that¡¯s what Isaac thought. His survival was a result of coincidence and luck. Even if he hadn¡¯t been a fragile Nephilim, the situation would have been hard to escape.

    Moreover, unlike the game where you don¡¯t get tired or dizzy until your HP runs out, in this world, which wasn¡¯t a game, even walking became difficult for Isaac.

    Then, Isaac noticed something odd about the skeleton soldiers¡¯ movements. Instead of attacking him, they were herding him into a corner.

    Soon, Isaac found himself trapped at a broken wall corner.

    And among the skeleton soldiers, someone appeared.

    Isaac felt his breath stop at the sight.

    Kalsen Miller.

    One of the 8 great warriors of the continent, the spearhead of the White Empire, and known as the ¡®Saint of Swords¡¯ and ¡®Skull Crusher.¡¯

    Today, he would be known as the worst betrayer in thest 100 years, themander of the Millishar Pdin Order, Kalsen Miller, standing right before Isaac. In the Nameless Chaos universe, depending on the faction, he was a final boss-level existence.

    ¡®Skeleton soldiers are tough enough, but him?¡¯

    Isaac felt despair.

    But then he realized what moment this was.

    It was the very moment of ¡®Betrayer Kalsen Miller¡¯ falling into corruption in Nameless Chaos.

    Despite the Death Knight with the blue-eyed, giant armored figure and violin by his side, Kalsen¡¯s presence was overwhelming. Isaac felt as if the world was converging on him at the sight of Kalsen.

    ¡®I can¡¯t escape.¡¯

    The atmosphere described in the game was exact. Characters in the game felt their mental strength wane and felt queasy just by confronting Kalsen. He was that strong

    an entity, capturing Isaac with his presence.

    Then, from the Death Knight¡¯s side, a clear voice was heard. It wasn¡¯t from the mouth but the air vibrating.

    ¡°What¡¯s the harm in a child? Taking him and turning him into another betrayer seems fine. He¡¯s young enough to be taught our ways.¡±

    But Kalsen simply drew his sword, looking at Isaac.

    ¡°Wait, Kalsen. Didn¡¯t you hear me? He¡¯s just a kid. No need to kill.¡±

    ¡°I came here to kill that one.¡±

    Kalsen muttered as if sensing something instinctively. This might be the most important moment in his n. ughtering believers and betrayingrades was nothing. Killing this child in front of him was more important.

    Kalsen intended to fulfill this mission faithfully.

    He strode past the Death Knight towards Isaac.

    Isaac could see Kalsen¡¯s eyes as he approached. There was no emotion or doubt in them.

    And in Kalsen¡¯s motion as he swung his sword, there was not a hint of hesitation.

    Isaac reflexively pulled back, but the de cut across his chest.

    Blood spurted from the wound.

    ¡®I¡¯m dying.¡¯

    Isaac felt an empty loneliness.

    In this world, he was utterly alone.

    There were no family, friends, or acquaintances to remember him. There wasn¡¯t even a religion to exin the afterlife. He had never followed a religion as ¡®Isaac,¡¯ and even in this world where gods existed, he did not believe in them.

    But as his final moments approached, Isaac realized what loneliness was.

    If only there was someone to stay by his side¡­

    [The Nameless Chaos watches over you.]

    Then his chest exploded.

    With the blood, a mass of giant tentacles burst out as if a balloon had been cut. The mass of tentacles engulfed everything, starting with Kalsen in front of them.

    Kalsen reflexively lifted his sword, but by then, his body was being chewed and torn into pieces. Even as his skull was crushed between massive jaws, he couldn¡¯tprehend what was happening.

    ¡°Huh©¤.¡±

    The Death Knight realized something was wrong and let out a dumbfounded sound, but it was toote.

    The mass of tentacles didn¡¯t stop with Kalsen but swept through the surrounding skeleton soldiers. The soldiers crumbled and dispersed like grains of sand in a wave. As the Death Knight turned his horse, a red tentacle swept over him.

    The skeletal horse ran fiercely, carrying only the upper half of the Death Knight. The lower half ttered to the ground from the horse.

    After sweeping through everything, the tentacles chewed and swallowed what they had engulfed.

    Crunch, crunch, crunch. Regardless of metal, bone, or flesh, everything was crushed with a thunderous sound. The tentacles then seemed to finish their meal, smacking their lips before slowly retracting into Isaac¡¯s chest.

    Silence suddenly engulfed the area.

    The only person left alive to witness all this was Isaac.

    Isaac looked at his chest with a dumbfounded expression. As if to prove what happened wasn¡¯t a lie, only a scar remained where Kalsen had cut him. And mocking him, a message appeared before his eyes.

    [The Nameless Chaos watches over you.]

    [You have consumed ¡®Kalsen Miller (EX)¡¯.]

    [Consumption efficiency improved with the ¡®Intestines of a Dead God¡¯ perk.]

    [Physical abilities greatly increased.]

    [Spiritual abilities greatly increased.]

    [You have acquired ¡®Lighthouse of the Watcher (EX)¡¯.]

    [Error. Digestion dyed due to the consumed being¡¯s level being excessively higher than the character¡¯s.]

    [¡®Agent of Chaos¡¯ reuse cooldown 30 days.]

    Isaac felt nauseous. He wished all this was just a dream or hallucination.

    ¡°Guh.¡±

    Oddly, he belched despite not eating anything.

    Then, overwhelming sleepiness assaulted him. Isaac couldn¡¯t resist his drooping eyelids and copsed.

    ***

    Click.

    As dawn approached, a man arrived at the ruins of the vige. He hastily dismounted his horse, his face pale as he surveyed the area, only to find nothing but cold dew settling over the charred remains.

    ¡®Damn it.¡¯

    The first to arrive, Gebel, muttered curses as he hurried into the vige.

    Despite such a massive attack, no guards or pdin orders had yet arrived. Only Gebel, residing in a nearby monastery, had seen the smoke and ridden through the night.

    By now, guards from the territory and nearby pdin orders would be converging, but they would only find corpses and ruins. Gebel knew all too well why the support was so dyed.

    ¡®Ipetent priests of the order!¡¯

    It was due to Kalsen Miller¡¯s betrayal.

    The order had noticed signs of Kalsen¡¯s betrayal. However, the fact that Kalsen, a saint and hero, hadmitted betrayal would undoubtedly cause great shock and disturbance among the believers. While they hesitated, trying to deal with the matter quietly, Kalsen brazenly invaded a vige deep within the White Empire.

    By the time the order realized the situation, it was toote. They informed monasteries, churches, and pdin orders across the region, but all responses were dyed.

    Where Gebel walked, there was nothing but ruins. No bodies were to be seen.

    ¡®Of course. Where the Immortal Order invades, no bodies, living or dead, are left behind¡­¡¯

    They would turn both into undead.

    However, perhaps there might still be survivors. Gebel hurriedly moved to search. Fortunate or unfortunate, he soon found something.

    Scattered remains and bodiesy among the smell of blood.

    ¡®Bodies left behind?¡¯

    Gebel felt bewildered. The Immortal Order typically swept away every piece of bone meticulously. Bones were their resources, their life.

    The only time they left bodies behind was when they had to retreat hastily.

    Gebel could see everywhere weapons, bodies, and remains of the Immortal Order¡¯s skeletal soldiers.

    ¡°What is this¡­¡±

    The walls and the ground looked as though they had been scraped with a giant scythe. Even the remains of the skeletal soldiers appeared as if they had been torn apart by teeth, scattered haphazardly. It was unclear what could have caused such destruction.

    ¡®Kalsen? Or did an angel appear?¡¯

    Perhaps an angel had manifested to protect the holy site. Gebel began to search the area hastily, harboring a glimmer of hope.

    But all he found were dust-covered rocks and cold, stiff bodies.

    Gebel thought perhaps an angel had appeared not to protect, but to mete out punishment.

    If so, only corpses would be present here.

    Thud.

    At that moment, a pile of stones that Gebel¡¯s hand had touched crumbled.

    Gebel found a child buried under the rubble.

    The child¡¯splexion was pale. Gebel froze for a moment looking at the child¡¯s face, then took a deep breath and approached to check on the child.

    Thankfully, the child was still breathing. There were injuries on the forehead and chest, but they seemed to be old scars, already healing.

    Gebel instinctively felt that this child¡¯s survival was not mere coincidence. And he was sure it was rted to the sudden retreat of the Immortal Order.

    But at the same time, Gebel thought he must hide the child¡¯s existence for the same reason.

    ¡®If the Immortal Order¡¯s retreat was because of this child, then the order will raise this child as another Kalsen.¡¯

    Gebel removed his cloak and covered the child¡¯s face as if to hide him.

    Holding the child, he looked around the mist-filled ruins nkly. He pondered how to safely hide the child, then suddenly thought of the monastery where he was taking refuge.

    The monastery was already raising many orphans.

    It would be a suitable ce to hide this child.

 Chapter 3:

    Chapter 3:

    Chapter 3. Predation (1)

    Isaac gazed out of the window.

    It was early dawn, just as the blue daylight started to seep in. The chirping of birds from the forest surrounding the monastery was audible. It was too early for a child to be awake, but for Isaac, it was a time to gather his thoughts.

    It was the one-month anniversary of his transformation to Isaac.

    Having survived the assault of the Immortal Order, he found himself in this monastery when he regained consciousness. The abbot only mentioned that he was rescued, with no further details provided.

    To Isaac, who had expected to be bombarded with endless interrogations and questions, this was both unexpected and a relief.

    After all, asking too many questions would onlyplicate things. The incident was not his top priority.

    Isaac had spent the past month in a somewhat dazed state. It felt like a dream, a reality too hard to ept. Hoping everything was just a dream, he spent the month attempting to log out or wake up.

    However, as his consciousness gradually became clearer, he was able to set his goals.

    Today, he decided to give up all his expectations.

    Isaac was now Isaac. He was a resident of this world.

    As long as he lived in this world, until he found a way back, he needed to blend in as a local resident.

    Isaac clenched and unclenched his hand, testing his strength. His physical strength was so weak that he struggled to lift even a slightly heavy branch.

    The feeble strength of a Nephilim, weakened further due to his young age.

    Isaacpared himself to a child of five or six years old.

    ¡°Damn it, if I knew I¡¯d end up living in a game, I wouldn¡¯t have set my stats like this.¡±

    Being a Nephilim wasn¡¯t bad. In fact, it was a quite fortunate race. They possessed the worst physical abilities butpensated with high faith and charm.

    Charm, luck, intelligence ¨C these were ¡®hidden stats,¡¯ not explicitly shown.

    Among them, Nephilims, although disliked by gods, had a significantly high ¡®charm¡¯ stat, which garnered human favor. Isaac¡¯s current appearance in this world was stunning enough to turn heads.

    ¡°It¡¯s like throwing a Korean online game beauty into reality¡­ It¡¯s ridiculous even to me who set it up.¡±

    However, it wasn¡¯t bad to earn human favor, as long as Isaac kept his bloodline a secret. To outsiders, he appeared just as a handsome young man.

    The problem, however, was his frail body.

    He was susceptible to diseases and could hardly wear proper equipment. In this medieval fantasy reality, Isaac could hardly fathom how vulnerable he was.

    ¡°I remember absorbing Kalsen and gaining physical strength¡­¡±

    Could it be that his strength improved only to this level? It seemed possible, but he also recalled a message about Kalsen¡¯s level being too high and causing a ¡®dy in digestion.¡¯ It was hard to believe that the digestion hadn¡¯tpleted even after a month.

    And the skill he acquired at that time was still locked.

    [Lighthouse of the Watcher (Unopened)]

    ¡°Lighthouse of the Watcher¡­ I¡¯ve obtained something nonsensical from the start.¡±

    Isaac had cleared the Nameless Chaos eight times. He had even yed using the faith of the ¡®Codex of Light,¡¯ the game¡¯srgest religion.

    Simply put, it was an ultimate skill that could transform an area into ¡®heaven.¡¯ However, as indicated by the term ¡®lighthouse,¡¯ it could attract unwanted dangerous creatures of heaven.

    It was a top-tier ultimate skill for a ¡®Codex of Light¡¯ pdin, given only upon recognition by archangels.

    ¡°And I, of another faith, have this skill? Why?¡±

    Perhaps the reason it remained unopened was because Isaac followed a different faith. Moreover, he couldn¡¯t predict the consequences of using it in this world. In the Nameless Chaos, using a mismatched skill could lead to health depletion and disasters.

    ¡°If Kalsen had used this skill before dying, I might have been the one to die.¡±

    Isaac shivered.

    He hadn¡¯t forgotten the moment he barely survived.

    Subconsciously, he touched his chest where the scar from Kalsen¡¯s de still remained. He remembered the scene where countless tendrils overflowed from that wound and swept away Kalsen Miller and the undead of the Immortal Order.

    It was as horrifying as it was nauseating.

    ¡°The power of the Nameless Chaos¡­ probably.¡±

    Isaac had chosen the ¡®Nameless Chaos¡¯ as his faith when creating his character. And the tendrils were a symbol of the Nameless Chaos. However, the Nameless Chaos was a faith opposed by all other religions.

    ¡°The Nameless Chaos once caused a gue called ¡®White Death¡¯ that killed all who knew its name, disappearing from the world¡­¡±

    The White Death turned bodies pale as ash before disintegrating.

    In the southern desert regions, cities destroyed by this gue stilly covered in the white ash of corpses. It was one of the most difficult dungeons in the Nameless Chaos.

    Thus, the once-named god of chaos became ¡®Nameless¡¯ after losing all who knew it.

    That was all Isaac knew.

    Since then, the civilized world was divided between the Light-ruled White Empire and the Immortal-led ck Empire. Many kingdoms fell due to the immense loss of life, and all cults erased or sealed records of the Nameless Chaos.

    Especially in the ¡®Codex of Light¡¯ monastery where Isaac currently resided.

    Isaac didn¡¯t know why he, a follower of the Nameless Chaos, was in this sacred ce, but he knew one thing for sure.

    If his identity was revealed, he was as good as dead.

    ¡°Luckily, there were no witnesses.¡±

    It was a pity for those who died at the sanctuary, but for Isaac¡¯s own survival, it was a relief. And the potential witnesses might be the undead of the Immortal Order. The priests of the Codex of Light wouldn¡¯t take their words seriously.

    Isaac had no choice.

    He casually chose the faith of the Nameless Chaos, but to him, a modern person, the closest in values was the Codex of Light. He needed to find a way to survive among them.

    He didn¡¯t want to be a monkey in the mountains or a walking skeleton. Above all, he never wanted to be a slime-like monsterposed of tentacles.

    Fortunately, Isaac had enough knowledge to survive in this world.

    ¡°It¡¯s obvious with the experience of clearing eight faiths.¡±

    If he could ovee the challenging early stages unique to Nephilims, he could manage the rest somehow.

    Survival.

    That was Isaac¡¯s top priority.

    ***

    As the time for morning prayers approached, the sound of a bell rang from outside. A young monk entered, waking the children and leading them to the chapel. Isaac obediently followed, pretending to pray.

    But internally, he was fervently contemting ways to survive. He didn¡¯t have much time to think like this.

    In the monastery, Isaac¡¯s daily life was limited to prayer,bor, meals, and sleep.

    Just because he was a survivor didn¡¯t mean he received any special care or attention at the monastery. Resources were scarce, and there was ack of staff to provide such care.

    ¡°At least being in a monastery of the ¡®Codex of Light¡¯ order is a blessing.¡±

    The ¡®Codex of Light¡¯ was the most powerful among the nine faiths. Moreover, by Isaac¡¯s standards, it was an order that maintained a universal social order.

    No matter which faith one chose, eventually, they would have to interact with the ¡®Codex of Light¡¯ in some way. Isaac had a good understanding of the structure, physiology, and hidden secrets of the ¡®Codex of Light¡¯ order.

    Even though this monastery seemed like a peripheral institution rather than the main order, finding useful information wasn¡¯t difficult. If the world¡¯s lore from the game still held, hiding his true identity in this monastery wouldn¡¯t be too hard.

    ¡°More than anything, this world hasn¡¯t really begun yet.¡±

    Isaac was able to ept his situation so calmly because he had memories of living as ¡®Isaac¡¯ for 14 years.

    To him, the phrase ¡°the world hasn¡¯t begun yet¡± felt odd. But it was true. The current ¡®present¡¯ in this world was approximately four years before the starting point of the Nameless Chaos game.

    ¡°In about four years from now, the war between the nine faiths will start.¡±

    More precisely, it¡¯s apetition involving alliances and conflicts, mainly between the ¡®Codex of Light¡¯ and the ¡®Immortal Cult¡¯. yers have to lead their faith to victory or defect to another faith for their triumph.

    ¡°Apostasy¡­¡±

    Considering that the ¡®Nameless Chaos¡¯ is treated as public enemy or demon, apostasy didn¡¯t seem like a bad option. However, Isaac¡¯s race, the ¡®Nephilim,¡¯ inherently possesses the trait of ¡®cursed blood.¡¯

    Nephilims with the ¡®cursed blood¡¯ trait are disliked by all gods. It might seem excessive for mere hybrids of angels and humans, but ording to the lore, Nephilims can steal miracles from any faith lineage they¡¯re connected to without the gods¡¯ permission.

    While it¡¯s possible for Nephilims to have faith, there are surely some who take advantage of this.

    They could even steal miracles while worshipping another god.

    No wonder no faith was weing towards Nephilims.

    Moreover, the penalty for apostasy was also an issue. Gods do not like their followers shifting allegiances freely. The resulting curse could be severe enough to make one consider deleting and restarting their character.

    However, whether Isaac had the option to restart was doubtful.

    Therefore, as he initially resolved, he had no choice but to cherish, love, and hide his faith in the ¡®Nameless Chaos¡¯. Fortunately, considering the event a month ago, the ¡®Nameless Chaos¡¯ didn¡¯t seem like a weak deity.

    But if discovered, he¡¯d likely be hunted.

    ¡°There are four years left.¡±

    It was both a long and short period.

    Isaac had nearlyplete knowledge of all the secrets and treasures¡¯ locations, and the history of the game world. Whether those treasures would still be in the same ces, he didn¡¯t know, but it would be safer and beneficial for his growth to recover them as soon as possible.

    However, the problem was that Isaac¡¯s current physical state was terribly frail.

    Isaac looked down at his thin arms and legs. It wasn¡¯t that he was being mistreated; the monastery was poor, and the monks themselves lived in modesty.

    ¡°I need to do something about this body first.¡±

    At the very least, he needed to build enough stamina to not faint while walking on the road.

    ***

    Nameless Chaos was a game that less than 1% of all gamers could clear. Some people find the gamey enjoyable even without clearing it, but Isaac had cleared this difficult game eight times, each with a different faith.

    For the ¡®Codex of Light¡¯ monastery, having such a hero among them was a cause for celebration.

    But the hero, who might reim the holynd and confront evil monsters in the future, was feeling frustrated in front of the dining table.

    ¡°Is this really a meal?¡±

    Isaac stared at the bowl of pale porridge, biting his lip. The nd daily menu consisted of thin porridge, unpeeled boiled potatoes, and half a slice of ck bread.

    It was a simple and nd monastic breakfast.

    The other children immediately bit into the potatoes as soon as they sat down. However, Isaac was left in agony.

    ¡°Isaac, don¡¯t you have an appetite?¡±

    A monk asked kindly. Isaac had much to say but couldn¡¯t speak out. It wasn¡¯t a problem the monk could solve.

    It wasn¡¯t the poor diet orck of appetite that shocked Isaac.

    ¡°It¡¯s all carbs¡­¡±

    He knew it wasn¡¯t the time to be picky.

    Even this meal was rtively generous forte autumn, and there were times when they had to be grateful for just a bowl of

    wheat porridge.

    In the game, one could survive without eating, but in reality, eating such food would only leave him as gaunt as the other monks. And indeed, the other monks were also eating the same food.

    A child¡­ and hungry?

    A child¡­ andcking in protein and calcium?

    A child¡­ and missing essential nutrients for growth, leading to dyed development?

    ¡°I never thought I¡¯d feel the gap between the game and reality in such trivial matters¡­¡±

    Even so, Isaac¡¯s current body felt as thin as a millet stalk.

    A growing child. But with such a poor and unbnced diet, he was likely to remain weak and frail.

    ***

    After his daily chores, Isaac returned to his bedroom.

    Naturally, there was no such thing as personal space for the children. All the orphans in the monastery slept together in arge room. A straw bed and a thin nket on the floor were the only personal spaces.

    Even after returning to the bedroom, Isaacy awake, staring at the ceiling.

    He couldn¡¯t sleep. Not because of difort, nor due to realizing his past self¡¯s identity.

    ¡°Do I really have to live like this?¡±

    The monastery¡¯s conditions were harsh for Isaac, who was once a modern person. If there was hope for improvement, he could endure and strive. But for an orphan without rtives, in such poverty, and without time for self-development?

    ¡°Should I run away from the monastery now?¡±

    That was an option. But Isaac was still just a young 14-year-old boy. No matter his adult knowledge and skills, this wasn¡¯t a game but reality, and to him, apletely unfamiliar medieval era. He was lucky not to perish on the streets.

    Isaac felt like praying. In fact, he had already prayed at least eight times that day.

    Of course, he wasn¡¯t reciting proper prayers but simply sped his hands and closed his eyes while the monk prayed. Still, Isaac earnestly wished towards the ¡®Codex of Light¡¯, forgetting about the ¡®Nameless Chaos¡¯.

    ¡°I hope there¡¯s meat for dinner.¡±

    A piece of cheese had surprisingly appeared for dinner. It was an unexpected sess, but whether it was an answer to his prayers, he couldn¡¯t tell. It was still insufficient for a growing child.

    Even that was shared with Murzik, the monastery¡¯s cat, who mewed cutely and rubbed against him, so Isaac split the cheese.

    Isaac found the situation absurdly unjust. ustomed to tastier food, he now craved the variety of dishes he used to enjoy in his previous life.

    Even if not to that extent, the fact that this frail 14-year-old boy had to go to bed hungry was horrifying.

    ¡°How do I get enough protein? Should I nt beans?¡±

    While Isaac was lost in thought, the door creaked open. Thinking a monk hade to check on the children, Isaac quickly turned andy down. But the silhouette that entered was small.

    ¡°Murzik.¡±

    The monastery¡¯szy ¡®champtiger¡¯¡­ no, cat. It was Murzik.

    Murzik was a cat living in the monastery. Rather than being cared for, it was mostly neglected but left to roam free as a mouser.

    ¡°Meow.¡±

    ¡°Did you finish your work?¡±

    Whether scolded for shirking its mousing duties, Murzik carried a dead mouse in its mouth. Isaac briefly thought it might be a repayment for the evening¡¯s cheese, but it wasn¡¯t a particrly wee gift.

    However, Murzik, as if expecting praise, approached the bed andid the mouse down. Isaac casually stroked Murzik¡¯s head and picked up the mouse by its tail to dispose of it.

    It was still warm, recently killed. Suddenly, an odd thought struck Isaac.

    ¡°It¡¯s meat, technically.¡±

    Of course, Isaac, with his modern mindset, had no intention of eating a mouse.

    [The Nameless Chaos is watching you.]

    ¡°What?¡±

    Startled by the unexpected sound, Isaac suddenly felt a sharp pain in his palm.

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    Thinking the mouse had bitten him, Isaac panicked and threw it away. But with a snap, red tendrils burst out from somewhere and snatched the mouse.

    No, not from somewhere. From Isaac¡¯s palm.

    ¡°?!¡±

    Thin tendrils emerging from Isaac¡¯s flesh quickly engulfed the mouse¡¯s corpse.

    The plump field mouse, fattened on fallen grains, wasrger than Isaac¡¯s palm. Yet, it was sucked into the palm in an instant.

    Crunch, crunch.

    After devouring the mouse, the tendrils quickly retracted back into the palm. The sounds of flesh and bones breaking vanished, and the bedroom fell silent again. Only Isaac and Murzik remained frozen, trying toprehend what just happened.

    Then another message reached Isaac.

    [You have consumed a ¡®field mouse¡¯.]

    [Consumption efficiency has increased due to the ¡®Predation¡¯ perk.]

    [Resistance to low-grade diseases has increased.]

    [Blessing will remain until digestion isplete.]

 Chapter 4:

    Chapter 4:

    Chapter 4. Predation (2)

    ¡°Predation?¡±

    It was a term Isaac was familiar with.

    He remembered the description he saw when creating his character.

    [Innards of the Dead God: Absorbs a portion of the stats and traits of the ¡®consumed¡¯ opponent.]

    Was this the effect of predation? Now that he thought about it, a simr message had appeared when the tentacles devoured Kalsen.

    ¡°Does that mean my body has absorbed some of Kalsen¡¯s abilities and traits?¡±

    But Isaac didn¡¯t have time to ponder this deeply.

    ¡°Murzik, what just¡­¡±

    Isaac, in his panic, almost asked the cat for its opinion. But Murzik, feeling aggrieved, hissed and scampered away without looking back.

    ¡°So much for a cat!¡±

    ¡°Isaac?¡±

    Isaac¡¯s heart sank. Johan, who had been snoring beside him, was now looking at him. Isaac feared Johan had seen everything.

    ¡°Isaac¡­? What were you eating?¡±

    ¡°Ah, no. Murzik came in and must have been eating a mouse.¡±

    Not aplete lie. Luckily, Johan seemed to have woken up due to the noise in his sleep. He nodded off again soon after.

    Isaac couldn¡¯t make sense of what had just happened.

    ¡°Tentacles from my hand? Eating a mouse? What¡¯s increasing?¡±

    He recalled the event from a month ago. He vividly remembered tentacles bursting out of his chest after being cut by the sword, sweeping through everything. If the same thing had happened now, all the children in the room would have been dead. Fortunately, that didn¡¯t happen.

    ¡°What on earth is inside me?¡±

    Isaac examined his palm. Unlike the scar on his chest, there was no sign of where the tentacles had emerged. It was like a dream.

    But as if to wake him from that dream, a message window appeared.

    [Touch of Chaos]

    [A basic ability usable by the followers of the Nameless Chaos. Calls forth formless tentacles to tear apart enemies. Strengthens in proportion to health and faith.]

    ¡°¡­¡­¡±

    Each faith had its basic skills. The ¡®Codex of Light¡¯ could create light and fire, while the ¡®Golden Idol¡¯ followers could offer money for advice. Simrly, tentacles were the most basic skill of the Nameless Chaos faith.

    ¡°Well, that makes sense¡­¡±

    Realizing it was a skill, Isaac somehow felt better. It was preferable to understand it in a game-like manner rather than thinking of some unknown monster inside him.

    But then Isaac realized he was no longer hungry.

    ¡°No, it can¡¯t be. I didn¡¯t eat the mouse, the tentacles did.¡±

    Hey back in bed, trying to deny what had just unfolded before his eyes.

    ***

    He thought he wouldn¡¯t be able to sleep properly after such an event, but he did. The body of a 14-year-old boy was honest in its need for sleep. Unwillingly admitting, his stomach was also somewhat full, so he drifted off easily.

    The next day, Isaac was again engulfed in thought. It was about the tentacles, this world, his values, and how it all interconnected.

    ¡°How can I continue to survive and win?¡±

    A frail body.

    A lineage shunned by the gods.

    A follower of a faith that, if discovered, would mean certain execution.

    Tentacles that sprang out at any opportunity.

    Of these, the faith itself was actually the most problematic.

    Isaac didn¡¯t know much about the Nameless Chaos. But wandering the outskirts in the Nameless Chaos game, one often encounters such quests. Ominous regions, eerie atmospheres, disappearing people. If a horror movie-like setting begins, it¡¯s almost certain ¡®they¡¯ will appear.

    Tentacle monsters.

    The same kind of monsters that sprouted from Isaac¡¯s body.

    Such beings were treated as ¡®special quests¡¯ that must be eradicated, regardless of the chosen faith.

    ¡°I absolutely can¡¯t be discovered.¡±

    If discovered, he would be immediately executed, possibly burned at the stake or stoned.

    Isaac imagined the now-kind monks hanging him on a cross, lighting a fire beneath him, stoning him, or throwing him into medieval torture devices.

    [The Nameless Chaos is watching you.]

    Regardless of Isaac¡¯s shivering or not, the Nameless Chaos was watching him with interest.

    He faced many dilemmas.

    He could survive by hiding away somewhere, using any means necessary, but Isaac didn¡¯t want to live like a barbarian in a cave.

    He was a conqueror of this game. He didn¡¯t want to start thinking about defeat in an ugly form.

    His thoughts were always about ¡®conditions for victory¡¯.

    What those conditions were, he didn¡¯t know yet, but survival was the first step.

    ¡°I need to build up my body if I want to survive outside without perishing.¡±

    But how? It wasn¡¯t feasible to steal meat from the storeroom.

    If there

    was even meat to steal.

    ¡°Little one, are you ill?¡±

    At that moment, a voice made Isaac turn his head.

    He realized he was supposed to be working in the fields, and his hands were digging in the wrong ce.

    Turning, he saw a man with a rugged beard and rough appearance looking down at him. Isaac quickly remembered who he was.

    Gebel.

    Not a monk but somehow living in the monastery. Not studying scriptures or praying, but doing harsh chores and hunting, living as a sort of freeloader. Rumored to be a deserter, all the children feared him.

    And for some reason, he often seemed to be observing Isaac. Startled by the sudden conversation, Isaac tensed up.

    ¡®Huh?¡¯

    Then Isaac noticed something on Gebel¡¯s body.

    It was unmistakable. The belt Gebel wore around his waist belonged to the knights¡¯ order. It was ragged, but definitely a knight¡¯s belt.

    ¡°A real deserter? A knight deserter?¡±

    Isaac remembered knights being treated almost like nobility, respected socially. They had many demands, but this was not the status of someone roaming around ragged. It was too risky to unt a stolen item so openly.

    He likely had already retired or was temporarily seeking refuge in the monastery.

    ¡°Wait a minute. A knight? Indeed, a knight.¡±

    Isaac¡¯s mind raced with a sudden insight, but his thoughts were interrupted by the man¡¯s voice.

    ¡°Staring off into space like that, looks like I¡¯ll have to tell the monks you¡¯re cking off.¡±

    Gebel muttered in a teasing tone. Isaac quickly deflected.

    ¡°There¡¯s nothing wrong. Please carry on.¡±

    ¡°What a strange way of talking for a little kid. And don¡¯t crouch down like that; I almost kicked you.¡±

    Gebel snorted as he walked past Isaac. At that moment, Isaac caught a familiar foul odor.

    He pointed to the basket Gebel was carrying and asked,

    ¡°Is that mice, by any chance?¡±

    ¡°Eh? How did you know? The mice have been rampanttely, so I¡¯ve been setting traps for them. Can¡¯t let them eat all our winter food.¡±

    Gebel chuckled mischievously and then thudded a basket full of dead mice in front of Isaac. Intending to scare him, Gebel was taken aback when Isaac, instead of screaming and running away, just stared at the basket pensively.

    ¡°It¡¯s a shame, really. Autumn mice are plump and perfect for roasting¡­¡±

    ¡°Can you eat mice?¡±

    Isaac asked, his eyes sparkling, and Gebelughed as if he couldn¡¯t believe the question.

    ¡°No, the ¡®Codex of Light¡¯ forbids eating mice, calling them creatures of darkness that spread disease. Of course, that hardly matters on a battlefield. But the monks would care about it.¡±

    It was more about religious doctrine than hygiene. Isaac didn¡¯t really care about religiousws. Bacteria were a concern, but if he wasn¡¯t eating them the usual way, but using a different means¡­

    Isaac looked directly at Gebel and asked,

    ¡°May I take care of them?¡±

    ¡°Take care of them?¡±

    Gebel looked at Isaac curiously. Isaac couldn¡¯t understand why he was looking at him like that. Both children and adults generally dislike working. Offering to help might seem strange, but there was something else in Gebel¡¯s gaze.

    ¡°Hmm¡­ I suppose it¡¯s alright. The pit is already dug; just need to bury them. Even kids can do that.¡±

    Gebel narrowed his eyes and warned,

    ¡°You¡¯re not nning to y pranks with those mice, are you? If I hear any stories about you fooling around with mouse corpses in the monastery, you¡¯ll be in for a beating.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s no need for that.¡±

    Gebel stared intensely at Isaac and then muttered,

    ¡°I¡¯ll let Brother Alek know. The hole is over there. Don¡¯t forget to pour lye water on the corpses before burying them.¡±

    Leaving the basket where it was, Gebel walked away.

    Isaac was sure now about Gebel¡¯s identity.

    ¡°He¡¯s a knight, alright. Seems like he had a high status¡­¡±

    In this world, the only ¡®battlefield¡¯ where people starved enough to be called such was the frontline against the Immortal Order near the holynd.

    Understanding that Gebel might be a knight exined the other monks¡¯ behavior. They had been cautious, not speaking to him unnecessarily, looking as if they were watching out for something more than just aborer. He had thought they were too noble to talk, but if Gebel was a former knight hiding his identity, it made sense.

    Isaac filed this information away, thinking of how to use itter.

    ¡°But that¡¯s not what I should be focusing on now.¡±

    Dragging the basket filled with mouse corpses, Isaac headed towards the spot Gebel had pointed out. There was a deep pit as Gebel had said. He just had to pour the mice in, sprinkle them with lye water, and then cover them with dirt.

    Isaac first made sure no one was around. Although there were ces to hide and watch, he could cover enough with his body.

    Then he was struck by a final dilemma.

    ¡°Should I really eat this?¡±

    Why not? Historically, people have eaten rat meat. There are even recipes and menus made from rat meat in France.

    He also worried if the tentacles would appear again. Thest time could have been just a coincidence, and it might not happen again.

    Of course, if the tentacles didn¡¯t appear, he had no intention of secretly eating the rats. But as if answering his dilemma, tentacles sprouted from his palm and snatched up the mouse in his hand.

    Crunch, crunch.

    [You have consumed a ¡®field mouse¡¯.]

    [Consumption efficiency has increased due to the ¡®Predation¡¯ perk.]

    [Resistance to low-grade diseases has increased.]

    [Blessing will remain until digestion isplete.]

    Isaac looked at the tentacles in disbelief. This time, he felt more like he was feeding a pet than being scared.

    ¡°Go ahead, eat. Eat it all.¡±

    He muttered, half resigned.

    He had to use this ability to survive. In this poor monastery, this was the

    only way to supplement his protein.

    He just hoped that Gebel wouldn¡¯t decide to dig up this pit again.

    ***

    Isaac pondered about Gebel, or more precisely, about the knight.

    In this world, gods certainly existed and bestowed powers upon their followers. Power and authority in this world stemmed from the gods.

    The monks performed miracles routinely, from lighting candles to heating water, both small and great. Although meant for spiritual practices, not convenience, the scriptures recorded even greater miracles.

    Stopping the sun to burn an enemy city for a week, blinding heretics who performed sacrilege, or summoning apostles of light made from pure light to receive divine messages.

    Naturally, the power of priests and knights was immense.

    ¡°Both are tier 1 upations in the world of Nameless Chaos.¡±

    Being a priest was fine, but Isaac was concerned about his low physical strength. However, knights had many survival skills. Considering his life was irreceable and had no retries, these survival skills were especially appealing to Isaac.

    Furthermore, with the Nephilim¡¯s high faith ability, he could potentially harness powerparable to priests.

    ¡°The problem is that this is a monastery of the ¡®Codex of Light¡¯¡­¡±

    Tentacles.

    Those damned tentacles were the problem.

 Chapter 5:

    Chapter 5:

    The existence of the tentacles, if discovered, meant certain death, so whether they were useful or not was a secondary concern.

    Isaac considered fleeing from the sight of the Codex of Light. He did not wish for his second chance at life to end up as nothing more than ash on a stake.

    But where could he run to?

    ¡°Even the Immortal Order is after the nameless chaos!¡±

    He looked up at the night sky for a long while.

    But soon, he realized he had to do something.

    ¡°I have no choice but to hide them well.¡±

    It was risky to join any order; if discovered, it was equally dangerous.

    However, due to its inclusiveness, the Codex of Light had arge following, making it easier to hide his identity.

    Being a Pdin required proving one¡¯s faith, but it was not as demanding as being a monk. Unlike monks, who were confined to study, a Pdin¡¯s personal training was more emphasized.

    ¡°Getting a miracle might be tough, but perhaps I can use the authority of the order¡­¡±

    Furthermore, invading the territories of heretics could make him a lord of thatnd. Although it was customary to donate to the order, how could the order govern such distantnds? He could keep the real power while giving only honor to the order.

    Of course, he would need to establish a monastery or pay a sum.

    For now, he would hide his identity until he gained everything he could as a Pdin. He could always escape once discovered.

    No, he must be a Pdin for survival.

    They say, ¡°Hide a tree in a forest.¡±

    If he became an exemry Pdin, no one would suspect him of being a follower of the nameless chaos.

    He resolved to find relics, reim holynds, and even destroy the Order of Immortality.

    That way, no one would think of him as a chaotic tentacle monster.

    Isaac was determined to be a Pdin using all his special abilities, talents, and knowledge. It was necessary for survival. If these tentacles were going toplicate his life, it was safer to delve deeper into the Codex of Light.

    ¡°I¡¯ll need to train my body forbat¡­ but I¡¯m still young, so there¡¯s plenty of time.¡±

    A follower of the nameless chaos bing a Pdin within the Codex of Light.

    The more Isaac thought about it, the better the idea seemed.

    As long as he wasn¡¯t discovered.

    ***

    ¡°You want to help with rat catching?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    Isaac, having made up his mind, thought he needed a steady intake of protein. Ordinary monks might be content with just a potato, but not Isaac.

    ¡°Even if the tentacles can¡¯t taste, it¡¯s a good opportunity to absorb nutrients.¡±

    Isaac¡¯s body wasn¡¯t frailpared to other children his age. With enough nutrients, he could grow quickly.

    Observation showed that his prey was slowly ¡°digested-absorbed.¡± No hair, teeth, or nails appeared in his excrement.

    ¡°It seems likeplete absorption.¡± Hisplexion had greatly improved, and he no longer felt hungry.

    ¡°Not so busy that I need a kid¡¯s help. Do you find rat catching fun?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll help with other tasks whenever I have time.¡±

    Gebel had many duties at the monastery, handling them due to the monks¡¯ck of vitality. Isaac¡¯s offer was timely.

    ¡°If you¡¯re taking a kid around, you¡¯ll need the monk¡¯s permission. Did you ask?¡±

    ¡°I spoke to Monk Alek.¡±

    Gebel¡¯s work, being harsh and dirty, was usually avoided by the children.

    But not Isaac.

    ¡°The best way for me to maintain my health and skills is to follow Gebel.¡±

    Isaac¡¯s eyes sparkled with ambition.

    Catching rats was one thing, but Gebel was a Pdin.

    A Pdin is not just blessed but also skilled in swordsmanship, capable of facing ten regr soldiers.

    ¡°Missing out on such an experienced veteran of battle would be foolish.¡±

    He considered it likely that Gebel had advanced beyond a regr Pdin to amanding or teaching role. Getting closer and building a connection could greatly assist Isaac on his path to bing a Pdin.

    Gebelughed dismissively.

    ¡°Just know, if you get in the way, you¡¯ll get a spanking. Understand?¡±

    ¡°Yes!¡±

    From that day, Isaac followed and assisted Gebel.

    What he called rat catching was actually collecting trapped rats or burying the ones Gebel caught.

    More precisely, he was feeding those rats to his tentacles.

    The work was tough, but it was better than the trivial tasks or garden work.

    In fact, for Isaac, it was easier than working in the garden.

    The sensation of his muscles growing each day and the ease of the tasks lifted his spirits.

    ***

    Gebel had been consistently observing Isaac.

    In fact, since he had brought Isaac to the monastery, Gebel had been observing him. The one-month evaluation was simply, ¡°a pretty but quiet and silent boy.¡±

    ¡°Was he the only child who survived when all the vigers were murdered¡­ But since Kalsen and the Immortal Order¡¯s people all hurriedly disappeared, I thought there was something else, but was it just luck?¡±

    There might have been a different reason why Isaac survived.

    Because of this, the impression Gebel had of Isaac was just of a lucky survivor, nothing more. Gebel, who had hoped for something more, couldn¡¯t help but feel disappointed.

    But in the past few weeks, Isaac¡¯s attitude had changed.

    ¡°He¡¯s quite good¡­ no, actually very good.¡±

    It was as if he had be a different person, no longer just understanding the situation.

    Gebel had no choice but to raise his evaluation of Isaac by several levels. He had intended to give a positive evaluation if Isaac just showed a moderately diligent attitude, but Isaac was doing surprisingly well.

    Until now, there were many kids who had offered to help him.

    To avoid studying, or because farm work was tough, and so on.

    But the work Gebel did was dirtier and harder than farm work. Since it was not noticeable, it was tough to get recognized. Yet, Isaac followed Gebel every day without missing his studies.

    Being 14 years old and able to read and calcte was not bad at all. He could have focused more onfortable work or studies, but Isaac was spending all his spare time helping Gebel. Thanks to this, Gebel was gradually feeling less burdened.

    The more surprising thing was that Isaac continued to try to learn something from Gebel.

    Isaac didn¡¯t just pass over even the simplest things, and tried to understand the principles and reasons. Although it could be annoying for Gebel, it was not difficult since Isaac understood everything after being taught just once.

    Chopping wood, setting mouse traps, chasing beasts, managing horse gear, differentiating herbs, etc., Isaac was quickly learning everything after just seeing it once.

    Of course, this alone couldn¡¯t mean that he had the abilities fitting a survivor from Kalsen.

    Isaac was just a child with an unusual maturity and skills for his age.

    But regardless, Gebel liked Isaac.

    Before he knew it, he had be ustomed to treating Isaac like an assistant.

    Meanwhile, other children started to look at Isaac, who had begun to y separately, with ufortable eyes.

    Isaac had suddenlye among the children and been an outsider. But instead of trying to fit in with them, he only mingled with adults and almost ignored the children. Since the monks liked the well-behaved Isaac, he naturally became an object of jealousy.

    But whether that was the case or not, Isaac originally had no interest in his reputation among his peers.

    It was a situation where even clinging to everything for survival was not enough. In such a situation, there was no need to care about the eyes of the children.

    He was continuing his studies for himself alone in a ce where no one saw.

    It was about the study of tentacles.

    ¡°To prevent these damn things from sprouting out of control, I need to figure out how to use and control them.¡±

    ording to what Isaac had found out about the tentacles so far:

    First, ¡®digestion¡¯ does not ur immediately.

    Contrary to what he thought, that he would digest everything by the time he woke up, for almost several days, he did not feel hungry, and the abilities he gained through ¡®predation¡¯ did not disappear. Because of this, Isaac had fallen into the somewhat difficult situation of having to force himself to eat even when he was not hungry.

    But during this state, Isaac could retain the abilities absorbed from his prey. Moreover, whatever he ate was absorbed with considerably high efficiency in his body.

    Though it was an effect difficult to feel immediately, in those times when people died easily fromck of nutrition or minor causes, it was a very useful bonus.

    Second, the ¡®tentacles¡¯ are, for some unknown reason, favorable to Isaac.

    It was strange that the tentacles that sprung from his body and cut through his skin were favorable to him, but in reality, they were kind to Isaac. When he unconsciously reached out for a cup of water far away, a tentacle sprang out and grabbed the cup for him.

    Fortunately, there were no other people around, or it would have been a heart-dropping moment for Isaac. But thanks to this, he found out that he could summon the tentacles not only during ¡®predation¡¯ but also at other times. They were named like a skill, but they were essentially just another arm.

    ¡°How can I make good use of this?¡±

    It wasn¡¯t just for the sake of using it, but for survival.

    The nameless chaos, the Codex of light, and even the immortal Order opposed it. Isaac knew that if his

    identity was ever exposed, he would have to survive alone. In the end, the only thing he could rely on was himself. And these tentacles, whether he liked it or not, were a part of his fate.

    Monk Alex said that the nameless chaos was still waving its tentacles beyond the horizon to invade this world.

    And now, a tentacle was wriggling, swallowing a rat.

    ¡°Still, without these guys, I would have been chewing on potatoes.¡±

    Crunch, crunch.

    In front of an empty pit, Isaac watched the tentacle swallow a rat. The tentacles seemed thicker than before, and the number of strands had increased. As Isaac got healthier, the tentacles got stronger too.

    ¡°First, I need to learn how to properly control them.¡±

    When Isaac wished for the tentacle to disappear, it quickly retracted into his skin. It was fortunate that they disappeared when he wanted them to, but controlling their appearance was difficult.

    ¡°Usually when they want to help me, or think they can be helpful, or when I¡¯m in danger¡­¡±

    Isaac suddenly thought that the tentacles might be smarter than they seemed. If they had appeared every time those conditions were met, Isaac would have been caught and hanged long ago. But that hadn¡¯t happened, which meant the tentacles also had some sort of sense.

    They had a kind of self-consciousness.

    Whether that was good news or bad news was still unknown.

    ¡°For now, I¡¯ll have to trust the tentacles¡¯ instincts and find a way to control them.¡±

    ***

    A rat was wandering near the bait of a mousetrap. It seemed interested in the bait, sniffing around, but hesitated and eventually turned back. The smell of its dead kin was already all around.

    Click.

    Suddenly, the rat sensed something strange and started running frantically. But in an instant, it was pierced by a sharp sound cutting through the wind.

    Crunch.

    The rat, impaled by the tentacle, trembled and then went limp. Isaac watched the tentacle chew and swallow the rat with a grim expression.

    ¡°Definitely thicker and longer than before.¡±

    As more protein was consumed, it wasn¡¯t just Isaac¡¯s body that was getting healthier. The tentacles were also bing thicker and longer. While Isaac¡¯s body did not easily be healthy due to its constitution, the tentacles were rapidly growing thicker and longer.

    ¡°This may be rted to the power of faith.¡±

    The tentacles were indeed a power granted by the faith in the nameless chaos. The fact that they showed power beyond what was appropriate for his level might be rted to the high faith value characteristic of Nephilim. For now, they seemed useful when there was no weapon.

    Isaac examined the trap as he finished eating the rat.

    Gebel preferred to use traps like a noose trap that tightened as soon as the bait was touched, set up at pathways where rats were likely to travel, and another trap where he would smear oil inside arge barrel and ce bait inside.

    They were decent traps. Already, several rats were caught inside the barrel, submerged in tar.

    ¡°The number has decreased a lotpared to before.¡±

    Until now, the results had been quite good, but now the effect was starting to wear off.

    Not only had the number of rats decreased significantly, but the cunning rat packs had begun to learn how to avoid the traps. The decrease in the number of rats caught meant a reduction in protein supply, so Isaac took this problem seriously.

    ¡°I need to check the condition of the traps.¡±

    As he observed the trap, Isaac thought that he might be able to make some adjustments.

 Chapter 6:

    Chapter 6:

    Chapter 6. Bigger Prey (Part 1)

    Several dayster, Gebel went to check the state of the mousetrap and was surprised.

    There were as many as ten rats inside the barrel.

    Recently, Gebel knew that the number of rats caught was decreasing. Rats learn quickly and soon recognize what is bait and what is a trap.

    ¡°Did Isaac neglect to empty the barrel, leading to so many rats being caught?¡±

    Initially, that¡¯s what Gebel thought. But then he realized that the trap had been slightly modified. As he was examining the changes, Isaac walked into the storage room.

    ¡°Ah, you¡¯re here? Wow, I just emptied it yesterday, and it¡¯s already full again.¡±

    ¡°You emptied it yesterday?¡±

    ¡°Yes. If they¡¯re left together, they start eating each other quickly, so I¡¯ve been emptying it frequently.¡±

    Gebel couldn¡¯t understand how so many rats were being caught. The mousetrap had only been altered slightly. He noticed a rod running across the center of the barrel and a smelly, sour lump of grain tied in the middle.

    ¡°Did you set this up?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I thought if I modified it a bit, it would catch more rats.¡±

    The modification Isaac made was simple. He just installed a rod across the center of the oil-coated barrel. When Gebel touched the rod, it spun loosely.

    Isaac continued to exin.

    ¡°It¡¯s simple. Until now, to get to the bait, rats had to jump into the barrel and risk falling in. If the bait fell to the bottom, no more rats would be attracted.¡±

    ¡°But if the bait is attached to this loose rod, they slip and fall while trying to get to it. The bait doesn¡¯t fall off, and the other rats don¡¯t see the trapped ones, so they¡¯re easily lured in.¡±

    Isaac nodded. Rats prefer grains to cheese or meat, especially when it emits a slightly sour scent, which made it easier to create the trap.

    ¡°Huh.¡±

    Gebel smiled, lifting the corners of his mouth. Isaac was a bit surprised to see him smile, but his surprise didn¡¯t end there.

    ¡°Not bad.¡±

    It was a briefpliment, but Isaac knew it was the best praise Gebel could offer.

    Gebel was truly impressed.

    Isaac¡¯s idea was simple, but more importantly, it was his attitude. A 14-year-old working hard, not just helping with tasks but striving to improve them.

    It was enough for Gebel to raise his evaluation of Isaac another notch.

    ¡°You¡¯ve done such amendable job; it would be inappropriate not to reward you. I¡¯ll give you a gift.¡±

    Then Gebel brought up an unexpected topic.

    Isaac, who had done the work for his own sake, was surprised by Gebel¡¯s offer. He modestly tried to decline, but then realized this was another opportunity to earn points.

    ¡°Could you perhaps give me some candles?¡±

    ¡°Candles?¡±

    ¡°Yes. It would be nice to have candles to use in my room. I don¡¯t have enough time to read in the chapel.¡±

    Lighting candles is easy for the monks, but the candles themselves are expensive. So, they were hardly used outside of lighting the central hall. However, Isaac still had many things to read and study. Personal candles would extend his reading time.

    But Gebel shook his head.

    ¡°Sorry, but candles won¡¯t work. There¡¯s a fire hazard, and only thenterns managed by Monk Alex are allowed.¡±

    Isaac pretended to be a bit disappointed, but he wasn¡¯t really upset.

    For now, he was content to just owe Gebel a favor. However, Gebel seemed intent on giving something and pulled something out of his pocket.

    ¡°I¡¯ll give you this instead.¡±

    Isaac¡¯s eyes sparkled.

    What Gebel took out was a sun-shaped ne made of metal. It was crudely tied with a tough string but emitted a faint glow, clearly not an ordinary object.

    ¡°This is a luminous stone ne, blessed by the abbot himself. Rub it, and it will light up, gradually dimming down. If you hit it hard, the light gets brighter, but it fades faster. The miracle¡¯s lifespan also shortens.¡±

    Isaac looked at the ne, and something appeared before his eyes.

    ¡¸Luminous Stone (Rare)¡¹

    ¡¸A gem imbued with the miracle of the Codex of Light. It emits light depending on the amount of impact it absorbs.¡¹

    It was the same status window he had seen in Nameless Chaos. Normal items didn¡¯t disy such a window, but it seemed to appear for items of rare grade and above.

    ¡°A miraculous item.¡±

    It was a treasure iparable to a fire hazard-prone, easily extinguishable candle. It could fetch a month¡¯s living expenses for an average family if sold.

    Isaac worried that the reward was too generous for his work. He appreciated the kindness but knew to be cautious with excessive favors.

    ¡°This gift is too grand¡­¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fine. Its lifespan is almost over anyway. It shouldst about half

    a year more. I can get another from the abbot.¡±

    The gift wasn¡¯t just a casual one from Gebel. He already had a high opinion of Isaac and knew he liked books, nning to give him something ordingly. This event just provided the right opportunity.

    Knowing it wasn¡¯t an overly burdensome gift, Isaac gratefully epted it.

    ¡°Thank you. I¡¯ll gratefully use it!¡±

    ***

    ¡®This is really good.¡¯

    Isaac thought as he tested the luminous stone given by Gebel. When he rubbed the stone, it emitted just the right amount of light, and it shone brighter as he tapped it harder.

    ¡®If I hit it hard, it could almost be like a sh grenade.¡¯

    Of course, doing that would quickly shorten its lifespan, so he had no such intention.

    The unexpected gift left Isaac in a dilemma.

    Had it been candles, he would have dly used them all night, but this was too valuable and could be stolen.

    At this time, children are basically liars, thieves, and prepared bullies. Especially orphans whock many things.

    ¡°Maybeter if I find an alternative, but for now, it¡¯s not possible.¡±

    Isaac had too much on his te to worry about unnecessary things.

    Despite making rat-catching easier, Gebel¡¯s workload had not decreased at all. With winter approaching and various chores that had been neglected due to rat catching, there was plenty to do.

    Tasks like chopping wood, clearing paths, cleaningtrines, and moving winter supplies sent from the vige to the storage were part of his daily routine. These tasks might not be visible, but Gebel was an indispensable part of the monastery.

    ¡°Without Gebel, these monks,cking in survival skills, would probably freeze or starve to death in less than a month.¡±

    But Gebel worked silently, without pay, assisting the monks to focus on their spiritual practices.

    ¡°Why, though?¡±

    There were rumors among the children that Gebel was a deserter, but Isaac knew he was a knight. With his experience, including participation in war, he would be treated well anywhere.

    ¡°Perhaps a form of atonement?¡±

    Isaac considered this usible. Gebel might haveid down his sword for therades he left on the battlefield. However, Isaac had ns to make him wield his sword again.

    ¡°How can I make him reveal his true nature¡­?¡±

    ***

    Isaac watched a rat scurry in the corner of the storage room. The moment he thought of catching it, his left hand reacted, or more urately, a tentacle reacted.

    A tentacle burst from his palm and impaled the rat instantly.

    ¡°I¡¯m getting used to this now.¡±

    Crunch, crunch. Isaac watched as the tentacle swallowed the rat.

    ¡°And this thing¡­ definitely faster and sneakier.¡±

    It had grown longer and thicker. Previously, the tentacles stretched only from the fingertip to the elbow, but now they extended nearly 2 meters, stabbing the rat¡¯s neck in an instant, even predicting its path.

    Isaac himself was undergoing changes. Seeing the rat, he felt confident he could catch it, although he had never caught one with his hands before. It was as if the tentacles had be a natural extension of his limbs.

    ¡°Is it because I¡¯m getting enough nutrition?¡±

    Isaac interpreted it positively.

    He tried extending a tentacle as a test. A thin, red tentacle wriggled out from between his wrist and palm, flexible like a finger. His control over the tentacle felt much more natural now, perhaps due to familiarity or the recent reward.

    Though it was clear that the tentacle was moved by some other consciousness, it was undeniably friendly and acted in beneficial ways.

    ¡°I should try eating something bigger than rats.¡±

    Not because he was tired of rats¡ªhe couldn¡¯t taste them anyway¡ªbut because he wondered if eating different creatures would grant different benefits.

    [Nameless Chaos watches you.]

    [Nameless Chaos wishes you to seek rger prey.¡¯]

    [The reward of chaos awaits you.]

    Isaac was startled by the message that popped up as soon as he thought about it.

    ¡°Can it read my thoughts?¡±

    He reflexively recalled all the curses and insults he had hurled at Nameless Chaos.

    ¡°Seems like it either has a thick skin or doesn¡¯t care much.¡±

    But in this poor monastery, there wasn¡¯t much rger prey¡¯ to find¡ªmaybe the old donkey in the stable, a few sickly goats, and some monks.

    Of course, Isaac had no intention of touching any of them, even if they were dead.

    However, an opportunity came to him sooner than expected.

    ***

    As time passed, Isaac realized this world was not fundamentally different from the one he originally came from.

    ¡°Hey, Johan. Come with me.¡±

    Labor time.

    A time as precious as prayer and studying scriptures, but also the only time when the monks¡¯ supervision rxed. Johan, who had been digging potatoes next to Isaac, hesitantly got up and followed when called.

    They were older boys, with Hans, at 16, being the oldest among the monastery¡¯s orphans. Hans looked around cautiously and caught Isaac¡¯s gaze.

    Startled, he quickly looked away.

    This reaction seemed odd to Isaac. In this age group, physique and age were almost like social status. Isaac, with his pretty and slender build, didn¡¯t fit the typical ¡®boyish¡¯ mold.

    Of course, the threat from other kids wouldn¡¯t subdue the mentally mature Isaac. Still, it was strange to see someone like Hans back down first, especially in an orphanage setting.

    Johan and Hans¡¯s group disappeared behind the monastery. Isaac watched them go and sighed.

    ¡°It¡¯s none of my business, but¡­¡±

    Johan, who slept in the bed next to Isaac, was the only kid he had somewhatmunicated with. Telling the monks wouldn¡¯t help; children feared violence from peers more than adults.

    Isaac started walking towards where they had disappeared.

 Chapter 7:

    Chapter 7:

    Chapter 7. Bigger Prey (2)

    ¡°Hey, didn¡¯t you hear me? I told you to bring the dried meat from the kitchen.¡±

    ¡°Th-The monk is guarding the door¡­¡±

    ¡°Should¡¯ve climbed through a window or begged earnestly to get it, you dumb kid.¡±

    Thud, thud.

    The sound of beating continued.

    Isaac knew that intervening in this violence would only lead to another victim. Theck of resources and the closed environment were inciting violence among the children.

    It was, in essence, an unsolvable situation.

    ¡°You damned brat, want to die? Do you wish to die?¡±

    Thud, smack! Hans¡¯s beating became increasingly brutal. It was clearly going too far. Isaac sensed a hint of desperation in Hans¡¯s behavior. He seemed anxious.

    ¡°I¡¯ll kill you¡­¡±

    Just as Hans was about to kick the copsed Johan, Isaac appeared. He didn¡¯t block the way, just showed himself from around the corner. Yet, the moment he did, Hans and his gang¡¯s attention snapped towards him.

    ¡°¡­What!¡±

    Hans stuttered in confusion and shouted. Isaac looked at him emotionlessly. Hans seemed about to burst out in anger but ultimately did nothing.

    Hans¡¯s cronies, confused, eventually followed him as he retreated. Isaac, observing his behavior, had a thought.

    ¡®Is it because of my charisma?¡¯

    While charisma often implies seduction, it actually epasses seduction, trust, respect, favor, and presence.

    But Isaac saw charisma as the ability to ¡®persuade¡¯ others.

    People with high charisma are more persuasive, whether in seduction, intimidation, or deceit. This seemed especially true for children, where instinct often overrules reason.

    ¡®But why are they afraid when I haven¡¯t said anything?¡¯

    The kids, particrly Hans, clearly looked scared.

    Isaac had never threatened or intimidated them before. Of course, his look might have been intentional.

    However, Nephilim¡¯s naturally high charisma endowed Isaac with a significant presence, stirring guilt and fear in the children.

    Thus, Hans couldn¡¯t bear the pressure and fled.

    ¡®Well, that guy has either luck or good instincts.¡¯

    Isaac fiddled with the hoe he was hiding. He had no desire to fight but wouldn¡¯t just take a beating if Hans attacked with his size.

    ¡°Ah, Isaac.¡±

    Johan hurried over. Thankfully, he didn¡¯t seem seriously injured.

    ¡°Are you okay? What happened?¡±

    ¡°Th-They sometimes asked me to bring potatoes, but recently they¡¯ve been asking for more, and the monk started guarding strictly¡­¡±

    Johan rambled. Isaac listened and tilted his head. The amount of food Johan stole was clearly more than enough for Hans and his gang.

    ¡®So where are they using all that?¡¯

    ***

    Finding the answer wasn¡¯t hard.

    That evening, Hans¡¯s gang started to move. Seeing four of them sneak outte at night, Isaac also got up.

    They slipped out of the monastery walls barefoot to avoid noise. They opened a pre-determined back door and headed into the still dark forest.

    Isaac quietly approached the back door.

    ¡°¡­So, we just need to get to the vige¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­But it¡¯s too dangerous¡­ should tell the monk¡­¡±

    Though only fragments were heard, it was as expected.

    ¡®They¡¯re nning to escape.¡¯

    The food they made Johan steal was mostly longsting. There must have been many other things they needed to prepare, but considering their dimwitted brains, it was obvious.

    Escape.

    ¡®Honestly, I¡¯ve thought about it too.¡¯

    No, he had already decided to leave the monastery when his bones were strong enough, and he could stand as an adult without inferiority.

    Or if his tentacles were discovered.

    ¡°If you don¡¯t want toe, don¡¯t! We need to escape before the monks notice!¡±

    Hans, having seemingly forgotten the secrecy of their escape, was shouting at the frightened kids, trying to assert his opinion. Yet he also seemed afraid to escape alone.

    ¡®At least he¡¯s not dumb about that¡­ everything else, though.¡¯

    More people increased the chances of survival, but in a world where even adults flee society¡¯s tyranny to monasteries, running away without skills meant either starving or bing a beggar.

    It was none of Isaac¡¯s concern. But he couldn¡¯t let the four kids willingly starve to death. He sighed and walked outside.

    ¡°Stop fooling around and go to bed.¡±

    The moment Isaac spoke, the kids were silently shocked. Hans, frozen, red at him btedly.

    ¡°You little¡­¡±

    ¡°What are you going to do after running away? At least grow up a bit and then ask the monks to rmend you to the workshop or study harder. You can at least learn to read at the monastery.¡±

    Hans quickly looked around. He was checking if a monk or Gebel hade. Finding none, his tension didn¡¯t ease.

    Isaac wondered why Hans, much taller than him, was so tense. Isaac took a step forward, testing the waters. Hans flinched and stepped back.

    ¡®See? Even scared of a small kid like me?¡¯

    It was more than just high charisma. It was odd.

    He expected the kids to gang up on him, given their numbers and age.

    Seeing their fear, he even thought of scaring them back inside.

    ¡®Calm down, they¡¯re just kids. It¡¯s an adult¡¯s duty to reason with them.¡¯

    Isaac exhaled and said,

    ¡°Hans, where will you go after running away?¡±

    ¡°To the vige¡­¡±

    ¡°The vigers respect the monks. This is the only orphanage around that doesn¡¯t starve kids, so they¡¯ll recognize you. What do you think the adults will do to you, Hans?¡±

    In reality, most of the kids who tried to escape ended up being caught. This probably exined why Gebel didn¡¯t rush over and why the monks¡¯ vignce wasx.

    If caught by a monster or a criminal, they would be dead.

    ¡°What kind of preparation is this for an escape? A few potatoes and dried sausages? I get you¡¯re hungry, but winter ising soon. If you don¡¯t want to freeze, should have stolen some boots and fur too. And sacred texts ¨C they¡¯re valuable, so why not steal a few of those?¡±

    Hans¡¯s face turned red, unable to respond. He knew his preparation was inadequate.

    ¡°Just wait until you¡¯re 17. The monastery gives you a choice then.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m 16!¡±

    ¡°Not yet 17. Then you can choose to leave or be a monk. Monks are respected and don¡¯t starve.¡±

    In a world where even adults struggle for food, being an orphan makes it even harder.

    ¡°If Hans really makes you all run away, there¡¯ll be less mouths to feed here. Not like you¡¯re much help around the monastery anyway. But why am I stopping you? If you dumb mouths run away, maybe there will be more potatoes for my mouth.¡±

    Realizing he was getting heated, Isaac added a taunt. Hans, understanding but flustered, red at Isaac.

    In contrast, the expressions of the other children turned pale.

    ¡°You little¡­¡±

    Hans, enraged, charged at Isaac. A head taller, his size was an overwhelming advantage. But his movements were painfully slowpared to a swift rat.

    Isaac couldn¡¯t dodge in time and got grabbed by the cor. Had he been better fed and grown a bit more, maybe things would have been different.

    In Isaac¡¯s hand, though, was an item he had brought just in case. He didn¡¯t n to use it yet.

    ¡°What do you know!¡±

    But Hans, even while overpowering Isaac, seemed more frightened. It was the look of someone doing something beyond their control.

    ¡°If you hadn¡¯t shown up all of a sudden¡­¡±

    ¡°Please grow up, kid.¡±

    Isaac, irritated, growled in response.

    At that moment, everyone except Isaac felt something chilling and slimy.

    Hans suddenly gasped for air, releasing his grip on Isaac¡¯s cor. He stumbled backwards, copsing. Isaac thought Hans looked like a scared rat.

    [A nameless chaos watches you.]

    Upon hearing this message, Isaac snapped back to reality. Tentacles squirmed out of his hand but quickly retreated. Though not enough to be noticed, Isaac realized what he was about to do and pped his own cheek.

    ¡®Am I crazy?¡¯

    He had almost thought of Hans as prey.

    The ¡®bigger prey¡¯ that the nameless chaos sought.

    Isaac noticed a dead silence among the kids.

    ¡®Surely they didn¡¯t see?¡¯

    No, the tentacles hadn¡¯t fully emerged. But there was a sticky, unpleasant sensation, as if his palm had been licked.

    Despite this, all the children looked terrified. Hans had even wet his pants in sheer panic, as if facing an unstoppable murderous intent.

    Isaac then realized why Hans feared him. The presence of the nameless chaos was seeping through his high charisma. It was natural for Hans to feel fear before respect.

    Feeling guilty for unintentionally disying such an aura, Isaac took advantage of the kids¡¯ calmed state to continue persuading them.

    ¡°I¡¯m stopping you because you might run into a pedophile, ve trader, or wild animal.¡±

    The kids remained silent, either understanding or simply too scared to process anything. The fear effect from Isaac¡¯s charisma seemed overly strong.

    Isaac sighed and approached Hans, who tried to flee but stopped upon hitting a tree. Isaac extended his hand.

    ¡°I won¡¯t scare you, okay? Let¡¯s try to do better from now on. Don¡¯t disappoint me.¡±

    Hans eventually nodded and shook Isaac¡¯s hand, whether epting the reconciliation or too scared to refuse.

    ¡®I didn¡¯t n to be friends anyway. This is fine.¡¯

    If Isaac established a clear hierarchy now, he might be able to control the kids. If they behaved more humanely, it wouldn¡¯t prick his conscience. At their age, hierarchy seems to be everything.

    ¡°We should go back before the monks start looking¡­¡±

    Isaac stopped mid-sentence.

    The kids followed his gaze and gasped, retreating in horror.

    Yellow eyes glinted in the darkness. A rotting smell became overpowering, unnoticed earlier due to the excitement and fear.

    A massive boar, nearly as tall as Isaac¡¯s chest, approached aggressively. Its rotting stench was unmistakable.

    ¡®A boar? But wild animals don¡¯t usually approach groups of people¡­¡¯

    Isaac realized it wasn¡¯t normal. The stench of decay and buzzing flies were overwhelming.

    ¡°Stay calm, let¡¯s slowly move back¡­¡±

    ¡°Ah!¡±

    The kids, panic-stricken, scrambled away. The boar charged as soon as it saw them running. It was clear the boar

    wasn¡¯t normal, attacking upon seeing their backs.

    ¡°Uh, ah!¡±

    Hans, paralyzed with fear, fell without managing a few steps. Isaac cursed under his breath and yanked Hans back. A tentacle, unconsciously extended, wrapped around Hans¡¯s clothing. With an unbelievable strength, Isaac hurled Hans backwards.

    Bang! Isaac, hit by the boar instead of Hans, flew backward.

    Isaac, shocked by the new use of his tentacle, had no time to check on Hans or recover.

    ¡°Come on, you pig!¡±

    He ran, intentionally showing his back to lure the boar away from the monastery. The boar, seeing Isaac as an isted prey, chased him ferociously.

    Isaac knew he had to act, despite the risk.

    ¡°Over here, you piglet!¡±

    Isaac hurriedly got up and ran away from the boar, pretending to be a straggler. He ran in the direction opposite the monastery. The boar saw Isaac, who seemed to be ¡°falling behind¡± the other fleeing children, as prey.

 Chapter 8:

    Chapter 8:

    Chapter 8. Bigger Prey (3)

    Isaac slid down the hillside.

    Four-legged animals are weaker on downhill slopes.

    The enraged boar, though fierce, cautiously descended to avoid breaking its legs. This allowed Isaac to stay ahead in the chase.

    ¡®Just need to lure it a bit more¡­¡¯

    When Isaac felt the boar was close enough, he leaped up a tree with all his might and clung to a branch. As expected, his tentacles sprang out, aiding him in clinging to the tree.

    Bang! The boar mmed into the tree with a loud noise. Isaac swayed like caught in a storm but held on tightly thanks to his tentacles.

    ¡®Now!¡¯

    Seizing the moment the boar was disoriented, Isaac leaped down towards it.

    His tentacles transformed into sharp spears, piercing towards the boar.

    It was a simr tactic he used when catching rats.

    However, the tentacles couldn¡¯t prate the boar¡¯s thick skull, tearing its skin instead. The boar, in pain from the tentacles coiling around it, began to thrash wildly.

    Crack, crunch!

    Though the tentacles couldn¡¯t break the skull, they tore off the boar¡¯s skin, exposing bone. Still, the boar didn¡¯t stop its rampage.

    Crack. Eventually, the tentacles ripped off part of the boar¡¯s facial skin and fell away. The boar, as if seeking revenge, started biting the fallen tentacle.

    ¡®Tough one.¡¯

    But to Isaac, it only felt ticklish.

    It was then the chewed tentacle began to behave strangely. It broke the boar¡¯s teeth and bit into its tongue, starting to invade its mouth. Sensing danger even in its crazed state, the boar btedly struggled to flee.

    ¡°Hey, wait! Stop¡­!¡±

    As the tentacle dragged him, Isaac considered retracting it but decided to hold on tightly.

    This boar was his caught prey.

    Moreover, an injured and enraged animal like this could cause havoc anywhere. Isaac extended his tentacles deeper inside it to finish it off.

    Suddenly, Isaac felt lifted into the air.

    A dizzying sensation passed, followed by a thud as he hit the ground.

    ¡°Cough¡­!¡±

    Despite the shock, Isaac quickly got to his feet. He saw a hole in the ceiling above.

    It was a not-too-high vertical cave. It seemed he and the boar had tumbled down into it.

    ¡°Grunts, growls¡­¡±

    The boar growled menacingly in the darkness, limping. Isaac felt his tentacles retracting, with part of the boar¡¯s lower jaw attached.

    ¡®Typical monster kid. Bitten by a boar yet returns tearing off its jaw?¡¯

    Isaac felt oddly reassured, despite the absurdity.

    A monster kid indeed, but his monster kid. At this moment, the tentacles were more reliable than any knife.

    The boar, confused from the fall, seemed disoriented. But Isaac, cushioned by the boar, had suffered less impact and could observe it without much difficulty.

    Thump, thump. Despite bleeding profusely, the boar irritably shook its head and rammed it into the wall. Already diseased, the boar was delirious from the fall and pain.

    ¡®I have to finish it off quickly.¡¯

    Isaac, instead of overthinking, sprang forward. Sensing him, the boar turned its head.

    ¡°Hey!¡±

    Though young, his voice echoed in the cave, irritating the boar. Seeing it charge, Isaac pulled something from his pocket.

    It was the luminous stone ne given by Gebel.

    Isaac closed his eyes and struck the ne against a rock.

    Crack! A blinding sh filled the cave.

    ¡°Squeal!¡±

    Blinded by the sudden light, the boar frenziedly rampaged. Isaac was satisfied with the shbang-like effect. The light, as Gebel warned, was intense but faded quickly. The remaining lifespan of the half-year-old luminous stone was uncertain.

    The boar, disoriented, missed Isaac and crashed into a nearby rock, further mangling its already torn face.

    ¡°Squeal, grunt!¡±

    The sound of the struggling pig was dreadful. Isaac pounced onto its back. The moment he clung tightly to prevent it from escaping, tentacles swiftly erupted from his left hand.

    Whirl! As Isaac struck again, a whip-like sound filled the air.

    The tentacle tips turned sharply like awls. Like teeth biting into a neck, the tentacles pierced and burrowed into the boar¡¯s flesh.

    ¡°Die!¡±

    Crack, crunch!

    The sound of bones being crushed and broken was deafening. The boar thrashed wildly, but Isaac clung on for dear life. Falling off here meant certain death for him.

    The boar, head and back alike, furiously mmed against the walls. Isaac nearly lost consciousness several times from the jarring impacts and felt bones breaking. The thought shed through his mind that letting go could be fatal.

    [A nameless chaos watches you.]

    Suddenly, Isaac felt something writhing inside him.

    Crack.

    Without warning, a wound on Isaac¡¯s chest split open.

    Again? He had no time to think. Like a breached dam, his chest suddenly burst open, spewing thousands of tentacle-like tongues. The mass of tentacles,rger than Isaac¡¯s body, engulfed the enormous boar in an instant.

    The boar¡¯s screams were drowned out by the sounds of bones crunching and muscles tearing apart. And it was brief. The boar was disintegrated within the tentacles, not even leaving a piecerger than a tooth behind.

    The tentacles, not leaving a drop of blood, licked up everything and, after confirming no other life forms were nearby, retracted back into Isaac¡¯s body.

    [You have consumed ¡®gue Boar(C)¡¯.]

    [¡®Intestines of the Dead God¡¯ perk increases absorption efficiency.]

    [Your resistance to diseases has greatly increased.]

    [¡®Beastly Strength (Temporary)¡¯ perk acquired.]

    [¡®Tough Hide¡¯ perk acquired.]

    [Temporary perks willst until digested.]

    [¡®Agent of Chaos¡¯ cooldown: 30 days]

    ¡°¡­Ha.¡±

    Isaac, feeling dizzy and nauseous, clutched his head. He felt like he might faint any moment. But the messages didn¡¯t stop there.

    [The nameless chaos is satisfied with your new prey.]

    [A reward from the chaos has been granted.]

    [Choose one of the following three rewards.]

    [Flesh Storage (A) / Regeneration speed greatly increases until the consumed prey is digested.]

    [Janitor of the Otherworld (B) / You can now summon tentacles from both hands.]

    [Parasite from Beyond (C) / Tentacles can nt short-lived parasites under the skin of their target, causing continuous pain.]

    ¡®Reward?¡¯

    Isaac realized he had sessfullypleted the mission assigned by the nameless chaos.

    Tarot cards with ominous symbols appeared before him. The cards, surrounded by tentacle patterns, were filled with sinister images.

    ¡®Flesh Storage, Janitor of the Otherworld, Parasite from Beyond¡­ more chaos monster skills.¡¯

    Isaac, like when he created his character, forced a resigned smile upon seeing more chaos monster skills. Expected, yet it was a mix of joy and unease.

    ¡®Chaos¡¯ attribute monsters are at least upper to top tier. It¡¯s said that areas swarming with top-tier chaos monsters are undeveloped and deliberately sealed off.

    Naturally, monsters use skills against yers, but these weren¡¯t created with character bnce in mind. If a character acquires them, they¡¯re absurdly strong.

    ¡®The problem is, I can¡¯t use these skills in front of people.¡¯

    Reluctantly, Isaac couldn¡¯t refuse the perks.

    Especially if it¡¯s from a powerful chaos monster¡­

    ¡®Flesh Storage for health recovery, Janitor of the Otherworld for increased attack frequency, Parasite from Beyond for a dot damage concept?¡¯

    In his fading consciousness, Isaac desperately tried to make the wisest choice, but it seemed almost predetermined.

    ¡®Increase these tentacles? Absurd. Parasites for torture under the skin? Where would I use this in the monastery, and even if I did, it¡¯s too risky.¡¯

    Furthermore, Isaac himself was on the verge of copsing.

    He chose the first option: [Flesh Storage (A)].

    In this world, a young child¡¯s survival is precarious. Such regenerative perks were precious for safe growth.

    Above all, Flesh Storage was essential for Isaac, who must grow by consuming various animals and monsters.

    Picking the card, the others turned to ash and disappeared. Isaac watched, slowly losing consciousness.

    ***

    When Isaac awoke, the sky above the cave was beginning to light up. Bracing for excruciating pain throughout his body, he flinched but was surprised to feel remarkably refreshed.

    ¡®Weren¡¯t some of my bones broken?¡¯

    Inspecting himself, Isaac found no injuries, not even broken bones.

    ¡®Ah, the reward I chose?¡¯

    Responding to Isaac¡¯s thoughts, a message appeared.

    [The nameless chaos has granted you the ¡®Flesh Storage¡¯ perk.]

    [Regeneration speed is greatly increased until the consumed prey is digested.]

    Isaac thought it was only natural that his wounds had healed after consuming the entire wild boar. Moreover, the recovery effect seemed to apply to his stamina and mental strength as well, as he feltpletely refreshed from his fatigue. However, his head felt slightly cloudy.

    It felt like there was fog in his head. It was simr to the feeling he had when he first arrived at the monastery.

    ¡®Is it the aftereffect of activating that¡­ whatever it is, the Agent of Chaos?¡¯

    Isaac had a fleeting thought that the hazy state he had spent a month in when he first arrived at this monastery might not have been due to his difficulty in epting reality, but rather the aftereffect of summoning the tentacles.

    The tentacles that burst out of his body when faced with a mortal crisis were certainly powerful. However, Isaac was certain that if he had just held out a little longer, he could have killed the wild boar with his own hands, or rather, tentacles. He wasn¡¯t seriously injured, and it wasn¡¯t like he was in real danger like when he was attacked by Kalsen.

    ¡®It¡¯s a bit inconvenient that it pops out involuntarily and tries to devour everything around it regardless of my will.

    ¡°Moreover, once activated, Isaac bes defenseless due to an overwhelming desire to sleep. ording to the message, for the next 30 days, that agent of chaos or whatever won¡¯t be emerging, so ifplete safety isn¡¯t assured, we might lose even the chance to escape.

    There was a chance to escape death, but it was still a situation where caution was necessary.

    ¡®I need to hurry back.¡¯

    By now, the monks must be looking for me. They might even think I¡¯ve been eaten.

    Even when the sun rose, the inside of the cave remained pitch dark. But Isaac, examining the dim cave, realized that it was not a naturally formed structure.

    The passage was evenly paved, and there were things like supports to prevent the tunnel from copsing and brackets for torches.

    However, it seemed to have been abandoned for a very long time, as there were hardly any signs of use. The hole he had entered through seemed to be identally connected by the copsing of the ground.

    ¡®It would be good to remember this ce.¡¯

    It mighte in handy if I need to hide outside the monastery. After all, Isaac had many reasons to be wary of the monks of the Codex of Light.

    Soon, Isaac found a way out of the cave.

    Pushing through the bushes, he stepped out into the cold autumn rain, which drenched his cheeks.

    ¡®I¡¯ll be careful not to run into some strange beast again¡­¡¯

    Just then, Isaac spotted a pair of faintly glowing eyes in the darkness.

    Isaac froze.

    Through the wet leaves, arger wild boar appeared, much bigger than the one Isaac had killed.

    ¡®What is this¡­ Ah, were these the ones using this cave as their home?¡¯

    The boar, unlike the one Isaac had killed, seemed healthy and cautious, not rushing in recklessly. However, Isaac could smell the strong scent of blood from his own kind.

    Isaac tensed up, preparing to use his tentacles.

    He had heard that the boar predation perk made him stronger. Maybe this time he could catch it more easily.

    Sensing the blood, the boar, excited, started to charge fiercely. Just as Isaac was about to release his tentacles, someone jumped in front of him.

    The man calmly raised his sword towards the charging boar and shed down. In an instant, a sh of light so bright it hurt the eyes lit up the dark forest, where sunlight shouldn¡¯t be visible due to the autumn rain.

    In front of Isaacy the boar, split in half.

    ¡°Kid, are you okay?¡±¡±

 Chapter 9:

    Chapter 9:

    Chapter 9. The Holy Body (1)

    As he lifted his head, he saw Gebel, drenched in rain, looking down at him expressionlessly.

    It was an old sword, its teeth all worn away. However, a strange light danced subtly along the de before fading away.

    A tattoo of a crescent moon and a sword crossed was visible on the inside of Gebel¡¯s wrist.

    Thinking that Isaac was too shocked to respond, Gebel sheathed his sword again. He then touched Isaac¡¯s face and asked with a mischievous expression, ¡°Two eyes, two ears, two arms, and legs each. Wait, why do we have only one nose?¡±

    When Isaac reflexively clutched at his nose, Gebel let out a chucklingugh.

    ¡®It seemed like a person who didn¡¯t know jokes at all.¡¯

    Isaac found himselfughing too, though for a different reason.

    It was because Gebel had demonstrated his abilities as a pdin.

    Having witnessed the pdin¡¯s skills with his own eyes, Isaac realized that the swordsmanship of the pdins in this world might be much more powerful than what he had seen in games.

    Isaac decided he must learn the swordsmanship Gebel used.

    ***

    The children who ran away that day immediately went to the monks.

    Desperately, they informed about Isaac¡¯s crisis, and soon Gebel rushed out of the monastery. He followed the trail of Isaac and the boarte into the night but couldn¡¯t find them until dawn.

    Everyone thought Isaac had died. However, Gebel eventually brought Isaac back, and all the people of the monastery gathered to praise the miracle of God.

    Of course, there was not even a speck of the miracle performed by the Codex of Light, but Isaac humbly praised it.

    The monks didn¡¯t know whether to scold Isaac for his reckless behavior or praise him for his heroic actions.

    Eventually, Isaac received the punishment of fasting in the evening.

    It wasn¡¯t a problem for Isaac, who could ¡®overeat¡¯ anyway. The atmosphere in the monastery became generally favorable towards him, and they almost always granted his requests.

    But what changed the most were the children.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±

    The next day, Hans came to apologize. Isaac knew how hard it was for a young person to apologize to someone younger than themselves. He wondered if someone had forced Hans, but there was no sign of shame in him.

    ¡°I realized how stupid I was about to act. Thanks to you, I saved my life. You¡¯re my savior.¡±

    Hans seemed rather relieved as he said this.

    He had already felt that Isaac was a much superior being to himself, but out of jealousy, he had feared and antagonized Isaac.

    However, this incident made him realize the stark difference between them, and it seemed he no longer felt any sense ofpetition.

    Surrendering to an object of fear turns into awe, it seemed.

    ¡°Apologize to Johan. You don¡¯t n to run away anymore?¡±

    ¡°I already apologized. There won¡¯t be any running away in the future. If anyone talks nonsense like me, I¡¯ll deal with them sternly.¡±

    Hans showed a look of respect in his eyes. Isaac found it awkward but brushed it off as childlike behavior.

    It¡¯s the age when strength is admired. And Hans was the oldest and strongest among the children. If he becamepliant, controlling the other children wouldn¡¯t be a problem.

    ¡®But he¡¯s quick to acknowledge reality when faced with it. Not as stupid as he looks.¡¯

    The escape n was likely concocted out of wounded pride due to Isaac. Without Isaac¡¯s intervention, things would have likely gone smoothly until he was 17.

    Hans extended his hand as if asking for forgiveness. Isaac, feeling slightly sorry, shook his hand.

    Hans smiled brightly, thinking they had reconciled.

    ***

    ¡°You¡¯re incredibly strong. Did you learn from Mr. Gebel?¡±

    ¡°Huh? Oh, yeah, sort of?¡±

    Isaac couldn¡¯t say it was thanks to his past life¡¯s memories, so he evaded the question. Hans nodded as if he expected that answer.

    ¡°You¡¯re nning to join the Dawn Army, aren¡¯t you?¡±

    Hans then brought up a strange topic. Isaac nodded as he recognized the familiar term.

    Dawn Army.

    Isaac knew what it was.

    It¡¯s a periodic main quest and backbone story line in ¡®Nameless Chaos¡¯.

    In a far easternnd, there is a ¡®holynd¡¯ known as the first ce where the Codex of Light was written. But at the same time, it is also where the Immortal Emperor of the Immortal Order, Beshek, was reborn as a god.

    The Dawn Army is a coalition formed by the Codex of Light sect to reim that holynd.

    Sometimes the White Empire, which adopts the Codex of Light as its state religion, controls the holynd; other times, it¡¯s the ck Empire of the Immortal Order. For thest 100 years, the ck Empire has dominated the holynd. The most recent formation of the Dawn Army was 15 years ago, the 12th Dawn Army.

    ¡°Thest Dawn Army was 15 years ago, so by the time we¡¯re adults, it¡¯ll likely form again. The holynd must be reimed.¡±

    Hans believed the Codex of Light sect would inevitably form the Dawn Army again. Isaac knew exactly when that would be ¨C four years from now.

    ¡®Indeed, to reach the pinnacle as a pdin, participating in the Dawn Army is unparalleled.¡¯

    Even if not a pdin, this quest in the game was inevitable. The whole continent gets involved in this war.

    In short, the ¡¯13th Expedition of the Dawn Army¡¯ is a main story event in ¡®Nameless Chaos¡¯.

    When the Dawn Army is formed, the Immortal Order also forms the Eclipse Army, joining hands with like-minded sects to oppose the Dawn Army.

    In other words, Isaac had already sessfullypleted the 13th expedition of the Dawn Army eight times.

    Isaac reaffirmed his purpose.

    To hide his tentacles, he must be an unquestionable, noble pdin and reim the holynd at the pinnacle.

    ¡®What happens after the game ends, I¡¯m not sure.¡¯

    He didn¡¯t expect a hollow ¡®The end¡¯ and a return to the original world. At that time, Isaac couldn¡¯t predict what he would be, but he knew he had to join the Dawn Army someday.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you follow Mr. Gebel if you¡¯re nning to join the Dawn Army?¡±

    At Isaac¡¯s words, Hans blushed.

    ¡°I used to follow him, but it was too hard and dirty¡­ and scary.¡±

    He meant that he had tried following but couldn¡¯t keep up. Hans hastily changed the subject.

    ¡°But, aren¡¯t you scared of Mr. Gebel?¡±

    ¡°Not really? He jokes andughs more than you¡¯d think.¡±

    ¡°But there¡¯s talk that Mr. Gebel is a deserter. Deserters rampage, looting and even killing fellow believers¡­¡±

    In this era, deserters were almost synonymous with bandit gangs. They were conscripted from all over without proper supplies for war.

    After one battle, deserters would pour out, causing trouble in various regions.

    ¡°And did you see the tattoo on his wrist? The one with the ovepping crescent moon and sword. That could mean he was a soldier of the ck Empire. He might have secretly infiltrated our country.¡±

    Isaac almostughed. It¡¯s quite an imagination, but who would tattoo ¡®I¡¯m a spy¡¯ on their wrist? Plus, if he were a soldier of the ck Empire, he would be undead. He wouldn¡¯t tantly wear human skin.

    However, Isaac had seen that tattoo too. Since the crescent moon was a symbol of the ck Empire, it was natural for Johan to feel uneasy.

    ¡®Well, I am curious about Gebel¡¯s identity¡­ Maybe it¡¯s time to move to the next phase.¡¯

    ***

    Isaac began to ponder daily on how he could learn swordsmanship from Gebel. While he was working on building his body, learning swordsmanship as soon as possible was crucial, especially considering the path he needed to take to be a pdin.

    However, Gebel had lost hisrades. To give him a sword again and make him mentor the next generation, there had to be a proper reason. Isaac knew that Gebel was a pdin, but he had no information about his affiliation or the circumstances that brought him here.

    Unable to ask directly, Isaac began scouring the library shelves. The clue he needed was already out there.

    After several days of searching, Isaac nearly dropped a book. He barely caught a thick leather-bound volume, heavy enough to nearly slip from his grasp, made of sturdy parchment.

    He read the title of the book he was about to put back.

    ¡®The Records of the 12th Dawn Army.¡¯

    It was a record of the very Dawn Army that happened 15 years ago. Isaac, thinking he had finally found what he was looking for, turned the pages.

    The book was a true record, faithfully but monotonously detailing the reasons for the 12th Dawn Army¡¯s formation, participating countries, routes, personnel, the hostile forces they encountered, and their supply strategies. Although devoid of entertainment, Isaac¡¯s attention was caught by the ¡®participating groups¡¯ section.

    The emblem of a crescent moon ovepping a sword.

    It was the same symbol as the tattoo on Gebel¡¯s wrist, used by an organization as their g.

    Isaac confirmed the name of the organization.

    Avnche Pdin Order.

    ¡®¡­Of course, it was here.¡¯

    Gebel had participated in that 12th Dawn Army.

    Isaac began reading about the Avnche Pdin Order. It was a fairlyrge order, about 120 members strong, especially prominent in the eastern regions. Located on the border with the Undying Sect, they were known for their amplebat experience and aggressiveness.

    Isaac paused at the list of the order¡¯s members.

    Gebel Crackton, Vice-Commander of the Avnche Pdin Order.

    ¡®Vice-Commander¡­ He was more significant than I thought.¡¯

    Isaac felt incredulous.

    He had thought of bing a pdin, but to have someone of such stature so close?

    Pdins are not only exceptional individually but also capable of performing divine miracles, making them more revered than ordinary knights. They hold high status within their orders, so much so that lords and kings try to win them over. However, pdins don¡¯t move for money, making them notoriously difficult to persuade.

    With such status, it wouldn¡¯t have been odd for him to be themander of a knightly order under some powerful patron.

    ¡®But he didn¡¯t¡­ Did he desert after surviving? Apostasy, maybe?¡¯

    Isaac indeed never saw Gebel reading scriptures or even praying. But if he had apostatized, why would he take refuge in a monastery of the Codex of Light?

    ¡®Regardless, this information can be useful.¡¯

    As if to echo his thoughts, a whispering voice came:

    [Nameless Chaos is watching you.]

    [Nameless Chaos wishes you to make Gebel your subordinate.]

    ¡°¡­What nonsense is this?¡±

    [Nameless Chaos adjusts its goal downward.]

    [Nameless Chaos wishes you to make Gebel your prey.]

    ¡°What do they see me as? A person is not the same as a mouse.¡±

    [Nameless Chaos further adjusts its goal downward.]

    [Nameless Chaos wishes for you to achieve even a tiny victory over Gebel.]

    It all sounded the same.

    What could be expected of a mere 14-year-old child? To subjugate someone who was a vicemander of a pdin order? Knowing Gebel was a pdin seemed to ignite an inexplicable desire forpetition in Nameless Chaos.

    Isaac found it ridiculous but then thought maybe it wasn¡¯t impossible.

    Victory can take many forms. And Isaac had already nned to take a gamble with Gebel.

    [The reward of Chaos awaits you.]

 Chapter 10:

    Chapter 10:

    ¡°Move it over there.¡±

    A few dayster, Gebel was splitting firewood in the backyard and instructed Isaac. A pile of neatly stacked wood alreadyy beside him. Isaac, following the instructions, noticed that all the wood was cut uniformly and spaced evenly.

    Of course, it was possible with skilled hands, but something about it reminded Isaac of something else.

    Thud, thud.

    Gebel split the wood mechanically, without breaking a sweat. His axe never missed the center of the wood and never failed to split it in one try.

    Isaac, who had been watching silently, suddenly spoke.

    ¡°Mr. Gebel.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°Please teach me swordsmanship.¡±

    Thud. Gebel didn¡¯t stop chopping. He split a few more pieces of wood before turning to Isaac.

    He was smiling.

    ¡°So that¡¯s why you were following me around?¡±

    ¡°Not just for that, but¡­¡±

    ¡°Why do you think I know how to use a sword? Because I¡¯m a deserter?¡±

    Gebel referenced an old rumor.

    Isaac shook his head. He didn¡¯t know why Gebel was at the monastery, but that wasn¡¯t important to him.

    ¡°Was splitting the wild boar in half done with your fist?¡±

    ¡°You must have seen it wrong because you were scared.¡±

    Right. He had expected Gebel not to be convinced by mere words.

    ¡°I saw the rat corpses you sometimes asked to be discarded.¡±

    The rat corpses Gebel asionally instructed to be thrown away were not like those caught in traps, but appeared to be directly caught, all with simr wounds in simr locations.

    ¡°They were all precisely punctured by something sharp, like a knife.¡±

    ¡°Why not think of a spear or a skewer? Wouldn¡¯t that be moremon?¡±

    Gebel was surprised that Isaac had noticed, but instead of being displeased, he seemed intrigued, wondering what Isaac would say next.

    Isaac decided to throw out what he had been pondering.

    ¡°You¡¯re a holy knight, Mr. Gebel.¡±

    ¡°Why do you think I¡¯m a holy knight?¡±

    ¡°Because of the tattoo on the inside of your wrist.¡±

    Gebel inadvertently touched his wrist. He hadn¡¯t particrly hidden the tattoo. He was just surprised that young Isaac had noticed it.

    ¡°Hans called it a pattern of a sword crossing a crescent moon, but it¡¯s actually a sword piercing a crescent moon, right? The emblem of the Avnche Holy Knights.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    Piercing the crescent moon.

    Just as the sun symbolizes the Codex of Light, the crescent moon symbolizes the Immortal Order, especially the Immortal Emperor.

    Thus, Gebel¡¯s tattoo was a deration of piercing the Immortal Emperor ¡®Beshek¡¯, the god and leader of the Immortal Order.

    It was a sign that the ¡®Avnche Holy Knights¡¯ Gebel belonged to were an extremelybative organization.

    ¡°I¡¯ve seen that tattoo in the list of knights participating in the Dawn War. Holy knights who participated in the 12th Dawn War¡­¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve noticed quite a lot.¡±

    ¡°The story of the Dawn War is every kid¡¯s favorite.¡±

    Gebel put down the axe with aplex expression.

    ¡°Even kids should not be underestimated. No one but the abbot recognized it¡­¡±

    Gebel muttered, not particrly trying to hide it, and picked up the axe again. Isaac wondered if Gebel would strike him with the axe, but he simply went back to splitting wood.

    Isaac waited for an answer, but Gebel said nothing more.

    ¡°So?¡±

    ¡°So what?¡±

    ¡°Will you teach me how to use a sword?¡±

    Of course, swordsmanship isn¡¯t a necessary condition to be a holy knight. It¡¯s more of a byproduct of the process. Most holy knight orders are closed structures, filled with people brainwashed into faith from childhood.

    But Isaac didn¡¯t have that option.

    Not because this wasn¡¯t a holy knight order, but because he had no way to prove his faith. If it were discovered that he followed an nameless chaotic faith, he¡¯d be burned alive.

    If Isaac wanted to be a holy knight, he had to achieve undeniable results outside the holy knight orders before joining.

    ¡°What does me being a holy knight have to do with teaching you the sword? Go ahead and b if you want. A deserter bes a deserter holy knight.¡±

    So, he did desert? Gebel already spoke as if he had left his position as a holy knight. Maybe losing hisrades made him indifferent. Hence, he was here in this remote monastery, chopping wood.

    But Isaac knew he hadn¡¯t given up the sword. His equipment was well-maintained, and his swordsmanship was still sharp. He seemed ready to take up the sword again at any moment, just hiding out in the monastery for some reason.

    As Isaac watched, Gebel smirked and thrust the axe deep into a thick log.

    ¡°Try pulling it out.¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°You want to learn the sword, right?

    It¡¯s not even a heavy battle axe, just a hand axe. A sword is much heavier than this. Thinking of wielding a sword when you¡¯re not even fully grown? Ridiculous.¡±

    ***

    Isaac hesitated but approached the axe.

    Gebel expected Isaac to struggle and fall trying to pull it out.

    ¡°It¡¯s hard to build a body fit for a swordsman in such a poor monastery. Do you even get proper meals, or do you train? All you do is sit and read books; how can you be trained?¡±

    ¡°If I pull out this axe, will you teach me swordsmanship?¡±

    ¡°Maybe. It¡¯s not stuck in a stone like a sacred sword, but it¡¯s deeply embedded. You won¡¯t be able to pull it out just by looking at your size.¡±

    However, Gebel watched Isaac with a look of anticipation.

    He wasn¡¯tpletely against teaching Isaac swordsmanship. But to him, Isaac was just a mature child for his age. Especially since he had been trained from a young age, he thought Isaac¡¯s current physique wouldn¡¯t be enough for more than physical training.

    ¡°But maybe he¡¯ll show something special.¡±

    Isaac cautiously grasped the handle of the axe. The height of the axe handle reached up to his face, making it difficult to hold properly.

    He had no choice but to grab near the head of the axe and apply force.

    There was a slight movement in the log. Gebel was skeptical, but as expected, the axe didn¡¯t budge.

    ¡°See, instead of talking nonsense, focus on studying the scriptures. Then the abbot might rmend you for the cathedral college¡­¡±

    Gebel said, smiling.

    Isaac was smart and diligent. Even without extraordinary abilities, he was the kind of person one would want to keep around.

    However, the next moment, Isaac lifted the axe, embedded in the log, high into the air.

    Gebel¡¯s eyes widened as Isaac lifted the log, almost as big as his own torso.

    Isaac didn¡¯t just pull out the axe; he lifted the entire log. But he felt that this alone wasn¡¯t shocking enough.

    Isaac mmed the axe, still embedded in the log, into the ground.

    Bang! The axe split the log in half in one swift motion and embedded itself deep into the ground. Isaac felt a numbing shock in his palms but tried to endure it.

    ¡°Huff¡­ Lifting it was one thing, but pulling it out is another challenge.¡±

    ¡°What the¡­?¡±

    Gebel was dumbfounded and then suddenly rushed over to Isaac. Isaac was startled by Gebel frantically examining his body but let him be.

    After confirming Isaac¡¯s slender wrists and frail muscles, Gebel even lifted him to check his weight.

    Then he realized the absurdity of the situation.

    ¡°How is this possible?¡±

    Isaac avoided his gaze, pretending not to know.

    [Temporary Benefit: ¡®Beastly Strength¡¯ from consuming the gue wild boar]

    The benefit Isaac gained from consuming the gue wild boar was still active in his body.

    It was a temporary effect, but it was enough to win the bet with Gebel.

    Of course, both Isaac and Gebel knew such a situation was absurd. Isaac debated revealing this power but had to show this ¡®impossible event¡¯ to win the bet or for future swordsmanship training.

    After all, iming to train in swordsmanship without sufficient strength was also absurd.

    Gebel tried to rationalize the situation before asking.

    ¡°Did you eat all those rats?¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°Even if you did, that strength doesn¡¯t make sense for your physique¡­¡±

    Flustered by the unexpectedly sharp question, Isaac saw Gebel immediately dismiss his own theory. It was just as absurd. However, in this world, when impossible things happen, there¡¯s a convenient way toe to terms with it.

    Gebel muttered in a daze.

    ¡°Was it really a miracle, then?¡±

    ¡°A miracle?¡±

    In that moment, Isaac didn¡¯t miss the expression that flickered across Gebel¡¯s face.

    Gebel had used the past tense, ¡®Was it a miracle?¡¯ not the present tense.

    Meaning, Gebel had seen something in Isaac that he suspected was a miracle.

    And that fleeting expression on his face.

    It was a look of joy and exhration, the kind one has when something they¡¯ve been anticipating appears, not the expression one makes when they see something unexpectedly amazing.

    Gebel hurriedly masked his expression and closed his mouth, seeming reluctant to speak further.

    ¡°So then.¡±

    When Gebel hesitated to answer, Isaac pressed for a response.

    ¡°Since I lifted it, you¡¯ll teach me swordsmanship, right?¡±

    Gebel was at a loss for words.

    ***

    [The Nameless Chaos is pleased with your minor victory.]

    [A reward from the Chaos has been bestowed upon you.]

    Late in the evening, while reading in the library, Isaac received his victory reward.

    Isaac smiled slightly upon hearing the message.

    ¡®It seems he¡¯s decided to teach me swordsmanship.¡¯

    The oue wasn¡¯t decided when he lifted the axe during the day. But the message appearing after a while suggested Gebel had acknowledged it.

    ¡®It wouldn¡¯t have been possible to earn this recognition just by lifting an axe.¡¯

    Isaac realized that it was the image he had built up that had swayed Gebel¡¯s mind. The image of a smart, diligent boy, constantly striving for self-improvement, coupled with the desire to learn swordsmanship and showcasing talent, was enough to turn heads.

    ¡®Anyway, it worked out well.¡¯

    Isaac checked the reward bestowed upon him by the Nameless Chaos.

    [The Nameless Chaos has granted you the ¡®Rat in the Walls¡¯ perk.]

    [You can now share senses through your tentacles.]

    ¡®Shared senses?¡¯

    Isaac felt curious about the term. It was not immediately useful due to the many eyes around, but he cautiously got up and headed outside, pretending to go to the bathroom.

    ¡®Let¡¯s see, just once¡­¡¯

    In a secluded spot, Isaac tried out his tentacles. He experienced a slight dizziness as the vision and

    sounds perceived by the tentacles ovepped with his own.

    [The Rat in the Walls / You can share senses through your tentacles.]

    The ovepping visions were not too confusing, separated only by a blurry boundary. Closing his eyes allowed him to focus more on the tentacle¡¯s perspective.

    Isaac moved the tentacle and pushed it through a small crack in the floor. He knew the confessional where Gebel and the abbot were located was below. His aim from the beginning was to eavesdrop on them.

    He needed to know what Gebel thought of him.

    The tentacle snaked through the loosely sealed wall cracks and stopped near where Gebel and Yevhar were. He heard their conversation through a small ear formed on the tentacle.

    ***

    ¡°He lifted an axe stuck in the wood?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Your Reverence.¡±

    As expected, Isaac¡¯s feat had reached the abbot¡¯s ears.

    ¡°Maybe he¡¯s just naturally strong? Calling it a miracle seems a bit of a stretch.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s different, Your Reverence.¡±

    In the dimly lit confessional, Gebel, with his forehead resting on his hand, muttered.

    ¡°There¡¯s a high probability that Isaac is a Holy Body. One who harbors miracles within themselves.¡±

 Chapter 11:

    Chapter 11:

    Chapter 11. The Holy Body (3)

    A body where a miracle has urred is called a ¡®Holy Body¡¯ in the Codex of Light.

    As the term ¡®Holy Body¡¯ was mentioned, the monastery¡¯s abbot fell into a moment of silence. However, Gebel quickly continued.

    ¡°I saw a person who manifested a Holy Body when I was young. Overnight, they possessed abilities beyond verbal exnation. Isaac is young and small in stature, so it¡¯s this much for now, but as he grows, it will manifest more strongly.¡±

    ¡°Indeed, his appearance is not that of an ordinary child¡­¡±

    Isaac¡¯s surreal appearance even baffled the abbot. Frankly, it seemed more usible that his appearance itself could be a Holy Body rather than just his ability to lift a heavy ax. But under Gebel¡¯s intense gaze, the abbot cleared his throat.

    ¡°Miracles are granted through achievements, and a Holy Body manifests through divine revtion. If Isaac truly is a Holy Body, we must consider it carefully. It¡¯s not a matter we can decide lightly.¡±

    There are indeed many people in the world who possess miracles. People who have entered burning furnaces ande out alive, those who can move incredibly fast over long distances, and even those who have returned from death. Monks can even routinely perform the miracle of lighting candles.

    But those with a manifested Holy Body are fundamentally different. The Church calls them individuals born into the world with a mission.

    Born with miracles without any achievements, they are undoubtedly messengers sent by God to fulfill a divine mission.

    Many holders of a Holy Body have ascended to sainthood or left significant marks in history. Some even reached the rank of angels.

    Therefore, the manifestation of a Holy Body isn¡¯t something to be decided lightly; it requires the Church¡¯s recognition. It¡¯s a matter that could shake the direction of the Church.

    It indicates the direction of God¡¯s will.

    But Gebel answered coldly.

    ¡°Do you trust the ¡®Lamps Underneath the Blind¡¯?¡±

    ¡®Lamps Underneath the Blind¡¯ was a euphemism for high priests of the Codex of Light. It means that though they are closest to the light, they are blinded by its brilliance, unable to see even their feet.

    Gebel despised the Church¡¯s high priests.

    That¡¯s also why he deliberately hid Isaac in the monastery when he found him.

    ¡°If Isaac is truly a Holy Body and recognized as a divine messenger, he will ultimately be used politically, ording to their whims. Isaac may be precocious for his age, but he¡¯s still a child.¡±

    Let¡¯s say Isaac is a Holy Body with innate strength. Those who want war will interpret his existence as a call to vanquish the Church¡¯s enemies, and those who want the status quo will see it as a sign to unt the prosperity of the Baije Empire.

    The scale might tip somewhat, but eventually, the stronger side will prevail.

    The abbot somewhat agreed with Gebel¡¯s view. He too disliked the politics of the central Church, which is why he came to an outlying monastery.

    ¡°So, what do you propose?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m suggesting we be cautious before others discover Isaac¡¯s identity. That¡¯s all, Abbot.¡±

    Gebel¡¯s voice was filled with tension.

    ¡°Of course, all the monks here are good people, and the children are innocent. But the monastery isn¡¯t just them.¡±

    To operate the monastery, continuous donations from the vige or trade with merchants are necessary. Lost travelers or pilgrims might visit, and there could be visits from neighboring monasteries or the Church hierarchy.

    ¡°At least until Isaac is over 16, we can consider the timing. If the world knows about him now¡­¡±

    Gebel stopped, unable to continue. The abbot sighed deeply.

    ¡°As you know, hiding a Holy Body is like hiding God¡¯s will from the world.¡±

    ¡°I am aware, Abbot.¡±

    ¡°Then you shouldn¡¯t have told me.¡±

    Gebel bowed to the abbot.

    In truth, he was conflicted. He had hoped Isaac would be a Holy Body since Kalsen¡¯s disappearance, but epting this reality now was difficult.

    ¡®If only it had been certain from the beginning.¡¯

    A Holy Body is often described as the will of God manifested in human flesh. As a former pdin, Gebel should receive this devoutly. However, having been close to Isaac for so long, he now felt fear at the thought of the young boy bearing such a heavy mission.

    Therefore, Gebel wanted to confide and ept this truth with someone he could trust the most.

    Otherwise, he felt he might hide Isaac¡¯s existence from everyone.

    The abbot, seeing Gebel didn¡¯t respond, spoke tiredly.

    ¡°The manifestation of a Holy Body means the will of God has incarnated. You know that Emperor Waltzemer of Gertonnia manifested as a Holy Body at 20 and ascended the throne in 6 years?¡±

    ¡°Of course.¡±

    The Gerthonia Empire, only properly formed about 30 years ago. Emperor Waltzemer, with the power of a Holy Body, subdued numerous lords and warlords, creating a strong empire. The Church epted this as God¡¯s will.

    ¡°If we hide the Holy Body, how are we different from those ¡®Lamps Underneath the Blind¡¯?¡±

    ¡°At least we don¡¯t need to y the trumpet openly to the world, do we?¡±

    ¡°So¡­¡±

    ¡°If Isaac truly is a Holy Body, he will undoubtedly stand out. It must be God¡¯s will. But that time should be when God deems it right, not too soon.¡±

    With the abbot¡¯s help, that is.

    Gebel left hisst words unsaid. The abbot, sighing lightly, understood Gebel¡¯s intent. Let Isaac decide the timing himself, at least when he has grown enough not to be exploited.

    He too was once part of the central Church¡¯s political games. Tired of the strife, he may have left, but his influence was still significant. Only the abbot could smooth things over if word got out.

    ¡°I understand. It¡¯s a request from Gebel, and there must be a n prepared by the Codex of Light. It¡¯s presumptuous of us to blow trumpets on our own.¡±

    Relieved by the abbot¡¯s words, Gebel sighed. Observing him, the abbot asked.

    ¡°So, how did the Holy Body manifest?¡±

    ¡°Excuse me?¡±

    ¡°Even the manifestation of a holy body can take various forms. I¡¯ve heard there are those who show no visible change, others who appear amidst light or other special phenomena, and some even reveal their incarnate body.¡±

    ¡°By incarnate body, you mean the physical form changes?¡±

    ¡°As you know, Emperor Waltzemer grew shining horns on his head, and the lighthouse keeper Luadin, who appeared at the stake with the dawn¡¯s stone b, was said to have been in the form of burning light. It is said that the closer the body transforms to the image of a deity, the greater the power and destiny reserved for it.¡±

    Hearing the abbot¡¯s words, Gebel recalled another holy body he had seen. He had manifested the holy body without any apparent physical change.

    Gebel recalled the moment when Isaac had raised the axe.

    ¡°It didn¡¯t seem like anything special.¡±

    The abbot smiled in relief.

    ¡°That¡¯s fortunate. It¡¯ll be easier to conceal, and perhaps the Codex of Light has not ced a heavy destiny on Isaac¡¯s shoulders. Maybe he¡¯s just a youngster with extraordinary strength.¡±

    That possibility was not out of the question. There have been instances where miracles were temporary. There were also holy bodies that left no significant historical trace and disappeared. However, Gebel had dismissed that possibility since he brought Isaac from the annihted vige.

    A miracle happening once could be a coincidence, but twice indicates intent.

    The abbot murmured in passing.

    ¡°Let¡¯s pretend today¡¯s conversation never happened. It¡¯s better not to mention the holy body to Isaac.¡±

    ¡°Yes, I understand.¡±

    Though they promised to keep it a secret, another set of ears had already heard their conversation.

    ***

    Soon after, Isaac withdrew his tentacles with a confused expression.

    ¡®Gebel brought me to the monastery?¡¯

    Isaac recalled the day he was struck by Kalsen¡¯s sword.

    He couldn¡¯t clearly remember how he got from there to the monastery, but if Gebel was involved, it meant he had deliberately hidden his identity for some reason.

    Isaac was perplexed, not knowing how to take this.

    ¡®Then why hasn¡¯t he acted like he knew all this time?¡¯

    Maybe the intention was to hide him among other orphans and raise him as a normal child. It implied the need to conceal Isaac¡¯s identity. Not informing the higher echelons of the order about his status as a ¡®holy body¡¯ might have been for the same reason.

    ¡®I didn¡¯t expect this kind of situation, though I wasn¡¯t hoping for special treatment.¡¯

    The new information was surprising, but nothing had changed. However, he knew how to act if an unforeseen situation arose.

    Historically, the life of a young child hiding their identity was as precarious as a candle in the wind.

    And if that candle managed to survive, it could be a fire that engulfs the world.

    ***

    ¡°I¡¯ll teach you swordsmanship.¡±

    The next morning.

    Already aware of this, Isaac was not greatly surprised. However, he pretended to be pleased, so as not to arouse Gebel¡¯s suspicion.

    ¡°But there¡¯s a condition.¡±

    ¡°A condition?¡±

    ¡°Avoid unnecessarily disying your strength elsewhere, like when you lifted the axe yesterday. You understand what I mean?¡±

    It meant not to speak of the miracles he performed.

    ¡®Although, strictly speaking, it¡¯s more a monster¡¯s power than a miracle.¡¯

    Isaac was actually d about Gebel¡¯s words.

    He had shown his strength, trusting that the unsociable Gebel wouldn¡¯t go around talking about it. Besides, Gebel¡¯s identity as a deserted holy knight was also better kept out of unnecessary attention.

    The same went for Isaac.

    Isaac knew that the strength he showed was not a miracle, but a trick using a tentacled monster. If he was thoroughly investigated by the higher order, he¡¯d end up as a well-cooked barbecue.

    ¡®I was just about to enjoy the easy life here and then make my escape. This is perfect.¡¯

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s fine.¡±

    Isaac readily agreed, causing Gebel to look at him curiously.

    ¡°You ept it quite readily.¡±

    ¡®Maybe I agreed too easily?¡¯

    It was an age when he should have been starved for attention.

    But Isaac brazenly responded.

    ¡°If I said no, you wouldn¡¯t teach me swordsmanship, right?¡±

    Gebel had actually intended to teach Isaac swordsmanship regardless of his response. It was to reduce Isaac¡¯s time with others, preventing the idental reveal of his holy body. He also hoped Isaac would learn some means of protecting himself when he eventually left the monastery.

    ¡°Well, fine.¡±

    Gebel said this while taking out the hand axe he had stuck into the firewood yesterday.

    ¡°Let¡¯s start with this.¡±

    ¡°An axe? Am I to lift it again?¡±

    ¡°No. There¡¯s no sword that fits you right now. My sword is too long and ill-suited for your hand. Until your body grows properly, you¡¯ll practice with whatever you can hold.¡±

    The monastery had no real weapons, only clubs or staff. Of course, Gebel had several spare weapons prepared for emergencies, but none were suitable for Isaac.

    ¡°A weapon can break or get damaged easier than you think. In battle, you must be able to fight with whatever you can grab. After all, the basics of all weapons are the same.¡±

    ¡°The basics?¡±

    ¡°To strike the enemy quickly with the sharp end.¡±

    Gebel gripped the hand axe and focused ahead.

    Gone was the Gebel who used to handle menial tasks at the monastery.

    In his ce stood a battle-worn, veteran Pdin.

 Chapter 12:

    Chapter 12:

    Gebel lifted the axe and stepped forward heavily. Isaac involuntarily pictured the target Gebel aimed to strike, not a human but a giant, or rather, a massive rock.

    As Gebel swung down his raised foot, the axe cut through the air with a heavy wind noise.

    Whoosh!

    The de of the axe shed, sending a strong wind in all directions.

    A straightforward downward strike.

    It was a simple and fundamental move with an axe.

    Isaac recognized it as a simr technique to the one Gebel used when he had cut down a wild boar.

    With a dull sound, the log split in two. The cut was clean. It was split along the grain, but even if it had been against the grain, the result would have likely been the same.

    Gebel, havingpleted the move cleanly, was pleased to see Isaac¡¯s surprised face.

    But Isaac¡¯s surprise wasn¡¯t due to watching Gebel¡¯s move.

    [Basic Holy Knight Swordsmanship has been unlocked.]

    [¡®Kalsen Miller¡¯ Predation effect greatly increases proficiency.]

    [Lower Holy Knight Swordsmanship Proficiency (Lv 1) (11/10000)]

    ¡®Just by watching?¡¯

    Isaac still couldn¡¯t fully utilize the Predation effect of Kalsen Miller due to the level difference. However, the message suggested that the Predation effect could grant more than just ability scores.

    ¡®The talent in swordsmanship¡­ The talent of a Holy Knight that Kalsen Miller possessed.¡¯

    The top-ranking Holy Knight known as the Saint of Swords. Unbeknownst to him, Isaac had been harboring Kalsen Miller¡¯s talent. That meant the ultimate skill he obtained from consuming Miller, ¡®Lighthouse of the Watcher¡¯, could also be unlocked through simr growth.

    ¡°Let¡¯s start with this.¡±

    ¡°Do it like you, Mr. Gebel?¡±

    At that, Gebel looked at him as if it was ridiculous.

    ¡°Think you can mimic it? If you really did it exactly, you might tear a muscle. Just try a simple downward strike.¡±

    A simple downward strike was something anyone could do. But without skill, Isaac, despite his astonishing strength, would be no more than a strong lumberjack.

    It was just basic training for now.

    ¡°But do you understand what that move was?¡±

    Suddenly, Gebel remembered that Isaac might have meant he couldn¡¯t replicate such a move. The technique Gebel used was only possible after thousands of repetitions by someone highly focused.

    It would have seemed trivial to an ordinary person since Gebel had trained enough to perform it with little effort. Recognizing such a level of skill required someone of a certain level themselves.

    Moreover, Isaac, who had never held a sword until now¡­

    Isaac was about to say it was obvious but stopped himself. He remembered something simr to Gebel.

    If Kalsen Miller¡¯s talent had seeped into him, then his discernment might also remain. But he couldn¡¯t mention that.

    ¡°That just seemed like a hard move to follow, even if you brought Murzik over.¡±

    Isaac diverted the topic naturally, and Gebel smiled at the expected response.

    Isaac received the hand axe from Gebel and staggered momentarily under its weight. But he managed to steady himself by exerting force on his feet.

    ¡®If I hadn¡¯t consumed anything until now, I wouldn¡¯t even be able to hold it.¡¯

    In truth, the boar in Isaac¡¯s body had been fully digested, leaving no more temporary benefits.

    The digestion of such arge boar was improbable, but thanks to it, Isaac had grown in muscle and stature. That he could barely lift the axe was also due to this reason.

    Seeing Isaac struggling to hold the axe, Gebel tilted his head in confusion. Yesterday, Isaac had effortlessly lifted the axe stuck in the wood, but today he was barely managing.

    Inside Gebel¡¯s curious gaze, Isaac, for the time being, mimicked what he had done, barely lifting it and then barely striking down. Stopping the axe before it hit the ground was harder than lifting it.

    Whoosh!

    [Lower Holy Knight Swordsmanship Proficiency (Lv 1) (22/10000)]

    ¡°Phew.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Is it too heavy?¡±

    ¡°No, it¡¯s not that.¡±

    Isaac contemted secretly using his tentacles, conflicted. If he found it too difficult today after lifting it easily before, Gebel might be suspicious.

    But Gebel, in fact, was relieved.

    ¡®It would be a relief if that day¡¯s incident was just a temporary phenomenon.¡¯

    A temporary phenomenon meant it wasn¡¯t a Holy Body but just a random miracle. Such small miracles happened often in the order. If so, it meant Isaac wouldn¡¯t attract unnecessary attention or trouble.

    Then he felt confused about being pleased. For his purpose, Isaac needed to be a Holy Body and achieve greatness with his exceptional talent. Yet at the same time, he hoped Isaac would grow up ordinary and enjoy a peaceful life.

    Regardless, his decision to teach Isaac swordsmanship didn¡¯t change. Gebel decided to teach and observe him more closely.

    ¡°Try again.¡±

    Isaac repeated it a few times. But before even swinging five times, Gebel saw the axe hit the ground and smiled. It wasn¡¯t a mocking smile, but one of relief.

    Isaac noticed his smile and focused again, exerting strength in his hands holding the axe. He then began to visualize each of Gebel¡¯s moves like pictures in his mind.

    ¡®That move, one more time.¡¯

    Boom! The sound of slicing the air was different and clear this time. The smile faded slightly from Gebel¡¯s face. Isaac was still barely lifting the axe, but the trajectory and vigor of his swings had started to change noticeably.

    ¡°No¡­¡±

    Gebel murmured softly, but Isaac didn¡¯t hear.

    He only recalled the trajectory of Gebel¡¯s sword in the autumn rain and the axe swing he just made.

    Suddenly, that trajectory seemed vividly clear.

    ¡®Just follow the de¡¯s path? When swinging a sword, you need to use your whole body. From your toes to the top of your head, direction, gaze, stride, even your breathing ¨C pay attention to everything!¡¯

    Suddenly, Isaac felt like he heard a shout, not his own memory but someone else¡¯s, someone else¡¯s voice. At that moment, the motion of Gebel in his mind sparked, controlling Isaac¡¯s body.

    Whoosh!

    A strong whirlwind filled the backyard. The axe stopped just before hitting the ground.

    ¡°Gasp, pant¡­¡±

    [Critical!]

    [High concentration achievement greatly increases proficiency.]

    [Lower Holy Knight Swordsmanship Proficiency (Lv 1) (232/10000)]

    Isaac was speechless at the tremendous improvement. His proficiency had increased by nearly 180 in one go. The more he concentrated, the more his proficiency achievements seemed to differ.

    Isaac gasped for breath, his entire body soaked with sweat. He felt a burning heat throughout his body, his muscles on the verge of cramping. Surprised by his excessive immersion, Isaac inadvertently dropped the axe.

    ¡®Was that just now Kalsen¡¯s memory?¡¯

    It was the only exnation he could think of. It seemed like a memory from when Kalsen was either teaching someone or being taught. In thatst move, Isaac felt like he was someone other than himself.

    ¡®Did I just replicate Gebel¡¯s move¡­ or, Kalsen¡¯s?¡¯

    Perhaps the Nameless Chaos¡¯s consumption was more than just devouring the flesh and bones of enemies. It was as if someone else¡¯s experiences were etched into his muscles.

    Only then did Isaac remember that Gebel had said something to him. When he finally turned around, Gebel looked pale.

    ¡°What did you say?¡±

    Gebel, rubbing his face in confusion, struggled to find the right words. After some time, he sshed his face with water and spoke.

    ¡°Let¡¯s move on to the next.¡±

    ¡°Next?¡±

    ¡°Yes, next, or rather, back to the basics. What you did just now is too advanced for you. Let¡¯s start with physical conditioning.¡±

    Isaac looked a bit incredulous. Wasn¡¯t what he had just done a basic move? A simple downward strike.

    Gebel, realizing the absurdity of his own words, shook his head.

    But on the other hand, he felt it was for the best. Frankly, Isaac¡¯s arms and legs were trembling too much to continue. Muscle training with imminent cramps was meaningless.

    It seemed like Isaac would need to focus on consuming meat and physical training for a while.

    Gebel kept sshing his face with water, looking at Isaac, who seemed to take the recent event lightly. It was now clear to Gebel that Isaac was indeed a Holy Body.

    It wasn¡¯t just remarkable talent.

    ¡®The skill Kalsen would have disyed at twenty¡­¡¯

    Gebel shook his head at the thought.

    In any case, the direction he had to take was now clear.

    He decided to get a little more involved in Isaac¡¯s life.

    ¡®Not using him, but adding my small pebble to the path guided by the light in return for helping this boy¡­¡¯

    Gebel repeated this to himself.

    ***

    ¡°The Holy Body is certain.¡±

    Gebel repeated this to the abbot. The abbot, seeing Gebel¡¯s expression, was puzzled.

    ¡°Then there¡¯s nothing different from what we talked about earlier. But why do you look so troubled?¡±

    ¡°My expression?¡±

    ¡°Quite¡­plicated.¡±

    Joy, confusion, and fear mingled on Gebel¡¯s face. Returning to his usual stoicism, the abbot continued.

    ¡°Why are you suddenly so sure? I saw him swinging the axe, but he seemed exhausted after just a few swings.¡±

    ¡°Yes. I thought the same at first. But then¡­¡±

    Gebel muttered, touching his face in disbelief.

    ¡°He nearly replicated Saint Arte¡¯s Iron-Cutting Style with just ten swings of the axe.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m not knowledgeable about swordsmanship. I know Saint Arte was a hero of the First Dawn Army, but¡­¡±

    ¡°Saint Arteid the foundation for all Holy Knight swordsmanship. The order he founded branched into hundreds, bing the genesis of the Holy Knight orders around the world.¡±

    Gebel continued, stroking his chin.

    ¡°Saint Arte¡¯s swordsmanship transformed ordinary knights into Holy Knights. It¡¯s often said he elevated swordsmanship to a sacred level. It¡¯s fundamental, and although outdated, it¡¯s still standard to learn his techniques at the basic stage.¡±

    ¡°So, Isaac aplished these basics in just one day?¡±

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t perfect, but it seems to be just a matter of physical strength and equipment.¡±

    Gebel exined non-stop.

    ¡°I was wrong. The miracle bestowed upon Isaac isn¡¯t just brute strength but that talent. Such perfect talent can only be Kalsen¡¯s¡­¡±

    ¡°Gebel.¡±

    The abbot corrected Gebel¡¯s slip. Realizing his mistake, Gebel fell silent. Excited or not, mentioning that name was inappropriate. Gebel felt his face flush.

    ¡°That betrayer is rumored to be missing, butparing him to a child who lost everyone to that man seems unjust.¡±

    ¡°He must be rotting somewhere, wearing a skull. I apologize for my mistake.¡±

    Gebel made the sign of the cross on his chest, repenting. Kalsen¡¯s betrayal had caused much turmoil in the order. This monastery was quiet only because it distanced itself from church politics, but the situation in the rest of the order was severe.

    There were even rumors that Kalsen was predestined in the Holy Scripture.

    Regardless of one¡¯s faith, ascending to an angel after achieving deeds worthy of divine recognition was a widely epted belief. Among them, those who achieved deeds memorable to the deity themselves were named by the deity and called ¡®Named Angels.¡¯

    In the thousand-year history of the Codex of Light, only six have reached the status of Named Angels.

    Kalsen was rumored to be the seventh, but hemitted an unimaginable sin of betrayal.

    But the real issue began from there. If Kalsen had ascended to a Named Angel or an angel of the Immortal Order, there would be tales of a new Named Angel in the Immortal Order. But there were none.

    Thus, the Codex of Light was troubled trying to ascertain the truth of Kalsen¡¯s betrayal and his whereabouts.

    However, all this was a distant story for the monastery. The abbot refocused on the immediate problem ¨C Isaac.

    ¡°So, what have you decided to do with Isaac?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll pause the swordsmanship lessons and start with real basics like breathing, stride, and strength training. I intended to give him a taste of hardship, but I didn¡¯t expect such talent¡­¡±

    ¡°You did well. It¡¯s best to postpone swordsmanship training for now.¡±

    Gebel turned away.

    Though it was his decision, he couldn¡¯t understand why the abbot insisted.

    ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°Gebel, I understand Isaac has great talent and may be a Holy Body. But he¡¯s 14. He needs character education more than learning to be strong.¡±

    Gebel fell silent, realizing what he had missed.

    ¡°Yes. Sometimes talking to Isaac, I feel like I¡¯m speaking with an adult. He¡¯s kind-hearted enough to jump into danger for others, but being precocious isn¡¯t always a good thing.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s true. But¡­¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s no need to rush, Gebel. If he learns that fast, focus on the direction, right?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s¡­ yes, correct.¡±

    The abbot had heard stories about Isaac from the other children. His concern stemmed from these stories.

    He knew Isaac¡¯s actions were noble and just. Therefore, it was necessary to firmly anchor his good nature.

    After all, the most painful betrayal oftenes from the most devout believers.

    Gebel, having just mentioned Kalsen, felt the abbot¡¯s words even more deeply.

    The Codex of Light wouldn¡¯t want to relive such a painful lesson.

    ¡°For now, I will teach Isaac. What do you think?¡±

    ¡°The abbot personally?¡±

    Gebel asked, surprised. The abbot smiled softly.

    ¡°If Isaac wants to be a pdin, he¡¯ll want to learn about miracles too. I don¡¯t have much experience teaching children, but I believe I¡¯ve demonstrated a respectable faith. He¡¯ll enjoy it as much as swordsmanship.¡±

 Chapter 13:

    Chapter 13:

    Gebel was even more surprised to hear that Isaac was going to be taught miracles.

    Priests could perform a variety of miracles, from simply illuminating darkness or lighting candles to subduing enemies. However, such training typically started at the very least at the stage of a trainee priest.

    The abbot¡¯s proposal was almost equivalent to considering Isaac for priesthood.

    Considering the difficulty of bing a formal priest, this seemed premature for a 14-year-old. Not many among the monks ultimately donned the priest¡¯s robes. However, if the abbot personally taught and rmended a student, bing a priest would be straightforward.

    ¡°Is that okay? Isaac is only 14, as you said.¡±

    ¡°If the right heart and a sincere desire to praise Gode together, it¡¯s not impossible. Don¡¯t worry. The Codex of Light will guide everything ording to its principles.¡±

    ***

    After breakfast, Isaac, as usual, headed to the backyard to help Gebel. However, the person waiting there wasn¡¯t Gebel but someone else.

    ¡°Isaac.¡±

    ¡°Hello, Abbot Evhar.¡±

    It was Abbot Evhar, a tall man with a lean figure, who examined Isaac while fiddling with a rosary. Isaac, however, met his gaze without any hint of anxiety, having overheard his conversation with Gebel the night before.

    ¡®I could be the target of a witch hunt at any moment. I must be cautious until I¡¯m certain of their trust.¡¯

    Especially now, as he was just beginning to show his potential, he couldn¡¯t afford to rx. And today, he needed to be particrly careful.

    ¡®If I can earn Abbot Evhar¡¯s trust¡­ I might learn the basics of being a Pdin, the miracles.¡¯

    Isaac met his eyes directly, determined to show confidence and integrity. However, Evhar noticed something unexpected in Isaac¡¯s face.

    ¡®Well¡­ if not properly guided, he¡¯ll break quite a few hearts.¡¯

    Recently, due to the effects of consumption, Isaac had grown remarkably. His once dull skin had begun to glow, and his skinny limbs filled out, leading to an astonishing transformation in his appearance.

    Evhar, noticing this, coughed awkwardly.

    Ordinary children usually found Evhar¡¯s somber expression intimidating. However, Isaac seemed neither fearful nor expectant of what he might say.

    ¡®Is this what they mean when they say a child grows up suddenly?¡¯

    Maybe Gebel¡¯s im about Isaac being a Holy Body was true.

    Isaac, meanwhile, was thinking something entirely different.

    ¡®What a grim face.¡¯

    He quickly brushed aside that thought, fearing it might be deemed disrespectful.

    ¡°I heard you have a talent for swordsmanship, Isaac.¡±

    ¡°Oh, yes. I am trying my best, though Ick a lot.¡±

    The Codex of Light doesn¡¯t forbid priests from wielding a sword. In fact, it often encourages it.

    Travelling in a rough world without a weapon during pilgrimages is foolish. Especially if one risks being killed by the Immortal Order, it¡¯s essential for a priest traveling east to be self-sufficient in defense.

    ¡°How many prayers have you memorized?¡±

    ¡°The prayer before meals and the morning prayer¡­¡±

    ¡°How much of the scriptures have you memorized? Do you know the Dawn Psalms, chapter 4, verse 8?¡±

    ¡°¡­I¡¯m not sure.¡±

    Isaac struggled to respond, but it was an unfair situation for him.

    Most orphans of this era are fortunate just to survive to adulthood without starving. Learning enough skills to make a living is considered a sess, so studying letters is a luxury. The monastery also provides ¡®opportunities to learn letters¡¯ but does not insist on memorizing the content of scriptures.

    In essence, Evhar was making an unreasonable demand of Isaac, who had only been at the monastery for a few months.

    ¡°Can you discern whom to protect and whom to strike down if you train your sword without fully opening your eyes? I worry you¡¯re seeking achievements too hastily.¡±

    ¡®I suppose I need to memorize some scripture to be a Pdin, but starting studies already is a bit much.¡¯

    Isaac grumbled inwardly but didn¡¯tin. He realized Evhar¡¯s visit and words meant an opportunity.

    ¡®If they exempt me from needlessbor and allow me to memorize or transcribe scriptures during that time, it could be beneficial.¡¯

    Evhar, however, had his own intentions.

    ¡®If Isaac is as talented as they say, we need to secure him now to prevent him from going astray.¡¯

    Even if swordsmanship training was paused, shaping Isaac into a righteous person who understands the words of the scripture was crucial. Gaining too much power too soon at a young age could turn a saint into a mere brute.

    Unbeknownst to Evhar, Isaac¡¯s mind already contained the wisdom of an aged man.

    ¡°I apologize. I acted rashly without understanding the proper order due to feeling powerless when my friends were in danger. I reflect on my mistake.¡±

    Isaac apologized humbly, yet with a hint of ¡®remember when the kids were almost killed? Who saved them?¡¯ in his words.

    Evhar recalled the incident and flinched.

    He watched Isaac for a moment before speaking.

    ¡°Right. The important thing is the heart, not the words of the scripture. I was mistaken.¡±

    ¡®Huh? Why is he agreeing so quickly, despite looking so stern?¡¯

    As Isaac wondered, Evhar continued.

    ¡°I will personally teach you the words of the Codex of Light. It¡¯ll be quicker than memorizing the scripture.¡±

    Either way, Isaac couldn¡¯t escape Evhar¡¯s grasp.

    Isaac, who had be a personal student of the abbot, followed him.

    ***

    ¡°The words the Codex of Light transmitted to the prophet Luadin were as follows: You must know that the warmth of a bonfire rising in a snowy mountain is the same as that in a desert of hardship¡­¡±

    Evhar mumbled the scripture¡¯s words as he walked through the monastery with Isaac. Isaac felt sleepy but couldn¡¯t doze off as Evhar continued speaking while walking.

    ¡®I¡¯ve paid attention to even the most boring lectures, but this is too much¡­¡¯

    In truth, Isaac had no interest in religion. His biggest dilemma after bing Isaac was precisely that.

    He had been an atheist.

    Of course, in a world where deities exist, being an atheist is absurd, but his fundamental mindset remained that of a modern human.

    Prioritizing individual realities over the will of a distant divine seemed more important.

    However, in this world, people greatly valued that divine will. This meant that if Isaac wanted to seed and live well in this world, he would have to at least pretend to have faith. He had anticipated a time when this would be necessary, but it was challenging now that he was receiving focused instruction.

    He knew that receiving personal instruction from the abbot was a rare opportunity.

    The problem was that Evhar didn¡¯t seem particrly talented in teaching.

    ¡°¡­Again, the Codex of Light ignited a me in a closed room, filling it with smoke. The me then extinguished. Watching this, the Codex of Light said to Luadin¡­¡±

    Isaac felt so sleepy he could nod off any second.

    ¡®I¡¯d find a physics ss more interesting than this¡­ Wait a minute?¡¯

    Suddenly, Evhar¡¯s words struck a familiar chord with Isaac. Until now, he hadn¡¯t paid much attention to the words of the scripture. They were just something he knew he had to memorize eventually, not something he internalized deeply.

    But as he forced himself to focus on Evhar¡¯s monotonous words, subtle aspects touched his memory.

    ¡°¡­The Codex of Light said, already burned ash and smoke cannot return to being wood. Light and heat are transient, always flowing, so cherish and care for the moment¡­¡±

    ¡®Isn¡¯t this¡­ thermodynamics?¡¯

    A sh of realization swept through Isaac¡¯s mind.

    Isaac wasn¡¯t a physics major, but he had a basic understanding of the subject. He realized the words Evhar was muttering intertwined with his own rudimentary knowledge of physics.

    Suddenly, everything Evhar said and what he had seen and heard in the scripture clicked into ce in his mind.

    It was like a moment of enlightenment.

    The teachings of the Codex of Light were akin to exining modern physics in a narrative, non-mathematical form, interwoven with moral lessons.

    ¡®Could it be¡­ that¡¯s why it¡¯s called the Codex of Light?¡¯

    Light is the fastest thing known. It¡¯s the constant measure in thews of physics.

    If the Codex of Light is a deity, then it¡¯s the deity of physics.

    Isaac was dumbfounded by this absurd realization.

    He thought he had to force himself to believe in the Codex of Light, but in fact, he had always been a follower, as modern physics was as fundamental to him as the air he breathed.

    ¡°Isaac.¡±

    Just then, Evhar suddenly leaned in close to Isaac, causing him to startle and step back.

    ¡°You seemed to be lost in thought during my teaching.¡±

    ¡°¡­I was just reflecting on your words, Abbot.¡±

    ¡°Is that so? Then you should understand the bonfire analogy.¡±

    The bonfire on the snowy mountain is the same as that in the desert.

    The scripture interprets this as the Codex of Light¡¯s power shining equally on all things, good or evil, and preaching the deity¡¯s benevolence.

    But the content had nothing to do with kindness or equality.

    ¡°Hot things are hot everywhere, and cold things are cold everywhere.¡±

    It was an oversimplified exnation, but enough for people of this world to understand. Yet Evhar twitched at Isaac¡¯s words.

    Instead of getting angry, Evhar responded thoughtfully.

    ¡°What about the story of the closed room?¡±

    ¡°Everything in an isted space keeps changing form, but nothing disappears or emerges anew.¡±

    ¡°And the tale of the ash?¡±

    ¡°High things go low, hot things cool down, and clustered things scatter.¡±

    ¡°Hah¡­¡±

    Evhar looked at Isaac wide-eyed, constantly touching his face as he responded fluently. Isaac¡¯s words could easily be misconstrued as heretical.

    However, Evhar, who had studied scripture for decades, instinctively felt the ¡®essence¡¯ of the Codex of Light¡¯s teachings in his words.

    The scripture of Luadin had been revered as divine words, but over centuries, it was tranted and scribed with interpretations by priests.

    Versions filled with pleasant and moralistic content emerged.

    But Isaac¡¯s words stripped away those interpretations, getting closer to the honest essence.

    ¡®Like Luadin, who transcribed the words of the Codex of Light?¡¯

    This realization struck Evhar like lightning.

    Gebel had said Isaac was a Holy Body, chosen by the deity, a bearer of miracles.

    Evhar had been skeptical, but Isaac¡¯s words were testing enough.

    ¡®If that¡¯s true, am I daring to test someone chosen by the deity?¡¯

    Evhar could now somewhatprehend the shock Gebel had felt.

    Was this what being a Holy Body meant?

    Yet Isaac was different from other Holy Bodies Evhar had encountered. He was a destabilizing presence, unsettling in a way.

    ¡®If Isaac is indeed a Holy Body, he might have a world-changing mission.¡¯

    Feeling the heavy gaze, Isaac wondered if he had made a mistake.

    ¡®I thought I answered quite well. Should I have simplified it more?¡¯

    To Isaac, Evhar¡¯s stern face seemed either like ¡®I can¡¯t believe such a fool is in my monastery¡¯ or ¡®There¡¯s a devil in front of me.¡¯ But Isaac was confident that his grasp of the Codex of Light¡¯s essence was correct.

    ¡®Of course, I can¡¯t decipher it into forms.¡¯

    Isaac knew only the concept, and that too in a highly summarized form.

    But this allowed him to at least pretend to understand in front of Evhar.

    After a long silence, Evhar finally spoke.

    ¡°Remarkable, Isaac.¡±

 Chapter 14:

    Chapter 14:

    Fortunately, Isaac¡¯s response seemed to be correct. He sighed with relief internally and replied.

    ¡°Thank you, Abbot Evhar.¡±

    Evhar observed Isaac, who responded humbly. Whether Isaac was a Holy Body or not, he was clearly no ordinary being. Evhar kept in mind a remote, albeit unlikely, possibility.

    That a very cunning devil had infiltrated the monastery.

    Evhar was cautious by nature. He had seen cases where revered heroes harbored evil within them. The Immortal Emperor Beshek was once one of the bishops of the Codex of Light. Kalsen Miller was the order¡¯s hero, destined for the rank of Named Angel. There were also those who became Named Angels of other faiths as a consequence of apostasy.

    ¡®Codex of Light, please forgive me for testing you.¡¯

    Evhar decided to conduct onest test.

    He slowly reached out towards Isaac¡¯s forehead. Isaac, unaware of his intentions, stared nkly at the approaching finger.

    [The Nameless Chaos watches you.]

    [The Nameless Chaos warns you.]

    [The Nameless Chaos sternly warns you.]

    ¡®What?¡¯

    Startled by the sudden warnings, Isaac tried to pull back, but Evhar was prepared, grasping Isaac¡¯s neck and pressing a finger against his forehead.

    At that moment, a blinding sh erupted.

    The light, bright enough to cover the monastery and visible beyond the mountains on the horizon, gradually faded.

    Isaacy sprawled backward, staring nkly ahead. There was a smell of burning. Touching his forehead where Evhar had pressed, Isaac found no wound, only a smudge.

    ¡°Remarkable, Isaac.¡±

    Evhar, tiredly holding his wrist, said this. The lower part of his arm was missing, with only a charred stump remaining.

    ¡°I wonder if I¡¯m even qualified to teach you¡­¡±

    Evhar soon fainted. Behind the panicked Isaac, monks and Gebel hurried towards them.

    ***

    After taking Evhar to his chamber, Isaac exined the incident to Gebel. Upon hearing about the sh that urred when Evhar touched Isaac¡¯s forehead, Gebel sighed.

    ¡°The proof of faith?¡±

    ¡°Yes. The Abbot wanted to confirm your faith for thest time.¡±

    Gebel continued seriously.

    ¡°The proof of faith is a miracle that tests faith by pushing the body into heaven. If one¡¯s faith is shallow, they receive burns. That¡¯s why it¡¯s forbidden except for high priests and inquisitors.¡±

    Isaac gasped, realizing he almost suffered the same fate as Evhar.

    ¡®So that¡¯s why the Nameless Chaos warned me?¡¯

    He grimaced.

    ¡°Was the Abbot trying to kill me?¡±

    ¡°Abbot Evhar never used that miracle more than three times in his life, and if he suspected it would seriously harm the other person, he wouldn¡¯t use it at all. He must have had some confidence after hearing your answers.¡±

    But you never know.

    Isaac grumbled inwardly.

    ¡°But in the end, I was unharmed, and it was the Abbot who lost his wrist. Why is that?¡±

    Gebel seemed troubled by this as well.

    ¡°That¡¯s because¡­ if the believer¡¯s faith greatly exceeds that of the caster, the caster suffers the burns. The difference is returned justly.¡±

    Isaac gaped, stunned. He now understood why the other monks and Gebel looked at him strangely. In short, he had won a faith contest against the Abbot.

    ¡®It¡¯s like a novice disciple beating a grandmaster in a battle of inner strength in martial arts.¡¯

    While Isaac felt ufortable thinking about how this would be perceived, he took sce that his connection with the Nameless Chaos wasn¡¯t revealed. In fact, his ¡®faith¡¯ had been publicly validated, reducing the likelihood of further suspicion.

    ¡®No, that¡¯s good. Being officially recognized for my faith gives me an excuse, even if my tentacles are discovered.¡¯

    He believed he understood why he overwhelmingly won against the Abbot.

    The Codex of Light was, in essence, themon knowledge of physics. For Isaac, a modern man, this was as obvious as the Earth being round and the Moon existing.

    His faith in these principles was unshakable.

    A clear truth is equivalent to absolute faith.

    However, Evhar, living in a world with numerous gods, legends, and superstitions, would naturally have some degree of doubt, even with his devout faith.

    The difference resulted in Evhar losing his wrist.

    ¡°Will his wrist heal?¡±

    Some high-ranking clergy could perform miracles to restore severed limbs. An abbot should have ess to such a miracle.

    But Gebel shook his head.

    ¡°No¡­ It will be difficult because it¡¯s a hand lost through a miracle. It was taken by the Codex of Light, and I doubt they will return it.¡±

    Isaac clicked his tongue internally.

    The proof of his innocence was a cause for joy. However, he couldn¡¯t be certain whether causing the abbot to lose his wrist would ultimately be beneficial or detrimental.

    ***

    It was a weekter when Isaac met Evhar again.

    ¡°Hello, Abbot.¡±

    Evhar was waiting for Isaac in his office, standing with his back to the sunlit window, making his expression hard to see. However, his right hand was still wrapped in a bandage, suggesting his wrist hadn¡¯t healed.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Abbot. I¡­¡±

    ¡°Sorry?¡±

    ¡°About your wrist¡­¡±

    ¡°Ah, this. It¡¯s nothing. I had somewhat prepared for it when I took the action.¡±

    Evhar walked away from the window and looked at Isaac with a kind smile.

    ¡°No, rather, I should be grateful that it ended with just my wrist. I take it as a sign from the Codex of Light that I still have duties to fulfill.¡±

    In fact, when Evhar tested Isaac¡¯s faith, he was prepared for the possibility of burning to death. If Isaac was a messenger sent by God, such an event wouldn¡¯t have been surprising. However, the fact that only his wrist was lost seemed like a revtion to him.

    ¡®Living, it must mean to help Isaac grow.¡¯

    Unaware of Evhar¡¯s thoughts, Isaac looked at him anxiously.

    ¡°We talked about the prayer before.¡±

    ¡°Ah, yes. I¡¯ve memorized a bit more over the past week. And¡­¡­.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s unnecessary. You don¡¯t have to memorize it.¡±

    ¡°Excuse me?¡±

    Evhar continued calmly, as if he had attained enlightenment.

    ¡°Thosecking in faith wander searching for the words of God and chase the purpose of their existence in the world. But you are already representing the word of God through your existence. Your words will be prayers, and your songs will be hymns. What use is there in memorizing books?¡±

    Isaac felt stunned.

    Why is he suddenly holding me in such high regard? Is it because of the ¡®proof of faith¡¯?

    But Evhar, feeling no need to exin further, took out a few books.

    The reason Evhar had called Isaac after a week was precisely for this.

    ¡°I heard from Gebel that you want to be a Pdin.¡±

    ¡°Ah, yes.¡±

    ¡°These are bookspiling the miracles and prayers necessary to be a Pdin. They will be a good reference. If you¡¯re not doing well, I will teach you myself.¡±

    Isaac looked at the books in surprise. Unlike the ordinary books read and written in the library, these hardcover books contained miracles used by the Order of the Codex of Light and their origins.

    When Isaac touched the books, a message window shimmered near his eyes.

    [Book: Prayer Book of Ash and Ember (Rare)]

    [Miracle: You can learn to create mes. Ranging from a small candle to a sword, you can ignite mes.]

    [Sheet Music: Hymn of Saint Arte (Rare)]

    [Hymn: You can learn the Brave Hymn. It suppresses emotional turmoil and allows you to exert stronger power. The nature of the hymn increases its effect when sung by multiple people.]

    [Sheet Music: Hymn of the Moth and Lantern (Rare)]

    [Hymn: You can learn the Lantern. It creates a light source that drives away darkness. It reduces the defensive abilities of enemies cloaked in darkness. The nature of the hymn increases its effect when sung by multiple people.]

    There were other minor prayer books as well.

    Although not of high rank, they were extremely practical, as expected of essential teachings for Pdins. Isaac realized that these description windows appear not on every item, but only on those imbued with miracles or magical power.

    ¡°You don¡¯t have a formal position yet, so I can¡¯t show you high-level miracles. And we don¡¯t have many books in the monastery¡­¡±

    ¡°No, this will be very helpful!¡±

    Isaac expressed his sincere gratitude. It was a great harvest that Evhar fully trusted him, but he never expected to learn miracles as well.

    The miracle-performing hymns circte only within the order, so their value is immeasurable. Even if somehow acquired, a person without a position in the order would have to exin how they got them and why they weren¡¯t returned, making them virtually impossible for amoner to even see.

    Evhar smiled, pleased with Isaac¡¯s humble attitude.

    ¡°Your faith is beyond doubt, but it will take quite some time to actually perform miracles. Don¡¯t be hasty and understand the stories and teachings of the saints, and you will soon see results.¡±

    Isaac nodded.

    ***

    Gebel¡¯s physical training method was simple.

    Carry heavy things and just run.

    Since most of the basic physical strengthes from aerobic exercise, Isaac followed withoutint.

    However, the ¡®heavy load¡¯ meant moving heavy oak logs from the yard to the storehouse, hinting at Gebel¡¯s practicality.

    But Gebel thought that wasn¡¯t enough and kept talking to the running Isaac.

    ¡°The abbot gave you books?¡±

    ¡°Huff, huff. Yes.¡±

    The books given by Evhar were all stored in the library. It wasn¡¯t possible to keep them in a room with other children. Brother Alex seemed to have been tipped off earlier and cleared a shelf. It was a space where others couldn¡¯t touch, even lockable.

    ¡°What books did you receive?¡±

    ¡°Hymns, huff, and, prayers. Huff, huff.¡±

    Sweating profusely, Isaac answered sincerely. The backyard wasn¡¯t very big, but running with bundles of logs made him breathless after just fiveps.

    He never cursed the Nephilim race¡¯s poor physical constitution as much as now.

    Even tentacles couldn¡¯t help in this situation.

    Hearing the list of books from Isaac, Gebel chuckled briefly.

    ¡°This, the abbot is really determined to make you a Pdin.¡±

    ¡°Is that, so?¡±

    ¡°Of course. Even the seedlings of the Pdin Order don¡¯t get this much support. It¡¯s a treatment that a second son of a wealthy noble house might receive¡­¡±

    Among the Pdins, there were hardly any eldest sons

    . The second and third sons, who couldn¡¯t inherit the family, often became wandering knights or devoted themselves to the order.

    Even families that don¡¯t provide proper support to their second or third sons existed, so Isaac receiving such treatment as an orphan was an enormous privilege.

    ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to, Gebel sir, speaking well, of me, huff, puff!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡±

    Isaac took a few more staggering steps, then set down the bundle of logs.

    He thought he had gotten quite fit, but the dense oak logs weighed nearly half his body weight. His thin limbs trembled.

    His mouth tasted sweet from exhaustion, but Isaac was actually d for the physical pain.

    ¡®Finally, it feels like I¡¯m doing real exercise.¡¯

 Chapter 15:

    Chapter 15:

    In truth, carrying firewood was more akin tobor than actual exercise. However, muscles built through suchbor were often more practical for real-life situations than muscles built purely for appearance, which could hinder movement and reduce endurance.

    ¡°Hmm¡­¡±

    Gebel tapped here and there on Isaac¡¯s body, examining him.

    ¡°Why are you doing that?¡±

    Isaac, having caught his breath, asked.

    ¡°You recover your breath quickly, and your muscles are growing at an unusual rate. But it¡¯s odd how you can easily lift a heavy axe and then tremble under the weight of a few logs. It¡¯s hard to predict.¡±

    ¡°¡­I don¡¯t really understand it myself.¡±

    Gebel didn¡¯t particrly suspect anything. He was already convinced of Isaac¡¯s maturity and saw no reason to doubt him. He was merely curious about the conditions under which Isaac exhibited his extraordinary strength.

    But now, Gebel¡¯s attention was focused elsewhere.

    ¡°That¡¯s not a problem. Your physical strength is developing remarkably fast. It¡¯s astounding. To think your muscles could grow this much in just a week.¡±

    To Isaac, he didn¡¯t notice much difference, but Gebel saw it differently.

    ¡®It must be because of the tentacles.¡¯

    [Dead God¡¯s Intestines / ¡®Devour¡¯ a portion of the opponent¡¯s stats and characteristics.]

    [Flesh Storage / elerated regeneration until the devoured opponent is digested.]

    The ¡®Flesh Storage¡¯ ability rapidly digested its prey while significantly enhancing healing speed. And this applied even after a whole day of physical training, leaving his body exhausted.

    Muscle growth worked like this: First, exercise would break down the muscles. Then, they would heal, bing bigger and tougher than before.

    This cycle led torger, stronger muscles. With the help of the Flesh Storage ability, Isaac could undertake more strenuous and bold exercises without the fear of injury.

    Thanks to this, Isaac¡¯s muscle growth elerated.

    Moreover, the ¡®Dead God¡¯s Intestines¡¯ significantly boosted this efficiency. His body was visibly improving.

    Isaac was pleased with Gebel¡¯s evaluation.

    ¡®Great, great. It feels like I¡¯m finally reaping the benefits of being in this other world.¡¯

    Everything was going smoothly.

    Training under Gebel, a former vice-captain of the Pdin Order, and learning miracles and hymns from the monastery head, Isaac was sure of a stable life ahead. The monastery head didn¡¯t suspect him, and he was being strongly pushed towards bing a Pdin. What was there to worry about?

    He just needed to rise through the ranks within the order and then lead the Dawn Army to reim the holynd.

    ***

    Time flew by.

    Isaac spent his days under the full support of the monastery head and under Gebel¡¯s guidance.

    Meanwhile, he also carried out missions for the Nameless Chaos, enhancing his tentacle abilities. Using tentacles within the monastery was still risky, but Isaac managed to walk this tightrope sessfully.

    The nutrients from the tentacles and Gebel¡¯s swordsmanship guidance synergized beautifully, rapidly improving Isaac¡¯s skills.

    Thus, Isaac¡¯s third winter in this body arrived.

    It was a rougher winter than he had anticipated.

    The snow began falling earlier than usual, nketing the forest surrounding the monastery. Thanks to the winter preparations Isaac and Gebel had diligently made duringte autumn, the monastery was more than ready for the season.

    In the midst of the snowkes, Isaac stood in the monastery¡¯s backyard, sword raised above his head.

    Two years of training had transformed his body. Muscles had developed on his once thin limbs, and his face now bore the marks of a young man, though he still appeared slender. Nevertheless, his growth was impressivepared to before.

    Even without swinging the sword, just holding it up, Isaac¡¯s body was covered in beads of sweat. Despite not making a single move, the snowkes melted before even touching him due to the heat radiating from his body.

    Suddenly, Isaac¡¯s eyes shed.

    The sword moved even before he thought of swinging it.

    The de¡¯s trajectory cut sharply through the air.

    Whoosh! The sound of the wind being sliced echoed sharply, sweeping the umted snow around. Isaac finally exhaled deeply, as if releasing his breath with force. Sweat poured down like rain.

    ¡®This seems to be the limit my stamina allows.¡¯

    The cursed blood of the Nephilim hampered Isaac during his sword training. However, he was able topensate for this to some extent through the Devour perk.

    ¡®Is this the limit of the physical capabilities of the Nephilim race? The barrier of racial limits seems higher than I thought.¡¯

    The exact extent of this limit was unclear. But to attain greater strength and endurance, he would need to look towards magical means or miracles.

    ¡®Advanced swordsmanship could cover for this level of stamina, but¡­¡¯

    Isaac felt he had reached the limits of his swordsmanship potential. Despite not learning from Gebel, he

    had glimpsed beyond his current level. This ¡®beyond¡¯ was not just a feeling but could be quantified.

    Isaac¡¯s gaze drifted to the void.

    [Low-Level Pdin Swordsmanship Proficiency (Lv 99) (999999/999999)]

    [Conditions not met for the next stage.]

    Since being permitted to wield a sword, Isaac had not missed a single day of training, far surpassing the training period of the swallowed Kalsen Miller. Precise execution of movements provided more experience than mere repetition.

    Thanks to this, Isaac had sessfully maxed out his swordsmanship training.

    But that was half a year ago.

    Whenever Isaac tried to go ¡®beyond,¡¯ his body instinctively stopped just before the limit.

    Either he was too exhausted, or he was certain his body couldn¡¯t handle it.

    ¡®Advanced swordsmanship¡­ That must be like a skill.¡¯

    In the Nameless Chaos, ¡®swordsmanship¡¯ was ssified as a skill, like magic or miracles. Though fewer in number, they were indeed a different category of skills.

    Just as a mage uses mana and a priest performs miracles in exchange for worship, swordsmanship consumes stamina. In games, this is portrayed as HP consumption, but the reality could be different. Using skills beyond one¡¯s capacity could shatter the body.

    It meant Isaac¡¯s HP could drop to zero.

    ¡®¡­Surely I won¡¯t be unable to use it for my whole life?¡¯

    The worry crept in, but it wasn¡¯t yet so dire that he had to rely on someone else. If it came down to it, he thought he might manage somehow with the Devour trait of the tentacles. He needed to restrain himself from swinging his sword until he understood the ¡®unmet conditions.¡¯

    ¡®Do I have to be a real Pdin?¡¯

    Ideally, he would learn advanced swordsmanship from Gebel, who had already demonstrated it. But even as he thought this, Isaac had long given up his desire for advanced swordsmanship or proficiency.

    Gebel had exined long ago why he wouldn¡¯t teach advanced swordsmanship.

    ¡®As one advances in knightly swordsmanship, it bes more dazzling andplex. High-level swordsmanship can sometimes produce effects like magic or miracles.¡¯

    Isaac had be adept at executing the movements Gebel taught, surprising even himself.

    Even the fastidious Gebel was at a loss for words. A 14-year-old boy was handling the sword as skillfully as a veteran who had spent decades on the battlefield.

    ¡®Each order of knights pursuing the way of the sword has its own secret techniques. They all im to be the best, but it¡¯s hard to judge superiority, as each has reached its level through research and effort.¡¯

    What if Isaac started learning and using advanced swordsmanship?

    ¡®But even grown adults often struggle with it, leading to runaway attacks or injuring themselves.¡¯

    Isaac¡¯s young body could be injured, or worse, torn to pieces.

    It wasn¡¯t impossible.

    Even in reality, beginners often get hurt attempting difficult movements. While these don¡¯t produce magical effects, the ability to perform superhuman movements is simr.

    In this world, magical urrences are possible.

    Isaac knew better than anyone that he couldn¡¯t use advanced swordsmanship right now.

    ¡®And above all, the Avnche Swordsmanship must not be recklessly revealed.¡¯

    ¡®Can I learn it if I join the Avnche Pdin Order?¡¯

    ¡°That¡¯s possible. But it¡¯s unlikely to happen. The Avnche Pdin Order doesn¡¯t exist anymore.¡±

    Isaac wondered if Gebel¡¯s refusal to teach him was because of this reason, but Gebel hadn¡¯t tly refused to instruct him. Instead, he carefully observed Isaac¡¯s execution of all movements except the advanced sword techniques.

    Gebel meticulously adjusted and repeated the basic sword skills as if tuning delicate machine parts. Sometimes he taught variations or unusual movements and ways to alter the sword¡¯s trajectory, but in the end, it was mostly the same movements every day.

    So after two years, Isaac was still repeating these basic moves.

    Cutting, thrusting, striking, blocking.

    The movements he had repeated over the years with a focus on precision and power were now so ingrained in his muscles that he could feel a snowkending on his sword tip.

    Isaac sighed and lifted his sword again.

    He hadpleted his training for the day, but driven by a strangepulsion, he raised his sword once more. His breathing was still rough, and his muscles trembled as if in a spasm.

    ¡®One more time.¡¯

    Isaac had let go of his longing for advanced sword techniques. What he sought was no different from wanting to increase the number of push-ups he could do. He didn¡¯t want to regret not being able to swing his sword just one more time in a crucial moment.

    ¡®The tentacles are¡­ ast resort.¡¯

    If he didn¡¯t want to be chased as a monster, he shouldn¡¯t recklessly use the tentacles when cornered.

    Isaac forced his breathing to steady and aimed the tip of his sword at the air.

    This time, instead of simply refining a movement, he imagined a hypothetical enemy. He had done simr training many times before, starting with a wild boar, then Gebel, and eventually Kalsen.

    But his current opponent was neither human nor monster.

    It was the Nameless Chaos.

    Or, more precisely, himself unleashing a barrage of tentacles.

    The strongest being Isaac had ever faced wasn¡¯t the wild boar, Gebel, or Kalsen.

    It was himself.

    When imagining his tentacles overflowing and engulfing the world with their ferocity, Isaac felt terror.

    He couldn¡¯t help but think about how he would confront such a being or what he would do if he became that being.

    Of course, at his current level, he would be hopelessly defeated.

    ¡®But still, once more¡­¡¯

    Though he had been crushed and decapitated hundreds of times in his imagination, Isaac moved his sweat-drenched body once more. Again, he felt the tentacles striking down on him.

    That moment, his sword moved strangely.

    Having repeated the same movement thousands of times, Isaac was acutely aware of the change. He felt as if his sword had wriggled and bent for a moment.

    ¡®What?¡¯

    It was a simple thrust, a short distance, but Isaac¡¯s sword evaded the trajectory of the tentacles and struck the imagined enemy precisely.

    Ping.

    Isaac came back to his senses. The imaginary enemy had vanished, and before him was only empty air. He couldn¡¯t understand what had just happened.

    The sword had bent at an impossible angle.

    Like a tentacle.

    ***

    ¡®This is¡­¡¯

    Thump. Before Isaac could fully grasp the situation, he heard Gebel¡¯s voice from behind.

    ¡°You¡¯ll catch a cold.¡±

    Isaac, startled, lowered his sword. Fortunately, it seemed that Gebel hadn¡¯t seen that movement.

    ¡®Fortunately?¡¯

    Isaac didn¡¯t understand why he thought of it as fortunate. But he felt like he had done something that shouldn¡¯t be discovered. He attributed this feeling to a premonition instilled by the tentacles. He had often relied on such intuitions when performing actions that ¡®shouldn¡¯t be discovered.¡¯

    While Isaac was putting on his clothes, Gebel looked at the traces around them and asked.

    ¡°Have you been doing this since dawn?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    Isaac had special permission to start training from dawn, unlike other kids. Though he couldn¡¯t miss the other prayer and mass times, the monks, knowing he was fully supported by the monastery head, amodated him at all other times.

    ¡°You¡¯ve been told that it¡¯s okay to ease up on the sword training now.¡±

    Gebel seemed to be aware that Isaac¡¯s swordsmanship had teaued. Although Isaac was discontent with not being taught advanced techniques, he understood why Gebel said ¡®it¡¯s okay to ease up on the sword training now.¡¯

    ¡°Try reciting the Prayer of the Fire Seed.¡±

    Ironically, this was precisely why Isaac persisted with his stagnant sword skills.

    With a reluctant expression, Isaac began to recite the prayer.

    ¡°O, ever-present one in all ces, guide of the blind lighthouse keeper¡­¡±

    Tick, tick!

    mes sparked from Isaac¡¯s fingertips, casting a bright light. But like a flickering me, the light quickly faded as swiftly as it had appeared.

    As it had been for the past few years.

    Gebel stroked his chin and murmured.

    ¡°Remarkable.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s remarkable?¡±

    ¡°You have such talent in swordsmanship and undeniable devotion, but it¡¯s remarkable how little talent you have for miracles.¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t that normal?¡±

    ¡°Usually, those who get the chance to learn prayers are sure to have both faith and talent. I think I seeded in the Light of the Beacon miracle in half a year.¡±

    Isaac felt a sense of despair. Nephilim, his race, was known for high faith, so he hadn¡¯t worried much about miracles. Instead, he was more concerned about swordsmanship and physical training.

    But the oue had been the exact opposite.

    ¡®If I gained swordsmanship talent from devouring Kalsen, shouldn¡¯t I have also acquired his miracle talent?¡¯

    Isaac felt likeining to Kalsen.

    The prayer he had just recited was one of the basics, the Light of the Beacon miracle. Yet, despite being acknowledged as a mature individual by the monastery head and Gebel, Isaac couldn¡¯t sessfully perform any prayer or hymn.

    A pdin unable to perform a single miracle was no different from a mere knight, perhaps even more suspect.

    ¡®¡­Is it because of the tentacles?¡¯

    The Nephilim¡¯s racial trait doesn¡¯t hinder miracles. Their high faith is considered as usurping divine miracles, so they can perform them as long as they know the prayers and methods.

    The only usible cause could be the Nameless Chaos.

    It might be hindering his ability to perform miracles.

    Isaac looked at his palms, pondering. He had received countless aids from the tentacles so far. Without them, he wouldn¡¯t have the healthy body he had now.

    In fact, he had survived several near-death situations thanks to the tentacles.

    However, the Nameless Chaos is a deity openly opposed by the Codex of Light.

    It might be impossible for Isaac, harboring a part of that deity, to wield the miracles of the Codex of Light.

    ¡®Then, could I use a different type of prayer?¡¯

    For instance, prayers worshipping the Nameless Chaos¡­

 Chapter 16:

    Chapter 16:

    Isaac, having inadvertently entertained a sacrilegious thought, nced back at Gebel, feeling a bit guilty. Gebel, though shaking his head, didn¡¯t seem like he was about to leap at Isaac to split his head open and check for tentacles inside.

    ¡°Well, maybe the Codex of Light thought it too much to grant you both exceptional talent in swordsmanship and miracles.¡±

    Isaac¡¯s talent with the sword clearly exceeded normal levels. If Gebel didn¡¯t use advanced sword techniques, Isaac could probably match him.

    Gebel gazed at the snow-covered yard for a moment before speaking.

    ¡°It seems enough.¡±

    ¡°Pardon?¡±

    ¡°I have nothing left to teach you.¡±

    Isaac nodded, his expression mixed. In truth, he had exhausted what he could learn from Gebel a long time ago. Unless Gebel taught advanced techniques, all Isaac could do was refine what he already knew.

    ¡°That makes sense. You said Avnche techniques couldn¡¯t be indiscriminately disclosed.¡±

    Gebel stared at Isaac intently, then unexpectedly revealed something.

    ¡°What I taught you is the foundation of the Avnche Pdin Order¡¯s swordsmanship.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡±

    ¡°Avnche swordsmanship is fundamentally a group battle technique, strongest when used collectively. That¡¯s why we first focus on building a solid foundation.¡±

    Gebel paused, then continued with emphasis on each word.

    ¡°But now, the essence of Avnche¡¯s advanced techniques is not worth passing on.¡±

    ¡°Why not?¡±

    ¡°The essence of Avnche¡¯s advanced swordsmanship lies in its ultimate efficiency when used in a group. But now, with the Pdin Order gone¡­ there¡¯s no one to synchronize with.¡±

    Isaac was speechless. Even if he learned advanced techniques from Gebel, there would be no way to utilize them effectively. The techniques were based on groupbat, fitting for a Pdin Order, but Isaac had no suchpanions.

    ¡®There were no such limitations in the game.¡¯

    ¡°So, I hope you develop your own unique secret techniques, based on the basics you¡¯ve learned. Your style will vary depending on what you experience and feel each time you wield your sword.¡±

    Gebel¡¯s casual suggestion was monumental ¨C he was asking a young man not yet an adult to establish a new school of swordsmanship. Isaac might not have grasped the full difficulty of advanced swordsmanship, but he couldn¡¯t help feeling that this was an absurd idea.

    ¡°Is that even possible¡­¡±

    ¡°You can do it.¡±

    Gebel spoke as if stating a fact.

    ¡°I¡¯ve seen potential in you many times. But you always held back, probably unconsciously restraining yourself from using unlearned techniques.¡±

    In reality, Isaac¡¯s body automatically stopped due to the low HP limit of Nephilims, but Gebel seemed to interpret it differently.

    To Gebel, who was convinced of Isaac¡¯s maturity, Isaac appeared as a nk canvas capable of painting anything. Had he taught him the essence of Avnche swordsmanship, Isaac would have absorbed it instantly.

    But Gebel chose not to.

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to tarnish a nk canvas set for a masterpiece.¡±

    Isaac, as if realizing something, looked at the marks his sword had made in the yard. Gebel, watching him, remembered his own hidden desires.

    If he let Isaac go now, the boy would surely surpass him as a swordsman.

    But that would mean failing the reason he had brought Isaac here.

    ¡°Of course, after all this effort, I can¡¯t just let you go.¡±

    Picking up a small twig, Gebel muttered.

    ¡°I¡¯ll show you one of Avnche¡¯s advanced techniques.¡±

    ¡°Didn¡¯t you say it shouldn¡¯t be leaked?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m just showing. And since you seem capable of self-restraint¡­¡±

    Meaning it was up to Isaac to watch and learn on his own, Gebel implied. Isaac stayed silent, focusing intently on Gebel, not wanting to miss any part of his demonstration.

    Whoosh.

    Gebel slowly swung the twig, then suddenly swept it horizontally. The twig barely skimmed the snow, yet a blizzard erupted as if a wave had crashed.

    Gebel¡¯s silhouette moved amidst the fluttering snowkes.

    ¡°Swordsmanship is essentially an application of the three movements you¡¯ve learned.¡±

    The twig gradually picked up speed, still executing the simple actions of cutting, thrusting, and striking. Gebel seemed to be giving his first andst demonstration of swordsmanship, repeating it.

    Isaac realized Gebel¡¯s movements were not of fighting a single opponent, but many in a battlefield scenario.

    Not one, but several, perhaps dozens of enemies converging on him. They narrowly missed his de, fell bleeding, or attempted to surround him with shouts.

    But just as Gebel seemed overwhelmed by an impossible number of soldiers, a boom-like sound of air tearing apart erupted, and a snowstorm sted in all directions.

    Isaac, who had been standing still,

    was suddenly engulfed in snow.

    The snow was neatly cleared in a circr area around Gebel, like an explosion.

    Isaac realized it was a shockwave caused by breaking the sound barrier. But could a human body achieve such speed? Could it withstand it?

    ¡®¡­That¡¯s what advanced swordsmanship, or skills, make possible.¡¯

    Isaac noticed three explosive-like traces radiating from where Gebel stood. Anyone there would have been obliterated.

    ¡°This is one of Avnche Pdin Order¡¯s advanced techniques, ¡®Omen.¡¯ If you look closely, you¡¯ll see it¡¯s based on what you¡¯ve learned.¡±

    Gebel, wiping sweat from his forehead, exined.

    ¡°As I¡¯ve said before, when swordsmanship reaches a certain level, it can take on a form and manifest its attributes, like magic. Avnche¡¯s techniques embody the ferocity of an avnche. Do you understand?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    Isaac nodded, recalling the movements Gebel had demonstrated.

    The moves Gebel performed¡­

    ¡°I can do it.¡±

    Isaac felt a surge of confidence that he could execute the movements Gebel had just demonstrated. The flow and movement of the sword, as if etched in his mind, made sense to him.

    The ¡®Omen¡¯ technique Gebel had just disyed was simply abination of the moves Isaac had been practicing throughout his stay at the monastery.

    Those relentless shing and cutting moves were the ones Isaac had trained in. When connected organically, they formed aplete sword technique.

    ¡°Avnche Pdin Order¡¯s techniques are based on the form of an avnche,¡± Isaac recalled Gebel¡¯s words.

    ¡®What form am I adopting for my swordsmanship then?¡¯

    Gebel ced the twig on the ground and spoke.

    ¡°Advanced techniques aren¡¯t something you can replicate just by seeing them once. And with your body still developing, trying them could be dangerous. But you¡¯ve learned all you can from me. Even though I didn¡¯t teach you advanced techniques, the essence of Avnche Pdin Order is infused in your movements, your breathing¡­¡±

    Gebel pondered whether to borate but then decided against it.

    It was greed from hereon. The desire to leave his mark on a future master knight.

    And the desire to pass on his burdens to him.

    ¡°From now on, you should find your own path.¡±

    It meant Isaac was to develop his advanced sword techniques on his own. Isaac thought about the irresponsibility of his mentor but understood his intent.

    Avnche techniques were too heavy and powerful for him.

    There must be a sword technique suitable for Isaac. And just before Gebel arrived, Isaac had discovered a hint of it.

    Isaac felt his fingers itching already.

    ¡°Isaac.¡±

    Gebel, facing the falling snowkes, spoke to Isaac.

    ¡°Next year, you¡¯re scheduled to go to Lancel Monastery, right?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    Orphans in the monastery naturally leave when they be adults. Some be monks, some get rmended for further education in the order, but most be apprentices to learn a trade.

    But Isaac had a different path. He was to go to a city monastery for proper Pdin training.

    Lancel Monastery, located in a major nearby city, specialized in training priests and Pdins, with over 1,600 residents. Isaac was set to receive higher education there.

    If he had truly learned all the sword techniques from Gebel, there was nothing left for him here.

    To ascend higher, he needed to leave this ce.

    As long as he wasn¡¯t suspected by the order of being a tentacle monster, Isaac¡¯s rise was assured.

    ¡°If you be a Pdin, there are things you should know.¡±

    ¡°Like what?¡±

    ¡°Why I left the Avnche Pdin Order and other minor details.¡±

    Gebel hesitated to borate. But the moment he spoke of it, Isaac sensed Gebel was also nning to leave the monastery.

    Isaac¡¯s presence, his training process, had significantly impacted Gebel.

    ¡°I only taught you the basics, but there will be those who recognize it as Avnche swordsmanship. They will be wielding the same techniques as me.¡±

    Anyone using Avnche Pdin Order techniques would likely be from the same order. Was he suggesting hiding his techniques? Technically, Gebel was guilty of leaking the order¡¯s techniques.

    ¡°Kill them immediately upon encounter.¡±

    Isaac was taken aback.

    ¡°But, to kill someone just because they caught me secretly learning their techniques¡­¡±

    ¡°What are you talking about? The Avnche Pdin Order is long gone. There¡¯s no one left to use.¡±

    Isaac recalled their earlier conversation.

    ¡®Then why insist on killing?¡¯

    It wasn¡¯t reluctance due to the moral weight of murder. Pdins are essentially soldiers, and killing is part of a soldier¡¯s duty.

    More importantly, Isaac had already killed, even consumed others, though not by his own hands.

    ¡°They¡¯ll surely try to kill you. So for your own sake, you should kill them.¡±

    ¡°Is there no other characteristic besides using Avnche swordsmanship?¡±

    ¡°Their appearances have likely changed, so any description would be useless. And there¡¯s no need to worry about confusion. The only people who can use Avnche techniques now are you, me, and them.¡±

    Isaac wanted to ask more about the story behind this, the reason for this proxy killing. It must be rted to why Gebel gave up his Pdin duties and sought refuge in the monastery.

    Certainly, it had to do with concealing Isaac¡¯s identity.

    ¡®I need to find out more.¡¯

    Just then, a crow cawed loudly.

    Looking up, Isaac locked eyes with a crow perched on the monastery head¡¯s window sill. After another caw, it took flight, a red string tied to its leg. It was a messenger crow.

    Gebel frowned at the sight.

    ¡°A carrion crow.¡±

    ¡°Is that a bad omen?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not the carrion crow but those who use them that are the problem.¡±

    Gebel spoke with a meaningful tone as the monastery door opened with a clunk.

    Monastery head Evhar emerged, his face pale and hurried.

    Isaac sensed something ominous. Gebel¡¯s expression hardened too.

    ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Head of the Monastery?¡±

    ¡°Gebel.¡±

    Evhar, pale and fidgety, mumbled.

    ¡°The Inquisition is nning to visit our monastery.¡±

 Chapter 17:

    Chapter 17:

    The word ¡®Inquisitor¡¯ sent a chill down Isaac¡¯s spine, tensing him up. It was certainly not a good sign.

    ¡®Inquisitors? Why would theye here?¡¯

    ¡°Why would the Inquisitors suddenly decide to visit?¡± Gebel asked, his expression hardening. The tension was evident in him too.

    Inquisitors were like internal affairs agents within the order. It was only natural they were unwee since their role was to find threats within, rather than outside, the order.

    Evhar nced at Isaac, hesitating to speak, suggesting the matter was sensitive. Isaac caught the hint and discreetly stepped back, but as soon as he turned the corner, he quickly extended a tentacle from his left hand.

    [Rat in the Wall / Share senses through the tentacle.]

    Isaac had used this power to eavesdrop on secrets and whispers throughout the monastery. It was necessary, given he harbored secrets that couldn¡¯t be discovered.

    ¡°The message doesn¡¯t specify why they¡¯re visiting. Just that it¡¯s urgent.¡±

    Evhar showed Gebel the letter brought by the carrion crow. The scrawled note was brief:

    ¡°Urgent. Threat present. Seal the monastery and stand guard immediately.¡±

    The message was short, its exact meaning unclear. Gebel repeatedly murmured, trying to understand. It was clear that a threat was present in the monastery, and the Inquisitors wereing to deal with it.

    But what exactly was this ¡®threat¡¯?

    Evhar looked at Gebel with worry in his eyes.

    ¡°What will you do, Gebel?¡±

    ¡°If the monastery itself was under suspicion of heresy, they wouldn¡¯t have sent a crow. It seems like the threat has infiltrated or is approaching the monastery. The monks should be safe, I suppose.¡±

    Isaac felt a chill running down his spine as he heard this.

    ¡®¡­Is it about me?¡¯

    Up to now, Isaac hadn¡¯t done anything against the teachings of the Codex of Light or done anything that could expose his rtionship with the Nameless Chaos. However, the mere fact of possessing tentacles was evidence against him in the eyes of the order.

    If, by some chance, the order had be aware of Isaac¡¯s existence, it would be natural to send the Inquisitors to confirm it.

    Gebel looked ufortable, but still calmly advised Evhar.

    ¡°If I avoid them now, it might look more suspicious. Let¡¯s wee the Inquisitors as nned.¡±

    ***

    ¡®What to do?¡¯

    The news of the Inquisitors¡¯ visit threw the monastery into a state of unrest. The children stopped all work and returned to their rooms, and the monastery gates were firmly shut. They would remain closed until the Inquisitors arrived.

    Isaac was deep in thought.

    He had considered such a situation hundreds of times, preparing for it. If he were to be suspected or forced to flee, he would have no choice but to escape. He didn¡¯t want to kill and devour everyone in the monastery.

    Therefore, he had hidden supplies in the cave where he was almost eaten by the wild boar, preparing for this ¡®just in case¡¯ ¨C clothes for disguise and essentials for life on the run.

    If the order had somehow discovered his existence and sent the Inquisitors, he would have to flee immediately.

    ¡®To escape, I can leave right now. I can get food through the tentacles, and thanks to the Flesh Storage ability, I can survive days without sleep or food¡­¡¯

    He had learned everything he could from the monastery.

    His body had grown as much as it would, and Gebel had said he had taught him all he could about swordsmanship. Miracles were still a weak point, but that might be insurmountable as long as he had the tentacles.

    If he left now, joining a knight order on the frontier might offer him a decent position.

    But the uncertainty of whether the Inquisitors wereing for him was the problem. What if they weren¡¯ting for him, and he fled? What if they thought, ¡®Wait, is this kid hiding something? We should have a more thorough conversation.¡¯?

    ¡®This is why I hate inspectors.¡¯

    Their mere presence causes all sorts of unsettling thoughts, making their visit stressful.

    Isaac finally decided to wait until the Inquisitors arrived and then make a decision.

    ¡®If they point me out ande looking for me, then I¡¯ll flee.¡¯

    He already knew the monastery¡¯syout and the geography of the mountains well. Secretly slipping away was not difficult, especially with the help of his tentacles.

    What woulde after that, though, was the issue.

    Isaac, feeling uneasy about his nned Pdin training possibly falling through, stepped outside.

    Then he saw someone approaching from the dark corridor.

    It was Gebel.

    Gebel looked the same as usual, but there was something different about him.

    ¡°Isaac? What¡¯s wrong?¡±

    ¡°The atmosphere in the monastery

    is weird. Couldn¡¯t just sit still.¡±

    ¡°Hmm, indeed. The monks are not in the best spirits. They¡¯re all gathered in the chapel praying. Their faith is unquestionable, but¡­ Inquisitors are known for fabricating crimes where there are none.¡±

    Gebel didn¡¯t seem too fond of the Inquisitors. Isaac suddenly remembered the rumors that Gebel was a deserter. No one was openly questioning it, but perhaps he was also used of apostasy or heresy.

    ¡®Ah, so that¡¯s why the Head asked Gebel what to do?¡¯

    From the Head¡¯s perspective, he was dealing with two secrets concerning Isaac and Gebel, so it was understandable he felt uneasy. Nheless, Isaac was grateful for the protection he had been given.

    A loud howling of wolves echoed from outside the monastery. Recently, the sound of wolves had been getting closer.

    ¡°Those damned beasts are howling again.¡±

    ¡°Maybe they¡¯re running out of food?¡±

    ¡°Might be. The mountain ranger said recently there¡¯s been a noticeable decrease in animals in the mountains¡­¡±

    Isaac internally winced.

    He had been hunting animals near the monastery to feed his tentacles. The local dangerous animals were almost entirely devoured by his tentacles, halting their growth, but it had been a significant foundation for Isaac¡¯s development.

    ¡®But it shouldn¡¯t have impacted the ecosystem that much.¡¯

    ¡°Might have to go hunting soon, visit the vige too. Can¡¯t let the path between the monastery and the vige be dangerous.¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    Isaac could read Gebel¡¯s agitation, despite his calm fa?ade, and realized that Gebel, too, was contemting fleeing from the Inquisitors.

    ¡®What happened in the Avnche Pdin Order that made him live in hiding like this?¡¯

    ¡°Isaac. About our conversation earlier today¡­¡±

    Gebel spoke as if reading Isaac¡¯s thoughts, causing Isaac to startle but then nod in response.

    ¡°You might have guessed by now¡­ I had an ulterior motive in teaching you swordsmanship. I was certain that one day you would be able to kill someone on my behalf. Someone I¡¯m currently unable to kill¡­¡±

    Gebel¡¯s eyes zed as he stared into the void before continuing.

    ¡°The demise of the Avnche Pdin Order originated from that person. Everyone else died on the battlefield, and I was the only one who fled and survived.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s why I want you to carry out my personal vendetta. I¡¯m sorry.¡±

    So, Gebel¡¯s reason for training Isaac was to entrust him with his revenge.

    However, Isaac was indifferent to this revtion. He had approached Gebel first to learn swordsmanship, and their interests just happened to align. In fact, if Gebel had not had someone he wanted revenge upon, he might not have taught Isaac swordsmanship.

    ¡°Killing someone as a fee for swordsmanship lessons? Sure, consider it done. You said I¡¯d eventually meet them, so no need for me to go looking.¡±

    Gebel was taken aback by Isaac¡¯s response, then chuckled and shook his head.

    ¡°¡­I can¡¯t believe you passed the Head of the Monastery¡¯s ¡®Test of Faith¡¯. You hardly look like a devout believer.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re one to talk.¡±

    They shared a conspiratorialugh together.

    Once theirughter subsided, Isaac and Gebel silently looked out the window. The Inquisitors were expected before evening, but it was already gettingte into the night. Even ounting for the early sunset in winter, it was unusuallyte.

    Perhaps they would arrive in the morning. Isaac hoped they woulde aste as possible.

    Thud, thud, thud, thud!

    That¡¯s when they heard it. A loud banging noise came from the monastery¡¯s main gate.

    ¡®Are they finally here? Sooner than expected.¡¯

    Gebel¡¯s expression hardened as he headed towards the gate. But since they had locked it following the Inquisitor¡¯s instructions, it took a while to open.

    The banging noise continued relentlessly.

    ¡°Is anyone there?! Please, open the door!¡±

    ¡°Hans? Isn¡¯t that you, Hans? What¡¯s going on?¡±

    ¡°Gebel!¡±

    The person pounding on the door turned out to be Hans, who had be an adult and joined a cksmith¡¯s shop in the vige. Hearing themotion, other monks rushed to assist Gebel in unlocking and opening the door. As soon as it opened, Hans, panting heavily, copsed inside.

    ¡°Hans!¡±

    He was covered in blood, his body full of wounds. Luckily, most seemed to be from falling or scraping rather than life-threatening injuries.

    ¡°What happened? Were you attacked?¡±

    ¡°Attack, by wolves¡­¡±

    Gebel¡¯s face turned grim. He had already been concerned about the unusual behavior of the wolves, and now a human had been attacked. But why Hans had encountered wolves on his way to the monastery at night was a mystery, until he urgently spoke.

    ¡°The Inquisitors! The Inquisitors are in danger!¡±

    ***

    Isaac and Gebel were now hastily running along the mountain path.

    They were the only ones who could potentially save the Inquisitors, who might be in danger, facing off against wolves.

    ¡®The Inquisitors had asked for guidance.¡¯

    Isaac recalled what Hans had said.

    Working in the cksmith¡¯s shop, Hans was requested by the Inquisitors to guide them to the monastery. Though he was uneasy about the Inquisitors, as a faithful who grew up in the monastery, he couldn¡¯t refuse andplied.

    But on their way, a pack of wolves suddenly surrounded and attacked them. Such an incident had never urred before, leaving Hans in shock. However, the Inquisitors managed to create an escape route for Hans, instructing him to seek help from the monastery.

    Hans had thus run nearly half a day through the mountains to reach the monastery.

    ¡®He saved Hans and stayed behind¡­¡¯

    Isaac, who had preconceptions about the Inquisitors, felt slightly guilty. But that didn¡¯t mean the Inquisitors weren¡¯t a threat.

    ¡®Or maybe, if they just got attacked and eaten by the wolves?¡¯

    Whether they came for Isaac or another threat, if the Inquisitors were to be killed by wolves, it would solve his problems.

    ¡°Huff¡­ huff¡­¡±

    Isaac soon felt breathless.

    Among the things that didn¡¯t improve due to his cursed blood was his lung capacity.

    Although he had received the advanced sword skill ¡®Omen¡¯ from Gebel, he hadn¡¯t yet had the chance to practice it properly. But perhaps he might need to risk using the skill right away in battle.

    Yet, using it recklessly with his body already strained from running could lead to severe injury.

    This was another reason why Isaac needed to develop his own advanced skills.

    Though his physique had improved with growing muscles, he would need to be as fit as Gebel, able to sprint through the mountains at night effortlessly, to use advanced sword skills without strain.

    Seeing Isaac start tog, Gebel nced back understandingly and then sped ahead. Isaac looked up at the sky, worrying he might arrive toote to be of any help.

    Caw!

    A carrion crow was flying low in the sky. Isaac recognized it as the same crow that had visited the monastery. The intelligent bird was likely trying to lead them to its master.

    Confident that Gebel wouldn¡¯t look back, Isaac pulled out a tentacle. The low-flying crow was swiftly impaled by the thin tentacle.

    Isaac hesitated for a moment. Killing the crow would mean failing to find the Inquisitors.

    But he eventually activated his ability.

    [Parasite from Beyond / Imnts a short-lived parasite under the skin of the target touched by the tentacle. The infected target experiences continuous pain.]

    A worm-like tentacle crawled into the crow¡¯s body, quickly seizing and dominating its nervous system.

    It was one of the abilities Isaac had obtained from the Nameless Chaos. Although intended to inflict pain, Isaac knew it could be used in other ways.

    Isaac then activated the ¡®Rat in the Wall¡¯ ability.

    [Rat in the Wall / Share senses through the tentacle.]

    Instantly, the crow¡¯s view from the sky was shared with Isaac. He could immediately pinpoint the location of the Inquisitors.

 Chapter 18:

    Chapter 18:

    The carrion crow, feeling the intrusion of the parasite, pped its wings in difort. However, the parasite numbed its senses, calming it down.

    ¡°Hmm?¡±

    Gebel, hearing the pping, looked up, but Isaac had already retracted the tentacle.

    As the crow flew in a specific direction, Gebel adjusted his course.

    ¡°Isaac, this way!¡±

    ¡°Right!¡±

    Isaac followed Gebel, already having a clear understanding of the surroundings and the path to take from the crow¡¯s view. He paid special attention to the scene around the Inquisitor.

    There was a chaotic scene with trees down and torn apart. Several wolves were lurking nearby.

    ¡®Five, six¡­ no, eight wolves? Quite a few.¡¯

    The wolves surrounded a person in a thick robe and armor ¨C unmistakably an Inquisitor. Despite the distance, it was evident that the Inquisitor was weary, barely holding up against the imminent danger of bing wolf prey. Isaac moved, adjusting his breathing to be ready to act upon arrival.

    ¡®It doesn¡¯t seem like he can fight much longer. I hope he still has some strength left¡­¡¯

    Then, Isaac sensed something odd.

    ¡®But why is the area so devastated? It couldn¡¯t have been the wolves¡­ Is the Inquisitor that powerful?¡¯

    If so, he would have easily overpowered the wolves by now.

    Then Isaac noticed something.

    ¡°Gebel, look out!¡±

    Crash!

    Something massive, mistaken for a boulder at first, lunged from the side of the path they were on. Gebel, caught off guard by the sudden attack, barely managed to react in time thanks to Isaac¡¯s warning.

    Bang!

    Gebel¡¯s sword shed, and blood sprayed. The creature roared, shaking the winter night as snow fell from the trees.

    ¡°A bear? No, a monster?¡±

    The attacker was a giant bear, but grotesquelyrge for a normal bear. Its immense size could easily demolish the monastery gates.

    The fierce stench carried by the wind was rming, far beyond the normal scent of a wild animal.

    Isaac recalled a past encounter.

    ¡®It smells like when I hunted the gue boar.¡¯

    Though hard to see in the dark, the bear¡¯s silhouette was clearly abnormal. Its fur was patchy, and flesh seemed to be rotting away. The wounds inflicted by Gebel seemed insufficient to cause it much pain.

    ¡°Isaac!¡±

    Gebel stood face-to-face with the gue-infested bear, shouting.

    ¡°Check on the Inquisitor!¡±

    The bear bore injuries that looked to be from the Inquisitor, yet its ferocity was daunting.

    But Isaac wasn¡¯t worried about Gebel. Given Gebel¡¯s demonstrated skill, it was only a matter of time. Considering the bear¡¯s size, it might take a while.

    Isaac ran towards the Inquisitor.

    ***

    Growl, bark!

    The wolf pack, overwhelmed by the iron scent of the Inquisitor, barked ferociously. They had been harassing the Inquisitor for hours, yet he had managed to take down four of their pack despite bleeding and fleeing.

    But their prey was nearing its end. After relentless pursuit, the Inquisitor was almost dead. The alpha wolf thought it was just a matter of finishing the job.

    Swish!

    Until Isaac burst from the bushes and instantly thrust a knife into the leader¡¯s throat.

    Having observed the situation from above, Isaac aimed for the strongest-looking wolf for a surprise attack.

    The leader wolf jumped in shock, but the knife plunged deep into its throat, silencing it.

    The wolf didn¡¯t go down easily, though.

    ng! The wolf¡¯s fierce struggle snapped Isaac¡¯s old, crude sword.

    ¡°Damn it¡­¡±

    Isaac cursed, having plunged the de too deep.

    ¡®So tough. Is this really a wolf?¡¯

    He kicked the wolf¡¯s corpse aside, relieved that the other wolves recoiled in surprise. Isaac hoped the rest would flee, seeing their alpha taken down.

    Indeed, the wolves seemed demoralized. Isaac casually approached the Inquisitor while pretending the broken sword didn¡¯t matter.

    The Inquisitor looked at him as if unable to believe someone had appeared.

    ¡°Hey, got a spare sword? Just for a moment¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­An angel?¡±

    Instead of lending a sword, the Inquisitor mumbled something absurd and copsed.

    Isaac looked down at the Inquisitor in disbelief.

    ¡®A woman?¡¯

    Underneath the removed hood was a surprisingly young and stunningly beautiful woman. Though momentarily distracted, Isaac didn¡¯t lose focus.

    Her wounds seemed severe but not immediately life-threatening. It appeared she had been holding out with incredible endurance and copsed once help arrived.

    ¡®Well, this works out.¡¯

    Isaac took the sword from the Inquisitor¡¯s hand. It was lighter, better bnced, and far superior to his old one.

    Upon holding the sword, Isaac was startled by a sudden vision.

    [Judgment Sword (Legendary)]

    [A blessed sword of the Codex of Light. Causes burns when it touches anything unholy. This also applies to the wielder, but those worthy will find it immensely powerful.]

    ¡®Is it okay for me to hold this?¡¯

    Isaac flinched at the warning about the sword burning the unholy, but his hand didn¡¯t feel like burning. Instead, a warm strength flowed through him as he gripped it.

    Still, he was wary of how it might react to his tentacles.

    ¡®Alright, I¡¯ll be careful with this¡­¡¯

    Isaac gripped the sword tightly and red at the wolves.

    The wolves, initially confident, seemed intimidated after losing their alpha. Isaac, short of breath, hoped they would just run away.

    Then, a strange wind blew.

    Isaac sensed the stench intensifying around them. The wolves¡¯ eyes grew more ferocious, driven by a powerful hunger.

    Bark, growl!

    With ferocious barking, the group was confident in their numerical superiority and momentum. They believed the only prey in sight was the human before them.

    Then, one of the wolves lunged forward. Simultaneously, Isaac repeated an action he had practiced for years.

    The least movement for the most lethal impact.

    The moment Isaac exhaled shortly, his de pierced through the wolf¡¯s chest.

    Click.

    The sword seemed to snag on a rib briefly, but, true to its reputation as a judgmental de, it sliced through the bone and pierced the heart in an instant.

    The smell of burning flesh was overpowering.

    As the judgmental sword retracted from the wolf, glowing red, it seemed to have utilized its power.

    However, wolves are adept at hunting in packs.

    While the sword was engaged, two other wolves targeted Isaac¡¯s legs and nk. Isaac, without armor, seemed like easier prey than even an inquisitor.

    Then, Isaac¡¯s sword moved strangely once again.

    Swoosh, crunch, bang!

    As the sword moved fluidly, the two wolves that had charged from either side were sliced and fell away. The dyed booming sound made Isaac¡¯s ears ring.

    [Avnche Swordsmanship: Prelude (Advanced) ¨C ???? Interpretation]

    ¡°Cough¡­¡±

    A technique that attacks surrounding enemies at a speed breaking the sound barrier.

    This was the ¡®Prelude¡¯ technique of Avnche Swordsmanship that Gebel had demonstrated earlier that day.

    Isaac had managed to replicate Gebel¡¯s technique with just one viewing, without any practice.

    Executing the technique was not difficult at all.

    Practices from thest two years naturally blended into his movements, his body moving without a single error. It was so easy to use, it felt like activating a skill.

    But the aftermath was not minor.

    His palm veins seemed burst, bruised, and the back of his hand was red and burning. The pain throughout his body was also significant.

    ¡®I can¡¯t use this carelessly. There¡¯s a big difference in powerpared to when Gebel uses it.¡¯

    Isaac thought this as he surveyed the fallen wolves.

    The ¡®Prelude¡¯ skill Isaac used had only managed to take down two wolves.

    ¡®The sword wounds are a bit different too.¡¯

    They were wildly brutal, as if torn by teeth.

    The wolf pack froze in shock at the sudden explosion. They did not flee but surrounded Isaac.

    It seemed less like confidence in their numbers and more like being controlled by something.

    The atmosphere suggested they would fight to the death, and Isaac braced himself.

    ¡®No choice then.¡¯

    Of course, Isaac had no intention of a desperate fight. His breathing was already reaching its limit. He nced at the inquisitor, who seemed to have lost consciousnesspletely.

    Isaac leisurely extended his left hand to the side.

    If there were no onlookers, there was no need to exert himself swinging the sword.

    ¡°Let¡¯s see who preys on whom.¡±

    Tentacles slowly unfurled from his hand like blooming crimson flowers. They extended almost 10 meters and thickened to the width of Isaac¡¯s forearm.

    Sway.

    As the tentacles ominously swayed, the wolves sensed something more terrifying than the gue curse that had been agitating them.

    Whirl, crunch!

    Isaac¡¯s tentacles swiftly grabbed the corpse of the wolf pack leader he had killed earlier. The tentacles quickly absorbed the corpse with their suckers and teeth.

    The giant wolf¡¯s body dposed in about ten seconds, leaving only a few drops of blood.

    The wolves instinctively wanted to flee, but it was toote.

    Their feet, frozen in fear, held them captive.

    Gulp.

    Isaac burped quietly and muttered.

    ¡°I never thought I¡¯d eat dog meat in this other world.¡±

    ***

    Swish, crunch, crunch!

    After taking down thest wolf, Isaac inserted a tentacle into its nape. The tentacle burrowed through the skin, rapidly sucking flesh and bone. The wolf was left as just a skin, which was then absorbed, leaving nothing behind.

    [¡®gue Wolf¡¯ consumed.]

    [¡®Dead God¡¯s Intestine¡¯ perk increases absorption efficiency.]

    [Night vision improves.]

    [Weakness tracking ability enhances.]

    [Resistance to low-grade diseases increases.]

    [The blessing continues until digestion.]

    ¡®This amount shouldst a few days.¡¯

    Isaac had consumed a total of five wolves. The rest had realized they were prey and had fled.

    This wasn¡¯t his first wolf hunt, but it was his first time consuming so many at once.

    The mass consumption quickly healed the minor wounds he had incurred using the Prelude skill. If he could freely feast like this, there would be less restraint in using advanced sword techniques.

    ¡®Lucky the inquisitor passed out.¡¯

    If he had only used his sword, it would have taken longer and he might have been injured. But with the tentacles, he could easily overpower them. Annoying as they were, they proved to be reliable allies in dire situations.

    Isaac once again examined the state of the inquisitor. Her breathing was irregr and shallow. It was clear that her condition would worsen if they didn¡¯t hurry.

    Thud, thump-thump.

    Isaac turned his head towards the direction of the noise. It was where Gebel had been.

    ¡®Are they still fighting?¡¯

    Isaac shared his vision with the crow again. The crow was flying low in the sky, surveying the surroundings.

    Gebel was still fighting the giant bear. However, the bear was covered in blood, and one of its arms was severed, while Gebel seemed unharmed. The oue of the fight was apparent, yet the giant bear still maintained its ferocity.

    ¡®Gebel is incredible to be facing such a monster.¡¯

    If Isaac had been fighting the giant bear, it wouldn¡¯t have been easy to win unscathed. At least, it would have been as close as when he faced the wild boar, or even more difficult.

    Suddenly, Isaac had a strange thought while looking at the giant bear.

    ¡®A big, fierce, and violent bear¡­ But I wonder, what special reward would I get if I went inside its belly?¡¯

    [The Nameless Chaos watches over you.]

    [The Nameless Chaos desires you to seek ¡®bigger prey¡¯.]

    [Award from Chaos awaits you.]

 Chapter 19:

    Chapter 19:

    Chapter 19. The gue God (1)

    ¡°The timing is quite perfect.¡±

    Hearing the message from the nameless chaos, Isaac carefully picked up the inquisitor. He needed to get her to the monastery quickly, and for that, Gebel had to finish his fight swiftly.

    Isaac cautiously approached the scene where Gebel was fighting, taking a detour to the rear of the battle.

    Boom, boom!

    Even from a distance, the earth-shaking sounds were deafening. The giant bear looked muchrger up close than it had from afar ¨C it was as big as a dump truck.

    ¡°Fortunately, it¡¯s not very fast.¡±

    Whether due to its injuries or sheer size, the bear was circling in one ce, trying to confront Gebel. Isaac set the inquisitor down and stealthily moved closer to the bear¡¯s rear.

    ¡°Isaac?!¡±

    Gebel was surprised to see Isaac approach but didn¡¯t waste the moment. Isaac, with his sword raised, rushed in swiftly. It was a thrust he had repeated tens of thousands of times over the past two years.

    Growl! The giant bear, btedly noticing Isaac, tried to turn around, but Gebel didn¡¯t miss the opening Isaac had created.

    Gebel charged and targeted the bear¡¯s neck. The bear, already fiercely battling Gebel, knew in its mind that Gebel was a bigger threat than Isaac.

    But instinct screamed otherwise.

    It must not lose sight of Isaac.

    Isaac, however, aimed for the less lethal lower half. Torn between two instincts, the bear failed to make a proper choice.

    It just wildly thrashed around.

    ng!

    Sparks flew from the bear¡¯s ws as it blocked Gebel¡¯s sword, but that move cost it its hand, which was torn to shreds. Gebel didn¡¯t stop there; he shed deeply across the bear¡¯s neck.

    Simultaneously, Isaac¡¯s sword pierced through the bear¡¯s hindquarters.

    It was a sh-like thrust that seemed to stop the wind itself. The dyed gust ruffled the bear¡¯s fur.

    Something was wrong.

    ¡°Stupid creature.¡±

    After stabbing his sword, Isaac immediately inserted a tentacle into the wound. The tentacle, piercing through the thick hide, naturally tore into the bear¡¯s innards, rapidly reaching its heart. Isaac felt the bear¡¯s heart throbbing madly through the tentacle.

    He grabbed the heart, as big as a human head, with his tentacle and crushed it, absorbing it.

    Grrrr¡­ The giant bear let out a strange groan, struggling.

    Gebel, surprised by the bear¡¯s abnormal reaction, didn¡¯t miss his chance. He swiftly swung his sword, almostpletely severing the thick neck. The neck was shredded enough to suffice.

    The tentacle had already rapidly consumed the bear¡¯s heart. Blood gushed from the cut neck as the bear copsed with a thunderous sound.

    [¡®gue Giant Bear¡¯ consumed.]

    [¡®Dead God¡¯s intestines¡¯ perk enhances absorption efficiency.]

    [¡®Temporary Superhuman Strength¡¯ perk acquired.]

    [Disease resistance significantly increases.]

    [The blessing continues until digestion.]

    ¡®Superhuman strength?¡¯

    Isaac was puzzled by the single perk but had no time to ponder. As the dust settled, Gebel hurried over.

    ¡°Isaac! Are you okay?¡±

    ¡°Yes. I think I hit the jackpot with thatst move.¡±

    Gebel looked down at the giant bear with a disgusted expression.

    ¡°I¡¯ve lived in this monastery and never seen such a crazy monster. Something you¡¯d only expect to find in remote areas¡­ I wonder where it came from.¡±

    ¡°Should we dissect it?¡±

    ¡°No, it seems diseased, so it¡¯s not edible, and we can¡¯t carry it. Better to leave it here. I¡¯ll ask the abbot to cleanse thend. Ah, because of that damned inquisitor, we didn¡¯t need to sweat this much.¡±

    ¡°That ¡®damned¡¯ is actually a ¡®she.¡¯¡±

    Whether it was a ¡®he¡¯ or a ¡®she,¡¯ it was ironic that the two who were most uneasy about the inquisitor¡¯s arrival had saved her.

    Gebel seemed surprised to learn the inquisitor was a woman, but he didn¡¯t dwell on it too much.

    He looked down at the inquisitor lying on the ground with a wary expression.

    ¡°Let¡¯s at least keep this burden alive for now.¡±

    ***

    Isaac decided to carry the inquisitor. Thanks to the perk from consuming the giant bear, her weight felt almost negligible. His breathing wasn¡¯t even heavy.

    His HP, depleted from using the advanced sword skill ¡®Prelude,¡¯ seemed to have recovered, making him feelfortable.

    Gebel was incredulous to see Isaac, who used to pant just from a few swings of his sword, now effortlessly climbing the mountain with the armored inquisitor on his back. But he didn¡¯t find it particrly strange.

    Isaac¡¯s odd fluctuations in stamina were already familiar to Gebel.

    He simply muttered to himself, ¡°Youth is a powerhouse.¡±

    Isaac still had enough energy left to check the reward from the nameless chaos.

    [The nameless chaos is pleased with your recent consumption.]

    [A reward from the chaos is granted.]

    [Choose one of the following three rewards.]

    [The Cleaner of Other Worlds / Now you can summon tentacles from both hands.]

    [The Caller from the Abyss / Casts illusions on your enemies to bind and slow them down.]

    [Offspring of Chaos / Requires the ability ¡®Parasite from Beyond¡¯. The parasite devours the host instantly and undergoes explosive growth, transforming into the ¡®Offspring of Chaos¡¯.]

    ¡®It¡¯s been a while since I had to choose a reward.¡¯

    Isaac smiled with satisfaction.

    So far, the abilities he had gained from his tentacles were ¡®Flesh Storage¡¯, ¡®Parasite from Beyond¡¯, and ¡®Rat in the Wall¡¯. He had declined several quests from the nameless chaos, either because they were impossible to aplish within the monastery or were ridiculously dangerous.

    Life wasn¡¯t a game. To him, it was more crucial to increase his physical stamina than to develop dangerous tentacle abilities.

    ¡®Fortunately, none of these abilities are too conspicuous this time.¡¯

    ¡®The Cleaner of Other Worlds¡¯ didn¡¯t seem as bad as before. Over thest four years, he had learned to sufficiently conceal his tentacles. However, he felt no need for additional tentacles as those from his left hand and chest were already enough.

    ¡®The Caller from the Abyss¡¯ was a useful debuff curse skill. If he could weaken his enemies with this skill, he could take down most foes without even needing to reveal his tentacles. In this sense, it was excellent for disguise.

    ¡®Offspring of Chaos¡¯ was one of the most lethal monster skills. If not released immediately, it drains health rapidly and culminates in the host¡¯s death, spawning a monster. Its grotesqueness and the ease with which it could break enemy lines had made it infamous among yers. But it was undeniably a striking skill.

    ¡®A powerful skill, but the fact that it follows the host¡¯s abilities and is conspicuous is a concern¡­¡¯

    Moreover, the parasite had to be pre-imnted, meaning the tentacles had already prated the skin. It was almost like being in a winning state already.

    Yet, after some contemtion, Isaac chose ¡®Offspring of Chaos¡¯.

    ¡®The crow has been quite useful.¡¯

    In aplex battlefield, having an ability like the crow to observe from above would be extremely beneficial. He needed a servant-like minion he couldmand stealthily rather than a rampaging tentacle monster.

    ¡®I need to keep an eye on the inquisitor too.¡¯

    He hoped such a situation would not arise, but it could also be used for ckmail if necessary. After all, Isaac had to prioritize his own life above all.

    Eventually, Isaac chose the ¡®Offspring of Chaos¡¯.

    The tentacle within his left hand writhed, absorbing the new power. Isaac could intuitively feel that the parasite within the crow could tear its host apart and transform into a new form at any time.

    ¡®Not now, though.¡¯

    If the inquisitor woke up, she might search for the crow. He didn¡¯t want to take unnecessary risks with pointless experiments. After all, the monastery was rife with rats, excellent subjects for experimentation.

    ***

    Upon Isaac and Gebel¡¯s arrival at the monastery, the monks hastily opened the doors. The monastery had all its torches andmps lit, showcasing its devotion to the Codex of Light. It seemed they had prepared for the inquisitor¡¯s visit.

    Regrettably, the inquisitor, having fainted, missed this spectacle.

    ¡°This way.¡±

    Evhar led them to a prepared infirmary toy down the inquisitor. The monks nced curiously at them.

    Noticing she was a woman, the monks appeared bewildered. The monastery wasn¡¯t strictly forbidden to women, but ess was mostly restricted to avoid unfortunate incidents.

    As Evhar began to remove her armor to make her morefortable, he looked closely at her face.

    And then, he was shocked.

    ¡°Isolde Brant?¡±

    Hearing this, Gebel couldn¡¯t hide his surprise either.

    ¡°The daughter of the Brant ducal family?¡±

    ¡°Yes. I remember her from hering-of-age ceremony.¡±

    ¡°She must be a distinguished person.¡±

    Isaac chimed in.

    Even Isaac had heard of the Brant ducal family, a household famous enough to be known in the Gerthonia Empire. It was said that the current emperor of the Gerthonia Empire rose to power with the Brant family¡¯s support.

    If the abbot attended hering-of-age ceremony, it surely indicated their significant influence.

    ¡°Although there is no high or low under the Codex of Light, the Brant family is known for their deep faith. But I never imagined their only daughter would be working as a harsh inquisitor.¡±

    The inquisitor, with her absolute authority, had many enemies.

    Like Isaac had secretly thought, there would be many people who wouldn¡¯t mind her disappearance, thinking it would cause no suspicion.

    Eventually, they all reached the same conclusion.

    If Isolde died here, it would be problematic for more than just a few.

    ¡®Perhaps it would have been better to let the wolves have her.¡¯

    Isaac regretted internally but showed no outward signs.

    ¡°Let¡¯s keep her alive for now. Whether she¡¯s a Brant or a Barbarian, I don¡¯t want to waste effort saving her just to let her die.¡±

    ¡°Gebel tore Isolde¡¯s clothes to check her wounds. The foul smell emanating from the wound made the three of them close their mouths. Especially Gebel and Isaac, who involuntarily stepped back, recognizing the familiar stench. Evhar examined Isolde¡¯s wound, which seemed to have been bitten by a wolf.

    ¡°Blisters and discoloration, signs of decay¡­¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s the gue,¡± Isaac muttered.

    Hearing this, Evhar also stepped back.

    On reflection, the wolves, boars, and bears had all been infected with the gue. This meant that some gue was widespread throughout these mountains. But there had never been a case of humans being infected.

    Isaac felt a chilling premonition

    .

    ¡®Could it be they deliberately didn¡¯t kill her?¡¯

    He was troubled by the fact that, despite hours of effort, the giant bears and packs of wolves had only driven the inquisitor to exhaustion without killing her.

    But what if this was someone¡¯s intention?

    Isaac recalled the change in the wolves¡¯ behavior when they smelled the gue.

    Someone had intentionally infected the inquisitor with the gue to get her into the monastery.

    Evhar kept silent for a moment, then spoke.

    ¡°Let¡¯s start with treatment. Gebel, please sprinkle garlic and salt around the room. Isaac, go get leeches from the basement. I¡¯ll prepare a prayer meeting with the monks.¡±

    ¡°Leeches?¡±

    Isaac looked puzzled by the odd instruction.

    ¡°We need to perform bloodletting therapy. Removing bad blood is essential to get the gue out of the body.¡±

    ¡®What nonsense is this? Drawing blood from a patient?¡¯

    Isaac almost blurted out but managed to hold it back.

    This worldcked basic medical knowledge, typical of the Middle Ages.

    On second thought, it made sense.

    In a world where most diseases and injuries were healed by the miracles of monks, it would be stranger for medicine to be advanced.

    ¡®But this gue is targeted at the monastery.¡¯

    It was an attack on the monastery, and it was unlikely that they hadn¡¯t prepared for a miracle. Isaac concluded that the monks would not be able to handle this gue properly. Even Gebel seemed to agree with Evhar¡¯s opinion.

    ¡®I have to do something about this.¡¯

    If thedy inquisitor is so valuable, it would be beneficial to keep her alive.¡±

 Chapter 20:

    Chapter 20:

    ¡°The gue? Infected with the gue?¡±

    ¡°Yes. I saw Lord Gebel setting up quarantine lines.¡±

    The fact that the inquisitor who entered the monastery was infected with the gue spread quickly. It was obvious, given that Gebel was setting up barriers to restrict entry and Evhar was preparing a prayer meeting for the treatment of the gue.

    To a modern person, the idea of treating the gue with a prayer meeting might sound like nonsense. But in this era, it was a natural response and even considered the most effective treatment.

    However, whoever had spread the gue in the monastery had been preparing for a long time, and it was doubtful whether prayers would be effective.

    Evhar, aware of this, was preparing bloodletting treatment. The monks had their own methods of dealing with the gue, albeit rudimentary, like rubbing dried herbs on their faces or hanging chicken feet around their necks.

    Although many of these practices were unrted to the Codex of light, it was evident that even the most devout monks were subtly influenced by superstition.

    But there was one thing that Isaac could not ept.

    ¡°¡­All the leeches are dead?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    Evhar, who was performing bloodletting on Isolde, was flustered. They had nned to first draw blood and then treat her again, but now all the leeches were dead.

    The monastery¡¯s basement had a tank of leeches for such emergencies. But now, instead of leeches, there was only ck water sloshing around.

    ¡°How did this happen?¡±

    ¡®I can¡¯t exactly say that the tentacles ate them.¡¯

    Isaac decided to fib a little.

    ¡°When I put the blood-fed leeches in the tank, they all dissolved and disappeared overnight. Maybe it¡¯s because of the gue? The wolves and bears were also infected, so why not the leeches?¡±

    Surprisingly, this excuse worked. In the biological understanding of the time, leeches were more like a liquid than an animal. In reality, the tank contained remnants of leeches that the tentacles had eaten and absorbed the gue from.

    [You have devoured the ¡®leeches¡¯.]

    [Devouring bonus: Increased efficiency in bloodsucking.]

    [Minor improvement in health recovery ability.]

    Although he received an unexpected and unintended devouring bonus, the rapid digestion of leeches meant it probably wouldn¡¯t be of much help.

    Evhar groaned at the news of the leeches¡¯ demise.

    ¡°It¡¯s difficult to find leeches in the middle of winter¡­ should we draw the blood ourselves?¡±

    ¡®Oh no, these people are serious.¡¯

    Before Evhar couldmit to any harebrained medical practice, Isaac quickly intervened.

    ¡°Abbot, may I offer some assistance?¡±

    Evhar looked at Isaac with surprise.

    ¡°You mean you?¡±

    ¡°Yes. I¡¯ve read some foreign medical texts in the past. Gebel and I can handle basic nursing and chores, so the monks and you, Abbot, can concentrate on the prayer meeting without worrying about other things.¡±

    It was a simple division ofbor.

    The monks trying to treat the gue themselves would only be a hindrance. However, as the prayer meeting was not ineffective, they should focus solely on that.

    Isaac intended to focus on quarantine and treatment, the so-called ¡®chores¡¯.

    Evhar stared at Isaac for a moment and then nodded.

    In an era where holding a saint¡¯s hand for healing was believed more effective than a doctor¡¯s diagnosis, and where miracles existed, such belief was not entirely misguided.

    The gue was already spreading among the monks. The children were isted to prevent infection, and even Gebel was showing symptoms of the gue.

    However, Isaac, who had carried Isolde, showed no signs of the gue or even a cough.

    Evhar, not so much trusting Isaac¡¯s knowledge as believing he might be blessed by God, consented to his actions.

    ¡°Very well. We will focus on the prayers, and trust the rest to you.¡±

    ***

    Isaac immediately began quarantine measures.

    First, he isted Gebel, who could be considered a close contact, in his own room. As Gebel was showing early symptoms of the gue, it was a necessary measure. Isaac also collected and burned all of Isolde¡¯s clothes, which were the main source of the infection.

    When the monks were concerned about burning the inquisitor¡¯s clothes, Isaac calmly exined.

    ¡°It¡¯s a measure to purify the gue with fire.¡±

    The monks were convinced by his usible exnation and burned other potentially infected items.

    Fortunately, the monks, despite Isaac being only 16 years old, followed his instructions well. Isaac¡¯s actions were grounded and somewhat aligned with traditional superstitions.

    ¡®There¡¯s at least some concept of quarantine here.¡¯

    Even the act of isting those infected showed they understood to avoid areas where the gue had broken out.

    Isaac also mandated washing hands before meals and adjusted the monks¡¯ robes

    to cover up to their noses. While it wasn¡¯t the same as a mask, it could at least prevent saliva from spraying everywhere.

    ¡°A separate ce for the prayer meeting?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    Isaac even meddled in the prayer meeting arrangements. He requested that the prayer meeting be conducted separately for those showing symptoms of the gue and those who were not.

    In an era where it wasmon to travel the country seeking the statue of a saint believed to have healing powers for the sick and their caregivers, Isaac thought the monks might resist the idea of separating the prayer meeting ces. He nned to turn the chapel, where prayers were held nearly 24/7, into an istion facility.

    ¡°The prayer meeting doesn¡¯t necessarily have to be confined to a cramped corner. If we are to follow the teachings of the Codex of Light, it¡¯s only right that the healthy raise their voices more clearly under the sunlight.¡±

    The symbol of the Codex of Light¡¯s congregation was the sun. So, wasn¡¯t it inappropriate to mumble prayers in a cramped space when petitioning the Codex of Light?

    Isaac said this in a critical tone.

    Although it was an unconventional interpretation, Evhar found merit in his words.

    ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s do it that way.¡±

    Fortunately, Evhar and the other monks readily agreed with him.

    This was partly due to Isaac being symptom-free despite close contact with Isolde and his inherent mysterious charm.

    Having already built a trust with Isaac, there was no reason for them not toply with his active requests.

    ¡®I hope this works.¡¯

    In reality, the monastery had already turned into a giant quarantine ward with the gue spread. Burning belongings or isting patients might seem futile in such circumstances. However, Isaac hoped that ssifying patients based on symptoms and focusing on cleanliness would make a difference.

    Thankfully, Isaac¡¯s measures were somewhat effective.

    Until he started his quarantine measures, the gue was spreading rapidly among the monks.

    But as Isaac took action, the number of new infections started to decrease, and the worsening of symptoms slowed down.

    ¡®It¡¯s only temporary.¡¯

    If Evhar¡¯s prayer meeting proved effective, it might drive away the gue. However, before that happened, people could die or suffer severe aftereffects.

    To solve the problem, it was essential to eliminate the source.

    ***

    Isolde was still unconscious, groaning in pain.

    Isaac examined her condition. Her wounds were still filled with blisters and festering sores. Amputation seemed necessary, but it was a difficult option given her weakened state.

    Her endurance wasrgely due to the healing prayers.

    The prayer meeting definitely bolstered Isolde¡¯s healing, but it wasn¡¯t enough to cure the gue. The only thing Isaac could do was to prevent bloodletting; the rest was up to prayer.

    ¡®This is not good.¡¯

    He heard simr stories about Gebel and other monks. The prayer meeting prevented death from infection but couldn¡¯t stop the infection itself. Isaac¡¯s quarantine measures were also temporary; if fatigue dragged on, the gue could spread again.

    If the number of infected increased, the prayer meetings wouldn¡¯t be able to exert their full power.

    ¡®I wish the Codex of light would just miraculously cure everything.¡¯

    In a world of magic, gods, and miracles, it wasn¡¯t far-fetched. The issue was whether patients, especially Isolde, could endure until such purification.

    He couldn¡¯t rely on miracles.

    Isaac¡¯s duty wasn¡¯t to pray, but to act.

    Ensuring he was alone, he brought out his tentacles. They slowly crawled over Isolde¡¯s body.

    ¡®It feels strange.¡¯

    It felt wrong, but it was necessary.

    The tentacles began to scrape the rotten and festering parts of Isolde¡¯s wounds. The many teeth quickly carved out the infected flesh and devoured it. It was a method of removing only the harmful parts.

    Despite his resolution not to consume humans, this was a delicate boundary.

    ¡®So it¡¯s sort of like leech therapy, right?¡¯

    Isaac shook his head at the irony of performing the bloodletting he once considered foolish. Isolde twitched every time an infected part was removed.

    Soon, fresh blood flowed from Isolde¡¯s wounds, but the infected parts were gone. Without ess to antiseptics or alcohol for cleaning, this was the best he could do.

    Isaac then utilized the devouring bonus of the leeches.

    [Devouring bonus: Increased efficiency in bloodsucking.]

    [Minor improvement in health recovery ability.]

    His tentacles exuded fluid over Isolde¡¯s wounds. These were created from her own flesh and blood. Although temporary, the healing-imbued fluid covered her wounds, helping them heal.

    ¡®I¡¯ve done as much as I can.¡¯

    Isaac wiped the sweat from his forehead.

    However, he couldn¡¯t stop there. This was just defense.

    Even though the Codex of Light might soon strike a big blow, Isaac didn¡¯t intend to sit back and hope for divine retribution.

    ¡°There should be some progress soon.¡±

    Isaac muttered, heading to a corner of the room. A raty there, seemingly dead.

    It was a rat paralyzed by the ¡®Parasite from Beyond¡¯. Isaac activated the ¡®Offspring of Chaos¡¯ bonus on it.

    [Offspring of Chaos / Requires ¡®Parasite from Beyond¡¯ bonus. The parasite rapidly consumes its host, transforming into an ¡®Offspring of Chaos¡¯.]

    As Isaac exercised his power, the rat convulsed violently. It burst open with a pop, like a water balloon.

    From the gruesome remains, something crawled out, turning inside out.

    It began to take shape, absorbing the rat¡¯s skin, bones, flesh, and fluids.

    At first nce, the creature resembled a rat, but upon closer inspection, it was clear that tentacles, chaotically moving in all directions, awkwardly mimicked the shape of a rat. This was an offspring of chaos.

    ¡°Master.¡±

    A brief and blunt message reached Isaac. It was from the offspring of chaos. Perhaps because it had used a rat as a medium, all the chaos offspring could only use short and simple words.

    Isaac shared a piece of Isolde¡¯s flesh with the chaos offspring.

    ¡°Find the source of this gue. It must have started somewhere in these mountains. We need to know who is trying to fool us.¡±

    The chaos offspring, its tentacles writhing, snatched the flesh Isaac offered. It swallowed the flesh with an unseen mouth and scurried into a rat hole.

    Isaac hoped for the results of the measures he had consistently taken since the outbreak of the gue.

    ***

    [The Nameless Chaos watches over you.]

    That night.

    ¡°Master.¡±

    Isaac¡¯s eyes snapped open at the sudden message.

    [gue. Origin. Found.]

 Chapter 21:

    Chapter 21:

    Flutter.

    Isaac draped himself in the thick robe typically worn by monks. With his near-adult height and the hood deeply drawn over his face, it was difficult to recognize him.

    At his waist, he equipped the Sword of Judgment that he had yet to return to Isolde.

    The task ahead was something that must remain undiscovered.

    Isaac stepped into the shadow-drenched corridor. Focusing on one corner, the offspring of chaos wriggled out from a crack in the wall.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±

    Leading the offspring of chaos, Isaac headed toward the source of the gue it had found.

    Over the past few days, Isaac had released chaos offspring to track down the gue¡¯s origin. Finally, their efforts were bearing fruit.

    ¡®Was it two years ago when I first saw the gue-infested boar?¡¯

    Back then, he had thought of it as just a local disease.

    But considering the current situation, it was clear this was no ordinary gue. Isaac sensed schemes and conspiracies emanating from it.

    At least some entity with intelligence had been targeting the monastery for years, waiting for the right moment to strike.

    And now, at the brink of sess, the perpetrator was likely preparing for the final blow.

    The leading offspring of chaos suddenly changed direction, slipping through a gap boarded up with nks and heading inside.

    ¡®Huh?¡¯

    Isaac stopped, puzzled.

    This boarded-up area was meant to seal off an abandoned cer.

    Considering the attack originated from outside the monastery, he had assumed the perpetrator would also be external. But now, the offspring of chaos was definitely heading underground, within the monastery.

    After a moment of thought, Isaac used the sword as a lever to dismantle the makeshift wall. There was no choice but to check. He stepped through the debris and descended the stairs.

    At that moment, a message from the Nameless Chaos came.

    [The Nameless Chaos watches over you.]

    [The Nameless Chaos finds this sanctuary abhorrent.]

    [The Nameless Chaos desires the ¡®purification¡¯ of this desecrated sanctuary.]

    [Award from Chaos awaits you.]

    ¡®Sanctuary?¡¯

    Isaac paid attention to the message. It was something he had never heard before.

    The Nameless Chaos had never paid attention when Isaac prayed to the Codex of Light or studied its sacred texts.

    Even when openly criticizing or despising the tentacles, there was no reaction. But now, the Nameless Chaos seemed more disgusted by something beneath these stairs than ever before.

    ¡®There must be something.¡¯

    ***

    A tepid, sticky breeze flowed up from the bottom of the stairs. Despite it being winter, Isaac wrinkled his nose at the subtly warm air.

    It felt like being enveloped in sweaty, obese flesh.

    Suddenly, Isaac felt his left-hand tentacle wriggle. Reflexively, his hand moved, and he swung the sword.

    Snick! A rat, almost the size of a small puppy, leaped down from a pir towards Isaac, only to be sliced in half by his sword.

    ¡°What a pig-like creature¡­¡±

    Again, a tentacle writhed.

    Thump.

    A rat kicked by his foot squealed loudly and scurried away. Its scream seemed to awaken others in the darkness. Glowing red eyes started to emerge from the shadows. Isaac, ustomed to hunting rats for years, knew they were all rats.

    ¡°Ha, these damned rats. No end to them, and now they are pouring out from here?¡±

    Isaac realized why there seemed to be an endless supply of rats. Something in the monastery¡¯s underground was continuously producing them. Unbeknownst to Isaac and Gebel, they had been preventing the gue¡¯s attack all along.

    Rustling noises began to spread around him. Countless rats moved in unison, like grass swaying in the wind. Isaac readied his sword as they surged forward.

    The rats, insignificant alone but formidable in numbers, fearlessly attacked. While individually weak, they could be relentless, even againstrger foes.

    And they had used the imprable darkness to their advantage before, turning wolves, bears, and boars into their prey.

    But this time, they faced a different opponent.

    Thump, crack!

    With a swing of his sword, like a golf club, a whirlwind sent several rats flying. The rats that bounced off the walls turned into bloody stains. Yet, driven by frenzy, they failed to grasp what was happening.

    Isaac calmly retreated, methodically shing, stabbing, and dismembering the charging rats. Despite the onught of glowing red eyes, his swordy showed no hesitation or dy.

    Snick, snick!

    Only when the smell of blood overpowered the stench of decay and the rats began to hesitate did they stop attacking. Despite the multitude of rats, not a single one managed to leave a bite mark on Isaac.

    Even those that climbed on him were thwarted by the thick robe tied around his limbs, preventing them from prating inside. Isaac had anticipated the rat swarm¡¯s attack as he ventured to confront the gue¡¯s source.

    ¡®Rats are no problem, no matter their number.¡¯

    Even after several sword swings, Isaac¡¯s breathing was almost unchanged. There was no need to use sword techniques or concentrate when dealing with mere rats.

    It was thanks to a perk he had gained when he was 14.

    [You can devour lowly beasts at any time.]

    This didn¡¯t simply mean that Isaac could eat rats using his tentacles. It meant that the rtionship between Isaac and the rats was as disparate as that between a lion and a chick.

    To a perfect apex predator.

    Whether it¡¯s a hundred chicks or a thousand, it makes no difference to a lion. Isaac saw every movement of the rat swarm, unafraid of their vast numbers.

    Moreover, Isaac had other blessings.

    [You demonstrate great strength with the ¡®Devour¡¯ perk of the gue giant bear.]

    [Your ability to track weaknesses is enhanced with the ¡®Devour¡¯ perk of the gue wolf.]

    The gue beasts that Isaac had consumed thus far had now be his strength.

    Using his ability to track weaknesses, Isaac found gaps in the rat swarm and, with his tireless strength, dispatched them all at once. He felt no need to disy proper swordsmanship against such lowly creatures.

    Had it been anyone else, entering the gue¡¯s den would have shown signs of coughing or weakening by now. However, thanks to his resistance to the gue, Isaac was unaffected.

    ¡®They¡¯re starting to hesitate.¡¯

    The rat swarm soon realized that there were more corpses of their own kind around them than themselves.

    Rats are cunning creatures. They charge fearlessly at stronger opponents when in numbers, but if they think they cannot win, they abandon theirrades and flee. Soon, fear and panic spread among the rats. At that moment, Isaac¡¯s eyes caught the gaps in the rat swarm.

    Thump.

    Isaac charged forward in a single breath, swinging his tentacles.

    The tentacles split into several strands, wrapping around the rat swarm like ws.

    Pffft!

    Rats pinned against the wall burst like mosquitoes.

    The tentacles greedily devoured and swallowed the rats. The descendant of chaos that hade with Isaac also took the opportunity to catch and suck the fluids from the rats vigorously.

    Caught in the sudden ughterous feast, the rats fell intoplete terror and fled through the gaps in the walls. However, Isaac had no intention of letting them go.

    ¡®Today, it ends for good.¡¯

    Isaac imnted parasites in the rats that were still squirming on the ground. The rats infected by the parasites convulsed and soon burst open with a pop. From their carcasses, half a dozen descendants of chaos were born.

    ¡°Eat all the rats.¡±

    The descendants of chaos born from rats were not particrly strong. But they had enough power tofortably deal with about ten rats each. After all, the lifespan of a descendant of chaos was at most a week. The descendants of chaos that Isaac had previously released into the mountains also began to move on the samemand.

    The descendants of chaos disappeared into the wall crevices, leaving behind a thick scent of blood and silence.

    Isaac felt a sudden hunger.

    Using the tentacles¡¯ abilities, like a ¡®flesh storage¡¯, quickly digests what has already been consumed. And if the tentacles¡¯ abilities are used without sufficient predation, it consumes Isaac¡¯s own energy.

    For the past few days, Isaac had been focusing on quarantine and treatment, unable to properly feast. The reason he could still sustain himself was thanks to the tentacles having previously gorged on wolves and bears.

    Of course, the hunger he felt now wasn¡¯t because the beasts he had consumed were depleted. It was an emotional emptiness felt with each use of his abilities.

    ¡®Enough.¡¯

    Chirp.

    Then, a rat appeared from the darkness. It was a half-rotten rat with two heads.

    Isaac instinctively realized that this was no ordinary rat.

    [Follow me.]

    A message came into Isaac¡¯s mind. Then, the two-headed rat turned and disappeared into the darkness. It was neither the voice of the nameless chaos nor that of the descendants of chaos.

    Isaac smiled, thinking his suspicions had been confirmed.

    He had figured out what being was unleashing the gue and controlling the infected beasts.

    Isaac obediently followed as the other had said.

    He licked his lips in anticipation of the opponent that would soon appear.

    He was already fiercely hungry.

    ***

    The path leading underground became increasingly rough and crude. Isaac soon felt the architectural style around him change. It wasn¡¯t the monastery¡¯s neatly and solidly built architecture but an older, cruder style that felt somewhat ancient.

    Examining the engravings and patterns on the walls, Isaac realized that the monastery was built over some ancient structure.

    ¡®Just as I thought.¡¯

    Isaac had been here before.

    More precisely, he had visited this ce while ying ¡®Nameless Chaos.¡¯

    And it felt all too familiar.

    Thud. Isaac reached the bottom of the staircase. The cer at the bottom revealed a considerablyrge space, now a crumbling ruin. However, the size and scale of the altar indicated that something significant was once revered here.

    And atop that altary what once basked in glory here.

    It was a gigantic rat.

    The rat was as big as the enormous bear Gebel had fought. However, its body was disproportionatelyrgepared to its limbs, making movement difficult. Only its belly was grotesquely swollen, emitting a sickly green glow.

    The giant rat¡¯s green eyes glowed as it fixed its gaze on Isaac.

    [How dare a mere creature disrupt the ns of the great one¡­ What are you?]

    Isaac chuckled at the giant rat¡¯s words. Just as he was about to speak, the giant rat burst out angrily.

    [Silence, creature. It¡¯s not you I question. Surely a feeble creature like you cannot detect and interfere with my ns. There must be someone behind you. Show yourself.]

    ¡°Quite the talker for a rat piglet, huh?¡±

    Silence engulfed the dungeon. The giant rat stared at Isaac, then spoke.

    [Do you know who you are speaking to? I am¡­]

    ¡°The Rat Mother Zihilrat, right?¡±

    The Rat Mother Zihilrat.

    The gue Deity, the mother of a myriad of rats.

    Nicknamed ¡®Rat Pig¡¯ by yers.

    Isaac finally realized the true identity of this ce. The monastery where he had lived for the past years was actually a well-known dungeon in ¡®Nameless Chaos.¡¯

    A den swarming with the ungodly gue Deity and its apostles.

    Meaning, if things had gone as initially intended, in two years, the monastery would be devastated by the gue, either bing deste or entirely abandoned.

    ¡®But not anymore.¡¯

    Isaac, who had in Zihilrat hundreds of times in the game, looked at her leisurely.

    ¡®If I eat that, I¡¯ll be bursting at the seams.¡¯

 Chapter 22:

    Chapter 22:

    Zihilrat was taken aback, seeing Isaac calmly mention its true name.

    [How do you know my name¡­?]

    ¡°What¡¯s the big deal?¡±

    [How do you know that name¡­?]

    Isaac, puzzled, shrugged. Zihilrat writhed angrily.

    [Stop pretending! It¡¯s been over a hundred years since myst follower perished. How do you dare speak my true name? Whomands you?]

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure what you¡¯re talking about¡­¡±

    As Zihilrat roared, Isaac¡¯s robe fluttered wildly. Simultaneously, he felt the tentacles within him stir ¨C not in fear or tension, but in annoyance.

    ¡®Why does it matter if I know the name hovering over your head?¡¯

    To Isaac, this was trivial. He more frequently referred to Zihilrat as ¡®Rat Pig¡¯, and he often visited its dungeon because it was the easiest among the ¡®holy¡¯ enemies to defeat.

    [Still refusing to reveal yourself? Then I shall tear your creation to shreds!]

    Despite its fury, Zihilrat grew more puzzled as Isaac remained nonchnt. It took a deep breath, followed by a violent coughing fit.

    Slimy, blood-like slimes shot towards Isaac.

    They were Blood Slimes, a type of monster swarm.

    Instinctively, Isaac summoned his tentacles. In a swift motion, they pierced through the slimes. Pop! Two Blood Slimes exploded, sttering fluids on Zihilrat. Its tiny eyes widened.

    [What power is this¡­? What divine might are you using¡­!]

    Finally, Zihilrat seemed to have a revtion, trembling violently.

    [Nephilim! You must be Nephilim, those filthy beings who stole heavenly blood! But, what lineage would your mother be from!]

    ¡°Suddenly bringing up my parentage? You¡¯re just making it harder to forgive you.¡±

    Isaac had no desire to argue with Zihilrat any longer. Simply being in the same room was revolting enough, like being submerged in filth.

    Despite his resistance to the gue, anyone else might have sumbed to its effects by now.

    The tentacles targeted Zihilrat as it writhed and gave birth to more rats. True to its name, Zihilrat could summon numerous rat swarms.

    The newly born rats, still wet with blood, charged at the tentacles. Unlike the others he¡¯d faced, these rats wererger and more ferocious.

    Crunch, snap.

    They mercilessly bit into the tentacles.

    [If you won¡¯t speak, I¡¯ll dissect you to learn the truth!]

    Isaac sensed this battle might be more challenging than expected.

    He unleashed his tentacles without restraint, an approach he hadn¡¯t needed with mere wild animals. This time, he faced real monsters, not just boars, wolves, or bears. The rats spawned by Zihilrat were almost divine beasts in their own right.

    Each tentacle strike squashed several rats, continually replenishing his strength. However, a prolonged battle would disadvantage the all-too-human Isaac.

    Zihilrat, even if deficient as a god, wouldn¡¯t tire or perish easily.

    Fortunately, Zihilrat was wary of the tentacles and didn¡¯t move rashly, relying on its summoned minions for attack.

    Isaac eyed Zihilrat.

    [Foolish! This is my sanctuary! How dare you invade another¡¯s sanctuary and think to defeat me! I am a gue deity, worshipped for a thousand years! A mere creature like you¡­]

    Isaac read Zihilrat¡¯s arrogance.

    ***

    Zihilrat, so consumed by its own grandeur, believed only a god could threaten it. It ignored Isaac¡¯s presence, focusing on an unknown mastermind instead.

    ¡®There may be someone behind me, but I¡¯m here on my own will.¡¯

    The Nameless Chaos was just a tool in this process. Isaac was determined to destroy this sanctuary, rewards or not.

    He dodged Zihilrat¡¯s minions and repulsive spit, or Blood Slimes, seemingly overwhelmed. Meanwhile, he slowly gripped the Sword of Judgment, moving closer to Zihilrat.

    Zihilrat tirelessly produced Blood Slimes and rats, constantly attacking the tentacles. Isaac circled to Zihilrat¡¯s left.

    He nned to strike at the source, bypassing the need for a war of attrition.

    Suddenly, something stood up beside Zihilrat ¨C a skeletal figure in a tattered robe, resembling a priest. However, the hollow robe revealed white bones, decaying for perhaps over a century.

    ¡°An undead?¡±

    ¡°But the skeleton priest only made ttering noises instead of responding. Isaac realized that it was thanks to this skeleton that Zihilrat had been preserved and not buried under the ruins. As soon as he saw the undead, Isaac had a hunch about who was behind this.

    ¡®Could it be the Immortal Order?¡¯

    The undead are the power of the Immortal Order. He couldn¡¯t think of any other faith. But why a priest of the Immortal Order was serving another god was a mystery.

    However, the skeleton priest raised a heavily rusted sword instead of answering. Isaac realized that this skeleton was not just a priest, but also a sentinel ced to guard this ce.

    ¡®It shows no signs of intelligence. It¡¯s just a device ced to serve Zihilrat and exist as a god.¡¯

    But since he had to deal with Zihilrat with one hand, Isaac had to use his sword with the other hand only.

    Naturally, he couldn¡¯t be as strong. The skeleton priest twisted its joints unnaturally and swung its sword at Isaac.

    But Isaac still had the blessings of ¡®Weakness Tracking¡¯ and ¡®Herculean Strength.¡¯

    And anyway, he wasn¡¯t a Pdin, but he had learned Pdin swordsmanship.

    Cling.

    At the moment when the swords shed, Isaac repelled the skeleton priest¡¯s sword with a strength unbelievable for one hand. Fragments of the broken sword pierced through the skeleton priest¡¯s face. However, as expected of an undead, it didn¡¯t care and continued to attack Isaac.

    Isaac didn¡¯t stop there and continued his shing motion.

    A cutting motion he had repeated countless times.

    At that moment, something different entered Isaac¡¯s body.

    A flow entered his mind. It was like a wave of tentacles surging and bursting out.

    In a single breath, Isaac imagined the tentacles repelling the skeleton¡¯s sword, piercing through its body, shing Zihilrat¡¯s fat belly from bottom to top, and then crossing diagonally to inflict a cross-shaped wound.

    It was just imagination.

    Boom!

    But in the next moment, it became reality.

    [Agghhh!]

    Zihilrat screamed in agony.

    Isaac never considered this skeleton priest important from the start. He sliced through the skeleton and ripped Zihilrat¡¯s torso from bottom to top.

    Zihilrat vomited bodily fluids from the massive wound as big as Isaac¡¯s height.

    Isaac unwittingly realized that he had used advanced swordsmanship.

    It was just a short movement, too fast to be conscious of, but inexplicably effective.

    Above all, there was much less pain and injury than when using Avnche advanced swordsmanship. It wasn¡¯t painless, but his stamina recovery was much faster.

    Instead, Isaac felt a strange hunger.

    ¡®Is this¡­ instead of stamina, did it consume the meat in my storage?¡¯

    It seemed so. The wolves he had eaten a few days ago were all digested in an instant. There wasn¡¯t much left, but it was an immense amount digested.

    It was as if he traded ¡®satiety¡¯ instead of stamina.

    No, more precisely, he did get injured but recovered so fast that it was almost unnoticeable.

    ¡®I don¡¯t know why there wasn¡¯t such an effect with Avnche swordsmanship¡­ Maybe it has something to do with the form of the swordsmanship.¡¯

    Isaac looked back. Following the trajectory he moved, there were eight spiral traces inflicting gruesome wounds on the ground and Zihilrat.

    It looked like giant wounds torn by eight tentacles, even fatal for the divine Zihilrat.

    [Low-rank Pdin swordsmanship upgrade condition has been met.]

    [Advanced Pdin Swordsmanship Proficiency (Lv 1)]

    [Please name thebined advanced swordsmanship.]

    Messages appeared one after another, but Isaac had no time to check them all.

    [Gyaaaah!]

    Zihilrat roared, twisting its body. Isaac¡¯s tentacles had pierced through Zihilrat¡¯s belly. At the same time, something poured out from the wound inflicted by Isaac. They were none other than young rats. From those not properly formed, even those that seemed to have just started imnting.

    Isaac frowned at the dirty and disgusting sight.

    [Damn it! Why! How could you!]

    Zihilrat shouted in boiling rage. It seemed difficult to heal the wounds, probably due to the power of the Judgement Sword that burns the unholy.

    It wasn¡¯t just that. After the skeleton priest was destroyed, Zihilrat¡¯s ability to maintain its form seemed to rapidly deteriorate. A body that once quickly regenerated even from severe wounds was now crumbling apart like a sandcastle being rebuilt only to copse more. The skeleton priest must have been a crucial catalyst in maintaining its form.

    ¡®A temporary, yet sole follower and priest. Is that why it¡¯s gone?¡¯

    [You too are a god like me! I can definitely feel divinity in you! Even belonging to the same dark, chaotic realm as me¡­ But why!]

    That¡¯s because it¡¯s the Nameless Chaos.

    Isaac was surprised to find amon ground with Zihilrat. He couldn¡¯t understand why the Nameless Chaos despised Zihilrat, but it seemed that the Nameless Chaos was no longer interested, not even sending messages.

    ¡°Save me! Don¡¯t you know what it means for a being with divinity to die like this? Forever in that unnamed realm¡­¡±

    Zihilrat, gasping for breath, seemed to have a realization as he mumbled something in a gurgling voice.

    ¡°You! You! Did you bring blood into this world that shouldn¡¯t have mixed?¡±

    ¡°To listen to such words from a filthy rat-pig is somewhat¡­¡±

    Isaac mumbled half-heartedly, but Zihilrat was no longer listening.

    ¡°Die!¡±

    As Zihilrat screamed in ast desperate effort, rats began swarming out of the sac it had released.

    The rats, born tearing through the sac in a boiling surge, looked grotesque. The poorly formed rats died as soon as they appeared or just wriggled and crawled on the ground.

    It wasn¡¯t an attack for survival.

    It was like a mouse terrified by a cat, charging in fear.

    Now Zihilrat had fallen to the level of a mere beast.

    ¡°Beasts of the gue, suffering ones! Kill him!¡±

    Sssssss.

    Isaac heard the sound of confusion as something crawled along the walls around him. The rats scattered around the monastery and the whole mountain were starting to gather.

    Isaac realized that Zihilrat had summoned all the rats from the mountain, not just to attack him but to suffocate and kill him.

    Even for Isaac, dealing with all those rats was difficult. However, he didn¡¯t tense up, as he heard different voices.

    ¡°Rat, devour, absorb.¡±

    ¡°Nutrition, consumption.¡±

    ¡°Head, body, tail, all of it.¡±

    Soon, Zihilrat seemed to notice something strange and fell silent.

    Thump, thud.

    Something began to burst out of the walls. It was the rat swarm Zihilrat had been waiting for.

    But they had note to save Zihilrat. They came seeking salvation, asking for protection.

    The descendants of chaos, plumped up from absorbing and devouring many rats, followed the swarm.

    In Zihilrat¡¯s astonishment, Isaac loosely wriggled his tentacles.

    ¡°Zero for hygiene, but a buffet atst.¡±

    ***

    Crunch, crack, snap, crunch.

    Isaac watched for a long time as his tentacles devoured the rat mother. The giant bear hadn¡¯t been fully devoured, but he let the rat mother be freely consumed. The other descendants of chaos also enjoyed the meal.

    Since it wasn¡¯t an appetizing scene, Isaac looked elsewhere.

    The temple was indeed ancient. A ce many people would have visited until a few hundred years ago. Perhaps Zihilrat was once a god worshiped by many. Then one day, the faith declined, and the Codex of light came.

    ¡®The monastery squashed it under its buttocks, so of course, the grudge would be deep.¡¯

    But now, it¡¯s just prey for the Nameless Tentacles.

    It was a natural consequence to save the situation when a wild animal tried to harm a person.

    Isaac examined the altar where Zihilrat had been sitting. On the long table, used for sacrifices, there was a carving of the rat queen giving birth to numerous rats.

    Isaac slowly stroked the carving.

    At that moment, a message came to him.

    [¡°You can purify this contaminated sanctuary.¡±]

    [¡°Would you like to dedicate this sanctuary to the ¡®Nameless Chaos¡¯?¡±]

 Chapter 23:

    Chapter 23:

    Chapter 23. Sanctuary Purification

    ¡°Sanctuary purification, huh?¡±

    Isaac was familiar with the concept of sanctuary purification. In the game Nameless Chaos, capturing certain key ¡®strongholds¡¯ allowed the upying faith to exert stronger power in that area. Those strongholds were the sanctuaries.

    Purifying a sanctuary involved erasing the original faith and establishing a new one in its ce.

    Isaac had just devoured an entity in the sanctuary that, though fallen, was once a god. He had expected a different message to appear, but he hadn¡¯t anticipated the Nameless Chaos would demand sanctuary purification.

    ¡®Shouldn¡¯t it naturally go back to the codex of light?¡¯

    As if anticipating Isaac¡¯s confusion, a message appeared.

    [This sanctuary is contaminated by the ¡®Rat Mother.¡¯]

    [The contaminated sanctuary can be dedicated to any faith.]

    [Erasing the remnants of the old god in the sanctuary, it bestows new blessings in the area.]

    [The blessings of the faith be even stronger within the sanctuary.]

    It wasn¡¯t explicitly said, but it seemed the Nameless Chaos wanted to take over Zihilrat¡¯s remains.

    Isaac pondered.

    The tentacles were a hindrance but also a secret weapon for Isaac. Without the Nameless Chaos, dealing with Zihilrat would have been much harder. Isaac might have gone mad without protection from the divinity, or he might not have survived this long.

    Dedicating the sanctuary would strengthen the blessings of the Nameless Chaos.

    ¡®It¡¯s definitely a benefit for me, but¡­¡¯

    Is it the right thing to do for the world?

    Isaac envisioned the tentacles, sprouting from his body, mercilessly ughtering and consuming every living being. He didn¡¯t want the whole world to suffer such a fate, even as Isaac.

    ¡°What if I don¡¯t purify the sanctuary?¡±

    [If the sanctuary is not purified, the old god can resurrect at any time.]

    Isaac, who thought of ignoring it, grimaced. He had managed now, but if Zihilrat resurrected in his absence, the monks could be massacred.

    Of course, dedicating the sanctuary didn¡¯t mean tentacle monsters would emerge and overturn the world. Isaac understood the game system.

    In this world, it¡¯s difficult for gods to act alone.

    They only perform miracles and give directions through their followers and priests. Even if the Nameless Chaos harbored evil intentions, with Isaac as the only current mediator, executing those ns would be difficult.

    ¡®That¡¯s why evil gods manipte minds or corrupt¡­¡¯

    At least, the Nameless Chaos hadn¡¯t burrowed into Isaac¡¯s brain or whispered strangeness. It had coerced him into quests, sometimes pleading or throwing tantrums, but never put him in needless danger or loss.

    Isaac finally decided.

    ¡°I dedicate this sanctuary¡­ to the Nameless Chaos.¡±

    He needed to purify the sanctuary. To erase Zihilrat¡¯s traces, covering it with the Nameless Chaos was necessary. More than anything, for his own survival, having a sanctuary was beneficial.

    ***

    Rumble.

    The moment Isaac dered, a strange vibration echoed in the sanctuary, apanied by a sweet scent. The tentacles extended, burrowing into the center of the altar.

    As they prated the altar¡¯s core, they spread, enveloping the area. The stone altar cracked and crumbled under their force. The walls and floor writhed unnaturally.

    Then, breaking through the altar, a giant heart swelled.

    Thump.

    With each beat of the heart, Isaac felt a surge of strength. The heartbeat continued, resonating through the underground. He felt power replenished with each pulse.

    Not only that. Isaac felt the entire area of the monastery, now a ¡®sanctuary,¡¯ as if it was his own skin. He could sense the gue beasts left by Zihilrat in the hills, the extent of contamination in the grass and trees, and the location and strength of people in the monastery. He could perceive everything.

    Thus, Isaac could have an omnipotent sense within the vicinity of the monastery.

    Overwhelmed by the influx of sensations, Isaac staggered back. As soon as he stepped away from the altar, the flood of perceptions subsided.

    ¡®Does this omnipotent sensation ur only near the altar within the sanctuary?¡¯

    It felt as if Isaac had be the Nameless Chaos itself. He had yed as pdins and priests before, but he had never experienced such an event in a sanctuary. Perhaps this was a unique effect of the Nameless Chaos.

    Isaac observed the appendages of the tentacles spread in all directions from the heart of the altar.

    Muscles and nerve bundles wriggled in the cracks of the old-fashioned stone walls, and blood vessels, like tree roots, pulsed in sync with the throbbing heart. A subtle mix of red and purple light eerily flickered on the walls. The underground of the once-holy monastery had now turned into the innards of a sphemous monster.

    ¡®The monks would faint if they saw this.¡¯

    However, as long as Isaac had no intention of overthrowing the monastery, the monks could continue worshiping the Codex of light, oblivious to whaty beneath their feet.

    The tentacles returned to Isaac¡¯s left hand as soon as the altar was transformed. He felt a more powerful life force pulsating in the tentacles than ever before. With this power, he could have easily overpowered Zihilrat in their recent fight.

    [The Nameless Chaos is watching you.]

    Satisfaction was evident in the message from the Nameless Chaos. Isaac still had doubts about whether he had done the right thing, but it was already done. Though slightly confused, he was confident that at least in and around the monastery, he wouldn¡¯t be killed.

    [You have been granted a reward for ¡®Sanctuary Purification.¡¯]

    [Choose one of the following three rewards.]

    [Devouring Harvester / Tentacles grow fangs to attack or consume enemies more effectively.]

    [Eye of Chaos / Understand the psychology and state of others. Difficult to read those who are guarded or hiding their thoughts.]

    [Creeping Chaos / Sacrifice offerings to summon powerful monsters belonging to the chaos progeny.]

    It had been a while since Isaac had three rewards to choose from. Each option was appealing, and he found himself in a dilemma.

    ¡®Devouring Harvester¡¯ would undoubtedly enhance the already powerful attack of his tentacles. In the hallucination that appeared as a reward card, the tentacles were adorned with gear-like fangs.

    ¡®Creeping Chaos¡¯ was also a desirable ability, given his recent use of chaos progeny privileges. As a Nephilim, almost always acting alone, Isaked minions who could act as limbs. Powerful summoned creatures could be useful.

    However, Isaac ultimately chose ¡®Eye of Chaos.¡¯

    The reason was the Inquisitor.

    ¡®Understanding someone¡¯s state and psychology¡­¡¯

    This was precisely the ability Isaac needed. Nephilim are hated by gods, so winning favor among humans was essential, and the Eye of Chaos could enhance Nephilim¡¯s charm.

    Maniption, seduction, domination, threats, persuasion, lies ¨C everything could be tools for Isaac. Especially considering the Inquisitor who hade to the monastery, such an ability was necessary.

    ¡®With Zihilrat defeated, the gue in the monastery should disappear. The Inquisitor will recover soon. I need to find out what she came here for and her intentions.¡¯

    Isaac didn¡¯t aspire to be a monster king ruling the world. He wanted to rise and seed among people without feeling alienated. To avoid trouble like with the Inquisitor, the ability to read others¡¯ minds would be useful.

    The moment he chose the Eye of Chaos, Isaac felt a sharp pain in his right eye. Something slimy seemed to crawl over his cornea, and he quickly pulled out his mirror to check. Red tentacle fments were seen covering the surface of his eye.

    ¡°¡­?!¡±

    As the tentacles settled on the cornea, his originally deep grey eye appeared to have a red iris. Fortunately, aside from the heterochromia, there wasn¡¯t anything too conspicuous.

    ¡®Now for thest procedure.¡¯

    Isaac turned his gaze towards the remains of Zihilrat.

    Although the tentacles had feasted on Zihilrat¡¯s corpse for a long time, most of the meat was left uneaten. Isaac had hoped to consume the remains and absorb its powers, but the tentacles seemed reluctant to do so.

    ¡®Is there some part of it that shouldn¡¯t be eaten?¡¯

    Isaac stared at the remaining corpse of Zihilrat.

    He then conceived a way to utilize the remaining body.

 Chapter 24:

    Chapter 24:

    Not long after Isaac purified the sanctuary, the gue began to subside.

    It was sufficient to check the condition of Isolde, without having to examine other patients.

    Isolde, who had been in the most critical condition in the monastery, was sleeping in the istion ward. Most of her wounds were healing, and signs of illness were hard to find.

    A few scratches and bites from wolves would leave scars, but they were not conspicuous. She was just sleeping and would wake up soon.

    ¡°How amazing to see such progress in just one day.¡±

    ¡°It must be the prayers of the monks reaching heaven.¡±

    Evhar muttered in surprise upon seeing the gue¡¯s signs disappear from Isolde. The monks realized that the gue was retreating from the monastery too, as most of the monks who had been ill were now gathered in the chapel, praying.

    As their condition noticeably improved, they immediately informed the Abbot, and Abbot Evhar went to see Isolde, where the gue had started.

    Isaac, having reaped his benefits, unhesitatingly credited all the work to the Codex of Light. There was no other exnation but a miracle from God for such a quick recovery. Moreover, the power and credit Isaac held weren¡¯t something to boast about.

    ¡°No, this is clearly your achievement, Isaac.¡±

    But Evhar didn¡¯t just attribute it to divine grace.

    ¡°Of course, I knew that the Codex of Light would save us. But when this would happen, how many of us would be tested and sacrificed, was unknown. This was certainly no ordinary gue.¡±

    Evhar patted Isaac¡¯s shoulder as he spoke.

    ¡°If the Codex of Light has helped us, then sending you as their emissary must be part of that aid.¡±

    Isaac felt awkward with the unexpected praise. He had only helped because he couldn¡¯t stand to see people he had lived with for years dying, yet now he was receiving such high acim, leaving him speechless.

    ¡°Uhmmm¡­¡±

    Just as the awkward atmosphere between the one who gave and the one who received the praise continued, a wee groan was heard. Isolde, who had been delirious for days, was finally regaining consciousness.

    Seeing her eyes faintly open, Isaac quickly bent down.

    ¡°Hey, are you conscious?¡±

    Isolde¡¯s eyes, initially unfocused on the ceiling, turned towards Isaac. As her gaze sharpened, she met Isaac¡¯s face and began to tear up.

    Thinking her sudden tears were due to pain, Isaac was surprised by her unexpected words.

    ¡°You¡¯vee for me.¡±

    ¡°Yes? Oh, yes. Gebel and I went out to bring you here.¡±

    ¡°Gebel? I haven¡¯t heard this name, but surely there must be heroes unknown to us. It¡¯s humbling to have a named archangele to greet me.¡±

    With red, teary eyes, Isolde muttered to Evhar.

    ¡°Archangel Gebel, I am ready in my heart. To die following your will is a blessing, and to reach the eternal kingdom filled with light is beyond my humble self¡­¡±

    After a moment of silence, Isaac decided to correct her misunderstanding.

    ***

    A littleter, with a face as red as her eyes, Isolde sat on the bed and replied.

    ¡°You¡¯re not an angel?¡±

    ¡°No, I am not.¡±

    Isaac couldn¡¯t see her face as she had buried it in her hands and knees, her earlobes flushed, raising concerns that her blood pressure might cause her veins to burst.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, it¡¯s just that¡­ undeniably, your face¡­¡±

    ¡°I understand. It was an extreme situation, and you must have been scared.¡±

    Isaac quickly mumbled, interrupting her before she could express more regret. When Isolde first encountered Isaac, she had fainted, muttering ¡®an angel?¡¯ Isaac, being a Nephilim, wasn¡¯tpletely misunderstood.

    However, since Nephilim were rare and it would be problematic if his true identity was discovered, Isaac had to avoid leading her thoughts in that direction. Fortunately, Isolde quickly epted Isaac¡¯s exnation.

    ¡°Yes, yes. It¡¯s just that I thought I was dead, and then unexpectedly received help¡­¡±

    It was easier for her and others to ept that she thought he was an angel because she had been brought back from death, rather than because of his appearance.

    Isolde, convincing herself, frantically nodded and then finally showed her face, less red than before.

    ¡°By the way, there was a cksmith¡¯s apprentice traveling with me. Did he arrive safely?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Hans informed us of your danger.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s really¡­ fortunate¡­¡±

    Finally remembering why she came to the monastery, Isolde hurriedly began searching for her belongings. Isaac handed her a bundle.

    ¡°Your clothes and bag had to be burnt to stop the gue, but your books, documents, and tools seemed immune to the gue, so they were sealed. I apologize for burning your clothes.¡±

    Most of Isolde¡¯s belongings, suitable for an inquisitor, were treated not to sumb to other faiths or curses. This included the Sword of Judgement Isaac had secretly used. However, it was difficult to treat every piece of clothing, so they had to be burnt.

    Yet, Isolde seemed unconcerned about having been undressed in a male-only monastery. Relieved to find all her sought-after items, she sighed.

    ¡°No lost items. Thank you for keeping them safe.¡±

    Then she nced at Isaac, as if to ask.

    ¡°Did you read any of these letters and documents?¡±

    Isaac and Evhar exchanged uneasy nces.

    Reading the confidential documents of an inquisitor could be branded as sacrilege. There were already two suspicious people in the monastery, three including the abbot hiding the fact that Isaac was a Holy Body. Debates had been rife about whether to read those documents.

    But Isaac spoke calmly.

    ¡°Yes, I read them. I couldn¡¯t understand what they meant.¡±

    ¡°Isaac!¡±

    Evhar scolded, surprised, but Isolde shook her head.

    ¡°It¡¯s okay. Given the circumstances, it was inevitable. In fact, if you had read them, you might have been able to improve the situation faster. My reason foring here was because of this gue.¡±

    ¡°The gue?¡±

    Evhar asked, surprised. They already knew the gue that swept through the monastery was not an ordinary one, but rather a curse or a conspiracy. However, they hadn¡¯t expected that an inquisitor would havee for that purpose from the start.

    ¡°Yes. The Immortal Order¡¯s influence is reaching this monastery.¡±

    She muttered, her eyes burning.

    ***

    Isolde changed into a spare set of clothes from her gue-protected bag and returned to the Abbot¡¯s office. She was dressed in afortable uniform with a dark red hood.

    This time, Gebel was also present. He was ufortable meeting the now-conscious Isolde but had toe since she insisted on meeting him.

    ¡°I heard you saved me. Thank you very much.¡±

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t me; it was that young greenhorn over there who can¡¯t even grow a beard yet.¡±

    Gebel waved his hand dismissively and leaned against the wall, clearly not interested in taking credit. Isolde respected his wish not to engage much in conversation. However, her reason for calling Gebel wasn¡¯t just to thank him.

    ¡°How many in the monastery can wield a sword?¡±

    ¡°A sword?¡±

    Evhar hesitated at the unexpected question.

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure what level you¡¯re expecting, but I myself havebat experience in the Dawn Army. There are also some monks who have been on pilgrimage. But even if all of us together charged at Isaac and Gebel here, we wouldn¡¯t stand a chance.¡±

    Isolde looked at Isaac as if to gauge his response. Isaac wished Evhar hadn¡¯t been so frank, but now that it was out, there was nothing to be done. In truth, Gebel didn¡¯t even need to join in; Isaac alone was confident enough to handle the monks.

    ¡°Is there a reason you need a sword, not a miracle?¡±

    The monastery¡¯s greatest weapon was expected to be miracles. But Isolde was asking for swords.

    ¡°This gue is a conspiracy by the Immortal Order.¡±

    ¡°The Immortal Order¡­ Isn¡¯t that too far for them to be involved?¡±

    The ck Empire, where the Immortal Order was based, was a two-month horse ride away. There were several small kingdoms in between. However, distance alone couldn¡¯t negate the possibility.

    ¡°Just a few years ago, the apostate Kalsen attacked a vige just half a day¡¯s journey from here. It was a terrible incident with no survivors.¡±

    Evhar desperately avoided looking at Isaac.

    ¡°That was possible because themander of the pdins had turned apostate. It¡¯s impossible now.¡±

    ¡°Of course, the missing Kalsen being rted to this incident is unlikely. But their influence reaching here is possible. It¡¯s about causing chaos with a few people in the rear.¡±

    Isaac felt like he understood Isolde¡¯s thinking.

    The Immortal Order nned a biochemical terror attack in the monastery¡¯s underground.

    ¡°They intended to resurrect an ancient god here in the monastery¡¯s underground!¡±

    Isolde dered solemnly.

    Isaac almost hupped but managed to suppress it.

    Despite her solemn deration, the expected reaction did note. Evhar looked incredulous, while Gebel massaged his forehead as if he had a headache.

    ¡°So?¡±

    ¡°Excuse me?¡±

    ¡°Inquisitor, such grand tales might scare the vigers, but I am the Abbot here. Ancient faiths can¡¯t be resurrected, and most legends are exaggerated.¡±

    ¡°If ancient abominations and curses revive with the ancient gods¡­¡±

    ¡°Even if they really resurrect, gods without worshippers have no influence on the world. They are dead gods. Just like the nameless chaos that almost led to destruction, now it has no impact on the world.¡±

    Evhar muttered, stroking his beard.

    ¡°But I think I understand what you mean. There was a gue faith in this area long ago. Hundreds of years ago, we demolished their temple and used the bricks as a foundation for this monastery. If what you say is true, this gue is influenced by that gue god.¡±

    ¡°Exactly. The Immortal Order intends to revive such ancient faiths across the empire.¡±

    There were nine main faiths in the Nameless Chaos, but that wasn¡¯t always the case. In ancient times, there were hundreds of faiths. Strong beasts, monsters, or special phenomena were all worshipped as gods. But with the advent of the Age of Light, ancient faiths disappeared or merged, leaving only nine. Even among these, some were on the verge of vanishing.

    Isaac was the only member of the ¡®Nameless Chaos¡¯ faith.

    ¡°What does the Immortal Order gain from this?¡±

    ¡°If there¡¯s internal strife within the Codex of Light, the Immortal Order¡¯s followers would increase¡­¡±

    ¡°The Immortal Order hardly worries about losing followers. Their followers only increase, even if they do nothing.¡±

    Isolde frowned and remained silent.

    ¡°Besides, the nine gods wouldn¡¯t want the resurrection of ancient gods. Even the Immortal Emperor cooperated in destroying ancient faiths that burned children alive and demanded massacres. If we agree with the heretics on one thing, it¡¯s that ancient faiths should not and cannot be revived.¡±

    The biggest difference between ancient and the nine faiths was this.

    While ancient faiths were barbaric, the nine faiths were realms of human reason and civilization. Half of the nine faiths originated from humans, proving this point. Isaac thought no one would want to return to those times.

    ¡®Come to think of it, why is ¡®Nameless Chaos¡¯, one of the nine faiths, like this? Was it different before destruction?¡¯

    Isaac pondered but couldn¡¯t ask anyone, nor should he.

    Isolde bit her lip quietly. Isaac noticed she had anticipated this rebuttal. She could continue arguing ¨C doctrinal battles could go on for years.

    ¡®She¡¯s hiding something.¡¯

    Isaac quietly stepped back. Fortunately, Isolde and Evhar were too engaged in their argument to notice him.

    Evhar spoke up.

    ¡°Inquisitor, if you need our sword, please be frank. Why is the Immortal Order active around here? Is there something you can¡¯t share, even among brothers of the same faith?¡±

    At that moment, Isaac activated his newfound ability, ¡®Eyes of Chaos¡¯.

 Chapter 25:

    Chapter 25:

    Thump.

    Isaac felt a pulse in his eyes. Noticing something flickering before him, he almost rubbed his eyes unconsciously, but soon realized that would draw attention. Tiny, slender tentacles brushed past his vision.

    He managed not to react. To anyone else, it might have looked like his eyes were merely watering. But Isaac knew what was happening.

    Using the power of the Nameless Chaos meant drawing that entity out into the world. Tentacles sprouted from beneath his eyelids, infusing power into his pupils.

    A familiar status window appeared.

    [Isolde Brant (A+) / Weakened]

    [Profession: Inquisitor (B)]

    [Abilities: Doctrine of the Moth, Advanced Interrogation, Cauldron Beast]

    [¡°How do I convince the Abbot? Now that they have started acting, we must hurry¡­¡±]

    This was information about Isolde Brant.

    The Eyes of Chaos allowed him to read one¡¯s state and psyche. The status window indeed showed such information, including Isolde¡¯s thoughts at the bottom.

    ¡®Can I only read superficial thoughts? This is something I could guess without any abilities¡­¡¯

    Isaac focused harder on Isolde. He felt the tentacles near his eyes wriggle again and quickly averted his gaze, wary of revealing anything in front of an inquisitor.

    Luckily, the Abbot¡¯s office was dimly lit, and no one saw him clearly. Before turning away, Isaac caught a deeper thought from Isolde.

    [¡°Should I lie? But I haven¡¯t found any evidence or reason yet¡­¡±]

    ¡°Haven¡¯t found any evidence or reason?¡±

    Isaac blurted out. Isolde turned to him sharply.

    Isaac touched his lips in disbelief. Isolde hadn¡¯t been able to present solid grounds because shecked evidence or reason for the Immortal Order¡¯s activities here.

    ¡°Lacking evidence? Isn¡¯t it clear that the dead gue god targeted this monastery?¡±

    Inquisitors are sensitive to evidence, as their job might involve endangering lives or evenmitting mass murders. Yet, her acting without solid grounds was against basic ethical conduct.

    ¡°You need our help because youck evidence to move the Pdins?¡±

    Evhar sighed, finally grasping the situation.

    ¡°An inquisitor has the authority to mobilize the Pdin Order, but only with solid evidence. Seeking swords from a monastery impliesck of evidence.¡±

    Isolde biting her lips, red resentfully at Isaac. While grateful for being saved, she was frustrated by the turn of events.

    Isaac sympathized with her.

    Indeed, her suspicion of the Immortal Order¡¯s involvement was correct.

    ¡®I saw the Immortal Order¡¯s minions in the monastery¡¯s basement myself.¡¯

    The undead priest serving Zihilrat. He was an agent of the Immortal Order.

    But Isaac couldn¡¯t discuss him without revealing where he found him, and that ce was now enveloped by the pulsating heart of the Nameless Chaos. In other words, he couldn¡¯t provide the evidence Isolde needed.

    ¡°I found intelligence and traces of the Immortal Order¡¯s activities.¡±

    Isolde desperately tried to make her case.

    ¡°Why they¡¯re operating deep in White Empire territory, I don¡¯t know, but it¡¯s clear¡­¡±

    ¡°I believe you.¡±

    ¡°Even if you don¡¯t believe me, it¡¯s clear¡­ What?¡±

    ¡°I believe it. The attack on the monastery was indeed the work of the Immortal Order, attempting to resurrect an ancient god.¡±

    Evhar and Gebel turned to Isaac, with Evhar asking in amazement.

    ¡°Why do you think so, Isaac?¡±

    ¡°Because they can.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°Those who don¡¯t age or die seem to devote their lives to tormenting the Codex of Light. And that¡¯s true for us as well. Even if border soldiers don¡¯t always act strategically, they still cause trouble for the ck Empire, right?¡±

    Isaac nced at Gebel.

    As a former Pdin, Gebel would know. Soldiers in conflict zones often provoke the ck Empire without direct orders. Gebel remained silent, seemingly acknowledging the point.

    ¡°But to resurrect an ancient god?¡±

    ¡°If you meant what you said, you wouldn¡¯t really believe an ancient god could be resurrected. Weak as they are, they¡¯d probably just bother a monastery. Even if they did resurrect one, it¡¯d be quickly subdued.¡±

    Evhar shook his head in disbelief. The idea that ancient god resurrection and the sh between two major faiths were just the antics of lower ranks seemed far-fetched, and Isaac didn¡¯t fully believe it either.

    But having read Isolde¡¯s inner thoughts, Isaac concluded it was pointless to press her for information she didn¡¯t have.

    ¡°What matters is they are indeed up to something, and we fell for it.¡±

    Isaac deftly steered the conversation towards future actions. The important thing was the Immortal Order¡¯s involvement, not the evidence or reason.

    Isolde, catching Isaac¡¯s gaze, looked startled.

    ¡°Then we must retaliate.¡±

    More information about them could be obtained once they found more of their members.

    As soon as the meeting ended, Isaac, Gebel, and Isolde quickly packed their bags and headed out of the monastery. Since there was only one donkey in the monastery, they had to walk. However, Eberhar generously blessed the three and provided them with ample food.

    Isaac was somewhat surprised that the abbot and Gebel had decided to help him despite his weak reasoning.

    It might have been due to the favor they had for Isaac, but Evhar was someone who tried to see through the inquisitor¡¯s true intentions. However, he was easily convinced by Isaac¡¯s logic. It seemed the only exnation was the activation of the charm of the Nephilim.

    ¡°I must be too charming.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Mr. Isaac.¡±

    At that moment, Isolde, who was walking ahead, matched her pace with Isaac and started a conversation.

    ¡°Actually, we started suspecting the Immortal Order¡¯s activities in this area about six months ago. But we couldn¡¯t find any substantial evidence. The realization that they have infiltrated this monastery is quite recent, not to mention this decisive testimony¡­¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s alright. It¡¯s our monastery¡¯s affair, so we naturally have to help.¡±

    It wasn¡¯t just because of Isolde. Isaac was looking for a reason to leave the monastery while earning some credit. Since Isolde seemed favorable towards him, if this matter ends well, she could be a valuable connection.

    ¡°Getting friendly with an inspector is always advantageous, regardless of the era.¡±

    Isolde seemed grateful and smiled. Isaac thought that for an inquisitor, she seemed quite innocent and uncorrupted, or perhaps she was a psychopath who wouldn¡¯t bat an eye even if she massacred a whole vige.

    If she waspetent as an inquisitor, thetter was more likely.

    ¡°If this matter resolves well, I¡¯ll rmend you to the order, Mr. Isaac. You¡¯re a pdin trainee, right? I know a pdin who¡­¡±

    ¡°Inquisitor.¡±

    Gebel interrupted from behind in a stern voice.

    ¡°Excuse me, but do we know where we are heading? If it¡¯s far, it might be better to borrow horses from the vige, but it seems we are moving away from it.¡±

    Isolde was leading them to a location where she had found traces of the Immortal Order¡¯s involvement near the monastery. Realizing she hadn¡¯t exined their destination, she quickly said,

    ¡°Ah, we are heading to a valley near the monastery. The locals seem to call it Ariet Valley.¡±

    Both Isaac and Gebel knew the ce well, as they had been in the area longer than Isolde. It was a rugged area, not surprising to hide something.

    Isolde told Gebel what she had found and the evidence she had gathered there. Gebel seemed indifferent, but he appeared content that Isolde had shifted her attention from Isaac.

    ¡°Fortunate.¡±

    Isaac suddenly touched his right eye, which had activated the ¡®Eye of Chaos.¡¯

    The sensation of wriggling tentacles had disappeared, but when he checked before leaving, his eye had bloodshot traces for a while, and his pupil had a faint purple hue. Even a deeper look changed the eye color.

    ¡°This power is not easy to use recklessly.¡±

    It¡¯s a miraculous ability, but its reckless use was still a risk. A slight nce into shallow thoughts might go unnoticed, but delving into deep psychology would leave unmistakable traces.

    What if someone saw the tentacles wriggling in his eyes?

    ¡°I would have no choice but to kill them.¡±

    He was fortunate to have discovered these side effects early.

    ***

    ¡°Here we are.¡±

    Isolde stepped into the valley with a tense expression. The valley, filled with irregrly ced sharp rocks, only showed traces of a dry creek, likely due to the dry winter season.

    Isaac had only seen this ce while passing by, but stepping into it was a new experience. Normally, it would be hard to tread due to its ruggedness, but the dried-up creek made the ground t.

    ¡°You found traces of the Immortal Order here?¡±

    ¡°Exactly. Testimonies of sighting them and finding traces of undead. Then we found ominous signs leading to the monastery, infected with the gue¡­¡±

    As she spoke, Isolde kicked arge stone at the entrance of the valley.

    Isaac wondered about the significance of the stone, but Isolde looked serious.

    ¡°What is that?¡±

    Gebel asked first, prompting Isolde to widen her eyes in surprise.

    ¡°What? It¡¯s obviously a trace of idtry. It¡¯s a severed head of a statue.¡±

    Isaac took another look at the stone. It did seem so upon hearing it. The erosion was severe, but the unnaturally cut surface and what might have been eyes, nose, and mouth were noticeable. On a second look, it also resembled a rat.

    ¡°There are more such traces deeper in the valley. It seems they fell from the high mountains.¡±

    ¡°Hmm¡­¡±

    Isaac thought if there were just one or two, it could be Isolde¡¯s misunderstanding, but more meant something else.

    At least it was worth investigating.

    So far, it was in the realm of archaeology, not evidence of heresy. But with the appearance of gue-infected beasts and the monastery being attacked, it was clear evidence of aggression.

    ¡°So, I¡¯m convinced that investigating this valley will reveal the hidden perpetrators. I¡¯ve heard that in the past, there was an entrance to a pagan temple leading up from inside the valley.¡±

    Isolde seemed confident in her deduction. Gebel was still skeptical but eager toplete the investigation, probably to get rid of Isolde quickly. On the other hand, Isaac was troubled after hearing the exnation.

    ¡°If this leads to the sanctuary, what then?¡±

    The sanctuary where Zihilrat was hiding was deep below the monastery, possibly connected to the valley. Isolde¡¯s unwantedpetence might lead to its discovery. Realizing this, Isaac decided to act on his n sooner.

    ¡°I was going to scatter evidence when they got tired, but no choice now.¡±

    Inside Isaac¡¯s bag was evidence that would satisfy Isolde.

    But he couldn¡¯t scatter it right away. If evidence appeared in ces Isolde had already investigated, it would be suspicious. And before that, Isaac needed to create a usible situation to deceive her.

    ¡°Move.¡±

    Isaac¡¯s will transmitted somewhere.

    Soon, something deep in the valley started to wriggle slowly.

 Chapter 26:

    Chapter 26:

    As Isaac transmitted his will, he spoke to Isolde.

    ¡°Let¡¯s proceed with the investigation as you suggested. But, Inquisitor?¡±

    ¡°Yes?¡±

    ¡°If we suppose the Immortal Order¡¯s members are here, what would you consider the nature of this mission? Reconnaissance? Investigation? Extermination?¡±

    Isaac didn¡¯t think this mission was primarily about exterminating the Immortal Order¡¯s members. It was unlikely that their skeletal minions had infiltrated this deep. However, undead creatures could easily be ¡®recruited¡¯ locally.

    Thus, Isaac had thought of this mission as reconnaissance or investigation at most, not an extermination. But Isolde seemed to have a different view.

    ¡°Primarily, it¡¯s an investigation, but it turns into extermination upon discovery.¡±

    Isaac was startled by Isolde¡¯s assertive stance. However, he realized that an inquisitor wouldn¡¯te to a ce possibly ambushed by enemies without some thought. Isolde was not foolish.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. If something happens, just buy us some time, and we can take them down.¡±

    It seemed Isaac and Gebel¡¯s role was to buy time in case of an encounter.

    Isaac nodded and headed deeper into the valley.

    ***

    Meanwhile, deep in the valley, the offspring of chaos that Isaac had deployed were moving rapidly.

    ¡®Find out what creatures are hiding deeper in the valley. Make sure of it.¡¯

    The battle with Zihilrat had expanded the chaos offspring, making reconnaissance not too difficult.

    Isolde was meticulously inspecting each statue as if they were significant heretical evidence.

    The remnants of a destroyed temple were indeed scattered throughout the valley.

    ¡°Why would people build a temple for this gue god? What¡¯s so good about a gue?¡±

    In ¡®Nameless Chaos,¡¯ Isaac¡¯s primary concern was the nine faiths. The rest, like ancient gods, weren¡¯t significantly featured in the game.

    In other games, ¡®ancient gods¡¯ might be fearsome hidden bosses, but in Nameless Chaos, they were at best field bosses. On the other hand, other gods mainlymunicated through angels, and except for the Immortal Emperor, it was difficult to encounter a god face to face.

    ¡°People used to believe in many gods,¡± Isolde answered surprisingly casually.

    ¡°People named everything they couldn¡¯t understand as gods. Probably, a major gue hit this area long ago. As people died, they named the gue a god, worshipping it, hoping for forgiveness.¡±

    ¡°Forgiveness?¡±

    ¡°When there¡¯s a drought, people pray for rain, and during floods, they pray for it to stop. Simrly, the god of gue can be a god of healing.¡±

    ¡®A healing god Zihilrat, huh. The one who gives the disease can also provide the cure.¡¯

    Isaac understood it that way.

    ¡°But with the advent of the Codex of light through Luadin and the Tablets of Dawn, these minor gods were crushed and disappeared. Truly a blessed event.¡±

    ¡°What about the other eight faiths?¡±

    Isolde pretended not to hear. Though she didn¡¯t say it, Isaac quickly understood the implied message. Crushing and eliminating the ancient gods was not just the Codex of Light doing; all nine faiths had agreed to it. This was part of the game¡¯s setting, so he was aware of it.

    Luadin bringing the Tablets of Dawn was a pivotal event separating the Age of Barbarism and the Age of Reason. This marked the beginning of the so-called ¡®Age of Light.¡¯

    During the thousand-year Age of Light, ancient faiths were eradicated, and only the eight faiths that cooperated, submitted, or harmonized with the Codex of Light survived. Even thete-arriving Immortal Order didn¡¯t deny the order led by the Codex of Light.

    ¡®Only the Nameless Chaos vanished.¡¯

    Isaac contemted this subtle irony and why, despite the apparent disappearance of the Nameless Chaos, it was still referred to as the ¡®nine faiths.¡¯

    Thud, thud, thud.

    Then, Isaac noticed gravel falling from a cliff above. Isolde looked up at the valley top but saw nothing. Isaac was the first to act.

    ¡°There!¡±

    Thunk, thud.

    A massive silhouette flickered between the cliffs. At first, it seemed like a wild animal, but the silhouette was distinctly aberrant.

    Isolde¡¯s eyes widened.

    ¡°What is that?!¡±

    ¡°Inside, let¡¯s go!¡±

    Isaac and Gebel drew their swords but instead of moving, they looked to Isolde. She, with a stern face, stepped forward and blew a long whistle.

    Whistle©¤.

    As the piercing whistle echoed through the valley, a raven flew up. It was the same raven into which Isaac had imnted a parasite. The raven, well-coordinated with Isolde, immediately chased the beast above the valley.

    ¡°Let¡¯s follow!¡±

    Isolde followed the raven¡¯s path, not losing sight of it even from a distance.

    The unidentified creature showed itself briefly between valleys and behind cliffs and corners, seemingly unable to escape the relentless pursuit, but clearly luring them.

    ¡®And indeed, it¡¯s a lure.¡¯

    The creature was one of the chaos offspring Isaac had created. It wasrger due to its base organism, allowing it to be noticeable for such a task. Its unique form made it hard to identify precisely.

    ¡®Good. If we lure it out of the valley¡­¡¯

    It would suggest that something was here but had escaped, leading Isolde to eventually conclude the matter. Since the Immortal Order¡¯s priest was already dead, there wouldn¡¯t be any problems. If Isaac wanted a clean end, he could even feed this chaos offspring to Isolde.

    ¡°Just a moment, it seems like we¡¯re being lured!¡±

    As the beast maintained a distance that was close yet unattainable, Isolde realized the situation. As they slowed down, the mysterious creature¡¯s movements also slowed, inevitably due to the raven tracking its movements.

    ¡°If it¡¯s luring us, could there be an ambush?¡±

    ¡°We can¡¯t let this ominous creature escape. Please follow me slowly.¡±

    Isolde said this and then brought a ne to her lips, starting to recite something. Simultaneously, ashen dust poured from her body, rapidly making her presence faint.

    ¡®The Doctrine of the Moth.¡¯

    One of Isolde¡¯s abilities that Isaac had already figured out.

    The Light¡¯s Codex symbolizes light, and moths chase light.

    The Doctrine of the Moth was a miracle of doctrine taught to those in the order who required stealth.

    Isolde, almost indistinguishable from the roadside gravel, quickly resumed tracking on a different path.

    If the beast was luring Isaac and his group, it wouldn¡¯t notice Isolde¡¯s approach under the Doctrine of the Moth.

    However, as Isolde focused on the beast, Isaac carefully maneuvered the chaos offspring, observing her movements.

    ¡°¡­¡±

    Isolde, even while using the Doctrine of the Moth, couldn¡¯t close the gap, growing anxious.

    That¡¯s when Isaac received an unexpected message.

    [Body. Found.]

    The message came from one of the chaos offspring he had deployed.

    ¡®A body?¡¯

    Understanding the message was hard due to the low cognitive ability of the rat used as the base for the chaos offspring, but finding a body was rming. The offspring approached the body but then recoiled, sensing someone nearby.

    Suddenly, the connection with the chaos offspring was severed. They were killed without even realizing the presence of an enemy. Their strength, at best, wasparable to a cat¡¯s, but being taken out so easily suggested it wasn¡¯t by a wild animal.

    ¡®Gather for investigation.¡¯

    Isaacmanded the chaos offspring to converge on the area where the body was found, not for hunting but for tracking. However, the ce where the connection was lost wasn¡¯t far from their current location.

    ¡®Could there actually be an ambush?¡¯

    Isaac was surprised by this unexpected development. After taking control of the sanctuary¡¯s altar, he believed he knew everything about the monastery and nearby areas. Yet, not sensing any strange presence meant either the presence was undetectable even to the sanctuary¡¯s powers or it appearedst night.

    ¡°Ms. Isolde!¡±

    Isaac called her name impulsively. Isolde stopped immediately. The moment she did, several arrowsnded where she had been heading. One of them flew towards Isolde but only passed through the ashen dust emanating from her body.

    The Doctrine of the Moth seemed to dissipate, revealing her form.

    ¡°Who¡¯s there!¡±

    Gebel¡¯s voice thundered through the valley. Then, several figures in hunter attire with crossbows emerged from between the valley¡¯s rocks. They looked like hunters from a nearby vige.

    ¡°S-sorry, we just saw a bizarre creature pass over our heads and thought it was that¡­¡±

    ¡°So you shoot arrows at will!¡±

    Isaac approached the hunters angrily. The hunters, seeing the extravagant attire of the inquisitor and the monk¡¯s robes worn by Isaac and Gebel, seemed to realize they had messed with the wrong people. Especially as Isaac approached angrily, they felt an indescribable sense of intimidation.

    The Nephilim¡¯s unique charm was pressing their sense of guilt this time.

    ¡°We are also pursuing that creature; we¡¯ll forgive you! Where did it go?¡±

    ¡°Over there, climbing the cliffs¡­¡±

    At that moment, Isaac swiftly stabbed one of the men in the throat with the knife he was holding. Gebel and Isolde, as if in sync, quickly lunged forward.

    It wasn¡¯t because they couldn¡¯t forgive them for attacking. The three had realized upon seeing the hunters that the situation was different.

    Isolde knew that regr hunters couldn¡¯t prate the Doctrine of the Moth, Gebel noticed their crossbows were too sophisticated for ordinary hunters, and Isaac saw blood from the chaos offspring on the man he had stabbed.

    Ching, crackle!

    Without any battle cry or coordinatedmunication, they attacked simultaneously, and the hunters were injured and pushed back in an instant. However, no one was killed immediately, proof they weren¡¯t ordinary hunters.

    ¡°Kugh, urgh!¡±

    Even the vampire Isaac had stabbed in the throat was retreating and healing the wound.

    Isaac frowned at the sight of blood oozing and stitching the skin in the vampire¡¯s pierced neck. Isolde also ground her teeth upon seeing it.

    ¡°Wachia human hunters? How dare you intrude here!¡±

    Wachia was one of the smaller nations between the ck and White Empires. Its history wasplex, having survived numerous conflicts by attaching itself to various powers, but it was generally ssified closer to the ck

    They weremonly known as the vampire race, who fed on blood.

    And these aristocratic vampires often went on ¡®human hunts¡¯ for their amusement.

    ¡°Cher, Ra!¡±

    The vampire who was impaled by Isaac appeared to be of a fairly high status among them, as he issuedmands even with an injured neck. The vampires, realizing their true nature had been exposed, drew their dark-red swords from their scabbards.

    It was a weapon used by the Wachian nobility.

    Isaac felt slightly tense.

    ¡®If they are Wachian nobles, in the game they were considered to have the same level of power as pdins¡­¡¯

    That meant the vampires in front of him should be thought of as the equivalent of six pdins.

    Although there were differences in levels among pdins, vampires were particrly optimized for fighting humans.

    Isaac thought this battle might be quite tough.

    ¡°Kek, huff!¡±

    But in actualbat, they were not as tough as he thought. Isaac easily deflected the attacking vampire¡¯s sword from below, twisting his own de to slice the vampire¡¯s arm.

    The other vampires hesitated and did not rush in readily.

    ¡®Was my skill always this good?¡¯

    Isaac felt a sense of pride in realizing that his swordsmanship worked well in realbat, but he soon understood the situation.

    ¡®It¡¯s because of the sunlight.¡¯

    The ce was deep in a valley. There weren¡¯t many parts where light shone, but the asional rays of sunlight were enough to cause them pain. Their failed ambush attempt and the act of pretending to be hunters were probably because it was still daytime.

    ¡®Good.¡¯

    Isaac did not want a fair fight. He decided to fully enjoy the current situation, which was unterally in his favor, while the vampires were flustered.

 Chapter 27:

    Chapter 27:

    Chapter 27. Hunting Human Hunters (1)

    Isaac quickly stabbed his sword, taking advantage of the vampires¡¯ inability to move freely. He swung his sword only when he judged it could inflict a fatal wound, to conserve his energy. Thus, each sh of his de sent blood and ashes flying.

    The vampires were caught off guard by the sudden attacks. However, as they naturally retreated into the shadows of the valley, their momentum began to change. The vampires, epting their inferiority in vigor and spirit, began to respond calmly.

    As an organized counterattack began, Isaac created some distance.

    ¡®I need to conserve my movements to avoid wasting energy.¡¯

    Fortunately, the vampires Isaac was facing were already wounded, so they couldn¡¯t rush him recklessly. Isaac steadied his breathing while checking on the conditions of Isolde and Gebel.

    Gebel was pressing three of them, and Isolde, a wandering inquisitor, seemed to have no trouble with one.

    Isolde, for her part, seemed either worried or impressed by Isaac.

    ¡®Come to think of it, this is the first time she¡¯s seen my skills in action.¡¯

    The bnce was disrupted when Gebel decapitated one of the three vampires he was fighting.

    Even after one fell, the vampires didn¡¯t show signs of defeat, but their bnce began to crumble inevitably. Now Gebel was overwhelmingly suppressing the vampires.

    Isaac did not miss this opportunity and thrust his sword into the chest of a vampire who had turned his attention away. The vampire gasped and tried to fend off the sword.

    In a moment, Isaac¡¯s sword twisted strangely like a snake, piercing the vampire¡¯s heart.

    Flesh and bone were torn away, leaving a gaping hole as if bitten by a beast. The vampire gaped in disbelief at the wound and iled helplessly.

    ¡°These guys are pdins!¡±

    One of the vampires shouted as if screaming.

    ¡°Strictly speaking, there are no pdins here.¡±

    Isaac murmured.

    Just an inquisitor, a retired pdin, and a pdin aspirant. But at the cry of ¡®pdin¡¯, the vampires gnashed their teeth and tried to distance themselves.

    Gebel and Isaac did not let the vampires escape and prepared to continue the attack, but suddenly a shadow fell from above, making them hesitate.

    ¡®What¡¯s that?¡¯

    Red mist had formed overhead.

    Seeing this, Gebel¡¯s face turned pale, while the vampires¡¯ faces brightened.

    The red mist swiftly enveloped the valley.

    Craaaack.

    As the red mist descended, a loud noise echoed. The mist, as if having teeth, began tearing apart two vampire bodies on the ground. The bodies of the two vampires were disintegrated and absorbed into the mist.

    The red mist consumed the corpses of the vampires but did not touch the living ones.

    It writhed as if targeting them next.

    The silhouette of the red mist momentarily took on a human shape, then blurred again. It surged rapidly towards Isaac.

    But Isaac thought he had bought enough time.

    Isolde, who had been preparing a prayer since encountering the vampires, condemned the approaching red mist with her final words.

    ¡°¡­And the Lord showed us the light from beyond the rift!¡±

    Suddenly, a brilliant light filled the valley.

    Enveloped in the bright light, something indistinct appeared. The dark valley was instantly bathed in a light so bright, no shadows could be found.

    The red mist vanished instantly in the overwhelming radiance.

    Despite the pain in his eyes, Isaac gazed at the creature formed of light.

    It was a feline-like beast with massive butterfly wings, its silhouette obscured by the bright light.

    [Abyssal Beast (A)]

    Not only humans praise God in this world.

    Many are lured by the radiant light of the Codex of Light, only to perish like moths to a me. The ¡®Abyssal Beasts¡¯ are those reborn from the ashes in the furnace.

    ¡®¡­Well, that¡¯s the setting. The important thing is that the beast has a luminous effect.¡¯

    The Abyssal Beast is among the top tier of summoned beings, excluding transcendental beings like angels or divine creatures. However, its form and strength vary depending on the summoner¡¯s ability.

    But themon attribute of the Abyssal Beast is the ¡®luminous effect¡¯.

    This characteristic, simr to sunlight, was supremely effective against vampires, even in its smallest form.

    As expected, the vampires fled as soon as the Abyssal Beast appeared.

    Isolde didn¡¯t maintain the summoning for long and soon sent it away. With the departure of the Abyssal Beast, the valley darkened as if night had fallen. Isolde, perhaps from the aftereffects of the summoning, appeared pale as she fidgeted with her rosary.

    ¡°They¡¯re gone now.¡±

    Isolde spoke with forced energy. Isaac didn¡¯t doubt she had the strength to summon again, but he thought there must be another reason why pursuing was difficult. Gebel also shook his head in disagreement.

    ¡°It seems difficult, Inquisitor.¡±

    ¡°Why is that?¡±

    ¡°Night is about to fall.¡±

    Gebel muttered, looking up at the sky worriedly.

    ***

    Night falls quickly in the valley.

    Even though they had finished the battle while the sky was still bright, it had quickly darkened around them.

    The vampires had been able to move rtively freely, weakened but still active, because they were in the deep valley. But now, with night approaching, Isaac and his party would inevitably have to face the real Wachian human hunters at their full strength.

    They had to collect the traces and evidence left by the scattered vampires before that.

    ¡°Did you check everything?¡±

    ¡°Somewhat. But I could only figure out that they were not mere ghouls but Wachian hunters.¡±

    The vampires had been unable to properly regroup due to Isaac¡¯s party¡¯s sessful ambush. Although they only found camping grounds and equipment, Isolde scrutinized them as if they were treasures of the world.

    ¡°Look, Inquisitor. Can¡¯t we explore outside?¡±

    Isolde, who was examining the ground up to the base of the campfire, turned her head at Isaac¡¯s suggestion.

    ¡°Did you find something?¡±

    ¡°Not much of use¡­¡±

    ¡°It can¡¯t be helped. We didn¡¯t anticipate vampires in the first ce¡­ No, maybe it¡¯s a significant discovery that the Vampire Duke was involved?¡±

    Isaac¡¯s casual remark met with Isolde¡¯s shocked gaze.

    ¡°The Vampire Duke? How did you know?¡±

    ¡°Huh? Oh, that¡­ ¡±

    Isaac btedly realized he had mentioned the Vampire Duke. He vaguely guessed the identity of the red mist, having already experienced the ¡®Red Chalice Club¡¯ ending rted to the faith of the Wachian Kingdom in the game.

    Isaac reluctantly mentioned his information as if he had deduced it.

    ¡°Well, vampires wouldn¡¯t camp and light a fire, would they? There¡¯s a need to monitor the approach of people pretending to be ordinary during the day. It seems this ce serves as a watchpost. There might be a cave or a temporary shelter deeper inside, where this noble person rests, guarded by Wachian hunters.¡±

    Isolde opened her mouth slightly in realization and then nodded. Isaac was relieved to see that she was convinced. In fact, Isaac could even guess the name of the Duke.

    Heinkel Gullmar.

    ¡°You know a lot about the behaviors of Wachian hunters. Yes, it seems that Duke Heinkel Gullmar of Wachia is involved. It¡¯s an important clue. But there¡¯s no clue about the rtionship with the gue god.¡±

    Gebel asked in a firm tone.

    ¡°Heinkel Gullmar? Why do you think that?¡±

    ¡°Only Heinkel¡¯s family, among the Wachian hunters, is strong enough to use the miracle of the Red Chalice during the day. There are only three influential families that could move at this time; the heir is unlikely to be here due to danger, and the head of the family has been stationary in that fortress recently. That leaves only Gullmar.¡±

    ¡°The situation is getting worse. If he¡¯s a duke of Wachia, he¡¯s royalty. We absolutely cannot encounter him at night. Let¡¯s get out of this valley quickly.¡±

    The Wachia Kingdom¡¯s hierarchy is defined by bloodline.

    Royalty, literally sharing blood with the revered Red Chalice, wield demi-god-like powers.

    The nobility swear allegiance to the royalty and receive a share of their power.

    Naturally, the lower the ss, the weaker the power.

    The Wachia Kingdom is a nation structured in this vertical bloodline caste.

    Heinkel Gullmar, a duke, had received blood just one step removed from the royalty. His power required at least a full pdin order or an angel-level entity to match.

    It was absurd to think of confronting him with just their current group.

    ¡°No need to hurry.¡±

    However, Isolde¡¯s response was unusual.

    ¡°At least a pdin order is needed to confront the duke! Once it¡¯s night¡­¡±

    Gebel stopped speaking as he looked at Isolde¡¯s face.

    ¡°You¡¯ve already called the pdin order?¡±

    ¡°Yes. This morning. The Briente Pdin Order should arrive by the time we leave the valley.¡±

    ¡°Thought you couldn¡¯t call the order without evidence¡­¡±

    Gebel mumbled incredulously, then shook his head at Isolde¡¯s triumphant expression.

    ¡°Yes. I was confident we¡¯d find evidence. And we did, right? I didn¡¯t expect this, but sometimes action precedes evidence.¡±

    ¡°Even if the pdin order ising, they¡¯re not by our side yet. What if the vampires attack before they arrive?¡±

    But Isaac, observing Isolde¡¯s expression, realized why she wasn¡¯t hurrying.

    Isolde actually hoped for that very situation.

    ¡°Then it¡¯s wee. It¡¯s harder to chase culprits on the run.¡±

    Gebel looked helplessly at Isaac. Isaac, covering his face as if sighing, had a victorious smile.

    ¡®This is going better than expected.¡¯

    Isolde¡¯s n aligned with, and even exceeded, Isaac¡¯s wishes.

    ***

    Isaac¡¯s original n was to conceal the sanctuary.

    But with the appearance of the vampires, this condition was met. Now Isolde had to focus on finding the Wachian hunters rather than the sanctuary.

    Isaac, seeing the vampires, added another n.

    To owe a debt to the Inquisitor and leave a credible aplishment.

    ¡®Called the pdin order? Even better.¡¯

    Isaac had nned to join the pdin order anyway. He didn¡¯t know much about the Briant Pdin Order called by Isolde, but he thought he could at least get a rmendation if he didn¡¯t like it.

    A pdin aspirant with rmendations from the ordermander and inquisitor.

    ¡®A decent debut.¡¯

    With his skills, he might skip the troublesome apprenticeship.

    Isolde¡¯s n ultimately aligned with Isaac¡¯s goal.

    ¡®And on the way, I can smash those jerks who tried to screw over my monastery.¡¯

    In fact, this was his true intention. He had to find out why they were moving around near his territory.

    But the opponent being a Wachian duke was a concern.

    ¡®In the game, he¡¯s a named boss¡­¡¯

    Weaker than Kalsen but stronger than a half-dead god like Zihilrat.

    Even if Isaac couldn¡¯t capture the duke, in such a situation, it would be an achievement just to save the Inquisitor and escape.

    The best course of action was still to leave the valley safely without any vampire attacks.

 Chapter 28:

    Chapter 28:

    Chapter 28. Hunting Human Hunters (2)

    The valley at night was darker than the ins.

    Neither Gebel nor Isaac had any desire to face vampires in the middle of the night, so they hurriedly headed out of the valley. Isolde, seemingly uninterested in unnecessary risks, quickly followed them.

    Since an attack could happen at any moment, Isaac continuously surveyed their surroundings.

    He decided to think of the Pdin Order as a ¡®means to hold out in an emergency¡¯. The enemy wouldn¡¯t expect the Pdin Order to be rushing to their aid, so holding out would mean victory.

    ¡°Will theye back?¡±

    ¡°Are you scared?¡±

    Gebel asked with a smile. Instead of snapping back, Isaac calmly calcted their chances of winning.

    ¡°Having seen the Abyssal Beast, they¡¯d have a hard time attacking us even at night. But Inquisitordy can¡¯t summon the Abyssal Beast all night long¡­¡±

    ¡°Probably they¡¯ll try to force us to summon the Abyssal Beast first.¡±

    And once Isolde sends the Abyssal Beast back, tired, Duke Heinkel Gullmar will reappear.

    The gist was simple.

    Our trump card is the Abyssal Beast; theirs is Duke Gullmar.

    Whichever side ys their card first loses.

    In other words, Isaac¡¯s party had to fight the Wachia hunters in the middle of the night without the Abyssal Beast.

    ¡®Would that make the odds about fifty-fifty?¡¯

    The Wachia hunters had shown pitiful skills during the day, but it would be different at night. There was a reason why they were considered knights of the Red Chalice. Moreover, he had to estimate how many more would join.

    Calcting a fifty-fifty chance, he assumed one or two of the three in his party would either die or be seriously injured. Of course, Isaac didn¡¯t consider his own death.

    ¡®This is calcted without using my tentacles.¡¯

    If he¡¯s critically injured and tentacles emerge, it¡¯s highly likely the same thing that happened with Kalsen will happen. Everything nearby would be devoured. Isolde and Gebel too.

    Even if he somehow survives, if his tentacles are revealed, Isolde would surely have to be killed.

    ¡®I¡¯ll have to separate from these two if I want to survive right now.¡¯

    Isaac¡¯s eyes sharpened as he looked upwards.

    Silhouettes were sliding down the valley slope. They were silent, nearly undetectable, resembling fast-moving fog. Gebel and Isolde, noticing Isaac¡¯s gaze, quickened their pace.

    Fortunately, there was no red mist, and their numbers seemed small. However, it was uncertain where they might be hiding, free to move about.

    ¡°Inquisitor, use the Doctrine of the Moth.¡±

    ¡°Yes!¡±

    At Gebel¡¯s advice, Isolde readily used the miracle. Dust-like ashes fluttered from her clothes, dissolving into the darkness. They had been discovered by the hunters before, but that was because Isaac had diverted their attention with a decoy.

    As Isolde disappeared, the movement of the pursuing Wachia hunters faltered. They must have thought Isolde was their most dangerous opponent. It was natural for them to be disoriented with the greatest threat gone.

    But they weren¡¯t fools.

    ***

    A sharp whistling noise echoed through the valley. Simultaneously, arrows flew from above.

    ¡°Whoosh!¡±

    Gebel deflected an arrow with his sword in a sh. Isaac,cking such skill, quickly hid behind a valley rock. The arrows embedded in the rock were treated with a dark substance, typical of those specializing in hunting humans.

    Then, Wachia hunters appeared from behind. Their ferocity seemed heightened due to their earlier humiliation.

    Isaac calmly assessed the situation.

    ¡®Two above, two below.¡¯

    The same faces he¡¯d seen during the day, now much more fierce.

    ¡®Did the red mist obliterate two during the day? Are these all that¡¯s left?¡¯

    Isaac thought as he thrust his sword. The Wachia hunter, with a grotesque smile, mocked his daytime attack. The hunter¡¯s hand moved smoothly, like mist, a stark contrast to his daytime clumsiness.

    ¡®This won¡¯t be easy.¡¯

    Isaac¡¯s sword tip met the hunter¡¯s. In an unexpected turn, the hunter¡¯s sword was pierced with a crack. The hunter¡¯s wrist twisted oddly. Both Isaac and the hunter were slow to understand the situation, but the sword didn¡¯t stop.

    Isaac thrust his sword into the hunter¡¯s mouth. The hunter, impaled by his own sword, ended up slicing his own face.

    ¡°Ahihiha!¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s that? Your face is half gone.¡±

    Isaac, surprised by the oue, quickly withdrew his sword. The hunter¡¯s fractured sword, still lodged in his face, shattered. The hunter stumbled backward.

    ¡®Why are they still weak?¡¯

    However, Isaac realized he had been wrong in his assumption. The Wachia hunters had definitely be stronger. Their movements were significantly faster, more precise, and more graceful than during the day. Even Gebel was struggling to overpower his opponent.

    It was just that Isaac¡¯s swordy was quicker, more refined, and smoother.

    ¡®Am I¡­ actually strong?¡¯

    While Gebel was the most skilled among them, it was possible he faced a stronger opponent. There were many variables to consider, but Isaac was confident that his abilities were above average, possibly even at the level of pdins.

    Isaac approached his opponent again.

    ¡°Ahia!¡±

    The mutted face of the Wachia hunter shouted something. Although a normal human would have died, the vampire¡¯s face was quickly regenerating. However, the broken sword de embedded in his face made speech difficult.

    Another hunter, engaged with Gebel, seemed intent on helping but struggled to break free from Gebel¡¯s fierce sword strikes.

    Bang, bang. With each swing of Gebel¡¯s sword, the hunter¡¯s de bent like a reed but didn¡¯t fall. It would have broken under sheer strength. But that situation didn¡¯tst long. Gebel diligently inflicted wounds and finally thrust his sword into the hunter¡¯s foot.

    Both the hunter with the pierced foot and the one with the mangled face were now in no state to fight properly. The hunters above, trying to locate Isolde, must have made the same assessment.

    Swoosh! Thud, thud!

    Arrows began to fly again from above. Simultaneously, the fog clinging to the valley slope charged like cavalry. But even in this situation, Isaac remained calm.

    ¡®Their goal isn¡¯t us. It¡¯s to find Isolde. The red mist can¡¯t reveal itself unless she¡¯s absent.¡¯

    They attacked Isaac¡¯s group to keep Isolde in ce. Indeed, Isolde was hesitating, unable to attack or leave. In an emergency, she had to summon the Abyssal Beast. Herck ofbat prowess didn¡¯t make the hunters¡¯ judgment wrong.

    ¡®But their skills¡­ are far from sufficient.¡¯

    They hadn¡¯t expected to fight Isaac and his group like this in the middle of the night.

    Whoosh.

    The fog began to take shape, forming a heavily armored knight without legs. The horse seemed to run soundlessly. Or rather, could it be described as running without legs? It merely slid down like a ghost, rapidly charging with a menacing speed.

    However, facing this apparition, Gebel showed no fear, merely raising his sword. Isaac, back-to-back with Gebel, took a deep breath.

    ¡®I can¡¯t use the tentacles, but¡­ like them.¡¯

    Isaac recalled the advanced swordsmanship he had used when defeating Zihilrat. He couldn¡¯t remember the exact moves but knew he could use them like a skill whenever he wished.

    Isaac imagined eight tentacle-like arms writhing and surging out of his body. In his mind, these tentacles halted the ghostly horse¡¯s charge, decapitated, pierced hearts, pulled down and tore apart Wachia hunters, and crushed heads.

    He would make them pay for defiling the sanctuary with their tainted blood.

    Isaac swung his sword.

    And so it happened.

    ***

    The Wachia hunter, charging at Isaac, didn¡¯t fully grasp what was happening. An absurdly bizarre aura emanated from Isaac, who had seemed frail. The hunter suddenly thought irrationally that he wasmitting an outrageous sphemy against the Red Chalice.

    ¡®Red Chalice, help!¡¯

    A scream rose to his throat, but it was toote.

    The next moment, the Wachia hunter¡¯s head plunged into the ground. The hunter, rolling limply, tried to get up, but soon realized only his head remained.

    Isaac¡¯s silhouette had blurred for a moment, but he had passed through the hunter¡¯s body like wielding eight saw des, ripping it apart.

    The hunter¡¯s body barely maintained its shape.

    It was a ghastly and gruesome swordsmanship.

    ¡®Such technique, fit only for barbaric realms¡­ how could it be in the territory of the Codex of Light?¡¯

    The Wachia hunter tried to protest with his mouth, but his neck was no longer suitable for making sounds. And there was no one left to hear his voice.

    Isaac didn¡¯t care about the severed head.

    He just felt an immense hunger.

    ¡®Ah¡­ if I hadn¡¯t eaten Zihilrat, this would have been troublesome.¡¯

    The hunger was psychological; there was still plenty of meat in his flesh storage. However, the demanding nature of this advanced sword technique was evident; it couldn¡¯t be used frequently.

    [Advanced Pdin Sword Technique Proficiency Increased! (Lv 2)]

    [Please name yourbined advanced sword technique.]

    After using the technique only twice, Isaac realized its level had increased. He remembered he hadn¡¯t named it the previous time.

    ¡®The Avnche Pdin Order named theirs ¡°Avnche Sword Technique¡±, so maybe¡­¡¯

    He thought about calling it ¡°Tentacle Sword Technique,¡± but that seemed embarrassing to introduce to others. Naming it ¡°Isaac Sword Technique¡± also felt awkward.

    ¡®Isaac Technique. And since it leaves eight sword marks, let¡¯s call it ¡°Eight Branches.¡±¡¯

    From now on, this move would be known as the ¡°Isaac swordsmanship: Eight Branches.¡± Isaac decided so.

    [Isaac swordsmanship: Eight Branches (A) has been established.]

    Isaac felt the move embedding in his mind like a skill. He also realized how much satiation it consumed.

    Feeling stiffness all over, Isaac turned to check on Gebel. If Isaac could take them down, Gebel should have been able to handle it with ease.

    But what he saw when he turned around was unexpected.

    ¡°Gebel!¡±

    An old Wachia hunter in a billowing red cloak was thrusting a spear into Gebel¡¯s side.

    It was the Vampire Duke, Heinkel Gullmar.

    Gebel was also stabbing Heinkel¡¯s chest, but he seemed to have no strength left.

    Heinkel, intent on finishing Gebel, tensed his shoulder, but suddenly someone appeared behind him. It was Isolde, using the Doctrine of the Moth.

    Silently appearing, Isolde stabbed Heinkel in the back. Her Sword of Judgment, deeply embedded, emitted intense heat, burning Heinkel¡¯s flesh and blood. As Isolde forcefully pulled out her sword, a spray of blood followed, tearing Heinkel¡¯s belly to his side.

 Chapter 29:

    Chapter 29:

    Chapter 29. Human Hunter Hunt (3)

    Heinkel, after dropping his spear, retreated like a mist, slipping away.

    As the spear turned to dust and disappeared, Gebel staggered, barely managing to stay on his feet.

    To any observer, it was clear Heinkel had suffered more damage. However, while Heinkel calmly watched Gebel, thetter looked as if he might copse at any moment.

    Red mist began to rise from Heinkel¡¯s wounds, quickly starting to knit his flesh back together.

    ¡°Hiding inside your subordinate and thenunching a counterattack¡­ Impressive reaction, Pdin. If you had been fully armored and able to perform miracles, you would have been a difficult opponent.¡±

    Heinkel hadn¡¯t made an open appearance. Instead, he had hidden inside the skin of his subordinate and attacked when close enough. His ability to change form at will, a trait of his vampiric nature, made this possible.

    Gebel didn¡¯t respond. Isaac remembered that Gebel had never used a miracle before. He knew Gebel had renounced his Pdin title, but it hadn¡¯t urred to him that the scripture of light had withdrawn its miracles from Gebel.

    Heinkel¡¯s gaze briefly rested on Isaac. His look was more curious than wary.

    Instead, his wary gaze turned to Isolde.

    ¡°Summon the Abyssal Beast, Inquisitor. Otherwise, you¡¯ll die right now.¡±

    ¡°And our master tamed the light from beyond the rift and showed it to us!¡±

    At the moment Isolde¡¯s prayer, almost like a shout, erupted, the night vanished from the valley. The Abyssal Beast revealed itself again from the ashes. Heinkel Gullmar also began to melt away like an apparition, his face full of scorn.

    No matter how mighty, a vampire couldn¡¯t withstand this brilliance.

    ¡°This will dy your deaths a bit¡­¡±

    Soon, Heinkel¡¯s presence vanishedpletely.

    Under the bright light, Isaac quickly checked Gebel¡¯s condition.

    The wound wasn¡¯t serious. However, Wachia hunters, like Gebel, consider it dishonorable to cause excessive bleeding in their ¡®prey¡¯, hence they avoid inflicting deep wounds.

    Gebel, though with minor external injuries, seemed to have suffered severe internal damage.

    ¡°Mr. Isaac!¡±

    Isolde approached. The Abyssal Beast she summoned was the size of a small moth, seemingly called tost a bit longer.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t think he would hide inside his subordinate and emerge by shattering the body. I thought with Mr. Gebel and you, we could hold on¡­¡±

    Isaac, seeing Isolde¡¯s expression, realized Heinkel¡¯s intentions.

    Gebel was no longer in a state to fight. Even if the Inquisitor summoned the Abyssal Beast, it would only temporarily drive away Heinkel. If Isolde couldn¡¯t maintain it and had to send it back, Heinkel would attack again.

    And this time, he would kill everyone.

    ¡°We have no choice.¡±

    But there was one thing Heinkel hadn¡¯t counted on.

    ¡°I¡¯ll stay behind as a decoy. Please, take Gebel and escape from the valley.¡±

    Isolde was shocked by Isaac¡¯s suggestion.

    ¡°Mr. Isaac!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not nning to sacrifice myself.¡±

    On the contrary, it was a n for everyone to survive.

    Isaac felt a strong rage and¡­ hunger towards Heinkel.

    ¡°I might not know about the Inquisitor, but I must ensure Mr. Gebel¡¯s safety. Follow my instructions. Both of you, leave together.¡±

    ***

    Red mist seeped through the crevices of the valley, soon taking the form of Duke Heinkel Gullmar.

    The wound from the Judgment sword was still bubbling, not fully healed yet. Areas directly touched by divine power were harder to heal.

    Heinkel turned his head. The glow of the Abyssal Beast didn¡¯t reach this hidden darkness of the valley, where red eyes gleamed.

    Heinkel spoke to those eyes in the darkness.

    ¡°The preparations areplete. As soon as the Abyssal Beast disappears, kill them all.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Duke.¡±

    12 hunters emerged from the darkness, all Wachia hunters.

    As Heinkel gave the signal, the hunters vanished back into the shadows. There was no need for specific instructions; such ambushes were as routine to them as meals.

    Heinkel also thought this mission was essentially finished. However, an ufortable feeling lingered, something he couldn¡¯t shake off. Heinkel reflected on what he might have missed.

    ¡®Gebel, was it? He was the most skilled, but now wounded, he can no longer fight. The Inquisitor without the Abyssal Beast seemed unable to take on multiple hunters. So¡­¡¯

    Heinkel recalled the handsome, knightly trainee.

    He hadn¡¯t seen him clearly in the light, but his face, encountered in the darkness, was more vivid. Definitely a memorable face, and his swordsmanship was above average.

    But that was it.

    Heinkel was confident

    he could defeat him in less than 10 seconds.

    After all, fair fights were perverse to Wachia hunters; they wouldn¡¯t hesitate to use any means necessary.

    Even without Heinkel, if the hunters engaged in a battle, the trainee wouldn¡¯t stand a chance.

    ¡®What am I missing?¡¯

    A primal instinct.

    An innate sense that something was wrong was sending him a strong warning.

    The Red Chalice Club, which valued bodily pleasure and senses, also highly regarded instincts.

    Heinkel didn¡¯t dismiss this unease as unnecessary. It could be a bloody warning from the Red Chalice.

    ¡°Lieutenant.¡±

    Two lieutenants still stood by Heinkel¡¯s side.

    ¡°There¡¯s a trainee named Isaac. Don¡¯t engage him carelessly, cut off his limbs if necessary, but try to capture him alive.¡±

    Heinkel paused briefly before continuing.

    ¡°He¡¯s prettier than a girl, so he should be easy to spot. Perhaps offering him in exchange for the others¡¯ escape might work. Go and convey my orders.¡±

    ***

    The Wachia hunters had no trouble tracking Isaac and his group in the darkness. The Abyssal Beast, like antern, marked their location.

    Direct exposure to its radiance would surely blind them, so the hunters couldn¡¯t observe Isaac¡¯s group directly. But they meticulously tracked them within the range of the dimming light, ensuring no one escaped.

    The hunt was nearing its end.

    The Abyssal Beast, forcibly held from disappearing, was gradually fading.

    The hunters signaled each other with hand signals.

    In the darkness, the hunters were like vague silhouettes, but they could see each other clearly as in broad daylight.

    ¡®The Inquisitor must be exhausted by now, so full resistance will be difficult.¡¯

    ¡®Capture the trainee named Isaac alive if possible.¡¯

    With only one capable fighter, the hunt would be easier.

    As the light began to fade, the Wachia hunters loaded their crossbows.

    Finally, the brilliance of the Abyssal Beastpletely faded. The only sound in the dark valley was the quiet rustling of leaves in the wind.

    The hunters simultaneously emerged into the valley.

    The Wachia hunters intended to turn everyone but Isaac into pincushions with their arrows, but they struggled to find their targets.

    ¡°What the¡­¡±

    The only one standing in the darkness was Isaac.

    Without exnation, Isaac drew his sword, watching the Wachia hunters approaching him rapidly.

    ¡°Is this simplicity what makes you hunters?¡±

    ¡°We were tricked! He used the Abyssal Beast as bait!¡±

    Without the Abyssal Beast, there was no way to confront the Wachia hunters in the middle of the night. Naturally, they thought Isaac would move with the Beast, but he had used it as a distraction.

    Meanwhile, Gebel and Isolde had escaped the valley using the teachings of the Moth.

    Urgent nces passed between the hunters. In an instant, six split off to pursue Gebel and Isolde, while the other six advanced to capture Isaac.

    ¡°At least he¡¯s surrendered himself for capture. How convenient.¡±

    One of the hunters mockingly jeered, a break from their usual silence when hunting, but they were angry for being deceived.

    They believed Isaac had stayed behind as bait and a hostage.

    But Isaac tilted his head, sneering.

    ¡°Surrender?¡±

    ¡°If you resist, we¡¯ll cut off your fingers one by¡­¡±

    ¡°Aaaaagh!¡±

    Before the sentence finished, a scream erupted from the direction where six hunters had chased Gebel and Isolde.

    Wachia hunters consider screaming disgraceful. They were flustered yet red at Isaac, saying:

    ¡°The knight seems to be alive, but soon¡­¡±

    The screams didn¡¯t stop with one; multiple followed in session.

    The Wachia hunters gritted their teeth, more ashamed by the fact that theirrades were screaming than being attacked.

    Screaming, even if from a victim, was vulgar in the silent night. Only the quiet flow of blood and the swallowing of throats were the permitted etiquette.

    Isaac, standing askew, asked.

    ¡°Don¡¯t need to see the situation to guess, right?¡±

    Finally, two more hunters were sent to assess the situation, leaving four to subdue Isaac.

    ¡°We don¡¯t know your tricks, but we¡­¡±

    ¡°That you don¡¯t know my tricks is exactly why you¡¯ll die here.¡±

    Isaac¡¯s interruptions agitated the hunter, who wore a fierce expression.

    But Isaac continued leisurely.

    ¡°I¡¯ve been watching you all the way, not straying anywhere, foolishly trailing along. You¡¯ve been in my grasp all along.¡±

    Nonsense.

    The Wachia hunter, scoffing, lunged at Isaac.

    Like a pack of hyenas attacking prey, each hunter targeted different limbs. However, they saw Isaac¡¯s arms move inpletely unexpected directions.

    Isaac¡¯s arms twisted unimaginably, stretching incredibly long.

    Before they realized what was happening, a tentacle pierced one hunter¡¯s head. His body iled like a broken doll.

    Isaacshed out with his tentacle like a whip. A hunter tried to block it with his sword, but the tentacle wrapped around him, its suckers filled with teeth tearing into his flesh.

    ¡°Aaaagh!¡±

    The vulgar scream they detested so much burst out.

    Isaac spun the hunter around like a top.

    Blood sttered in all directions as flesh was torn, soaking the faces of the remaining Wachia hunters.

    Isaac, holding one hunter with his tentacle, swung him like a club at another. The hunter raised his arms in a futile attempt to block; when enough weight and speedbine, defense is meaningless.

    Bang. The two hunters merged into one mass.

    [¡®Vampire¡¯ devoured.]

    [¡®Dead God¡¯s Intestines¡¯ perk increases absorption efficiency.]

    [¡®Vampirism¡¯ perk acquired.]

    [¡®Blurry Shadow (temporary)¡¯ perk acquired.]

    [Temporary perks remain as blessings until digested.]

    Using his newly acquired ¡®Vampirism¡¯ perk, Isaac absorbed the fluids of thebined Wachia hunters through his skin.

    Their torsos deted like punctured balloons.

    ¡°So this is what drinking blood feels like.¡±

    Isaac murmured coolly in the darkness.

    Everything had happened in the blink of an eye. The lone remaining Wachia hunter realized his mistake.

    ¡®This is a trainee from the Codex of light ?!¡¯

    He didn¡¯t know what Isaac was, but he was sure Isaac wasn¡¯t from the Codex of Light.

    Isaac was from a darker, more savage realm, a primordial, chaotic origin.

    In the darkness, Isaac gazed with purple flickering eyes, stating:

    ¡°This is my sanctuary. You must pay the price for your trespass.¡±

 Chapter 30:

    Chapter 30:

    Chapter 30. Human Hunter Hunt (4)

    ¡°Four of them down in an instant.¡±

    Isaac marveled at the tremendous strength of his tentacles. It was more powerful than he expected, partly because tentacles are a kind of ¡®miracle¡¯ that the nameless chaos can wield.

    Moreover, the effects of all miracles are enhanced in a sanctuary. The sanctuary effect Isaac obtained from defeating Zihilrat extended even to this valley, making his tentacles significantly more potent.

    Isaac, though not keen on consuming human forms, whether vampires or others, consoled himself that it was the tentacles feeding, not him. He approached thest trembling hunter.

    Even as a Wachia hunter, a knight of the Red Chalice Club, facing the unknown entity with writhing tentacles in the darkness was unsettling.

    ¡°Please, spare me,¡± begged the hunter, dropping his sword.

    Isaac intended to keep him alive for interrogation butughed at his plea for life.

    ¡°You¡¯ll stay alive until I¡¯m done questioning.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll tell you anything¡­¡±

    ¡°How can I trust your words?¡±

    Grabbing the hunter¡¯s cor, Isaac activated his Chaos Eye.

    [Kasha Finsk (B) / Fear]

    [Profession: Wachia Hunter (C+)]

    [Abilities: Shedding Doctrine, Heart Anthem]

    Isaac focused deeper, beyond the name or abilities, into the hunter¡¯s inner thoughts.

    [¡°What is this monster? Never heard of such a thing. Could it be the one who killed the gue god? Even Duke Gullmar would struggle against it¡­¡±]

    ¡°So, there¡¯s a connection with Zihilrat. Need to know what you were nning¡­ No, I¡¯ll talk to your boss directly.¡±

    Isaac tossed aside the hunter. As the hunter tried toprehend the situation, he felt a cold chill; red mist was seeping into his limbs.

    ¡°Wait, Duke! This is¡ª¡±

    Before he could finish, he exploded with a crunching sound. Bones and flesh rained over Isaac, who charged through them undeterred.

    ¡°I knew you¡¯d try the same trick!¡±

    As he activated an eight-way strike, a bloodbath ensued. Duke Gullmar, trying to ambush Isaac from behind, barely dodged his attack but still suffered shes that ripped his flesh.

    ***

    Blood and flesh poured like rain.

    Gullmar, dodging the attack, red at Isaac. The eight shes left clear marks on the valley¡¯s rocks, but only two reached his chest.

    ¡°Should¡¯ve recognized such bizarre swordsmanship.¡±

    Gullmar muttered, realizing Isaac wielded a long-lost heretical miracle. He mused about the dead god whose name Isaac shouldn¡¯t have known.

    Isaac, unaware of how he¡¯s wielding these powers, looked at his writhing tentacle palm.

    ¡°You seem to know what this is?¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t even know what you¡¯re using. Typical ignorance¡­¡±

    ¡°Shh.¡±

    Isaac silenced Gullmar, focusing only on his answer.

    Gullmar scoffed, but Isaac didn¡¯t wait for his response; he was already peering into his soul.

    [Heinkel Gullmar (S) / Normal]

    [Profession: Duke of Wachia (S)]

    [Abilities: Chalice Doctrine, Red Prayer, Lamentation Feast, Pleasure¡¯s Secret]

    Gullmar¡¯s abilities were among the top tier of the Red Chalice Club. Isaac knew from previous experiences how powerful he could be.

    ¡°Thought it wouldn¡¯t be easy.¡±

    But Isaac didn¡¯t feel outmatched. His tentacles¡¯ full potential was yet unknown, and he didn¡¯t believe Gullmar to be stronger than Kalsen.

    Now, he needed to interrogate Gullmar. Focusing deeper, Isaac probed his inner thoughts.

    [¡®Power of Chaos? Insanity. Surely he¡¯s not directly serving the god of chaos? Maybe tainted by a foreign monster, or¡­ hopefully.¡¯]

    Gullmar spoke.

    ¡°You want to know about your power? It¡¯s ancient. Most youngsters wouldn¡¯t understand. You should stop using it if you don¡¯t want to end up worse than dead.¡±

    Isaac, unimpressed by Gullmar¡¯s half-truths, pushed further.

    ¡°You think it¡¯s dangerous? It seems healthier than those trying to suck my blood.¡±

    Gullmar, slightly anxious, continued.

    ¡°Rather surrender. My goal is the Inquisitor, not you. If she finds out what you¡¯re harboring, she¡¯ll kill you too. We could save you. Or join Wachia with me.¡±

    Isaac, realizing Gullmar¡¯s sincerity,ughed at the exotic offer.

    ¡°Wachia?¡±

    ¡°Your beauty would surely please the Red Chalice. If you wish, I can even adopt you as my son.¡±

    Gullmar¡¯s offer to give Isaac a royal lineage seemed ludicrous at first, but Isaac, peering into his inner thoughts, realized he was serious. Gullmar wanted to adopt him,rgely because of his appearance.

    [¡®The Red Chalice adores beauty. Though wed, such a boy might be bestowed with more secret knowledge.¡¯]

    Though it sounded far-fetched, it wasn¡¯t entirely baseless. The deity of the Red Chalice, ¡®The Dancer¡¯, was known for valuing life, beauty, and the power of concealment, and was herself of extraordinary beauty.

    Thus, Isaac¡¯s charm alone could secure him a ce in the Red Chalice Club.

    It was an appealing offer. Assuming the lineage of a duke would mean a high starting position in the club.

    Being a Nephilim, Isaac¡¯s identity, wouldn¡¯t necessarily be a drawback in the club.

    However, Isaac had no intention of epting it.

    ¡°Do I really need to beg you for blood?¡±

    Isaac didn¡¯t see the need to bow down to Gullmar.

    Gullmar¡¯s expression hardened. He drew the same spear he used to stab Gebel.

    ¡°Fine. If words fail, I¡¯ll use force. You like a fair fight, don¡¯t you? I¡¯ll y along. Show me what you¡¯ve got.¡±

    He added a condition to the duel.

    ¡°Let¡¯s exclude miracles. Using them would leave nothing of you¡­¡±

    Isaac noted Gullmar¡¯s fear of his tentacles, though his words weren¡¯t entirely false. Gullmar¡¯s miracles were indeed formidable. A miscalction could end both of them.

    ¡®But Gullmar is a master of the spear.¡¯

    Apart from miracles, his skills wereparable to high-level swordsmanship. And at this distance, a spear had an advantage over a sword. Despite the pretended courtesy, Gullmar got ready forbat, gripping his spear long.

    Isaac seemingly epted the duel, grasping his sword with both hands, making it difficult for tentacles to emerge from his left hand. Gullmar¡¯s lips curled up in anticipation.

    ¡®Fool.¡¯

    The battle began without a signal. Gullmar never intended to fight fairly. To him, a fair fight was a fool¡¯s game.

    He threw his spear even before Isaac made his first move. Isaac dodged, but the spear turned to dust upon leaving Gullmar¡¯s hand, and a new red spear formed, following Isaac¡¯s movements.

    Crack!

    A chilling sound echoed through the valley.

    Isaac couldn¡¯t even get close to Gullmar.

    Gullmar smiled, his fangs glinting. Then, blood trickled down along those fangs.

    He couldn¡¯t believe it and tried to turn, but his neck and spine, impaled by fangs, didn¡¯t allow it. He realized a monstrous beast, exuding a foul odor and wriggling flesh, had impaled him from behind.

    The odor was mixed with a familiar scent ¨C the blood of the Wachia hunters he had sent earlier.

    The spear, misfired in astonishment, didn¡¯t even graze Isaac.

    The situation was unfathomable. Who was this unknown beast, and why had it attacked him? Why did Isaac approach as if the beast was on his side?

    Bleeding profusely, Gullmar struggled to speak.

    ¡°You¡­ you dog¡­ In a fair¡­ duel¡­¡±

    ¡°What are you talking about? Fair duels are for fools.¡±

    ***

    ¡°This beast¡­ is it the one you worship¡­?¡±

    Gullmar first guessed the beast was the embodiment of the foreign monster consuming Isaac. But Isaac only looked puzzled.

    ¡°What, you don¡¯t know? Oh, you can¡¯t see.¡±

    Isaac twisted Gullmar¡¯s face around. There was a crunching sound, but Isaac knew Gullmar wouldn¡¯t die from this.

    ¡°Long time no see, right? You should recognize it.¡±

    The beast was the creature Isaac created by parasitically nurturing Zihilrat corpse as an ¡®offspring of chaos¡¯, rather than consuming it entirely. It was also the unidentified beast that lured Isolde into the valley.

    Zihilrat¡¯s original form was gone. The beast, made of red flesh and undting tentacles, only emitted a constant stench, obediently following Isaac¡¯smands.

    It seemed to understand moreplexmands, perhaps due to being born from a god¡¯s corpse.

    Like guarding Isolde and Gebel while eliminating any approaching Wachia hunters.

    ¡®Stronger than expected near the sanctuary, perhaps because it¡¯s born from a god¡¯s corpse.¡¯

    Now Isaac¡¯s pet, the weakened but still divine Zihilrat was treated like a sacred beast, akin to angels or the Abyssal Beast. Unlike them, Zihilrat, born here, could stay as long as certain conditions were met.

    Like consuming arge amount of flesh.

    Crunch.

    Although Zihilrat had already devoured nearly ten Wachia hunters, it seemed still hungry, embedding its teeth deeper into Heinkel¡¯s flesh. The taste of blood appeared to be stimting its appetite.

    Isaac restrained Zihilrat. There were still many things he needed to ask Heinkel.

    With his violet eyes, Isaac gazed at Heinkel. His left eye, having overused the Eye of Chaos, started to sprout wriggling tentacles.

    ¡°You all have trespassed into my sanctuary and nearly ruined my ns. Thus, you must face judgment.¡±

    Upon hearing these words, Heinkel spoke.

    ¡°Are you¡­ an incarnation of the Red Chalice? Have you sent the prophet of the red flesh to judge my undue authority?¡±

 Chapter 31:

    Chapter 31:

    Chapter 31. Human Hunter Hunt (5)

    ¡°What?¡±

    Isaac wondered what kind of trickery this was now.

    However, seeing inside Heinkel¡¯s mind, Isaac realized the Duke was making a huge mistake. Zihilrat¡¯s faint divinity, Isaac¡¯s unbelievable power, and then¡­

    [¡°I should have realized when I saw his face! His appearance is unmistakably a holy body sent by the Red Chalice! I was ruining His ns with my war games!¡±]

    It was Isaac¡¯s appearance that was the proof, at least in Heinkel¡¯s mind.

    It seemed usible enough, not entirely absurd. Heinkel, of Wachia royalty, had drunk directly from the Red Chalice ¨C the blood of the god.

    So, he knew what a god¡¯s face should look like.

    ¡®The god of the Red Chalice, Muhui, is a Nephilim too, right?¡¯

    In the Red Chalice Club, being a Nephilim wasn¡¯t a disadvantage, and this was precisely why.

    In Nameless Chaos, gods are divided into two types. Ancient gods born naturally from people¡¯s perceptions and beliefs over a long history, and the mortal-born gods who began to appear around a thousand years ago with the advent of the ¡®Age of Light¡¯ initiated by the Codex of Light.

    The Nine Faiths predominantly consist of these mortal-born gods.

    The god Muhui, worshiped by the Red Chalice Club, was not a secret Nephilim. Muhui became a god after killing her angel father and eating his heart. This melodramatic tale led her to be the god of the Red Chalice, governing eternal beauty and life.

    Given her backstory, it wasn¡¯t strange for Heinkel to mistake Isaac, who shared the Nephilim¡¯s appearance, for something more.

    Instead of risking a lie that could be detected, Isaac decided to use Heinkel¡¯s misconception.

    ¡®A lie might be caught anyway¡­¡¯

    Isaac calmed himself and spoke.

    ¡°Are there no other Wachia hunters nearby?¡±

    Heinkel, struggling to find a suitable term for Isaac, was provided with a helpful response.

    ¡°You¡¯ve already recognized me, haven¡¯t you? Do you need another test?¡±

    Isaac didn¡¯t miss Heinkel¡¯s mention of the ¡®prophet of the red flesh¡¯, one of the celestial beings of the Red Chalice Club.

    Like other sects with their own gods, clubs have their celestial beings, and the Red Chalice Club is no exception. Their chief celestial, ¡®the prophet of red flesh¡¯, is a creature with three arms and legs and yed skin. It represents the most vital, essential charm¡­ something along those lines, but to Isaac, it just looked like a grotesque monster.

    However, at a nce, Zihilrat¡¯s current form might appear simr.

    Neither were intentional by Isaac, but having once reached an ending with the Red Chalice Club, he could convincingly mimic it.

    Heinkel frantically shook his head, but Isaac had already read his thoughts.

    [¡®Even though I have sinned gravely, why is the prophet of the red flesh here? What benefit is there in corrupting this monastery?¡¯]

    Heinkel¡¯s mind,pletely submissive, was an open book. Isaac realized why Heinkel was so easily swayed.

    ¡°Confess your misdeeds. Let¡¯s hear how shamelessly you¡¯ve acted.¡±

    Zihilrat pinned Heinkel¡¯s head to the ground. Heinkel, pressed against the floor, began spilling everything he knew.

    ***

    Even in a state of terror, Heinkel¡¯s words were coherent.

    But they weren¡¯t particrly satisfying for Isaac.

    The Immortal Order had tasked Heinkel with a simple mission: to periodically assist their priests in crossing the border into the territories controlled by the Codex of Light.

    ¡®Such foolish actions.¡¯

    The Kingdom of Wachia, though part of the ¡®dark forces¡¯ like the Immortal Order, wasn¡¯t really on good terms with the gods. Skeletal undead and hedonistic immortalists hardly get along.

    Mainly, they were politically influenced by the powerful ck Empire nearby.

    Duke Heinkel Gullmar, desiring this influence, had assisted the Immortal Order, helping the priests with their illegal entry and subsequent actions. Whenmunication with a priest at this location was lost, he came to investigate.

    To assist if possible, or to erase evidence if not.

    ¡®Did the Immortal Order stir the ancient gods as part of their strategy for the dawn army expedition two yearster?¡¯

    The actual start of Nameless Chaos gamey was two yearster, with the organization of the dawn army. That¡¯s when ancient gods began to resurrect across the continent, but they didn¡¯t significantly impact the overall world.

    They were just additional field or mid-level bosses.

    Compared to the Nine Faiths¡¯ nearly invincible gods, ancient gods were just slightly stronger monsters.

    Isaac thought he had extracted all the information he could from Heinkel and pondered what to do with him.

    Heinkel¡¯s current obedience stemmed from his fear of death, encountering an unknown powerful force, and being overwhelmed by Isaac¡¯s charisma.

    Thus, doubts would likely resurface once he left this ce.

    ¡°You nearly ruined my ns.¡±

    ¡°I have no excuse.¡±

    ¡°Then you must face the consequences.¡±

    Heinkel bit his lip and tilted his neck at Isaac¡¯s words.

    ¡°Devour me. Enjoy a feast with my flesh, and grace your banquet with my body!¡±

    ¡°You think your tainted flesh is worthy of a feast?¡±

    Heinkel might have hoped for forgiveness with such a plea, but Isaac, unconcerned with unnecessary clemency, impaled Heinkel¡¯s neck with a tentacle. Shock and disbelief flickered across Heinkel¡¯s face.

    However, the tentacle rapidly drained his blood.

    [¡®Heinkel Gullmar (S)¡¯ consumed.]

    [¡®Dead God¡¯s Intestines¡¯ perk efficiency increased.]

    [Charisma significantly enhanced.]

    [¡®Vampirism¡¯ perk efficiency enhanced.]

    [¡®Red Prayer (S)¡¯ perk acquired.]

    It didn¡¯t take long topletely drain Heinkel¡¯s blood. Consuming the royal blood that Heinkel received from the Red Chalice, Isaac experienced an unprecedented pleasure.

    His consciousness blurred with the intoxicating sensation.

    [Nameless Chaos watches over you.]

    That notification from the nameless chaos snapped Isaac back to reality.

    ¡®Dangerous, isn¡¯t it?¡¯

    Isaac realized the pleasure was from vampirism, akin to a drug for him, who had no resistance. But the moment he received the nameless chaos¡¯s notification, he quickly returned to his normal state.

    The overwhelming pleasure was not something he wanted to experience again. The sensation of losing oneself was more terrifying than the pleasure.

    As Heinkel¡¯s form lost its shape and crumbled to dust after being drained of the Red Chalice¡¯s blood, Isaac felt a strange emotion.

    ¡®Kalsen, and now this guy, both had significant roles two yearster with the dawn army¡­ How will things unfold now?¡¯

    Someone more dangerous might take their ce, but Isaac couldn¡¯t let Heinkel live. Heinkel¡¯s doubts were one thing, but an opportunity to consume someone like Heinkel might note again.

    ¡®It seems I can¡¯t acquire abilities through consumption.¡¯

    Isaac examined the perks gained from consuming Heinkel.

    The fact that his charisma could be further enhanced was surprising. It was already effective enough to fully sway the Duke of Wachia. Bing stronger could have unpredictable oues.

    ¡®Should I be a cult leader or something?¡¯

    Acquiring ¡®Red Prayer¡¯ was a significant gain.

    As Isaac extended his hand, his fingertips dissolved into red mist. This ability, frequently used by Heinkel, was inherent in the royal blood and thus gained through consumption.

    Isaac tested ¡®Red Prayer.¡¯

    His body momentarily lost form and moved swiftly, scaling almost vertical walls. Although not as freely as Heinkel, it could be useful for causing confusion or sneaking in.

    ¡®But it uses satiety¡­¡¯

    More precisely, it seemed to consume blood, or rather, bodily fluids. Isaac had a foreboding feeling.

    ¡®No way, I¡¯m not turning into a vampire, am I?¡¯

    Drinking blood and transforming into mist was typical of vampires. However, a reassuring message appeared.

    [The curse of the Red Chalice cannot invade due to a stronger curse.]

    ¡°¡­¡±

    This stronger curse was likely due to the nameless chaos. Isaac realized he had avoided bing a vampire but remained a tentacle monster.

    Which was better was hard to determine.

    Isaac searched through Heinkel¡¯s remains for anything useful.

    Most equipment quickly disintegrated, likely conjured by abilities, but he found a notable item in the dust.

    ¡®A sword?¡¯

    Isaac discovered a thin, narrow sword in the dust. Without decoration, it had a heavy, dark hue.

    ¡®I¡¯ve never seen Heinkel use such a weapon.¡¯

    Puzzled, Isaac touched the weapon, and information about it appeared before him, causing a dizzying sensation.

    ¡°A relic?¡±

    Isaac blurted out involuntarily.

    It was a weapon he shouldn¡¯t have been able to obtain here, an item beyond his reach.

 Chapter 32:

    Chapter 32:

    Chapter 32. Holy Grail Knight (1)

    Relic.

    Just as a miracle residing in a person¡¯s body is called a holy body, an object imbued with a miracle is called a relic. However, there are grades among relics.

    The radiance stone ne that Isaac once had could be considered a low-grade relic. But the sword before him now was of a different ss.

    It was an item that should be preserved like a cultural heritage or national treasure.

    [The Rite of Division (EX)]

    [The dagger used by Muhui when she decided to part ways with the emperor, extracting his heart. Through this brutal ritual, one being split into two gods, hence named the Rite of Division. Usable in high-grade rituals of both the Red Chalice Club and the Elil Sect.]

    This was the dagger that birthed the Nine Faiths¡¯ Red Chalice and Elil. Even objects blessed by angels are hard to appraise, but relics directly rted to gods are treasures managed by the sect itself.

    ¡®There¡¯s even a ss like Holy Grail Knights who wander searching for such relics¡­¡¯

    If a Grail Knight found this sword, they¡¯d go mad with excitement.

    Of course, as a weapon, this dagger had no value. It was merely a ritual tool. But its true worth came to light in those very rituals. To perform a powerful miracle, many conditions are needed.

    Sacrifices, long prayers, potions, timing, circumstances, and more.

    But with this dagger, many of those conditions could be disregarded.

    ¡®Why is this even here?¡¯

    Isaac felt incredulous.

    Perhaps Heinkel did more than just escort the Immortal Order; he might have assisted in performing rituals.

    Almost reflexively, Isaac hastily concealed the dagger.

    If it became known that he possessed it, people woulde after him. Especially the Wachia hunters would relentlessly pursue him.

    It was an item fraught with potential trouble.

    But Isaac wasn¡¯t foolish enough to pass up such an opportunity because of fear. A sly smile formed on his lips.

    ¡®Heinkel, you truly gave without reservation.¡¯

    Isaac hoped Heinkel was enjoying his afterlife in the Red Chalice¡¯s heaven, though he wasn¡¯t sure if someone drained of blood could reach heaven.

    Suddenly, the rising sun appeared over the valley. The morning sunlight touched his hand, feeling more pleasant than ever.

    ***

    ¡°Lord Gebel, we¡¯re almost there. Just a bit further¡­¡±

    Gebel groaned, moving forward. Heinkel¡¯s attack must have been deeply cursed, as his bleeding wouldn¡¯t stop. Pale and slowing down, Gebel didn¡¯t stop Isolde from dragging him along.

    Gebel didn¡¯t argue with Isolde, who initially suggested leaving him behind and seeking help from the Knight Order. She had been dragged along after knocking him on the back of his head at dawn.

    Then, Isolde suddenly stopped. Her expression brightened as the rhythmic sound of galloping hooves grew louder.

    Dudu-du-du-du.

    Around the valley corner, knights in white armor on horses galloped towards them, crushing gravel underfoot.

    Leading them was a familiar knight, Rotenhammer, wielding a hammer as big as his head.

    ¡°Captain Rotenhammer!¡±

    ¡°Rotenhammer?¡±

    Gebel muttered in surprise and quickly bowed his head. It was an awkward moment to meet him.

    Rotenhammer halted the Knight Order upon spotting Isolde and Gebel. Only five knights had arrived, all heavily armed and imbued with various miracles and blessings. Rotenhammer took off his helmet, revealing a middle-aged face with grey hair.

    ¡°I rushed upon receiving your call. Inquisitor, lieutenant! Attend to the injured.¡±

    Understanding the urgency, Rotenhammer skipped formalities and got straight to the point.

    ¡°Where are the heretics? Send the crows, and we¡¯ll track them immediately.¡±

    ¡°There were Wachia hunters in ambush. Duke Gulmar was among them.¡±

    The mention of Wachia hunters caused a ripple of concern among the knights. Rotenhammer¡¯s reaction was no different. He frowned for a moment before speaking.

    ¡°We were informed it was the Immortal Order and prepared for that. Seems a lot happened in the meantime.¡±

    Fighting skeletal undead and endlessly regenerating vampires required different strategies. Isolde admitted her recklessness but had she not urgently summoned the Knight Order, help might have been toote.

    ¡°Will this be an issue?¡±

    ¡°Not at all.¡±

    Rotenhammer lowered his helmet again, saying,

    ¡°The sun is rising; they won¡¯t be able to flee quickly. We¡¯ll cleanse the area and return. Are there any missing members? Any stragglers?¡±

    Isolde looked pained at Rotenhammer¡¯s question.

    ¡°One colleague stayed behind to buy time.¡±

    Rotenhammer fell silent.

    Just as the dawn breaks, it¡¯s clear that if the night had bought any time, the fate of therade was inevitable. Either turned into a mummy, devoid of a single drop of blood, or addicted to the blood of the Red Grail, bing a ghoul.

    In thetter case, it would be Rotenhammer¡¯s duty to bring an end.

    Rotenhammer spoke calmly, ¡°He was a heroic young man.¡±

    ¡°A youth even younger than me¡­ I couldn¡¯t stop him. Despite his young age, his remarkable skills and miracles surely would have made him an excellent Holy Knight¡­¡±

    To be precise, Isaac never performed a miracle, especially those of the Codex of Light, in front of Isolde. But in her memory, Isaac was glorified as an angelic figure with extraordinary swordsmanship.

    ¡°His swordsmanship, unexpected in such a remote area, his wisdom in curing the gue¡­ His spirit of willing sacrifice, above all, he had a face as if crafted by the Codex of Light, like a creation of an angel¡­¡±

    Rotenhammer coughed briefly. Isolde, realizing she was holding the knights with her ramblings, gestured them to leave.

    There would be plenty of time to mourn Isaacter.

    But Rotenhammer didn¡¯t move, his gaze fixed deeper in the valley.

    ¡°Inquisitor.¡±

    ¡°Yes?¡±

    ¡°Are you referring to the bloodied young man walking towards us as the angelic hero?¡±

    ***

    Thanks to dealing with the Wachia hunters and Heinkel all night, Isaac should have been exhausted, but surprisingly, he was fine. Vampire traits seemed to have enhanced his recovery. He could now head out of the valley.

    As Isaac walked out of the valley, he was met by Holy Knights rushing towards him, their white armor sparkling in the morning sun, worthy guardians of the Codex of Light¡­ Isaac¡¯s admiration changed when they surrounded him.

    So much for the hard-fought night.

    But Isaac didn¡¯t draw his sword or attack. He knew why they were doing this.

    ¡°Isaac?¡±

    In the middle of the knights, an elder knight spoke, ¡°I am Rotenhammer Luman of the Briant Knight Order. Are you hurt? Let¡¯s talk while we treat any wounds.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not my blood.¡±

    Isaac raised his arms to show he was unharmed, but Rotenhammer¡¯s expression hardened.

    ¡°Sorry, but I need to confirm something. I heard you lured the Wachia hunters all night to save the inquisitor. Straight to the point ¨C did you drink blood?¡±

    Being chased by Wachia hunters in the valley, even for an active Holy Knight, seemed impossible. Even Rotenhammer doubted its feasibility without a miracle.

    The only logical way for Isaac to survive was to join the hunters.

    ¡®It would be a lie to deny¡­¡¯

    ¡°No.¡±

    Isaac had been brazen enough to separate himself from his actions, even when eating a rat. Drinking blood was true, but it was the tentacles, not him.

    ¡°If I were a vampire, would I dare walk so boldly in the sunlight?¡±

    The valley had many shaded areas, but also plenty of sunlight. Of course, if not a vampire, then a ve addicted to the blood, a ghoul, could walk in the sun. The knights seemed reluctant to believe Isaac.

    But Rotenhammer gazed intensely at Isaac, who hoped to appear as innocent as possible with bright, clear eyes.

    Soon, Rotenhammer burst intoughter that echoed through the valley.

    ¡°A ghoul wouldn¡¯t have such a righteous gaze!¡±

    Isaac wondered if he overdid it, but Rotenhammer approached with aughing face.

    ¡°Surviving an overnight chase by Wachia hunters without a scratch, impressive! Just as Miss Isolde said, a young hero is born.¡±

    ¡®Miss Isolde?¡¯

    Did Isaac have a personal connection with the Brant family? While Isaac pondered, Rotenhammer gave orders to the other knights.

    ¡°You two, escort this young hero back. He must be tired after wandering the valley all night.¡±

    ¡°Yes!¡±

    ¡°I will now track down the Wachia hunters and obliterate them. They troubled us all night; now it¡¯s our turn in daylight!¡±

    Isaac didn¡¯t mention that the hunters were already dead. Just surviving and luring them was an achievement enough. Adding that he also killed Heinkel Gulmar would make it unbelievably bizarre.

    ¡°We¡¯ll discuss our young hero¡¯s night achievementster. The Inquisitor is waiting, let¡¯s go meet her.¡±

    ***

    ¡°I knew you¡¯d be safe, Isaac.¡±

    The first person Isaac met was Gebel.

    Gebel was resting at the Briant Knight Order¡¯s main camp. They seemed to have brought around 10 knights, 50 trainees, and support troops. Most would likely engage in search and surrounding operations, not directbat.

    ¡°Are you alright?¡±

    ¡°A skilled priest was here.¡±

    After removing the curse, Gebel¡¯splexion improved, though the injury site was severe. He¡¯d need to rest for a while. Isaac examined Gebel¡¯s bandaged wound.

    ¡®Damn tentacles.¡¯

    Efficient in killing and tearing apart, but not in healing. Isaac¡¯s healing ability came from his special skill, ¡®The Dead God¡¯s Innards.¡¯

    ¡°Where did the Inquisitor girl go? She should be nursing or something.¡±

    Isaac muttered, a bit annoyed that Isolde had left without a word of thanks. He didn¡¯t do it for gratitude, but it still felt irksome.

    ¡°She got basic healing and joined the search party to provide descriptions of the Wachia hunters. The morebatants, the better. It¡¯s impressive considering she walked all night like me.¡±

    It wasn¡¯t disdain, but prioritizing correctly. In retrospect, it would be a waste of talent for an Inquisitor to be nursing.

    After summoning the fire beast and walking non-stop since yesterday morning, she should be tired, but she¡¯s ready forbat again.

    ¡°The Wachia hunters are all already eaten by tentacles, so it¡¯s wasted effort.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m d Gebel didn¡¯t die.¡±

    ¡°That seems like something I should say to the person who survived being chased by Wachia hunters all night¡­ Hmm.¡±

    Gebel coughed and regted his breath.

    He looked at the tent¡¯s ceiling and spoke.

    ¡°It may sound sudden, but let me ask, Isaac. Just to confirm.¡±

    Gebel stared directly at Isaac.

    ¡°Did you kill all the Wachia hunters?¡±

    Isaac tried to deny it.

    But Gebel¡¯s tone suggested he already knew and was just probing. So, as Isaac hesitated to respond, Gebel continued.

    ¡°Even Duke Gulmar?¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°Amazing. How did you¡­ No, never mind. I won¡¯t ask.¡±

    Gebel clenched his mouth, staring at the ceiling with strained eyes.

    ¡°Don¡¯t ask how I know. When I heard you returned alive, I didn¡¯t think the Wachia hunters would still be alive. Rotenhammer and the Inquisitor must be searching an empty valley now.¡±

    ¡°Why do you think so?¡±

    ¡°It may sound silly, but I¡¯ve thought you could do it since the day you were brought to the monastery. Since you survived the attack by Kalsen.¡±

 Chapter 33:

    Chapter 33:

    Isaac felt a bit tense. Gebel was arguably the closest person to him in this world. He was the first person Isaac had met and knew the most about him. It wouldn¡¯t have been surprising if Gebel had some inkling about Isaac¡¯s true nature.

    ¡°I truly don¡¯t care whether you¡¯re a saint or a demon. I decided that the day I brought you here. Especially since the day I started teaching you swordsmanship.¡±

    ¡°For revenge?¡±

    ¡°For revenge.¡±

    It was a story Isaac had heard from Gebel before. About the annihtion of the Avnche Knight Order he belonged to.

    Gebel, now seeming fully resolved, continued, ¡°I told you the Avnche Knight Order was annihted. But it didn¡¯t end there. Their bodies were all taken by the Immortal Order and turned into Death Knights. Since a soul must consent to be a Death Knight, they effectivelymitted apostasy. Consequently, the Avnche Knight Order is now practically branded as traitors in the bordends.¡±

    ¡°No¡­¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s no one left who recognizes the Avnche swordsmanship. Unless they are a knight practicing the same technique. So you don¡¯t need to worry.¡±

    Isaac felt awkward but considered saying he never really worried. The Avnche swordsmanship was too taxing on his body. The Isaac style he created himself was far more efficient.

    That¡¯s when Gebel dropped a bombshell.

    ¡°And I believe someone from the Dukharian Faction is behind the annihtion of the Avnche Knight Order.¡±

    Isaac looked at him with a stern expression. The Dukharian Faction was a derogatory term for the core of the Order of the Codex of Light. Even if the Avnche Knight Order beingbeled traitors was unjust, this statement could be seen as hostile towards the entire Order.

    ¡°Why do you think so?¡±

    Gebel looked intently at Isaac and said, ¡°Remember Kalsen?¡±

    Kalsen Miller.

    Impossible to forget. He was Isaac¡¯s first devouring target, and his talent in swordsmanship was the basis for Isaac¡¯s abilities.

    ¡°Kalsen was expected to be an angel, even a Seraph. But just a few years after the Avnche Knight Order was wiped out and branded traitors, Kalsen also became a traitor. Coincidence?¡±

    ¡°Are you saying Kalsen wasn¡¯t a traitor?¡±

    ¡°No, he was, undoubtedly. He betrayed his subordinates and mercilessly killed his fellow believers.¡±

    Gebel tapped his fingers, continuing, ¡°But someone tempted Kalsen to apostasy, just like they pushed someone to sacrifice their subordinates like the Avnche Knight Order.¡±

    ¡°The Immortal Order¡­¡±

    ¡°They must have been involved, but they couldn¡¯t have done it alone. There¡¯s a real traitor within the Order.¡±

    Conflict and murderous intent flickered in Gebel¡¯s eyes. Sharing this information was risky for both Gebel and Isaac.

    But Gebel felt this might be hisst chance to speak with Isaac. If not now, he might never have another opportunity.

    ¡°I couldn¡¯t openly investigate due to my branded status. That¡¯s why I ced the burden of my revenge on you¡­¡±

    Gebel looked at Isaac with an apologetic expression.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re hiding, but it¡¯s better to keep hiding it. I trust your character, but powers of unknown origin can instill fear, even if used with good intentions, especially with the current suspicious Order leadership.¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°You said bing a Pdin was your dream, Isaac.¡±

    Gebel cleared his throat and spoke again.

    ¡°You¡¯ll definitely be a great Holy Knight. Maybe even someday¡­¡±

    Gain ess to the heart of the Order.

    Gebel hoped Isaac, unlike Kalsen or the Avnche Knight Order, would instead reach the core of the Order and cut out its corruption. For that, he needed to get Isaac away from here.

    ¡°Alright, it¡¯s time.¡±

    ¡°For what?¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t need to return to the monastery. No need to go to Lancel Monastery either. The Briant Knight Order is muchrger and more skilled. Rotenhammer, though ruthless to heretics, is a person of great character and ability towards allies.¡±

    Isaac looked stunned, understanding Gebel¡¯s implication.

    ¡°Join the Briant Knight Order?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll talk to Commander Rotenhammer. He owes me a favor, so he¡¯ll listen. The Inquisitor will also put in a good word, so joining shouldn¡¯t be hard.¡±

    Isaac pondered Gebel¡¯s sudden proposition. Lancel Monastery¡¯s knight order wasn¡¯t bad, but it would take time to be a knight through regr training there. Joining the Briant Knight Order would expedite the process.

    Considering that, it was a no-brainer to join the Briant Knight Order for more practical experience and learning opportunities.

    ***

    Rotenhammer returned around sunset.

    The area glowed brightly, like daytime, thanks to the celestial creatures summoned by priests, as per the Codex of Light. This was a disy of the Knight Order¡¯s grandeur, but Rotenhammer looked displeased.

    ¡®He must not have caught any Wachia hunters,¡¯ Isaac thought. Before joining, he had scoured the entire valley with his chaos spawn. There were no Walraika hunters left after Heinikel Gulmar, hisst devouring.

    ¡°It looks like they all escaped.¡±

    ¡°Uh-huh, seems like it. Found their den and rummaged through their belongings ¨C they were definitely Wachia hunters. The horses were gone too, probably bolted as soon as we arrived.¡±

    The horses brought by the hunters were all eaten by Zihilrat, a necessary move to eliminate evidence. Now Zihilrat was so full it wouldn¡¯t need to move for weeks.

    ¡°Thought the hunters would be sluggish in the day, but Duke¡¯s direct hunters are different. They might be hiding underground for all we know. We¡¯ve released celestial creatures for the search, but I don¡¯t hold much hope.¡±

    Just then, Isolde peeked out from behind him. She emerged with an awkward expression, realizing she couldn¡¯t avoid the situation.

    ¡°I owe you my life three times over. I don¡¯t even know what to say¡­¡±

    ¡®Three times? Did I save her that much?¡¯

    Recalling the wolf encounter, the monastery incident, and the valley situation, he realized her misfortune.

    ¡°It¡¯s better if you leave this area quickly instead of thanking me. It seems this region is unlucky for you.¡±

    Isolde blushed at Isaac¡¯sment, and Rotenhammer seemed conflicted between concern and irritation.

    But Isaac didn¡¯t really want to rebuke Isolde. She had done her job well, uncovering a conspiracy to resurrect a gue god at the monastery and discovering the hidden ones in the valley. She even confidently summoned the Knight Order swiftly, sure of her findings.

    Excluding the variable of Isaac, everything was a rational decision, and Isolde actedpetently as an Inquisitor.

    She almost became a dead Inquisitor, though.

    ¡®Considering how rare it is for Inquisitors to die on duty, Isolde might not be as unlucky as I thought¡­¡¯

    ¡°Well, let¡¯s leave that aside. Thanks to you, Gebel could be treated and saved quickly.¡±

    ¡°No. Since I owe you three times, I will repay that debt three times. As an Inquisitor of the Codex of Light, as a member of the Brant family, and personally.¡±

    Owing a debt not just once, but thrice. Isaac, looking into Isolde¡¯s determined eyes, thought that as long as she didn¡¯t meet her end as a guest, she might be well worth leveraging.

    Rotenhammer seemed quite surprised by Isolde¡¯s deration but soon smiled.

    ¡°Miss, you should go in and rest. You haven¡¯t slept since yesterday, have you? We¡¯ve sent out messages to the surrounding lords and expanded the search area, so there¡¯s nothing left for you to do.¡±

    ¡°¡­Thank you, Commander.¡±

    After finishing her apologies and thanks, Isolde, relieved, staggered back to her tent.

    It was time for her to copse in exhaustion.

    ¡°Then shall we go inside and continue our talk? I have many questions about what you did in the valley.¡±

    ***

    The ce where Isaac and Rotenhammer went to talk was the tent where Gebel was resting. Initially, they were going to use themander¡¯s tent, but Isaac wanted to include Gebel in the conversation, so he called him. As Rotenhammer and Isaac entered, Gebel sat up.

    ¡°Oh, the holy monk. Have you rested? How¡¯s your wound?¡±

    Rotenhammer seemed to know Gebel only as a simple monk. However, Gebel greeted him with a wry smile and a bow.

    ¡°You still look strong, Commander Rotenhammer.¡±

    Rotenhammer tilted his head, recognizing the tone indicating Gebel¡¯s familiarity. Gebel then covered his beard-strewn chin with his hand.

    Rotenhammer¡¯s eyes widened.

    ¡°Gebel? The crazy ruffian? No way, you¡¯ve aged a lot since then.¡±

    The crazy ruffian¡­ Isaac became curious about what Gebel did in his youth.

    Gebel smiled wryly at the nickname he hadn¡¯t heard in a long time.

    ¡°Thank you for recognizing me even after all this time.¡±

    ¡°Of course! How can I forget the great deeds of you and the Avnche Knight Order during the War of Dawn! Right, that makes sense. Miss Isolde praised your skills highly. It¡¯s hard to believe you¡¯re in a monastery now. How unpredictable life is.¡±

    Rotenhammer¡¯s admiration continued, his gaze flickering towards Isaac, hinting he somewhat understood how Isaac had survived.

    Attributing it to Gebel was only half true.

    ¡°But what about Commander Linde? I thought youcked the temperament to lead but could have been a senior knight at least. Why are you in this monastery?¡±

    ¡°Commander Linde is dead. The Avnche Knight Order too.¡±

    The tent fell silent. Rotenhammer paused before speaking.

    ¡°Both the Order and Linde were alive after the War of Dawn, so it¡¯s not because of the war. Frankly, if Linde had died, I would¡¯ve thought you lost your temper, killed him, and fled to a monastery.¡±

    ¡°I did think about killing that stubborn old fool more than once. And I wasn¡¯t the only one.¡±

    ¡°Right, I can¡¯t say I never thought the same.¡±

    Isaac watched the two old men chuckling and reminiscing. It seemed like their way of mourning someone they¡¯d known on the battlefield. After a while, Rotenhammer took a deep breath and spoke again.

    ¡°Who killed them?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t know?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not certain. I fled and haven¡¯t seen or heard anything since. I¡¯ve been hiding in this monastery ever since. A fitting end for a coward.¡±

    Isaac knew Gebel had sharpened his de for revenge, ready to use someone else if he couldn¡¯t do it himself. But revealing everything would put Rotenhammer at risk, so Gebel chose the coward¡¯s path.

    ¡°I see.¡±

    But Rotenhammer didn¡¯t condemn Gebel as a coward, seeming to understand there were unspeakable circumstances.

    ¡°So, I hope you can take care of this young man in my stead.¡±

    Rotenhammer¡¯s gaze shifted from Gebel to Isaac.

    ¡°I may have messed up teaching him the basics, but I believe he¡¯ll greatly improve under your guidance.¡±

    ¡°¡­Miss Isolde also praised this young man to no end.¡±

    Rotenhammer examined Isaac¡¯s hands and arms. Compared to Rotenhammer¡¯s iron-like hands and thick limbs, Isaac¡¯s body seemed frail, but Rotenhammer wasn¡¯t deterred.

    ¡°Do you want to be a Pdin?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    Rotenhammer seemed satisfied with that answer and looked back at Gebel.

    ¡°I can take care of him, but I can¡¯t make him a knight on my own authority. I¡¯ll take him as my guest and apprentice to assess his skills. But if he¡¯s been trained by you¡­ he might already be able to outperform my trainees.¡±

    ¡°Well, he won¡¯t becking.¡±

    ¡°Good. So, your name is Isaac? I¡¯ll take responsibility and get you into the Briant Knight Order.¡±

    Rotenhammer¡¯s assertion made Isaac feel the atmosphere might turn awkward, but he had no choice but to speak up.

    ¡°Um, about that, Commander Rotenhammer.¡±

    ¡°Yes?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t n on joining the Briant Knight Order.¡±

 Chapter 34:

    Chapter 34:

    A brief silence fell.

    Rotenhammer asked with a hint of suspicion, ¡°You want to be a Pdin, right?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°But you won¡¯t join our Briant Knight Order? Do I seem unsatisfactory to you?¡±

    ¡°Of course not, Commander Rotenhammer. I have no doubts about your abilities¡­¡±

    Isaac pondered how to delicately phrase his decision in a way that Rotenhammer would ept.

    Choosing not to join the Briant Knight Order was a conclusion Isaac had reached after careful consideration.

    Had he stayed at the monastery, he would have followed Gebel¡¯s guidance. However, his experiences fighting the Wachia hunters in the valley had led him to realize the life he needed to lead. Up until now, he hadn¡¯t understood this, cocooned as he was in the safe shell of the monastery.

    [The Nameless Chaos watches you.]

    It signaled a crucial crossroads in life. Even without the implicit warning from the Nameless Chaos, Isaac knew. He dismissed the warning.

    ¡®I know the best strategies for this game.¡¯

    Neither Gebel nor Rotenhammer were the yers.

    Not even the many-eyed tentacled monster that brought him to this world.

    ¡®I¡¯m the one who will see this game¡¯s ending.¡¯

    With that resolve, Isaac asserted to Rotenhammer, ¡°I intend to be a Holy Grail Knight.¡±

    ***

    Holy Grail Knights.

    Righteous knights who wander the world, seeking holy relics, vanquishing evil beings, and aiding the weak. They are the solitary heroes of countless epics and songs. In the game, Grail Knight is a secondary ss for Pdin, typically considered part of the same group. However, while Pdin operate in armed units withrades, Holy Grail Knights are lone warriors, roaming in search of holy relics.

    Their endless wandering requires not only unwavering faith but also limitations on possessions. Searching for relics often involves aiding the wronged and confronting evil.

    The only thing they can count on is their reputation.

    Now considered a relic of a bygone era, they¡¯re often viewed as outdated.

    ¡®But this is the best, no, the only path for me.¡¯

    Isaac stood in the open area of the Briant Knight Order¡¯s camp, lost in thought.

    Bing a Pdin brings many benefits: resources, fortresses, swordsmanship, mentors,rades, financial gain, and social privileges. Grail Knights, roaming solo, must forego these advantages.

    In return, Grail Knights gain the ¡®Noble Quest¡¯ buff based on their fame and achievements. This buff strengthens with the number of enemies and grows more powerful against formidable foes. The value of discovered relics directly enhances miraculous abilities.

    Their heroic deeds often stem from this buff.

    If a powerful relic is found, a Grail Knight might even rival the strength of a whole order of Holy Knights.

    ¡®Most Grail Knights die before that, though.¡¯

    Most importantly, Isaac had the ¡®The Rite of Division,¡¯ a relic taken from Heinkel, on his back. It¡¯s a top-tier relic, intertwined with the birth of gods. Though it¡¯s not from the Codex Light and may not show its full potential, that¡¯s irrelevant to Isaac.

    To a Holy Grail Knight, what matters is the greatness of the relics they unearth.

    To others, a relic might be an object of reverence, but for Isaac, it¡¯s merely a useful tool.

    ¡®I can join a Holy Knight Orderter if I need their power.¡¯

    In the game, a Grail Knight couldn¡¯t revert to being a Holy Knight, but this wasn¡¯t a game. Now that it¡¯s clear he can¡¯t perform miracles, joining a Holy Knight Orderter is still an option.

    What he needs is the recognition and fame of a Holy Knight.

    Isaac waited for the right moment.

    ¡°Hey, you.¡±

    As Isaac idly kicked pebbles in the open area, a young man in light armor approached him. Isaac didn¡¯t realize he was being addressed until the young man spoke again.

    ¡°What are you doing here? Are you from the monastery? Why are you just standing there¡­¡±

    Mistaking Isaac for a soldier, perhaps, the young man stopped mid-sentence as they faced each other.

    Isaac nced at him briefly.

    ¡®Freshly minted Holy Knight, judging by the shiny armor. Maybe a few months in?¡¯

    Feeling Isaac¡¯s scrutinizing gaze, the young man, Ian, blushed and coughed awkwardly.

    ¡°Hmm, must be curious about the Knight Ordering to the vige. This is a dangerous ce, lots of scary men and adults around. I¡¯ll take you back.¡±

    Realizing Ian¡¯s absurd misunderstanding, Isaac ran a hand through his hair.

    ¡®It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve cut my hair¡­ Did it get this long?¡¯

    Isaac¡¯s appearance could easily be mistaken for the opposite gender with just long hair. He rarely faced such confusion in the monastery, but this naive Holy Knight seemed to be making

    a big mistake.

    ¡°What are you waiting for? Follow me.¡±

    ¡°I have some business here, so I can¡¯t leave yet.¡±

    Ian looked flustered by Isaac¡¯s response. His voice, still charmingly androgynous due to the charm enhancement, added to Ian¡¯s confusion. Then, someone called out to them.

    ¡°Ian, do you need something from this friend?¡±

    Rotenhammer was approaching.

    ¡°Commander.¡±

    Identified as Ian, straightened up immediately.

    ¡°This is thed I mentioned who escaped the Wachia hunters unscathed all night. I thought he was making a ridiculous mistake, so I was about to correct him.¡±

    Ian¡¯s jaw dropped.

    The hunt for the Wachia hunters had ended, and the plot was thwarted, but no culprits were caught ¨C an unsatisfying conclusion. The real struggle would now start within the Order¡¯s upper ranks: dealing with the Wachia Kingdom, diplomacy, and posturing.

    But all that was no longer Isaac¡¯s concern.

    His concern was the open area Rotenhammer had arranged to ¡®fix young Isaac¡¯s foolish thinking.¡¯

    ¡®It¡¯s understandable, though.¡¯

    To Rotenhammer, it must look like a talented recruit was heading towards certain doom.

    It¡¯s said the foot of a hero¡¯s path is piled with corpses. Few Grail Knights die of old age; most meet a heroic end on a daring adventure.

    ¡°Are you ready, Isaac?¡±

    Rotenhammer had no intention of letting this young man face such a fate.

    So, he decided to give him a harsh lesson.

    ¡°Remember your promise, Commander Rotenhammer.¡±

    ¡°Yes. As promised, if you beat three, you win.¡±

    But the lesson wouldn¡¯te directly from Rotenhammer. It would be inappropriate for him to beat Isaac himself, and it would be awkward for Gebel, who had rmended him.

    So, Rotenhammer proposed a duel to Isaac.

    ¡°If you win¡­¡±

    Rotenhammer replied, ¡°If you win, I¡¯ll appoint you as a Pdin in the name of the Briant Knight Order Commander and issue a document certifying you as a Holy Grail Knight legitimately in pursuit of holy relics under the Codex of Light¡¯s.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s eptable. What are the terms?¡±

    ¡°One-on-one. Real swords, as we have priests around. Avoid lethal strikes. If you defeat three opponents, you win. But,¡±

    ¡°But?¡±

    ¡°If a duelsts longer than 30 seconds, another opponent will join.¡±

    Isaac frowned. He thought Rotenhammer¡¯s conditions seemed unfairly harsh, but themander¡¯s expression was stern.

    ¡± Holy Grail Knights travel alone. They often fight against multiple opponents. If you can¡¯t settle a fight quickly, it¡¯s better to give up.¡±

    Isaac realized Rotenhammer wasn¡¯t just trying to teach ¡®a young man a lesson¡¯ but was seriously testing whether he had the skills to be a Grail Knight. If it was just about discipline, Rotenhammer himself would have been sufficient.

    ¡®To be a Grail Knight, I first need to be a Holy Knight. Not a bad deal.¡¯

    Isaac agreed.

    ***

    The first opponent was a trainee, whose name Isaac couldn¡¯t remember.

    He seemed to have a solid foundation, but the moment their swords shed, Isaac twisted his angle slightly, causing the trainee¡¯s wrist to bend awkwardly. The trainee dropped his sword, clutching his wrist, and Rotenhammer dismissively kicked him off the field.

    The second was also a trainee, a bigger and older-looking young man. Isaac recognized he had moved beyond basic training and was on the path to bing a Holy Knight.

    But to Isaac, he didn¡¯t feel much different from the first trainee.

    ¡®I should give Rotenhammer a face-saving fight.¡¯

    Isaac exchanged a few blows with him, but perhaps too nonchntly, as the trainee realized he was being humored. Agitated, heunched a reckless attack. Isaac exploited a minor gap, swiftly coiling around his sword and striking the back of his hand with the t of his de.

    ¡°Wow!¡±

    Someone eximed at Isaac¡¯s deft move. The Holy Knights cast discontented nces, but since the exmation came from Isolde, they had to retract their resentment.

    However, unease was spreading.

    Isaac was one of the younger trainees in the Briant Knight Order. Yet, even older trainees couldn¡¯tst 30 seconds against him. Thest one was even on the verge of bing a Pdin.

    The real issue was whether the Holy Knights themselves could have fared better.

    ¡®Looks like I am quite strong, after all.¡¯

    It might sound absurd given he had defeated Wachia¡¯s Duke, but honestly, Isaac had never objectively measured his skill in swordy.

    Beasts, Zihilrat, and Wachia hunters were no real benchmarks for him. A true knightly duel, aside from Gebel, was new to him.

    ¡®If advanced swordy is the criterion for a decent Pdin¡­ am I at least average?¡¯

    Then it made sense for the trainees to be no match.

    Isaac faced Rotenhammer, ready for the next challenger.

    ¡°Who¡¯s next? Are they hiding, waiting to jump in after 30 seconds?¡±

    Gebel, sending a ¡®take it easy¡¯ look to Isaac, couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit proud. His young apprentice, in some way a sessor to the Avnche Knight Order, was thrashing other trainees.

    ¡°Ian, you¡¯re up.¡±

    ¡°Me?¡±

    Ian seemed surprised at being called, not originally scheduled to duel. Rotenhammer didn¡¯t repeat himself. Ian hesitated but didn¡¯t let pride get in his way.

    He drew his sword and stepped forward.

    Isaac, recalling Ian was an official Pdin, was slightly taken aback. Now he¡¯d really see where he stood.

    Ian red at Isaac, then twisted his face disdainfully.

    ¡°You survived the Wachia hunters? You look too frail and delicate, probably ignored forck of blood worth draining.¡±

    ¡®What¡¯s his deal?¡¯

    Isaac puzzled over his attitude, then realized Ian was recalling their earlier embarrassing encounter. He was just picking at Isaac¡¯s appearance. Or maybe, Ian was using the valuable skill of provocation in realbat.

    ¡®Real Holy Knight, huh? Using any means for the proof of faith?¡¯

    Ian didn¡¯t stop there and kept hurling insults. Isaac, unmoved, carefully closed the distance while holding his sword. Ian, pretending to be agitated by his own words, trembled slightly.

    ¡°So staring with those wide eyes and cute face is going to make me fall for you again¡ª¡±

    ¡°Ian!¡±

    Rotenhammer¡¯s warning shout interrupted Ian¡¯s continued provocations. In that instant, Ian¡¯s sword moved.

    Isaac¡¯s gradual closing of the distance suddenly vanished as they collided.

    ¡®Wow.¡¯

    In that brief moment, locking eyes with Ian, Isaac was mildly impressed. Ian¡¯s previously agitated swordy had been a ruse, his eyes now coldly calcting.

    ¡®So it was a deliberate provocation.¡¯

    Ian had hurled insults and feigned agitation at a stranger, only tounch a surprise attack. And his current offensive was advanced swordy. To Ian, this was going all out.

    But that was it.

    For Isaac, the moment seemed prolonged enough for thoughts to wander.

    ¡®If he¡¯s gone to this extent, I should show some courtesy in return.¡¯

 Chapter 35:

    Chapter 35:

    Ian¡¯s attack was the first time Isaac had seen the advanced swordsmanship of another knight order.

    Isaac was curious about how the only advanced swordsmanship he had learned would differ from that of other knight orders. So, instead of immediately counterattacking Ian, he appeared to be driven on the defensive, focusing entirely on defense.

    Swoosh, screech.

    The sound of the metal-shing wind coolly passed by his ears. Isaac did not miss a single one of Ian¡¯s attacks. Ian¡¯s sword consecutively collided with Isaac¡¯s sword.

    As Isaac sessfully blocked all attacks, a look of anxiety passed through his eyes.

    ¡®Is this the advanced swordsmanship of the Briant Knight Order?¡¯

    Isaac felt puzzled. It was natural that it seemed significantlyckingpared to Gebel.

    However, even the preparatory movements that Isaac used for the first timecked both sharpness and speed.

    ¡®More than that¡­ it seems somewhat familiar.¡¯

    After all, Gebel had said that swordsmanship was ultimately nothing but a repetition of stabbing, slicing, and shing movements.

    Given that the swordsmanship of knights had the same roots, it was bound to be simr.

    Yet, there was one difference.

    Crack.

    Isaac realized this when he heard a faint tearing sound from his sword.

    Ian¡¯s swordsmanship, while immature, had the characteristic of concentrating attacks on a single point.

    ¡®All those attacks¡­ to a single point?¡¯

    The swordsmanship of the Avnche Knight Order was for the battlefield, designed to survive numerically disadvantageous situations and break encirclements. In contrast, the Briant Knight Order¡¯s swordsmanship, if one were to give an example, was closer to a technique designed to never let an enemy escape and ensure their death.

    While all knight orders¡¯ advanced swordsmanship was somewhat simr, the intended focus of their swordsmanship gave it subtly different hues and attributes.

    Crack, snap!

    The moment thest tearing sound was heard, Isaac¡¯s sword was cleanly cut. A look of triumph shed across Ian¡¯s face. Isaac had observed dozens of exchanges to analyze the swordsmanship of the Briant Knight Order.

    Throughout, Ian had targeted just one point, a single crack on Isaac¡¯s sword.

    It was an unbelievable technique, but the concept of advanced swordsmanship made it possible.

    ¡®Indeed, a knight is a knight.¡¯

    He, too, must have repeated a blood-drying effort to reach this level. Isaac decided to show his respect for Ian¡¯s efforts by revealing his own advanced swordsmanship now.

    ¡®I roughly get the principle.¡¯

    Although his sword was broken, it was not a problem for Isaac.

    ¡°Let¡¯s end this¡­¡±

    Ian was about to dere the duel over since the sword was broken, but instead, Isaac stepped forward, and Ian immediately shut his mouth. Isaac was neither injured nor had his fighting spirit been broken. So, the duel was not over.

    In the next moment, Isaac began tounch a barrage of attacks.

    Thump, thump, thump! Crack, ng!

    ¡°What, what?¡±

    Since Isaac¡¯s sword was cut more than half, the distance from which he could attack was significantly shorter. However, after shing with Isaac¡¯s sword three times, Ian¡¯s sword also broke.

    Even then, Ian did not understand the situation.

    As Isaac began to pour out attacks again, Ian also desperately used advanced swordsmanship.

    ng, ng, ng, ng!

    The sound, monotonous to the point of being strange, rang out as if hammered. Only then did Ian realize what was happening. And everyone present looked at Isaac in astonishment.

    Isaac was using the advanced swordsmanship of the Briant Knight Order.

    And it was exactly the swordsmanship of Ian he had just witnessed.

    The fact that Isaac¡¯s sword was half broken made it wield more power. But the fact that he was mimicking it exactly, no, even more adeptly with a length no different from a dagger, meant that Isaac¡¯s level was overwhelmingly superior.

    Crack, ng!

    Once again, Ian¡¯s sword broke. Now, Ian¡¯s sword was as short as Isaac¡¯s. However, he had neither the confidence to perform simr feats nor the will to fight any longer.

    ¡®Well, it¡¯s about time to wrap this up.¡¯

    Isaac decided to finish it so Ian would not be further humiliated. Moreover, his body was screaming under the unfamiliar strain of the advanced swordsmanship. And above all, Isaac was beginning to feel a peculiar itch inside, a craving that grew stronger with the intensification of the battle.

    ¡®Will I gain something more if I devour this guy?¡¯

    The moment Isaac became aware of such a strange impulse, he immediately executed the preparatory movement of Avalon swordsmanship.

    Whoosh, boom.

    The moment Isaac¡¯s sword shed the surroundings three times, a storm-like dust arose.

    As the dust settled, the scene revealed Ian sitting dejectedly amidst the pale dust, while Isaac still stood. Two knights of the Briant Order, who had hesitated to approach, also came into view.

    Isaac, noticing them btedly, turned towards Rotenhammer with a tired look.

    ¡°Ah¡­ it¡¯s been 30 seconds. Shouldn¡¯t I be facing another opponent now?¡±

    The knights looked at Rotenhammer, unsure of what to do.

    They hadn¡¯t intervened because of the rules. They had felt, even if just for a moment, that Isaac posed a real danger. His swordsmanship was that threatening.

    Yet, there was no chance for them to step in.

    Nobody could remain unastonished by the ferocious attack that gave even the active knights no opportunity to intervene.

    Finally, Rotenhammer spoke up quietly.

    ¡°Gebel.¡±

    ¡°Yes?¡±

    ¡°Are you asking me to teach¡­ the incarnation of Saint Arte?¡±

    Rotenhammer¡¯s words were filled withplex emotions. Saint Arte was the progenitor of the knight order¡¯s swordsmanship and the archangel of the Codex of light. Mentioning Saint Arte¡¯s name in reference to Isaac was the highest form of praise.

    But Gebel didn¡¯t miss Rotenhammer¡¯s subtle silence.

    There had been someone else who had been praised as the incarnation of Saint Arte before Isaac.

    ¡°Kalsen Miller.¡±

    A genius of the sword, the tip of the Codex of Light¡¯s de.

    Nobody who saw Isaac¡¯s incredible skill could fail to think of that name.

    With a gesture from Rotenhammer, the knights quietly withdrew.

    ¡°You¡¯ve won, Isaac. For a while, thieves and heretics will need to watch their necks.¡±

    ***

    Isaac returned to the barracks under the curious gazes of the knights.

    One would expect anger or annoyance at their own knight¡¯s defeat, but they only showed interest. There was no reprimand for Ian, who had clearly been defeated. Instead, they just ruffled his hair in jest.

    ¡®Did they understand that I showed them courtesy?¡¯

    They had clearly recognized Isaac¡¯s skill. There weren¡¯t many here who could face Isaac now.

    And since it was close to a test of skill from the start, it was easier to brush it off.

    ¡®But I wasted too much time trying to steal their swordsmanship.¡¯

    Isaac finally unclenched his fist to check its condition. His palm was full of burst blisters and cuts. As blood trickled down his hand, Isaac hurriedly gripped his sleeve to stop the bleeding.

    Isaac¡¯s body was still not robust enough to skillfully perform advanced swordsmanship. The longer he used it, the more strain it ced on his palms, muscles, and even bones.

    ¡®With such high risks, would it have been better to be a priest rather than a knight?¡¯

    Indeed, the Nephilim race was best suited to the priesthood.

    Isaac briefly entertained the thought but quickly dismissed it.

    Knighthood offered a swift path to sess through expertise, but priesthood required proving one¡¯s faith internally and studying. It was nonsensical for Isaac, who couldn¡¯t even use the miracles of the Codex of Light, to seed as a priest.

    ¡®To avoid putting strain on my body, I could use my own swordsmanship, but¡­ that¡¯s too brutal.¡¯

    Isaac grimaced.

    Thanks toparing with the Briant Order¡¯s swordsmanship, he realized that each knight order¡¯s swordsmanship branched from a simr origin, diverging based on their goals.

    However, ¡°Isaac¡¯s swordsmanship¡± felt uniquely intense and powerful to him. Its ripping, saw-like vigor could potentially give off a menacing image. He had used the Avnche Knight Order¡¯s swordsmanship instead, which fortunately seemed to give off a friendlier image.

    ¡®But that hunger at that moment¡­¡¯

    Towards the end of the battle with Ian, Isaac felt a strong hunger and the impulse to devour.

    He immediately ended the fight using advanced swordsmanship, not because he unconsciously wanted to devour Ian. He had that much discernment.

    But the problem was feeling such an impulse at all.

    Of course, Isaac had enjoyed eating Zihilrat and Heinkel Gulmar quite well. Even after devouring Heinckel, who could speak and reason, he felt nothing, so Ian wouldn¡¯t be much different.

    The concern was what would happen next.

    Isaac worried that he wouldn¡¯t feel anything even after devouring Ian.

    ¡®Have I be a monster by behaving like one?¡¯

    Isaac¡¯s thoughts grewplicated, but he tried not to dwell on them. He wanted to be admired and praised, not feared.

    Isaac decided not to worry about this topic any longer.

    Just then, he heard someone approaching.

    ¡°Mr. Isaac, may Ie in?¡±

    It was Isolde.

    Isaac wondered why she was visiting but invited her in nheless.

    ¡°Inquisitor.¡±

    ¡°You can just call me Isolde.¡±

    ¡°¡­Miss Brant.¡±

    Isaac wondered why she was behaving like this until he noticed the bandages and ointment she had brought. Taking Isaac¡¯s hand, Isolde applied the ointment she had prepared and began to wrap it with a bandage.

    Even though the ¡°Dead God¡¯s Innards¡± perk would heal him in less than a day, healing too quickly might attract strange looks. It seemed best to cover it up with bandages until an appropriate time.

    ¡°You seem skilled, butcking in strength? I remember often hurting my hand when I first learned to use a sword.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s no need for you to do this¡­¡±

    ¡°Please think of it as paying back a small part of my debt.¡±

    Isaac frowned.

    ¡°Are you trying to settle a life debt with just bandaging?¡±

    Isolde gave him a look of disbelief before sighing.

    ¡°Then, shall I offer something that can settle the score?¡±

    ¡°What is it?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll forget that Mr. Gebel is affiliated with the Avnche Knight Order.¡±

    Isaac stared at Isolde for a moment. She focused solely on wrapping the bandage, neither probing nor boasting with a triumphant smile.

    She simply continued speaking calmly.

    ¡°It was clear to me that Mr. Gebel is no ordinary monk. A few words were enough to figure out you¡¯re a knight. Then why hide your identity? Later, from certain habits and more, I learned he was familiar with the desert and adept at border customs. Being ustomed to the desert and the frontier means participation in the crusades. And coincidentally, as an inquisitor, I¡¯m well-informed about groups branded as apostates. A knight order that participated in the crusades and then turned apostate. Vo, it leaves only the Avnche Knight Order.¡±

    It wasn¡¯t as Gebel had assured; the Avnche swordsmanship hadn¡¯t been exposed. Isaac felt the ¡®Advanced Interrogation¡¯ skill of Isolde wasn¡¯t just for show.

    While Isolde wasying out her deductions, she paused, surprised by Isaac¡¯s expressionless gaze.

    ¡°Surely, I wouldn¡¯t entertain any absurd thoughts about my life¡¯s savior?¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t that the job of an inquisitor?¡±

    ¡°But I¡¯m not foolish enough to chase after a deserter.¡±

    After a moment of contemtion, Isolde spoke up.

    ¡°Actually, I can improve Mr. Gebel¡¯s situation. Mr. Gebel is a deserter and survivor of the apostate-branded Avalon Knight Order. That fact alone can portray Mr. Gebel as someone who discarded his position to preserve his faith. Not an apostate, but rather an exemry believer.¡±

    The Avnche Knight Order, annihted by the Immortal Order and turned into undead, meant that the living, flesh-and-blood Gebel couldn¡¯t be considered an apostate¡­ a logical conclusion.

    Isaac was pleased by Isolde¡¯s words but didn¡¯t show it.

    On the other hand, Isolde cautiously gauged Isaac¡¯s reaction.

    ¡°It may not directly help Mr. Isaac, but Mr. Gebel won¡¯t need to live in hiding, watching his back. I just need to stamp ¡®no problem¡¯ on it.¡±

    ¡°Really¡­¡±

    ¡°Would this settle the debt I owe as an inquisitor?¡±

    This was one of the three debts Isolde had promised to repay.

    Isaac decided to ept. He had no intention of pressing her to repay the debt; having her goodwill to use when needed was enough.

    ¡®Besides, once Gebel is cleared of the apostatebel, I won¡¯t need to hide who taught me swordsmanship.¡¯

    Isaac¡¯s status would be more respectable.

    Isaac briefly entertained the thought of also getting certification for the tentacles.

    ¡®Actually, I¡¯ve been growing tentacles inside my body for a while now; would that be okay? They look a bit odd, but apart from eating live creatures, they¡¯re robust and obedient¡­¡¯

    The thought was ludicrous.

    He likely would never make such a request of her in his lifetime.

    ¡°Isaac.¡±

    While Isaac was fantasizing about a future that would nevere, Rottenhammer entered.

    It seemed many visitors were expected for him today.

 Chapter 36:

    Chapter 36:

    The tent felt crowded with the three of them inside. Rotenhammer paused upon seeing Isolde wrapping Isaac¡¯s hand with a bandage.

    ¡°It¡¯s heartwarming to see such a finedy and gentleman taking care of each other like this.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t feel burdened, Mr. Isaac. It¡¯s just me looking after the life-saver. Commander.¡±

    Although Rotenhammer seemed to be teasing, Isolde smoothly brushed it off.

    ¡°Anyway, please discuss with Mr. Gebel what I¡¯ve mentioned and let me know his decision. It¡¯s important what he decides.¡±

    Isolde took her leave with the bandages, understanding that Rotenhammer and Isaac were about to have a serious conversation. Isaac wondered why his decision mattered in what seemed to be a beneficial situation for Gebel, but missed the chance to ask. Rotenhammer watched her leave, then turned to Isaac.

    ¡°I never thought our generation would see another genius.¡±

    Isaac didn¡¯t ask who the other genius was, thinking to himself:

    ¡®That genius has been digested in my stomach, though¡­¡¯

    Isaac decided to modestly downy his abilities.

    ¡°Was his name Ian? His skills seemed quite impressive, considering he¡¯s a neercking experience for his age¡­¡±

    ¡°Neer? Ha!¡±

    Rotenhammerughed.

    ¡°Ian is my son and the pupil I personally trained. Even as a trainee, he apanied me on several actualbat situations during the Barbari suppression. Thoughcking in advanced swordsmanship, I¡¯m confident there¡¯s no one his age who can beat him.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°I had intended to send another neer. But seeing your skills, I realized you were no ordinary contender and made a quick change.¡±

    To think such a person represented the future of the knights. It seemed the overall level of knights was not as high as expected.

    Or perhaps, the talent Isaac had consumed from Kalsen was extraordinarily remarkable.

    Rotenhammer, sensing Isaac¡¯s thoughts, smiled.

    ¡°Old man talk, but there¡¯s a significant difference in level between generations who have and haven¡¯t experienced the Dawn Army. Moreover, the overall level of knights has significantly declinedtely. After all, bandit suppression and the Crusades are different matters.¡±

    ¡°Ah¡­ I see.¡±

    Isaac quickly understood.

    Even Gebel had considerable skills. Although Rotenhammer hadn¡¯t seen him fight, the aura he exuded was at least on par with Gebel¡¯s, if not more potent.

    ¡°There was hope for the next generation, albeit absurdly thwarted.¡±

    Another reference to Kalsen. There must be a reason he keeps bringing it up. In mentioning Kalsen, Rotenhammer conveyed his regret, a sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu, and a warning to Isaac.

    ¡°Yet, today, I see a new future in this ce.¡±

    ¡°It seems like you¡¯re cing too high expectations on me.¡±

    ¡°How could I not have expectations for a genius who effortlessly defeated the pupil I¡¯ve trained? Especially when that genius willingly chooses the noble path of the Grail Knight, full of hardships and struggles.¡±

    ¡®Is this sarcasm or discouragement?¡¯

    Probably thetter. The continuous mentions of Kalsen gave it away. Thus, Isaac anticipated Rotenhammer¡¯s next words.

    ¡°So, for thest time, I advise you. Isaac, consider joining the Briant Knight Order.¡±

    ***

    Isaac maintained a subtle silence, looking at Rotenhammer.

    ¡°You could have my full support, even considering the position of my sessor.¡±

    ¡°Ian would be disappointed.¡±

    ¡°If he can¡¯t ept it, I¡¯ll make sure he does. Even if it means a bruised nose.¡±

    Rotenhammer seemed earnest. The opportunity to use the knight order¡¯s resources entirely was a significant offer, but Isaac¡¯s decision remained unchanged. Rotenhammer¡¯s eagerness to persuade Isaac hinted at another motive besides his skills.

    To keep an eye on him.

    ¡°If you¡¯re worried I might wander off alone and be tempted into apostasy, rest assured, that won¡¯t happen.¡±

    Rotenhammer smiled bitterly, not embarrassed to have his intentions uncovered. Instead, he looked confidently at Isaac.

    ¡°If you know who I¡¯m thinking of, you¡¯d understand my concerns.¡±

    ¡°Kalsen Miller, I suppose. Just say it outright.¡±

    ¡°Alright. I personally knew Kalsen since his trainee days. Quiet, humble, and kind. No one thought he would turn apostate.¡±

    Yet, the most painful betrayalse from the most devout believers.

    ¡°Honestly, I¡¯ve felt a strong sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu seeing you. Not as humble or kind as he was, but your talent for your age is remarkably simr.¡±

    ¡°So, you want to keep an eye on me?¡±

    ¡°Exactly. Is there a problem with that? Honor and wealth were all guaranteed for him, even bing a Seraph. Yet, he chose apostasy.¡±

    Rotenhammer said so and fell silent for a moment before murmuring softly.

    ¡°Honestly, I¡¯m curious about the circumstances that led him to apostasy without telling anyone.¡±

    Isaac pretended not to hear thestment.

    Such a statement could potentially implicate Rotenhammer as an apostate sympathizer. Regardless of his rtionship with Kalsen, it was clear that his betrayal had shocked many.

    Enough to unsettle a Pdin Commander who had dedicated his life to the Codex of Light.

    ¡°I heard he didn¡¯t talk much with those around him. Maybe that led him to some wrong conclusions. That¡¯s why¡­¡±

    Rotenhammer gazed intensely at Isaac, expressing his concern.

    ¡°I was just worried that wandering the wilds alone, you might fall into the same trap.¡±

    Isaac sighed deeply.

    ¡°As I¡¯ve mentioned, there¡¯s no need for concern.¡±

    ¡°Why¡¯s that?¡±

    Touching his forehead, Isaac exined.

    ¡°I have been verified by Abbot Evhar.¡±

    The miracle that inflicts burns if one¡¯s faith in the Codex of Light iscking.

    A potentially fatal trial, but Isaac had undergone it years ago at the Abbot¡¯s hands. Rotenhammer¡¯s face went nk for a moment before his eyes widened in shock.

    ¡°Proof of Faith? The trial invoked when there¡¯s evidence of apostasy? They performed that on someone as young as you?¡±

    Clearly, it was an abnormal situation.

    Isaac internally cursed the Abbot but decided to go easy on him since he too had paid a price.

    ¡°Yes. And as a result, the Abbot¡¯s wrist turned to ash.¡±

    ¡°The wrist of the Abbot who performed the miracle flew off?!¡±

    Rotenhammer eximed loudly enough to be heard outside. It seemed to be a shockingly significant event.

    Isaac quickly gestured for silence.

    ¡°Please, don¡¯t spread this around. It could cause trouble for Abbot Evhar. He¡¯s a prudent man. He must have felt the need to verify.¡±

    Rotenhammer pondered for a moment then nodded.

    ¡°That makes sense. Given your talent, and considering Kalsen¡¯s apostasy urred not far from here recently¡­¡±

    He seemed to rationalize the situation by linking it to Kalsen once again.

    Anyway, mentioning the ¡°Proof of Faith¡± miracle seemed to have earned Isaac a considerable amount of trust from Rotenhammer. It appeared Rotenhammer no longer harbored any doubts about Isaac potentially turning apostate.

    Instead, purely coveting his abilities, he continued trying to recruit him into the Briant Knight Order.

    ***

    ¡°Although I think it¡¯s time to teach you more¡­¡±

    Realizing he couldn¡¯t persuade Isaac, Rotenhammer reluctantly agreed to acknowledge him as a knight. Of course, being recognized as a knight wasn¡¯t as simple as saying ¡°I acknowledge you.¡± Nor was it like ordinary knights, who receivednd and swore fealty.

    ¡®In games, joining a knight order usually means finding a monastery associated with them, epting quests, and that¡¯s it.¡¯

    In this world, at least one high-ranking knight and a priest were needed to vouch for someone¡¯s skills.

    Thus, a ceremony was arranged to officially name Isaac a knight, held in the same clearing prepared for his duel.

    Finding a priest and knights to witness was not a problem, given Isaac¡¯s proven skills and Rotenhammer¡¯s position. Isolde, the inquisitor, also stepped forward as a witness.

    The problem began thereafter. Each knight order had a kind of ¡°tradition¡± that had to be performed.

    Isaac tensed up a bit here. Gebel had mentioned that each knight order had different initiation rites, and the examples he provided were all bizarre.

    Drinking until vomiting at least five times, being beaten up by a group of knights, being pped across the face¡­ Being military organizations, it seemed most traditions involved getting hit.

    ¡®Maybe knight orders aren¡¯t so different from college fraternities.¡¯

    ¡°Ready?¡±

    Rotenhammer approached Isaac with a sly grin. Isaac braced himself for the possibility of losing a few teeth. However, when Rotenhammer drew his sword, Isaac looked at him seriously.

    ¡°Bow your head.¡±

    Fortunately, it didn¡¯t involve being hit with the sword. Rotenhammer, surprisingly, followed a traditional knighthood ceremony,ying the t side of his sword on Isaac¡¯s shoulders.

    ¡°I, Rotenhammer, Commander of the Briant Knight Order, in the name of the Codex of Light that brings order and light to the world, ask you, Isaac.¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°Do you swear to aid those in trouble and not oppress the weak?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°Do you swear to stand against evil and rage against the injustice of the powerful?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°I, Rotenhammer, Commander of the Briant Knight Order, bless the noble journey of Knight Isaac in the name of the Codex of Light that brings order and light to the world.¡±

    Tap. Rotenhammer gently tapped Isaac¡¯s shoulders with the t side of the sword. It wasn¡¯t painful. Isaac was then pulled to his feet by Rotenhammer. Knights and trainees from all around came to congratte Isaac on his knighthood.

    Isaac epted the congrattions with a dazed feeling.

    It ended easier than expected. Was this all? Just then, Rotenhammer whispered in his ear.

    ¡°It¡¯s a pity. If you had joined our knight order, you would have experienced the tradition of getting smeared with dung and punched by each knight¡­ but since we¡¯re only going as far as the knighthood ceremony, you¡¯ll miss out on the initiation rites.¡±

    Isaac managed a wry smile.

    That¡¯s when a message appeared, shattering any doubts Isaac had.

    [You have been ss-changed to a Knight.]

    [ss change conditionspleted!]

    [With a holy relic in your possession, you are eligible for a ss change to a Grail Knight.]

    [Would you like to change your ss to Grail Knight?]

    This seemed more real than the ceremony itself.

    Isaac hesitated before selecting ¡®Yes¡¯, not out of indecision but to organize his thoughts. Like the many times he had concluded before, Isaac made his decision.

    It wasn¡¯t just because the buffs were good, or because it was convenient to travel alone.

    ¡®I need to travel alone.¡¯

    Isaac rubbed the palm of his hand wrapped in bandages, reflecting on his thoughts.

    Killing Heinkel had made it clear. Though Heinkel¡¯s talent in swordsmanship was undeniably great, Isaac¡¯s frail body had its limits. He had to mobilize all the resources he possessed to survive in this world.

    The ¡®Noble Journey¡¯ buff obtained by bing a Grail Knight was, of course, important. But more crucially, Isaac felt he could only truly utilize his skills when alone.

    For instance, with his current level of swordsmanship, Isaac couldn¡¯t defeat Rotenhammer or Gebel. He would also struggle against just two ordinary knights.

    However, with the use of tentacles, it was hard to estimate what kind of enemy he could face.

    Having already killed Kalsen, who was destined to be a angle, it wasn¡¯t an exaggeration to say he could kill almost any opponent.

    On the other hand, while a knight order offered many resources, being discovered using tentacles could turn them into enemies.

    It would be a shackle restricting Isaac¡¯s actions.

    ¡®That¡¯s why I chose to be a Grail Knight.¡¯

    The oue is what matters.

    As long as no one directly sees the tentacles, Isaac being hailed and honored foring back victorious from reckless ventures is guaranteed.

    Of course, he didn¡¯t n to wander alone forever.

    ¡®2 years. Just roam as a Grail Knight for the 2 years until the Dawn Army starts.¡¯

    During that time, Isaac nned to modestly build his reputation, devour strong foes, and grow stronger by finding holy relics.

    By then, he might not need to rely on the power of his tentacles anymore.

 Chapter 37:

    Chapter 37:

    [Proceeding with the ss change to Grail Knight.]

    [The gods watch over your noble journey.]

    [You are granted the ¡®Noble Journey¡¯ perk.]

    [Physical abilities increase by 30%.]

    [Faith abilities increase by 30%.]

    [The perk¡¯s effects strengthen as you face greater adversities.]

    As Isaac ss-changed into a Grail Knight, notifications cascaded down.

    Isaac couldn¡¯t help but be astonished by the 30% increase in both physical and faith abilities. Simply by ss-changing, he had be a third stronger. And the perks would only grow stronger in the face of difficulties, making this just the baseline.

    ¡®It seems the rite division has something to do with it.¡¯

    Possessing an EX-grade holy relic, difficult to find even in games, seemed to magnify the effects of the buff. With each new relic found, the effects would stack, making Isaac look forward to bing even more powerful.

    ¡°So, what do you n to do now, our Grail Knight?¡±

    After Isaac¡¯s knighthood ceremony, Rotenhammer and the Briant Knight Order returned to their base. Only Gebel and Isolde remained.

    Isaac pondered for a moment before responding.

    ¡°For now, I¡¯m thinking of exploring around here before heading north.¡±

    ¡°The North? Heading to the Kingdom of Elil might be a good idea.¡±

    The origin of the Grail Knights began in the Kingdom of Elil. The ¡°Grail,¡± as implied by its name, metaphorically refers to Elil¡¯s Heart, stolen by the ¡°Red Chalice Club.¡±

    After the ascension of King Elil, his sessors obsessed over retrieving the stolen Grail, ¡°Elil¡¯s Heart.¡± Many Grail Knights embarked on quests to find it for faith or glory, but the thief became a secret religion, hiding among the people, and the Grail was never recovered.

    However, the journeys of these Grail Knights left behind countless achievements and legends. The Grail has transcended its original meaning as a singr holy relic, now regarded as an ideal of faith. This is why the Codex of Light especially favors Grail Knights.

    Elil Kingdom remains the biggest supporter of Grail Knights, and many famous ones have emerged from there, hence Gebel¡¯s suggestion.

    ¡°I thought about that, but wouldn¡¯t it be better to visit with something in hand to receive a warmer wee?¡±

    In truth, Isaac¡¯s ¡°Rite of Division¡± relic was a holy artifact of the Red Chalice Club but also of the Elil Church. The very knife used by the dancer to rip open Elil¡¯s chest and steal his heart.

    A relic tainted with a god¡¯s blood would certainly cause a stir if Isaac revealed its nature, but he had no such intentions now.

    ¡®The reward is temporary. I couldn¡¯t carry it around forever.¡¯

    For Isaac, bing powerful enough to hold his own in the uing Dawn Army in two years was what mattered. For that goal, using the division ritual directly was preferable to any financial reward.

    ¡°Rotenhammer mentioned a holy relic to the north. I n to search there first.¡±

    ¡°Is that so?¡±

    In truth, Rotenhammer hadn¡¯t said anything; it was information Isaac already knew. It was the closest known relic to this monastery.

    If Isaac¡¯s information was correct, the yet-to-be-discovered ruin should be unguarded.

    ¡®Of course, this info is based on the period close to when the Dawn Army starts, so it might notpletely match¡­¡¯

    Gebel sighed deeply before looking at Isaac. Isaac suddenly felt as if Gebel had aged significantly in just a short time.

    ¡°It seems you¡¯re already well-prepared, so there¡¯s little left for me to advise.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m deeply grateful for all the help you¡¯ve provided.¡±

    ¡°Not at all, just take this with you.¡±

    Gebel removed the chest piece he wore under his robe, along with the shin guards and belt, handing them to Isaac. Isaac tried to refuse, but Gebel insisted.

    ¡°These are all knight¡¯s equipment. They¡¯re worn, and the miracles infused within have faded, but they¡¯re still useful.¡±

    ¡°I really don¡¯t need this¡­¡±

    ¡°For the knights¡¯ honor, not for you. A Grail Knight wandering around like a vagabond would be mistaken for a madman. You must at least dress the part with minimal armor.¡±

    Gebel had a point. In a world where attire validates one¡¯s status, having a symbol of knightly recognition from Rotenhammer wasn¡¯t enough to prove one¡¯s identity without showing it. Gebel forcibly equipped Isaac with the armor without giving him a chance to refuse.

    Isaac thought the armor would be toorge, considering the difference in their builds, but as it touched his body, the joints contracted, fitting him perfectly as if tailor-made.

    Fitting as if custom-made from the start.

    ¡°Perfect fit, isn¡¯t it? This functionality isn¡¯t magical; it¡¯s the work of the world¡¯s forge masters, so it won¡¯t fade away. It would be good to have a decent sword too, though¡­¡±

    Since Isaac tended to break his swords frequently, he had none left. Of course, the Rite of division was truly a ¡®good¡¯ sword, but it was too precious to be wielded recklessly.

    ¡°I¡¯ll lend you my sword.¡±

    Then Isolde stepped forward, drawing her ¡®Sword of Judgment.¡¯

    Both Isaac and Gebel looked at her in surprise.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t that Inquisitor equipment?¡±

    ¡°It was reported lost. And I¡¯m lending it, not giving it.¡±

    Isolde smiled as she spoke.

    ¡°A Grail Knight will eventually return to the Order to return the holy relic. Then we¡¯ll meet again. By then, you might have a better sword, and you can return it to me.¡±

    The Sword of Judgment was already considered mid to high-grade even within the game. A sword that could rece it would mean Isaac had achieved considerable sess.

    ¡°We can¡¯t have a Grail Knight of your renown wandering around unarmed.¡±

    ¡°¡­Thank you.¡±

    Unlike with Gebel, Isaac readily epted without objection. He wasn¡¯t particrly keen on the armor, but the Sword of Judgment was indeed a coveted item. It also served as proof of high standing within the Order. If there were any issues with the Order, merely presenting the Sword of Judgment could solve most problems.

    Then Isolde leaned in close to whisper to Isaac.

    ¡°What did Gebel decide to do?¡±

    Isaac recalled Isolde¡¯s offer. If Gebel wanted, he could be reinstated as a knight and regain his honor. Isaac had discussed it with Gebel, but contrary to expectations, Gebel declined.

    The reason was simple.

    ¡°Gebel has no desire to leave the Avnche Knight Order.¡±

    ¡°¡­I see. I thought as much.¡±

    Isolde smiled bitterly.

    For Gebel to shed thebel of a heretic would mean acknowledging the Avnche Knight Order as heretics. And he would have to testify that he no longer belonged to that organization.

    But Gebel didn¡¯t want that. To him, the Avnche Knight Order was merely innocent victims.

    ¡°Perhaps one day, Gebel¡¯s unjust circumstances will be revealed. No matter how much he hides, someone destined to stand out will do so.¡±

    From Isolde¡¯s perspective, she couldn¡¯t openly oppose the Order¡¯s judgment. So, she had to speak in such a neutral manner. But Isaac agreed with her sentiment.

    After all, Isaac didn¡¯t expect Gebel to stay at the monastery forever.

    Because Gebel would be by Isaac¡¯s side when the Dawn War begins.

    ***

    Isolde returned to the Order for her report, and Gebel returned to the monastery. Isaac had asked Gebel to convey his farewells to the monks on his behalf.

    Leaving the monastery wasn¡¯t as abrupt as it might have seemed.

    ¡®I was ready to leave all along.¡¯

    Isaac had prepared to depart even before Isolde¡¯s visit, which had nothing to do with him. Thanks to her visit, he could leave without much trouble. He didn¡¯t have many personal belongings to begin with, and his predation ability negated the need for food.

    ¡®It¡¯s finally time to set out.¡¯

    Though he had long awaited this moment, setting off brought a sense of trepidation. However, Isaac tried not to feel too forlorn. After all, he had just gained a new ability that would serve as a milestone.

    The changes that came with bing a Grail Knight weren¡¯t limited to buffs.

    [The conditions for ¡®Lighthouse of Watcher (EX)¡¯ have been met and activated.]

    Isaac remembered one of the messages that appeared after his ss change.

    The activation condition for the previously inessible Lighthouse of Watcher was finally met.

    ¡®Considering Heinkel¡¯s example, predation only grants innate abilities¡­ so Kalsen having this ability means he was a holy being.¡¯

    Why such a holy being wouldmit apostasy remained a mystery. Moreover, the Watcher¡¯s Lighthouse was among the highest-tier miracles in the Codex of Light. Kalsen¡¯s birth must have involved divine or angelic will.

    ¡®Well¡­ that¡¯s not important.¡¯

    The crucial point was that ¡°the very Kalsen¡¯s¡± ultimate ability had entered his body.

    In the game, Lighthouse of Wacher was described as a powerful defensive skill. For a certain period, it rendered one virtually invincible and bestowed strong buff abilities around.

    However, the lore described it differently.

    ¡°The Watcher stands as the arbiter of order in a universe filled with chaos, and the Lighthouse serves as the sole beacon in a world engulfed in darkness, a metaphor for an unchanging existence. The Lighthouse of Watcher symbolizes an infallible entity that discerns right from wrong in a world overwhelmed by confusion and darkness¡­ or something along those lines.¡±

    Such grandiose exnations made it hard to even imagine how it would be implemented.

    Isaac, having finally acquired an ultimate ability, didn¡¯t want to use it in a disappointing manner, but he also didn¡¯t want to find himself in trouble by using it without understanding its precise effects.

    Afterposing himself, Isaac activated the ability of the Lighthouse of Watcher.

    Instantly, his eyes began to burn with a bright, zing light.

    ***

    The valley ravaged by the Knight Order was eerie. Since there was no need to worry about civilian casualties, it was filled with scorched and shattered rocks, the result of miracles.

    As fog began to seep into the valley, three figures in hunter garb appeared: two tall hunters, each nearing 2 meters, and a small girl, barely reaching their chests.

    The hunters, seeming displeased with the chaos left by the knights, surveyed their surroundings warily, but the girl paid no mind. She sought something else.

    She was looking for blood traces.

    In this valley, vampires had met their demise. However, no blood was found, which was to be expected. Vampire blood turns to dust at sunrise, leaving nothing behind. But the blood she sought was special; it neither vanished nor disappeared.

    Suddenly, the girl stopped in the middle of the valley.

    She groped around the ground and soon seemed to find something, plunging her hand into the earth. Instead of merely tapping, her hand spread like liquid, scattering red blood in all directions. When she withdrew her hand, it was unscathed, holding a short sword.

    The sword soon lost its form, melted away, and was reabsorbed into the girl¡¯s hand.

    ¡°It¡¯s Elil¡¯s blood. No doubt about it. The Rite of division was extracted here.¡±

    A sigh echoed among the hunters. One of them cautiously said,

    ¡°Could it be that Duke Heinkel¡­¡±

    ¡°No. It seems my uncle has passed away. He was murdered by someone. Fortunately, it doesn¡¯t seem like hemitted apostasy as my father feared¡­¡±

    She crawled around the ground, searching for more clues as she did when finding the sword. Repeating the process of plunging her hands into the earth, she soon paused, tilting her head in confusion.

    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡±

    Murmuring as if something didn¡¯t make sense, she asked,

    ¡°Did you find something?¡±

    ¡°Not dragged away or turned to ashes. Devoured. Right here on this spot.¡±

 Chapter 38:

    Chapter 38:

    Chapter 38. The Golden Idol Upper Part (1)

    An eerie silence passed. To them, cannibalism or blood-sucking was not an awkward custom. It was rather encouraged. However, they were well aware that such actions are absolutely not performed in other cultures or faiths.

    The girl¡¯s words implied that within their own sect, there was someone who had killed Heinkel.

    After a moment of silence, the girl straightened her waist and spoke to the hunters.

    ¡°Go back. From here on, I will track alone.¡±

    ¡°Lady.¡±

    ¡°I cannot return in a state where we¡¯ve lost the rite of division. It was my uncle who used the family¡¯s item without permission, so our family must take responsibility and find it. However, if this matter is also tangled with other families, the situation besplicated. Go back.¡±

    The hunters did not try to stop her a second time. The measure of strength among the Wachia hunters depended more on lineage than on experience or training. The strongest person present was the girl. Even after the hunters had left, the girl stood in ce for a long time, staring into the void.

    Her mind was filled with questions due to information she couldn¡¯t dare to share with the hunters. It was information that could turn the family upside down if it were ever discovered, hence she had no choice but to send them away.

    ¡®Why is the Prophet of the Red Flesh mentioned here?¡¯

    The information read from the remaining blood was filled with screams calling for the Prophet of the Red Flesh.

    ***

    Time quickly passed.

    In the past three months, Isaac had left the monastery and headed north.

    As described in the game, the concept of borders was not significantly important to the people of this era. Even the White Empire, which is centered around the Codex of Light, originally had a respectable name like ¡®Gerthonia Empire¡¯.

    The monastery where Isaac stayed was also part of a small duchy under the White Empire. However, religion was considered more important than the ruler, so people of the same faith almost treated each other as if they were from the same country.

    ¡®Ordinary people just call it the White Empire, and the countries opposing it, associated with the Immortal Order, is called the ck Empire¡­¡¯

    Nations often change, and so do their rulers. However, faith remains constant. That¡¯s why countries centered around the Codex of Light are all called the White Empire, and opposing nations are referred to as the ck Empire.

    Territories were also bound together by friendly faiths.

    For example, the Elil Sect, although a distinctly different faith, was derived from the Codex of Light and had good rtions, so it was included in the territory of the White Empire. On the other hand, the Red Chalice Club, though not on good terms with the undead sects, was still positioned against the Law of Light, thus being associated with the ck Empire.

    In this sense, Isaac could travel far distances without ever leaving the White Empire. The White Empire was not a territory but a realm of concept.

    However, not everyone in the White Empire held the same faith or convictions.

    For instance, people like barbarians.

    ¡°Hand over everything you have!¡±

    ¡°Drop everything and run, and your life will be spared!¡±

    Isaac narrowed his eyes upon hearing voices from up the slope.

    The voices were not aimed at Isaac. Even if they had seen Isaac, it was uncertain whether they would have said the same. After all, Isaac¡¯s appearance, having hunted wild animals all winter, was not much different from theirs.

    Meaning, he looked like a bandit.

    The bandits were surrounding the merchants, threatening them with spears and swords. The merchants, shivering with fear, were still surrounding their wagons, holding staffs or spears, ready to defend themselves.

    Ironically, the number of bandits was less than the number of merchants. There were 6 bandits, but there were 8 people outside the wagons among the merchants.

    ¡®Of course, fighting is about morale.¡¯

    A few people prepared to kill their enemies can crush a frightened crowd like sand. In this sense, the bandits were exuding a quite deadly aura. If a fight broke out, more than half of the merchants would likely die. Even if they surrendered, it was doubtful whether they would be spared.

    Isaac moved forward with heavy steps.

    The bandits, who were focusing all their attention on the merchants, were startled and changed the direction of their spears only after Isaac passed by them.

    Conversely, the merchants, thinking Isaac was one of the bandit¡¯s group, screamed and tried to stab him with their spears. However, with a ck, the spears hit the ground. No one there saw how or what knocked them away.

    ¡°What are you! If you don¡¯t want to die, scram!¡±

    The bandit shouted sharply. Only then did the merchants look relieved. Just the fact that he was not a bandit or part of their gang was enough for them to feel at ease.

    ¡°Are you a mercenary? We will pay you any amount, please help us¡­!¡±

    ¡°Are you the caravan that started from Kesang region and is heading to Seor?¡±

    The merchants looked at each other and then back at Isaac, as if wondering how he knew. Isaac had confirmed he was at the right ce by the smell emanating from the wagons. Loosening his sword in its sheath, Isaac turned towards the bandits.

    ¡°See, I have no faith. Atheist.¡±

    The sudden statement made the bandits¡¯ faces contort. However, they were tense from Isaac¡¯s rxed demeanor and the way he had effortlessly deflected the spear earlier. Eventually, one of the bandits boldly stabbed at him with a spear.

    Isaac thought a more forceful ¡®persuasion¡¯ was necessary.

    With a loud crack, the spear shaft broke, and the bandit¡¯s head hit the ground. This time, everyone could see what happened. Isaac had moved that way on purpose.

    Isaac easily caught the spear shaft. The bandit tried to twist and pull it free, but it didn¡¯t budge. A tentacle, as thick as Isaac¡¯s palm, with suckers and teeth, firmly gripped the spear shaft. Unless Isaac was lifted off the ground, taking the spear back was impossible.

    Isaac simply took the spear and struck the man hard enough to nt his head in the ground.

    The reason he chose not to swing his sword but to perform this feat was simple.

    ¡°If I kill all of you, I¡¯ll sweat in this winter. It¡¯s the same if I chase you down and kill you. Speak frankly, and I¡¯ll spare your life. I have no faith, atheist.¡±

    Whether he sweated or not was a significant concern. First, it was still the cold season, and second, Isaac¡¯s physical condition hadn¡¯t been fully resolved. He didn¡¯t want to waste his energy chasing after minor thugs.

    Realizing Isaac was serious, the bandits hesitated and then one by oneid down their weapons. However, two particrly murderous ones stubbornly charged at Isaac.

    ¡°Son of a bitch!¡±

    Isaac had anticipated they would charge. They seemed more interested in murder than theft.

    Finally, Isaac¡¯s sword was drawn.

    The Sword of Judgment scattered the winter sunlight in several directions.

    ***

    After dealing with two dead bodies and one unconscious man, Isaac tied up the remaining four and forced them to kneel.

    He observed the two he had killed.

    It was not surprising that the barbarians bandits were particrly brutalpared to other bandits. Those who had forsaken the afterlife had nothing to fear. But these showed a level of murderous intent close to hatred. That was certainly not ordinary.

    ¡®Do they hold a grudge against these merchants? As far as I know, they¡¯re just ordinary merchants.¡¯

    While he pondered this, one of the merchants approached Isaac.

    ¡°Sir¡­ Knight? May I ask your name?¡±

    ¡°Huh? Oh, it¡¯s Isaac.¡±

    Isaac was slightly surprised that the other called him a knight. No one during the past winter had recognized him as a pdin. His scruffy appearance aside, his frail physique and delicate features were also to me.

    Hadn¡¯t they just called him a mercenary?

    ¡®Ah, is it just something nice to say?¡¯

    Meanwhile, the merchant thought Isaac might not be a noble, seeing that he didn¡¯t mention a family name.

    But Isaac had no intention of giving up the advantage he had just gained. And being a pdin was akin to being a noble. He never liked the ss system, but he wasn¡¯t about to renounce the privileges that others enjoyed so freely.

    Isaac maintained his superior attitude and asked, ¡°What about it?¡±

    ¡°Are you going to spare these men? There have been quite a few people killed in this valley. These bandits are among the most vicious. Your kind-heartedness is clear, but if you spare them, surely¡­¡±

    The merchants seemed eager for revenge against the bandits who had threatened them. Maybe their desire included avenging their associates. However, Isaac shook his head.

    ¡°The ones intent on murder I¡¯ve just killed. I have ns for the ones still alive.¡±

    ¡°But¡­¡±

    Isaac appreciated the misunderstanding and the convenience of the ss system once again. Instead of exining further, he simply looked at the merchant.

    Feeling an intense pressure from Isaac, the merchant swallowed hard. He then remembered that Isaac had just killed two people without batting an eye.

    ¡°Anyway, you¡¯re the caravan that started from the Kesang region, right?¡±

    ¡°Yes. But why are you looking for us¡­?¡±

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t specifically looking for you guys. I was searching for merchants who bought goods from the Kesang region.¡±

    Isaac approached the wagon and briskly flipped open the tarp covering the cargo. The merchants, though startled and muttering objections, were unable to stop him. Inside, numerous nt bulbs wrapped in thick sacks were packed tightly.

    The smell Isaac had noticed was that of these bulbs.

    As Isaac set aside a sack, the merchants hurriedly began to reorganize the cargo space.

    ¡°A carriage loaded with Loracus bulbs, you¡¯d make a decent profit from this.¡±

    ¡°How did you¡­?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve heard some stories.¡±

    Loracus is a flower known for its rich fragrance. While pretty and used as an ingredient in potions to lower magic resistance in the game, it held no further significance.

    The issue with this flower stemmed from a different reason.

    ¡°The price of Loracus has skyrocketed?¡±

    This was information Isaac had obtained after rescuing a merchant nearly devoured by trolls in the Kesang region. The merchant had little money but offered valuable information instead.

    In the northern metropolis of Seor, Loracus had be a trend, causing its price to surge. Particrly, Loracus bulbs with unique shapes and scents were bought at prices ten to twenty times higher than others.

    Upon receiving this information, merchants quickly loaded up on Loracus and headed for Seor. However, Loracus flowers, which bloom in spring and fall, wither away in the harsh winter, so the trade mostly involved their bulbs.

    ¡°Buying bulbs, not even knowing what shape they¡¯ll bloom into, for gold?¡±

    ¡°Yes, yes. The price keeps rising every time you hear about it. Everyone¡¯s going crazy, trying to make a profit.¡±

    ¡°Do you intend to sell these bulbs to me?¡±

    The merchant looked troubled, not because he doubted Isaac¡¯s ability to pay, but because it was impossible for him to sell.

    ¡°Sorry, but there¡¯s already someone set to buy these bulbs¡­¡±

    ¡°Why can¡¯t I buy them from that person then?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s the thing¡­ there¡¯s another person who owns the selling rights, and it might sound a bitplex to you, sir¡­¡±

    The merchant began to exin in detail, but Isaac just waved him off with a smile. He already knew the merchant couldn¡¯t sell to him.

    The merchant thought Isaac was avoidingplex concepts, but it was quite the opposite.

    To Isaac, it was a fascinatingly familiar, modern concept.

    ¡°Futures trading, right?¡±

    Simply put, the current situation in Seor resembled the Tulip Mania.

    An abnormal spike in the price of goods and theplex trading methods surrounding these goods. As theseplexities tangled further, the price of Loracus bulbs soared far beyond their original value.

    Eventually, some anticipate the price rise and buy Loracus early, while others sell the ownership rights even before the Loracus arrives. Whenpetition kicks in, even the ¡®right to trade¡¯ Loracus is bought and sold.

    A typical case of futures trading.

    The merchant was merely transporting the Loracus, with the actual ownership constantly changing hands. In the end, no one could tell who would end up owning the Loracus.

    Isaac¡¯s interest in this situation stemmed from the connection between this price surge and the onset of the Dawn War. The eventual crash, like that of the Tulip Mania, would lead to a domino effect, crippling the economy of the White Empire.

    To manage the political and economic turmoil, the White Empire would choose war.

    Of course, the Dawn War wouldn¡¯t erupt solely due to the Loracus bubble. The war is aplex event triggered by various factors.

    However, it would be one of the contributing factors. Eventually, as public dissatisfaction boils over, rulers turn to war to divert attention.

    What was once a background setting in a game was now unfolding in real-time for Isaac.

    ¡°The Dawn War happening could be beneficial for me¡­ But how could I use this to my advantage?¡±

 Chapter 39:

    Chapter 39:

    Chapter 39. The Golden Idol Upper Part (2)

    Isaac was already on his way to Seor in search of a holy relic.

    If he was going to be entangled in this situation, he wanted to use it to his advantage as much as possible.

    ¡°So, how much were you thinking of offering me as a reward¡­?¡±

    It was then that the merchant cautiously began to speak.

    Isaac, having no intention of helping for free, was grateful that the merchant broached the subject first. However, he was not traveling to Seor to be satisfied with mere pennies.

    ¡°Ah, thanks, but since I¡¯m also heading to Seor, let¡¯s settle the reward there.¡±

    ¡°In Seor?¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t there a merchants¡¯ guild there? We¡¯ll discuss it there.¡±

    The merchant¡¯s face twisted, thinking that Isaac intended to extract a properpensation rather than just a makeshift reward. But having saved their lives, they couldn¡¯t reallyin.

    However, his thoughts soon changed.

    ¡°The Golden Idol merchant guild, right? Tell the branch head that I¡¯ll be visiting.¡±

    Upon mentioning the Golden Idol merchant guild, the merchant¡¯s eyes widened, and he quickly bowed his head, then realized that Isaac¡¯s intentions were different than he had anticipated.

    ¡°So, you n to visit? Aren¡¯t you going to apany us?¡±

    ¡°No, I have business with those fellows.¡±

    Isaac pointed at the bandits. Remembering Isaac¡¯s statement about having a matter to attend to with the surviving bandits, the merchant nodded. He cautiously took something out of his pocket and handed it to Isaac.

    It was a coin engraved with a cow¡¯s skull, not a currency epted in any country.

    ¡°My name is Vihik. When you visit, show them this.¡±

    ¡°Alright. Thank you.¡±

    After expressing their gratitude to Isaac once again, the merchants moved on with their carriage. Watching the carriage leave, Isaac turned back to the bandits. The bandits flinched as their eyes met Isaac¡¯s.

    It was time to address the matter concerning these bandits.

    ¡°So¡­ none of you have a faith, right?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°What about the one who fainted?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    In a world where gods openly exist, miracles are performed in their names, and even living deities roam the earth, dering oneself faithless is akin to admitting weakness. Even Isaac, whocked any semnce of religious fervor, found these ¡®atheists¡¯ before him odd.

    How then, would the people of this world view them?

    People regarded them as more than just ¡®strange¡¯¡ªas ¡®uncivilized,¡¯ ¡®untaught,¡¯ even ¡®abandoned by the gods,¡¯ ¡®barbarians,¡¯ or ¡®intellectually deficient¡¯ for notprehending the divine.

    Usually, they were disdainfully called ¡®Barbarians.¡¯

    Such Barbarians could never belong to the mainstream in any nation that followed the Nine Faiths. At best, they were ostracized or expelled, naturally limited to roles like bandits, marauders, sh-and-burn farmers, or nomads, and were frequently subjected to purges, as Rotenhammer had done.

    However, Isaac didn¡¯t view the Barbarians in such a one-dimensional manner. To him, all deities of the Nine Faiths seemed no more than characters and settings in a game, and he was utterly clueless as to why the nameless force of chaos lent him power.

    In fact, Isaac was the truest Barbarian of them all.

    Therefore, he decided to offer them an opportunity.

    ¡°Ever thought about adopting a faith?¡±

    ¡°¡­A faith?¡±

    A wave of difort swept through the Barbarians.

    The reasons Barbarianscked faith were varied: resentment towards the Nine Faiths, a desire to believe in a new, non-existent god, their ancient deity dying, disillusionment with faith altogether, being emunicated or fleeing from a sect¡­ and so on.

    Many either couldn¡¯t or wouldn¡¯t adopt a faith.

    Yet, Isaac had an alternative in mind for them.

    ¡°What faith are you talking about?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s no need to know about it right now.¡±

    Isaac evaded the question regarding which of the Nine Faiths he was referring to.

    ¡°Just listen for now. There¡¯s no need to devoutly believe or offer sacrifices. You just need to live by following a few simple rules.¡±

    The Barbarians, already wary, seemed ufortable but couldn¡¯t refuse in the face of an armed opponent. Then, one of the Barbarians tentatively raised his hand.

    ¡°If we adopt this faith, can we be strong like you, sir?¡±

    ¡°No. Trying to gain power that easily would make you a thief.¡±

    ¡°Then why should we adopt this faith¡­¡±

    ¡°And why should I let murderers like you live?¡±

    That concluded the persuasion.

    The Barbarians quietly shut their mouths, ready to listen to Isaac.

    ¡°So, then¡­¡±

    Thus, the Pdin, who was practically a Barbarian, began his bandit-like proselytization.

    ¡°First, let¡¯s assume there¡¯s a flying spaghetti monster up in the sky¡­¡±

    ***

    ¡°Alright, then remember what I¡¯ve taught you and don¡¯t go around doing bad things.¡±

    ¡°Yes, elder.¡±

    After finishing his sermon, Isaac released the Barbarians from their bindings. The Barbarians hesitated, seemingly in disbelief that they were being let go so easily, and looked around at each other. Eventually, one of the Barbarians spoke up cautiously.

    ¡°Um, elder. While your teachings were good, I¡¯m not quite sure how they help us.¡±

    Isaac looked straight at him. He was a middle-aged man with a tired face and unkempt beard.

    ¡®Not a bad guy for a bandit.¡¯

    In fact, they could have just pretended to understand, run away, and then forget everything Isaac had said. Isaac didn¡¯t actually think a few words would convert them. However, the fact that they asked indicated they were swayed by Isaac¡¯s sermon and that there was a possibility for conversion.

    ¡°I said those things because there are some who act sanctimonious just because they have a faith. Just live thinking, ¡®I have a faith I need to adhere to.¡¯¡±

    Each faith has its own set of morals and rules, promising an afterlife based on adherence to these. But the Barbarians didn¡¯t have such things, leading them to live unrestrained lives. Isaac wanted to rectify that.

    Thus, Isaac had been spreading a set of loose moral guidelines.

    The nameless chaos had lost its entire doctrine and scriptures, so everything had to be improvised anew by Isaac. Moreover, the guidelines of the nameless chaos didn¡¯t even include a rule saying bad deeds lead to hell and good deeds to heaven.

    It was mostly just about not doing too much harm and not worrying too much about others. Whether suchx doctrines could actually reform anyone was questionable.

    But perhaps because they were so lenient, they were also easy to follow.

    Most of these people were those who had rejected the stringent rules and constraints of major religions. For them, the rxed doctrine of ¡°don¡¯t bother others and live without worrying too much about others¡± was a novel approach.

    Or maybe they were simply swayed by Isaac¡¯s unique appearance and charm.

    As always, Isaac seeded in spreading his doctrine.

    [The doctrine of the nameless chaos has been disseminated.]

    [The influence of the nameless chaos in the world grows stronger.]

    This message appeared when Isaac began spreading the doctrine.

    All four men paid attention to Isaac¡¯s words. Isaac¡¯s charisma stat inevitably yed a strong role in this quasi-cult leader scenario.

    Although Isaac¡¯s doctrine was improvised, the system recognized it as the doctrine of the nameless chaos. Perhaps it was because Isaac was the world¡¯s only follower and preacher of this faith.

    Though unintended, Isaac felt the presence and influence of his followers whenever they epted the doctrine of the nameless chaos.

    The stronger their faith, the clearer their presence became.

    The Barbarians in front of him were just beginning to consider his words, not yet showing a clear presence.

    ¡°Well then¡­ I¡¯ll be on my way.¡±

    The Barbarians, still looking confused, thanked Isaac and left, taking the bodies of theirrades with them.

    Isaac felt their influence waning as they departed, thinking to himself.

    ¡®This will allow me to track the location of the Barbarians¡¯ stronghold.¡¯

    Isaac felt a certain responsibility for his actions.

    Though the presence wasn¡¯t strong, since there were very few in the world who could be considered followers of the nameless chaos, locating them was rtively easy.

    Someday, Isaac believed these scattered seeds of faith would benefit him. He was convinced that as his fame and reputation grew, he would need his own force.

    Proselytization was the seed for that future.

    Those rejected and starved by other faiths would be the foundation of Isaac¡¯s support.

    ¡°Zihilrat.¡±

    As Isaac called out, a strange creature burst out of the forest. It was Zihilrat, an offspring of chaos that Isaac had created based on the corpse of the gue god,Zihilirat, having not feasted to its heart¡¯s content for a while, had diminished in size but was still asrge as an average horse.

    Isaac mounted it with practiced ease.

    Without needing explicitmands, Zihilrat sensed Isaac¡¯s will and began to sprint swiftly. The ride wasn¡¯tfortable, but navigating through the scarcely popted forests and valleys was far more efficient than on horseback. Without the stares of people, it could even scale walls.

    ¡®I¡¯m not sure how to handle the Loracus situation, but let¡¯s head to Seor for now. I was going there to search for the relic anyway.¡¯

    ***

    Upon arriving in Seor, Isaac immediately felt the intense hustle of the ce. Wagons from various southern regions brought with them the smells of dirt and Loracus bulbs. It was practically early spring, and the time to nt Loracus was near. Merchants were rushing to sell the bulbs to farmers before it was toote.

    However, instead of farmers, the market was crowded with frenzied merchants. The trading system had grownplex, and merchants were seen arguing, fighting, and barely negotiating amidst the near-madness of the market atmosphere.

    Isaac passed through the market to a trading house located in the city center.

    The trading house was marked with a golden bull on its sign.

    ¡°Wee¡­¡±

    The receptionist at the trading house frowned upon seeing Isaac¡¯s ragged appearance, but upon seeing the coin he presented, his eyes widened, and he hurried off somewhere.

    Soon, a familiar face came running down from the second floor.

    It was Vihik, the very merchant Isaac had saved.

    ¡°Sir, you¡¯ve arrived. I will escort you immediately.¡±

    Vihik was about to hurry him along but paused, giving an awkward smile before looking back at Isaac.

    ¡°Um, Mr. Isaac?¡±

    ¡°What is it?¡±

    ¡°I could take you directly to the branch head, but do you have any urgent needs for a meal, bath, or rest?¡±

    Only then did Isaac consider his own appearance. He realized anew that it had been a while since he had a proper meal, bathed, or rested under a roof.

    At that moment, Isaac wasn¡¯t even aware of his own odor.

    Isaac decided to amodate Vihik¡¯s situation.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go for a bath first.¡±

 Chapter 40:

    Chapter 40:

    Chapter 40. The Golden Idol Upper Part (3)

    The trading house was bustling with people.

    Among them were merchants who had traveled long distances and individuals who required special attention from the trading house, making it natural for the establishment to offer lodging facilities. While smaller guilds might book inns for their guests, the Golden Idol trading guild was among thergest merchant coalitions on the continent, naturally equipped with amodation facilities.

    ¡®Even in this era, having a private bath is quite something.¡¯

    Isaac melted away the grime of days in the hot water, realizing it was nearly the first time he had bathed in hot water since arriving in this world. Soaking in the hot water, he felt the tension that had been knotted in his muscles begin to soften.

    The hot water was heated by burning logs, which meant the longer Isaac bathed, the more it would cost. However, nobody rushed him or made him feel unwee.

    After bathing, a maid was waiting with a towel. She stopped dead in her tracks and stared wide-eyed at Isaac.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±

    ¡°Oh, nothing!¡±

    Blushing, the maid quickly handed over the towel and scurried ahead. Isaac followed her to the dining area, where a table seemed to have been reserved for him. As he strode towards it, he began to attract attention.

    ¡°Look at that.¡±

    ¡°Is that¡­?¡±

    The bustling dining room became abuzz with whispers.

    Among the crowd were merchants Isaac had saved, but even they failed to recognize him. Clean and rid of the grime, Isaac¡¯s appearance began to captivate the crowd.

    ¡®This is¡­¡¯

    Isaac felt a bit overwhelmed by the attention but took his seat without showing it. Having been ustomed to his unkempt appearance or seeing familiar faces at the monastery, he hadn¡¯t realized the extent of his own attractiveness until now.

    ¡®Considering everyone else is using a vani appearance and I¡¯m here with a face modded to have 99 charisma¡­¡¯

    Enjoying such looks was one thing in a game, but dealing with it in reality proved to be awkward.

    Fortunately, as soon as Isaac sat down, dishes were served. Roast pork seasoned with spices and honey, chicken stewed in wine, and freshly baked white bread were among the first to arrive. Each dish was rich in vor, made without sparing any ingredients.

    Isaac started to focus on the food, ignoring the stares. It felt like the first time in weeks he had eaten food touched by fire. Soon, the crowd¡¯s stares turned to astonishment for a different reason. How could such a slender figure consume all that food?

    As Isaac inadvertently hosted a medieval-style mukbang in front of the merchants, he was lost in his thoughts.

    ¡®This is quite the treatment for just saving some merchants.¡¯

    Isaac mentally gave the Golden Idol trading guild a passing score for their hospitality. However, he also knew that the guild did not engage in acts of loss.

    To them, trading and bargaining were their faith and doctrine.

    ¡®The Golden Idol¡­ the merchants¡¯ faith among the Nine Faiths.¡¯

    And it was the faith Isaac hadst encountered before crossing into this world.

    The structure of the Golden Idol guild was unique.

    Even the secretive and conspiratorial Red Chalice had Wachia Kingdom as a focal point. However, the Golden Idol guildcked a centralized nation. It controlled cities treated as trade hubs, but their interesty only in taxes and regtions.

    For them, crossing national borders for trade meant the concept of a nation was of little significance, potentially only increasing unnecessary tensions.

    Instead, they dominated capital.

    They lent money to those in need, controlled the distribution of goods, bribed power holders, or paid off enemies for peace.

    As a result, even the undead nation of the ck Empire hosted the Golden Idol guild.

    Of course, security was essential formerce to thrive. Therefore, the Golden Idol guild flourished most within the rtively safe confines of the White Empire.

    Not all merchants were devotees of the Golden Idol, but escaping its influence was impossible.

    When Isaac had nearly finished his meal, Vihik came to him.

    Isaac weed the beer Vihik was carrying with both hands more than Vihik¡¯s face itself. However, Vihik paused for a moment, as if frozen, upon seeing Isaac¡¯s face.

    Thirsty, Isaac didn¡¯t care about Vihik¡¯s reaction and grabbed the beer mug, downing it in one gulp.

    Vihik managed to sit down diagonally across from Isaac.

    ¡°You¡¯re more spirited than you look.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve swallowed a wolf whole before.¡±

    Vihikughed, thinking it was a joke. But when Isaac didn¡¯tugh, Vihik awkwardly shifted his gaze away.

    Just then, a middle-aged woman approached them.

    Vihik quickly introduced her.

    ¡°This is Ms. Caitlin Shiver, the branch head of our trading house.¡±

    Caitlin stared at Isaac before voicing what everyone wanted but didn¡¯t dare to say.

    ¡°It¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve seen an angel who eats so well. Don¡¯t they feed you in heaven?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s Isaac. From the Ariet Monastery.¡±

    Caitlin squinted her eyes for a moment at Isaac¡¯s terse manner.

    ¡°It seems you have no intention of showing respect to your elders, Sir Knight.¡±

    At the mention of ¡®knight,¡¯ Vihik¡¯s eyes widened. He had considered that Isaac might be a knight based on his skills but hadn¡¯t thought of him as a holy knight. Isaac looked at her with amused interest.

    ¡°Did you check my gear while I was bathing?¡±

    ¡°We would nevermit such rudeness. It¡¯s just that our side tends to get information quickly¡­¡±

    Caitin tapped on the coin with a buffalo skull emblem ced on the table.

    ¡°¡­We just knew that a young and handsome Grail Knight had saved our people a few times. And naturally, his path seemed to be leading towards Seor.¡±

    ¡°You were ¡®that¡¯ Grail Knight?!¡±

    The noise Vihik reflexively made attracted the attention of everyone in the dining area.

    ¡°¡®That¡¯ Grail Knight?¡±

    It was Isaac who asked back. Vihik stammered in his response.

    ¡°There were whispers among the merchants about a new Grail Knight appearing. As you know, except for Elil, it¡¯s believed Grail Knights were nearly extinct. We thought it might just be a rumor¡­¡±

    Grail Knights were a subject of fascinating gossip among themon folk, especially since, outside of the Kingdom of Elil, the concept of Grail Knights was almost legendary.

    It was even more famous among merchants who traversed dangerous territories.

    ¡®It¡¯s a time short on entertainment, after all.¡¯

    This meant Caitlin knew Isaac wasing even before Vihik reported it. Of course, she probably didn¡¯t expect him to visit her directly.

    Only then did Isaac understand the reason for such exceptional hospitality.

    ¡°You see me as an investment opportunity.¡±

    ¡°The Golden Idol guild has traditionally been a patron of Grail Knights. Please consider it a token of gratitude for saving our people.¡±

    ¡®As if you meant that.¡¯

    Isaac thought to himself with a silentugh.

    This relief of burden and ease of atmosphere was Golden Idol¡¯s strategy before making a difficult request.

    However, the Golden Idol guild being patrons of Grail Knights wasn¡¯t a lie. When a Grail Knight was isted abroad, needed to conceal their identity, or urgently required capital, the Golden Idol guild was always there to rely on.

    ¡®In the game, merchants appearing in dungeons or enemy territories often saved my life¡­ Well, it¡¯s a game, so it¡¯s portrayed that way.¡¯

    Of course, it wasn¡¯t free. Once in debt, the Golden Idol guild would ask for protection or force instead of money from the Grail Knight. The fact that they could ask a knight of another faith was a privilege in itself.

    ¡°Let¡¯s get to the point.¡±

    Isaac pushed his empty te aside and spoke.

    ¡°You have a request for me regarding the Loracus, don¡¯t you?¡±

    After finishing their meal, the trio moved to a nearby market associated with the trading house.

    Caitlin and Isaac soaked in the vibrant atmosphere of the market as they walked.

    As a trading hub, Seor¡¯s market was immense. Isaac could smell the intense scent of Loracus amidst the fervor.

    It was the scent of greed.

    The hottest spot in the market was undoubtedly the Loracus trading area.

    Not yet arrived in physical form, the Loracus bulbs, as well as the future blossoms they would produce, the new bulbs that woulde from those flowers, and the profits to be gained from selling those new bulbs were being traded in a subdivided manner.

    Not just Loracus, but everything needed to cultivate it¡ªfertilizers, farming tools, wagons, and more¡ªwas being traded. The influx of people had also inted the prices of other flowers.

    ¡®Everyone¡¯s lost their minds.¡¯

    Isaac was shocked by the madness that was greater than he had anticipated.

    Initially, he wondered how he could exploit this situation.

    In a modern context, he could predict the crash and bet on shorts to make money. However, the economic system here wasn¡¯tplex enough for that, and it was uncertain whether he could collect his winnings after the crash.

    ¡®Try to intervene? No, this has gone beyond anyone¡¯s control.¡¯

    Human greed cannot be contained. Even if Isaac dered, ¡°Soon Loracus will crash, and the empire¡¯s economy with it,¡± he would be ignored. Knowing yet thinking ¡°It won¡¯t happen to me¡± is the nature of human greed.

    The crash and the market¡¯s downfall were inevitable futures.

    ¡°What do you think?¡± Caitlin asked as they left the market. Isaac just shrugged.

    ¡°People¡¯s greed is spinning out of control. Unless the emperor himselfes down to ban trading.¡±

    ¡°The guild¡¯s leadership is very worried.¡±

    ¡°About the crash?¡±

    ¡°No. Because of Loracus, logistics have been blocked.¡±

    Isaac felt he understood. The market was full of various seeds and farming equipment, but seeds for the uing spring or food were almost nonexistent. It wasmon knowledge to Isaac that spring, just before the first harvest after winter, was the most destitute time.

    ¡°Most farmers would have reserved seeds for spring, but not in sufficient quantities. There were always merchants supplying high-quality seeds. And food is scarce in spring. So, the local poption is bing restless.¡±

    Isaac thought of the Barbarian bandits who had attacked the merchants. They wanted the merchants dead more than Isaac. If the merchants only fiddled with Loracus for profit and neglected essential goods, it would be reason enough for hatred. Plus, those people were likely living in dire circumstances.

    ¡°It¡¯s clear there¡¯s unrest, but is there anything I can do?¡±

    It might be better to persuade the merchants or nobles to secure an alternative distributionwork. Isaac¡¯s influence was still that of a wandering swordsman.

    However, Caitlin had a definite task for him.

    ¡°We¡¯d like you to investigate who¡¯s buying uprge amounts of Loracus.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve heard it¡¯s be a fad among flower collectors¡­¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s partially true, but that level of demand wouldn¡¯t create this frenzy. There¡¯s something else at y here, but our connections can¡¯t uncover it.¡±

    ¡°You couldn¡¯t find out?¡±

    One of the Golden Idol¡¯s doctrines was the pursuit of the unknown. They wouldn¡¯t just give up because they couldn¡¯t find out.

    Caitlin showed a vague expression.

    ¡°So, your people were killed.¡±

    They cleverly covered the danger and tried to involve Isaac. Seeing displeasure on Isaac¡¯s face, Caitlin looked anxious.

    ¡°I wish you hadn¡¯t tried to test the waters by hiding this and that.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. We just¡­¡±

    Isaac thought for a moment.

    He hade to Seor to find a relic rted to the Golden Idol guild and had nned to squeeze some information out of them for saving the merchants. But it turned out they were the ones asking him for help.

    Being asked is better than asking when negotiating.

    ¡®This¡­ smells like a relic.¡¯

    Maybe the person behind this has something to do with the relic.

    Isaac was going to ept Caitlin¡¯s offer, but he maintained a demanding tone and set a condition.

    ¡°Fine. But I have one condition.¡±

    ¡°We only have money to offer. We can assure you plenty of that.¡±

    It was a satisfying answer. Yet, Isaac, not wanting to appear money-grubbing, responded graciously.

    ¡°I have some Loracus in my possession. It would be nice if the Golden Idol guild could buy it all at the current price in a month.¡±

 Chapter 41:

    Chapter 41:

    Chapter 41. The Smell of Money (1)

    ¡°Loracus¡­ you say?¡±

    Caitlin asked, seemingly puzzled. She quickly tried to gauge Isaac¡¯s true intentions.

    In truth, no matter how much she considered it, it seemed unlikely that Isaac would have arge amount of Loracus. Given the nature of a wandering Grail Knight, it was impossible to own substantial assets. This was connected to the virtue of poverty, a symbol of the Grail Knights.

    Caitlin wondered if this Grail Knight, known for his vow of poverty, was now being greedy for money.

    ¡®Is he just trying this out because he doesn¡¯t understand the market?¡¯

    Caitlin thought it was possible.

    Although Grail Knights emphasize poverty, that doesn¡¯t mean their journeys don¡¯t cost money. Hunger and cold could naturally make one wish for a morefortable journey. However, unlike mercenaries who directly ask for money, it wasmon for them to sell goods acquired during their travels.

    It seemed this Grail Knight had a simr idea.

    ¡°If you bring it now, I can offer you the highest current market price¡­¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t have it with me right now. And the amount is not certain either.¡±

    ¡°So, you mean to say you will have it in a month?¡±

    ¡°Yes. And just so you know, it might be a lot.¡±

    Caitlin couldn¡¯t help butugh at Isaac¡¯s words.

    After all, he was just an individual. Even if Isaac arrived with ten carriages, it would not be a burden for the Golden Idol Merchant Group. The volume of goods circted by the syndicate was at least a hundred times more. Moreover, ording to Caitlin¡¯s investigations, the only belongings Isaac carried were what he had on him.

    ¡°The price of Loracus might rise significantly in a month. Why do you insist on selling at the current price?¡±

    Isaac answered with a kind smile, as if he had been waiting for this question.

    ¡°I don¡¯t y with money. I can¡¯t sell it right now because I don¡¯t have it, but I also have no intention of making an excessive profit just because the price has gone up.¡±

    Caitlin had no way to verify if his words were sincere. Ultimately, she thought this naive Grail Knight was clumsily attempting to do business.

    But she also considered another possibility.

    ¡®Is he thinking that the price of Loracus will fall?¡¯

    This was a recurring thought whenever the price of Loracus surged. As quickly as the craze came, it could also rapidly decline. However, there were no signs of such a trend at the moment.

    ¡®If this Grail Knight has information I¡¯m unaware of and senses a crash¡­¡¯

    Caitlin estimated the potential losses the syndicate could incur. Even if the price of Loracus fell to half, or even to a tenth of its current value, it would not be a problem. At such levels, the syndicate would have to worry about its entire volume of transactions, not the amount an individual like this young, impoverished Grail Knight could handle.

    Considering the original reward she had intended for Isaac, it was a significantly smaller amount.

    ¡®It seems I¡¯ll have to give this naive Grail Knight a fair deal, even if he doesn¡¯t profit much.¡¯

    From Caitlin¡¯s perspective, as long as the job was properlypleted, a bit of a loss was worth the transaction.

    ¡°Can we officially set the date to one month from now?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°The quantity will be marked as undecided.¡±

    Isaac nodded. Caitlin instructed Vihik to draft the contract.

    [The Golden Idol Merchant Group will purchase all Loracus brought by Isaac in a month at the current price.]

    The current price of Loracus was also urately listed next to the contract. Caitlin wondered if Isaac had considered the cost of transportation and storage of the goods.

    Isaac¡¯s proficient review and signing of the contract seemed oddly skilled, which concerned Caitlin, but she didn¡¯t dwell on it too much.

    ¡°With this, the contract is established, Mr. Isaac. The Golden Idol guarantees this contract. Vitors will be subjected to a legitimate im for damages through the guaranty.¡±

    [You have been hired as a mercenary for the Golden Idol Merchant Group.]

    [Luck slightly increases.]

    [Discernment slightly increases.]

    Upon being hired as a mercenary for the Golden Idol Merchant Group, Isaac was blessed. It was a privilege exclusive to the followers of the Golden Idol faith, not granted by other syndicates. However, since it was not a high-level contract, the benefits were not significantly prominent.

    After finalizing the contract, the first ce Isaac headed to was the slums of S?r.

    In this era¡¯s capital market, it¡¯s a zero-sum game. If someone gains more, it means someone else inevitably loses more. Especially in times like these, when a specific item disproportionately bes a trend, there are bound to be losers.

    The slums of Seor were filled with such people.

    Merchants who originally dealt with other items but suffered great losses due to not catching onto the trend, mercenaries who greedily dove in hoping to make a fortune, and barbarians whose hungry bellies shone with dangerous intent roamed the dark alleys and between sewers.

    It was a stark contrast to the lively flower market.

    ¡®This is where the Golden Idol Merchant Group¡¯s informants were murdered.¡¯

    Isaac didn¡¯t wander aimlessly. He first received all the information the Golden Idol Merchant Group had been investigating, which eventually led him to the slums.

    The information suggested abnormal capital flows not just in the sunlit markets but also in the underworld. The informants were murdered while investigating this.

    ¡®Too many suspects to count.¡¯

    Given the murderous res, it seemed many had suffered losses due to the Loracus craze. Even a slight bump could earn a lethal re.

    Isaac, remembering his conversation with Caitlin while observing these lethal intents, pondered.

    ¡®But after I find him?¡¯

    ¡®Excuse me?¡¯

    ¡®After I find the guy hoarding Loracus, what then? Ask to have him taken out?¡¯

    ¡®Oh, no. How could I ask such a barbaric task of a Grail Knight? I¡¯m just curious who is buying up all the Loracus and for what purpose.¡¯

    ¡®Really, if it¡¯s just for ornamental purposes, they¡¯re just throwing away a fortune.¡¯

    ¡®Well, if that were the case, they wouldn¡¯t have harmed our people¡­ But that¡¯s valuable information too.¡¯

    Loracus had ornamental value but were practically useless except for their effect in lowering magic resistance. Unless one was gathering them to hunt liches or dragons, there wasn¡¯t enough need to disrupt the market prices.

    ¡®There¡¯s something more¡­¡¯

    Behind the Loracus boom was certainly not just market disruption but a hidden secret. The Golden Idol Merchant Group must have been curious about this, hence hiring Isaac. If they could control it, they would, but if there was a profit to be made, they needed to know.

    ¡®First, I should find the ones who killed the informants.¡¯

    Freshly bathed and well-rested, Isaac seemed out of ce in this location, looking every bit the gentleman. And naturally, flies are attracted to such gentlemen.

    ¡°Sir! Please take a look at what I have!¡±

    Children darting from the alley surrounded Isaac, pushing all sorts of trinkets at him, urging him to buy. Roasted rats, pigeons, and peculiar stones of dubious origin¡­ But their real goaly elsewhere.

    One of the kids made a move towards Isaac¡¯s coin pouch at his waist. Just as he quietly tried to cut the string and steal it, Isaac¡¯s hand caught the kid¡¯s wrist.

    ¡°Ouch!¡±

    Without even twisting the kid¡¯s arm, a scream erupted. The other kids, startled by the cry, backed away. The scream drew the attention of the street to Isaac.

    ¡°Hey, what are you doing? Why are you bullying the kid?¡±

    Prompted by the kid¡¯s scream, a group of men gathered around as if they had been waiting for an opportunity. They were barbarians, loitering around arge cauldron over a fire, seemingly more interested in finding fault than in any sense of justice.

    Seeing therge knife that could ughter a cow, Isaac let go of the kid¡¯s hand, from which blood was now streaming.

    ¡°You, you hurt this kid¡¯s hand¡­¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s just a scratch, don¡¯t freak out.¡±

    In reality, it was a reflexive action of Isaac¡¯s left hand that had nicked the kid¡¯s hand. The men quickly realized the wound wasn¡¯t deep, but the atmosphere didn¡¯t lighten.

    Isaac surveyed his surroundings. In the dim alley, with almost no bystanders, and no one likely toe looking even if someone were to be killed.

    ¡°Hey, pretty boy. Hand over everything you¡¯ve got¡­¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s skip the clich¨¦s and get straight to the point.¡±

    Isaac spoke as he loosely drew his sword from its sheath. Allowing the children to swarm him, causing a scream, waiting for the men to gather¡ªeverything was intentional.

    ¡°If any of you are believers, raise your hands now.¡±

    ***

    Isaac¡¯s swordsmanship was deadly.

    Especially in a fight against multiple opponents, it was difficult to end the confrontation without killing someone. Given theck of stamina in situations where he couldn¡¯t use tentacles, it was more advantageous to kill one opponent at a time.

    In that sense, Isaac thought he might have to cut down one or two to make the restply. However, as soon as he confidently drew his sword, the men immediately dropped their weapons and raised their hands.

    ¡°What? Are all of you believers?¡±

    ¡°Yes¡­ These two are followers of the Codex of Light, that one over there is a follower of Elil, and the rest of us follow the Golden Idol.¡±

    After knocking down the ones trying to flee, Isaac began his interrogation. Surprisingly, none of them were barbarians. Strictly speaking, it wasn¡¯t that there were no barbarians at all. The one who imed to be a follower of the Golden Idol had abandoned his faith out of fear of going to hell due to breaching a loan contract.

    ¡°Why do you look like barbarians, then?¡±

    The men cautiously looked around before answering.

    ¡°It¡¯s more intimidating that way, you know?¡±

    Isaac sighed deeply. By their actions, it seemed unlikely these were the men who killed the Golden Idol Merchant Guild¡¯s informant.

    ¡°Recently, there was a murder in this alley. A Golden Idol Merchant Guild informant. Anyone know anything about that?¡±

    ¡°We¡­¡±

    ¡°Save the unhelpfulments like ¡®I don¡¯t know¡¯ or ¡®I¡¯m innocent.¡¯ Just tell me what you know.¡±

    Reluctantly, the men began to speak.

    ¡°We might have seen the person you¡¯re talking about. The Golden Idol Merchant Guild folks have a unique way of speaking. They seemed interested in what we were selling, so we just shared some information.¡±

    ¡°What were you selling?¡±

    ¡°Well, it¡¯s not like we¡¯re robbers or anything, despite what you might think¡­¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re threatening people with knives?¡±

    ¡°We just wanted to rmend some good products. That¡¯s how men on the streets be friends, right?¡±

    ¡°Oh, so it¡¯s a forced sale.¡±

    Isaac recognized their scam. They intentionally created a threatening atmosphere and then suggested reconciliation, forcing overpriced goods on their ¡°new friends.¡± This way, they could avoid being arrested for robbery, and there was no risk of bloodshed or death.

    In a way, they were naively criminal.

    ¡°Why? Were you trying to sell roasted rat meat too? Did the informant look hungry?¡±

    As Isaac inquired, the men exchanged nces before someone finally spoke up.

    ¡°Sir, you¡¯re aware of how well Loracus are doing these days, right?¡±

    ¡°Loracus?¡±

    Isaac was puzzled by the sudden shift to Loracus.

    ¡°Yes. But as you know, people like us or those without much can hardly get a hold of anything in this market. There¡¯s a limit to buying a single Loracus and starving.¡±

    Being a small investor is tough, whether in this world or another. Isaac found himself nodding involuntarily.

    ¡°So?¡±

    ¡°So, instead of starving ourselves to buy Loracus, we decided to pool our money and create our own group. If we sell the Loracus and make a profit, we agreed to share the earnings.¡±

    Isaac was somewhat impressed. They were attempting a basic form of a fund. However, his admiration didn¡¯t end purely as such.

    ¡°Who?¡±

    ¡°Pardon?¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t seem smart enough to set up such a scheme amongst yourselves. If you were that clever, you wouldn¡¯t be here trying to rob people. Who told you to do this? And what¡¯s this about forcing sales?¡±

    The man, previously enthusiastic, became hesitant and pulled something from his pocket.

    A wooden coin crudely carved with a loracus symbol, a ¡°Loracus coin.¡±

    ¡°Holding this Loracus coin entitles you to a share of the profits whenever our group sells the Loracus. We¡¯ve already received several payouts.¡±

    Isaac¡¯s expression turnedplex.

    ¡°So, if I buy this Loracus coin.¡±

    ¡°You get a share of the profits proportional to the number you own!¡±

    ¡°And why are you trying to sell it to me?¡±

    ¡°Because with the money from the sale, we can buy more Loracus coins¡­¡±

    It seemed they intended to sell the coins at a slight markup over what they had paid, hoping to turn a profit.

    ¡°How much did you buy?¡±

    Hesitantly, the men pulled out a substantial number of Loracus coins from their pockets. Seeing the worthless coins, Isaac felt a headacheing on.

    ¡®The Loracus price surge wasn¡¯t the only problem.¡¯

    Ponzi schemes, pyramid schemes, even hostage-taking.

    Greed was pping the citizens of Seor in the face.

 Chapter 42:

    Chapter 42:

    Chapter 42. The Smell of Money (2)

    The surge in Loracus prices could have urred naturally. After all, the tulip mania wasn¡¯t orchestrated by anyone¡¯s intention. It¡¯s reasonable for scams and losses to emerge from abnormal market trends.

    ¡®But all kinds of scams that happen once in decades urring all at once in modern times?¡¯

    This was an abnormal situation.

    Someone, with a distinctly malicious intent, was shaking up the market.

    And it wasn¡¯t something a couple of merchants could cook up by putting their heads together.

    ¡®Could there be another person possessed by a spirit like me?¡¯

    Isaac entertained the thought but immediately dismissed it. The reason he was possessed by Nameless Chaos was because he was the first to achieve endings with all eight faiths, excluding the Nameless one. It didn¡¯t make sense for someone else toe into y now.

    ¡®So, divine intervention?¡¯

    This seemed the most usible.

    In that case, the most suspicious entity was undoubtedly the Golden Idol.

    Having witnessed the Golden Idol Merchant Guild ending, Isaac knew they didn¡¯t always earn money in wholesome ways. Fair trade was just one aspect of the Golden Idol.

    Caitlin seemed clueless, but the decisions of the order¡¯s leadership and the perspective of its lower ranks could differ.

    If so, Isaac might have been dragged into aplicated internal conflict.

    ¡®I need to consider various possibilities and act ordingly.¡¯

    Isaac looked back at the men.

    ¡°Where did you buy that Loracus coin?¡±

    ¡°Why do you want to know?¡±

    Of course, this cheeky response wasn¡¯t from the men.

    ***

    When Isaac turned towards the source of the voice, he saw a one-eyed woman looking down at him from a second-floor window, and the number of homeless people and beggars around had noticeably increased. Among those rags, Isaac spotted the glint of des.

    Isaac tilted his head slightly and replied.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you have manners for a guest?¡±

    ¡°If you want to buy coins, buy them from those guys. We don¡¯t deal with petty retail customers. Everything goes through distribution channels.¡±

    The one-eyed womanughed slyly.

    Suddenly, the exit of the alley was blocked by the belongings and broken carts the homeless people had brought with them.

    The men conversing with Isaac realized what was happening and froze. They tried to scatter and escape, but were surrounded by the menacing stares of the homeless, making it clear they weren¡¯t here to sell coins directly.

    ¡°Did you guys kill the person from the Golden Idol Merchant Guild?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t know much about that. Why don¡¯t you ask them yourself? They¡¯ll be in heaven or hell, somewhere.¡±

    The moment the one-eyed woman signaled, the homeless charged.

    Isaac, hearing her words, realized these were indeed barbarians. Believers don¡¯t joke about heaven or hell. Only barbarians, who deny the afterlife, could make such jokes.

    As Isaac drew his sword, instead of confronting its de, the assassins threw their rags at him. These were not ordinary rags but interwoven with wire difficult to cut through with a de.

    Isaac was quickly entangled in rags and wire, and archers hidden on rooftops and between alleyways ruthlessly fired their arrows.

    Thud, thud.

    The bundle of rags turned into a pincushion in moments. As arrows pierced it without resistance, one of the homeless nced at the one-eyed woman.

    ¡®Should we continue?¡¯

    The woman, without letting her guard down, nodded. Then, the homeless pulled spears from a pile of trash and skewered the bundle of rags. The one-eyed woman frowned as she observed the chaotic scene.

    ¡®This was too easy.¡¯

    It wasn¡¯t her first time dealing with a Golden Idol Merchant Guild informant. The level of the informants had been increasing, and even a slight oversight could lead to their downfall.

    But this time, hearing they had hired a Grail Knight, she had been on high alert. She gathered as many people as possible and set a thorough trap. She hadn¡¯t expected to lose, but neither did she anticipate winning socklusterly.

    ¡®For all the fuss he made, he doesn¡¯t seem that special¡­¡¯

    ¡°Who is it?¡±

    At that moment, the voice that rang out made the one-eyed woman gasp. She tried to turn her head, but the sticky air and the decaying scent of blood rendered her immobile.

    ¡°I knew you¡¯de this way.¡±

    The one-eyed woman could tell just from the creepy warmth behind her and the voice alone that ¡®something¡¯ almost 2 to 3 meters tall was looming over her. This entity, awkwardly mimicking a human voice, pressed something¡ªwhether bone or de¡ªunder her chin.

    ¡°Stop.¡±

    The one-eyed woman raised her hands. The homeless stopped their attack and withdrew their spears. Seeing the rags soaked with blood surrounding Isaac, they were convinced of his death. But as they reached out to remove the and extract the body, the blood-soaked rags reverted to their original color.

    Before the homeless could express their shock, Isaac¡¯s sword pierced through the rags, striking the neck of a nearby vagrant. Isaac emerged unscathed, not a single wound on him.

    ¡®Red Prayeres in handy at times like this¡­¡¯

    [Red Prayer (S)]

    [The user¡¯s body temporarily turns into a form of red mist, allowing movement unimpeded by physical barriers. In this state, all physical attacks are nullified.]

    This was an ability he gained after devouring Heinkel Gullmar.

    Being able to nullify physical attacks was useful for evading surprise attacks like this. He could have used Red Petition to escape and counterattack when he was wrapped in the rags, but then he would have exposed his ability to turn into red mist. That would mean he would have to kill everyone present.

    ¡®That¡¯s not an option.¡¯

    He was supposed to embark on a noble quest as a Grail Knight. He couldn¡¯t allow rumors of bloodshed to follow him.

    Instead, Isaac decided to set a few clear examples.

    He pushed the first vagrant he struck hard into another, causing them to tumble. The archers hurriedly raised their bows again, but Isaac didn¡¯t give them a chance to react, moving swiftly to strike another homeless with his sword.

    Isaac only paused when his sword found its mark in another body. With each swing, a limb or a head flew off. The screams of the vagrants followed one after another, without a chance for them to catch their breath or exchange nces.

    Even the barbarian robbers, ustomed to rough battles, couldn¡¯t respond calmly to Isaac¡¯s methodical culling of lives.

    ¡°Boss, boss!¡±

    Finally, cries for help erupted. Isaac nced up at the second-floor window. The one-eyed woman, pale and immobile in the dark room, caught his gaze.

    As their eyes met, she barely managed to open her mouth to dere surrender.

    ¡°Don¡¯t speak while looking at him.¡±

    A chilling voice whispered from behind just as something blunt and damp flung her down to the first floor. The one-eyed woman crashed into a heap of garbage in the alley with a loud noise.

    Spitting out the dirty water that filled her mouth, she barely lifted her head only to meet Isaac¡¯s gaze bearing down on her chillingly.

    Isaac, sending a thankful thought to Zihilrat¡¯s glowing red eyes on the second floor before letting him disappear back into the shadows, turned his attention back to the woman. Zihilrat, true to his nature as a creature that thrived in damp underground conditions, had adeptly hidden his massive form.

    ¡°I surrender, I surrender. Please¡­¡±

    The one-eyed woman hastily dered her surrender to Isaac. In response, Isaac¡¯s sword severed her right hand, eliciting another scream.

    ¡°Surrendering was smart¡­ But you didn¡¯t think you¡¯d get off without any pain while your subordinates died, did you?¡±

    Despite her agony, the one-eyed woman nodded frantically, the smell of burning flesh wafting through the air. The effect of the Judgement Sword caused her barbarian flesh and blood to incinerate. Her hand, now charred ck around the wrist, would have to be amputated.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t cut your tongue because I have many questions. That means every time you hide something from me, I¡¯ll cut off a useless part of you, leaving your tongue forst.¡±

    ***

    The one-eyed woman¡¯s name was Jacquette. Surprisingly, she was quite forting with her story.

    She hade from across the northern seas, abandoning her faith due to a long andplex story, and had brought her subordinates with her due to recent hardships in making ends meet. Isaac learned even more irrelevant details than he cared to know.

    Isaac judged these unnecessary stories as attempts to divert from the main topic and stabbed her left hand too. Only then could he steer the conversation towards the crux of the matter.

    ¡°Who¡¯s selling them?¡±

    ¡°Yukhar Leven is a nobleman!¡±

    As the sword of judgment hovered in front of the remaining eye of Jacquette, she screamed his name in desperation.

    It was neither surprising nor strange that Jacquette and these Barbary bandits were employed by a person named Yukhar. After all, mercenaries are mercenaries when paid, and bandits when not.

    That is why properly professional mercenaries are respected.

    ¡°Tell me about Yukhar Leven.¡±

    Yukhar Leven, a nobleman, was a big name in the ck market operating in Seor.

    He was making money through all sorts of unsavory means, from usury to smuggling, ck market deals, and handling stolen goods, using his noble title. It was said that there was nothing in the Seor ck market that didn¡¯t go through his hands.

    The problem was that after the Loracus incident, this Yukhar guy expanded his business into multi-level marketing and Ponzi schemes, even involving coin schemes, pulling all the money from the bottom of Seor.

    Even ording to Jacquette¡¯s story, even the beggars in the slums had one or two Loracus coins, expecting their value to skyrocket along with the price of Loracus.

    In the end, Yukhar was selling non-existent Loracus.

    ¡®If he¡¯s operating on that scale, the Golden Idol Merchant Guild must know.¡¯

    Isaac paused to think then asked.

    ¡°Why is Yukhar buying up all the Loracusing into Seor?¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    Isaac pressed the sword of judgment to Jacquette¡¯s left hand, causing her to thrash in fear.

    ¡°No, no! I didn¡¯t understand the question! Yukhar is, I mean! He is buying a lot of Loracus, but from what I know, it¡¯s not a significantly huge amount!¡±

    ¡°Not a lot?¡±

    The amount Isaac heard from Jacquette was indeed ¡®insignificant.¡¯ While it might seem a lot to ordinary people, it was small for a syndicate, and minusculepared to the amount of Loracus handled by the Golden Idol.

    ¡®So who is buying the Loracus?¡¯

    The conclusion was absurd but clear.

    Real flower enthusiasts were buying them.

    And so were many fools hoping for the price of Loracus to continue rising.

    Most likely, the vast majority of Loracus were held by these so-called investors, who found it hard to sell as the price of Loracus increased every day. Meanwhile, Yukhar was collecting money through all kinds of scams amid the price distortion.

    Ultimately, Yukhar¡¯s goal was not the Loracus itself but the price distortion caused by Loracus. They didn¡¯t care what it was, as long as they could cause price distortion and a craze.

    ¡®Caitlin would find this absurd if she knew.¡¯

    Of course, there were other considerations. Whether the Golden Idol Merchant Guild was really uninvolved in this matter.

    While Yukhar was making money through all sorts of scams, the biggest beneficiary was the Golden Idol Merchant Guild, which had gathered the most Loracus.

    ¡®Something¡¯s off¡­¡¯

    Isaac felt something was amiss. He was looking for who was buying the Loracus. It was clear that Yukhar was making money from the Loracus incident, but that was a way of making money, not about buying the actual Loracus.

    However, it was certain that an informant of the Golden Idol Merchant Guild had tried to investigate Yukhar and ended up dead, and Yukhar was definitely involved in the distribution of Loracus.

    The details could be asked in person. There wouldn¡¯t be a friendly chat, though.

    Isaac looked down at Jacquette and said,

    ¡°I need to meet that guy.¡±

 Chapter 43:

    Chapter 43:

    Chapter 43. The Smell of Money (3)

    Yukhar¡¯s house was located slightly off the center of Seor, by the riverside. This area, positioned along the river that ran through Seor, was a hub for logistics and a pleasure district frequented by many visitors. His house was thergest there.

    ¡°Yukhar¡­ he has the biggest organization around here. And I¡¯ve heard he¡¯s also close with the market of Seor.¡±

    Given that Seor was one of the Golden Idol Guild¡¯s trade hubs, the market itself was under the influence of the Golden Idol. Doubts started to arise regarding the independence of this whole situation from the Golden Idol Guild.

    Jacquette seemed reluctant about Isaac¡¯s actions. However, having seen the trick Isaac pulled off, it was hard to tell which of the two she found more terrifying.

    Ignoring Jacquette¡¯s words, Isaac looked straight at the front gate of Yukhar¡¯s mansion.

    Despite thete evening, guards and patrolling soldiers around Yukhar¡¯s mansion seemed unusually alert. Unlike the Barbaryian bandits, these guards were properly armed, and it seemed rather tricky to mess with the soldiers.

    What to do when visiting the den of a major underworld figure who dominates the ck market?

    Isaac had options: sneak in through Jacquette, use stealth to infiltrate under the cover of night, or even use traitors to capture and drag him out.

    Isaac did not ponder for long.

    It was not befitting of a Grail Knight.

    True to his title, Isaac kicked down the front gate of the mansion.

    Bang.

    A loud noise shook the mansion in the early dawn.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±

    Even though it was a pleasure district, it was still deep into the night when everyone was asleep. Guards rushed to the courtyard, aghast at the sight of the giant iron gate toppled over. The loud noise was indeed from the gate falling. And now, Isaac was stepping over it.

    ¡°An intruder!¡±

    The guards quickly grasped their weapons and surrounded Isaac. Not only because they assumed anyone who could knock down such a massive gate must be powerful, but also because they feared more intruders might follow through the broken main gate.

    ¡°What are you waiting for! Attack!¡±

    A man, seemingly a superior, shouted. A few guards lunged at Isaac with their spears, but Isaac easily parried, striking the spears aside and stomping them to the ground.

    It happened in the blink of an eye.

    ¡°He must be at least of knight level! Inform the nobleman right away!¡±

    At the mention of ¡°knight level,¡± the soldiers kept their distance, surrounding him but noting too close. ¡°Swordsmanship¡± was not exclusively a knight¡¯s prerogative; anyone could train in it. Knights referred to those who had mastered such skills, typically far surpassing the abilities of ordinary people.

    Isaac waited until enough soldiers had spilled out into the courtyard. People dressed for a banquet or some party inside began to emerge, wondering what was happening.

    Soon, a man with a formidable aura and a sharp-looking middle-aged man appeared. Isaac could tell from the way the guards made way that this man was Yukhar. Being wealthy, it was natural for him to have knight-level guards.

    ¡°Who are you¡­¡±

    ¡°I am Grail Knight Isaac.¡±

    Isaac raised his voice when he judged enough people had gathered. Though his voice was not loud, everyone¡¯s attention was on him, making his words clearly audible.

    The eyes of those surrounding Isaac flickered with uncertainty, and murmurs spread.

    ¡°A Grail Knight? Are there still Grail Knights around?¡±

    ¡°But why would a Grail Knight be here¡­¡±

    The title of Grail Knight was often mentioned in legends, so it was natural for the guards to be taken aback. However, Isaac¡¯s name and deeds were not yet widely known.

    But at least one person here would think differently.

    Isaac closely observed Yukhar biting his lip. However, the captain of the guard misinterpreted his silence and shouted aggressively.

    ¡°What lunacy brings someone to create havoc in the middle of the night? Archers!¡±

    Archers on the terrace prepared their bows. However, Yukhar raised his hand to stop them. While the captain of the guard was perplexed, Yukhar approached.

    ¡°I am Yukhar Leven, the nobleman. Even if you are a Grail Knight, does that allow you to break into a civilian¡¯s home at night?¡±

    Isaac smiled slightly.

    If Yukhar was so well-connected in this underworld, he would have already known about Isaac being a Grail Knight. But he couldn¡¯t use his guards to kill him.

    ¡®A knight cannot be killed in the middle of the city.¡¯

    Seor was under the influence of the White Empire. As a nobleman, Yukhar had to behave as if he were a follower of the Codex of Light, whether he was a believer or not.

    If a follower of the Codex of Light kills a Holy Grail Knight of the Light, it¡¯s a direct ticket to hell. If one does not wish to die and go to hell, the only options are apostasy or bing a barbarian, but Yukhar, who possessed much, and the other bodyguards could not afford to do so. In other words, even if Isaac tantly reveals his identity upon entering, Yukhar could do nothing about it.

    ¡®If I had to act, I should have used a barbarian, but that chance was missed.¡¯

    Therefore, Jacquette¡¯s ambush must have been particrly thorough, as Yukhar would have strongly advised.

    However, on the flip side, the only guarantee here is Isaac¡¯s life.

    What¡¯s important starts now.

    ¡°I came knowing that you¡¯re hiding a heretical relic. Return it immediately.¡±

    Isaac¡¯s purpose had been this from the beginning.

    ***

    Isaac entered Yukhar¡¯s mansion barefoot, without killing or being restrained by the guards.

    The mansion, which was in the midst of a banquet, was scattered with guests and foods, and cups of alcohol as if they were invited. Yukhar went out to the banquet hall, trying to manage the atmosphere.

    ¡°It¡¯s nothing, everyone. It seems there was a misunderstanding with the order, and that¡¯s why themotion urred. Please continue to enjoy the party.¡±

    The guests, dressed in fine clothes, exchanged uneasy nces, but shared drinks upon seeing that no furthermotion urred. Now, their eyes turned from unease to interest, mostly towards the young pdin, Isaac, who entered with Yukhar.

    At that moment, Isaac¡¯s eyes met someone in the banquet hall.

    It was Caitlin, the branch manager of the Golden Idol Guild, from Seor.

    She looked at Isaac with surprised eyes. However, Isaac, putting a finger to his lips, followed Yukhar.

    ¡°Come this way.¡±

    Yukhar led Isaac to the reception room and immediately ordered the servants to prepare the finest wines and a table of drinks. Perhaps the alcohol might be poisoned, or it could be a signal for armed soldiers to intrude.

    However, Isaac was unconcerned with either possibility.

    Yukhar sat opposite Isaac.

    ¡°I¡¯ve heard of your reputation, Sir Knight of the Holy Grail.¡±

    ¡°I haven¡¯t achieved anything noteworthy yet.¡±

    ¡°I heard you survived being hunted by the human hunters of Wachia all night and even single-handedly defeated a knight of the Briant Pdin Order.¡±

    Yukhar had to be polite to Isaac, not because the rank of a viscount was considered low, but out of respect for the authority of the order that recognized Isaac. In this world, the order¡¯s authority was overwhelming.

    ¡°I¡¯m not here to listen to ttery, Yukhar.¡±

    But Isaac maintained a high-handed stance. It might have been possible to show courtesy, but currently, it seemed advantageous to adopt an attitude of superiority. Such people quickly cause trouble if they perceive you as weaker than them.

    However, contrary to Isaac¡¯s expectations, Yukhar did not seem particrly intimidated. Isaac frowned. It was either because Yukhar had nothing to fear or he sensed a background powerful enough to overwhelm a Holy Grail Knight.

    Isaac decided to probe Yukhar¡¯s secret.

    ¡°You have it, don¡¯t you? The Shepherd¡¯s Crook.¡±

    Yukhar was remarkably good at hiding his inner thoughts. However, Isaac¡¯s eyes could not be deceived. Suddenly, his left eye turned into the Eye of Chaos, tinged with purple. Invisible tentacles that crawled up from chaos began to probe Yukhar¡¯s innermost secrets.

    [¡®How did he know?¡¯]

    ¡°I don¡¯t understand what you mean.¡±

    Yukhar acted with a calmness that could even surprise Isaac. Whether it was because of his wariness towards Isaac or because the walls around his mind were so solid, Isaac couldn¡¯t delve deeper, but the fragmented information was enough. Looking any closer, he feared tentacles might start crawling out from behind his eyelids.

    Isaac withdrew his Eye of Chaos and spoke.

    ¡°I came to Seor in the first ce to look for the Shepherd¡¯s Crook. I was nning to ask around slowly about its whereabouts, but I noticed that the city was in turmoil because of Loracus.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    For the first time, a slight unease appeared on Yukhar¡¯s face.

    Of course, Isaac could not remember all the relics in the Nameless Chaos. He only remembered those that were essential forpleting the game or were very powerful. The Shepherd¡¯s Crook was neither essential for gamepletion nor powerful, but it had a special function.

    It could manipte the emotions of beings with a certain level of mental strength or lower.

    Typically, true to its name, it was used to control animals or make hostile monsters friendly. It was an item used like a shepherd controlling a flock of sheep.

    However, it could not control beings with high intelligence, like humans.

    ¡°At first, I didn¡¯t connect this situation with the Shepherd¡¯s Crook. Humans can¡¯t be controlled by it. But then¡­ I wondered, why Loracus?¡±

    ¡°Why indeed?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s simple. Loracus has the effect of lowering magic resistance.¡±

    Magic resistance affects not just magic but also divine power.

    Yukhar started by buying up Lorocus inrge quantities at high prices, artificially spreading its trend. Of course, he didn¡¯t have enough money to manipte the market price by himself.

    But greed is like dominoes.

    As rumors spread that someone was buying up Loracus inrge quantities, all sorts of rumors circted. New effects of Loracus were discovered, or it had started to be hugely popr overseas.

    Sensitive merchants also joined in one by one, and various types of Loracus flooded into Seor. The innate ability of Loracus, the weakening of magic resistance, didn¡¯t matter whether it was in bulb, bloomed form, dried and crushed, or brewed into tea.

    As Seor filled with the scent of Lorocus, the city¡¯s overall magic resistance naturally weakened.

    That means even those who wouldn¡¯t normally have joined in such folly began to participate a little. And with the Shepherd¡¯s Crook, it was easy to stir greed in the collective consciousness.

    But the real step to explode the trend was next.

    Involving the Golden Idol top brass in this trend.

    Then, the door opened, and a maid brought in a bottle of alcohol and two sses. Various snacks were ced on the table, but neither Isaac nor Yukhar paid them any attention.

    ¡°Should I wait outside?¡±

    ¡°It seems it will be cleared up soon, so wait.¡±

    Following Yukhar¡¯smand, the maid waited by the door. However, Isaac closely observed the maid. Her movements and the heavy tension peculiar to someone trained suggested she was prepared for both poison and soldiers.

    But Isaac calmly poured the wine into Yukhar¡¯s ss.

    ¡°The party seemed quite grand?¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    This top-quality wine, along with all the beverages served to the guests, was mixed with the sweet-scented Loracus. The real targets Yukhar wanted to incite were not the crowd but the wealthy magnates and power brokers. They were specifically fed alcohol mixed with Loracus to significantly lower their magic resistance and incite their greed.

    As a result, Yukhar could open the prelude to a skyrocketing trend that could swallow Soer, and even the entire empire, without much effort.

    ¡°Now, here¡¯s the problem.¡±

    Isaac said, tapping on the table with a ss full of alcohol.

    ¡°What if it was revealed that there was no reason for the trend of Loracus and that it was merely maniption by a relic?¡±

    Isaac¡¯s finger flicked, pushing over and toppling the ss.

 Chapter 44:

    Chapter 44:

    The sound of a wine ss sliding across the table did not capture Yukhar¡¯s attention. Instead, he promptly responded to Isaac¡¯s question.

    ¡°One would surely die.¡±

    It was an ambiguous statement. Was he implying that Isaac would die, or was he referring to himself?

    Feeling perhaps hisment was too provocative, Yukhar continued.

    ¡°Do you have any idea how many power brokers, merchants, and knights are involved with Loracus? Even farmers have gotten involved. Imagine telling those whose heads are aze with joy that the treasure they¡¯ve purchased is actually trash. What do you think would happen?¡±

    Yukhar maintained a calm demeanor as he spoke to Isaac.

    ¡°Do you think they would listen to you? With their entire fortunes at stake? They might ignore you, or, perhaps, they might do something far more drastic to prevent the prices from falling.¡±

    Isaac realized why Yukhar was not perturbed. He wasn¡¯t concerned about the Shepherd¡¯s Crook being exposed.

    So many were already entangled in the Lorocus situation.

    Even without the Shepherd¡¯s Crook inciting them, the whole of Seor was rolling forward on the inertia of desire. Even knowing that destruction was the only end, no one could stop.

    ¡°Given the situation has reached this point, Holy Grail Knight, may I say something?¡±

    ¡°Go ahead.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know if you¡¯re aware, but there are no pdins within the Golden Idol top brass.¡±

    It was an unexpected turn. Why suddenly bring up the Golden Idol top brass and pdins? Yukhar didn¡¯t wait for Isaac¡¯s response and added,

    ¡°Not even priests or angels. Only followers are present in the Golden Idol top brass.¡±

    The reason the Golden Idol top brass could blend into the districts of other faiths without being heavily guarded by the nine faiths is precisely because itcked priests, pdins, and angels.

    Even the existence of the Golden Idol as a deity was sometimes questioned.

    However, merchants have felt the grace of the deity on their wandering paths, escaped bankruptcy through his blessing, and testified to unexpected fortunes and great profits. Thanks to the faith of these merchants, the Golden Idol top brass has maintained its influence among them.

    ¡°Why is that?¡±

    ¡°If there were priests and pdins, they would have their own positions, and differing positions could lead to disputes. Disputes would make it difficult for merchants to permeate among different faiths and conduct trade.¡±

    It would prevent them from achieving their most important doctrine, the pursuit of profit. Isaac, who had already seen the ending through the Golden Idol top brass, was well aware of this fact.

    ¡°Pdins and priests may be absent. Even angels. But tell me, does the Golden Idol as a deity truly exist?¡±

    ¡°Is this suddenly a theological discussion?¡±

    ¡°Other faithsmunicate with their deity through priests. But there are no priests in the Golden Idol top brass. Meaning, there¡¯s no way tomunicate with the deity. It¡¯s uncertain if he even exists.¡±

    ¡°I see your point. Are you a follower of the Golden Idol top brass?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    Isaac seemed to understand the structure. Soer had two branch managers: Caitlin, who sought legitimate trade in the light, and Yukhar, who did not shy away from any means to make money in the shadows.

    It wouldn¡¯t be strange if Caitlin, working in the shadows, was unaware of what Yukhar was doing. Their fields were entirely different, and from the start, Yukhar¡¯s views within the Golden Idol top brass seemed to¡­ cross the line.

    ¡°Are you annoyed that a pdin from another faith is telling you what to do?¡±

    ¡°Not an incorrect statement.¡±

    Yukhar red at Isaac as he spoke.

    ¡°If there had been a pdin on top of the golden idol as well, you wouldn¡¯t have been able toe here and create such a scene. A priest could curse your pocket to make holes in it.¡±

    ¡°A tight curse, indeed.¡±

    Isaac snorted in disdain.

    ¡°Then, may I say something?¡±

    ¡°Please do.¡±

    ¡°Bring me a shepherd¡¯s crook by tomorrow. If you pass it quietly, the furor over the Loracus will also die down quietly. But when Ie back, it won¡¯t end with just a conversation if you¡¯repliant.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡­¡±

    Yukhar just red at Isaac without responding. But there was nothing he could do. Even as a member of the Golden Idol¡¯s top echelon, killing a pdin of the Codex of Light within the White Empire was tantamount to social suicide.

    The Golden Idol¡¯s top echelon might even kill Yukhar to cut off the trail if such an event were to happen.

    Isaac picked up the bottle of alcohol Yukhar had offered.

    ¡°Even though something strange was mixed in, it seems like good alcohol. I¡¯ll be taking this.¡±

    ***

    ¡°Lord Isaac!¡±

    As Isaac was leaving Yukhar¡¯s mansion and heading back to his amodations, he heard someone calling him. Caitlin was leaning out of the carriage, calling out to him.

    She practically jumped down from the carriage and approached Isaac.

    ¡°What just happened? Why were you at the Count of Reben¡¯s mansion¡­¡­¡±

    ¡°Did you know that guy is the head of a criminal organization?¡±

    Caitlin frowned but didn¡¯t deny knowing it.

    ¡°I¡¯ve heard stories of Count Reben dabbling in crime. But we can¡¯t afford to distance ourselves from him. If we get on bad terms with the biggest ck hand in Seor, it would easily ruin our business.¡±

    Isaac didn¡¯t me her for her stance. Caitlin was a merchant, not a judge or a hero. To a merchant, as long as their people aren¡¯t harmed and their goods sell well, that¡¯s enough.

    ¡°Did you also know he¡¯s been swindling people with Loracus, making a fortune?¡±

    ¡°We did interact frequently for business. But as far as I know, he wasn¡¯t buying up much Loracus. It was on a simr level to other conglomerates, and about 1/10th of our consortium.¡±

    Isaac looked at Caitlin with pity.

    Caitlin would have drunk the Loracus wine and been tempted by the shepherd¡¯s figurine. Thinking about how the Golden Idol¡¯s top echelon yed a major role in the Loracus price surge, she was also being used.

    ¡®But if it weren¡¯t for the shepherd¡¯s figurine, would she really not have gotten involved in the trend?¡¯

    That¡¯s unlikely. In the end, she would have ended up coborating with Yukhar, whether she liked it or not.

    Isaac finally spoke up.

    ¡°It¡¯s all been manipted by Yukhar.¡±

    Isaac exined to Caitlin what he had discovered. The spike in Loracus prices was artificially created by Yukhar using the shepherd¡¯s crook. To do this, he fed Loracus wine to the magnates and power yers of Seor, stirring up their greed.

    There was actually no basis for the Loracus price surge at all.

    Caitlin¡¯s expression grew darker as she listened. Especially when she heard that there was no basis for the Loracus price spike, she touched her cheek several times.

    ¡°I had assumed that some hidden effect of Loracus had been discovered, or it was because of war preparations¡­.¡±

    ¡°Not everything in the world happens based on solid grounds,¡± Caitlin sighed deeply.

    ¡°Then¡­ it¡¯s pointless to track where the Loracus is going. It must have scattered, with people hoping for its price to rise.¡±

    ¡°Well, likely so.¡±

    Caitlin seemed to ponder for a moment before asking Isaac.

    ¡°So, does this conclude our agreement?¡±

    ¡°What are you nning to do about Yukhar?¡±

    ¡°He will be dealt with within our consortium. Even though he hired Barbarians for the job, since it involved harming a fellow member, it¡¯s right that we handle it ourselves. We operate on the principle of respecting each other¡¯s territories, and I never expected him to go this far¡­¡±

    Isaac decided to introduce Caitlin to Jacquette. Since Barbariancks faith or a deity, he would confess easily. Perhaps under Jacquette¡¯s hand, Yukhar might even meet his end.

    ¡°Are you proceeding with the contract as usual? If you wish, I can pay in cash right now.¡±

    Perhaps this was her main concern.

    Caitlin, having heard Isaac¡¯s words, was already anticipating a drop in the Loracus prices. Although the dramatic decline might not happen as Yukhar said, since Seor was already rolling on the inertia of greed, a drop is still a drop.

    She might have thought it cheaper to settle the contract with Isaac now.

    ¡°How much?¡±

    However, Isaac decided to hear her out. The amount Caitlin proposed was surprisinglyrge, enough to buy Yukhar¡¯s mansion.

    ¡°That much?¡±

    ¡°Preventing a potential great loss to our consortium warrants this much at least.¡±

    Caitlin seemed rather relieved.

    Just as she said, being the first to know that the Loracus prices would fall meant that the Golden Idol Guild could minimize losses.

    In fact, if yed well, they could evene out with a profit.

    However, Isaac shook his head after a moment of thought.

    ¡°There¡¯s a contract with the Golden Idol guaranteeing security, so it¡¯s better not to break it. Let¡¯s see after a month. My faith may not align, but a god is still a god¡­¡±

    Isaac paused mid-sentence.

    ¡°There are no pdins in the Golden Idol Guild, you said.¡±

    ¡°Yes? That¡¯s¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­Is that really true?¡±

    In other faiths, breaking an oath to a deity could result in a curse or, in the worst case, pdins or angelsing after them.

    But the Golden Idol had none of those.

    Yukhar, being a member of the Golden Idol consortium andmenting the absence of priests, pdins, and angels, might be seeking something that is most desired by someone with such deficiencies.

    Like other orders, he might desire the miracles of priests and the power of pdins.

    What Yukhar wants is neither money nor power.

    Isaac had an intuition that a pdin of the Golden Idol woulde after him.

    ***

    Late at night, a deep fog settled over Seor.

    Isaac was staying at a luxurious facility provided by Caitlin. The amodation, operated by the Golden Idol consortium itself, had facilities and a guest service system that would be considered excellent even by modern standards.

    This also meant that many employees worked for the amodation. In this era without machines, operating facilities asfortably as those in the modern era required manpower.

    Therefore, a stranger blending in naturally went unnoticed.

    Because, after all, it was just a woman dressed as an ordinary maid.

    The maid, carrying aundry basket, passed among people without arousing any suspicion. She checked the register at the counter, sneaked out a master key, and reached her destination without any hindrance.

    Soon, the maid arrived at a room. She used the master key to enter, finding it empty.

    The maid looked around the room as if to check itsyout and then approached the bed. Standing on the bed, she looked up for a moment before suddenly thrusting her hand upwards. A red spear emerged from thin air, piercing through the ceiling in an instant.

    Boom. The sound of the roof being pierced echoed.

    However, the maid¡¯s face twitched. She did not feel the sensation of piercing flesh and bone she expected.

    Among the falling dust, the maid transformed into red mist and surged upwards. The red mist seeped through the hole in the ceiling created by the spear. Quickly reverting to her original form, the maid looked around, but the person she expected was not there.

    ¡°A Wachia human hunter? You again?¡±

    The maid quickly turned her head. Her target, Isaac, fully armed from armor to sword, was looking at her.

    ¡°It was that maid after all. Somehow, her gaze seemed more ferocious than that of ordinary knights.¡±

 Chapter 45:

    Chapter 45:

    Chapter 45. The Lightkeeper (1)

    ¡°I already anticipated this,¡± the maid spoke coldly.

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t hard to predict. But I didn¡¯t know you¡¯d be a Wachia human hunter¡­¡±

    Isaac had expected a pdin from the Golden Idol toe for him.

    A pdin that could be associated with the Golden Idol guild, known for not having any pdins, was essentially a mercenary.

    The Golden Idol had the power to hire pdins from different faiths without hesitation and pit them against each other, just like Caitlin hired Isaac and Yukhar hired the Wachia hunter standing before him now.

    They might not consider it a power, but it was something no other faith outside the Golden Idol could do. Moreover, mercenaries hired by the Golden Idol consortium could receive blessings of luck from the Golden Idol.

    With a swift motion, the maidunched her spear. Isaac felt a familiar sensation from the barely missed spear trajectory. Her skills were not ordinary, surpassing those of Wachia hunters he had previously encountered in a valley.

    ¡®Almost or slightly less skilled than Heinckel? Impressive.¡¯

    Isaac tensed up, readying himself for a tight battle if it came down to pure skill.

    Of course, Isaac had no intention of fighting fair, assuming his opponent felt the same.

    ¡°What¡¯s your rtion to Heinkel Gullmar?¡±

    The maid seemed to ignore Isaac¡¯s question, but her spear trembled slightly. Trying to hide it was futile; her ability to transform into red mist and her mastery with the spear clearly indicated she was trained by the same person. Isaac quickly deduced that the maid was affiliated with the Gullmar ducal house.

    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re Hesabel Gullmar? the heir to the Gullmar ducal house, right?¡±

    The maid clenched her teeth. Her inability to hide her facial expressions was evident. The dramatic change in her emotions was too conspicuous to be angry about being discovered. Her face was filled with shame and anxiety.

    ¡°Why would the heir to the Gullmar ducal house be here, dressed as a maid, working as a mercenary?¡±

    ¡°Hey!¡±

    The maid finally yelled, swinging her spear wildly.

    With tremendous force, the walls and pirs were ripped apart, leaving a massive scar.

    Watching this, Isaac couldn¡¯t help but feel bewildered.

    ¡°Really?¡±

    Hesabel seemed to lose her strength, lowering the tip of her spear. Isaac didn¡¯t miss the opportunity andunched himself forward with Isaac Swordsmanship: Eight Branches. In an instant, the walls, floor, and ceiling of the room were ripped apart with eight trajectories aiming at Hesabel.

    Caught off guard by Isaac¡¯s sudden change in stance, Hesabel was unprepared for a fight, expecting a conversation instead. A spear wasn¡¯t a weapon that could be readily prepared without a prior stance, showing itsrge preparatory movements.

    Isaac noticed that among the eight movements he initiated, two trajectories wounded Hesabel, but the rest were deflected. Despite the brief moment, Hesabel managed to execute advanced spear techniques, evident from the smoothly prated marks on the walls where she struck.

    Had Isaac not dodged or blocked, those strikes would have precisely bored holes through him.

    The wounds on Hesabel, as if gnawed by a saw, quickly healed into a mist of blood.

    Realizing he couldn¡¯t kill her without using his tendrils, Isaac opened up for a conversation.

    ¡°Shall we talk?¡±

    ¡°This bastard¡­¡±

    She started to mutter a curse but quickly covered her mouth. Isaac shrugged.

    ¡°I have no idea what you bloodsuckers are doing deep in the White Empire. Working under a criminal lord in a border city? Plotting some conspiracy?¡±

    Isaac wondered if the Wachia hunters, like they did in the Ariet Monastery, were plotting something here too. Though, to be precise, it was the plot of the Immortal Order, not the Red Grail.

    Hesabel gnashed her teeth, then aimed her spear at Isaac.

    ¡°It¡¯s because of you!¡±

    ¡°Me?¡±

    ¡°My uncle had the rite of Division, and you stole it! I came to retrieve it!¡±

    The Rite of Division, a relic of the Red Chalice Club, was indeed something the heir to the Gullmar ducal house would chase after, risking their life. Unable to bring an army, she would havee alone or with a few elites. However, there were still unanswered questions.

    ¡°But why are you in a maid¡¯s outfit?¡±

    ¡°Shut up!¡±

    Hesabel swung her spear again. Isaac considered mimicking the Prophet of the Red Flesh, as he had done with Heinckel, but it seemed there was no time for that.

    Loud footsteps were approaching from outside.

    ¡°Who¡¯s there!¡±

    Alerted by themotion Hesabel caused, the guards and security personnel of the amodation were rushing towards them. As it was a well-equipped lodging, there was a substantial security force. Hesabel red at Isaac, but she had already missed her chance.

    She quickly disappeared into the mist that enveloped Seor, bing a red mist herself.

    Isaac didn¡¯t lose track of the flow of the red mist.

    ***

    The main flow of logistics in Seor was through the riverside, hence the waterways were well-maintained, with sewers leading into these waterways throughout the city.

    Isaac chose one of these underground sewers to enter.

    Of course, Isaac wasn¡¯t nning to wait until Yukhar readily prepared the Shepherd¡¯s Figurine.

    Given that Yukhar sent an assassin dressed as a maid instead of an apology and the figurine, he would be preparing to flee or resist.

    In fact, this was somewhat intended.

    Isaac had almost ruled out the possibility of Yukhar willingly handing over the relic.

    Instead, by striking at his weakness, Isaac thought Yukhar would desperately run towards the relic. And things were going as expected.

    ¡®It is within here.¡¯

    The will of Zihilrat was conveyed to Isaac. Thanks to possessing a higher intelligence than a rat, though the speech was awkward, the vocabry was rich. Fitting for a creature born from a rat, Zihilrat was useful for assassination, infiltration, and tracking.

    ¡®To think it would lead me straight to the relic this easily.¡¯

    Isaac smirked bitterly, concluding that Yukhar had nothing but the relic to rely on. The Golden Idol guild was deciding on his punishment, and the power brokers and merchants of Seor wouldn¡¯t be pleased to learn they had been manipted, especially after being fed a suspicious potion.

    What else could Yukhar rely on besides the relic?

    That¡¯s when it happened.

    [The Nameless Chaos watches over you.]

    [The Nameless Chaos desires the ¡®purification¡¯ of this desecrated sanctuary.]

    [A reward from Chaos awaits you.]

    Isaac¡¯s steps halted.

    ¡®The Shepherd¡¯s Crook is kept in a sanctuary?¡¯

    He knew there were sanctuaries in Seor, as important ces often had one. But this ce was likely a sanctuary of the Golden Idol guild, and he had no intention of meddling with it.

    But it was strange that Yukhar came here to borrow its power.

    ¡®The Golden Idol is a bit¡­ weak on the defensive side.¡¯

    However, it seemed clear why he had hidden here, seemingly with no ce to run. And why the Shepherd¡¯s Figurine could exert such strong power.

    He had been drawing on the power of the sanctuary.

    And there was another entity protecting Yukhar.

    ¡°Hello, heir to the Gullmar ducal house.¡±

    Hesabel stood facing Isaac, looking tired. Unlike the previous dawn, she was not dressed as a maid but wore the distinctive, high-quality hunting attire of a Wachia hunter.

    ¡°Don¡¯t call me that if you know my name. It feels like an insult.¡±

    ¡°My name is Isaac. You knew that, right?¡±

    Hesabel nodded and drew her spear, but she didn¡¯t seem intent on fighting immediately, resting the tip of her spear on the ground.

    ¡°Just return the Rite of Division. Then, I won¡¯t interfere and will go back.¡±

    Isaac looked at her with interest.

    He had no intention of returning it, but he was curious why the heir to the Gullmar ducal house would be serving under Yukhar in the dens of Seor¡¯s criminals.

    ¡°Tell me why you were working under Yukhar.¡±

    ¡°¡­It¡¯s because of you.¡±

    ¡°If it¡¯s about the Rite of Division, you could have just ambushed me at night.¡±

    Hesabel tried to remain silent, but Isaac pulled out the Rite of Division from his waistband. Her eyes shook violently.

    ¡°Speak the truth, and I might give it to you.¡±

    ¡°You, you!¡±

    ¡°I swear upon the Codex of Light.¡±

    Although it was a deity Isaac was indifferent about, Hesabel was startled by his oath. She hadn¡¯t expected a pdin to swear on their faith over such a matter. But the possibility of regaining the Rite of Division with just a few words tempted Hesabel to finally speak.

    ¡°¡­I ran out of travel funds while tracking you.¡±

    Hesabel had been following Isaac from the Ariet Valley, thinking she just needed to retrieve the Rite of Division and return.

    The problem was, this was Hesabel¡¯s first time wandering alone for months. Moreover, she hadn¡¯t anticipated the journey would take so long or require much money.

    Food was manageable by drinking blood, and she was ustomed to sleeping outdoors, but the harsh winter journey was unbearable for a duchess used to luxurious living.

    Additionally, avoiding the sun and hiring help discreetly cost a lot.

    By the time her funds were depleted, Hesabel had arrived in Seor.

    ¡°So you heard about the loracus boom?¡±

    ¡°¡­Yes.¡±

    Hesabel thought it was a good opportunity to secure funds, but she had no money left.

    ¡°So, you took out a loan.¡±

    ¡°¡­A loan? From Yukhar?¡±

    ¡°Yes. He even demanded coteral¡­¡±

    With her unclear status, only someone like Yukhar, a big shot in the back alleys, would lend her money, and that too against coteral. Perhaps, the coteral was the very goal.

    Being the heir to the Gullmar ducal house, Hesabel had plenty of valuables that could serve as coteral.

    Isaac looked at her incredulously.

    ¡°Did you actually pledge another relic as coteral?¡±

    ¡°¡­Yes. And with that money¡­ I bought loracus coins.¡±

    Hesabel bit her lip several times.

    ¡°That¡¯s absurd.¡±

    ¡°Dealing with heavy, earth-smelling loracus seemed less practical than loracus coins, right? Besides, cash was said to be a primitive relic of the past. Loracus coins were supposed to rece all cash in the future. At first, they even paid dividends! But then¡­¡±

    The problem began when the payment of dividends started to dy. Yukhar told her that as the price of loracus rose, so did the value of loracus coins, suggesting she sell them to make money. Hesabel believed him and bought more loracus coins.

    By the time she realized, she had less than a third of the money left from when she pledged the relic.

    Greed had engulfed not only the foolish farmers, merchants, and power brokers but also the heir to the ducal house of the Wika Kingdom.

    ¡®How could you be so foolish? Did you drink the loracus wine, too?¡¯

    Isaac almost blurted out those words but managed to restrain himself.

    ¡°Just kill Yukhar and take the money.¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t. Then I won¡¯t be able to retrieve the relic.¡±

    Hesabel muttered, stabbing the ground with her spear.

    ¡°And¡­ if you talk nonsense, the price of loracus will crash. I¡¯m stuck with loracus coin gold at 4.2 each. If the price of loracus goes up, I can pay off my debt and get the relic back. I will stop you at all costs!¡±

    The cry of a high-rise dweller trapped on the 42nd floor echoed heroically through the sewer.

 Chapter 46:

    Chapter 46:

    Chapter 46. The Lightkeeper (2)

    After the roar of Hesabel echoed through the underground waterways, there was a moment of silence between the two.

    A bit of time passed before Isaac spoke up.

    ¡°So you¡¯re saying you¡¯ll go back if I return the rite of division?¡±

    But if you¡¯ve already left a relic as coteral, shouldn¡¯t you retrieve that as well?

    Hesabel seemed perturbed by Isaac¡¯s point.

    ¡°Hm? Ah, yes. The relic I left as coteral¡­ It¡¯s not as important as the rite of division¡­ I did lose out significantly, but still¡­¡±

    Though Hesabel grunted in difort, it seemed she couldn¡¯t easily give up the Loracus Coin. Recovering the rite of division was important, but not to the point of suffering a great loss.

    Of course, Isaac had no intention of returning the rite of division.

    ¡°Fine. It was a pathetic reason, but my curiosity has been satisfied. And here I thought Yukhar had the savvy to involve a Wachia hunter as well.¡±

    It was doubtful if there was anyone as foolish as Hesabel. Of course, there were likely a few knights who were duped by the surge in Loracus, thinking Yukhar could act boldly in front of Isaac for that reason.

    ¡°Come then, try to retrieve it. Your uncle¡¯s skills were pitiful. Let¡¯s see how impressive the niece is.

    ¡°You¡¯re not going to return the rite of division? Even though you swore on the Codex of Light?¡±

    ¡°The Codex of Light says not to return it.¡±

    That was a lie. Hesabel, being a pdin, seemed to experience cognitive dissonance realizing that Isaac, who had sworn an oath to God, would break it so readily.

    Such a thing was unthinkable in this era, especially for pdins and priests, as they would face immediate repercussions. But for Isaac, who was not a Codex of Light pdin, it was irrelevant.

    Isaac immediately charged at Hesabel.

    Hesabel, hissing, raised her spear. The tip of her spear sharply aimed at Isaac, but what appeared in front of her was the division ritual.

    ¡°Damn you!¡±

    She screamed, barely twisting the tip of her spear away.

    ¡°That¡¯s not a weapon, you madman!¡±

    ¡°I know.¡±

    The rite of division was a ceremonial sword, sharp enough to cut bone but not sturdy, used for sacrifices or rituals. Hesabel, aware of this, feared her spear might damage or break the delicate de of the division ritual.

    In essence, Isaac was swinging around something equivalent to a national treasure of Wachia.

    ¡°Enough!¡±

    Struggling not to sh with the enemy¡¯s weapon while attacking, Hesabel was at a significant disadvantage. She gritted her teeth and transformed her body into a red mist, attempting to attack Isaac from behind.

    However, at that moment, Isaac¡¯s body also transformed into red mist. The two red mists violently mixed together.

    Crack, thud!

    A sound like bones breaking followed as the two were violently thrown apart. Hesabely on the floor of the underground waterway, gasping.

    ¡®What the?!¡¯

    Transforming into mist wasmon for her, but mixing with another mist was unprecedented. The mists, upon merging, were expelled by a powerful force as if something that should not happen had urred.

    More shockingly, Isaac had used the ¡®Red Prayer,¡¯ a miracle of the Red Chalice.

    ¡®How could he use the Red Prayer?¡¯

    At that moment, Hesabel recalled Isaac casually breaking the oath he made on the Codex of Light and mentioning the prophet of the red flesh at the site of Heinkel¡¯s death. That ominous thought quickly overwhelmed her.

    ¡®Could it be? For real?¡¯

    ¡°This doesn¡¯t feel right.¡±

    Isaac, already standing, looked down at Hesabel.

    ¡°I wanted to try a few experiments, but this should be enough.¡±

    Violet eyes gleamed menacingly in the darkness, surrounded by eerie tendrils.

    Certainly not the appearance of a Codex of Light pdin

    ¡°What is¡­ this¡­¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s end the conversation here.¡±

    Hesabel reflexively hurled her spear at Isaac. Isaac did not move. Instead, something that sprung from his left arm quickly wrapped around Hesabel¡¯s spear. The thing, as thick as a forearm, snapped the spear as if it were a toothpick and even crunched the fragments.

    Hesabel dumbly watched the tentacle that had shattered her spear, harder than steel.

    In the meantime, the tentacle, like a snake, crawled up Hesabel¡¯s body and pressed its end in front of her eyes.

    ustomed to darkness, Hesabel could see teeth, thorns, and eyes wriggling between the tentacles.

    With a scream, she immediately fled the spot.

    ***

    Her breath was short. Hesabel was lost in the maze-like underground waterways of Seor.

    ¡°Where is this? Where on earth is the exit?¡±

    The structure of the waterways wasplex and dark. The waterways seemed to have been built a long time ago, withyers of stones of different styles and materials piled up. Even as a vampire familiar with darkness, this ancient darkness made her feel afraid.

    No, what truly frightened her was the unidentified entity chasing her through the darkness.

    ¡°Pant, pant¡­¡±

    When her breath became short and her movements slowed, Hesabel felt a hot breath and sticky warmth on her back. She screamed and started running again.

    She had already given up on escaping by transforming into a red mist. It was a limited ability, and she had exhausted its uses. Moreover, the opponent could transform into red mist too, making it nonsensical to try and escape that way.

    ¡®What exactly are you, uncle? What have you fought against?!¡¯

    Fear consumed her mind. The terror was so intense that she thought it might be better to fight and die. At least if she were eaten, she might find some peace.

    But the reason she couldn¡¯t stop was that the identity of that thing was unknown.

    Disciples of the Red Chalice Club are invited to the banquet of the Red Chalice upon death. There, enjoying beautiful things, gourmet food, and pleasures was the heaven of the Red Chalice. But now, she was at risk of bing the menu at that banquet, not a guest.

    ¡®Is it okay to die? Is it really okay to be eaten by that thing?¡¯

    Some kinds of death offer a more terrible fate than ordinary death, robbing the disciples of their promised afterlife. There was a rumor that being killed by Barbarian meant neither heaven nor hell, but generally, it happened when cursed by a god or killed by an entity one should never meet.

    Hesabel worried that Isaac might be such an entity.

    Eventually, when she could hardly take another step due to shortness of breath, there were only two choices left.

    To fight bravely, risking her life to enter the banquet of the Red Chalice honorably.

    ¡°Please save me! Please, just spare my life!¡±

    Or to grovel pathetically for her life.

    Hesabel chose thetter.

    With the identity of Isaac unknown, she couldn¡¯t gamble. As the heir to a ducal family, she had the duty to pursue the lost relic and uphold her family¡¯s honor. Above all, she couldn¡¯t afford to die just anywhere.

    She rather hoped Isaac was indeed the prophet of the red flesh.

    If Isaac was truly the prophet of the red flesh or his representative, perhaps she could be forgiven for interfering with his ns.

    If not, she might wander some horrendous ce neither heaven nor hell.

    Hesabel waited for Isaac¡¯s mercy, her head buried in the mire. Though no sound was heard, the presence of Isaac beyond the darkness was palpable. The air in the hot underground waterway carried the stench of stale blood.

    Then, Hesabel felt something probing at her nape.

    Chills ran down her body. She knew without looking that it was the tentacle that had devoured her spear. If it bit into her neck and head as it had with the spear, she would die without even screaming.

    ¡°Please save me¡­¡±

    Yet, all Hesabel could do was beg in a mosquito-like voice.

    She felt a gaze upon her for a moment before a sharp pain at her nape. She tightly shut her eyes.

    After a while, Hesabel slowly opened her eyes.

    She thought she might be dead, but there was no banquet, no hell-like scene. She was still face-down in the damp underground waterway. The air around her was no longer hot, and the foul smell had vanished, but it took almost ten minutes before she could lift her head.

    Realizing there was nothing around her, Hesabel immediately got up and started running.

    But fearing her footsteps were too loud, she began to walk quietly again. Half crying, halfughing, Hesabel vowed to herself.

    ¡®I must never get close to that man again. Never¡­¡¯

    ***

    ¡®Hmm, maybe I should have just eaten her.¡¯

    Isaac felt an odd sense of hunger as he licked his lips. Initially, he had no intention of sparing Hesabel, whoy prostrate in the mud. It had been a while since he had eaten, and he rarely spared those who sought his life.

    However, the reason he spared Hesabel was simple.

    Having already consumed Heinkel Gullmar, a superior entity, he didn¡¯t see any additional abilities to gain from her. Moreover, her earnest pleas for forgiveness somehow made him lose any desire to kill her.

    ¡®Knowing their true intentions breeds unnecessary sympathy.¡¯

    Had he not been able to see into Hesabel¡¯s heart with the Eye of Chaos, he would have simply devoured her to prevent future trouble. However, what he saw within Hesabel through the Eye of Chaos was nothing but fear of Isaac and a promise to never confront him again. It seemed unlikely that her resolve would change easily.

    Isaac imnted a ¡®Parasite from Beyond¡¯ in her nape. If Hesabel were to betray or divulge information about Isaac, her brain would explode. Otherwise, she would suffer from headaches for a while.

    ¡®A small price to pay for sparing her life.¡¯

    Isaac continued through the underground waterways.

    He had let Hesabel go with the parasite because he thought she might lead him to Yukhar.

    He had hoped that the panicked Hesabel might stumble upon Yukhar¡¯s location, but it ended with her just wandering aimlessly until this point.

    Though disappointed, the venture was not without its gains.

    Wandering around, he stumbled upon the aura of a sanctuary.

    [The Nameless Chaos watches over you.]

    ¡°Don¡¯t rush me.¡±

    As Isaac followed the underground waterway, he felt his heart pounding more with each step, a symptom of nearing a sanctuary. It wasn¡¯t Isaac¡¯s heart that pulsed, but the tentacles, the beating transmitted from the watchful eyes of the Nameless Chaos from beyond.

    Around the corner of the waterway, a soft yellow light leaked out. Approaching the flickering light, he finally entered arge space filled with the sight he had anticipated.

    This was the sanctuary of the Golden Idol.

    The room was filled corner to corner with brilliant gold and silver treasures and dried Loracus petals. In the center, surrounded by odd ceremonial patterns and decorations, sat Yukhar, clutching a shepherd figurine tightly to his chest as if it would crumble

    Isaac, seeing this, couldn¡¯t help butment sarcastically.

    ¡°Were you sad that the Golden Idol guildcked a proper order? Or did you just want to imitate other orders?¡±

    Yukhar¡¯s mouth dropped open as he stared at Isaac.

    [This pitiful human ims he can be the true god of the non-existent Golden Idol, recing it.]

    It wasn¡¯t Yukhar¡¯s voice.

    Isaac quickly recognized who the speaker might be.

    ¡°Are you also an ancient god?¡±

 Chapter 47:

    Chapter 47:

    Chapter 47. The Lightkeeper (3)

    Yukhar remained motionless, as if he himself had be the shepherd¡¯s crook he clutched.

    But Isaac sensed something behind him.

    Just as Yukhar clung to the shepherd¡¯s crook, something translucent seemed to be squeezing Yukhar with a grip that could crush him. At first nce, it resembled a pig, but its appearance was so mixed and muddled that it was hard to identify urately.

    ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡±

    [This human doesn¡¯t know my name yet¡­ But you, a hybrid born of the unholy union between an angel and a human, could perhaps bear knowing my name.]

    The translucent pig squirmed as it whispered its name.

    [But it wouldn¡¯t be fun to just tell you. I¡¯ll give you a riddle.]

    ¡°A riddle?¡±

    [Yes¡­ I am the cold sun¡­]

    ¡°The treasure god Golruwa.¡±

    [¡­]

    Golruwa seemed taken aback, lost for words.

    Isaac had recognized the pig¡¯s form immediately. In the game, Golruwa was an event monster that appeared without a fixed location, issuing riddles and unleashing monsters that didn¡¯t match the yer¡¯s level if they failed to answer, leading to the yer¡¯s death.

    ording to the lore, it followed the scent of the greedy, killing them to take what they had.

    In any case, an ancient god that took the form of a pig and issued riddles could only be Golruwa.

    And it seemed likely that Yukhar could have only summoned that being.

    [How did you know my name, hybrid? It should have been forgotten by now.]

    ¡°Were you about to pose a question nobody could answer? You¡¯re insane.¡±

    Isaac wasn¡¯t surprised by the existence of an ancient god. He had a familiar premonition when he learned of the sanctuary¡¯s presence. The Nameless Chaos was excited not just because of the sanctuary, but because it had sensed the ancient god.

    After consuming the sanctity of Zihilrat, the Nameless Chaos was craving other divinities.

    Isaac looked around. From thevish decorations, it was clear this ce was originally the sanctuary of the Golden Idol. But it seemed Yukhar had corrupted it for his own purposes.

    ¡°What were you nning to do here? Actually, I don¡¯t care. Just die.¡±

    Isaac extended his tentacles to attack Golruwa. He alsomanded Zihilrat, who was hiding in a drainage hole preparing an ambush, to attack while he rushed in as well.

    Caught off guard from both sides, Golruwa was unable to defend.

    No, itcked the ability to defend.

    Isaac¡¯s tentacles pierced through Yukhar¡¯s chest, and Zihilrat bit off his neck. Suffering fatal wounds in two ces, Yukhar died instantly.

    ¡°You¡¯re hasty, hybrid pdin.¡±

    Yukhar, with his neck broken, managed to speak. Although it was Yukhar¡¯s voice, Isaac knew its essence was Golruwa. Golruwa still clung to Yukhar in its translucent form. Isaac frowned and retracted his tentacles.

    ¡°You¡¯re powerful¡­ But fortunately, I haven¡¯t fully resurrected yet. I¡¯m suspended between reality and unreality. It¡¯s impossible to kill me physically.¡±

    This meant Yukhar wasn¡¯t the medium keeping Golruwa even partly alive. Nor was it the shepherd¡¯s crook. It wasn¡¯t a powerful enough relic.

    Golruwa, clutching Yukhar¡¯s body tighter, spoke.

    ¡°There¡¯s no need for unnecessary conflict. Pdin. I don¡¯t enjoy fighting.¡±

    ¡°Then why don¡¯t you just kill yourself?¡±

    [¡°¡­I am the god of greed and treasures. Pdin, let¡¯s make a deal.¡±]

    Golruwa, also known as the god of wealth, was worshipped by traders until the Golden Idol appeared. While the Golden Idol, whatever its form, symbolized deals, markets, and finance involving cooperation with others, Golruwa represented pure greed, the pursuit of monopoly.

    ¡°A wicked ancient god proposing a deal to a pdin?¡±

    [¡°I don¡¯t know which god you serve, but you¡¯re not a minion of the Lighthouse. So, what¡¯s the harm? I don¡¯t care who you are. I can give you what you want.¡±]

    Golruwa extended its hand towards Isaac.

    [¡°I can sense your greed, pdin. Do you seek people¡¯s recognition? Do you desire victory in your grasp? I can help you. Wouldn¡¯t it be reassuring to have a god as your ally?¡±]

    Isaac found this amusing.

    Sure, the conservative Book of Light might disagree, but other faiths didn¡¯t necessarily consider deals as acts of apostasy, as long as their doctrines weren¡¯t vited.

    ¡°What kind of deal?¡±

    Isaac asked, already knowing what Golruwa might propose.

    As expected, Golruwa gave the anticipated answer.

    [¡°Help me be the god of the Golden Idol.¡±]

    ***

    Yukhar believed there was no god within the Golden Idol guild.

    Of course, there was something that protected the followers of the Golden Idol, something sensed in coincidences, luck, and premonitions by Yukhar as well. But it was a phenomenon, not a deity that could be clearly felt.

    He wanted a god.

    Like other faiths, he wanted a deity that answered prayers, bestowed miracles, provided guidance through priests, and a sword-wielding pdin to protect against other deities¡¯ followers.

    So, when Yukhar discovered the shepherd¡¯s crook and traces of the god of wealth, he thought he might be able to fill the vacancy of the Golden Idol.

    ¡°Yukhar wanted to personify the conceptual god.¡±

    ¡°Personify?¡±

    [¡°To think, speak, judge, be moved, rage, reward, and punish. Like Elil, the Red Chalice, or the Immortal Emperor. Yukhar thought he could be the personification of the Golden Idol. Using me.¡±]

    Golruwa muttered as if amused.

    [¡°So, he borrowed hands here and there to resurrect me. Seems like he might have used the power of the Immortal Emperor¡¯s followers.¡±]

    ¡®Again? Well, I figured it involved them once ancient gods got involved.¡¯

    Who else but the Immortal Order could he have borrowed hands from?

    Seor is a trade hub city on the outskirts of the White Empire. It¡¯smon for suspicious people to enter and for unidentified foreign items to arrive.

    Like Zihilrat, Yukhar probably didn¡¯t need to borrow the hand of a Wachia hunter.

    But it ended up hiring one, in effect.

    [¡°And for my resurrection¡­ he ignited the mes of greed in Seor. I helped too. I told him the location of the shepherd¡¯s crook and used the emerging trend of Lorekus for a spection strategy. Ah, gathering money is truly enjoyable the more you have.¡±]

    Isaac thought Golruwa¡¯s strategy was quite usible.

    Ancient gods failed to resurrect because theycked followers and were too outdated. However, Golruwa nned to devour the followers of the Golden Idol, starting with the greedy of Seor.

    The followers of the Golden Idol, desperate to avoid bankruptcy, would cling to the surge in Loracus, and their greed would return power to Golruwa.

    ¡®But Golruwa ends up not resurrecting, right?¡¯

    Although Golruwa could be encountered as an event monster in the game, like Zihilrat, it was merely a mid-boss. It never reached the level of a faith. At most, it annoyed and frustrated yers.

    The failure of Golruwa¡¯s strategy was inevitable, but Isaac didn¡¯t know when or why it happened.

    [¡°But this frail human is too weak and old to serve as my vessel. And as soon as you uncovered my identity, he came running to me, desperately begging for a way out.¡±]

    Golruwa sneered, looking down at Yukhar.

    ¡°So, you want my body?¡±

    [¡°That would be ideal¡­ but you¡¯re not keen, are you?¡±]

    Behind Golruwa¡¯s translucent form, two eyes gleamed with greed. A healthy and young body, even a half-angel with divinity, was the perfect vessel.

    However, Golruwa wasn¡¯t foolish enough to lose what it had through clumsy greed.

    It excelled in slowly crumbling and then swallowing its targets with greed.

    As it had done with Yukhar.

    ¡°Well, what do you say?¡±

    Unexpectedly, Isaac responded with an action that took Golruwa by surprise. He opened his arms as if to say, go ahead. Golruwa stared at Isaac, baffled.

    [¡°You¡¯re offering your body?¡±]

    ¡°A strategic ancient god who can converse is better than some unknown tentacle monster. And you want to devour the Golden Idol guild to be a god? That would instantly give me a force of my own.¡±

    [The Nameless Chaos watches over you.]

    [The Nameless Chaos is outraged by your ludicrousparison.]

    Isaac ignored the messages from the Nameless Chaos, approaching Yukhar as if he was truly fine with the arrangement. Golruwa wondered if Isaac was plotting something. But even if Isaac had ns, Golruwa thought it couldn¡¯t be harmed.

    It was already gaining power through the greed of Seor and could remain in a state of neither living nor dying as long as that greed sustained it, until it fully possessed a body.

    It didn¡¯t seem like Isaac would harm himself right after possession either.

    Above all, Golruwa read the immense greed within Isaac.

    He really thought he could swallow Golruwa and make it his own.

    Like he had done with Yukhar.

    Golruwa burst into maniacalughter and lunged at Isaac.

    ¡°HAHAHA! I like your greed! Fine, we¡¯ll make a greatbination! Let¡¯s devour the world together!¡±

    As Yukhar¡¯s body disintegrated, Golruwa¡¯s translucent form surged towards Isaac like a wave. Isaac opened his arms wide, weing Golruwa¡¯s invasion. Golruwa sensed endless possibilities and deep divinity within Isaac.

    And then, it felt an unfathomable abyss.

    ***

    ¡®What is this? What the hell is this?¡¯

    Golruwa was bewildered by encountering a vast void unlike anything it had ever felt within a human.

    Even a dead god still possessed divinity. The scale and magnitude of a soul were iparable. Yet, Golruwa felt like a mere minnow floundering in an abyss.

    ¡®This is¡­ What in the world?¡¯

    Golruwa felt an unfamiliar emotion for the first time.

    Fear of the unknown.

    To the god of wealth, knowledge was also treasure. It enjoyed acquiring and exploring new knowledge. It wasn¡¯t averse to new experiences. But this darkness, this space was different. Golruwa realized the moment it understood whaty beyond the darkness, it would reach something irreversible.

    It felt fear.

    It screamed at the fact of knowing, not knowing, and the possibility ofing to know. The scream was as frail as its presence.

    But someone woke up to that scream.

    [The Nameless Chaos watches over you.]

    Beyond the darkness, as vast as the darkness itself, countless eyes persistently watched over it. Golruwa btedly noticed a being drifting in the pitch-ck abyss.

    A being it knew well.

    The gue god, Zihilrat. The corpse of a drifting god. Then, like minced meat, it was obliterated as massive tentacles surged up from the darkness.

    Before Golruwa couldprehend, its body was torn to shreds.

    ***

    ¡°AAAAAAAAAH!¡±

    It took less than 3 seconds for Golruwa to pounce on Isaac and be flung away again. At least, that¡¯s how it seemed to Isaac.

    Golruwa, returned to Yukhar¡¯s body, writhed on the ground, screaming as if being torn alive, trying to crawl away and escape.

    ¡°Ugh.¡±

    Crunch, crackle!

    Isaac wasn¡¯t unscathed either. Tentacles surged from his body as if the Nameless Chaos itself was in a frenzy. Normally, the tentacles would only appear on his left palm unless his life was in danger, but now they burst forth from all over his body.

    Isaac quickly became engulfed in writhing tentacles. Yet, the Nameless Chaos, still seeming furious, tried to tear apart Yukhar.

    Isaac had no choice but to be angry.

    [¡°Get back in! Go back!¡±]

    As if scolding a disobedient dog, he hit and chastised several times until the tentacles reluctantly retracted back into his body. Though it was an intentional act, Isaac was taken aback by the excessive reaction.

    Finally, as the tentacles withdrew, the Nameless Chaos sent a message as a warning.

    [The Nameless Chaos strongly asserts that you are its possession.]

 Chapter 48:

    Chapter 48:

    Chapter 48. The Lightkeeper (4)

    ¡°Sure, sure.¡±

    It wasn¡¯t Isaac¡¯s intention, but having chosen the Nameless Chaos when creating this character, he had to bear its karmic consequences. Anyway, Golruwa, who had imed it couldn¡¯t be killed because it was neither dead nor alive, predictably emergedpletely battered as expected.

    ¡°Thought you might get digested inside, but seeing you crawl out, it seems your deeds in Seor had some sess?¡±

    Isaac turned to finish off Golruwa for good. However, all that was left in its ce were traces of urine and a mutted body and soul, dragging itself away in escape.

    ¡°That¡¯s what happens when you bite off more than you can chew.¡±

    Isaac followed the trail.

    The trail led to stairs ascending to the surface.

    ***

    ¡°Save¡­ me¡­¡±

    Golruwa twisted in agony as it ascended the stairs. To escape Isaac¡¯s body, Golruwa had to shed most of its soul, leaving it extremely weakened. It had no choice but to parasitically cling to Yukhar¡¯s body to preserve whatever life force it had left.

    But Yukhar¡¯s body was also nearly dead. It only remained somewhat alive due to the greed umted in Seor.

    A thin strand of divinity was pulling together the greed to keep him alive.

    ¡®Save me!¡¯

    Golruwa screamed silently to no one in particr.

    It wasn¡¯t afraid when the Golden Idol was slowly consuming its power, nor when Ellil¡¯s army invaded to exterminate it.

    As long as it possessed divinity, there was always a chance for resurrection.

    But what it saw within Isaac was different. It mercilessly chopped and devoured Golruwa¡¯s form. Even its divinity was crushed like a snack beneath its teeth.

    ¡°AHHHH!¡±

    A scream not its own echoed from somewhere.

    Golruwa realized it had emerged from the drainage, in the middle of a market filled with the scent of Loracus. Market vendors and locals were shocked to see something nearly a corpse, Yukhar, struggling to crawl out.

    Though hardly in a state to judge, Golruwa thought there might still be a chance to survive. That hybrid pdin, Isaac, seemed to be hiding his true nature for some reason.

    Thus, in the light, he couldn¡¯t unleash his tentacles.

    ¡°Sa¡­ save me¡­¡±

    As Golruwa struggled to speak, a few locals who recognized him as ¡®human¡¯ approached. They seemed baffled by how Yukhar¡¯s body could still be alive, but they checked his condition, and some ran to call a priest or fetch bandages.

    At that moment, Golruwa¡¯s eyes shed.

    [Come!]

    Golruwa¡¯s desperate cry shook the minds of those nearby. It was literally squeezing out everyst bit of strength. To survive and to resist the monster that would soon follow.

    Golruwa raised the shepherd¡¯s crook high, whispering of their desires and greed.

    [A knight has appeared to doom you! A knight to bring down the temple of greed!]

    The shepherd figurine could stir specific emotions but couldn¡¯t manipte people¡¯s hearts. So, Golruwa appealed to their greed. It poured out every fact and circumstance from Yukhar¡¯s memory.

    The surge in Loracus prices, manipted power yers and magnates, and the people used for their ends.

    It was akin to a confession.

    But Golruwa trusted in human greed.

    The trend of Loracus would spread not just in Seor but to the heart of the empire.

    The mes of greed would burn across the continent, and you would hold wealth as vast as mountains.

    Golruwa¡¯s sweet whispers also injected fear.

    The pdin approaching now is a monstering to doom you.

    He will destroy your homes and make you lose your jobs.

    Will you sit on the ground, peeling bark to eat? Having sold grain to endure the famine, did youe all this way for this?

    ¡°Are you going to throw away that golden future you¡¯re holding in your hands into the gutter?

    [Protect me, if you do not, you will perish along with me!]

    Only one person.

    If only one person here is buried, more money can be made.

    The merchants were dizzied by Golruwa¡¯s strained voice, yet they intuitively grasped the situation.

    They had been deceived.

    Deceived, but if they continued to not be deceived, they would face bankruptcy.

    They had to believe in the lie of a rosy future ahead to survive.

    For that, the pdin had to die.

    Their eyes, flickering with madness, focused on one spot.

    ¡°What¡¯s this now?¡±

    There stood a pdin.

    ***

    Isaac saw the merchants filling the market and Yukhar trying to sneak away amidst them. He wore a faint smile.

    ¡®Do you really think you can kill all these civilians? Even if you¡¯re hiding your monstrous nature, you can¡¯t show your true colors as long as you y the hypocrite!¡¯

    Even without Golruwa saying it, Isaac knew that was what it thought.

    But Golruwa couldn¡¯t reveal that Isaac was hiding a monster. It was doubtful anyone would believe it, but if Isaac¡¯s true nature were exposed, and he turned into the monster, no one could stop him.

    To stop Isaac, Golruwa had to use his social reputation.

    Isaac sighed and took a step forward among the merchants. They clutched weapons picked up from somewhere, giving him a deadly look, not even sure what they intended to do with them. But such is the power of mob psychology.

    If even one or two of them attacked Isaac, the responsibility would disappear, and what happened afterward would be quietly overlooked.

    Isaac stopped.

    In front of him stood a familiar person.

    It was Hesabel Goulmar.

    Why she was here when he thought she had fled was a mystery. Whether she was caught in Golruwa¡¯s crowd control or had lingering feelings for Isaac, she didn¡¯t know herself.

    When Hesabel¡¯s eyes met Isaac¡¯s, she looked as if she was about to faint, yet she seemed to be waiting for something.

    Isaac turned back to the merchants.

    ¡°Doesn¡¯t the scripture say the market is a ce for all to share their scarcities?¡±

    Isaac didn¡¯t particrly want to give a speech. He wasn¡¯t much of an orator, to begin with.

    But for the sake of the performance, appropriate lines were needed.

    Isaac decided to quote something fitting from the scriptures.

    ¡°Yet, you have turned the market into a den of thieves!¡±

    With a short, stern reprimand, Isaac activated ¡®Ultimate Skill: The Lighthouse of Watcher¡¯ for the first time since testing it.

    At that moment, a circr halo appeared above Isaac¡¯s head, covering the market in a blinding sh of light.

    ***

    Vihik, a merchant of the Golden Idol Guild, was visiting the market. He saw themotion suddenly arise on one side of the market and was about to check it out when he was suddenly swept by an urge.

    Kill the pdin!

    It wasn¡¯t just a simple impulse but a well-structured internal logic. Vihik first felt resistance and fear to the urge, but the terror of the bankruptcy that would follow was more powerful.

    The debt incurred for buying Loracus, payments to mercenaries, stall fees, cart rentals¡­ While other fears and resistances were shared by everyone in the market, the fear of bankruptcy was his and his alone.

    Kill the pdin!

    Vihik realized that he was holding the kitchen knife that the market merchant was selling, even though he didn¡¯t know why he was holding it or what he intended to do with it.

    However, amidst the confusion, a sudden light engulfed him.

    ¡°You¡¯ve turned the market into a den of thieves!¡±

    With a brief reprimand, a powerful beam of light made everything clear.

    Light and darkness, right and wrong, truth and falsehood, everything was separated and illuminated sharply.

    At the same time, Vihik¡¯s mind cleared.

    Thunk.

    The knife fell from his hand.

    ¡°What am I¡­?¡±

    Vihik, while confused, also realized the situation clearly. The light emanating from the pdin was making everything clear despite his attempts to ignore it.

    What followed next was shame.

    He couldn¡¯tprehend what to do in the sudden rush of embarrassment.

    Isaac, observing the crowd¡¯s reaction, confirmed the effect of the Lighthouse of the watcher.

    The Lighthouse of the watcher.

    In the game, it¡¯s expressed as a powerful defensive skill and aura ability.

    Reading the vor text, it described grandly how it distinguishes right from wrong in a world filled with confusion and darkness.

    But who decides what is right and wrong? Who determines such a thing?

    But now, Isaac knew who discerned what was right and wrong.

    It was the person who could control the light of the beacon.

    The moment Isaac cast the Lighthouse of the watcher, the rules of the ¡°Codex of Light¡± covered everything touched by its glow. Miracles of the golden idol, the seduction and greed whispered by Golruwa, all vanished in an instant.

    ¡°It¡¯s like a wide-area dispel effect.¡±

    The Codex of Light is known as the god of light and heat, but it¡¯s also essentially the god of naturalws. Within the glow cast by the Watchtower, all miracles, magic, fiction, and deceit vanished, leaving only the ¡°norm¡± chosen by Isaac.

    Here, no miracles of any faith could exist.

    Literally, every visible range became the sanctum of the Codex of Light itself.

    ¡°That¡¯s why the Lighthouse of Watcher is expressed as a powerful defensive aura skill.¡±

    Any holy knight or priest of any faith would find it difficult to exert power against the Codex of Light within the Watchtower. But Isaac knew that this wasn¡¯t the end of the Watchtower¡¯s potential.

    Depending on Isaac¡¯s desires, he could turn the beacon in any direction.

    In other words, Isaac could make this sanctuary the domain of the golden idol or the Red chalice. It was possible as long as he understood the respective faiths. In fact, in the game, Kalsen had created the sanctuary of the Immortal Order.

    When Isaac first cast the Lighthouse of Watcher, he unknowingly changed the world ording to the criteria of the ¡°Nameless Chaos.¡±

    Since then, Isaac had never used the Lighthouse of the Watcher recklessly again.

    Because it was a sight he never wanted to see again.

    Feeling his body gradually warming, Isaac extinguished the Lighthouse of the Watcher.

    Just as the sunlight vanished, the halo above his head disappeared like a red sunset.

    The time spent casting the Lighthouse of the Watcher was so short that it was almost negligible. However, it was enough to influence the market merchants. The desires and voices of seduction spread by Golruwa vanishedpletely.

    Even the greed for the Loracus explosion that the scoundrel had spread among the merchants waspletely eradicated.

    All that remained was a vivid sense of reality.

    They didn¡¯t even feel anger. They just realized the impending cold future.

    The merchants gradually copsed in front of Isaac. They couldn¡¯t even think about what to do with Isaac. It wouldn¡¯t have been conceivable without Golruwa¡¯s seduction in the first ce.

    Isaac looked at them and said,

    ¡°Go back.¡±

    The merchants weakly looked up at Isaac.

    ¡°Go back and say goodbye to your families and embrace them.¡±

    Isaac passed through the merchants and went to find Golruwa.

 Chapter 49:

    Chapter 49:

    Chapter 49. Contract Established (1)

    Golruwa had escaped yet again, not giving up. However, the merchants pointed towards the ce where Golruwa disappeared, guiding Isaac. Not a single person tried to stop Isaac. After all, the creature was not in a state to run far.

    Isaac entered an alley of the market.

    He felt Golruwa was not far, following the traces of someone dragging themselves along the wall. Isaac walked through the market alley, contemting how topletely finish off Golruwa.

    Then he stopped.

    In front of him stood Hesabel Gullmar.

    It wasn¡¯t to stop him. On the contrary.

    She held in her hands the severed head of Yukhar. Isaac quietly observed Golruwa, whose spirit was shrieking within the severed head. As Isaac approached, Hesabel quickly knelt down and offered the head of Yukhar.

    Isaac extended his left hand and devoured the head of Yukhar with his tendrils.

    The sound of bones and brain matter being crushed echoed briefly through the dark alley.

    While the horrific act was taking ce, Hesabel remained bowed, never lifting her head.

    Isaac looked down at her and asked.

    ¡°Why did youe back?¡±

    ¡°I serve you¡­ the true prophet.¡±

    Hesabel herself didn¡¯t understand why she was there.

    Kneeling before Isaac, she pondered this fact.

    When Hesabel had run away from Isaac, she swore never to see him again.

    But she couldn¡¯t stay away.

    Wandering through the dark, filthy underbelly of the sewers, she felt Isaac¡¯s gaze upon her and still felt his touch on the back of her neck.

    Then, Hesabel realized. She could never escape from him.

    Not because Isaac was pursuing her, but because she couldn¡¯t shake off her thoughts of him.

    On the verge of mental copse, Hesabel clung to one possibility.

    Hoping that Isaac truly was the prophet of the red flesh.

    With that desperate hope, she returned.

    ¡°I believe¡­ I believe you are the prophet of the red flesh.¡±

    Isaac burst into incredulousughter. He teased her.

    ¡°What if I¡¯m not?¡±

    Hesabel had no answer.

    In truth, it didn¡¯t matter if he wasn¡¯t. If she couldn¡¯t escape from Isaac, she had resigned herself to be at least his pet. Believing Isaac to be the prophet of the red flesh was just a way for her to feel slightly at ease whilemitting what was essentially an act of apostasy.

    She cautiously looked up at Isaac.

    ¡°You control unknown flesh and move beasts that belong to the realm of chaos. That¡¯s something the gods of light, Elil, the golden idols, or the world¡¯s forge cannot do.¡±

    The faiths Hesabel mentioned were those of the White Empire or its allies.

    ¡°But at the same time, you have been certified by the pdin order of the Codex of light, lived with them, and brought people to their knees with your proud halo.¡±

    ¡°So?¡±

    ¡°This proves you are skilled in deception and spreading chaos from behind, clearly showing you are the prophet of the red flesh.¡±

    Hesabel had perfectly reasoned her allegiance to Isaac. Isaac, with a gaze of chaos, was surprised by what he saw inside her.

    ¡®She¡¯s seriouslymitted.¡¯

    Hesabel hadn¡¯t returned with ordinary resolve. Even if the real prophet of the red flesh appeared, she was prepared to denounce him as a fake and worship Isaac as the true angel.

    The fanaticism of her trust was slightly chilling.

    She wasn¡¯t like Heinkel, who temporarily copsed under immediate fear.

    She was convinced there was no other way but Isaac and hadpletely persuaded herself.

    ¡®Scared her, sure, but to this extent?¡¯

    Isaac pondered the reasons behind his actions and remembered that his charm attribute had significantly increased. Especially, the appearance of a Nephilim exerted a stronger effect on the followers of the hedonistic Red Chalice. He thought that her submission through fear was also due to the psychological impact of his charm.

    Suddenly, a strange message window appeared before Isaac¡¯s eyes.

    [Will you ept Hesabel Gullmar (A) as an Apostle?]

    [Bing an Apostle allows for the consumption of divinity to bestow miracles or strengthen powers.]

    This message had not appeared when he clumsily preached to other Barbarians.

    An Apostle, not just a follower? Even Isaac, who was clumsy with religion, knew that an Apostle was a very high rank.

    Then, Isaac realized it was because of his position within the faith of the Nameless Chaos.

    ¡®Bing a follower after receiving teachings directly from me, who is akin to a Pope and Messiah¡­ Does that make her an Apostle?¡¯

    Isaac was incredulous.

    Strictly speaking, Hesabel had not received any teachings or anything of the sort rted to the Nameless Chaos. She was hardly in a position to be called a follower. However, Isaac suddenly thought it might be beneficial to ept Hesabel as an Apostle.

    Hesabel wasn¡¯t submitting to the Nameless Chaos. She was submitting to Isaac.

    In this faith, whichcked doctrine and structure, that point might be important.

    Isaac ced his hand on her bowed head.

    She shuddered.

    Isaac, while contemting all sorts of delusions, spoke to her trembling form.

    ¡°I appoint you as my first Apostle.¡±

    At the word Apostle, Hesabel carefully lifted her head to look up at Isaac.

    A chilling aura was emanating from Isaac, swirling around him.

    ¡°I give my firstmand to my Apostle.¡±

    ***

    Isaac returned to the sewer.

    To finish what he hadn¡¯tpleted before.

    ¡®Eating Golruwa doesn¡¯t seem to make much difference after all.¡¯

    It was the same when he ate Zihilrat. He had hoped that eating a god would change something, but besides feeling like he had eaten a tremendous amount of meat, there wasn¡¯t much difference. However, the effects of divinity manifested in areas other than Isaac himself.

    Isaac concentrated his consciousness on Hesabel, who was not present.

    Naturally, information about Hesabel appeared before his eyes.

    [Hesabel Gulmar (S)]

    [Position: Apostle]

    [Status: Blind Fanaticism]

    [Red Prayer, Parasite Beyond, Vampirism]

    ¡®Consuming divinity to strengthen a follower or Apostle¡­¡¯

    Divinity was like a god¡¯s sense of satiation. By consuming it, he could strengthen followers or Apostles and even bestow new miracles. Thanks to this, Isaac managed to elevate Hesabel¡¯s rank from A to S and gifted her the miracle of creating and imnting parasites. Although it consumed a significant amount of divinity, it sessfully elevated her trust from mere submission to blind fanaticism.

    Moreover, the more a follower was bound to the faith, the more distinctly their presence was felt. If Hesabel ran to the ends of the earth, Isaac would know her location.

    ¡®With this, betrayal is unlikely.¡¯

    He also prepared a gift for Zihilrat.

    [Zihilrat (S)]

    [Position: Divine Beast]

    [Status: Absolute Submission]

    [Constant Camouge, Predation, Under the Hide, Touch of Chaos, Minor Domination]

    Zihilrat¡¯s status had skyrocketed from being a limited-lived offspring of chaos to a Divine Beast.

    Partly due to its inherent divinity, but also allowing for unexpected abilities like ¡®Under the Hide¡¯. This ability, one of the options initially proposed when Isaac created this character, allowed the consumption of a target and the borrowing of their skin.

    With this, Zihilrat had the ability to disguise not just as animals but to a certain extent as humans as well.

    ***

    Now, Isaac returned to his true mission.

    Before him appeared the sanctuary dominated by Golruwa.

    [This sanctuary is contaminated by the ¡®God of Wealth¡¯.]

    [You can purify the contaminated sanctuary.]

    [Will you dedicate this sanctuary to the ¡®Nameless Chaos¡¯?]

    He also considered returning the sanctuary to the Golden Idol.

    But it seemed that this sanctuary had been neglected by the followers of the Golden Idol for a long time. It might have been something secretly managed by Yukhar, or perhaps it wasn¡¯t considered very important. It¡¯s hard to tell the significance of a sanctuary just by looking at it.

    ¡®Might as well make good use of what¡¯s been discarded.¡¯

    Isaac ced his hand on the altar and dered.

    ¡°I dedicate this sanctuary to the Nameless Chaos.¡±

    As with the sanctuary of Zihilrat, tentacles extending from his hand imnted a pulsating heart within the sanctuary. Apanied by the beating sound of a heart, Isaac felt remarkably at ease both physically and mentally. The energy depleted while using the Lighthouse of the Watcher was swiftly replenished.

    [A reward for ¡®Sanctuary Purification¡¯ by Chaos has been granted.]

    [Choose one of the following three rewards.]

    [Scythe of the Perimeter / Turns the edges of the tentacles into saw des, tearing apart everything they touch.]

    [The Caller from the Abyss / Induces madness in the target, restraining and slowing them down.]

    [Color Beyond / Spreads darkness that obscures vision across the area and induces chaos.]

    ¡°Hmm¡­¡±

    Isaac let out a shallow moan, not out of confusion, but because all the choices were necessary for him.

    Fighting Golruwa, Isaac realized the existence of enemies immune to physical attacks. If the Scythe of the Perimeter could truly affect ¡®everything¡¯, it could be a weapon effective against such entities.

    ¡®But I¡¯m not in dire need of attack power right now, and it¡¯s unlikely I¡¯ll encounter many of those enemies¡­ So, I¡¯ll pass on that.¡¯

    Next was The Caller from the Abyss. It seemed simr to Color Beyond in terms of being a debuff, but The Caller from the Abyss seemed like a stronger and faster debuff targeting a single entity, whereas Color Beyond appeared to be an area-wide debuff affecting multiple targets.

    ¡®The Caller from the Abyss might be more effective.¡¯

    Especially, such skills are influenced by charisma. If a powerful enemy like Hesabel appears and falls into madness, attacking allies or bing incapacitated, it could be very useful.

    However, Isaac ultimately chose Color Beyond.

    The deciding factor was the part about ¡®spreading darkness to obscure vision¡¯.

    ¡®Right now, being noticed by others restricts my actions.¡¯

    But with this skill that summons darkness, he could obscure visibility to some extent even during the day. If he could utilize his swordsmanship or tentacles under the cover of darkness, it would make oveing difficult situations much easier.

    Moreover, paradoxically, Isaac¡¯s main difficulty wasn¡¯t facing a single powerful enemy but rather multiple foes. This was because the endurance of the Nephilim race was too low for prolonged battles. Despite some regrets, the most optimal choice was Color Beyond.

    Isaac felt the effect of the sanctuary, as the entirety of Seor became vividly clear to him.

    Even the effects of greed, which had not been directly exposed to the Lighthouse of the Watcher and thus remained, began to fade slowly due to the promation of the sanctuary. Come morning, everyone¡¯s mind would clear, and they would face reality.

    Isaac could distinctly feel the atmosphere and unrest spreading from the Seor market.

    Of course, as Golruwa said, their greed wouldn¡¯t disappear overnight. Many people¡¯s livelihoods and lives were at stake. But for those who needed to read the situation and act quickly, it would feel like a pressing issue.

    Isaac, reading the dismay of the Golden Idol¡¯s Seor branch manager, Caitlin, smiled.

    ¡°Let¡¯s see about collecting some dues then.¡±

 Chapter 50:

    Chapter 50:

    Chapter 50. Contract Established (2)

    Caitlin, the regional director of the Golden Idol Guild in Seor, was beyond flustered, now in a state of panic.

    She had already heard reports of a bizarre sh of light urring near the market a few days ago. The story was that Isaac, the Grail Knight she hadmissioned, was pursuing Yukhar when it happened.

    The news of Isaac being ambushed made her heart sink, intuiting it was Yukhar¡¯s doing. She hadn¡¯t expected such a public spectacle to unfold in just two days.

    Both Isaac and Yukhar seemed out of their minds.

    But she had thought it was directly unrted to her until merchants affiliated with the Golden Idol Guild began to announce their departure en masse.

    ¡°As I said, we want to clear out the remaining stock and focus on our original wheat trade.¡±

    Vihik looked somewhat despondent.

    Caitlin grew anxious. She had no authority to force merchants to deal in specific goods, only to advise and warn them. The worst she could do for truly uneptable actions was expel them from the corporation or ban their trade.

    But the problem was that the whole of Soer seemed to be withdrawing from the Loracus trade.

    Just a few days ago, Loracus prices had hit their peak, especially after rumors that the Granth family of the White Empire had shown interest in Loracus. There was widespread spection that investing in Loracus was a lucrative venture, but suddenly, everyone wanted out, and Caitlin couldn¡¯t understand why.

    ¡®Did rumors of what Yukhar did spread already? But even then, selling to other cities should still be profitable¡­¡¯

    The issue was that once the trend in Soer, the epicenter of the fashion, cooled, the enthusiasm in other cities also began to wane. The market atmosphere had already turned bleak, with many who werete to the trend turning back upon sensing the mood.

    Once the bubble of such trends bursts, it copses swiftly. Caitlin, who had been slowly nning an exit strategy, was understandably nervous.

    ¡°Alright. I won¡¯t dissuade you, but you¡¯re aware of the penalties for breach of contract and the damage to your credit rating, right?¡±

    ¡°Yes, of course.¡±

    Vihik¡¯s calm response took Caitlin aback again.

    She didn¡¯t want to be harsh to a fellow corporation member, but penalties were used to deter merchants from leaving and causing a crash in Loracus prices.

    Yet, Vihik was willing to bear significant losses to cancel the contract.

    ¡°Vihik, aren¡¯t you in debt because of the Loracus trade? Can you afford the penalties?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve already received some payment for the trades¡­ And I had a personal stock, which someone has agreed to buy.¡±

    ¡°Someone agreed to buy?¡±

    In these times, when the market was frozen because there were only sellers and no buyers for Loracuss?

    ¡°Yes. Thanks to them, I¡¯ve incurred a loss, but I still have enough to recover.¡±

    ¡°May I know who they are?¡±

    Caitlin felt a sense of foreboding.

    ***

    ¡°Mr. Isaac!¡±

    Caitlin rushed towards Isaac, who was staying at a lodging.

    Isaac, who was having breakfast, calmly waited for the breathless Caitlin to speak.

    ¡°Ah, Director Caitlin. What¡¯s the matter?¡±

    ¡°What is this¡­ Is it eptable for a Grail Knight to engage in such merchant-like activities in the market?¡±

    Outside Isaac¡¯s lodging, his agent, Jacquette, was buying up Loracus roots in bulk. Jacquette, who had acted as Yukhar¡¯s errand runner, was nominally permitted to engage in market transactions, thus enabling the purchase. Already, several carts were loaded with Loracus roots in front of the lodging.

    ¡°A merchant? That¡¯s a bit harsh. I¡¯m merely helping those in need.¡±

    ¡°Helping¡­?¡±

    ¡°Indeed. I¡¯ve heard that the frenzy for Lorucus has cooled down. Nobody wants to buy, but everyone is rushing to sell, leading to an oversupply. Moreover, with spring approaching, there¡¯s a mountain of worries about Lorucus bulbs that were not nted on time rotting away.¡±

    Isaac crossed his arms and looked at Caitlin.

    ¡°Blinded by foolish greed, they squandered their fortunes, so they should bear the responsibility. However, if all the merchants go bankrupt, won¡¯t it disrupt the region¡¯s logistics flow? Especially since the Loracus craze has already damaged it, we should now provide a foundation for recovery.¡±

    Isaac was currently purchasing Loracus at pre-surge prices, based on Yukhar¡¯s hidden funds in the sanctuary.

    It was a terrible loss for the merchants, even considering the money they had made, but it allowed them toy a foundation for recovery. Those who could not ept the loss and clung to Lorucus would end up with nothing as their stock rotted away.

    Caitlin was at a loss for words because Isaac¡¯s reasoning was sound. Actually, it was something she should have done in the first ce.

    If the merchants went bankrupt en masse, the tradework would copse. If the merchants who distributed goods to various regions disappeared, it would be a long-term loss for the Golden Idol Syndicate. Although the merchants were also swayed by greed, they needed to be given a foundation for recovery.

    But to buy more Loracus, risking the existing stock in the warehouses to rot? That was also difficult for a merchant to bear. It would mean throwing away the profits made from the Lorucus surge.

    Then, a thought shed through Caitlin¡¯s mind.

    ¡®Why is the Holy Knight buying Lorucus?¡¯

    Was it just a simple act of charity? It could be.

    Isaac¡¯s action to aid the merchants at his own expense wasmendable. The merchants would surely spread his fame.

    But was that all?

    ¡°Sir Isaac, surely not¡­?¡±

    ¡°Not what?¡±

    ¡°That, that you n to resell it to us?¡±

    Caitlin asked with a look close to tears. Isaac smiled faintly.

    ¡°Why not? I¡¯m but a poor Pdin. What money do I have to carry out such charitable acts?¡±

    Caitlin felt like she might faint. Although the Golden Idol Guild had arge stock of Loracus, it was nothingpared to the unsold Loracus in the entire market of Seor. And if other guilds began bringing their stock to Isaac in a panic, the amount would be enormous.

    What if he then resold the Loracus at the prices from the peak of the surge a week ago?

    ¡®Bankruptcy.¡¯

    It wouldn¡¯t just mean losing the profits from the Loracus surge. The Seor branch could go bankrupt. No, beyond that, this loss could be a bomb that would shake the entire Golden Idol Guild.

    Struggling to breathe, Caitlin gripped her chair tightly.

    Isaac poured her a ss of water. Caitlin drained the ss in one gulp and looked at Isaac pleadingly.

    ¡°Please save us, Pdin.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a phrase I¡¯ve been hearing quite oftentely.¡±

    ¡°We cannot handle it. Absolutely not¡­¡±

    ¡°Do you have the confidence to break a contract guaranteed by the Golden Idol, Caitlin?¡±

    Isaac asked as he wiped his mouth, looking at Caitlin.

    Caitlin had no such confidence. The Golden Idol guild was where she had spent her life working hard. To betray it now was unthinkable, and she was sure to be cursed and left destitute.

    ¡°No. Please, I beg you¡­¡±

    ¡°My thinking is that you shouldn¡¯t be begging me but that there¡¯s still something the Golden Idol Syndicate can do.¡±

    It was only then that Caitlin started to think clearly again. The shock had been too much for her to make a proper judgment, but as Isaac said, there was something they could do.

    It was just that it, too, would entail a massive loss.

    She soon held back tears and bowed her head.

    ¡°Understood. Thank you for the advice. Then, the Loracus you¡¯ve purchased so far¡­¡±

    ¡°Just so you know, what¡¯s on the streets now isn¡¯t all of it.¡±

    Isaac had already rented several warehouses to store Loracus. Caitlin felt like she might faint again, but there was no time to hesitate. She quickly made her way out of the lodging.

    As soon as Caitlin left, she instructed her secretary.

    ¡°Buy up all the Loracus on the market right now! Immediately!¡±

    ¡°What? Loracus? But, at what price¡­¡±

    Caitlin red at her secretary with a ferocious look and shouted.

    ¡°Make sure it¡¯s more expensive than what the Holy Knight is willing to pay!¡±

    A monthter, on the day promised with Isaac, most of the Loracus stock that had been released into the market of Seor was absorbed by the Golden Idol Guild at slightly above the pre-surge cost. The Golden Idol guild had rented every warehouse in Seor to store the Loracus, which prevented the detonation of a bomb that could have crumbled the guild. Nevertheless, the amount Isaac possessed was still substantial. Therefore, when Isaac visited the Golden Idol guild branch office, Caitlin had to greet him with a particrly haggardplexion.

    ¡°You¡¯ve arrived, Sir Isaac.¡±

    ¡°Your face looks quite worn. Caitlin.¡±

    ¡°I haven¡¯tid down to rest in the past three days¡­ Calcting the losses and figuring out how much we need to cover, borrowing hands from other branches everywhere¡­¡±

    She murmured as if pleading.

    Isaac smiled at Caitlin¡¯s state.

    So, it would be pointless to ask if she was ready.

    The Golden Idol guild strictly honors its credit, especially when contracts are signed under the name of the Golden Idol. Although it¡¯s unclear how far the mobilization went, at least a few of the top brass would be looking into this matter with interest.

    ¡°When I calcted the amount for the stock you imed to have, based on the Loracus prices from a month ago¡­ it came to approximately this much.¡±

    Caitlin presented a paper with calctions on it. Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked at the numbers. It was an amount that would flip even the nobility¡¯s eyes. It was nearly the annual budget of arge estate.

    Isaac didn¡¯t bother to check if the calction was correct. In a transaction under the Golden Idol¡¯s name, there couldn¡¯t be any mistakes.

    He just knew it was an absurdlyrge sum, without knowing the exact amount, so he didn¡¯t bother to verify it.

    ¡°Then the Golden Idol guild will pay this amount, and I will deliver all the Loracus stock I have. That will conclude the contract.¡±

    ¡°Yes¡­¡±

    ¡°Good.¡±

    ¡°Yes. With this, the contract is established.¡±

    Caitlin and Isaac repeated the deration over the contract. A golden glow enveloped the contract, emitting a presence as if it were watching them. However, the contract wasn¡¯t fully concluded yet. The energy of the contract would protect Isaac until he received the money.

    ¡°Shall we go to collect the money? The gold is stored in the vault. We can bring a carriage to¡­¡±

    However, Isaac didn¡¯t stand up but continued to look at Caitlin.

    ¡°Sir Isaac?¡±

    ¡°With this amount, it would be hard to carry around.¡±

    Caitlin looked at him as if he made an obvious statement. Indeed, the amount converted into gold coins could crush a person to death.

    Isaac looked at Caitlin with a sympathetic eye and teased her.

    ¡°Too tired to understand what I¡¯m saying?¡±

    ¡°Excuse me? What¡­ Oh. Oh? Ah, you don¡¯t mean?¡±

    Caitlin¡¯s eyes widened as she looked at Isaac. A vigor that one wouldn¡¯t expect from someone who hadn¡¯t slept in three days returned to her.

    Isaac, holding the paper Caitlin had given him, said,

    ¡°I will invest this entire amount in the Golden Idol Guild. And in exchange for putting this investment as a deposit, I would like the Golden Idol Guild to assist me in unlimitedly utilizing the guild¡¯s assets in all my future endeavors.¡±

    By assets, he meant the informationworks, transportation means, lodging facilities, etc., that the Golden Idol guild owned across the continent.

    Isaac didn¡¯t forget to mention onest important thing.

    ¡°As for the interest, we¡¯ll negotiate separately.¡±

 Chapter 51:

    Chapter 51:

    Chapter 51. The Shell (1)

    Caitlin, who had just been looking like a person on the verge of death, now sported a smile so bright it was hard to believe she was the same person. While the fact that she had paid Isaac a hefty sum remained unchanged, the fact that it wasn¡¯t immediately leaving as cash but staying as debt meant they could avoid instant bankruptcy.

    Especially in a situation where a significant amount of cash had been lost due to the Loracus crash, every penny was desperately needed.

    Now that she could fully return the gold borrowed from the higher-ups, she could minimize the responsibility she ought to bear as much as possible.

    ¡°Let¡¯s talk about the terms then! How much interest were you thinking?¡±

    ¡°The Golden Idol Guild must have set interest rates based on creditworthiness and amounts. Propose the conditions ording to that first. After all, I¡¯m more interested in using the assets of the Golden Idol Guild.¡±

    ¡°Understood! I¡¯ll have the ounts department sort it out and get back to you right away.¡±

    Watching Caitlin hurry to organize the rted information, Isaac thought to himself,

    ¡®So much for travelling frugally.¡¯

    His journey since leaving the monastery had been pure survival. He thought he could just sleep anywhere like in the games, eat anything with his tentacles, and just get stronger as needed. That turned out to be a miscalction.

    Although he had been getting used to it, it was unnecessary hardship. Therefore, Isaac decided to contact the Golden Idol Guild and create some debt.

    ¡®The Loracus affair made things too easy, but¡­¡¯

    If this incident prevents the Dawn Army from rising, that would be troublesome in its own way, but Isaac didn¡¯t think that would happen. The Dawn Army had already risen 12 times. As long as the holynd remained in the hands of the Immortal Order, the Dawn Army would always inevitably rise.

    ¡°Ah, and I have a gift for you.¡±

    ¡°A gift? But you¡¯ve already entrusted us with such arge sum¡­¡±

    ¡°You must be thinking it¡¯s actually a loss. Anyway, it¡¯s your item, so it seems right for you to have it.¡±

    With that, Isaac opened a box he had brought in front of Caitlin. Inside was a humble-looking shepherd¡¯s crook. Caitlin didn¡¯t understand what it was for a moment, then her eyes widened.

    ¡°Is that a relic?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    The origins of the Golden Idol Guild were said to be from a nomadic tribe. A young shepherd boy witnessed a golden sheep crossing a treacherous mountain range and followed it, discovering a path through a mountain range that no one had crossed before.

    This tribe monopolized the mountain pass, opening a trade route through the world that had been disconnected, and that was the beginning of the Golden Idol Guild. This shepherd¡¯s crook was supposedly carved by the boy himself, in his own likeness.

    ¡®Compared to S-ss relics like the Golden Horn or Midas¡¯s Hand, the Amber Eyes¡­ it¡¯s a bitcking.¡¯

    Still, the shepherd¡¯s crook was considered an A-grade relic.

    Caitlin carefully stroked the shepherd¡¯s crook with her hand.

    Yukhar had said the Golden Idol Guild had no priests or pdins, but in reality, the merchants themselves were both followers and priests. A merchant who had reached the level of branch manager naturally had a discerning eye.

    Caitlin could tell at a nce that the Shepherd¡¯s Crook was genuine.

    Seeing such a precious relic returned to the Guild, Caitlin was ecstatic. For a moment, she scolded herself for thinking the Holy Knight had deceived her with a great ruse.

    ¡°How can you go to such lengths¡­ Thank you so much. I will definitely inform the main office in Odhrif!¡±

    As soon as Caitlin¡¯s words fell, it was as if they were a deration, and a message appeared before Isaac¡¯s eyes.

    [You have returned the ¡®Shepherd¡¯s Crook¡¯ relic to the Golden Idol Guild.]

    [The Golden Idol blesses your noble journey.]

    [Your luck greatly increases.]

    [Your appraisal ability greatly increases.]

    ¡®As expected.¡¯

    Pdins can gain buffs simply by acquiring relics, but they lose those buffs immediately if they lose the relics. However, returning a relic can grant a small but permanent power increase.

    If carrying all the relics was impractical, it was better to return what could be returned to gain benefits. Especially, the Shepherd¡¯s Crook was chosen for return because it was cumbersome to carry around and did not directly assist inbat due to its size and volume.

    Isaac looked at Caitlin¡¯s desk. At a nce, he noticed the luxurious mahogany material and the artisan¡¯s meticulous work in every corner, recognizing details he hadn¡¯t known before thanks to his improved appraisal ability.

    ¡®Luck aside, even appraisal ability has increased. That¡¯s quite a blessing.¡¯

    He had thought that after taking over the sanctuary and causing significant losses to the Golden Idol Guild, thepensation for returning a relic wouldn¡¯t be much. However, the blessings felt like an unexpected favor.

    ¡®Could it be because I aided other merchants and reduced the aftermath of the Loracus surge?¡¯

    It might be an overinterpretation, but it was clear that the Golden Idol had shown him favor. ording to Yukhar, a god without personality wouldn¡¯t know gratitude, but Isaac decided to be thankful anyway.

    As Isaac was lost in thought, Caitlin stroked the shepherd¡¯s crook and murmured.

    Taking a deep breath, Caitlin then said to Isaac,

    ¡°After receiving such gifts in session, we can¡¯t just stand by. We would like to offer a gift to you, Sir Isaac.¡±

    ¡°A gift?¡±

    ¡°Would you follow me this way?¡±

    ***

    Caitlin led him to a ce that looked like a dpidated warehouse. The entrance was littered with dusty boxes and rags. However, Isaac realized this ce was located in the innermost part of the tradingpany.

    ¡®The hallway surrounds a room.¡¯

    It was a spot difficult to infiltrate without being noticed, hard to ess from the outside, and the walls and doors were made of different materials than other ces.

    ¡°Is this some kind of vault?¡±

    Caitlin looked at Isaac with surprise and nodded.

    ¡°You have a keen eye indeed. It¡¯s not a vault, but something simr. Vaults aren¡¯t guarded this rigorously.¡±

    Approaching the warehouse door, a middle-aged man suddenly appeared and greeted them. He was a guard hidden in a blind spot. With the door opened, Isaac and Caitlin could enter.

    Rumors abound about the Golden Idol Guild¡¯s vaults.

    Walls and floors filled with amber jewels, dazzling treasures of gold and silver, various precious medicinal herbs and spices. Of course, such items might be stored in the main vault in Odhrif, where the headquarters of the Golden Idol Guild is located, but branches don¡¯t keep such items due to the risk of theft.

    At best, there would be bundles of bonds and a few documents.

    Of course, those documents held the power to shake nobles and priests.

    As expected, when they opened the warehouse, nothing but old boxes and dust-covered rags appeared.

    Caitlin then uncovered a mannequin standing against the wall. Hidden beneath was a dull gray suit of armor. Although it looked ordinary, Isaac immediately recognized what it was, thanks to his enhanced appraisal ability and status window.

    ¡°This is¡­¡±

    ¡°A full suit of armor we happened upon. It has the emblem of the Codex of Light engraved, so it¡¯s believed to be a pdin¡¯s armor, but we couldn¡¯t determine which order it belonged to. We¡¯ve been keeping it just in case.¡±

    It was natural for Caitlin not to recognize it. This armor was from a time now unknown to anyone.

    ¡°Where did you get it?¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ I¡¯m ashamed to say it¡¯s loot. Found in the ruins after an attack by the Immortal Order. It seemed inappropriate to circte in the market, so we acquired it.¡±

    Caitlin said this as she gently stroked the armor.

    ¡°If you wouldn¡¯t mind, Sir Isaac, we thought you could wear this armor. It¡¯s a bit awkward to return, and selling it felt wrong. But if a noble pdin of the Codex of Light, who is on a sacred quest like yourself, were to have it, we believe you¡¯d be more than deserving.¡±

    Isaac touched his lips thoughtfully. Her words were correct. So correct that, in the whole continent, there might be no one more deserving of this armor than Isaac.

    [Pdin Armor of Kalsen Miller (Sealed)]

    Because this was the armor worn by Kalsen Miller during his time as a pdin.

    Pdin armors generally look simr, with only minor differences in details and emblems.

    But this armor had all signs of belonging and identity, even the lightly inscribed scriptures or prayers, aggressively erased. It was a tant sign of apostasy.

    ¡®No wonder Caitlin hesitated to dispose of it.¡¯

    The removal of the Codex of Light¡¯s emblems and the erasure of prayer phrases from a pdin¡¯s armor could very well have had the inquisitors rushing over to dere it heretical. However, due to this, no trace of it being Kalsen Miller¡¯s armor remained.

    ¡®The armor itself is a mark of an apostate¡­ But maybe it¡¯ll be fine if it¡¯s covered up adequately?¡¯

    It was a carefree thought, but the item was too tempting to pass up. It wasn¡¯t just any armor, but Kalsen Miller¡¯s. It was bound to be equipped with incredible miracles. And considering it remained intact even after being entangled in those tentacles¡­

    ¡®Wait, didn¡¯t the tentacles consume Kalsen?¡¯

    His memory was a bit foggy, but it was clear the tentacles had devoured Kalsen. The fact that only his armor was left didn¡¯t make sense.

    ¡®¡­Did it eat the meat and spit out the shell?¡¯

    It was a ridiculous thought, yet it seemed possible.

    Isaac examined Kalsen¡¯s Pdin Armor. The ¡®Sealed¡¯ tag blocked any recognition of its grade, but the miracles it emitted already proved its significant worth. If the armor was protected by powerful miracles, it would have been difficult even for the tentacles to digest.

    ¡®Strength enhancement, fatigue recovery, weight reduction, physical protection¡­ What¡¯s this? Maintenance of cleanliness and a minor temperature control effect? So it essentially has good air conditioning?¡¯

    Even the basic miracles in its sealed state were impressive; unsealing it might reveal astonishingly potent miracles.

    ¡®Kalsen, I thought you were modest, but you were walking around wrapped in a hotel.¡¯

    ¡°Would you ept it?¡±

    Expecting an eager eptance, Caitlin was puzzled to see Isaac hesitating.

    Pdins were known for their desire for equipment, after all.

    Meanwhile, Isaac envied her ignorance. If he hadn¡¯t known the original owner of the armor, he would have worn it without a second thought.

    ¡®Already beingpared to Kalsen every time I draw my sword, wearing Kalsen¡¯s armor might invite even more suspicion¡­ Ah, forget it.¡¯

    Isaac impulsively spoke up.

    ¡°I¡¯ll take it.¡±

    The item was too precious to pass up. If it was scary, he could just remove it within the borders of the Gerthonian Empire and wear it when entering the territories of other faiths.

    Caitlin¡¯s face brightened at Isaac¡¯s words.

    ¡°Excellent! Would you like to try it on? I¡¯ll help you.¡±

    ¡°No, I¡¯ll try it on myself. Could you step aside for a moment?¡±

    Isaac asked, partly fearing the tentacles might react sensitively to an item they had spat out. If it was something regurgitated by the tentacles, wearing it might cause problems.

    Caitlin seemed hesitant to leave Isaac alone in the precious storeroom but, showing trust, she bowed her head and stepped outside.

    Isaac began to don the armor.

    He wasn¡¯t worried about the size. Even Gebel¡¯s armor had adjusted to fit him perfectly. Kalsen Militor¡¯s armor would surely be no different.

    Indeed, as Isaac put on the gloves, boots, and each piece, mechanical clicks sounded, and the armor snugly adjusted to his body.

    Just as Isaac was putting on the final piece, the helmet, a message appeared before his eyes.

    [Recognized as the rightful owner.]

    [The seal on the equipment is being lifted.]

    ¡°Huh?¡±

 Chapter 52:

    Chapter 52:

    Chapter 52. The Shell (2)

    With the message that the seal had been broken, light began to emanate from a part of the armor. It was from the area marked with a crest that signified it as Kalsen¡¯s armor, scratched and crushed. Where the crest had been erased, a sentence now appeared, etched in light.

    [¡°I will be with you.¡±]

    It was a meaningful phrase, but its significance was unclear. However, the anomaly made it evident that the seal had indeed been broken.

    ¡°No, I had nned to break the seal eventually, but so soon?¡±

    Isaac was taken aback but also excited about what function would be revealed. Soon, signs of miracles and blessings carved into Kalsen¡¯s armor began to reveal themselves in front of Isaac. True to the armor of a person designated as a seraph, an astonishing array of blessings was listed.

    ¡°Superior health recovery, Thread of Truth, Guiding Thread, Watcher¡¯s Hammer¡­ My, what on earth is this?¡±

    Blessings one might hope to receive afterpleting a heroic journey were listed extensively. This level of favor clearly indicated not only the angels¡¯ interest but also that of the scripture of light.

    Until now, Isaac had considered Kalsen to be nothing more than a boss-level monster but now realized anew that he had been designated a seraph.

    He must have been a true hero of the scripture of light before his betrayal, a figure of terror to the heretics.

    As Isaac thrilled to these new miracles, an intense reaction came from an unexpected ce.

    [¡°The Nameless Chaos watches over you.¡±]

    ¡°Ugh¡­?!¡±

    The brilliance emanating from the armor suddenly dimmed.

    Isaac shuddered with the intense pain he felt throughout his body. Tentacles were creeping up on him, reacting as they did when Isaac was gravely injured.

    The tentacles wriggled up through the armor, tearing and leaving wounds.

    Crackling loudly!

    However, the armor spat out mes, refusing to be subdued easily, and burned the tentacles. Suddenly finding himself in a battlefield of tentacles and mes, Isaac struggled to maintain hisposure.

    ¡°What is this?¡±

    But the pain was not as bad as he had thought. The tentacles were part of Isaac¡¯s power, and the mes were emitted to protect him. Yet, Isaac realized that these two could never coexist.

    Even the tentacles that had swallowed Kalsen Miller whole spat out this armor for a reason.

    ¡°No, damn it¡­!¡±

    Isaac reluctantly reached for the lock to take off the armor, but at that moment, the tentacles locked it again. They prevented him from taking off the armor and greedily bit into it.

    Crunch!

    The armor was severely damaged. Then, both the fire and light emanating from the armor weakened.

    It was a fight the armor was never meant to win.

    The armor existed to ward off external threats, not to¡­ stop tentacles from within.

    Taking advantage of the armor¡¯s weakened state, the tentacles bit, chewed, and tore voraciously. Soon, the miracles engraved on the armor began to fade one by one.

    ¡°Hey, wait!¡±

    Isaac screamed in an attempt to save the precious armor from damage. However, the tentacles, having failed to devour the armor before, now seemed determined to digest itpletely.

    In no time at all, the armor was destroyed.

    ¡°Why could it not devour it before, but now it can?¡±

    The answer was simple. In the meantime, Isaac had be strong enough, and the tentacles had grown.

    Now, they were capable of digesting itpletely.

    As a result, the blessings that even the priests of the scripture of light would consider a glory to their family vanished in an instant.

    ¡°Ah, aaaaah¡­¡±

    With Isaac¡¯s final scream, Kalsen Miller¡¯s armor was forever lost to history.

    ***

    ¡°Master Isaac?¡±

    After a long time had passed and Isaac did not emerge, Caitlin knocked on the door.

    ¡°Haven¡¯t you dressed yet? If it¡¯s ufortable, I can send a servant to help you¡­¡±

    Despite theck of response, Caitlin opened the door. Isaac was sitting in the middle of the storeroom, looking utterly defeated and lost in thought.

    Caitlin was puzzled to see that Isaac¡¯s attire had not changed much since he entered the storeroom.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t you wear the armor?¡±

    ¡°I am wearing it. There was a miracle of storage, so I kept it hidden.¡±

    Isaac raised his hand, d in a steel gauntlet. It was the only part of Kalsen Miller¡¯s armor left to him. Caitlin, surprised that such a miracle existed, still could not understand why he looked so dejected.

    ¡°Do you not like the gift?¡±

    ¡°No, um¡­ No, it¡¯s very good. Almost too much so.¡±

    Isaac forced a smile as he spoke.

    ¡°I¡¯m tired, so I¡¯ll head back for today. I n to stay in Sol for a few days, so if there¡¯s anything you need to tell me, please send someone to my lodging.¡±

    ¡°Yes, I understand.¡±

    With Caitlin¡¯s bewildered farewell, Isaac returned to his lodging.

    Once back, Isaac, ensuring he was alone, let out a long sigh.

    Then, he willed the tentacles within him to reveal the armor.

    With a sound reminiscent of rattling snake scales, the armor spread from Isaac¡¯s glove, quickly covering him from his legs to his head in a suit of full armor. For full armor that usually took at least 30 minutes to don or doff with assistance, it took less than 10 seconds to fully equip. Even though pdin armors inherently contain miracles to assist in donning and doffing, this was an astounding feature.

    However, its appearance had significantly changed. Firstly, the marks of carving formed intricate patterns, so it didn¡¯t look forcibly erased from crests and scripture phrases. It almost seemed like viewing a piece of exquisite art. Yet, those patterns were actually divided into pieces as small as fingernails, resembling snake scales.

    The seams were connected by tentacles instead of chains or fabric, without any signs of being hammered or glued. The tentacles had ¡®created¡¯ it like a mshell, leaving no trace of processing.

    Isaac moved his body around. The full armor was incredibly light and flexible, making it hard to believe it was armor at all.

    Each piece moved smoothly and naturally, making it feel as if he was not wearing anything at all.

    ¡®In some sense, since it¡¯s made of tentacles and shell, it¡¯s like not wearing clothes at all¡­¡¯

    Isaac looked down at the armor he was wearing.

    [Corrupted Pdin Armor of Kalsen Miller (S)]

    Sorry, Kalsen. Your armor has been chewed up and modified by tentacles.

    The tentacles had digested Kalsen¡¯s armor and recreated it as Isaac¡¯s new shell.

    It was only natural that they removed all the miracles that interfered with digestion. Luckily, the basic miracles that remained before the seal were still there, but the bnce-breaking miracles were gone.

    ¡®That¡¯s¡­ right. It would have been too much of a cheat to expect those as well.¡¯

    Looking purely at the functionality of the armor, it was much better now than before. It¡¯s not feasible to wear armor all year round, so reducing the inconvenience of having to don it every time for battle, not to mention the softness and lightness, was a huge improvement.

    Moreover, there were no longer any marks that could identify it as Kalsen¡¯s armor.

    ¡®And since the blessings of the scripture of light were erased, I can customize it with blessings that suit my taste. When I think about it, it¡¯s not so bad.¡¯

    Honestly, the blessings that had been granted were merely shy, strong, and rare, without any consideration forpatibility and synergy. Since Isaac found it difficult to use the miracles of the scripture of light, it would be more fitting to inscribe new blessings.

    Thinking positively, Isaac felt slightly better.

    Nheless, a sense of regret was hard to erase.

    ¡®Master Isaac.¡¯

    At that moment, Isaac felt a will being transmitted to him.

    It was Hesabel.

    After bing an apostle, like a child of chaos, Hesabel could send her will to Isaac, expressing her intentions. Isaac felt her full loyalty in her voice.

    ¡®Everything is ready.¡¯

    It meant she hadpleted the mission he had entrusted to her.

    Isaac nodded and headed to where she was waiting.

    It was the slums of Seor.

    ***

    In the slums of Seor, drizzle was pouring down.

    Although the raindrops were not heavy, they were sufficient to make the cold temperature even chillier.

    However, in the middle of a filthy open space, a group of people gathered, breathing out puffs of air.

    They nervously fiddled with the weapons hidden inside their clothes with anxious eyes. But that was merely tofort themselves; they dared not draw them out. The reason was a woman standing in a corner of the square, wearing a deep hood.

    Even in the darkness of the hood, her red eyes shone clearly, staring menacingly at them.

    In those eyes, the barbarians couldn¡¯t help but recall the rumors of a cannibal monster that had roamed Sol for some time.

    ¡°Attention, everyone!¡±

    Then, a familiar voice woke them up.

    Isaac, along with Jacquette, was entering the square.

    As Isaac entered the clearing, he looked at the group. The people gathered here were none other than a band of Barbarians, driven to desperation by the skyrocketing prices of Loracus. The disruption in logistics caused by the Loracus surge had forced the Barbaries, who had been sh-and-burn farmers, toe down to the city in search of work.

    The Barbaries tensed up as Isaac, dressed as a pdin, stood before them. Previously, they had attacked without hesitation, seeing him as just another mercenary. But now, Isaac presented himself in the full attire of a pdin, a figure of fear for the Barbarians.

    ¡°It¡¯s quite diverse, isn¡¯t it.¡±

    Barbarian does not refer to a specific ethnic group ormunity but rather to those who, by choice or circumstance,ck faith. And there is one peculiar trait among these Barbarians.

    Because theyck faith, the power of faith doesn¡¯t work well on them.

    In other words, they have a high resistance to magic.

    This was also a reason they could easily resist being swayed by other beliefs or exist as independent forces. Yukhar cunningly nned to exploit this very trait of the Barbarians.

    ¡°Even if Golruwa was to resurrect disguised as a golden idol, he would havecked a way to immediately gather faith¡­ That¡¯s why he wanted to use them.¡±

    Yukhar employed the Barbarians, who were indifferent to any faith, with money. By first bringing them under hismand and then providing them with Loracus alcohol, he intended to subjugate them to his faith. As a result, the Barbarian¡¯ resistance to magic had significantly weakened.

    And now, Isaac intended to make use of them.

    Isaac slowly began to speak.

    ¡°Ladies and gentlemen.¡±

    The Barbarians were shocked by his opening remark.

    A pdin using honorifics towards them? Barbarians, even though they were fellow citizens, were often treated as criminals or outcasts simply because theycked faith.

    ¡°Would you consider embracing faith again?¡±

    Isaac began to proselytize, making full use of his charm.

    ***

    The proselytization did not take long.

    It consisted of a short conversation of about 10 minutes and a Q&A session for about 30 minutes. Isaac skillfully mixed the doctrines of the Codex of Light with his own philosophy. After all, the doctrines of the Codex of Light were most simr to the beliefs of Isaac, a modern person from the 21st century, so mixing in his own thoughts went unnoticed.

    The Barbarians, who had expected to be conscripted or, at worst, arrested and disposed of by Isaac, were baffled but impressed by this unfamiliar method of proselytization.

    ¡°It seems you¡¯ve made quite an impression, Lord Isaac.¡±

    Hesabel approached him and said. However, Isaac just shrugged.

    ¡°I¡¯m not so sure. I didn¡¯t expect a few words to persuade them. And I¡¯ve killed some of them before.¡±

    ¡°Despite that, it seems there were quite a few who were persuaded. Among them, Jacquette seemed to be particrly impressed.¡±

    Jacquette had shown the most questions and enthusiastic reactions during the proselytization. Since she had also helped Isaac with the Loracus trade, it seemed she had already been somewhat spiritually subdued.

    Isaac nodded, thinking of Jacquette.

    ¡°That¡¯s true¡­ Jacquette has already offered to be a saint, so it seems she will serve us well in the long run.¡±

    Isaac had Hesabel directly under him to carry out hismands and created the position of saint beneath the apostle.

    It was amon position like that of a cleric or priest. Although Isaac could not grant miracles directly, in this world¡¯s faith system, an individual¡¯s faith grew stronger over time, and gathering many followers through proselytization further increased one¡¯s strength.

    As Jacquette was a significant leader among the Barbarians, she was sure to be stronger quickly.

    And thus, the created hierarchy became stronger the higher it went. The faith umted from the bottom up became increasingly powerful.

    ¡®And¡­ this umted faith bes my power.¡¯

    Naturally, Isaac was the apex predator of this faith-based pyramid.

 Chapter 53:

    Chapter 53:

    Chapter 53. We ept Your Debt (1)

    ¡°Faith¡± is an ambiguous concept in reality, but in this world, it is a tangible resource that can be utilized.

    When followers devote their faith to a deity, it umtes as divine power. This umted divine power serves as a medium that allows priests and bishops to perform miracles. In other words, if the deity allows it, the more followers one has, the stronger the power priests can wield.

    ¡°Even tentacles, if infused with divine power, could unleash much greater strength.¡±

    The reason tentacles couldn¡¯t exert their full power against Golruwa, despite being a miracle, was because theycked divine power. However, if enough faith is gathered and manifested as power, it would directly be Isaac¡¯s strength.

    He had no ns to grant the unnamed miracles of chaos to anyone else except for loyal servants like Zihilrat. However, he was considering bestowing simple physical enhancements or miracles that wouldn¡¯t be discovered.

    Of course, it would be problematic if a high-ranking individual who renounced their faith emerged. But starting from the bottom, Isaac needed to quickly expand his influence. Moreover, he kept the doctrines flexible enough so that there wasn¡¯t a strong incentive to renounce faith.

    ¡°He promoted universal morals and equality, values that other faiths don¡¯t prioritize much¡­ Greedy ones wouldn¡¯t be interested in this side in the first ce.¡±

    This faith was for the marginalized, the fugitives, the forsaken¡­ those at the bottom of society.

    There were many such people in Seor, whose foundations were shattered by the fall of Loracus. Isaac nned to covertly spread his faith among these people, along with their dissatisfaction with the existing faiths.

    Isaac did not believe he could control his followers perfectly. It was enough to control his close associates. And Isaac was determined not to let these associates betray him.

    Those who possessed the unnamed miracles of chaos had no choice but to be loyal to Isaac.

    And Jacquette was the first saint.

    Of course,pared to other priests or clerics, her knowledge and abilities werecking, but it¡¯s typical for early members of any multi-level marketingpany to reap greater benefits.

    Considering the abilities and influence Jacquette demonstrated throughout the Loracus surge, herck was not significant. Moreover, having sided with Isaac early, she had much potential to grow stronger.

    Luck is also a skill.

    Isaac did not consider the possibility of Jacquette betraying him. Like many from the bottom, she knew how to recognize and seize opportunities.

    Moreover, people subdued by fear often choose to align with that fear rather than suffer from it. People may quickly forget kindness, but fear lingers.

    Isaac only hoped that Jacquette would perform well in her role as a saint in S?r.

    ¡°Hmm, speaking of which¡­ Did you manage to retrieve it?¡±

    ¡°Yes, thanks to you.¡±

    Hesabel happily pulled out a stained rag from her bosom.

    Though it looked like a dirty rag, Isaac immediately recognized it as a relic.

    [Carlyle¡¯s Holy Bandage (B)]

    [When applied to a wound, it immediately heals the bleeding and injury but consumes blood.]

    [When she was designated as an archangel at the Carlyle Monastery, she carved out her own heart as thest proof of faith, wrapping it in cloth and offering it to the Red Chalice. Pleased, the Red Chalice skinned her and reorganized her flesh, thus the Prophet of Red Flesh was born.]

    ¡°It had to be something rted to the Prophet of Red Flesh.¡±

    Despite the eerie records it contained and being less prestigious than a division ritual, it was still a relic associated with an archangel.

    Hesabel was offering the holy bandage with some expectation, thinking of Isaac as a representative of the Prophet of Red Flesh. However, Isaac had never imed to be the Prophet of Red Flesh nor intended to lie. He was merely taking advantage of the other¡¯s misconception.

    ¡°That¡¯s fortunate.¡±

    Without showing much reaction, Isaac reached out his hand. Hesabel hesitated but eventually handed over Carlyle¡¯s Holy Bandage to Isaac, transferring a relic that had been pawned to Yukhar into Isaac¡¯s hands.

    [¡°You have acquired the ¡®Carlyle¡¯s Holy Bandage¡¯ relic.¡±]

    [¡°The effects of your noble journey are strengthened.¡±]

    It seemed like he had resolved all matters in Seor. He had cleared the debts to gain ess to most of the Golden Idol Guild¡¯s assets, obtained the blessings of the Golden Idol, Carlyle¡¯s Holy Bandage, and Hesabel Gulmar as an apostle.

    It was an unexpectedly great harvest.

    ¡°I¡¯m curious how Hesabel will act when she discovers my true identity¡­¡±

    Indeed, drawing the sessor of the Gulmar ducal family to his side was not without risks. For now, she seemed unaware of whom she was serving, so she wasn¡¯t considered aplete apostate, but the moment of inevitable betrayal woulde.

    Isaac did not believe Hesabel would choose him when the time came.

    However, he still invested effort because there was a good example in Kalsen Miller.

    ¡°It¡¯s faster to take believers cultivated by others than to grow them myself.¡±

    After all, the most painful betrayales from the most faithful believers.

    Considering her potential for growth, Hesabel Gullmar was worth the effort. The fact that she was a vampire was not a concern.

    After all, Isaac himself was a monster who consumed humans.

    Unaware of Isaac¡¯s thoughts, Hesabel waited quietly for hismand.

    ¡°Where shall we go now, Lord Isaac?¡±

    ¡°Hmm.¡±

    Isaac had several ces in mind already. However, he chose to wait for the right timing instead of leaving immediately.

    ¡°Soon, someone wille looking for me.¡±

    Isaac had no intention of resolving the problem first.

    If it was a problem that needed solving, it would be more advantageous to have someonee to him with a request.

    ***

    ¡°How much is the loss?¡±

    ¡°That, that is¡­¡±

    Hearing the report, Lord Kyle Hendrake of Hendrake felt dizzy.

    ¡°Why? Didn¡¯t you say the Golden Idol Guild was also buying in?¡±

    ¡°The Golden Idol Guild also suffered significant losses from this event.¡±

    The investment moves of the Golden Idol Guild were the most watched issues in this arena, a testament to their credibility. Economic activities blessed by a deity were not supposed to fail easily. If the Golden Idol Guild incurred significant losses, it could only be exined by an act of terrorism or provocation against the faith of the Golden Idol.

    ¡°But why now?¡±

    The Hendrake domain was on the outskirts of the Gerthonia Empire.

    Too far from the capital and not close enough to the front lines to gain fame.

    It was just a rural domain in an awkward location, though there were times when it prospered.

    However, Kyle was an ambitious man. His ambition grew noticeably after his father died of an unexined illness. Kyle believed the Loracus surge in the nearby city of Seor was an excellent opportunity to increase his power.

    ¡°I even borrowed money from other nobles using the name of the Brandt ducal family!¡±

    To entice nobles into investing, rumors were spread that the Brandt ducal family, a major noble family of the empire, was interested in this investment. Though the rumor¡¯s source was made to appear unknown, the nobles essentially knew Kyle was behind it. They turned a blind eye because the more nobles that participated in the investment, the better for them.

    But now, the investment had failed.

    They would me Kyle for everything.

    ¡°Refuse to pay back?¡±

    Kyle considered the worst-case scenario, but even that was impossible.

    He had already contracted with the neighboring lord, Reinhardt, to buy mature Loracus trees months ago. As the price of Loracus rose, Kyle delighted in Reinhardt¡¯s envy, but when the price plummeted, their positions reversed.

    Now, as Reinhardt delivered mountainous amounts of Loracus, Kyle was sure to spiral into bankruptcy. If he decided to default on his debts, Reinhardt would undoubtedly lead an army instead of Loracus trees.

    Before bankruptcy, whether one was an apostle of the same faith mattered not. Reinhardt too would suffer significantly from this event, and other nobles would support him to recover anything they could.

    Kyle nearly copsed from weakness in his legs. He staggered for a moment but was supported by a woman standing beside him.

    ¡°My lord.¡±

    The woman with red hair whispered to him. Smelling her scent, Kyle regained his senses.

    ¡°Ra.¡±

    Ra was a maid who always offered him wise advice. Even when his father hesitated to invest due to indecisiveness, Ra advised Kyle to be bold.

    So, when his father died of an unexined illness, Kyle¡¯s first act as lord was to dere an investment in Loracus. Then, about a month ago, Ra advised him to sell the Loracus, but he ignored her advice, thinking the price could not possibly fall, and the situation was too big to handle.

    ¡°I should have listened to you. How could this happen?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s toote for regrets. Let¡¯s focus on the cause. Why did the price of Loracus suddenly crash?¡±

    Her words jolted Kyle to attention.

    Why did the price of Loracus, which had been setting record highs every day, fall? Even when the Golden Idol Guild was investing in the market?

    ¡°Was it a terrorist attack against the Golden Idol Guild?¡±

    ¡°Beyond that.¡±

    Ra¡¯s lips twitched before she spoke again.

    ¡°Wasn¡¯t there arger goal?¡±

    ¡°Could it be¡­ targeted at me?¡±

    ¡°Yes. As you said, the intention might have been to inflict an economic crisis on the nobility of the Empire. The nobles are the most faithful followers and protectors of the Codex of Light, so perhaps it was an attempt to undermine the foundation of the Codex of Light.¡±

    Kyle was shocked by the realization that he was caught in an unprecedented attack targeting the Codex of Light, and that he had uncovered its entirety.

    However, even with his keen intellect, he could not find the words to convince the other nobles. How could he prove that it wasn¡¯t his mistake but an attack by some malevolent entity that caused the investment to fail?

    ¡°I¡¯ve heard rumors that a Grail Knight named Isaac yed a significant role in the crash of the Loracus prices.¡±

    ¡°Isaac? I¡¯ve heard stories about a Grail Knight, but was his name Isaac?¡±

    ¡°Yes. It¡¯s said that this Grail Knight defeated viins in the ck market and freed merchants who were being mentally controlled by an evil monster, causing the prices to plummet.¡±

    ¡°What a great feat. If hees to our domain, we must treat him with the utmost respect.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not the point.¡±

    Ra suddenly stopped and assumed a posture of prayer. Her piety was astonishing, but for Kyle, it was difficult to catch the timing.

    After a short prayer of ¡®grant me patience¡¯ passed, Ra spoke again.

    ¡°Doesn¡¯t it all seem too well-constructed? Mind control linked to the Loracus surge? Would a lord living in such a distant ce from Seor, like yourself, also be subject to mind control? What about the other nobles? And the sudden appearance of a Grail Knight defeating monsters, leading to the drop in Loracus prices¡­ Doesn¡¯t it seem strange?¡±

    ¡°Could it be¡­ the Grail Knight attacked the forces of the Codex of Light?¡±

    ¡°Just because he¡¯s a Grail Knight doesn¡¯t mean he serves the Codex of Light. I¡¯ve heard that Grail Knights can alsoe from the Order of Elil or the World¡¯s Forge.¡±

    Kyle shuddered at the unfolding revtions.

    A Grail Knight from another faith attacked the Codex of Light, and he was the first to suffer from that attack. Kyle felt a sense of duty as a protector of the faith, beyond just the problem of bankruptcy.

    Of course, shifting the me to another sect wasn¡¯t solely to find a way out for himself.

    ¡°It¡¯s unknown. The Grail Knight named Isaac might actually serve some other malevolent faith, roaming in disguise to expand his influence and power.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s going too far, Ra.¡±

    Even if she offered wise advice, Kyle thought it necessary to distinguish between fantasy and theory. Sometimes Ra would make such oundish statements that he had to be even more strict.

    Bing a Grail Knight wasn¡¯t something easily acknowledged.

    Kyle had grown up hearing legends about Grail Knights. He became curious about this Grail Knight named Isaac. If Isaac were on his side, perhaps the creditors would think twice before ming him.

    ¡°We must send a delegation.¡±

    Kyle made his decision.

    ¡°I¡¯ll send the Hendrake Knights. Invite that Grail Knight politely, and then I will meet him and judge for myself.¡±

    ¡°A wise decision, my lord.¡±

    Ra bowed respectfully. Kyle left her behind and immediately exited the hall to issuemands to the knights.

    ***

    Once Kyle was gone, Ra lifted her expressionless face. It was not the face of a person, but rather one that seemed to wear skin inside out, devoid of humanity. At her quietmand, a colossal ck knight emerged silently from the shadows behind a pir.

    ¡°The daughter of the Gullmar family does not seem to possess a trace of faith.¡±

    Ra calmly issued hermand to the knight.

    ¡°The daughter of the Gulmar familyst followed the Grail Knight named Isaac. Investigate her whereabouts while apanying the Hendrake Knights.¡±

    ¡°Is it Hesabel Gullmar, not Isaac?¡±

    ¡°That anachronistic Grail Knight is not of interest to the Red Chalice. What¡¯s important is the heir of the Gulmar family. If it¡¯s confirmed she has renounced her faith, execute her immediately and recover the relic.¡±

    The ck knight hesitated for a moment before asking cautiously.

    ¡°Could she have been killed by the Grail Knight?¡±

    ¡°If that¡¯s the case.¡±

    Ra replied as if it were obvious.

    ¡°Then he¡¯s not someone you could deal with. Don¡¯t even look back, just run.¡±

    At Ra¡¯s words, the ck knight quietly nodded.

    ¡°Yes, Prophetess.¡±

 Chapter 54:

    Chapter 54:

    Chapter 54. We ept Your Debt (2)

    ¡°I recovered faster than expected.¡±

    Isaac, looking down at the Seor market from his amodation, saw it quickly regaining its vitality.

    Being amercial hub, and thanks inrge part to the Golden Idol Guild offsetting most of the damage, merchants had a foundation to rebuild. Of course, the Golden Idol Guild suffered a significant loss, but that was due to an insider¡¯s mistake, leaving no one else to me.

    And at the center of the rumors was Isaac.

    Many had witnessed what happened in the market on the night the Loracus crash began as Isaac pursued Yukhar. The specifics of Isaac¡¯s actions were unknown to the public, but rumors spread that he had captured the ¡®evil¡¯ ck market merchants fueling the Loracus surge and saved merchants from bankruptcy.

    But the rumors didn¡¯t stop there.

    There were whispers of an ancient god¡¯s revival, appearances of vampires from the Red Chalice Club, and more. Although such tales sounded too fantastical, being linked to a ¡°Grail Knight¡± lent them a semnce of credibility.

    In tough times, people needed uplifting stories.

    ¡°From the merchants¡¯ perspective, being freed from brainwashing by a noble Grail Knight is more appealing than admitting to their greed.¡±

    Choosing to align with the story¡¯s Grail Knight rather than confront embarrassing memories was an act of responsibility avoidance, but it wasn¡¯t bad for Isaac. Now, they would spread tales of Isaac¡¯s heroism across the continent.

    ¡°Hmm?¡±

    Something caught Isaac¡¯s eye. A well-dressed nobleman was passing through the market with a group of horsemen, heading towards the Golden Idol Guild. Seeing this, Isaac smiled.

    ¡°It seems the time hase.¡±

    Isaac packed his belongings and signaled to Hesabel, who was waiting somewhere.

    The ceiling¡¯s wooden nks opened, and Hesabel appeared upside down, looking somewhat groggy.

    ¡°Do you always sleep there?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s the only ce where people don¡¯te and go, and sunlight doesn¡¯t reach¡­¡±

    Being a vampire, Hesabel lived a nocturnal life. Though she could move around during the day with proper precautions, like the Wachia hunters, her movements were significantly restricted.

    ¡°Do you need anything? The order¡¯s business is progressing smoothly.¡±

    Hesabel had been focusing on managing the nascent Order of Nameless Chaos and monitoring rumors during the night.

    The ¡®order¡¯, along with Isaac¡¯s fame, was spreading rapidly by word of mouth. True to the Order of Nameless Chaos, it had no name.

    ¡°For now, it might be seen as just a sect of the Codex of Light¡­¡±

    There was no n to reveal its true nature.

    Isaac intended to keep this order hidden within the Codex of Light. In the real world, such examples are plentiful. Religious sects often split over slight differences in doctrine interpretation.

    Consider how many branches exist within major religions like Christianity or Im.

    ¡°I don¡¯t need anything, but pack up. We¡¯re leaving soon.¡±

    ¡°Finally.¡±

    Without asking why, Hesabel retracted her head into the ceiling. She had seemed quite uneasy about staying in Seor for a while. Regardless of the reason, she was content to be leaving.

    Knock, knock.

    Soon after, the awaited visitor arrived.

    ¡°Lord Isaac, if it¡¯s not too much trouble, I have a pressing request¡­¡±

    Caitlin, seeing Isaac already packed and armored up, wore aplex expression. Isaac responded with a genuinely regretful look.

    ¡°Hmm, that would be inconvenient. I was just about to leave Seor.¡±

    ***

    Of course, Isaac had no intention of leaving.

    But Caitlin, unaware of the situation, barely managed to plead with him to bring him to the Guild.

    In the Guild¡¯s reception room was the nobleman Isaac had seen passing through the market earlier. He was visibly nervous to meet Isaac, whom even the head of the Golden Idol Guild had difficulty inviting.

    The nobleman approached and introduced himself first to Isaac.

    ¡°I am Count Coben Reinhardt. I wish you glory and blessings on your journey, Sir Knight.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m Isaac.¡±

    Isaac was satisfied with the count¡¯s demeanor.

    ¡°It seems I¡¯ve managed to assert some control.¡±

    The rtionship between nobles and knightly orders, especially those dedicated to holy causes like the Grail Knights, is intricate. In the Gerthonia Empire, where the Codex of Light serves as the state religion, the power of the church is immense, yet the Emperor¡¯s authority is equally formidable.

    Traditionally, even the Emperor is considered merely a proxy, having been ¡®temporarily¡¯ granted power by the divine. However, the current Emperor is viewed differently since he himself has been blessed as a sacred being.

    Is a sacred being, directly appointed by the divine, superior? Or is the collective of priests, who borrow divine power, more formidable?

    This presents a delicate issue.

    As a result, a subtle game of influence ensues between the nobility, who pledge allegiance to the Emperor and his military might, and the Grail Knights, who are devout to the church.

    However, for now, Count Reinhardt finds himself in the position of havingboriously persuaded a ¡®Grail Knight about to resume his noble journey¡¯ toe with him. Unbeknownst to the count, this positioned him in a somewhat subservient stance towards Isaac.

    ¡®It might be okay to humble myself a bit, but it¡¯s still irritating to have to bow down to someone who¡¯s merely born with a silver spoon in his mouth.¡¯

    Securing such a position can also determine the upper hand in ¡®negotiations.¡¯

    The noble with the impressive mustache, Reinhardt, was the first to speak, aiming to set a favorable tone for the conversation.

    ¡°I¡¯ve heard much about your aplishments, Sir Grail Knight. You¡¯ve single-handedly quelled the madness that was swirling around Seor recently.¡±

    ¡°I simply followed the path guided by the divine.¡±

    Strictly speaking, it was the guidance of a status window, but that too could be considered divine guidance in a broad sense.

    ¡°You¡¯re modest. But from what I¡¯ve gathered on my way here, your actions seem far beyond those of a mere pilgrim.¡±

    Isaac listened quietly to Reinhardt, wondering where he was going with this. Reinhardt¡¯s description of Isaac¡¯s rumored deeds left him somewhat taken aback.

    Shadows of a deranged deity controlling Seor¡­ Innocent citizens ensnared in madness¡­ Merchants brainwashed into buying ¡®drug-like¡¯ Loracus, threatening a famine disaster as no one attended to the spring harvest.

    Then, a Grail Knight appeared to vanquish the evil deity.

    Following an heroic battle that shattered the malevolent schemes, the evil deity attempted onest act of desperation, seeking to drench Seor in madness and terror. But then, the Grail Knight, breaking through the night with a radiant aura, reprimanded them.

    ¡°¡­Merchants came to their senses, bowed, and finally vanquished the evil deity. Furthermore, you generously distributed your wealth to help those suffering and in pain.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    Isaac looked away, pretending it was nothing. While the broad strokes weren¡¯t entirely incorrect, the story made the Grail Knight out to be a figure of noble purpose rather than someone engaging in spective investments to defeat the deity. In reality, Isaac¡¯s opponents were just lowlifes and debt-ridden merchants, and the ¡°wealth¡± he distributed was originally Yukhar¡¯s.

    And that he benefitted the most from the ordeal.

    ¡®Well, as long as the oue is good, the details of the story don¡¯t really matter.¡¯

    As Isaac feigned disinterest, Reinhardt interpreted his silence as humility and carefully sped his hands together.

    ¡°Yes, I understand that merchants tend to exaggerate and invent fantastical tales. I¡¯m embarrassed to say that I too attempted to profit from the situation and ended up suffering losses. But the more I heard, the less it seemed like mere fiction.¡±

    ¡°I merely did what needed to be done.¡±

    Isaac managed to convey a modest intent. However, anticipating that Reinhardt¡¯s praises would continue, he quickly shifted the conversation to the matter at hand.

    ¡°May I know the reason for your visit? I presume it¡¯s not merely to praise me.¡±

    ¡°Ah, indeed, fitting for a devoted Grail Knight. Actually, I was hoping to offer my support for your journey¡­ and to ask for a favor.¡±

    Reinhardt spoke cautiously.

    ¡°I have a neighboring domain, Hendrake. It¡¯s rugged terrain but was once renowned for its mining. I¡¯ve had a long-standing cooperative rtionship with its previous lord, Sir Lisfen Hendrake.¡±

    ¡°Hendrake!¡±

    Isaac was surprised by the unexpected name but did not show it.

    The Hendrake domain had been at the top of his list of ces to visit someday.

    Currently, it was nothing more than an unimpressive vige in a mountain valley, but due to the Loracus incident, it had be even more dpidated and pitiful.

    However, its true value would be revealed two yearster, at the dawn of the Dawn Army.

    It became a very important strategic point for various reasons, as the incident that triggered the Dawn Army happened there. Isaac had wanted to establish a base or have ties to the ce in any way possible, and this was just the opportunity he needed.

    ¡°So it¡¯s not the lord of Hendrake who came, but the lord of the neighboring vige¡­¡±

    Reinhardt continued, unaware of Isaac¡¯s thoughts.

    ¡°Recently, Viscount Lisfen Hendrake died of an unidentified disease, and his son, Kyle Hendrake, inherited the lordship. I¡¯ve decided to maintain a friendship and fellowship with that son. But Kyle Hendrake¡­ got seduced by some woman and started gambling with money.¡±

    Gambling with money¡­ Isaac suppressed augh.

    This was exactly the story he had been waiting for.

    ***

    The story unfolded exactly as Isaac had predicted. The lord, Kyle Hendrake, had started meddling with Loracus, borrowing money from here and there, and even reaching out to Reinhardt. However, the oue was as follows.

    It eventually led to bankruptcy.

    But Kyle Hendrake showed neither the ability nor the will to repay the money.

    ¡°I thought there would be one or two nobles going bankrupt because of this incident.¡±

    Thus, Isaac anticipated two situations: either the bankrupt nobles would desperatelye to him, or the creditors, needing to shake down the bankrupt nobles, woulde to him.

    Either way, they would need a justification.

    ¡°Exterminating a corrupt noble who dabbled in evil sorcery¡± would be a better excuse than ¡°going to collect owed money.¡±

    Conversely, the bankrupt nobles would need someone like Isaac by their side to assert that they were unrted to this ¡°evil incident.¡±

    This way, the creditors couldn¡¯t openly me the bankrupt nobles.

    Nobles, even in the face of bankruptcy, value justification over money.

    If they are looking for an opportunity to recover, they cannot afford to fall disgracefully.

    Isaac, therefore, nned to extract whatever he needed from whoever came to him first. The best thing from the Hendrake domain would be thend, and next would be the secrets of the domain that only Isaac knew, secretly taken.

    ¡°But it seems the creditors havee¡­¡±

    He had thought the bankrupt party would be more desperate, but this was an unexpected oue. After all, this noble, Reinhardt, might also be facing bankruptcy if he couldn¡¯t recover the money.

    Regardless, Isaac decided to listen to the story a bit more.

    ¡°So, do you wish for me to attack Viscount Hendrake with you?¡±

    At that, Reinhardt widened his eyes and waved his hands.

    ¡°No, how could I ask you to do such a dishonorable thing? I never thought of treating a Holy Grail Knight like somemon thug. And Kyle Hendrake is, after all, the son of my friend. I have no intention of harming him.¡±

    Reinhardt grimaced and spoke cautiously.

    ¡°Of course, he must be held ountable. If we only try to avoid this situation, the central nobility will cause even bigger problems. Plus, it seems this mess is because of a woman, so I do intend to reprimand him.¡±

    Because of a woman.

    Isaac pondered Reinhardt¡¯s words.

    ¡°It¡¯s the clich¨¦ story of a sessful man ruined by a woman. Such stories are often more about providing the man with an excuse rather than the woman actually being the cause.

    However, if it¡¯s something that happened in the Hendrake domain, it¡¯s possible that something really did intervene.

    ¡°By the way, you mentioned he got involved with Loracus because of a woman. What kind of woman is she?¡±

    ¡°Hm? Ah, she¡¯s a maid who was brought in during the previous lord¡¯s time. I¡¯ve never mentioned her, but I¡¯ve seen her from a distance, and she was indeed a very attractive woman. But, after all, she¡¯s just a maid, and having her constantly by his side is surely spoiling him.¡±

    Reinhardt seemed to have no concrete evidence either.

    But the presence of an attractive woman tends to fuel men¡¯s imaginations. They jump to the conclusion, ¡®He¡¯s doing something he¡¯s never done before, so it must be because of the woman.¡¯

    Isaac sarcastically yed along.

    ¡°Yes, well, if she¡¯s that charming, perhaps she¡¯s an angel who infiltrated our borders to carry out the evil schemes of the Red Chalice. Maybe she¡¯s disguised as a simple maid, plotting to kill the lord and corrupt his son.¡±

    ¡°Hm? That seems a bit far-fetched, Knight. Why would an angel of the Red Chalice bother with being a maid for a border noble? If it were me, I¡¯d go after corrupting the emperor or seducing a ducal family.¡±

    However, Reinhardt seemed to take the Holy Grail Knight¡¯s words as grave concern and deduction. With Reinhardt taking him seriously, Isaac found himself at a loss for words.

    But he thought to himself.

    ¡®The heir of a ducal family from the Red Chalice Club came all the way here and ended up as a debtor.¡¯

    ***

    ¡°Shall we depart now, Lord Isaac?¡±

    Hesabel, the heir of the ducal family from the Red Chalice Club and now Isaac¡¯s underling after being a debtor, was waiting in front of the lodging. She had packed all her belongings as instructed by Isaac and was ready to depart at any moment.

    When Isaac simply stared at her without answering, Hesabel tilted her head.

    ¡°Why do you look at me like that, Lord Isaac?¡±

    ¡°Just thinking, it¡¯splicated.¡±

    It¡¯s all Hesabel¡¯s doing. She dug her own grave and now she¡¯s lying in it, what can be done?

    Isaac sighed and said,

    ¡°We¡¯re going to the Hendrake domain.¡±

    Finding relics is important, but so is vanquishing evil.

    And if that evil happens to have a lot of money, all the more reason.

 Chapter 55:

    Chapter 55:

    Naturally, Isaac decided not to travel to the Hendrake domain with Count Reinhardt.

    Reinhardt had merely stopped by Seor with a few knights on his way to meet Isaac.

    To capture the lord of Hendrake and extract what was owed, more thorough preparation was needed, meaning many swords and spears. Since Reinhardt¡¯s route was closer to Hendrake, it was expected that their arrival times would be simr, or Reinhardt¡¯s slightly earlier.

    ¡°That¡¯s why I gave the horse as a gift. To ensure you¡¯re notte.¡±

    As Isaac exined to Hesabel, the knight who brought the horse had a troubled expression and offered an excuse:

    ¡°The lord¡¯s intention was purely out of goodwill and admiration for the Holy Grail Knight¡­¡±

    ¡°Yeah, yeah. So, I¡¯m supposed to ride this horse?¡±

    The horse brought by the knight was a fine white steed that matched Isaac¡¯s new armor in color. It seemed obedient enough to followmands, but Isaac was not impressed.

    ¡°It seems more like a horse for a young noble than a warhorse.¡±

    Given it was a gift, it appeared they chose a well-behaved and pretty one over a tough one. The presentation of a gift is crucial, after all.

    Then, Isaac¡¯s gaze shifted to a horse further back. It was a ck horse ridden by the knight.

    ¡°That horse?¡±

    It was a ck steed, significantlyrger and more rugged-looking than the white horse Reinhardt had gifted. It looked like a true warhorse.

    At Isaac¡¯s inquiry, the knight looked at him in surprise.

    ¡°That one? It¡¯s quite difficult. It has a terrible temper, having thrown off several riders. It¡¯s not that the horse adjusts to the rider, but rather the rider must adapt to the horse. I¡¯m not doubting the Holy Grail Knight¡¯s skills, but¡­¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re worried I might get hurt and arrivete. Bring it here.¡±

    Reluctantly, the knight brought the horse over. Although the white horse seemed of better lineage, it was suited more for pretty and elegant riding, not for Isaac, who needed to consider mountedbat.

    The brought horse, true to its size, behaved wildly as if showing its temperament to the unfamiliar Isaac.

    Or perhaps, it sensed something ominous about him.

    Regardless of the reason, Isaac did not want to waste time taming the horse. As he reached out, the horse opened its mouth as if to bite him.

    But at that moment, Isaac grabbed its muzzle.

    A parasite from beyond quickly burrowed into the horse¡¯s brainstem, dominating its brain. The horse twitched before bing docile. Isaac checked the sensations of fear, excitement, and other feelings through the horse.

    Isaac didn¡¯t want to go this far with a speechless animal, but frankly, he wasn¡¯t good at riding. The most he had ridden was a pony at a monastery.

    ¡°This way, at least, I can control it as I wish.¡±

    It wasn¡¯tplete domination but enough to induce pain or forcibly calm it, which was still useful. However, the knight, unaware of what had happened, was astonished.

    ¡°Amazing. You¡¯ve turned that wild warhorse into a docilemb¡­¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s consider this as the gift. Tell him I¡¯m thankful for the good gift. Tell him I¡¯ve exchanged the white horse for this one and that it¡¯s okay to take it.¡±

    At Isaac¡¯s words, the knight joyfully said goodbye and left. Apparently, even the knight found the ck horse¡¯s temperament difficult to bear and was happy to leave it behind.

    But to Isaac, it was now as docile as amb.

    ¡°Let¡¯s depart.¡±

    Isaac mounted the horse and instructed Hesabel. Since the sun was still up, Hesabel wore her hood deep enough to cover almost her entire face. Despite seemingly barely able to see, she moved well, indicating no issue.

    Hesabel already had her own horse, so there was no need to find another for her.

    Although they were riding, Isaac didn¡¯t want to rush and arrive before Reinhardt, so he didn¡¯t feel the need to hurry.

    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t we then avoid crossing paths with Reinhardt?¡±

    ¡°If Reinhardt wants to solve this calmly and with justification rather than rushing into a siege, then it¡¯s essential I be there. If Hendrake still acts arrogantly despite my presence, then it truly means he¡¯s been influenced by sorcery.¡±

    However, for Hesabel, who came from and of conspiracy, disruption, and assassination, such actions seemed unfamiliar.

    She tilted her head with an awkward expression.

    ¡°Hmm, I don¡¯t quite understand. In our kingdom, we would have simply put a bounty of a thousand gold coins on the head of Lord Hendrake. It¡¯s cheaper than deploying soldiers. Or we could bribe an insider to assassinate him, poison his food¡­¡±

    Hesabel listed all sorts of underhanded tactics that could ur in the Kingdom of Wachia. It seemed that concepts like face, justification, or honor didn¡¯t matter much in her homnd.

    Isaac might have fit in with that approach, but the White Empire had a stronger sense of maintaining appearances.

    The fact that options like suing or appealing to the Red Chalice didn¡¯t evene up indicated that in the Kingdom of Wachia, one had to take responsibility for their own actions.

    ¡°We generally try to avoid outright war if possible. There¡¯s always the risk of too much bloodshed.¡±

    ¡°Right. A misstep could lead to many casualties¡­¡±

    ¡°Yes. It¡¯s a waste for so much precious blood to be spilled.¡±

    Isaac momentarily thought the Kingdom of Wachia had a deep respect for human life, before realizing he hadpletely misjudged the situation.

    The nobility of Wachia literally thrived by sucking the blood of their citizens.

    Not metaphorically, but literally.

    Initiating a war meant wiping out the crops they would otherwise harvest themselves.

    ¡°You are¡­ never mind. Better not to say it.¡±

    Deciding whether it¡¯s better to bleed people dry through war or to suck their blood in peacetime was a difficultparison. Isaac had seen an ending involving the Red Chalice Club¡¯s faith in a game. ording to its portrayal, the people of Wachia weren¡¯t treated like livestock.

    Instead, since the nobility didn¡¯t need food, the peasants could keep all the food they produced. The surplus food allowed the poption to grow, leading to the development of industry and the arts. Conspiracies and conflicts were matters among the nobles.

    If someone seemed useful, they would willingly share their blood and adopt them as their own, elevating them to nobility, so the social structure wasn¡¯t rigid.

    ¡®Of course, a few families would monopolize wealth forever.¡¯

    However, the nobility didn¡¯t live exceptionally long lives.

    In a country rife with conspiracy, disruption, and assassination, murder was the leading cause of noble deaths. But the hidden number one cause was disappearance.

    For vampires who consume bodies, disposing of a corpse is not difficult. Especially if the deceased noble had valuable blood, they would fight over even a bone fragment, a strand of hair, or a drop of blood.

    ¡®Which is better¡­ I don¡¯t want to say, but emotionally, the Codex of Light seems better.¡¯

    This, of course, was a modern perspective, and it was uncertain how people of this era would see it.

    Someone conscripted to war or exploited by nobles might say Wachia is better.

    ¡°By the way, you¡¯re the heiress of the Gulmar family, right? A maiden? Almost a princess in rank, but are you allowed to wander like this?¡±

    In Isaac¡¯s memory, Hesabel was confined to her domain at the start of the game, heavily protected. It was puzzling why she had ventured out here.

    Hesabel¡¯s expression hardened before she finally spoke.

    ¡°Well, it¡¯s because of the Red Chalice Club¡­¡±

    The scream came from nowhere in particr, not aimed at Isaac or Hesabel, but it erupted from the direction they were heading towards.

    ***

    With a loud crash, a log struck the ground with force.

    The log, as thick as a thigh, scattered dirt and stone fragments around. People in heavy armor tried to scramble away, but it seemed not an easy feat.

    ¡®Knights?¡¯

    Isaac scrutinized the group being attacked by the log.

    ¡°Damn it, fire! Where are the fire arrows? Go shoot them!¡±

    ¡°Use torches to burn it!¡±

    Another log flew in, indicating the situation was not favorable for the knights. The area, a sloping valley with signs of logging, was filled with chopped trees.

    Above all, their assant was a troll, towering at 3 meters with pale, rock-like skin.

    ¡®A troll this close to human settlements?¡¯

    In the White Empire, encountering a troll required venturing deep into the mountains, as their natural predators were the priests of the Codex of Light.

    The troll, though wounded, was quickly healing thanks to its regenerative abilities. The knights¡¯ calls for fire arrows and torches seemed futile amidbat.

    ¡®If there were a priest with me blessings or one who could apply heat, this would be easy. But their absence suggests no priest is among them.¡¯

    At a nce, they were not part of a Holy Knight order. Nor did they seem like Imperial Knights, more like local lord¡¯s knights.

    ¡°Should we help?¡±

    As Isaac observed, Hesabel inquired.

    With her intervention, it would be simple. Hesabel, capable of wielding the miracles of the Red Chalice, could counter the troll¡¯s regeneration.

    Having assessed the situation, Isaac made his decision.

    ¡°They could be knights of Count Reinhardt. I¡¯ll handle it.¡±

    Isaac spurred his horse forward. The sudden approach drew the knights¡¯ attention. Brandishing the Sword of Judgment, Isaac charged at the troll.

    ¡°Uwooooo!¡±

    The troll hurled a massive log at Isaac, who had no path to evade. A direct hit seemed imminent.

    Isaac gripped the reins tightly.

    In that moment, the horse nimbly dodged, leaping sideways. The log crashed into another tree, shattering. The knights were astonished by the seemingly miraculous riding skill.

    ¡®I thought about something like a drift¡­ the horse is more cooperative than expected.¡¯

    Perhaps because his will was fully transmitted to the horse. Regardless, they charged again at the troll, which, surprised by Isaac¡¯s evasion, swung the log instead of throwing it.

    Whoosh! The attack aimed at Isaac forced him to dismount. The horse quickly moved away as instructed upon Isaac¡¯snding.

    Now it was Isaac¡¯s turn.

    He dived into the troll¡¯s reach, shing upwards with the Sword of Judgment.

    Screeeeech! The unholy creature¡¯s chest was marked with arge wound, burned by the holy fire. Though aiming for the neck was ideal, the troll¡¯s height made it unreachable. However, the troll, which had been regenerating from the knights¡¯ attacks, screamed in terror.

    ¡°Assist the Holy Knight!¡±

    The knights, realizing the situation, hurriedly shouted. Surrounded, the troll had no chance of escape. It swung the log, trying to maintain distance.

    Frustrated by the troll¡¯s defense, Isaac pondered the strength of his new armor. The nearby broken logs, seemingly weak pine, caught his attention.

    Isaac closely watched the trajectory of the log and stepped forward.

    Crash! The ground buckled under Isaac as he was pushed back, but it was the log that shattered, not him. Wood chips flew in all directions.

    ¡®As expected, nothing but a bit stiff.¡¯

    The Pdin¡¯s armor, armed with protective miracles, was robust enough to be considered a weapon.

    ¡®Had it been swung upwards, theck of weight might have sent me rolling¡­¡¯

    Though not dangerous, it would have been an embarrassing sight.

    The troll, left holding only a piece of the log, appeared stunned. It bent down to grab another log when it felt intense heat pierce its neck. Isaac had waited for this moment to strike.

    The intense heat burned the troll¡¯s neck as hot as its blood.

    ¡°Phew¡­¡±

    After regaining his breath from the battle, Isaac was approached by a knight. With an excited, perhaps even love-struck face, the knight eximed.

    ¡°That was incredible, Pdin! Which Pdin order do you belong to? I wish to know your name!¡±

    ¡°Who are you?¡±

    Realizing his rudeness, the knight hastily pounded his chest and announced.

    ¡°I am Owen Renly, vice-captain of the Hendrake Knight Order! We were on a mission directed by Lord Kyle Hendrake!¡±

 Chapter 56:

    Chapter 56:

    ¡°Hendrake Knight Order?¡±

    Isaac asked with a bemused expression. Owen, seemingly embarrassed, fiddled with the bear-shaped brooch pinning his cloak and exined.

    ¡°Yes. It was originally named the ck Bear Knight Order, but nobody recognized it, not even our lord. He calls it the Hendrake Knight Order, so we just go with that.¡±

    ¡®Why is the Hendrake Knight Order here of all ces?¡¯

    If it¡¯s the Hendrake Knight Order, they are the knights of the Hendrake estate that Isaac and Reinhardt were nning to confront.

    He had anticipated a high chance of conflict, yet here he was, having just saved that very knight order.

    ¡®It¡¯s toote to start a fight now.¡¯

    Owen Renly, the knight who had introduced himself, cautiously observed Isaac before speaking up.

    ¡°Excuse me, but aren¡¯t you the Holy Grail Knight, Isaac?¡±

    Isaac considered pretending ignorance for a moment, but concluded it was futile. The Holy Grail Knights were too distinctive and few to hide his identity.

    ¡°That¡¯s correct.¡±

    Isaac admitted straightforwardly, and a wave of excitement swept through the knights.

    ¡°As I thought! I knew it from the courage you showed by fearlessly leaping into danger to save those in distress, the honorable grace you afford even your enemies, the skill to swiftly end their breath, and above all¡­¡±

    Isaac, listening to thevish praise, looked at Owen when he suddenly stopped speaking. Owen seemed hesitant to continue.

    ¡°Above all, what? Why stop mid-sentence?¡±

    ¡°Well, it¡¯s, um, a bit too worldly to mention¡­¡±

    ¡°Worldly?¡±

    ¡°People say it¡¯s like beauty carved by an angel¡­¡±

    That damned appearance.

    He might have chosen a Nephilim for their aesthetic appeal, but receiving suchpliments was still unfamiliar. He was just d he hadn¡¯t created a female character.

    ¡°It¡¯s fine, you can praise me all you want.¡±

    ¡°Ah, I apologize if it was inappropriate¡­ Eh? What?¡±

    ¡°More importantly, what brings the Hendrake Knight Order here?¡±

    Owen seemed pleased that Isaac used their formal name.

    He confidently ryed the order given by his lord, Kyle Hendrake.

    ¡°Yes. Our mission is to bring Holy Grail Knight Isaac to our domain. I believe it¡¯s to celebrate your noble journey and offer whatever assistance we can!¡±

    ***

    Themand given to Kyle was simple: ¡®Bring Isaac.¡¯ However, the underlyingplexity was significant.

    The Hendrake domain was in a worse state than Reinhardt had indicated. The knightly wages were overdue.

    The knights, believing a lord with such expansivends wouldn¡¯t default on payments, spected that dyed wages might lead to the grant of small fiefs.

    But Isaac saw it differently.

    ¡®On the verge of bankruptcy.¡¯

    It seemed futile for Reinhardt to hurry; Kyle¡¯s salvage seemed unlikely.

    The best Reinhardt could do was to sell off the Hendrake estate at a somewhat reasonable price before the vassals inside started a revolt to liquidate its assets.

    Nheless, Kyle sought out Isaac.

    Isaac suspected the reason might align with his own predictions.

    To fall with dignity.

    To leave a foundation for a possibleeback.

    ¡®But Reinhardt arrived first.¡¯

    Had the Hendrake Knight Order been faster, Isaac would have been on his way to the Hendrake estate with them. However, Isaac had already epted an advance¡ªalbeit in the form of a horse¡ªfrom Reinhardt.

    Truthfully, it didn¡¯t matter much to Isaac whom he followed.

    Whomever he helped, Isaac could get what he wanted from them. Maybe Kyle Hendrake could offer more.

    He was bound to fall anyway, so if Isaac were by his side, he might carve the biggest piece from the Hendrake domain.

    ¡®Not that it¡¯s what Kyle Hendrake would want.¡¯

    Nevertheless, Isaac was tempted by this new proposition but eventually dismissed it.

    Breaking a prior agreement with Reinhardt and siding with a bankrupt noble wasn¡¯t particrly honorable.

    Besides, honor aside, Isaac was one of the hyenas aiming to take a bite out of the Hendrake domain during this opportunity.

    ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll go.¡±

    Yet, Isaac nonchntly nodded.

    There was no need to discard the option prematurely. There was no point in antagonizing the Hendrake Knight Order when the situation was still unclear.

    Once he arrived at Reinhardt¡¯s domain, the oue would be decided.

    Owen beamed with joy.

    ¡°It¡¯s an honor to have such a noble Holy Grail Knight apany us! We will dly join you!¡±

    Though Owen was clearly older than Isaac, his respect and politeness were evident, likely influenced more by the weight of the title ¡°Holy Grail Knight¡± than Isaac¡¯s personal achievements.

    In this era, children grew up on tales of knightly heroes rather than superhero movies.

    Despite their poor performance against the troll, the knights were still a knight order. As Isaac began to move, they formed a protective formation and started a formal march. Their skill in handling horses suggested they werepetent at serving high-ranking individuals, if nothing else.

    ¡°Are you nning to move with them?¡±

    Hesabel¡¯s expression was one of dissatisfaction, almost contempt, as she looked at the knights.

    ¡°These individuals possess mediocre skills. It¡¯s astonishing they im to be knights with such abilities.¡±

    Her gaze asionally met with the knights, who were sneakily ncing at Hesabel beside Isaac, fascinated by her striking beauty.

    Hesabel, true to the Red Chalice Club¡¯s ethos of valuing beauty, could not hide her stunning appearance even under a hood.

    Isaac was also noticeable, but naturally, the knights were more drawn to a woman. They couldn¡¯t outright ask who she was, but their curiosity was understandable.

    ¡°Having more people in the group has its advantages. It¡¯s easier to find food, safer, and there¡¯s no need for night watch.¡±

    ¡°Do you truly believe that? It might be challenging during the day, but at night, even if those knights set a few guards, it would pose no problem for me.¡±

    Isaac internally agreed.

    In truth, they could forage for food using tentacles, and safety was a non-issue. Even without Hesabel, they could have Zihilrat, lurking somewhere in the woods, stand guard at night.

    But there was no need to separate from the group.

    Isaac was puzzled by Hesabel¡¯s sensitive reaction.

    ¡°What¡¯s bothering you?¡±

    ¡°Just disdain for those unworthy of ourpany¡­¡±

    ¡°Think of them as portable lunchboxes, then.¡±

    ¡°¡­Yes.¡±

    Isaac couldn¡¯t understand her dissatisfaction. The knights mightck in skill, but weren¡¯t there benefits to traveling together?

    For instance, encountering a road blocked by logs.

    About half a day into their journey, Isaac stopped with an incredulous look, staring ahead. Turning to Owen, he noticed a simr look of confusion. Logs piled high obstructed the path.

    ¡°This wasn¡¯t here this morning.¡±

    ¡°Of course, it wouldn¡¯t be.¡±

    The road, nestled between narrow valleys, was blocked meticulously with logs, making it difficult for those on horseback to bypass. There were no signs of andslide, indicating it wasn¡¯t a natural urrence.

    The culprits soon revealed themselves.

    ¡°Oooooooh!¡±

    Four trolls stood among the trees, yelling at Isaac¡¯s group. They brandished hefty tree trunks, seemingly having blocked the road to set a trap.

    ¡®But if they¡¯re going to make noise, shouldn¡¯t they be attacking¡­ What?¡¯

    ¡°Those bastards¡­¡±

    Just as Isaac doubted the trolls¡¯ intelligence, one knight cursed under his breath and drew his sword. Isaac then began to question the knight¡¯s intelligence.

    What was he nning to do? They barely managed against one troll on t ground, let alone climbing up a slope to confront them.

    Fortunately, Owen intervened before the knight could ascend.

    ¡°It seems the trolls are behind this. Have trolls often appeared in this pass like this?¡±

    ¡°No, this is the first time something like this has happened¡­¡±

    Owen¡¯s embarrassed exnation highlighted the oddity of the situation. This was a traveled path, not the depths of a dense forest. Considering the high value of troll skin and blood, and how easily a priest could handle one, the presence of trolls here was peculiar.

    Isaac projected his will to Zihilrat, who had been stealthily moving through the woods since the threat emerged. Zihilrat was in a position to immediately attack one of the trolls.

    ¡°Krrrgh!¡±

    Soon, a troll vanished into the shadows of the forest, followed by a scream. The specifics of the troll¡¯s fate were unseen from the slope.

    Zihilrat could handle a couple of Wachia¡¯s human hunters in non-sanctified areas.

    With the element of surprise, even a troll posed no challenge.

    The knights were startled by the sudden troll scream, and as they registered the disturbance, the remaining trolls noticed something was amiss. Confused at first, they quickly spotted something in the dark depths of the forest.

    ¡°Oooooh!¡±

    Soon, they tumbled down the slope in a panic.

    ¡°It¡¯s an attack!¡±

    The knights, btedly interpreting this as the start of an ambush, hastily drew their swords.

    Isaac swiftly plunged his sword into the neck of one of the trolls that hadn¡¯t yet risen, the Sword of Judgment searing through, burning its flesh.

    He could have easily dealt with the rest, but Isaac wasn¡¯t particrly inclined to do so.

    ¡°Should we see what the ck Bear Knight Order can do, Owen?¡±

    ¡°Ah, yes! Of course!¡±

    Leaving the cleanup to others was appealing, but Isaac was more curious about the trolls¡¯ panic.

    Led by Owen, the knights courageously engaged the two remaining trolls.

    Given their struggle with just one troll earlier, it seemed a daunting task. However, the Hendrake Knight Order fought surprisingly well. The ground was even here, without slopes or logs for the trolls to use as weapons. Moreover, the trolls appeared more interested in fleeing than fighting.

    Though unable to cauterize wounds like Isaac, the knights managed to inflict damage steadily.

    ¡®Still, their skills leave much to be desired¡­¡¯

    Their level ofpetence might surpass ordinary mercenaries or guards, but it was pitifulpared to the Holy Knight orders. Even several Hendrake Knight Ordersbined might struggle against a single squadron from the Rottenhammer Holy Knight Order.

    Notably, no one from the Hendrake Knight Order seemed capable of high-level swordsmanship. Whether this was intentional or reflective of the general standard of regional knight orders was unclear.

    ¡®Owen seems to be the best among them. Though he appears somewhat cautious¡­¡¯

    Owen, albeit somewhat defensively,nded effective strikes when he swung his sword. His prowess suggested he might be the only one close to mastering advanced swordsmanship.

    Isaac shrugged at Hesabel as if to say, ¡°See, without them, you¡¯d be dealing with those trolls.¡±

    Hesabel, however, seemed unimpressed.

    ¡°The Red Chalice Club doesn¡¯t necessarily harm trolls. They can be tamed, after all.¡±

    ¡°Tamed?¡±

    ¡°Yes. The Red Chalice Club treasures trolls as valuable creatures.¡±

    ¡°Because of their blood, right?¡±

    Isaac understood what Hesabel was implying. Though he hadn¡¯t paid much attention during his ythrough, the Red Chalice Club considered trolls useful livestock and guardians.

    They might not understand human speech, but they weren¡¯t so dim-witted as to be untrainable. Their blood was highly valuable, and their regenerative capabilities were extraordinary. It was natural for the Red Chalice Club, which revered life force and blood, to value them.

    ¡®Wait¡­ the Red Chalice Club.¡¯

    Something subtle nagged at Isaac.

    The Red Chalice Club tames and values trolls. And here were an unusual number of trolls appearing.

    There had to be a mastermind behind this.

    ¡®It doesn¡¯t seem to be Hesabel¡­ More like she¡¯s attracted some unwanted attention.¡¯

    A holy knight or priest turning heretic would attract all sorts of curses and pursuers. It¡¯s unlikely that a ducal heiress would just be allowed to defect without consequence.

    Isaac began to specte about who might be behind this.

 Chapter 57:

    Chapter 57:

    ¡®It must be someone from the Gulmar ducal family or a high-ranking priest acting under orders.¡¯

    Isaac didn¡¯t see the emerging hassle due to Hesabel as a problem. On the contrary, it was almost wee. This was the territory of the Gerthonia Empire. Even on the frontier, it was and teeming with priests and holy knights of the Empire of Light.

    To reveal themselves here? It would be like throwing themselves into the sunlight.

    ¡®A sneak attack would actually be appreciated.¡¯

    Hesabel could take care of herself, so there was no concern for her safety. Minor nuisances like trolls or roadblocks were inconsequential.

    Isaac rather hoped the opponent would soon reveal themselves, eagerly digging their own grave under his watchful gaze.

    ***

    Contrary to Isaac¡¯s expectations, no further checks came their way. Thanks to this, Isaac easily reached the entrance to Hendrake domain. Crossing this bridge would lead them into Hendrake territory.

    Isaac felt a bit disappointed to have arrived without incident.

    ¡®The foe isn¡¯t foolish, it seems. Or did they just want to test my strength?¡¯

    While a random troll attack wasn¡¯t entirely out of the question, overlooking such a suspicious circumstance would be foolish.

    It seemed clear the opponent didn¡¯t intend to harm Hesabel immediately.

    A troll wouldn¡¯t pose much of a threat to her.

    ¡®A simpler method would be¡­¡¯

    To use Hesabel as bait outright. Sending her off to some remote location might just lure the enemy out. Isaac considered this but realized he¡¯d then have to confront the pursuer alone.

    Although willing to face a mob with the power of the Codex of Light, Isaac wasn¡¯t keen on battling an unknown enemy solo.

    As Isaac mulled over these thoughts, a group of figures appeared before the bridge.

    A middle-aged man at the front of the group was shouting at a soldier guarding the bridge.

    ¡°Tell Kyle to prepare for guests right this instant!¡±

    ¡°But, even if you say so, we¡¯ve already received orders¡­¡±

    The Hendrake Knight Order slowed their pace upon noticing the scene.

    ¡°Is that¡­ Count Reinhardt?¡±

    Confusion and tension quickly spread among the Hendrake knights. The first to arrive were Reinhardt and his private soldiers, including a few knights.

    Reinhardt turned his head upon noticing Isaac¡¯s group.

    The first thing he noticed was Isaac, standing prominently at the front with Owen. Isaac¡¯s high charisma always caught attention anywhere.

    ¡°Isaac! You¡¯ve arrived. But who are these with you?¡±

    Reinhardt looked puzzled at the knights apanying Isaac, having never heard of Isaac traveling with a group.

    Before Owen could respond, Isaac spoke up.

    ¡°The ck Bear Knight Order. Also known as the Hendrake Knight Order.¡±

    ¡°Hendrake Knight Order?¡±

    A murmur quickly spread. The Hendrake Knight Order members, as well as Reinhardt¡¯s soldiers and knights, showed visible difort.

    The Hendrake knights were aware of their domain¡¯s dire situation. Rumors had circted that an external invasion, specifically from Reinhardt, might ur.

    Reinhardt¡¯s soldiers were also concerned about potential conflict. Although Reinhardt imed he was merely visiting to reprimand his friend¡¯s son, who brings an army for a simple scolding?

    Though their numbers were insufficient for an outright invasion, it was too many for a mere visit.

    Now, unexpectedly meeting in the middle of the road, concern over who might draw their sword first overshadowed any aggressive intentions.

    None wanted to be dragged into a noble¡¯s quarrel and shed blood unnecessarily.

    As everyone looked to Isaac and Reinhardt for cues, both Owen and Reinhardt spoke simultaneously.

    ¡°Why are you with them, Isaac?¡±

    ¡°Isaac, you¡¯ve already met Count Reinhardt?¡±

    The questions were thrown at the same time, but Isaac responded as if it were nothing unusual.

    ¡°I helped them out of a tight spot.¡±

    Isaac casually led the way forward, with Reinhardt and Owen hesitantly following behind.

    Isaac found the situation quite agreeable.

    He was the trump card.

    Should a conflict arise, he could dere which side justice favored.

    To avoid provoking his displeasure, neither party could afford to initiate hostilities.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go in. If it¡¯s a problem that can be solved with dialogue, it¡¯s best to talk it out.¡±

    Reinhardt and the Hendrake Knight Order maintained an awkward distance as they entered the heart of the domain. The Hendrake domain was nestled betweenrge valleys, offering quite a scenic view with a vige that seemed mainly to rely on livestock rather than agriculture due to theck of arablend.

    ¡®This seemingly impoverished vige is where that incident will unfold¡­¡¯

    In two years, an event in this vige would trigger the 13th Dawn Army¡¯smencement.

    The event was the near-sessful birth of a new deity.

    The person who attempted to create a new faith was none other than Kalsen Milter.

    Kalsen Miller had renounced the Codex of Light in his quest to be the deity of the ninth faith, seeking assistance from the Red Chalice and the Immortal Order. With predecessors like Elil and the Immortal Emperor, who had ascended to godhood in human form, his ambition was not unfounded.

    ¡®But Kalsen failed.¡¯

    Ultimately, Kalsen Miller failed to be a deity.

    Utilizing the countless powers and resources hidden within the Hendrake domain, Kalsen Miller eventually fled to the ck Empire. The White Empire was furious over the attempt to create a new faith within their territories.

    Engulfed in fear and anger, the White Empire hastily dered the 13th Dawn Army without proper preparation.

    ¡®But with Kalsen Miller dead¡­¡¯

    The event leading to the birth of a new deity would no longer ur.

    Isaac thought this might prevent the Dawn Army¡¯s formation, but he deemed it unlikely.

    Events tend to unfold regardless.

    The reconquest of holy sites is a historic mission for the followers of the White Empire, and the more society is filled with anger and injustice, the louder the calls for the Dawn Army be.

    The attempted deity birth was merely a trigger.

    Thus, Isaac intended to keep that trigger under his control.

    Upon reaching a grand castle atop the inclined valley, with the vige sprawled below, Owen hurried forward to announce their arrival.

    ¡°Excuse me, but I must inform the lord to prepare for the guests. Thank you.¡±

    With those words, without waiting for a response, Owen and the knights dashed ahead.

    Owen seemed still to harbor concerns for Isaac but evidently decided that Reinhardt¡¯s presence within the domain center posed a greater issue.

    Reinhardt watched the Hendrake Knight Order dash away, his eyebrows twitching, but ultimately took no action, seeming rather relieved that Isaac remained.

    ¡°Isaac, I can¡¯t make sense of this situation.¡±

    ¡°You came here intending to resolve things peacefully, didn¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°Of course, that was the intention, but¡­¡±

    Even Reinhardt seemed aware of the imusibility of his own words. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have brought such arge force.

    With the stakes of the ducal family¡¯s survival on the line, he likely anticipated that if talks failed, swords might sh.

    Reinhardt probably thought a few casualties were eptable if he could reprimand them and receive some form ofpensation.

    Kyle, on the other hand, would be bracing not to give up a penny.

    ¡°Then let¡¯s proceed my way. After all, Hendrake is the more anxious party. Thanks to them, we¡¯vee this far without shedding a drop of blood.¡±

    If Reinhardt had harmed anyone, Hendrake would have justification for retaliation, possibly as an excuse to avoid repayment.

    Ultimately, the resolution depended on who would draw their sword first.

    However, Isaac didn¡¯t truly believe a peaceful resolution was possible.

    ¡®Hendrake domain is already struggling to pay its vassals, and Reinhardt could face bankruptcy without seizing the domain¡­ Most murder cases stem from money or love affairs, right?¡¯

    Bloodshed seemed inevitable, regardless of the oue.

    Isaac needed only to decide whose side to take.

    When Isaac and Reinhardt reached the castle gates, they found them firmly shut, with no guards in sight. As one of Reinhardt¡¯s soldiers stepped forward to shout, Reinhardt himself intervened and took charge.

    ¡°I am Count Coven Reinhardt! Open the gates!¡±

    But the castle walls remained silent.

    The siege seemed improbable, given the absence of soldiers on the walls.

    Reinhardt shouted a few more times, trying to provoke a response from Kyle, but eventually lost his patience.

    ¡°Open up, you piss-stained brat! Think hiding under your bed like when you wet it will make everyone ignore you again? Open!¡±

    Whatever the past incidents were, Reinhardt, as a neighboring lord, seemed well-acquainted with intimate details. He continued to loudly recount Kyle¡¯s embarrassing past while banging and kicking at the gate.

    Eventually, whether out of concern for the lord¡¯s dignity or for Reinhardt¡¯s throat, someone peeked out from the castle.

    ¡°Count Reinhardt.¡±

    ¡°Bexter!¡±

    An aged knight appeared.

    Reinhardt recognized him instantly and stepped back.

    ¡°Atst, someone sensible shows up. I¡¯d rather talk to you than that youngster. Where is Kyle now?¡±

    ¡°Lord Hendrake is currently indisposed and resting. Could you perhaps return tomorrow?¡±

    ¡°Tomorrow? You must be jesting. Unless gold starts raining from the sky, how is his feeble body supposed to recover?¡±

    ¡°If you¡¯vee as a guest, please show the appropriate respect, Count Reinhardt.¡±

    Bexter, the knight, nced up briefly at Isaac.

    ¡°In the presence of the esteemed Holy Grail Knight, under the just and clear Codex of Light, the truth shall be distinguished.¡±

    Mentioning Isaac, Reinhardt had no choice but to back down grudgingly.

    Having promised not to drag Isaac into a conflict, outright aggression wouldplicate Reinhardt¡¯s stance.

    Reinhardt climbed back on his horse and shouted towards the castle walls.

    ¡°Tomorrow then, Bexter! I¡¯ll leave for today trusting your word, but be ready for a conversation tomorrow!¡±

    ¡°Certainly. If circumstances don¡¯t allow, I will intervene.¡±

    Reinhardt quietly led his soldiers away after that. Isaac, observing Reinhardt easily swayed by a single knight¡¯s words, became curious about who he might be.

    ¡°Bexter seems quite capable, doesn¡¯t he?¡±

    ¡°Hmm, he¡¯s a retired Imperial Knight. Respected for his dignity and skill. When he retired, the previous lord of Hendrake brought him here. Old, but an Imperial Knight¡¯s experience doesn¡¯t just fade away¡­¡±

    Reinhardt¡¯s tone carried respect and trust, suggesting long-standing acquaintance.

    The Imperial Knight Order directly serves the Empire, distinct from the Royal Knight Order that prioritizes the royal family¡¯s protection. Imperial Knights are elite agents dispatched across Gertonian territory for the Empire¡¯s survival.

    ¡®If Owen mentioned being the vice-captain of the Hendrake Knight Order¡­ Bexter must be the captain.¡¯

    The young knights probably were Bexter¡¯s trainees.

    ¡®Have I finally met a real knight?¡¯

    Isaac nced back.

    Bexter still stood watching them leave.

    Though it was a distance where faces were not clear, Isaac felt as if he locked eyes with Bexter for a moment.

    ***

    ¡°The Holy Grail Knight really came with that wolf, Reinhardt?!¡±

    Kyle mmed his desk, shortly after Bexter sent Isaac and Reinhardt away.

    The other knights murmured anxiously, but Bexter remained calmly focused on Kyle.

    ¡°Why?! Owen, didn¡¯t you say you came with the Holy Grail Knight? Then you should¡¯ve stayed till the end!¡±

    ¡°Yes, yes. But it seemed like Count Reinhardt had already struck some deal, and if we continued, we would¡¯ve ended up letting the count¡¯s soldiers and knights into the castle¡­¡±

    ¡°Wait¡­ But why did the Holy Grail Knighte to our domain in the first ce? Owen, did I mention why I invited him? That I admired his deeds and wanted to support his journey?¡±

    ¡°Yes. You did. You said you admired him.¡±

    Kyle was thrown into confusion by Isaac¡¯s appearance. Why? He merely wanted to converse with the revered Holy Grail Knight, share his dire situation, and seek advice. Surely, a wise and kind Holy Grail Knight would point him in the right direction, just like a saint in the stories.

    Yet, all this situation did was perplex him.

    Then, a simplifying voice reached him.

    ¡°Do you remember what I told you about the Holy Grail Knight, my lord?¡±

    ¡°Ra.¡±

    Ra whispered quietly,forting Kyle¡¯s shoulder.

    ¡°Do you still not understand the Holy Grail Knight¡¯s purpose? Even when it¡¯s so evident?¡±

    ¡°Is he here to rebuke me for my foolish desires and avoidance of responsibility?¡±

    ¡°No, it¡¯s not that.¡±

    Ra closed her eyes momentarily before continuing.

    ¡°You¡¯re entangled in a wicked plot. It¡¯s clear that scoundrels covet this beautiful domain. He¡¯s joined hands with Reinhardt toe rushing here. Even the Loracus crash might have been part of their scheme to bring you down!¡±

    Kyle felt tempted by the notion that all this wasn¡¯t his fault but a result of a malevolent conspiracy. Thus, his downfall wasn¡¯t due to his foolish decisions orck of insight but a plot.

    Yet, a sliver of reason within him whispered.

    ¡°Could it really be because of me that they went to such lengths?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s how important you and this domain are.¡±

    ¡°Is that so?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

 Chapter 58:

    Chapter 58:

    Ra¡¯s whispers continued, reinforcing her maniption.

    ¡°The Lord is far too noble and significant. There¡¯s no one but you who can protect this beautiful domain from the clutches of those malevolent forces.¡±

    Kyle felt her words bing more usible.

    His downfall was due to the machinations of wicked people. Being entangled in their schemes meant losing the domain to their strategies.

    Thus, protecting the domain was synonymous with standing against evil.

    It wasn¡¯t about dodging financial responsibilities!

    ¡°You must stand against this conspiracy, my Lord. If you, standing at the forefront of the Gerthonia Empire, sumb to this scheme, the Codex of Light will lose its luminance, and order will dissolve.¡±

    ¡°Is it¡­ Is it up to me to act?¡±

    ¡°Yes. You, who dare to confront these dark times and the vile plots, might well be the saint of our era! Stand at the forefront against this malevolent horde and crush the enemy!¡±

    ¡°No, that¡¯s a bit¡­ terrifying.¡±

    Kyle wasn¡¯t the heroic type, to put it mildly. More urately, he was a coward.

    He was known for his hesitation, missing crucial moments for decisive action. His only proactive venture into the Loracus investment ended disastrously.

    And true to his nature, Kyle wasn¡¯t easily swayed by Ra¡¯s temptations.

    ¡°But isn¡¯t it uncertain whether Reinhardt has really invaded? If he were serious, he¡¯d have brought more soldiers and siege equipment. Plus, it¡¯s nting season. For Reinhardt¡¯s agriculture-based domain, now¡¯s a critical time. If there¡¯s to be war, it would need to conclude swiftly, yet he doesn¡¯t seem prepared for that. We¡¯ve agreed to negotiate until tomorrow, so let¡¯s wait and see.¡±

    Ra¡¯s lips twitched slightly.

    After muttering something inaudible for a while, she quietly lowered her head.

    ¡°As you wish, my Lord.¡±

    ***

    ¡°This worthless man only gets sharp when he doesn¡¯t want to make a decision. Oh, to think that such an indecisive fool would waste so much of my time here. It¡¯s maddening.¡±

    Ra paced back and forth in her room, muttering incessantly. The ck knight, summoned by her call, listened silently to her venting.

    ¡°The previous lord was too clever, so I had him killed, but who knew his sessor would be too dumb to manipte. Just when I figured out how to coax him, it turns out it takes an age for him to decide anything. Damn it.¡±

    ¡°Why not use drugs to addict him or control his mind?¡±

    The ck knight, unable to stand by silently, spoke up.

    At his words, Ra whipped around.

    ¡°Are you suggesting deceit and conspiracy in front of me? In front of the angel of the Red Chalice, the one who turned the entire Kyle Monastery into a banquet hall, the prophet of the Red flesh?¡±

    The knight hastily bowed his head. It was a foolish suggestion. Deception and conspiracy are the first tactics chosen by the Red Chalice. Among them, a celestial being like the prophet of the Red Flesh, considered a true angel, would possess near-omnipotent power and wisdompared to mere mortals.

    But was the woman before him truly the prophet of the Red Flesh? The knight harbored a trace of doubt. Yet, as if to forbid even that doubt, Ra suddenly gripped the visor of the knight¡¯s helmet.

    In that instant, the knight¡¯s mind was filled with visions of hell.

    Or rather, it was a live feed from the Red Chalice¡¯s version of heaven.

    In the afterlife of the Red Chalice, there¡¯s no distinction between heaven and hell. It¡¯s merely a matter of who¡¯s the guest and who¡¯s on the table. The knight easily found himself on the table in his vision.

    After a moment, having peered into the knight¡¯s mind filled with fear and guilt, Ra withdrew her hand.

    The knight copsed to the ground, gasping for breath.

    Ra, without even ncing at him, murmured,

    ¡°I¡¯m conducting operations simultaneously in numerous locations besides here. Just as the Codex of Light, the world¡¯s Forge, Elil, the Immortal Order, the Golden Idol, the Council of Salt, and the Olkan code are all significant. Since the Red Chalice entrusted me with worldly affairs, I can¡¯t neglect any area.¡±

    ¡°I, I apologize¡­¡±

    ¡°To uncover the secret hidden by the former lord, Kyle¡¯s mind must remain intact. Damaging it would leave us with nothing. Though whether his current state of intelligence is ¡®intact¡¯ is questionable.¡±

    Ra scoffed sarcastically.

    ¡°Keeping control of this domain until then might be challenging. Forget about that foolish man. But you met the Holy Grail Knight? Did you find Hesabel?¡±

    ¡°Yes. I found it.¡±

    The ck Knight was among the knights dispatched to find Isaac. It wasn¡¯t hard to find Hesabel. After all, a beauty wearing attire that covered her entire body even in broad daylight and a deeply hooded cloak was hard to miss.

    ¡°Seeing you alive, it seems you really did betray us.¡±

    ¡°Yes. I tried to cause a disturbance using trolls, and from what I heard in their conversation, it seemed they were loyal to the Grail Knight. The Grail Knight seemed oddly wary, so I couldn¡¯t directly interrogate them.¡±

    ¡°Ha, loyalty.¡±

    Ra muttered as if it was amusing.

    ¡°A vampire who can¡¯t live in the sun is loyal to a pdin of the light? If it were a serious deception rather than loyalty, I might actually believe it. If it¡¯s acting good enough to deceive a pdin, it deserves recognition.¡±

    Ra actually considered the possibility. Maybe Hesabel was feigning loyalty to deceive Isaac and win his trust.

    But she could feel the faith. Hesabel¡¯s faith was directed not towards the Red Chalice but somewhere unexpected.

    ¡°That Grail Knight must be out of his mind. I don¡¯t know why he keeps the sessor of the Gulmar family close¡­ but anyway, he¡¯s not important in the grand scheme of things.¡±

    Ra muttered, looking down at the vige below the valley.

    ¡°Bring me the neck of a lost kitten. I want to hear directly from its mouth what excuses it will meow.¡±

    ***

    ¡°This damned kid.¡±

    The next day at lunch, Reinhardt muttered as he saw Bexter enter the inn¡¯s restaurant. Everyone there heard the curse, but it was clear that the curse was directed not at Bexter but at Kyle.

    Bexter silently walked in and bowed deeply to Reinhardt. Reinhardt mmed his sword with its sheath onto the ground and snapped back.

    ¡°So, is Lord Kyle Hendrak still unwell?¡±

    ¡°His body has always been frail¡­¡±

    ¡°With that annoying face, he¡¯s good at clinging to lies. Sir Bexter. Isn¡¯t it tiring to babysit a child?¡±

    ¡°I merely serve my lord.¡±

    Reinhardt clicked his tongue at the calm response. The Imperial Knights¡¯ firm loyalty seemed to persist even after retiring and serving other superiors. The respect Reinhardt showed to Bexter also stemmed from this irritating loyalty.

    ¡°So, you came to talk on his behalf?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°The situation doesn¡¯t look good, Sir Bexter.¡±

    Reinhardt was displeased with how angry the nobles of the capital were, even involving high-ranking figures of the Light¡¯s Scripture, and even the Brandt ducal family had sold out their name¡­ He added these details to scare him.

    It was a long and drawn-out threat but not something that could be ended with simple intimidation.

    ¡°I came here because this might be thest chance to settle things moderately, Sir Bexter.¡±

    Reinhardt murmured, looking even older.

    ¡°Do you know what¡¯s being said now? I¡¯m also a victim of Lord Hendrak, they said they¡¯d give me a big share if I handle it. It would be more moderately settled that way. What do you think it means?¡±

    ¡°If it¡¯s not settled, you¡¯re considering hiring mercenaries, I suppose.¡±

    ¡°Right. The war experts will take action. What will be of this domain after they ravage it? What if the bishop decides to conduct a heresy trial here? I stepped in before seeing that happen.¡±

    In the end, Reinhardt was there to collect a debt. But he was also the only person who could settle things most moderately. The worse Kyle entrenched himself in the castle, the worse the situation would get.

    ¡°You might lose the domain. Might have to settle the castle or other assets. The name of Hendrak domain might be all that¡¯s left. But wouldn¡¯t I create a stepping stone for aeback? How much do I owe to the previous lord?¡±

    ¡°Thank you for your thoughtful words.¡±

    But Bexter only answered quietly.

    Just as Reinhardt was about to get angry at his calm demeanor, Bexter spoke.

    ¡°I¡¯m also trying my best within what I can do.¡±

    Reinhardt paused.

    ¡°Trying your best, you say?¡±

    ¡°Yes. So, even if only for a while, I hope you can avoid any situations that might lead to a fight. The current situation is not good, and even a small fight could escte into a big one. Please give us a chance to resolve the issues within the domain.¡±

    Reinhardt, having known Bexter for a while, twitched his lips upon hearing him speak so lengthily for the first time. He referred to the situation as ¡°domain matters¡±. It wasn¡¯t about peopleing from outside causing trouble, but rather something happening within the domain itself.

    Reinhardt sighed deeply, leaning on his waist. After a moment of silence, he opened his mouth as if he had no choice.

    ¡°Two days¡­ I¡¯ll give you two days. In two days, an investigation team will arrive. There¡¯s a rumor that an inquisitor sent by Bishop Pinchet is among them. Find a way to resolve this before then.¡±

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    Bexter bowed deeply in gratitude.

    Reinhardt, looking even more tired, went upstairs. Isaac, who had been quietly observing the meeting, wondered what exactly was going on.

    Then, his eyes met with Bexter¡¯s. Bexter approached Isaac with determined steps.

    ¡°Are you Grail Knight Isaac?¡±

    ¡°Um? Yes, that¡¯s me.¡±

    Bexter looked around and then whispered.

    ¡°May I speak with you in private?¡±

    ***

    Isaac and Bexter headed to the inn¡¯s backyard.

    Isaac didn¡¯t know why Bexter had asked for a conversation but imagined him suddenly picking a fight.

    Perhaps saying something like, ¡°You seem capable, let¡¯s see your skills,¡± or ¡°You might be an enemy, so d*e now!¡±

    Such trivial thoughts.

    They were just thoughts sparked by curiosity.

    ¡®He seems quite strong.¡¯

    Judging by his aura, he seemed slightly less orparable to Gebel. Isaac had never seen someone who wasn¡¯t a holy knight but still this strong. The talk about him being an agent of the Imperial Knights wasn¡¯t just for show.

    Though retired due to age, he seemed stronger than all seven of the Hendrake knightsbined.

    ¡°This ce seems good.¡±

    Bexter stopped under a tree. It was a spot where no one else could listen in or hide. Once Bexter confirmed they were alone, he went straight to the point.

    ¡°I¡¯ll ask you directly. Has Hesabel Gulmar defected to you, Grail Knight?¡±

    Isaac couldn¡¯t help but be surprised by the unexpected name. He never thought there would be another who knew of Hesabel Gulmar¡¯s identity.

    ¡°The rumors that the heir of the Gulmar family has be a dog of Yukhar in Seor have already spread quite a bit. Naturally, I regarded it as mere rumors, but the circumstances seemed suspicious. Then I saw a face matching the wanted posters beside you, Grail Knight. May I inquire about the situation?¡±

    To think that someone would recognize Hesabel as soon as she was taken in as apanion. Isaac felt a serious dilemma about whether it was right to ept Hesabel.

    He had taken her in, confident that her identity wouldn¡¯t be discovered, and also because he thought she was too valuable a talent to waste. But if her identity was so easily exposed, it might have been better to keep her at a distance.

    Isaac debated whether to deny it or pretend ignorance, but then he recalled what Bexter had said.

    Only then did Isaac know what he had to say.

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    Isaac spoke confidently.

    ¡°The follower of the Red Chalice Club, the heir to the ducal family of Gulmar, Hesabel Gulmar, has witnessed the glory of the Codex of Light in Seor and has been converted. She is now my servant.¡±

    A story of an originally evil heretic being converted upon meeting a holy knight.

    Howmon, yet magnificent and beautiful is that?

 Chapter 59:

    Chapter 59:

    Chapter 59. The Scent of Blood (3)

    ¡°It has been tamed¡­ so to speak.¡±

    Bexter muttered the words, pondering over them.

    ¡°Honestly, it¡¯s a hard story to believe.¡±

    Isaac shrugged his shoulders. He knew it would sound that way.

    But what can be done? It¡¯s true that Hesabel has be his servant. Of course, she hasn¡¯t stopped being a vampire, but at least she has be a well-behaved dog.

    ¡°Did you seek me out to question this?¡±

    ¡°Yes. In the current situation, it¡¯s impossible not to verify.¡±

    Bexter said, looking at Isaac with gloomy eyes.

    ¡°I trust the noble character of the Grail Knight, but given the circumstances. The internal affairs of the sanctuary¡­¡±

    Bexter stopped himself from saying more. True to his character as a knight moving to protect the empire¡¯s welfare, he wasn¡¯t one to easily bber. However, he revealed a rare look of anxiety as he whispered to Isaac.

    ¡°It¡¯s a hard story to believe, but there¡¯s no way to verify it right now. So, I¡¯ll trust you, Isaac, and tell you this. Please understand just one thing. We are also looking for a way to avoid conflict.¡±

    It was a story he had also told Reinhardt.

    ¡®Is Hesabel rted to the method of avoiding conflict?¡¯

    Isaac looked at Bexter curiously, but he seemed unlikely to exin any further.

    Isaac tried using the Eye of Chaos surreptitiously.

    ¡®Is it because they¡¯re from the Imperial Knights¡­ used to hiding their inner thoughts.¡¯

    Unfortunately, Bexter¡¯s inner thoughts were almost invisible.

    Using more power might make it visible. But then, his eyes might burst open and tentacles would start protruding. There was absolutely no way he intended to show such a sight in front of an Imperial Knight.

    Bexter bowed and left with his soldiers, heading back to Hendrake Castle.

    Isaac watched them leave, then called for Hesabel. Hesabel, who had been hiding behind a second-floor window, immediately poked her head out.

    ¡°Did you call me, Master Isaac?¡±

    ¡°Have you been staying in the room next to mine?¡±

    ¡°No. I have a room, but I spent all night watching you sleep from above your room¡¯s ceiling.¡±

    ¡®¡­Might give someone a heart attack if discovered at night.¡¯

    Isaac swallowed what he was about to say and instructed her.

    ¡°Stop the creepy behavior and sleep in your room tonight.¡±

    ***

    Night fell again over the Hendrake domain.

    The vigers were perplexed that a neighboring lord was staying in an inn rather than a castle, but no one was in a position to inquire. Even if they wanted to ask the Lord of Hendrake, the castle gates were firmly closed and silent.

    In this strange standoff, the vigers secretly whispered about the war.

    Hesabel was well aware of such stories. Because she could hear the conversations people had in other taverns at night or the stories shared with families in bed. Even if she didn¡¯t want to listen, wandering around at night meant her sensitive ears would inevitably catch such secret conversations.

    However, tonight, instead of wandering around the vige, Hesabel stayed in her room.

    As the night deepened, her mind became clearer. Thus, Hesabel could dive into deep thought about the stories she had heard so far without anything else to do.

    ¡®War and conspiracies, betrayal, seduction.¡¯

    As a member of the Red Chalice Club, these were fascinating topics for her. All of these were happening in the Hendrake domain.

    Here, Hesabel looked forward to what kind of deception Isaac would deploy next.

    Knock, knock.

    Just then, a knock was heard. Hesabel was about to turn towards the door but realized it wasn¡¯t from that direction. It was from the window.

    Outside the window, a bat hung upside down, staring at Hesabel with red eyes.

    ¡°Hesabel Gulmar.¡±

    Hesabel felt chills running down her spine. This eerie, low-frequency hum was a sound that only Hesabel could hear.

    ¡°Heed the whispers thate in the night.¡±

    It was a messenger from the Red Chalice Club.

    Hesabel knelt on the bed as if enchanted, waiting for the message. The teachings, almost akin to brainwashing developed over decades, seemed to control her body.

    ¡°I am all ears to the whisper.¡±

    ¡°Hesabel Gulmar, I sense that your faith is misced. Can you exin yourself before you are ced upon the banquet table?¡±

    The Red Chalice Club, when on the same side, tters with all manner of sweet words, but the moment one is deemed an enemy, they immediately treat them as mere ingredients.

    It means they do not hide their appetite for blood and killing.

    Hesabel felt the teeth of the Red Chalice nearing her throat, ready with all preparations to ¡®cook¡¯ her.

    ¡°I do not understand what you mean. I still serve the master of deception and conspiracy.¡±

    ¡°Speak inly. Is your master the Red Chalice or the Grail Knight?¡±

    It was a direct question that cut off any chance of retreat or roundabout answers.

    After a moment of silence, Hesabel spoke.

    ¡°I do not see the difference. Is not Master Isaac the greatest conspiracy orchestrated by the Red Chalice? That is how I felt. The ¡®deceiver of the world¡¯ mentioned in prophecies. Actually, I would like to ask.¡±

    ¡°A question? From you?¡±

    ¡°It seems to me that you do not know Master Isaac well. Who are you? I would have thought the Red Chalice would have already noticed this grand deception.¡±

    ¡°What do you want to say?¡±

    ¡°I would think you are one of the angels, but perhaps, are you ming me for not noticing the grand n prepared by the Red Chalice?¡±

    ¡°Ha ha ha.¡±

    The batughed low.

    Hesabelughed along.

    Before theughter could stop, the window shattered into pieces.

    A ck knight, shrouded in dark mist, jumped in. Immediately upon entering, he thrust hisnce towards the bed. Hesabel dodged swiftly, but the powerful whirlwind created by thence swept across the bed, powerful enough to crush even the floor beneath it.

    Even Hesabel, adept at dodging, could not escape the attack and fell. She tried to use the Red Petition to escape, but it was in vain.

    All the miracles she possessed were sealed.

    ¡°Kill the apostate.¡±

    The ck knight, following the bat¡¯smand, lifted hisnce to finish Hesabel. However, then he saw Hesabel smiling.

    It wasn¡¯t a smile of resignation or madness.

    ¡°It seems the deception is stronger on this side.¡±

    Only then did the ck knight realize how unnaturally dark the room was.

    And that there was someone else in the room.

    Suddenly, someone attacked from the darkness.

    ***

    Boom!

    The ck knight was flung out of the window with a loud noise, his body wrapped in ck mist creating a long trail. Isaac, having hidden his presence, emerged from the darkness after sessfully ambushing.

    ¡°Amazing, Master Isaac! Just as you said, an assassin hase!¡±

    Hesabel eximed joyfully, but Isaac looked unsatisfied.

    ¡®To block that?¡¯

    Isaac, who doesn¡¯t hold back in life-threatening battles, didn¡¯t use his weakest attacks. He refrained from showing his hand, not wanting to reveal his tentacles, instead using his strongest swordsmanship, the Eight Branches. Consequently, Hesabel¡¯s room was a mess.

    The bat used as the messenger was dead, but the ck knight on the floor was staggering to his feet. Isaac leaped down, striking with his sword before the knight could recover from the shock.

    Bang! Sparks flew with a sharp sound. The knight was much calmer in his response than before. This confirmed for Isaac that the knight¡¯s skill in swordsmanship was superior to his own.

    ¡®Could he be on the level of Bexter or Gebel? Quite a skilled opponent.¡¯

    The dark aura enveloping the armor made it impossible to discern what kind of armor it was.

    ¡°Wow, just wow!¡±

    The swords shed once again. Isaac¡¯s Sword of Judgment ignited fierce mes upon touching the ck mist of the ck Knight¡¯s sword, burning the surroundings. As the ck mist cleared around the sword, the ck Knight hastily repelled Isaac. The ck Knight was also superior in strength.

    ¡®Even though it¡¯s wrapped in tentacles inside the armor¡­¡¯

    Isaac was wearing Kalson Miller¡¯s armor. The inside of the armor was tightly wrapped with tentacles, reducing the impact while also enhancing his physical strength.

    However, the ck Knight¡¯s strength was tremendous.

    Soon, the ck Knight seemed to recover from the surprise attack and started to press Isaac with fierce attacks. Bang, bang, bang! Isaac quickly found himself on the defensive.

    ¡®If it weren¡¯t for Kalson Miller¡¯s armor, I would have bled a bit¡­¡¯

    The armor was steadily getting damaged. It was repairing itself almost instantly, resembling the healing of a m¡¯s shell, but it was only a matter of time before the sword would pierce through. However, there wasn¡¯t enough time to prepare for advanced swordsmanship.

    Instead, the ck Knight calmly performed a series of actions.

    For a moment, Isaac experienced an illusion as if the ck Knight¡¯s body split into two. The ck Knight struck down with his sword while simultaneously shing upwards.

    Crash!

    The attack Isaac chose to defend against was the downward strike.

    Bang! Fortunately, it was the right choice.

    The problem was that there were two correct answers.

    The sword shing upwards hit Isaac¡¯s waist hard. Even wearing Kalsen Miller¡¯s armor, it felt as if his ribs were broken.

    Isaac barely managed to suppress the excruciating pain that almost made him vomit and quickly corrected his stance.

    ¡®I did well to block the downward strike.¡¯

    The reason Isaac blocked the downward strike was because a direct hit could have been fatal.

    He had expected the upward sh to be less severe, but it wasn¡¯t.

    ¡®If it weren¡¯t for the armor, my body would have been cut in half¡­¡¯

    No, before that, tentacles would have burst out of my body, devouring the ck Knight and the entire vige, turning ¡°Hendrake Vige¡± into ¡°what used to be Hendrake Vige.¡±

    Then, all the hardships Isaac had gone through would have been in vain.

    After a long time, Isaac red at his opponent irritably and grabbed his sword again. However, annoyingly, the ck Knight unfolded his swordsmanship once more, giving Isaac no chance.

    This time, three actions simultaneously overwhelmed Isaac.

    That¡¯s when Isaac felt Hesabel¡¯s will.

    The moment he turned his head, a crossbow bolt pierced the side of his helmet and the ck Knight¡¯s face. The ck Knight staggered with a bizarre scream.

    ¡°Well done!¡±

    If one is skilled, they can sense killing intent and dodge. However, Hesabel, true to an assassin¡¯s nature, disrupted the killing intent while hiding somewhere behind Isaac. This feat would have been impossible without shared will between Isaac and Hesabel.

    Isaac did not miss the opportunity and immediately pressed the ck Knight. The ck Knight, bleeding profusely from his face, defended skillfully. But Isaac¡¯s aim was not in the attack itself but in what followed.

    ¡°What¡¯s happening? What¡¯s going on?¡±

    As the battle dragged on, vigers with torches appeared, alerted by themotion, or Reinhardt¡¯s soldiers began to show up. They had thought it unlikely that a real war was happening, but in the streets, there were only two knights fighting fiercely.

    As more people started to gather, the ck Knight¡¯s movements noticeably began to falter. The ck Knight had not intended to attract so much attention from the start. His n was probably to quickly deal with Hesabel and escape.

    Having many onlookers was disadvantageous for Isaac, but it was also disadvantageous for the foe.

    ¡®Moreover, this is the territory of the Gerthonia Empire, you evil creature.¡¯

    Eventually, someone activated a low-level relic containing the miracle of Chalice. Just like when Isaac received it as a gift in his childhood, it was the mostmon miracle within the White Empire. The blinding sh enveloped the ck Knight, momentarily paralyzing him.

    Isaac didn¡¯t miss the opening.

    He stepped forward in an instant and activated Isaac Swordsmanship: Eight Branches.

    Crash!

    All eight attacks hit the ck Knight¡¯s body, instantly burning away the ck mist that surrounded him. Among them, Isaac carefully targeted the helmet on the head, which shattered.

    As the broken helmet fell off, a bleeding face was revealed.

    Someone among the vigers murmured upon seeing the face.

    ¡°Owen?¡±

 Chapter 60:

    Chapter 60:

    Chapter 60. The Scent of Blood (4)

    Beneath the helmet was revealed to be none other than Hendrake Knight Order¡¯s vice-captain, Owen.

    The crossbow bolt shot by Hesabel had pierced through Owen¡¯s cheek. Owen covered his face with his hand, but his face was clearly visible between the flowing blood.

    Owen roughly pulled out the crossbow bolt and roared.

    ¡°©¤©¤©¤©¤!!¡±

    The roar was more like that of a beast than a human. Even Isaac felt a tingling sensation in his skin, so it goes without saying that the people around were either sitting down or staggering.

    Given the circumstances, Owen looked for Hesabel as if he had to achieve his goal at all costs. However, it was not easy to aim for Hesabel, who cleverly hid behind Isaac, waiting for Owen¡¯s vulnerability.

    If he recklessly charged in, there was a high chance he would be defeated by Hesabel instead, and Isaac would continue to look for openings.

    As time passed, the situation was bing increasingly unfavorable for Owen.

    Isaac asked as if mocking someone who was hesitating.

    ¡°An assassin should run away if discovered, what are you doing?¡±

    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±

    Owen seemed reluctant, but as soon as Reinhardt led the knights to appear, he turned around without hesitation. There were capable knights on Reinhardt¡¯s side as well. Joining them meant Owen had no chance of winning.

    ¡°Chase him!¡±

    However, Reinhardt had no intention of letting him go just like that. The knights and soldiers rushed in unison. Instead of joining the fray, Isaac chose to stay slightly away and watch Owen¡¯sst struggle.

    ¡°Aaaaaaah!¡±

    Bang. Something burst through the line of soldiers. It was a giant ck horse without legs, enveloped in the dark energy that had been surrounding Owen earlier.

    Owen mounted the ck horse and broke through the encirclement of soldiers in an instant.

    Reinhardt shouted urgently.

    ¡°What are you doing? Mount your horses and chase after him¡­¡­¡±

    ¡°No. Let it be.¡±

    Isaac stopped the pursuit.

    The speed of the ck horse, which seemed to fly rather than run, was incredible. They wouldn¡¯t have been able to catch it even if they had been on horseback from the start. But the important thing was not catching the viin but where he was going.

    ¡°The viin has been decided to be Kyle Hendrake.¡±

    Everyone present saw Owen heading straight for Hendrake Castle.

    ***

    Despite it beingte at night, the residents of the town, as well as the soldiers, had trouble going back to sleep while the situation was being managed.

    They were all shocked by the incident, especially the town¡¯s residents.

    ¡°So, you¡¯re saying¡­ Hendrake Knight Order¡¯s vice-captain, Owen Renly, attempted to assassinate Lord Isaac?¡±

    In the inn¡¯s dining hall, Isaac and Reinhardt discussed the incident.

    Hesabel¡¯s identity was conveniently referred to as Isaac¡¯s retainer. However, considering the distinction between men and women, they booked two rooms, one of which was used by Hesabel. It seemed that Owen, who attempted to assassinate Isaac, was confused about which room belonged to Isaac and ended up attacking Hesabel¡­ ording to Isaac¡¯s exnation.

    ¡°Why would Kyle Hendrake target Lord Isaac?¡±

    ¡°Probably to eliminate Count Reinhardt¡¯s cause. Or perhaps to divert the situation in apletely different direction.¡±

    The exnation was not sufficient.

    Of course, Isaac knew that someone from the Red Chalice Club, not Hendrake, was behind this incident, but he had no intention of exining that.

    Isaac shifted Reinhardt¡¯s concern from ¡®why?¡¯ to ¡®how?¡¯ before he could dwell on it further.

    ¡°The important thing is that my retainer, and I myself, were attacked. Even if it wasn¡¯t me, we cannot simply overlook this incident. A knightmissioned by the state attacking in the middle of the night? And riding a Phantom Steed, no less? This is a clear evidence of evil.¡±

    The fact that Owen¡¯s face was revealed rified everything. Moreover, the visual shock of him escaping on a ghostly horse was significant.

    ¡®The only sticking point is that the Phantom Steed is known as a familiar of the Immortal Order, not the Red Chalice¡­¡¯

    Isaac could only hope that the Immortal Order was not involved in this affair. The conflict between the Reinhardt and Hendrake territories wasplex enough, being manipted by the feud between Isaac and the Red Chalice Club.

    Despite Isaac¡¯s considerations, Reinhardt seemed to have simplified the situation.

    ¡°It appears Kyle Hendrake has finally lost his mind. Whatever his intentions were in causing this situation, there¡¯s no other way now.¡±

    ¡°I think so too.¡±

    Up until yesterday, Isaac had been trying to walk a fine line between the two, figuring out how to benefit from the situation. However, after being ambushed, he had no choice but to side with Reinhardt. Even if Hendrake was unaware of this affair, there was no telling when another assassin mighte.

    ¡°I¡¯ll send a message requesting to dispatch soldiers as quickly as possible¡­ But attacking Hendrake Castle won¡¯t be easy since it¡¯s a difficult fortress to assault.¡±

    ¡°Is that alright, considering it¡¯s almost sowing season?¡±

    ¡°We had already left thend fallow due to the locusts, so this year¡¯s spring farming is already ruined. To minimize losses, we need to conclude this affair quickly. I¡¯ve heard that the inquisitors from the Codex of Light will arrive soon; if not now, we might not get another chance. Honestly, I don¡¯t want to face such monsters without the Order¡¯s help.¡±

    For Reinhardt, he didn¡¯t want to wage war in spring, but this was the only way to capture Kyle without significant loss. They had to act while the Codex of Light was watching Hendrake.

    ¡®I¡¯ll be in trouble when the inquisitors arrive¡­¡¯

    Isaac remembered the only inquisitor he knew, Isolde Brant. Though naive and reckless as if she had many lives, she had a keen eye.

    If other inquisitors were as capable as Isolde, being lucky once more would be asking too much.

    ¡®We need to conclude this as soon as possible.¡¯

    ***

    ¡°What, what, what? Reinhardt has made his move?¡±

    Kyle was appalled as he received the report about new movements outside the castle. The report mentioned that Owen, who had gone out on patrol overnight, had returned with an arrow through his face and was on the brink of death, and Reinhardt¡¯s soldiers had surrounded the castle and were setting up a siege.

    ¡°This bastard! He¡¯s finally showing his true colors! Tell the soldiers to prepare for a siege! They won¡¯t be able to fight for long since it¡¯s spring!¡±

    Hendrake Castle, built on a hillside, was a formidable fortress difficult to attack. Kyle believed that if they just held out, they would win. Though not his intended scenario, he even thought that if they won this war, he might not have to repay his debts.

    Furthermore, he might be able to im some of the fertilends of Reinhardt¡¯s territory.

    ¡°¡­¡­He must be harboring such ludicrous hopes.¡±

    Meanwhile, Ra was pressing her forehead in her room.

    ¡°We¡¯re also short on food because it¡¯s spring. Foolishly, we didn¡¯t prepare for a defensive battle in advance. Moreover, if they start confiscating our crops, we might survive for now but will starve from this year onward. Kyle is doomed.¡±

    On the floor of her room, the ck Knight, Owen, was kneeling. He was there not for rebuke but for healing, yet Ra was dying it.

    The healing could be done in an instant. But she wanted Owen to suffer a bit more.

    ¡°Because of your foolishness, your lord is doomed. What do you think?¡±

    Owen murmured something with a hissing sound. The arrow through his cheek had also damaged his tongue and teeth, making proper speech difficult.

    Ra sighed and approached.

    Owen bowed his head in anticipation of a miracle.

    Soon, the room was filled with a red sh.

    Owen dared not look up, but he could see blood dripping onto the floor.

    Blood was raining down in the room. Ra¡¯s bare feet, stained with blood, approached.

    Then another step, and another, and another.

    ¡°Raise your head.¡±

    The moment Owen looked up, the room full of legs and blood seemed to vanish like a hallucination. However, he could see the blood on the floor being absorbed into Ra¡¯s feet.

    Ra extended her hand towards Owen. In her hand was a lump of vibrant red flesh, its origin unknown. Owen realized it was human flesh from the Red Chalice¡¯s banquet hall.

    ¡°Eat it.¡±

    Just as he had decided to submit to the prophet of the red flesh for the first time, Owen obediently ced the flesh in his mouth. As soon as the blood permeated his tongue, all his wounds and pain vanished. Not only that, he felt a power far greater than before filling him.

    Ra, squatting in front of Owen who knelt, said,

    ¡°The Hendrake family ends here. The Hendrake territory will probably vanish too. Even if Kyle Hendrake doesn¡¯t die here, he¡¯ll miserably wander the barbarian-ridden frontiers until his death.¡±

    ¡°Can¡¯t you help?¡±

    Owen brought up the conversation he had hesitated on before. Instead of getting angry at his audacity, Ra looked at him with a smirk.

    ¡°Why should I help?¡±

    ¡°My wish was not to serve my lord but to possess a power beyond my talents.¡±

    Owen continued, his head bowed.

    ¡°Madam Ra, you have fulfilled my wish. I understand that you took me in as a dog to use and discard at your convenience, but I don¡¯t believe I¡¯m at the point of disposal yet.¡±

    ¡°You haven¡¯t yet told me why I should help Kyle.¡±

    ¡°Make Kyle Hendrake into a dog to be used and discarded.¡±

    Raughed as if amused.

    ¡°Go on. I think I know what you¡¯re going to say, but I want to hear it.¡±

    ¡°The Grail Knight was not an anachronistic fanatic. He didn¡¯t kill or subdue Hesabel Gullmar; he made her submit. This is a significant threat to the Red Chalice¡¯s ns, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°Right. I didn¡¯t foresee anything about this Grail Knight.¡±

    Ra had prided herself on understanding nearly every macroscopic variable on the continent. However, in the past few years, there were two things she hadn¡¯t anticipated: the sudden disappearance of Kalsen Miller and the emergence of Isaac, the Grail Knight.

    Now that she confirmed Isaac wasn¡¯t just a fanatic, there were two options:

    Incorporate him into the n for a new conspiracy, or¡­

    ¡°Use the Hendrake territory to assassinate Isaac.¡±

    Ra was satisfied with Owen¡¯s response.

    ***

    While everyone was startled by this sudden siege, not everyone was unprepared.

    There were those who believed it was a conceivable event and had insisted on preparing for the situation before it unfolded.

    ¡°Quickly! Bring more tar pots over here!¡±

    Though Kyle was indecisive, once he made a decision, he passionately threw himself into the task.

    He climbed up to the ramparts for the first time in a while, energetically directing the soldiers in their defense preparations. The soldiers, who were initially panicked, felt reassured seeing their lord personally encouraging them.

    It¡¯s annoying when someone of high statuses and orders around, but it undeniably boosts morale. Especially when there¡¯s doubt about the task at hand.

    Themander of the Hendrake Knight Order, Bexter, knew this too.

    Kyle waved as he saw Bexter approaching him on the ramparts.

    ¡°Commander Bexter! Are the reinforcements for the gate ready? I wonder if the knights have been trained enough. Finally, their expensive meals will¡­¡±

    ¡°Criminal Kyle Hendrake.¡±

    Swoosh. Bexter, with a low voice, drew his sword. Simultaneously, the knights apanying him also drew their des, causing the soldiers around Kyle to back away.

    Kyle stammered in confusion at the sudden turn of events.

    ¡°What? What did you say? It sounded like you added a strange qualifier before my name.¡±

    ¡°You are impeached for embezzlement, betrayal, treachery, inciting discord between territories, and mental ipetence. The effects are immediate.¡±

 Chapter 61:

    Chapter 61:

    Kyle realized what was happening only when he saw a de approaching close to his throat.

    ¡°It¡¯s a betrayal!¡±

    At Kyle¡¯s shout, the soldiers stirred and gripped their weapons. However, they hesitated and stepped back in the face of the daunting presence of Bexter and his knights.

    Surrounded without a chance to escape, Kyle red at Bexter, grinding his teeth.

    ¡°You ingrate, to forget the kindness my father showed you¡­¡±

    ¡°Kindness? I am a knight of the Empire. Did you think I would serve another lord just because I retired?¡±

    Bexter murmured, as if incredulous. The Empire¡¯s knighthood owes loyalty only to the Empire, a fact that does not change even upon retirement. It was only because the previous Lord Hendrake wanted to nurture knights that he promised Bexter a secure retirement and brought him over.

    In essence, it was merely an employment rtionship.

    Nevertheless, Bexter felt ufortable with the fact that he was pointing his sword at Kyle.

    ¡°Surrender quietly. This is the only way you can save yourself.¡±

    For the sake of the previous Lord Hendrake, it was better to restrain Kyle now. If a siege were to break out, causing thend to be deste and blood to flow, there would be no chance to save lives.

    Bexter, as a knight, thought it better to die fighting for something, but this fight was different. It was a dishonorable struggle to endure.

    ¡°This fight is not about honor; it¡¯s about being manipted by a disrespectful being. I will do my best to ensure you receive mercy. It might be hard to keep thends, though¡­¡±

    Kyle, seemingly resigned to his fate, weakly dropped his hands.

    ¡°Put aside everything else, but what about mental ipetence?¡±

    Kyle¡¯s words made Bexter¡¯s usually impassive face waver for the first time. A ripple of confusion spread among the knights until one whispered to Bexter.

    ¡°Really, you didn¡¯t know?¡±

    ¡°The fact that you didn¡¯t know speaks volumes of your ipetence, Kyle Hendrake.¡±

    Kyle felt unjustly used. Embezzlement, betrayal, incitement to discord ¨C all these usations were unjust, but the charge of mental ipetence was the most grievous of all. However, he had neither the time nor the opportunity to express his grievances.

    One of the knights approached and bound Kyle¡¯s hands.

    Bexter gave another knight an order.

    ¡°Go to the vige and inform Count Reinhardt and the Holy Grail Knights that Lord Hendrake surrenders. Our real enemy is not Lord Hendrakeee, but within¡­¡±

    ¡°Bexter, sir.¡±

    Just then, a familiar voice approached, unusually loud.

    Bexter, instinctively cing his hand on his sword, turned his head. His face contorted.

    Rae was approaching, her red hair fluttering.

    ¡°What insolence is this towards the lord?¡±

    ¡°Rae.¡±

    Bexter uttered coldly andmanded the knights.

    ¡°She¡¯s a witch of the Red Chalice. Subdue her immediately and imprison her in the dungeon.¡±

    Bexter had been aware of all the facts. The investigation had been ongoing since the death of the previous lord.

    He had mobilized all avable resources and, with their help, discovered that Ra was a member of the Red Chalice Club.

    However, to deal with Rae, it was necessary to dethrone the manipted lord first. Hence, he had first persuaded the Hendrake knights he had been training. Since the lord¡¯s ipetence had already led to dyed wages, recruitment was not difficult.

    In the meantime, someone iming to be a Holy Grail Knight hade to the vige, apanied by a maid from the same Red Chalice Club. Therefore, Bexter had urgently inquired about the situation with Isaac and only then proceeded with the action.

    ¡°How rude to call me a witch.¡±

    Rae looked at the approaching knights with a smile. Then, Bexter noticed the ck Knight standing behind Ra. The other knights, thinking he was just another member of the Hendrake knights, paid him no mind and approached.

    But in the next moment, the ck Knight drew his sword.

    Bang, crack!

    Before the other knights could react, the ck Knight moved. Almost simultaneously, one knight¡¯s body was cut in half, armor and all, and fell, while another¡¯s upper body was sliced off and fell below the ramparts.

    Bexter was shocked by the sudden turn of events and raised his sword.

    ¡°Owen? Why are you here!¡±

    Only then did Bexter recognize that the ck Knight was Owen, who should have been lying in bed sick.

    Owen was the knight Bexter had trained most diligently, but as far as he knew, Owen didn¡¯t possess such skill.

    Without a word, Owen approached.

    Bexter gritted his teeth and aimed his sword. Regardless of how, considering what happened to the previous knights, it appeared Owen possessed a high level of swordsmanship.

    Of course, Bexter also possessed advanced swordsmanship skills¡­

    sh, snap, sh!

    The des collided in an instant. Three attacks came flying; Bexter managed to block the first two, but thest one mercilessly shed his thigh. Bexter fell to the ground.

    He looked up at Owen.

    ¡°You bastard¡­¡±

    Without a word, Owen decapitated Bexter. The sight of his head rolling gruesomely was witnessed by the knights and soldiers on the walls, and by Kyle. Kyle, who couldn¡¯t have imagined Bexter losing, stared nkly at the rolling head.

    Owen looked at the knights without saying a word.

    The knights immediately threw down their weapons and surrendered. And, for some reason, the soldiers did the same.

    Ra approached Kyle, who was still standing dumbfounded.

    ¡°I¡¯ve saved you, my lord. You¡¯re wee, aren¡¯t you?¡±

    It was only after her sweet whisper that Kyle btedly realized the true meaning behind Bexter¡¯s words.

    That surrendering now was the only way to live.

    But it was already toote.

    ***

    ¡°As expected, no response from Sir Bexter.¡±

    Reinhardt murmured regretfully, looking up at the walls. The knights, discussing how to proceed with the uing siege, looked at Reinhardt with puzzled faces.

    ¡°Did you think it would be resolved so easily?¡±

    ¡°I thought Sir Bexter would beat Kyle into submission or, failing that, tie him up and bring him out¡­ especially since I had explicitly said we were trying to resolve this situation peacefully.¡±

    Reinhardt had been building a siege and preparing for an attack while hoping for a dramatic turnaround. A full-on battle would be the worst oue for both sides, so he hoped for somepromise.

    ¡°I was hoping for practical reasons, too. Currently, we have only 100 soldiers and 15 knights. A siege is out of the question until reinforcements arrive.¡±

    Nheless, the reason Hendrake¡¯s side hadn¡¯t pressed forward was the significant difference in the level of knights. The Hendrake knighthood had been established less than 10 years ago and, except for Bexter, did not have high-level knights.

    However, Reinhardt had been consistently training knights to protect his vast farnds, and there were also knights of lower nobility who had received fiefs.

    Thus, a strange stalemate ensued.

    Reinhardt had concluded that Bexter was the only one who could resolve this situation.

    ¡°Still, if the situation inside the castle worsens, Kyle will be forced to make a ¡®wise choice¡¯¡­¡±

    It was while Reinhardt was expressing his optimism.

    ¡°Listen, invaders!¡±

    Looking up at the walls, they saw Owen, who had fled after a surprise attack the day before, standing there.

    ¡°The traitor Bexter Ohar, who dared to drive out the lord and insult Hendrake¡¯snds, is dead! You¡¯re next!¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±

    ¡°That is¡­¡±

    Reinhardt¡¯s face turned pale.

    Despite his doubts, Reinhardt had not anticipated the situation would unfold to this extent.

    ¡°My lord!¡±

    A knight quickly grabbed and shook Reinhardt. Only then did he see the gates of Hendrake¡¯s castle opening. Knights poured out from inside Hendrake¡¯s castle, swiftly breaking through the slopes and charging.

    The unfinished barricades could not stop the knights.

    A fierce collision urred immediately.

    Reinhardt, along with his soldiers at the front, was swept up in the collision and rolled on the ground.

    The knights of Hendrake swiftly overran Reinhardt¡¯s soldiers, breaking through. The surprise attack was devastating. Dozens of soldiers were ughtered in an instant. Screams and chaos erupted everywhere.

    Reinhardt¡¯s fantasy of possibly returning after delivering a sermon without spilling a drop of blood shattered into pieces.

    ¡°My lord!¡±

    ¡°Killl the invaders!¡±

    One of the Hendrake knights shouted with a voice that seemed to tear through the air.

    The knights shed with each other.

    Reinhardt had confidently believed that one of his knights could easily take on two of Hendrake¡¯s.

    However, Reinhardt witnessed his knights being brutally defeated before his eyes.

    When swords shed, either the de or the wrist would break, and they would be hopelessly knocked down in collisions. It was hard to attribute this to a mere difference in training.

    One of the Hendrake knights, his eyes bloodshot, scanned the surroundings and spotted Reinhardt. Reinhardt saw that his eyes were filled with madness.

    It reminded him of the soldiers filled with frenzy he had seen long ago during the dawn of his military days.

    ¡°Die!¡±

    The Hendrake knight charged rapidly.

    Just as his spear seemed about to pierce through Reinhardt¡¯s neck, a shadow collided with furious momentum.

    Boom! Isaac appeared on a giant ck horse and knocked the Hendrake knight to the ground. The knight struggled to rise, but Isaac skillfully maneuvered his horse to stomp the knight¡¯s head with its hooves. The knight, whose head was smashed into the ground, twitched and theny motionless.

    ***

    ¡°My lord! Get up!¡±

    Isaac ordered sharply. But Reinhardt was still dazed.

    Then, Isaac leapt from his horse and pped Reinhardt¡¯s cheek.

    ¡°Hey! Snap out of it!¡±

    Finally, Reinhardt began to regain his senses a bit. Isaac, seeing Reinhardt staggering, helped him back onto the horse and looked around to find a way to escape.

    The Hendrake knights, having swept through the soldiers, turned their horses to deal with the remaining forces and Reinhardt.

    Isaac spotted a knight charging towards him. It was not difficult to take down a horse, but the speed and weight of a horse made it a deadly weapon. He didn¡¯t want to collide head-on.

    ¡°Hesabel!¡±

    At Isaac¡¯s mental call, an arrow pierced through a horse¡¯s eye. The force brought down a couple of other horses charging alongside it.

    Since it was still daylight, Hesabel was sniping from under the rooftops of the vige. In the chaos of battle, the knights couldn¡¯t identify who was targeting them.

    However, the Hendrake knights rose from the ground as if the impact was nothing and charged madly towards Isaac and Reinhardt again. If they had a weapon, they gripped it; if not, they seemed ready to tear their foes apart with their bare hands.

    ¡®If they fought trolls with this zeal, just two or three of them could have taken down a troll.¡¯

    This was not normal fervor. They were clearly being controlled by something.

    Not a loose control like a shepherd¡¯s staff but a strong mental binding. Or perhaps drugs were involved.

    Given their bloodthirsty appearance, thetter seemed more likely.

    Hesabel targeted the charging knights with arrows, but unlike the horses, the armor was not easily prated. Those who were hit seemed numb to pain and kept charging.

    Finally, Isaac collided with the leading knight. The knight swung his mace wildly, trying desperately to smash Isaac¡¯s head.

    Starting with the first knight, Isaac was quickly surrounded. Fortunately, the knights¡¯ skill level hadn¡¯t improved; they were just inexplicably filled with madness and strength.

    ¡®This should do it.¡¯

    As soon as he was surrounded, Isaac moved as if he had been waiting for this moment.

    The technique born for meleebat, the Avnche Swordsmanship: the preparatory motion unfolded.

    A booming explosion resonated as if shaking a mountain. Simultaneously, the knights surrounding Isaac were thrown backwards.

    None of the knights remained unharmed in their limbs. The armor was crushed or torn apart.

    ¡®The power¡­ has increased quite a bit?¡¯

    It was a force unlike any he had experienced while hunting wolves.

 Chapter 62:

    Chapter 62:

    Originally manifesting in only three trajectories, the technique now produced five. Not only was the power to slice through steel armor impressive, but the explosive sound alone was enough to deafen and stun some knights. It was clear why Gebel had said this technique was useful in meleebat.

    It seemed slightly less effective than Gebel¡¯s usage.

    ¡®Has thebat experience I¡¯ve unknowingly umted enhanced its power?¡¯

    Of course, the strain on his body was unavoidable. Fortunately, the tentacles wrapping around his body inside the armor acted as a cushion, mitigating the impact.

    Despite feeling his body creaking and screaming, Isaac smiled.

    Because all the surrounding knights were looking at him.

    ¡°I¡¯m out of breath, soe at me.¡±

    Isaac raised his sword, targeting the knights. The knights started to stagger towards him, trying to recover from the shock of the explosion.

    The closest one charged at Isaac, swinging a il.

    ¡°My lord! Pdin!¡±

    Then, amidst loud hoofbeats, Reinhardt¡¯s knights charged in. The Hendrake knight about to swing his il was instantly trampled into mush by the hooves. Knights from the back joined in, and those initially stunned by the surprise attack regrouped their soldiers for a counterattack.

    An inept army would have crumbled under the initial shock of the surprise attack alone. However, proving that Reinhardt hadn¡¯t raised his knights in vain, they regrouped andunched a counteroffensive. Thanks to Isaac breaking their momentum, they were able to counterattack. Without him, they would have been unable to recover from the initial shock and would have disintegrated.

    As Reinhardt¡¯s troops began to respond systematically, the Hendrake knights, despite their strength and ferocity, started to be pushed back gradually.

    ¡°Is the count unharmed!¡±

    The knight who had trampled the il-wielding knight and pushed back the Hendrake knights with a shield wall and long spears approached and asked.

    He was the captain of Reinhardt¡¯s knights, if memory served.

    ¡°I¡¯m out of it, but I¡¯m alright.¡±

    Isaac saw that Reinhardt, still in shock, was mounted on the ck horse. It seemed it would take some time for him to regain his senses.

    ¡°For now, take the count and withdraw. We need to clean up here.¡±

    Isaac surveyed the melee unfolding around him. The Hendrake knights possessed abnormal zeal and strength but were few in number andcked proper organization.

    Their suppression was only a matter of time.

    ¡®Why?¡¯

    Isaac found it strange that the Hendrake castle had not ordered a retreat.

    If things continued this way, the precious Hendrake knights would be annihted. Was it nned to dispose of the knights along with Bexter¡¯s execution?

    ¡®Were they used as expendable? Just causing this much turmoil was enough?¡¯

    In the end, no order for retreat came from Hendrake castle. Most of the Hendrake knights, including their leader Sir Bexter, were killed, with some taken prisoner.

    Meanwhile, within Hendrake castle, a presence nted by Isaac was on the move.

    ***

    After the assassination attempt on Hesabel, Isaac had not just sat by idly.

    Though it appeared to be an ambush by a knight of the Hendrake knighthood on the surface, it was clear that the Red Chalice was behind it.

    At Reinhardt¡¯s request, Isaac pretended to wait while collecting information by sneaking Zihilrat into the castle. Isaac¡¯s war had already begun by then.

    Zihilrat climbed the castle walls, appearing to melt into them.

    Hidden within Hendrake castle, Zihilrat witnessed the farce between Bexter and Kyle, including the scene where Bexter was ultimately beheaded by Owen¡¯s sword.

    After the rebellion was quelled, Kyle regained control of the castle, but no one truly believed he held any real power.

    ¡®Ra.¡¯

    Zihilrat kept an eye on her.

    Armed with knowledge from Isaac, Zihilrat knew there were followers of the Red Chalice Club within Hendrake castle. While Owen had quelled Bexter¡¯s rebellion, it was clear Ra was behind it.

    After quelling the rebellion, Owen had the knights arrested and brought to the castle. Soon after, knights, half-mad, charged at Reinhardt¡¯s soldiers.

    At that moment, Isaac, using his ¡®mouse in the wall¡¯ ability, had already been observing everything.

    He had left them to their devices to let Ra reveal her true nature more fully, intervening just in time to prevent Reinhardt¡¯s assassination.

    Had he intervened earlier, he might have prevented the soldiers from suffering. However, it would have made dealing with Ra more difficult.

    ¡®What¡¯s happening inside the castle¡­¡¯

    Isaac observed the silent scene within Hendrake Castle through Zihilrat¡¯s eyes and ears.

    After sending out the knights, Ra continued her activities inside the castle. However, Zihilrat¡¯s body wasn¡¯t suitable for detailed reconnaissance inside.

    While it was adept at hiding anywhere, a more specific form was needed to listen or see more closely.

    Specifically, a human form was required.

    Conveniently, Zihilrat found a suitable body.

    It was Bexter¡¯s body, discarded in a pit below the walls.

    Besides Bexter, the pit contained a few other bodies, seemingly knights or soldiers who had resisted to the end.

    But Zihilrat specifically chose Bexter¡¯s corpse.

    [Under the Skin: Consume the interior of a target and use their skin as your exterior.]

    It was one of the three special options once offered to Isaac but was forsaken. Now, this ability was bestowed upon Zihilrat, who had been promoted to an Apostle.

    After being reborn by Isaac, Zihilrat did not have a clear form. Its default appearance was somewhat rodent-like, though much sleeker than in its previous life.

    Its body, however, was a tangle of numerous tentacles, hiding countless teeth and eyes. If desired, it could form a thin membrane to mimic skin.

    This meant Zihilrat could inte its body to the size of a giant bear or condense it to the size of a human.

    Zihilrat burrowed into Bexter¡¯s body. Anyone seeing this grotesque scene would have been horrified, but no one was looking into the pit where the body had been discarded.

    Soon after, Zihilrat, having taken over Bexter¡¯s body, stood up from the pit.

    The severed head was not an issue. The body was just a shell; Zihilrat was the real entity.

    Zihilrat connected the head and torso with its tentacles. Although the expression might be somewhat awkward, it had no problem moving the body.

    In fact, possessing the strong and trained body of Bexter allowed Zihilrat to mimic some degree of swordsmanship beyond merely wearing the shell.

    However, a person known to be dead walking around was not possible, so its identity had to be concealed.

    Fortunately, due to the preparation for battle and the chaotic internal situation, various weapons were scattered all over the castle.

    Zihilrat picked up a helmet rolling around and ced it on the head mount on the shoulder. The blood-stained uniform might have given it away, but the darkness and dirt made it look like just another soldier at a nce.

    ¡°Hey!¡±

    As Zihilrat was considering how to enter the castle, someone called out. A soldier with a high rank approached Zihilrat briskly.

    ¡°What are you still doing here? Didn¡¯t you hear the order to stop burial work and gather?¡±

    When Zihilrat didn¡¯t respond, the soldier grew angrier and insisted.

    ¡°Come on! The battle is imminent!¡±

    Zihilrat obediently followed him. It seemed the soldier mistook the blood and dirt as a result of burial work. Unexpectedly, the situation had worked out easily.

    Following the sergeant, Zihilrat arrived at what seemed like a banquet hall inside the castle, the only indoor spacerge enough to amodate many people. Through Zihilrat, Isaac realized that most of Hendrake Castle¡¯s soldiers were gathered there.

    ¡®What¡¯s this? A speech before battle?¡¯

    However, the lord, Kyle, was nowhere to be seen.

    The power seemed to have shifted to someone else after Bexter¡¯s failed coup to capture Kyle.

    To the two people right in front of him, Owen and Ra.

    The soldiers seemed frightened and uneasy about the situation. But with Bexter¡¯s head gone and having witnessed the annihtion of Kyle Hendrake¡¯s carefully nurtured knights outside the castle, no one dared express their dissatisfaction.

    Then Ra stood up.

    The murmuring soldiers instantly fell silent.

    Ra slowly walked among the soldiers and climbed onto a table. The soldiers watched as Ra, barefoot, walked right in front of them. Standing amidst countless gazes, Ra whispered.

    ¡°Revere.¡±

    A silence so deep that even breathing seemed to stop enveloped the room.

    The only sound was that of one¡¯s own heartbeat. No, it was so quiet one could even hear the blood flowing through their body. Then, suddenly, Zihilrat realized it wasn¡¯t because the sounds had quieted down or its senses had be sharper.

    It was actually hearing the heartbeat echoing throughout the castle.

    The life force pulsating through the castle¡¯s veins could be felt.

    Then, something fell onto Zihilrat¡¯s head. It was a dark red liquid.

    ¡®Blood?¡¯

    Simultaneously, countless streams of blood flowed from the cracks in the walls and between the stones. Blood poured down like rain. The soldiers, engulfed in the blood-scented downpour, looked crazily at Ra, who movednguidly among them.

    Ra crossed between them as if dancing.

    Her figure, drenched in blood, seemed like a woman with her skin peeled off, or perhaps with nine limbs, or like a doll fashioned out of y and flesh.

    Zihilrat felt nauseous. The flow of blood within was elerating.

    ¡®A miracle?¡¯

    Isaac, noticing the anomaly, tightened his grip on Zihilrat¡¯s will. Even as a being of divine stature, Zihilrat was not immune to the influence of the powerful divine presence before it.

    Fortunately, as Isaac reinforced his control, Zihilrat managed to limit its excitement.

    However, others were affected differently.

    Even the divine being Zihilrat felt the impact of the miracle.

    Ra¡¯s lips moved again.

    ¡°ce the flesh of the enemy on the tter, and fill the cups with blood.¡±

    The moment the blood rain stopped, the soldiers¡¯ eyes and mouths were filled with madness andbativeness. They looked exactly like the knights who had ambushed Reinhardt¡¯s knights, only with a deeper insanity.

    Isaac sensed this battle was far from over.

    ***

    ¡°You¡¯re giving up the siege?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    Reinhardt answered with a nearly dead voice. The shock of that day¡¯s battle had taken its toll, confining him to his room. But Isaac was neither surprised nor disappointed.

    ¡®It¡¯s a relief he¡¯s not packing up to return to his domain right away¡­¡¯

    Reinhardt wasn¡¯t the only one shocked.

    Even the vigers, simple but good-hearted, were horrified to learn their lord had instigated such events, staying locked in their homes without having been evacuated. A massacre could have ensued had the soldiers taken out their frustrations on them.

    Fortunately, Reinhardt issued no such orders. Overwhelmed by shock and having lost nearly half his forces, turning the vigers against him would have been foolish.

    ¡®Considering the damage, retreating and acknowledging defeat would be appropriate¡­¡¯

    Even though Reinhardt lost nearly half his forces, Hendrake¡¯s side, including Bexter, had practically been wiped out. Considering knights essentially served as officers, Hendrake¡¯s estate was left with nothing but disorganized rabble akin to peasant militia.

    Moreover, while Hendrake¡¯s lordship had no hope for reinforcements, Reinhardt was continuously receiving additional troops.

    Through prisoners, they had already gathered testimonies about nearly heretical events unfolding within Hendrake Castle. Initially, the witnesses weren¡¯t in a condition to testify, but after Isaac intervened, they were somewhat rehabilitated.

    ¡°The Order of the Codex of Light will send pdins and priests. Then the walls will fall.¡±

    Reinhardt muttered weakly. Relying on priests in this era of rampant miracles was indeed the most efficient method of siege.

    However, Isaac didn¡¯t anticipate an easy resolution.

    ¡®Behind those walls is Ra.¡¯

    Isaac recalled the scene unfolded in Hendrake Castle the previous night through Zihilrat.

    And he thought about the nameless chaos that had taken notice of him the moment he saw Ra.

    [The Nameless Chaos watches you.]

    [The Nameless Chaos desires you to devour the ¡®Prophet of the Red Flesh.¡¯]

    [A reward from Chaos awaits you.]

 Chapter 63:

    Chapter 63:

    ¡®The Prophet of the Red Flesh¡­¡¯

    Isaac recalled the name of one of the most famous angels of the Red Chalice Club.

    Angels are broadly divided into two categories: Basic angels, created directly by the deity, and Named angels, who have achieved feats in history significant enough to be granted names by the deity. Basic angels mostly operate in the afterlife and are rarely seen unless performing messenger duties.

    Named angels, however, are different. Being historical figures of renown on Earth, they are often well-known and more active on Earth than in the afterlife.

    Among them, the Prophet of the Red Flesh is the most active angel within the Red Chalice Club. Even Hesabel and Heinikel, followers of the same Red Chalice faith, immediately thought of her when they suspected Isaac of being an angel.

    Due to her operating through conspiracies and secret organizations, her activities are not conspicuous. However, having chosen the Red Chalice faith himself at one point, Isaac knew she wielded her influence ceaselessly across various faiths.

    And he knew her weakness.

    ¡®The Prophet of the Red Flesh is undoubtedly a powerful angel¡­ But she¡¯s not one to engage in directbat.¡¯

    Even the weakest angel is formidable enough that humans would struggle to oppose. However, Isaac knew if he could draw the Prophet of the Red Flesh intobat, he had a way to significantly weaken her.

    There¡¯s a reason she avoids direct confrontation.

    Then, could Isaac, newly minted as a pdin and, in a sense, at the pinnacle of faith, possibly defeat an angel?

    Isaac¡¯s answer was ¡®impossible.¡¯

    Killing an angel required not just immense strength but also aplex array of factors.

    However, expelling one from this world was not impossible.

    ¡®But if the Order of the Codex of Light gets involved, iming my share might be difficult.¡¯

    Considering the situation, worrying about one¡¯s share might seem selfish. Yet, Isaac didn¡¯t want his efforts to have been in vain, especially since the Red Chalice had dared to target his follower.

    Whether the entity within the castle was an angel or a demon, Isaac had to deal with it personally.

    ¡°Count Reinhardt.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Knight of the Grail¡­¡±

    ¡°Something sphemous is happening within Hendrake Castle. Kyle Hendrake deserves punishment, but the servants and soldiers inside are just ordinary people caught in the crossfire, aren¡¯t they?¡±

    ¡°Yes¡­ That is true.¡±

    ¡°The longer we wait, the more people will be ensnared in this sphemy, trapped in inescapable sin.¡±

    From the perspective of a medieval noble like Reinhardt, the plight of themoners didn¡¯t matter much. However, he couldn¡¯t contradict the Knight of the Grail.

    Isaac spoke with emphasis.

    ¡°Please, mobilize your soldiers.¡±

    ¡°Knight of the Grail¡­¡±

    As Reinhardt looked hesitant and about to protest, Isaac shook his head.

    ¡°I¡¯m not asking for a siege. I¡¯ll infiltrate the castle myself; all I need is your support from outside. If things go well, this could be over before any fight begins.¡±

    ¡°You mean to assault the castle alone?¡±

    ¡°No. My follower will apany me.¡±

    ¡°Do you mean that woman¡­ Hesabel?¡±

    Even so, it was just the two of them, virtually alone.

    Isaac had Zihilrat in mind as well, but he didn¡¯t borate. It was an entity he couldn¡¯t openly disclose.

    Reinhardt seemed inclined to dissuade Isaac. After all, with time, Hendrake Castle would likely fall on its own due to exhaustion. And wouldn¡¯t reinforcements arrive in time?

    When Reinhardt tentatively pointed this out, Isaac replied,

    ¡°What will you do if the soldiers inside Hendrake Castle, swept up in madness like those knights, charge out without any siege or defense in ce?¡±

    Reinhardt fell silent. It wasn¡¯t an overblown concern but a real possibility. In fact, Isaac wondered why Rae hadn¡¯t done just that. If the soldiers inside Hendrake Castle unleashed the same madness shown by the knights, they could easily overrun Reinhardt¡¯s forces.

    Reinhardt had no choice but to either retreat now or support Isaac¡¯s n. And he didn¡¯t want to face the embarrassment of backing down in front of a Knight of the Grail prepared to dive into enemy lines alone.

    ¡°What should I do?¡±

    A smile crept onto Isaac¡¯s lips.

    ***

    ¡°Assassination?¡±

    ¡°Is it too difficult?¡±

    Dawn.

    In a secluded spot near Hendrake Castle, Isaac was briefing Hesabel on his n.

    Transmitting will was vague in direction; detailed discussions required direct conversation.

    Hesabel looked troubled upon hearing Isaac¡¯s n. Understandably so, her target for assassination was none other than Rae, an angel of the Red Chalice Club.

    By now, Hesabel had epted that Isaac was neither the Prophet of the Red Flesh nor affiliated with the Red Chalice Club

    Isaac had already epted Hesabel¡¯s steadfast faith despite her understanding that he was neither the Prophet of the Red Flesh nor affiliated with the Red Chalice Club. However, her unwavering belief in the face of such a difficult directive was perplexing, making this order a test for her as well.

    But even then, Hesabel found Isaac¡¯smand difficult toprehend.

    ¡°No, it might be difficult but¡­ if Ra is truly an angel, wouldn¡¯t killing her be impossible?¡±

    Angels, once ascended, belong to the afterlife. Without divine permission, an angel cannot be fully killed. At best, killing Ra would only temporarily banish her from the earthly realm.

    ¡°It¡¯s okay if you don¡¯t seed. What¡¯s important is the attempt.¡±

    ¡°An attempt?¡±

    ¡°You can even pretend to attack and then flee if it gets tough. We¡¯ll figure out the rest when the timees.¡±

    Hesabel seemed unconvinced, but whether or not she was, didn¡¯t matter. Given that Isaac was essentially granting permission to attempt and fail, it was a rtively lenient order.

    ¡°Wait, take this before you go.¡±

    Isaac handed Hesabel something wrapped in cloth. She uncovered it, gasped in shock, and quickly covered it again. Her eyes flitted about wildly.

    ¡°What, what is this?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ll need something of this caliber to face an angel.¡±

    ¡°You, you, how can you trust me with this?¡±

    Hesabel appeared too startled to evenprehend her own questions.

    Isaac looked at her intently and asked,

    ¡°Are you going to betray me?¡±

    ¡°Not at all!¡±

    ¡°Then go and do what you must.¡±

    Hesabel nodded her head about ten times before scaling the wall. Soldiers patrolling the wall wouldn¡¯t have been able to spot Hesabel in the dead of night.

    Isaac was concerned by Hesabel¡¯s agitation but trusted that she would prove her worth now that he had shown faith in her.

    ¡®It¡¯s time for me to move.¡¯

    Unlike Hesabel, Isaac didn¡¯t have the skill to leap directly over walls. Instead, he utilized the Red Prayer, enveloping the wall in a mist of red fog that climbed swiftly.

    Upon reaching the top of the wall, he found a soldier passed out, likely Hesabel¡¯s doing.

    Just to be sure, Isaac checked the soldier¡¯s eyes. As expected, they were bloodshot, just like the vigers taken prisoner.

    ¡®As I thought¡­¡¯

    Isaac knew through Zihilrat that Ra had instilled madness in the soldiers within the castle. If each soldier exhibited thebat prowess of the Hendrake knights, Reinhardt¡¯s forces wouldn¡¯t stand a chance, regardless of their numerical inferiority.

    ¡®It would have been more advantageous for them to storm out with the soldiers.¡¯

    However, Ra had only sent out the knights, keeping the soldiers within the castle. It wasn¡¯t out of concern for preserving lives. The longer this state persisted, the soldiers would either be drained of their vitality or mental strength, bing increasingly debilitated.

    ¡®Is that what it is?¡¯

    Isaac had some inkling of the situation, which was partly why he sent Hesabel ahead.

    He regretted not being able to simply open the castle gates.

    ¡®If Count Reinhardt were in better spirits, perhaps opening the gates could have been an option.¡¯

    But now, with Reinhardt demoralized and the castle¡¯s soldiers engulfed in madness, any soldiers attempting to surrender would only invite unnecessary casualties.

    Regardless of Ra¡¯s scheming, they were merely ying into Isaac¡¯s hands.

    He had already identified an easy route of entry through Zihilrat.

    Isaac swiftly infiltrated the castle interior.

    ***

    ¡®It¡¯s too quiet.¡¯

    Infiltrating the inner castle, Isaac saw no soldiers, which was peculiar, even for dawn. The absence of patrolling soldiers, except for a few on the walls, in this eerie silence was unnerving. It was hard to imagine those wide-eyed soldiers getting any rest.

    The infiltration was going smoothly, but upon approaching the inner gate, Isaac felt an odd sense of foreboding. The silence was too unsettling to be merely attributed to the early hour.

    As Isaac halted, a figure emerged in front of the inner gate.

    It was Owen, the deputymander of the Hendrake knights. Or at least, it seemed to be Owen, shrouded in dark mist, making it impossible to be sure.

    ¡°I never expected you to walk right in.¡±

    Instead of responding, Isaac drew his sword, and simultaneously, soldiers who had been invisible until now surged forward. Harsh breaths and sounds of agony filled the air, the noise of soldiers fighting the urge to attack.

    ¡°Are you brave or just foolish? The prophet foresaw this, but I couldn¡¯t believe it until I saw it with my own eyes. You¡¯ve infiltrated this castle alone?¡±

    ¡°You wouldn¡¯t have believed it either. A normal person would have been deceived.¡±

    Isaac replied calmly, hisposed demeanor making Owen cautious. Owen held back his soldiers, wary that Isaac might have some trick up his sleeve or that Reinhardt¡¯s soldiers had infiltrated as well.

    ¡°No one else is here if that¡¯s what you¡¯re worried about.¡±

    ¡°Except for the Goulmar daughter you sent ahead?¡±

    Isaac didn¡¯t respond. Owen murmured with a scoff.

    ¡°Surprised that I know? This area is already under Lady Ra¡¯s dominion. Detecting someone once part of the Red Chalice here is natural. We¡¯ve been waiting for you, Isaac.¡±

    ¡°Waiting for me¡­¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve disrupted the ns of the Red Chalice. Now, it¡¯s time for you to pay with your blood and flesh.¡±

    At that moment, Owen unleashed his soldiers, who charged at Isaac, forgetting their weapons and trying to bite and w him. Isaac swung his fists, knocking back soldiers, but they were too many.

    Soldiers clung to his armor.

    Owen sneered at the sight.

    ¡°It seems the noble Knight of the Grail cannot bring himself to k**l soldiers who are merely being used.¡±

    Crunch, thud!

    Owen¡¯s taunting was cut short as Isaac¡¯s sword pierced through a soldier. With swift movements, Isaac closed the distance between him and Owen, using his Issac swordsmanship to slice through soldiers in eight directions. Limbs and blood whirled around in a storm.

    Owen hastily raised his sword to block Isaac¡¯s attack.

    Loud metallic shes rang out as the des collided, sparks flying. Isaac¡¯s attack had stripped away some of the ck mist enveloping Owen¡¯s armor but hadn¡¯t damaged the armor itself.

    ¡°What¡­ a Knight of the Grail uses soldiers as shields?¡±

    ¡°Did you think I couldn¡¯t kill if you were controlled? It¡¯s hard to carry the weight of trust.¡±

    Isaac thought it odd how highly the enemy thought of him.

    This was war. Whether they were controlled or not, if the opponent wielded a weapon, Isaac had no reason to hold back.

    Isaac pressed his attack on Owen.

    The consumption of his stamina meant he couldn¡¯t always use high-level swordsmanship to slice through armor.

    Isaac recalled his swordsmanship training.

    With minimal movement, he aimed for the optimal path, swinging his sword.

    His de found its way through the already exposed parts of Owen¡¯s armor, specifically where the leather joints were. The de cut through the taut leather and twisted.

    Owen¡¯s armor peeled away like a shell being removed.

    The first true bloodshed sttered.

    Owen was astounded by Isaac¡¯s skill. After bing Ra¡¯s servant, he had gained strengthparable to Bexter, and with the flesh from Ra, he had be even stronger.

    Despite the advantage of surprise, Isaac seemed even more skilled than a few mornings ago.

    Some of his movements were even familiar.

    ¡®Could he have learned those movements from that dawn¡­?¡¯

    It was unthinkable. Owen denied the possibility as he gritted his teeth.

    Boom! Relying on the strength and defense enhanced by the ck mist and Ra¡¯s flesh, Owen shed with Isaac aggressively, ready to lose a limb or two if necessary.

    For Owen, who had grown stronger and more defensive, this was a more suitable fighting style.

    The initial upper hand Isaac had quickly started to tip in Owen¡¯s favor.

    ¡°The prophet said if you had subdued Hesabel Goulmar, I wouldn¡¯t stand a chance and should run!¡±

    Boom, boom, boom! Owen¡¯s sword struck down with such force it seemed to split Isaac in two.

    ¡°The prophet was wrong about one thing! My potential is greater than she predicted!¡±

    ¡°No, she got one thing right.¡±

    Isaac grimaced, bearing Owen¡¯s attack, and muttered,

    ¡°You should have run the moment you saw me.¡±

    Crack.

    Isaac¡¯s left arm swelled significantly.

    No, Isaac¡¯s armor twisted as tentacles emerged from its seams.

    Owen, in the midst of their power struggle, was shocked to see tentacles wrapping around his sword and hand.

    However, the tentacles had barely touched the already exposed areas of his armor.

    Ssssh! A chilling sound followed as flesh and skin were torn away.

    ¡®Just a graze¡­?!¡¯

    Owen, horrified, tried to retreat, but it was toote. Isaac extended his tentacles rapidly, reaching into various parts of Owen¡¯s body.

    As Isaac manipted the tentacles, an unbelievable force pulled Owen closer.

    ¡°You, what is this¡­!¡±

    In that moment, Owen thought of a terrible possibility.

    ¡°You, you¡¯re not a Pdin of the Codex of Light, are you!¡±

    A smirk formed on Isaac¡¯s lips.

    ¡°Do I need to answer that for you to know?¡±

 Chapter 64:

    Chapter 64:

    Chapter 64. The Siege of a Lone Warrior (4)

    Owen didn¡¯t even hear Isaac¡¯s response.

    From his childhood, from the moment he held a sword, he had admired the Holy Grail Knights.

    However, he wasn¡¯t skilled enough to enter not just the Pdin order but also the Empire¡¯s knightly orders. He was just a local youth, familiar with the sword and armor passed down from his father.

    That was the limit of Owen¡¯s talent.

    Until he was tempted by Ra with the promise of being granted the divine powers of a Pdin, receiving immense strength and talent.

    Even though he walked a dishonorable path, he still admired the Holy Grail Knights.

    His disy of respect when he met Isaac was not false.

    In fact, he admired this young Holy Grail Knight.

    Even though they had be adversaries, he was satisfied to be able topete on equal footing.

    ¡®But then¡­¡¯

    Owen was busy fending off the constantly invading tentacles. The tentacles were tough and not easily severed, and those that were cut off stuck to his armor like leeches, gnawing and creating holes.

    Even the protective ck mist around his armor was useless. It felt as if it was being consumed as well.

    ¡°This evil¡­!¡±

    The power he borrowed from the Red Chalice was a dark and terrifying force beyond his understanding. He couldn¡¯t even guess what kind of faith it was. Was it even a faith? Shouldn¡¯t it be called a monster?

    A piece of tentacle burrowed into his armor, causing intense pain inside his calf. The tentacle dug into his skin and started to climb up to his thigh. Owen snapped to his senses.

    ¡®I must kill it.¡¯

    A firm sense of purpose blossomed in Owen¡¯s mind.

    If until now his actions were based on orders, now they were close to a sense of mission.

    Owen recalled that Isaac, masquerading as a Pdin of the Codex of Light, was on a noble journey, receiving des.

    Is that possible? Is it allowed?

    Owen imagined what ultimate form this evil being would reveal when it finally received admiration.

    ¡®I must stop it.¡¯

    The one standing here was not the ck Knight Owen, controlled by the Red Chalice, but the young boy who had just begun to admire the Holy Grail Knights.

    Owen threw himself at the tentacles trying to prate his entire body without hesitation.

    Isaac¡¯s eyes widened, but Owen, ready to risk his life, struck down with all his might.

    Crack!

    In that moment, everything went dark before Owen¡¯s eyes.

    His sword swung through the air in vain. Owen couldn¡¯t understand what happened, but he could feel blood soaking his face. He rubbed his eyes, thinking blood had gotten into them, but he couldn¡¯t see.

    Something wriggled and itched all over his body.

    ¡°That was quite brave. Owen.¡±

    The Holy Grail Knight he admired praised him. But Owen couldn¡¯t take pleasure in it.

    Owen swung his sword towards the direction of the voice, but he didn¡¯t feel it connect.

    Thump, crack, crunch.

    He heard sounds like something bursting all over his body, as if boils were rapidly growing and then bursting.

    ¡°I¡¯ve filled your body with parasites from beyond. Your shell seems quite tough. But the flesh inside seems soft and normal?¡±

    Parasites? He didn¡¯t know about them. But Owen felt small, worm-like creatures crawling inside his armor and skin.

    He then realized he had lost his sight because parasites had crawled up into his eyes and burst out through them.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be too disappointed. It would be a waste to k**l you now. Perhaps after some more maturing, you¡¯ll be a useful creature like Zihilrat¡­¡±

    ¡°Was I a sufficient threat?¡±

    Owen couldn¡¯t move anymore but asked without falling.

    ¡°Was I a threatening adversary in your noble journey?¡±

    Isaac pondered before responding.

    ¡°Somewhat?¡±

    ¡°Then I will continue to be so.¡±

    Owen said that and then muttered something.

    At that moment, the dawn mist in the area began to turn red.

    When Isaac was wondering what was happening, the soldiers lying around started to be pulled towards Owen as if they were being absorbed.

    Thump, thud!

    Not only the dead soldiers but also the wounded and even those near the gate began to be drawn in. A mountain of people quickly piled up around Owen.

    It was a chaotic scene of the living and the dead tangled together.

    Isaac realized that they were melting and merging around Owen as the center.

    The parasites Owen had scattered within were now buried under numerous egos and flesh, unable to feel any will of their own.

    Isaac knew the name of this monster.

    ¡®Abomination¡­¡¯

    It was one of the mid-tier summoning entities used by the Red Chalice Club. The fact that Ra had granted such a power indicated she was determined to stop Isaac. One of the soldiers merged into the Abomination opened his mouth with difficulty.

    ¡°If you cannot ovee this adversity, your journey ends here. Holy Grail Knight.¡±

    ***

    Hesabel, an experienced assassin, made her way to Ra¡¯s room, trying not to pay attention to the noise outside. It wasn¡¯t difficult for Hesabel to find Ra¡¯s room.

    After all, it was the only room lit at this dawn.

    The door was open. However, instead of entering through the inviting door, Hesabel transformed into a red mist and stealthily slipped in.

    The room was filled with luxurious items, beautiful ornaments, and furniture. They were too expensive for a regr maid¡¯s room, genuine luxury items that real nobles would use.

    And in the center of the room, Ra was staring into the red mist. As expected, Hesabel quietly reverted to her original form.

    ¡°You use my miracle quite skillfully, Hesabel.¡±

    The Red Prayer was a ritual created and used by the Prophet of Red Flesh when she became an angel. Through this ritual, she could freely disassemble and reform her skin, flesh, blood, and bones. This miracle was then bestowed upon her beloved lineage.

    ¡°I see the Prophet of Red Flesh.¡±

    Hesabel showed the bare minimum of courtesy. Further politeness would be deceitful given their adversarial rtionship.

    ¡°You knew I could have retracted the miracle and dropped you out of the window before you climbed in.¡±

    ¡°¡­Yes, of course.¡±

    Most of the powers Hesabel possessed, except for a very few, were granted by the Red Chalice. Ra, an angel of the Red Chalice, could easily retract those miracles and halt them.

    Like the night she sent Owen to assassinate her.

    Ra crossed her legs softly and stared at Hesabel.

    ¡°I¡¯ll give you onest chance, Hesabel. I brought you here for this proposal.¡±

    Hesabel didn¡¯t respond but showed she was listening.

    Ra smiled in response.

    ¡°Report to the Holy Grail Knight that you have seeded in killing me. Then go back to him and plunge a knife into his neck. If he¡¯s still alive, that is.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡±

    ¡°If you do so, your family will continue to receive my love.¡±

    The Ducal family of Gullmar had not only directly consumed the blood of the Red Chalice but also enjoyed the favor of the Prophet of Red Flesh, a significant advantage. Unlike other angels who mainly operated in the afterlife, the Prophet of Red Flesh, who often appeared in this world, wielded considerable influence.

    ¡°If your uncle goes missing and the heir apostatizes, the ducal family will be greatly shaken. The head of the family is already in turmoil. Do you intend to disappoint your father?¡±

    ¡°I¡­¡±

    Hesabel hesitated.

    She had sumbed to Isaac out of fear. But what if her choice led to the downfall of her family? The many dependents of her family, her siblings who relied and believed in her, her father?

    The Red Chalice Club is not lenient with those who fall.

    ¡°Hesabel.¡±

    At Ra¡¯s urging, Hesabel clenched her eyes shut. She knew she didn¡¯t have much time to ponder. This might be herst chance.

    Hesabel quietly knelt before Ra.

    Ra smiled in satisfaction.

    Just as she was about to extend her hand topletely subjugate Hesabel, Hesabel suddenly turned her entire body into a red mist.

    The red mist quickly enveloped Ra.

    A powerful vampiric ability that could dissolve an ordinary person in an instant was activated.

    Crack.

    But the next moment, Hesabel found her neck grasped by Ra¡¯s hand.

    Ra stood there, gripping Hesabel¡¯s neck with a strength that seemed impossible for her slender frame.

    ¡°What exactly is it, Hesabel?¡±

    Ra, with twenty fingers sprouting from her right hand, tapped Hesabel¡¯s neck and muttered. Hesabel tried to use her powers, but as expected, all her miracles were immobilized.

    ¡°What is it about that Holy Grail Knight that makes you throw away your position, career, and family in the Ducal house? Just fear? Coerced obedience? No, there must be something more.¡±

    Ra peered into Hesabel¡¯s eyes, trying to unearth her intentions. She had never thought Hesabel would surrender.

    Allowing Hesabel¡¯s intrusion was to learn the truth about Isaac through her.

    Then, Hesabel moved her mouth. Ra slightly loosened her grip on Hesabel¡¯s neck to hear what she was about to say.

    However, instead of a voice, something else came from Hesabel¡¯s mouth.

    A tentacle pierced through Ra¡¯s eye.

    With a crunch, deeply prated, Ra momentarily lost control of her body. Hesabel quickly escaped from Ra¡¯s grasp, caught her breath, and reflexively stabbed at where Ra¡¯s heart should be with a dagger she had prepared.

    Thrust, thrust, thrust!

    In less than a second, Ra¡¯s heart was punctured enough to be tattered. That was it.

    ¡®It¡¯s this easy?¡¯

    Hesabel was surprised at how smoothly things had gone.

    Isaac had said that just making an attempt on her life would suffice, but Hesabel had no intention of doing a sloppy job.

    It was obvious she would be caught by Ra. She knew her miracles would be forbidden. In front of Ra, Hesabel was no different from an ordinary person.

    But there was one caveat.

    Ra could only retract miracles of the Red Chalice Club¡¯s faith.

    Hesabel had used the faith umted by Isaac to receive an additional miracle.

    The miracle of tentacles.

    It was one of the most basic miracles bestowed by the nameless chaos.

    Briefly celebrating her sess, Hesabel wondered if she should also decapitate Ra. After all, angels don¡¯t die but are temporarily banished.

    Then she realized Ra was still standing.

    Hesabel looked up at her.

    The hole where the tentacle had pierced Ra¡¯s eye seemed abnormallyrge. Strangely, it felt like the dark hole was staring back at her.

    Then, white fingers stretched out from the eye socket. The fingers widened the hole and started to squeeze out.

    Seeing this, Hesabel ran without looking back, believing she had done more than what Isaac had asked.

    ¡°Isaac, sir!¡±

    Thump, thump-thump, thump-thump-thump!

    Hesabel screamed as she ran madly through the corridors. The castle was filled with strange vibrations and noise.

    It was as if the entire castle had be a giant beating heart. Now that Ra was assassinated, what was she supposed to do next? Hadn¡¯t Isaac said she would know what to do next?

    Then, something hurriedly running from the opposite side of the corridor came into view.

    White armor, blond hair.

    The Holy Grail Knight she almost revered, Isaac.

    She hadn¡¯t expected him toe running so hurriedly to save her, but she was d to have be such a valued subordinate.

    ¡°Lord Isaac, you¡¯vee to save me!¡±

    ¡°No, I¡¯m being chased too.¡±

    Isaac answered as he ran past Hesabel.

    Thump-thump-thump-thump!

    Only then did Hesabel realize that the strange vibrations filling the castle were getting closer. And then, she btedly saw a massive mass of flesh filling the ceiling and floor, charging down the corridor from the other end.

    Hesabel then started to run after Isaac.

 Chapter 65:

    Chapter 65:

    Chapter 65. The Prophet of the Red Flesh (1)

    ¡°Aaaaah!¡±

    A soldier burst out from the corridor and rushed in, attempting to bite Isaac. Isaac pped the soldier¡¯s face and marched forward.

    When Owen Renly absorbed the soldiers and transformed into a gigantic flesh monster, Isaac immediately ran into the interior of the castle. He judged that the erged creature would not be able to enter the castle just by looking at its size.

    At that time, Isaac thought he had made a smart decision.

    Until Owen started chasing him, filling the corridors with massive flesh.

    ¡°Aaaaargh!¡±

    The soldier Isaac had knocked down was newly pressed and absorbed by Owen¡¯s flesh. It seemed like all the soldiers were ambushed inside the castle. Fortunately, the abomination wasn¡¯t fast enough, so Isaac could easily outrun it with a quick pace.

    But the abomination was finding its own ways too.

    ¡°We seeded in assassinating Ra. But¡­¡±

    ¡°She came back to life, didn¡¯t she?¡±

    ¡°Did you know?¡±

    It was more predictable than known.

    The Prophet of the Red Flesh was the most frequently encountered angel in the game strategy. Naturally, there were many fights and quests. And she never reveals her true form unless absolutely necessary.

    ¡°Ra is just a shell used by the Prophet of the Red Flesh.¡±

    Isaac said, looking for the abomination somewhere beyond the corridor. The abomination, for some reason, was no longer chasing them. But Isaac strongly felt its presence.

    ¡°That abomination, I mean, Owen, is a bit different. It¡¯s not just a servant; it¡¯s like an angel¡¯s flesh stuffed in en masse. Enough to be easily disposed of after use.¡±

    Whether it¡¯s the will of the Prophet of the Red Flesh or Ra¡¯s will is indistinguishable and meaningless. To exert such power, it must be considered nearly a limb.

    Hesabel looked confused at Isaac¡¯s words.

    ¡°If it¡¯s just a shell¡­ then assassination is pointless, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°No. It had its meaning.¡±

    Isaac aimed for three things. Testing Hesabel¡¯s loyalty and drawing the Prophet of the Red Flesh¡¯s attention. If these two were sessful, the attempt was meaningful.

    Thest was to weaken Ra¡¯s vitality.

    For the Prophet of the Red Flesh to continue using Ra as a shell, her body must be alive. If she was injured, the Prophet of the Red Flesh would have to continually use its power to keep Ra alive.

    But Hesabel inflicted a fatal wound on Ra, judging her ¡®dead¡¯. This means the Prophet of the Red Flesh would have leaked considerable power.

    It¡¯s like holding and wielding a weapon with just the fingertips instead of freely with both hands.

    Naturally, wielding the same weight of a weapon is much more difficult and painful in thetter case.

    ¡°You did more than what was instructed. Well done, Hesabel.¡±

    Hesabel¡¯s eyes widened at Isaac¡¯s praise, then she touched her face, feeling unfamiliar.

    ¡°Uh, well, what do we do now? It seems like that flesh monster isn¡¯t following us anymore, but if we run into the Prophet of the Red Flesh¡­¡±

    At that moment, Isaac and Hesabel stopped.

    It wasn¡¯t a new enemy that blocked their way. Rather, there was nothing.

    Even the path they had to take was gone.

    The corridor twisted unnaturally, like the neck of a closed sack.

    Isaac looked back. The corridor in the dark dawn was engulfed in silence and darkness. The air felt oppressively enclosed.

    As if they had entered the belly of a beast.

    Isaac spoke.

    ¡°We¡¯ve been cornered in a hunt.¡±

    ***

    Zihilrat felt the air of the castle change.

    He could smell the damp sweat and saliva from all around. Having lost his divinity but once being a beast and secretly holding the underworld beneath the monastery in his grasp, he could sense it sensitively.

    The bizarre entity that appeared on the surface seemed to have finally taken over the castle.

    However, what that entity was doing now was none of Zihilrat¡¯s concern. Isaac had entrusted him with a different mission. Zihilrat continued to explore the underground of the castle as he had been doing.

    The castle¡¯s underground housed the servants, butlers, and sensitive individuals who must not be killed, all unconscious or drugged into a stupor but alive. They were not in a state to escape, so no guards were posted.

    The guards worth their salt would all be on the surface. But there was another presence.

    Pararararack!

    Bats, with their eyes gleaming red, suddenly swarmed Zihilrat from the ceiling. These were not ordinary bats but divine beasts summoned by the power of the Red Chalice. For ordinary people, just one bite to the neck could be fatal.

    The bats¡¯ teeth sank into various parts of Zihilrat¡¯s body. One of them even managed to crawl under Zihilrat¡¯s helmet to bite his neck. However, what the bat¡¯s teeth encountered were not veins or flesh, but another set of teeth.

    Crunch!

    A mouth that shouldn¡¯t have been there appeared and instantly tore off the bat¡¯s head. The bat pped its wings in a futile attempt but eventually couldn¡¯t escape, only managing to knock off the helmet.

    Seeing theirrade being chewed alive, the bats were terrified and tried to retreat, emitting warning echolocation signals. However, none of the bats attached to Zihilrat¡¯s body could escape.

    Crunch, snap, crackle.

    Zihilrat¡¯s body twisted and contorted unnaturally, capturing and ensnaring the bats. His predatory nature did not prevent prey from flying directly into him. In an instant, the predators became the prey, trapped by the low ceiling and narrow corridors, which now became their prison.

    Swoosh, screech.

    Even bats attempting to escape the corridor were entangled by tendrils and crushed to death. In no time, the corridor was left with nothing but bloodstains, devoid of any flesh or bone.

    Licking his lips, Zihilrat picked up his helmet. That¡¯s when he realized someone in an adjacent cell was watching him.

    The man stared nkly at Zihilrat, then directly at Zihilrat¡¯s face, which was still shifting in form. Soon after, the man mumbled something iprehensible, rolled his eyes back, and fainted.

    Zihilrat quietly observed the man before entering the cell. The iron bars couldn¡¯t contain his writhing body. After checking the man¡¯s condition, Zihilrat sent a message to Isaac.

    [I¡¯ve found Kyle Hendrake.]

    ***

    Owen no longer moved directly to attack. It was impossible to attack Isaac hiding inside the castle that way.

    Instead, he was well-versed in the castle¡¯syout. Herding Isaac to a desired location was simple, especially towards a long, narrow corridor that should have been open but was already copsed.

    And thus, he began his own version of a siege.

    Transforming his massive body to slither like a snake.

    Owen, now an abomination, was creeping through the corridors. The man who once wanted to be a pdin was now unrecognizable, a monster in form.

    Furthermore, his thought processes were drastically simplified to control the numerous idents and his flesh.

    Kill Isaac!

    ¡°Rrrraaaagh!¡±

    A terrifying roar echoed through the corridor as the flesh monster made its way in, causing the corridor to tremble. Isaac looked around, but there were no doors or windows to escape through.

    The castle Isaac entered for cover had now be a trap.

    ¡°Lord Isaac, I¡¯ll hold it off!¡±

    Hesabel quickly stepped forward, adopting some stance. But her slender sword, short dagger, and even the crossbow, which could dismount a running knight, seemed insufficient to stop the abomination.

    She appeared ready to attempt various tactics but then looked at Isaac with an expression akin to a puppy that dropped its snack in water.

    ¡°What now?¡±

    ¡°I thought this was the moment you¡¯d say ¡®enough, get lost¡¯ and step forward¡­¡±

    She hadn¡¯t really thought it through, expecting it to be an opportunity to score points. True to the lineage of a family of conspirators and opportunists.

    ¡°Enough, get lost.¡±

    Isaac stepped forward with his sword. He wasn¡¯t without his own ns, though they weren¡¯t readily deployable.

    As Isaac approached, the abomination roared again and extended its arms wielding swords. But Isaac started to deflect each of those numerous weapons.

    ng, schreech, thump, crunch!

    The sounds of bones and flesh being sliced were chilling, but Isaac¡¯s expression remained unchanged.

    ¡°Incredible¡­¡±

    Hesabel eximed in amazement at Isaac¡¯s swordsmanship.

    But Isaac¡¯s actions were all calcted.

    ¡®As expected, its durability is weak.¡¯

    In the game, abominations are powerful but are considered HP tanks, meaning they have abnormally high health points but extremely low defense.

    Since their form changes freely, their muscles must be flexible, and their skeletal structure has to be malleable. It¡¯s impossible for them to have hard shells. This made Isaac slicing off limbs as easy as cutting through tofu.

    Moreover, this narrow space was a trap for Isaac, but it also prevented the abomination, with itsrge mass, from pressing down effectively. If the abomination had attacked from all directions instead of straight on, Isaac would not have been able to counterattack as he did.

    All that remained was an enraged novice swordsman with nearly infinite HP.

    Isaac was not going to be defeated by that.

    ¡®The only concern is¡­¡¯

    Isaac thought, stepping over the sshing blood and flesh at his ankles.

    His worry was running out of stamina or the corridor eventually filling up with the abomination¡¯s flesh and blood, drowning him. Isaac had no way to stop that. He needed to move on to the next phase, but that required certain conditions to be met.

    At that moment, a will was transmitted to Isaac from Zihilrat.

    [Kyle Hendrake found.]

    A smile crept onto Isaac¡¯s lips. Thest condition had been fulfilled.

    The abomination, whether it disliked Isaac¡¯s smile or was furious at being unable to injure him while only being attacked, roared even more fiercely and charged.

    ¡°Now, there are no witnesses left in this castle.¡±

    ws, looking as though they were made from crushed armor, protruded from the abomination¡¯s body. Instead of swinging his sword or dodging, Isaac extended his fist as if to meet it head-on.

    Bang! The sound was deafening, and what was crushed was the fist of the abomination wrapped around the w.

    Tentacles sprang from Isaac¡¯s hand, quickly wrapping around the abomination¡¯s fist and crushing it as if smashing a m. As the insides burst out, the abomination roared in pain and fear but pushed forward excitedly.

    ¡°Ooooooh!¡±

    At that moment, the abomination¡¯s piercing thoughts invaded Isaac. Contact with its flesh allowed the swirling will and thoughts inside the abomination to connect with Isaac.

    ¡®Foolish! You fool!¡¯

    ¡®Devour him! Absorb him!¡¯

    ¡®Make him one of us!¡¯

    The abomination had no intention of crushing Isaac. Instead, it nned to absorb him into its body through contact.

    That was the abomination¡¯s most dangerous ability.

    And as if the creature¡¯s thoughts were being realized, the tentacles that had crushed the fist dissolved quickly, healing over the wound. The skin covered the injury, and the bleeding stopped.

    The abomination began to envelop Isaac with its entire body, intending to absorb him.

    However, Isaac looked at the abomination without any sign of disturbance.

    He had already received the message he was waiting for.

    [¡®Abomination¡¯ has been devoured.]

    [¡®Devouring¡¯ perk increases consumption efficiency.]

    [¡®Physical Fusion (Temporary)¡¯ perk acquired.]

    [Blessings remain until digestion.]

 Chapter 66:

    Chapter 66:

    Chapter 66. The Prophet of the Red Flesh (2)

    Among the tumultuous selves within the abomination, the strongest was undoubtedly Owen¡¯s.

    Owen, in his quest to control the body, had a simple objective: to kill Isaac. Yet, he focused all his efforts on moving strategically.

    The most crucial part of his strategy was to corner Isaac and then make direct contact.

    ¡®To fuse his body with mine, making him mine.¡¯

    It was a crueler option than killing, and at the same time, a blissful choice to turn the knight of the Holy Grail, whom he admired, into his own. So when Isaac countered with a punch, Owen was puzzled but delighted at his foolishness.

    Even as Isaac¡¯s tentacles burst from his hand, tearing and crushing Owen¡¯s, he sneered.

    All that remained for Isaac was to dissolve into the countless flesh of the abomination.

    ¡°Ooooooh!¡±

    The abomination had now swallowed Isaac¡¯s left hand, moving up to his elbow. Even as he was being consumed, Isaac calmly observed it.

    Owen disliked the unshaken gaze but thought it wouldn¡¯t matter once he had swallowed that face too.

    The realization that something was amiss came with a powerful hunger.

    ¡®I¡¯m hungry.¡¯

    It was an odd sensation.

    A bizarre thought had intruded into a will that should have only felt rage and murderous intent. Even while absorbing dozens of people and Isaac.

    Despite having absorbed up to Isaac¡¯s shoulder, Owen was taken aback by the ferocious hunger.

    Then, Isaac spoke.

    ¡°Eating just anything can cause trouble.¡±

    The abomination¡¯s body writhed.

    Suddenly, Owen realized his body wasn¡¯t moving as he intended. His once massive body, which could push walls aside, had significantly shrunk.

    Something was terribly wrong.

    The abomination instinctively tried to pull back. It was a will to survive, overpowering the intent to kill.

    Owen, enraged, tried to control the abomination to attack Isaac again but realized it was impossible. The abomination could neither flee from Isaac¡¯s shoulder nor continue the attack.

    Only a more intense hunger was felt.

    Only Isaac knew exactly what was happening inside the abomination. He felt the hunger he hadn¡¯t satisfied for a long time slowly being filled.

    ¡®Autophagy.¡¯

    The phenomenon where cells consume their own proteins or unnecessaryponents for energy.

    That was happening inside the abomination.

    The abomination thought it had absorbed Isaac and his tentacles, but in reality, the opposite was true.

    The tentacles had taken control away from the abomination, initiating autophagy.

    Merely to make a daily meal.

    ¡°Aaaaaah!¡±

    Owen realized this toote and twisted his body trying to escape. But control over the abomination had alreadypletely passed to Isaac.

    The wills of dozens of humans were easily overpowered by a transcendent and intense will controlling them.

    It was simpler, more violent, and fundamental than the will the abomination possessed.

    An intense hunger that couldn¡¯t be satisfied or filled.

    Owen screamed, attempting to escape.

    But he couldn¡¯t.

    Because the mouth he could scream with was already consuming itself.

    Soon, the abomination was torn to pieces by the tentacles and absorbed piece by piece.

    It took less than 10 minutes for Isaac topletely autophagy the abomination.

    Isaac was disproportionately swollenpared to the amount he had consumed, so the actual amount was less than it appeared.

    But having devoured to this extent for the first time in months, he felt quite full.

    Then, a message appeared to Isaac.

    [¡®Abomination¡¯ has been devoured inrge amounts.]

    [¡®Devouring¡¯ perk increases consumption efficiency.]

    [¡®Physical Fusion¡¯ perk fully acquired.]

    ¡®Full acquisition of physical fusion capabilities¡­ This is more profitable than expected.¡¯

    Isaac felt almost grateful to Owen. Experimentally moving his tentacles, he realized that while he might not be able topletely dissolve an opponent¡¯s flesh into his own like the abomination, he could mold parts of the tentacles into specific shapes.

    ¡®Attaching the teeth or horns of a beast could be useful.¡¯

    With Owen dealt with, it was Ra¡¯s turn.

    That¡¯s when Isaac looked behind and thought he was indeed facing a formidable opponent.

    Only a wet bloodstain remained where Hesabel should have been waiting.

    ***

    The dawn before sunrise was pitch-dark.

    Dragged to the castle walls by Ra, Hesabel could see Ra¡¯s red eyes even in the dark. The red eyes, shining with multiple pupils, were clear even in the darkness.

    The Prophet of the Red Flesh was looking at her through Ra.

    Ra, with an unnatural creaking motion, grabbed Hesabel¡¯s neck and lifted her. Ra¡¯s body was already dead, but it moved because the Prophet of the Red Flesh was controlling every part of it.

    ¡°Do not feel self-contempt. It¡¯s inevitable, considering your origins.¡±

    Despite Ra¡¯s words, Hesabel couldn¡¯t help but feel self-contempt.

    While Isaac was devouring Owen, Hesabel heard whispers. It was the voice of the Prophet of the Red Flesh.

    She forcibly squeezed the blood flowing through Hesabel to activate the Red Prayer. Hesabel¡¯s will to resist was left as nothing more than a handful of blood; she couldn¡¯t refuse. Her power was too weak to surpass an angel¡¯s divinity.

    ¡°All the blood flowing in your body is from Gulmar. And the blood of Gulmar flows from the Red Chalice. Even if your heart goes astray, will the red blood turn blue?¡±

    ¡°Your tongue¡­ is long.¡±

    Despite Hesabel¡¯s response, Ra just looked at her expressionlessly. It wasn¡¯t so much ack of expression as ack of energy to change it. Hesabel forced a sneer.

    ¡°Afraid of losing flesh?¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    The Prophet of the Red Flesh tightened her grip on the neck, but not enough to break it or k**l. Despite being capable at any moment.

    ¡°Flesh is your power to tread upon the earth! But to ept the flesh, you must worship the Red Chalice¡­ You¡¯re trying to entice me again!¡±

    Hesabel blurted out what the Prophet of the Red Flesh was thinking. As she said, Ra contained her flesh, which held a power iparable to what was given to Owen.

    It didn¡¯t matter if Ra¡¯s body, a mere shell to be discarded, died.

    The issue was losing this flesh forever.

    Therefore, the Prophet of the Red Flesh nned to abandon the dying body of Ra and switch to Hesabel.

    Ra¡¯s lips curled as if squeezed.

    ¡°Displeased?¡±

    She whispered softly.

    ¡°You know the significance of bing my proxy. Your deviation can be dismissed as a brief wander. The House of Gulmar will be exempt from the responsibility of losing the relic and will wee you greatly for consuming the flesh of an angel. And also.¡±

    Ra opened her mouth wide. Inside her jaw, almost reaching her throat, a massive piece of flesh appeared. The pulsing flesh emitted a sweet smell that was headache-inducing.

    ¡°You know how delicious this is.¡±

    An addictive scent.

    The heaven promised by the Red Chalice is a heaven of sheer, peripheral pleasure.

    It is not a temple filled with light and truth, nor a battlefield filled with glory and honor alongside Elil. Just simple pleasure, tempting and appealing to everyone.

    Hesabel, of course, knew what kind of afterlife the Red Chalice proposed.

    Eating this flesh meant a guarantee of heaven.

    ¡°ept it.¡±

    No matter how firmly Hesabel decided to follow Isaac, this temptation was like dangling drugs in front of an addict.

    Hesabel looked at the approaching flesh with trembling eyes, her gaze fixed on it.

    Finally, the flesh touched her lips, but Hesabel clenched her eyes shut and did not open her mouth. Even with the taste of blood on her lips, her refusal to move was miraculous for vampires.

    The Prophet of the Red Flesh was again enveloped in a strange emotion.

    Something was being missed.

    Hesabel¡¯s reaction, in her eyes, was bizarre, almost as if it defied thews of nature.

    A bad premonition flickered through the mind of the Prophet of the Red Flesh.

    ¡®Surely not¡­ but it can¡¯t be.¡¯

    Regardless, the Prophet of the Red Flesh nned to force the flesh into Hesabel¡¯s mouth, thinking that once she tasted it, she woulde back to her senses no matter how strongly she resisted the Red Chalice.

    It was as addictive as the most potent drug in the world.

    Ra¡¯s hand forcibly pried Hesabel¡¯s mouth open and shoved the flesh inside.

    Hesabel grimaced in pain but could not resist. It was over.

    Once the flesh was in her mouth, there was no spitting it out.

    The Prophet of the Red Flesh prepared for the red ceremony to rece her proxy.

    ¡°Why are you feeding weird stuff to our kid?¡±

    That was until a voice came from behind.

    ***

    Isaac had followed Hesabel¡¯s energy up to the castle walls.

    What he saw was Ra forcibly inserting flesh into Hesabel¡¯s mouth.

    Isaac recognized it as the body of the Prophet of the Red Flesh that had been transnted into Ra.

    Ra¡¯s body was bizarre. It was like an insect preparing to molt, with skin stretched long and bones protruding or sunken at will.

    It was as if a strange monster was awkwardly hiding within the shell called Ra.

    ¡°Did Ie at a bad time?¡±

    Ra stared at Isaac with sunken eyes and, after a long look, finally spoke. Her voice was trembling for some reason.

    ¡°Finally, we meet¡­ Knight of the Holy Grail. I¡¯ve heard the rumors, but¡­¡±

    ¡°Rumors of my honor and deep faith? Or that I¡¯m a formidable fighter who cuts down bad guys?¡±

    ¡°Rumors that you¡¯re quite handsome.¡±

    Expecting something worthy of an angel¡¯s attention, Isaac found thement underwhelming. However, Ra murmured as if it was of utmost importance.

    ¡°The rumors don¡¯t do you justice. This is¡­ Hmm. Not a look that belongs to a human. Are you of Elil¡¯s lineage, or did some angel recklessly sprinkle their blood around?¡±

    Isaac simply smiled at the implication of being a Nephilim.

    It wasn¡¯t surprising that the angelic Prophet of the Red Flesh recognized it. After all, the Red Chalice itself was of Nephilim origin.

    Ra tilted her head, looking at Hesabel.

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. If I had known you were of divine descent, my strategy might have been different¡­ But I prefer not to engage in face-to-facebat like this.¡±

    ¡°You certainly don¡¯t seem like the type for fair y.¡±

    Ra chuckled lowly.

    ¡°You might think you have the upper hand now. But do you think expelling an angel is a trivial matter? To be honest, erasing someone like you wouldn¡¯t be difficult.¡±

    It wasn¡¯t a lie.

    The power of an angel is immense.

    Although the Prophet of the Red Flesh wasn¡¯t the type to fight with her own power, if she started to exert her real strength, Isaac, who had just begun his journey as a Knight of the Holy Grail, would undoubtedly find it difficult topete.

    She believed that.

    ¡°But¡­ that¡¯s not my preferred method. Nor is it what the Red Chalice desires.¡±

    The Red Chalice preferred secrecy. The Prophet of the Red Flesh was no different.

    ¡°So, I have a proposal.¡±

    ¡°A proposal? Even now, you think to solve problems with words, truly a master of conspiracy. You¡¯re proposing a deal to a Knight of the Holy Grail?¡±

    ¡°I can tell you¡¯re not a typical holy knight. A normal one wouldn¡¯t be having this conversation with me. I see the ambition within you.¡±

    Isaac gestured with his chin for her to continue, smiling.

    ¡°I¡¯ll give you immediate victory, honor, and power. Here, I¡¯ll be the one defeated, and you¡¯ll emerge as the victor. And I¡¯ll leave behind some of my power for you. You¡¯ll gain everything without needing to fight.¡±

    ¡°And the cost?¡±

    ¡°For now, this child will suffice.¡±

    She said, cing her hand on Hesabel¡¯s nape.

 Chapter 67:

    Chapter 67:

    Chapter 67. The Prophet of the Red Flesh (3)

    Will you oppose the angel at the risk of your life, or will you simply pass on the free subordinate and easily im victory?

    ¡®To leave a part of one¡¯s power must mean to leave a piece of flesh.¡¯

    With that, it was possible to seed in the quest proposed by the nameless chaos. Moreover, this was not a bad proposal for Hesabel either. Only the prophet of the red flesh would taste humiliation and loss, but she surely did not want to engage in reckless gambling.

    A simple negotiation would result in a win-win.

    Isaac pretended to ponder for a moment before smiling.

    ¡°Shall we swear upon our faith?¡±

    Ra also smiled twistedly.

    ¡°Good. I will show you something that can serve as a token.¡±

    Ra¡¯s mouth opened, revealing a piece of red flesh. A sweet scent wafted towards Isaac, even from some distance away.

    Ra picked it up with her fingers and said,

    ¡°Take this. It is a part of my body, flesh containing the blood of the red chalice.¡±

    Isaac lowered his sword and slowly approached Ra. Ra remained still, her hand on Hesabel¡¯s head. The moment Isaac reached out to pick up the piece of red flesh from Ra¡¯s hand, Ra¡¯s body moved as if it had been waiting.

    Pffft! The flesh burst, spraying blood all over Isaac.

    Covered in blood, Isaac felt a sting as if he had been bitten by a bee and was flung backward. He inspected the area where the blood had sttered on him. Blisters swelled up as if poisoned but quickly subsided.

    It must have been a dreadful poison. An ordinary person¡¯s skin could burst and melt away in an instant from such a toxin.

    But to Isaac, it was just a slight sting.

    ¡°Huh¡­ How, how did you?¡±

    The problem, rather, was Ra.

    She red at Isaac with her face split from chin to forehead. Her pronunciation was odd due to her tongue being split in two.

    Isaac watched the blood on Ra¡¯s sword burn away and said,

    ¡°Didn¡¯t trust each other after all? What now?¡±

    The moment Ra burst her blood, Isaac also swung his sword with his left hand as if he had been waiting.

    The sword, entangled with tentacles, moved in an entirely unexpected angle, slicing Ra¡¯s face. He had intended to cut her body in two, but this was the best he could manage.

    [How are you still standing after being covered in that blood!]

    A booming voice erupted, not from Ra but from the prophet of the red flesh.

    ¡°Inside my body flows something no less toxic than your blood.¡±

    The blood Ra had spread contained the poison of the red chalice, a divine miracle.

    However, Isaac had devoured the gue god, Zihilrat. If it was about resistance to divinity, especially to gue, he had plenty. Moreover, having devoured an abundance of abominations and possessing regenerative abilities, it was natural that Ra¡¯s poison didn¡¯t affect him.

    Isaac had no intention of chatting with Ra for long. He immediately kicked off the rampart and ran out.

    ***

    Ra iled her body irritably and swung her arm. A long wound appeared on her arm, and blood sprayed out.

    It seemed like she was making the same attack, but what emerged from the scattered blood was a massive barrier of thorns. It wasn¡¯t just a barrier for blocking; it aggressively grew towards Isaac, aiming to stab him.

    [Dare you, a human, oppose an angel!]

    ¡®As if you¡¯re not even the main body.¡¯

    Isaac wanted to scoff at the red thorns brushing past his face, but honestly, it was not easy.

    Rotten or not, a strategist like the prophet of the red flesh was still an angel.

    With Isaac in his current state, winning was almost impossible unless the right conditions were met.

    Shrriiiikk!

    Following Ra¡¯s right arm, her left arm also tore, spilling blood generously over the rampart. The thorn barrier now entangled the rampart like a bush, ceaselessly rushing towards Isaac. Instead of rushing in recklessly, Isaac calmly struck down the thorns while waiting for an opportunity.

    [Surely that¡¯s not all the strength you have!]

    The Prophet of the Red Flesh screamed and drove Isaac with a thicket of red thorns. She knew that Isaac was hiding something.

    That mysterious power had defeated Hesabel and the enhanced Owen.

    Convinced that she could also meet the same fate, the Prophet of the Red Flesh did not let her guard down and attacked with utmost caution.

    Unless Isaac revealed his true power, she had no intention of using all her strength.

    But she was starting to feel anxious.

    The sky was brightening. The sunrise was dyed due to the mountains, but the sun would soon rise.

    The night belonged to the Red Chalice, but the day belonged to the Codex of Light.

    [If you¡¯re not going to use all your strength, I¡¯ll crush you right there!]

    Crack! The thorn bush, rooted firmly on the rampart, suddenly swelled up. A massive thorn spear, more like a battering ram than a spike, surged towards Isaac.

    Realizing he had no choice, Isaac¡¯s left hand moved strangely.

    Tentacles sprouted from his hand, entangling and tearing at the thorn spear while he swung his sword.

    Isaac¡¯s swordsmanship: The Red Thorn¡¯s wounds, torn by Eight Branches, allowed Isaac¡¯s tentacles to burrow in instantly, splitting the massive thorn spear along its grain. Bursting tentacles scattered in a blood-red spray over Isaac.

    The Prophet of the Red Flesh shivered at the sight.

    [That¡¯s it! That was it! Your true nature is¡­!]

    Groaning in pain, she expressed her disgust and anger towards Isaac.

    Now everything made sense.

    The submission of Hesabel, Owen¡¯s defeat, and the fact that Isaac, despite being a Grail Knight, never once used the miracles of the Codex of Light.

    [Was there still an unrotted corpse left!]

    Isaac could not understand her iprehensible emotions, nor did he want to. The Prophet of the Red Flesh focused all her attention on him, spreading her shoulders.

    Now that Isaac had revealed his nature, it was her turn to exert all her power.

    [I didn¡¯t know among those with heads there was one who carried that seed! And to think that seed was hiding under the lighthouse keeper?]

    Instead of engaging in conversation, Isaac approached Ra. The Prophet of the Red Flesh gathered her power, watching Isaac¡¯s tentacles closely. But Isaac didn¡¯t use them. Instead, he retracted the tentacles back into his body.

    He raised his sword high.

    Seeing him not use the tentacles as if choosing to confront her without them, the Prophet of the Red Flesh was momentarily lost for words.

    [What? What the¡­?]

    At that moment, she felt a piercing pain in her eyes. The morning sun had risen.

    With the pain as if being burned, she frowned but did not make the foolish mistake of losing focus on Isaac. Instead, she pretended to be caught off guard and closed her eyes.

    As expected, Isaac charged with the morning sunlight.

    The Prophet of the Red Flesh, in turn, raised spikes from the blood spilled on the rampart. She scoffed at Isaac¡¯s rash movement. Did you think I wouldn¡¯t know you were waiting for the morning sun? Even if the sun rose, someone like you¡­

    But why did he retract the tentacles?

    The moment the Prophet of the Red Flesh wondered this, she realized her spikes couldn¡¯t prate Isaac¡¯s armor, bending or bouncing off instead.

    ¡®What?¡¯

    The Prophet of the Red Flesh was astonished at the sight and then btedly heard some voices.

    ¡°Look there! It¡¯s the Grail Knight!¡±

    Due to her focus on Isaac, she hadn¡¯t noticed the area still hidden in the shadow of the valley below Hendrake Castle.

    There, Count Reinhardt and his soldiers were standing by, watching as Isaac had instructed them earlier.

    The Prophet of the Red Flesh felt her powers weaken amidst those countless gazes.

    The Red Chalice encouraged conspiracy, seduction, and assassination. Naturally, her powers were strongest in darkness and secrecy. The revealing light weakened all her powers.

    Exposed in this bright dawn and the gaze of many witnesses, she could not exert even half of her original strength.

    The Prophet of the Red Flesh desperately unleashed her thorns in a final struggle. But Isaac¡¯s body moved in a peculiar way.

    After absorbing the abomination, Isaac had learned a new technique, the advanced swordsmanship that Owen had used.

    Isaac¡¯s body moved in two directions at once. The thorns pierced one, but the other was unstoppable.

    The de shed in the sunlight.

    Thunk.

    Before Ra could react, the sword de swiftly sliced through her neck. The Prophet of the Red Flesh realized her neck was severed even before the de made contact.

    A burning pain was felt.

    With his eerie purple eyes, Isaac looked at Ra and spoke, his voice carrying the scent of blood.

    ¡°Shall we see who really ends up crushed like a mosquito?¡±

    ***

    Ra staggered and leaned against the rampart. In that moment, her head tilted and rolled off her shoulders, tumbling down the wall. Her neck made a hollow sound as it followed.

    The soldiers of Reinhardt, waiting below the rampart, fell silent at the sudden turn of events. However, they soon realized everything upon seeing Ra¡¯s head rolling to their feet, the Hendrake Castle entangled in red thorns, and Isaac standing victoriously atop the rampart.

    ¡°Woah! The Grail Knight! The Grail Knight!¡±

    ¡°Sir Isaac, the Grail Knight, has in the witch!¡±

    Before the soldiers, an old legend hade to life.

    A corrupt lord, an evil witch, and the Grail Knight who emerged to mete out justice.

    Of course, there was no evidence of the lord¡¯s corruption or Ra being a witch, but they had deeply recognized Hendrake Castle as an enemy, especially after Owen¡¯smanded knightly assault.

    Thus, Isaac, who subdued the castle single-handedly, was the epitome of a legendary hero.

    ¡°Hurray for the Grail Knight! Long live Sir Isaac, the Grail Knight!¡±

    Cheers praising Isaac echoed from here and there. Listening to the sounds, Isaac felt something warm rising within him.

    He quickly recognized it.

    ¡®Faith?¡¯

    A faith iparable to when he was preaching to the Barbarians was seeping in. The pure adoration of the people seemed to infuse him with strength. Of course, he had performed feats when using the ¡°Lighthouse of the Watcher¡± in Seor, but honestly, he hadn¡¯t received praise then.

    Back then, he had merely sobered them up and reprimanded them.

    ¡®Indeed, showing once is better than preaching a hundred times.¡¯

    Perhaps that¡¯s why gods bestow miracles upon their followers.

    However, Isaac felt the soldiers¡¯ praise was premature. Even he hadn¡¯t sheathed his sword yet. He gripped his sword even tighter than before and stared straight ahead.

    The real battle, as he saw it, was just beginning.

    Ra, despite her severed neck, stood askew without falling.

    Blood spurted incessantly from the stump of her neck.

    Soon, the severed throat began to flutter like lips, emitting a voice.

    ¡°It¡¯s already toote.¡±

    A lowughter that made the air tremble was heard.

    [What did you expect by severing a neck?]

    Ra¡¯s skin now moved on its own like a deted balloon. Something inside was merely wearing the skin, moving independently of any bones, muscles, or joints it might have had.

    Soon, the skin peeled away, and a red form began to twist and crawl up from within. Ra¡¯s bodyy sprawled like a broken doll. Shedding its skin and pouring out sacred blood, what emerged was a bizarre figure nearly 3 meters tall.

    It had human arms and legs but no torso.

    Three arms, three legs, and three indescribable appendages constantly switched roles.

    It wasplicated yet dignified, grotesque yet beautiful.

    This was the angel representing the divinity of the Red Chalice on earth.

    The Prophet of the Red Flesh.

 Chapter 68:

    Chapter 68:

    Chapter 68. The Prophet of the Red Flesh (4)

    ¡°Ra is no longer here. She has already been invited to the banquet of Red Chalice.¡±

    The Prophet of the Red Flesh stood on tiptoes, her massive body supported in such a manner as she looked down on Isaac with an air of arrogance. Well, ¡°looked¡± might not be the correct term since she had no eyes.

    Only limbs that writhed and twisted were present.

    ¡°And this ce shall be the new banquet hall.¡±

    A tongue, seemingly impossible to belong to any mouth, slithered out, licking the surroundings.

    Isaac let out a shallow groan at the sight of the angel, something he was actually seeing for the first time. The pressure was of apletely different dimensionpared to the ancient gods that had dwindled in power. It was a stark reminder of the vast gulf between angels and humans, and this was just a fraction of her full power.

    The cheers from below the rampart had by now died down, and the soldiers were engulfed in a heavy silence. They too were feeling the anomaly that had appeared before them with their entire being.

    All the soldiers looking at the Prophet of the Red Flesh smelled blood. Some of them realized that blood was streaming down from their noses. Merely by revealing her form, the Prophet of the Red Flesh had shocked and misled the people.

    It would be no trouble at all for the Prophet of the Red Flesh to turn them all into lumps of meat if she so desired.

    However, the Prophet of the Red Flesh made no rash movements.

    ¡°What do you say, Grail Knight? The morning sun is not only a problem for me.¡±

    Isaac¡¯s strongest weapon was his tentacles. But as she said, in this morning sunlight, Isaac couldn¡¯t use his tentacles in front of so many people. To reveal his tentacles would be to add another monster to this scene.

    He didn¡¯t want to reveal his true nature and then rush into a mutual destruction either.

    As Isaac remained motionless, the Prophet of the Red Flesh let out a sinisterugh. Having already revealed her true form, she moved her body as if it didn¡¯t matter to her.

    With a bang, as if performing ballet, she flexibly swirled her leg, and with a loud noise, Isaac was pushed backward. Isaac noticed that the Sword of Judgment was furiously burning before gradually starting to dissolve. The miracle imbued in the Sword of Judgment couldn¡¯t withstand the pressure and was being eroded away.

    On the other hand, only a hairline wound appeared on the foot of the Prophet of the Red Flesh. Even that quickly healed. The Prophet of the Red Flesh seemed to hesitate in her attack towards Isaac as she noticed her red skin drying in the sunlight.

    ¡°It seems I can¡¯t enjoy this too much¡­¡±

    The Prophet of the Red Flesh internally clicked her tongue.

    Revealing her true form carried risks. Just by exposing this form in reality, she was expending a tremendous amount of power, and if her body now took damage, it would directly affect her true form in the afterlife.

    The Prophet of the Red Flesh thought it was time to switch bodies.

    She already had a body prepared for the switch.

    Tap, tap, tap.

    Her footsteps were quiet yet elegant as she walked on her tiptoes. It was a very slight sound but clear enough to be heard by everyone in the vicinity.

    Suddenly, the Prophet of the Red Flesh was standing next to Hesabel.

    She was convinced that there was no one present who could stop her now. Unless there was a real priest or pdin capable of performing miracles, the faux pdin before her and the onlookers below were just scraps of meat.

    Isaac, having lost even his only weapon, the Sword of Judgment, watched her without moving.

    Convinced that it would be safe to switch into Hesabel¡¯s body, the Prophet of the Red Flesh contorted her form, preparing to merge with Hesabel.

    Certainly, the body of Hesabel, an heiress of the Ducal family of Gulmar, would ept her power far better than Ra, a mere servant.

    [¡­?]

    However, time passed and the possession did not ur.

    The moment the Prophet of the Red Flesh felt perplexed, she realized what the problem was.

    [You wretch!]

    The Prophet of the Red Flesh forcibly grasped Hesabel¡¯s face and pried her mouth open. Instantly, a piece of flesh, untouched and pristine as if never chewed, appeared from within.

    Hesabel then spat out the piece of flesh.

    ***

    Plop.

    The flesh of the Prophet of the Red Flesh fell to the ground like trash.

    For the Prophet of the Red Flesh, this was an inconceivable sight.

    Since the inception of the Red Chalice, anyone who tasted the flesh had been unable to reject it. This was not something that could be done through sheer willpower alone.

    Ironically, the prophet of the red flesh felt awe towards Hesabel.

    As soon as Hesabel spat out the flesh, she drew a dagger and stabbed the prophet of the red flesh. Of course, an ordinary dagger could not harm her.

    However, the dagger that stabbed Hesabel¡¯s side was not an ordinary one.

    The prophet of the red flesh froze, staring at the dagger lodged in her leg.

    The very relic that Hesabel had sought to reim.

    But it was the same relic that Isaac had handed over to her just before crossing the wall.

    It was the Rite of Division.

    [Aaaaah!]

    For the first time, a scream that had never been heard before burst forth from the mouth of the prophet of the red flesh.

    The Rite of Division killed Elil, a living god, and allowed her to be reborn as a true deity. This fact did not make the dagger significantly valuable in itself.

    Had it been Ra¡¯s body, which the prophet of the red flesh was merely borrowing, stabbed, it would not have suffered much damage.

    But for a mythological being, especially an incarnation of faith itself like an angel, it was a different story.

    The prophet of the red flesh suffered a more fatal blow than any attack she had faced before.

    The prophet of the red flesh screamed in agony as her head felt as if it were on fire. She violently moved her body, flinging away the Rite of Division and Hesabel. However, she could not escape the gushing blood and burning pain.

    Her body started to weaken rapidly.

    ¡®I must escape.¡¯

    For the first time, the prophet of the red flesh felt a sense of crisis. The fear of death approached. Of course, even if she died here, her celestial essence would be safe, but if she did not escape quickly, the wounds from the Rite of Division would leave hard-to-heal scars.

    However, Isaac had no intention of letting her go easily.

    A sharp murderous intent.

    The prophet of the red flesh noticed Isaac rushing towards her in just three steps.

    In Isaac¡¯s hand was the rusty Sword of Judgment.

    [With just that thing!]

    sh! The prophet of the red flesh¡¯s arm and Isaac¡¯s sword collided. Surprisingly, the de slightly prated her skin. The reason the Sword of Judgment had worked so well was because it had been imbued with miracles. But now, there were no miracles left in the sword. It was even worse than an ordinary sword with rust on it.

    She might have considered it if it involved tentacles, but such a weapon was inadequate to y an angel.

    She expected Isaac to be flung away or shattered along with his sword.

    But that did not happen.

    Rumble!

    A loud noise echoed as the sword gradually prated deeper into the prophet of the red flesh¡¯s skin. With just one collision, in the blink of an eye, as if it had been struck by the sword tens, hundreds of times.

    Her already weakened and cracking skin began to break and tear apart furiously as Isaac¡¯s sword invaded. The prophet of the red flesh didn¡¯t understand what was happening but realized it was dangerous and tried to retreat.

    But the de, as if gnawing, followed along with her arm.

    ¡®So it works.¡¯

    Isaac smiled triumphantly at this sight.

    When he killed the god of wealth, Golruwa, in Seor.

    At that time, Isaac had to draw Golruwa deep into himself because he had no means to attack him. Isaac thought he needed to find an attack that would work even against a conceptual being. But for Isaac, who could not handle miracles, it was a difficult task.

    Eventually, Isaac found a solution through swordsmanship.

    Advanced swordsmanship physically manifests the form of one¡¯s intent.

    It was clear that Isaac¡¯s advanced swordsmanship, ¡®Isaac Swordsmanship,¡¯ manifested in the form of tentacles.

    He seeded in opening the next stage of Isaac Swordsmanship by consuming the flesh of Owen and Baxter.

    Isaac Swordsmanship: de Tearing.

    Isaac¡¯s sword vibrated fiercely. Inside the de, invisible to the eye, tiny tentacles rotated, whipping down on the prophet of the red flesh¡¯s body like a saw.

    Numerous saw-like tentacles steadily tore and devoured her body.

    Isaac had imagined a chainsaw.

    A chainsaw made of tentacles and teeth.

    It contained the nameless chaotic divine power that Isaac had gathered.

    Although it was a faint power, when it attacked hundreds, thousands of times, it exerted tremendous strength.

    Crash, Bang!

    [Aaaaah!]

    With the sound of breaking, the arm of the prophet of the red flesh was severed. Toote, the prophet of the red flesh tried to push Isaac away using her other limbs.

    At that moment, Isaac activated the Lighthouse of the Watcher as if he had been waiting.

    A radiant halo wrapped around Isaac¡¯s head.

    Even the dawn that had just risen paled under the halo above Isaac¡¯s head.

    The light emanating from the Lighthouse of the Watcher turned the thorn bushes wrapping the wall into ashes, breaking them down. The unclean and wrongful were expelled, and only the upright and righteous were established.

    Isaac was at the center of it all.

    The soldiers of Hendrake Fortress regained their senses as if their minds had been cleansed, and the soldiers of Reinhardt witnessed the birth of a new myth. Hesabel was horrified as she saw the approaching de devouring her flesh.

    ¡°The Lighthouse of the Watcher? Why is there another one in this era¡­?¡±

    She murmured, confused.

    No matter the power of the Lighthouse of the Watcher, it cannot influence an angel itself.

    For an angel made of faith itself, different rules apply. However, it made it impossible for the prophet of the red flesh to strengthen herself further.

    Within the sh, Isaac¡¯s sword, gaining momentum, cut her down more rapidly and powerfully.

    Crack, snap, crunch.

    It was closer to devouring than shing. Like cutting down a tree, the limbs of the prophet of the red flesh were chopped off. Amidst the disturbing noise, the prophet of the red flesh lost five limbs in an instant before being flung away.

    ***

    ¡°What, this is, impossible¡­¡±

    The fallen prophet of the red flesh gasped for breath. She struggled to breathe, like a fish out of water, her throat drying up beyond her skin.

    She had revealed her true form for too long. If she couldn¡¯t find a body to possess, she would dry up and d*e like a fish out of water.

    Staggering, she btedly sought her discarded flesh. If she could force anyone to consume it and change bodies now, she might have time to escape.

    [Aaaaah!]

    But what she saw then was Hesabel politely picking up the flesh and offering it to Isaac. The prophet of the red flesh, in ast desperate effort, charged at Isaac.

    ¡°No, no!¡±

    But Isaac confidently grasped the flesh in front of her eyes. The tentacles in his left hand swiftly emerged, instantly crushing the flesh.

    The scream of the prophet of the red flesh horrifically echoed over the walls.

    After finishing his feast, Isaac slowly walked forward.

    The prophet of the red flesh, with her few remaining limbs, tried to maintain her bnce but began to copse one by one. She had neither the will to fight nor the strength left.

    She barely maintained her form with a shred of pride.

    It was only a matter of time before she, unable to find a body to possess or flesh to use as a medium, vanished.

    ¡°You may think you have won.¡±

    Even as she crumbled, the prophet of the red flesh whispered a curse.

    Though she was fatally wounded, this was only a fraction of the power of an angel, and the essence would grind its teeth in the afterlife, vowing revenge.

    Angels rarely reveal their true forms unless summoned or appearing as messengers of a deity. Therefore, most deaths end with the demise of an agent or a possessed individual. Especially for the prophet of the red flesh, who enjoyed conspiracies, this kind of death was a first.

    ¡°Do you¡­ do you even understand what you have done? You will regret this day in the future.¡±

    Her words were not mere bravado or a warning. An angel is an agent of God¡¯s will. Powerful in itself, if damaged enough to harm the essence, there will surely be consequences.

    Unless protected by a strong divine blessing, it could threaten one¡¯s life.

    But Isaac, with a smirk, looked at the prophet of the red flesh.

    ¡°Do you think all this happened by chance?¡±

 Chapter 69:

    Chapter 69:

    The prophet of the red flesh did not respond.

    She was merely substituting her shock with silence. In her mind, the pieces of the puzzle were btedly starting to fit together.

    The moment the attack began, Hesabel¡¯s assassination, Zihilrat¡¯s infiltration, the soldiers of Reinhardt who had been waiting in advance, the fact that she had been attacked solely with swordsmanship without using tentacles, and the revtion of her true form only to face the Rite of Division and the Lighthouse of the Watcher¡­

    In the end, it was Isaac¡¯s victory, keeping his cards hidden until thest moment.

    Of course, there were many ws and aspects that were hard to ept. But the prophet of the red flesh was starting to feel a vague fear of Isaac only btedly.

    This fact fueled countless imaginations about Isaac.

    ¡®Fear stems from a rich imagination¡­ especially if it¡¯s someone who thinks a lot.¡¯

    Isaac deliberately remained silent, looking at the prophet of the red flesh. He could have boasted about how he had targeted the prophet of the red flesh, but he chose not to.

    It was better for her to imagine and fear on her own.

    After all, it wasn¡¯t as if there had been no coincidences.

    However, Isaac was already preparing for the moment he would meet the prophet of the red flesh again. The damage inflicted now might only amount to a lost hand for her, but the psychological shock and fear would be etched in her mind.

    As Isaac approached, the prophet of the red flesh let out a scream-like outcry.

    [Do not think you have won! The arrangements of the Red Chalice are deep and wide. Her followers are everywhere! You have only toppled one of them!]

    ¡°Such clich¨¦ words.¡±

    [If I return¡­!]

    Listening to the prophet of the red flesh ranting, Isaac thought that angels are truly hard to kill. If she focused only on ranting, she could spew nonsense for a hundred days even in that state.

    But Isaac still had a weapon left to properly discipline the yet to be sober prophet of the red flesh. He picked up the dagger, the Rite of Division, that the prophet of the red flesh had flung away.

    The prophet of the red flesh shuddered as if convulsing at the sight.

    [You, you!]

    ¡°Yes. The needle to sew your mouth shut.¡±

    [Wait¡­!]

    The prophet of the red flesh writhed, trying to escape. She attempted to evaporate her body btedly, trying to dissolve faster, but Isaac¡¯s hand was quicker.

    Crunch. The moment the Rite of Division burrowed into her flesh for the second time, a scream that seemed to tear the sky apart rang out.

    Crash¡­

    Red fragments shattered like porcin, making a loud noise. With this, the prophet of the red flesh waspletely banished from the earth.

    Isaac pocketed the Rite of Division.

    It was over. With this, Hendrake Fortress hadpletely turned.

    Then, footsteps were heard.

    The soldiers of Hendrake Fortress, who hade to their senses, were opening the city gate. The soldiers of Reinhardt were looking up at Isaac from below the city walls. What expression they had was not visible.

    Cheers? Fear? Or shock?

    They had witnessed everything. They saw the prophet of the red flesh reveal her true form, be sliced by Isaac, and finally fall into ruin. Apletely different atmosphere flowed among the knights and soldiers who had witnessed this scene from the previous cheers.

    Finally, one of the knights at the front knelt before Isaac.

    Starting with him, the other soldiers also slowly knelt down. The residents who hade out upon hearing themotion, the soldiers of Hendrake Fortress who had btedlye to their senses, and even Hesabel, who had made the greatest contribution, all knelt in silence before Isaac.

    Isaac felt faith filling up inside him.

    It was not the cheers towards a hero.

    It was worship towards an awe-inspiring being.

    You consumed the ¡®Red Flesh¡¯.

    Due to the ¡®Dead God¡¯s Intestine¡¯ perk, your consumption efficiency increases.

    The power of miracles from the ¡®Red Chalice¡¯ faith increases permanently and significantly.

    The power of miracles increases permanently.

    You have acquired the ¡®Red Worship¡¯ perk. Your charm among the masses increases.

    The blessing remains until digested.

    After the situation was resolved,

    Isaac was watching the cleanup at the Hendrake fortress from atop the walls.

    Reinhardt¡¯s soldiers had subdued the soldiers of Hendrake fortress and preserved the evidence. The soldiers of the Hendrake fortress were already weakened and in mental disarray, so there were no difficulties. In fact, they were in need of care.

    Isaac was sorting out the results of the battle.

    ¡®First, as a result of consuming the Red Flesh¡­ the power of the Red Chalice faith miracles has significantly and permanently increased. This is a better oue than expected.¡¯

    Numerically, the power of the Red Chalice faith seemed to have increased by about 20%. While this might seem ambiguous, considering that Isaac¡¯s miracles of the Red Chalice faith, ¡®Red Prayer¡¯ and ¡®Bloodsucking¡¯, could both be used frequently, it was a significant increase.

    The other miracles had strengthened by about 10%. Simply consuming had brought such results, which was a great benefit.

    Additionally, the ¡®Red Worship¡¯ perk was the only nonbat ability gained this time. True to the angel of deception and conspiracy, the effect of consumption seemed to increase the ability to sway the masses.

    This perk was useful to Isaac in many ways.

    However, the real achievement was the reward received forpleting a mission bestowed by the nameless chaos.

    [¡®Chaos Reward for Consuming the Prophet of Red Flesh¡¯ has been granted.]

    [One of the miracles of the ¡®Nameless Chaos¡¯ faith can be strengthened orbined.]

    Strengthening andbining miracles.

    This was an exceedingly rare reward from ¡®Nameless Chaos¡¯. Depending on the oue, it could be ssified as beyond S-grade, into EX-grade. However, it was also a somewhat troublesome reward for Isaac.

    ¡®The problem is that there are almost no known miracles rted to the faith of the nameless chaos, so it¡¯s unpredictable what the result of thebination will be¡­¡¯

    Of course, a rough prediction was possible. Combining A and B would result in AB or BA, not somethingpletely unrted like C. However, whether it would be efficient was the issue. It was ambiguous whether a knife for ughtering chickens would be one for ughtering cows.

    But it was much better than not doing it at all.

    ¡®I¡¯ve already decided what to enhance.¡¯

    The primary consideration was ¡®Touch of Chaos¡¯. Tentacles, needless to say, were Isaac¡¯s most frequently used skill. It was best to enhance it whenever the opportunity arose. The problem was what other ability tobine it with.

    ¡®It¡¯s not an urgent issue, so I¡¯ll have to think about it more.¡¯

    It would be nice to see the results beforehand, but it seemed unlikely that anybination would result in a disappointing oue. Isaac decided to ponder a bit more before choosing.

    And there were many other issues that needed attention at the moment.

    ¡°Sir Isaac of the Holy Grail.¡±

    As Isaac was contemting, Reinhardt approached.

    Upon locking eyes with Isaac, Reinhardt respectfully bowed and saluted.

    While he had always been respectful, it had been more a matter of courtesy towards Isaac¡¯s background in the order, nothing more. But now, he behaved as if he were a subordinate.

    Isaac felt a brief surge of pride but couldn¡¯t indulge in it for long.

    He had to y the role of a humble Grail Knight.

    ¡°Do not do this, Count Reinhardt.¡±

    ¡°It is not for me to say, Sir Grail Knight. How could I possibly¡­¡±

    Of course, Reinhardt had also witnessed Isaac defeating the prophet of the Red Flesh. Seeing an angel, which one might only see once in a lifetime, being defeated by a mere human body was something out of a myth.

    That event convinced Reinhardt that Isaac was an agent or perhaps a candidate angel sent by the scripture of light. Isaac liked Reinhardt¡¯s respectful attitude, but he did not want it to hinder their work.

    He quickly got to the point.

    ¡°How is the cleanup going?¡±

    ¡°Yes, all the bodies inside the castle have now been dealt with. The passages are still being repaired, but the main routes are finished. And we¡¯ve found the survivors who were imprisoned in the dungeon¡­¡±

    Reinhardt trailed off. He had hurried to find Isaac before the work was fullypleted because of this matter. Isaac knew what it was about but pretended not to know, waiting for the response.

    ¡°We¡¯ve found Lord Kyle Hendrake. He was in a state of shock, as if he had lost his mind.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s regrettable.¡±

    The disposition of Kyle Hendrake was in a grey area.

    He embezzled funds, attacked soldiers and knights of neighboring lords, brandished a sword at a Grail Knight, and involved suspected heretics Ra and Owen¡­ It was a situation where several heads would not be enough to pay for the crimes.

    However, the problem was that the ¡®Prophet of Red Flesh,¡¯ an archangel of the Red Chalice, had conspired within his domain.

    All of this could be excessively excused as ¡®falling for the temptation of the Red Chalice and being manipted.¡¯

    How could a mere human stand against an archangel of conspiracy and strategy?

    Of course, even so, the lord¡¯s responsibility was not small. But who could decide how much he should be held ountable? Reinhardt, who had holed up in an inn? The inquisitors who arrivedte to the scene?

    The person who could make that decision was Isaac, who had observed and resolved the entire situation.

    And Isaac had deferred judgment on Kyle.

    Of course, Isaac had already decided how to make use of Kyle, but for the sake of his reputation, it needed to be revealed a bit more leisurely.

    ¡°Understood. Since Kyle Hendrake is an important witness, please ensure he is well protected. I will continue to investigate the heretical evidence rted to Ra.¡±

    The inquisitors would soon arrive.

    Until then, Isaac needed to uncover what Ra had been scheming here.

    ***

    Isaac searched Ra¡¯s room.

    However, there was hardly any result. Isaac didn¡¯t have high expectations.

    The Red Chalice is a faith of conspiracy and secrets. It would be more surprising if the ¡®Prophet of Red Flesh,¡¯ an archangel among them, left any trace. Having prepared for a siege in the castle for days, any evidence that could be found had likely been destroyed.

    There were suspicious ingredients, but far from decisive evidence.

    ¡®There must have been a reason for her to hole up here¡­¡¯

    The Immortal Order and the Red Chalice Club had designated Hendrake¡¯s domain as the ground for birthing a new god. Though Kalsen Miller had disappeared, there must have been a clear reason for establishing a base here. Isaac knew the secret but didn¡¯t know where it was.

    It¡¯s like knowing the contents of a treasure without knowing its location.

    ¡®And then there¡¯s the matter of awakening the ancient gods besides the new one. Is that rted?¡¯

    The Immortal Order¡¯s actions weren¡¯t just about birthing a new god.

    They were also awakening the ancient gods.

    It¡¯s unclear what they hoped to achieve by awakening these less-than-angelic beings, but the Red Chalice Club was assisting in this effort. Perhaps Ra had established a base here to prepare for the revival of an ancient god.

    Upon focusing on Ra¡¯s purpose and reviewing the materials, some connections emerged.

    Among the documents found in Ra¡¯s room were distribution materials for Loracus, including some familiar names: Seor and Ariet, along with several border regions.

    Recalling his gaming days, Isaac recognized that more than half of these areas contained sanctuaries.

    ¡®Were they creating ry points for the revival of ancient gods? The good locations definitely would have helped¡­¡¯

    Perhaps they used Loracus distribution to facilitate the movement of the Wachia hunters. However, it was uncertain if this warranted the direct involvement of an archangel.

    But with this information, Isaac could predict where the revival of ancient gods was being prepared. Not all these areas would be involved in the revival, but collecting such information could help infer their goal.

    ¡®And the Immortal Order¡­¡¯

    No matter how cunning the Red Chalice Club was, it was insignificant in scale and powerpared to the Immortal Order. Isaac had witnessed the Order attempting to hatch an ancient god at the Ariet Monastery. The Wachia hunters were merely guards and couriers then.

    ¡®Remembering the start of the game, most ancient gods were treated as field bosses or named monsters. They were at best a source of experience points, but why revive them?¡¯

    As he pondered, Isaac realized he might be thinking about it all wrong.

    ¡®What if the focus wasn¡¯t on reviving ancient gods from the start, but on the experience points?¡¯

    Isaac realized a new possibility.

    ¡®What if someone was preparing to defeat the resurrected ancient gods to absorb their power?¡¯

 Chapter 70:

    Chapter 70:

    The Ancient God XP Theory.

    Isaac found this hypothesis quite usible. Indeed, in the game, ancient gods failed to influence the main course of events, serving merely as sources of decent XP and items. It was tougher to defeat the ¡®Prophet of Red Flesh¡¯, who only utilized a fraction of his power, than to defeat genuine gods like Golruwa and Zihilrat.

    ¡®So, was I unintentionally consuming the ancient gods instead of Kalsen Miller?¡¯

    Kalsen Miller had failed in his attempt to be a god. It would make sense if he had been hunting ancient gods or absorbing their powers as groundwork for his ascension. After all, the ancient gods still possessed divinity worth absorbing.

    And Isaac had been intercepting this process.

    ¡®I wonder how the Immortal Order will feel about this.¡¯

    For Isaac, it was like enjoying a feast prepared by others, but he couldn¡¯t help worrying about potential repercussions.

    Not that Isaac could afford to be picky. The ancient gods were a reliable source of experience, crucial for his rapid growth. Interfering with their ns, he would inevitably encounter the masterminds behind the conspiracies.

    ¡®The best course of action seems to be to keep doing what I¡¯ve been doing.¡¯

    Gaining confidence that he was on the right path, Isaac felt a sense of relief. He still needed to understand why Ra specifically targeted Hendrake¡¯s domain, thinking that Kyle might provide some insights.

    Knock, knock.

    There was a knock on the door. Isaac knew who was there and chose not to respond.

    ¡°Did you call for me?¡±

    After defeating Ra, Hesabel¡¯s demeanor towards Isaac became even more respectful.

    ¡°There¡¯s been a lot ofplex issuestely, hasn¡¯t there, Hesabel?¡±

    Hesabel simply bowed her head.

    Now, Hesabel wouldn¡¯t harbor any more illusions about Isaac lying (though Isaac never imed such things himself) about being under orders from the Red Chalice or being the Prophet of Red Flesh.

    Ra had revealed the whole truth to her, even tempting her to return under the angel¡¯s protection to Wachia. Isaac had no right to stop her if she chose to go back.

    But Hesabel chose to stay by Isaac¡¯s side, renouncing her lifelong faith and her family.

    It was puzzling if it was merely out of fear.

    ¡°I honestly thought you¡¯d choose Ra¡¯s side.¡±

    Hesabel looked at Isaac with wide eyes.

    ¡°Did you wish for that?¡±

    ¡°No. But when I found out you were taken, I thought it was inevitable.¡±

    The rite of division given to Hesabel was meant for an attack when the ¡®Prophet of Red Flesh¡¯ revealed his true form. At that moment, the Prophet would be fully focused on Isaac, likely underestimating or ignoring Hesabel¡¯s attack.

    Isaac hadn¡¯t imagined she¡¯d use it while being a captive. He even thought she wouldn¡¯t be of any further help once captured, especially because of the Red Flesh.

    ording to the game, the flesh and blood served at the Red Chalice¡¯s banquet were said to induce pleasure and addiction worse than drugs. Without the protection of a saint or an angel, rejection was deemed impossible.

    Yet, Hesabel had held it in her mouth and even spat it out after a while, a feat even the ¡®Prophet of Red Flesh¡¯ couldn¡¯t understand.

    Isaac didn¡¯t believe Hesabel had endured it because she possessed the patience of a saint.

    ¡°How could you endure that, Hesabel?¡±

    ¡°Well¡­¡±

    Hesabel hesitated to answer, seemingly afraid of something.

    But Isaac roughly guessed what she might say.

    ¡°Is another angel protecting you?¡±

    Hesabel was no saint.

    Then, another angel¡¯s intervention was the only exnation.

    ***

    Isaac headed to the dungeon of Hendrake fortress, with Hesabel leading the way.

    When asked if another angel had intervened, Hesabel, though flustered, couldn¡¯t deny it. Lying to Isaac, who could see right through her, was pointless. Instead of making excuses, she led him to the dungeon, saying she could exin everything there.

    They encountered several traps or seals along the way, all of which Hesabel skillfully disarmed.

    ¡°Have you been here before? You seem quite adept.¡±

    ¡°These aremon trap spells used by Wachia hunters. Honestly, they¡¯re a bit outdated.¡±

    ¡°Is this where Ra was scheming?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    Isaac felt a familiar sensation. It was simr to what he had felt in the basement of the Ariet Monastery.

    Soon, he understood what that familiar feeling signified.

    At the end of a long underground staircase was a shiny new altar with a ritual circle drawn in red dye. Next to the altar stood arge mirror reflecting Isaac and Hesabel¡¯s full figures. For a moment, Isaac wondered if this was a sanctuary, but something felt off.

    He quickly realized what was missing: faith.

    ¡°Were they trying to create a sanctuary here?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    The voice that immediately responded was not Hesabel¡¯s but came from elsewhere. Isaac, who had not sensed anyone else¡¯s presence, reflexively reached for his sword, but there was no one else there.

    Then, with a thud, Hesabel copsed. She didn¡¯t appear dead but seemed to have fallen asleep as if switched off.

    ¡°They tried to create a sanctuary here. It would have made things much easier. If they had brought in more money through Loracus, they might have seeded, but unfortunately, it seems they failed.¡±

    Since the voice continued, Isaac could soon identify its source.

    It was therge mirror beside the altar. Inside it, the reflection of Isaac was speaking independently.

    Approaching the bizarrely chattering reflection, Isaac recognized the characteristics of a certain type of angel.

    The Red Chalice¡¯s messenger, voice.

    ¡°Mirror Handmaiden?¡±

    An entity known to appear before proud kings, emperors, high priests, and heroes, leading them into delusion and downfall.

    It was another angel of the Red Chalice, the Mirror Handmaiden.

    ¡°Ah, you recognize me quickly. So the rumors are true, a noble Grail Knight impervious to charm?¡±

    The Mirror Handmaidenughed as if amused, but Isaac looked at her skeptically. Despite her appearance identical to his own, it was known that the Mirror Handmaiden took a female form.

    ¡°You keep getting tangled with the Red Chalice, they must be very interested in me?¡±

    ¡°The interest has grown, to be precise.¡±

    Facing the Mirror Handmaiden brought a different kind of tension for Isaacpared to his confrontation with the Prophet of Red Flesh. While the Prophet schemed to expand the Red Chalice¡¯s influence, the Mirror Handmaiden¡¯s role was to convey the god¡¯s voice and enforce its will.

    Thus, the Mirror Handmaiden¡¯s interest was as good as the Red Chalice¡¯s itself.

    This meant the Red Chalice had interfered with its own angel¡¯s work.

    ¡®Why?¡¯

    ¡°Why would the Red Chalice interfere with its own angel?¡±

    ¡°Because more important matters have arisen.¡±

    ¡°More important matters?¡±

    The Mirror Handmaiden, smiling through the mirror, gently caressed the cheek of the unconscious Hesabel. Isaac felt ufortable seeing his own form touching Hesabel but did not show it.

    ¡°The n of the Prophet of Red Flesh did not align with the greater will of the Red Chalice¡­ Let¡¯s leave it at that. To rify, the Red Chalice has no intention of being hostile towards you.¡±

    Isaac did not want to be manipted without understanding the other party¡¯s intentions. He quietly activated his Eyes of Chaos. There was no one around to notice, so he could unleash its power fully.

    As Isaac¡¯s eyes turned purple, the Mirror Handmaiden¡¯s smile deepened.

    [¡ö¡ö ¡ö¡ö(EX+)]

    [upation: ¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö(¡ö)]

    [Abilities: ¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö]

    However, all information appeared as if cked out.

    Was it because she was an angel, or was there a spell concealing the information?

    Yet, Isaac was not deterred. If anything, he was pleased; it was clear that his ability could affect even angels.

    Isaac concentrated all his power into the Eyes of Chaos.

    Thin tendrils began to seep between his eyelids, his eyes turning a deeper shade of purple as tears of blood streamed down. As the ink-like concealment began to clear, revealing the hidden information, the Mirror Handmaiden¡¯s smile vanished.

    Suddenly, with a crack, the mirror fractured.

    ***

    The image of the Mirror Handmaiden shattered into pieces. As Isaac hesitated on where to focus, a chill air wrapped around the cer.

    ¡°You¡¯re quite persistent, Grail Knight. Don¡¯t you think a softer approach to conversation would be better?¡±

    The Mirror Handmaiden, scattered across broken mirror fragments, grumbled.

    ¡°Would you have answered if I asked for a dialogue?¡±

    ¡°Secrets and deception are part of our job. But there¡¯s no need to keep things hidden to the point of creating such a tense atmosphere. As I said, the Red Chalice has no intention of hostility towards you.¡±

    ¡°Then speak.¡±

    Challenged by Isaac¡¯s arrogance, the Mirror Handmaiden twitched her lips but began to speak.

    ¡°I thought it would be better for the heir of the Gulmar family to stay by your side.¡±

    ¡°Hesabel?¡±

    ¡°Means there are high hopes for you.¡±

    The Mirror Handmaiden muttered almost like a sigh.

    ¡°How significant do you think the influence of the Red Chalice is? There¡¯s no ce other than Wachia that openly worships the Red Chalice. But it¡¯s not due to ack of power or faith. We simply don¡¯t prefer to expand openly like you do.¡±

    ¡°What does that have to do with anything?¡±

    ¡°Our preferred method is¡­ being the chancellor to an emperor, the concubine to a wealthy man, the advisor to a general, the second-inmand to a hero, the disciple of a saint. We parasitize firmly established systems to secretly spread pleasure and doctrine. Thanks to this, even with just the small kingdom of Wachia, we can exert influence all over the world.¡±

    Isaac seemed to understand. The Red Chalice Club might only have the kingdom of Wachia as its territory, but its influence was far from insignificant. Like Ra, they seduced heroes and kings and manipted them from the shadows.

    Isaac then realized what the Mirror Handmaiden was trying to convey.

    Isaac turned to look at Hesabel.

    ¡°So, Hesabel¡­ she¡¯s your straw attached to me?¡±

    ¡°If you prefer to skip over nicer expressions like the second-inmand to a hero, the concubine to a wealthy man, the advisor to a general, the disciple of a saint, then yes. It¡¯s not entirely incorrect.¡±

    The Mirror Handmaiden said with augh.

    ¡°Of course, there¡¯s no need to doubt her loyalty. It was entirely Hesabel¡¯s will to choose you. We just let her betrayal slide and generously released her.¡±

    In essence, the Red Chalice believed Isaac would achieve greatness. And if Isaac truly became something akin to a hero or saint as they anticipated, Hesabel, who was with him from the start, would naturally receive significant favor. She was already being treated like an apostle.

    Isaac had already gleaned fragmentary information through the Eye of Chaos. It was easy to tell that the Mirror Handmaiden¡¯s words contained no lies.

    The issue was whether or not to ept this situation.

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you stop the Prophet of Red Flesh when she attacked me?¡±

    ¡°Tell the Prophet of Red Flesh to just give up and scram? Ha. Let me ask you the opposite question. Is that what you wanted, Grail Knight?¡±

    Isaac remained silent.

    ¡®A stupid question.¡¯

    The Prophet of Red Flesh had already tried to flee. Yet, Isaac had doggedly pursued her and devoured her.

    ¡°So¡­ you took a risk with your own angel getting hurt to make me stronger and to nt Hesabel by my side? What if I had died?¡±

    ¡°That would have been a disappointing oue.¡±

    The Mirror Handmaiden spoke leisurely.

    ¡°Not all of the Red Chalice¡¯s arrangements are sessful. Many heroes and potential kings have died in absurd idents. If you had died there, it just means that was the extent of your capability.¡±

    Her absurd im was that by providing a perilously difficult trial, they offered an opportunity to be stronger. Indeed, had Isaac not consumed the Prophet of Red Flesh, he would have missed a chance to grow stronger.

    At that point, Isaac realized something.

    ¡°Does the Prophet of Red Flesh still know nothing?¡±

    The Mirror Handmaid smiled broadly.

    ¡°Yes. She will continue to be your trial. We¡¯ll keep our rtionship with you hidden, and at the same time, she¡¯ll remain a treasure chest that makes you even stronger. Not only that. We have much more to offer than you can imagine.¡±

    Heroes grow stronger each time they ovee a trial.

    Isaac felt perplexed by this absurd revtion but thought it was okay.

    ¡®Not bad.¡¯

    Having Hesabel by his side meant he could continue to utilize the support of the Red Chalice.

    The scheme of the Red Chalice to willingly use even their own angels as disposable pawns was astonishing, but then again, that might just be how deities think.

    Regardless of the reason, the Red Chalice wished for Isaac¡¯s growth and sess. And all they wanted in return was for Isaac to side with them upon his sess.

    Being unaware is one thing, but knowing all this, Isaac had no reason to refuse.

    There was just one thing that bothered him. Isaac crossed his arms and looked at the woman in the mirror.

    ¡°Does my identity not matter? The Prophet of Red Flesh really hated it.¡±

    The Red Chalice dislikes the Nameless Chaos. In fact, all faiths dislike it. Even deities without personalities are not supposed to react favorably to it, ording to the setting.

    Isaac didn¡¯t think the Mirror Handmaiden was unaware of his identity. After all, the Prophet of Red Flesh had witnessed it.

    However, the Mirror Handmaid spoke calmly.

    ¡°Double alliances aremon for us. You¡¯re not fully trusting us either.¡±

    Watching one¡¯s back is everyone¡¯s responsibility. Or rather, they¡¯re definitely nning to betray Isaac if the Nameless Chaos bes prominent.

    ¡°Fine. If one condition bes clear, I¡¯ll ept your offer.¡±

    But Isaac had no intention of being caught off guard.

    ***

    Hesabel awoke.

    She found herself in a room where the walls seemed to pulse with veins and muscles. At the center of the room, a heart thumped dominantly on an altar. Despite the bizarre surroundings, Hesabel felt an instinctive sense of calm.

    She could sense that this sanctuary was created by Isaac, for Isaac.

    ¡°You¡¯re awake.¡±

    Isaac, having retracted his tentacles, approached. Hesabel understood that he had finished discussing matters with the Red Chalice¡¯s side and resumed her subservient posture. The decision of what would happen next rested entirely with Isaac.

    Isaac looked down at Hesabel before speaking.

    There was one question he had to ask before deciding to keep her by his side.

    ¡°Why did you choose to stay by my side, Hesabel?¡±

    It wasn¡¯t for family, honor, or pleasure, was it?

    Hesabel could have had all those if she hadn¡¯t turned her back on the Red Chalice. But right now, Isaac had nothing to offer her.

    Hesabel seemed troubled by the question, but then she spoke.

    ¡°I¡¯m not entirely sure, Sir Isaac. But¡­¡±

    ¡°But?¡±

    ¡°I want to be on the winning side. That¡¯s what I¡¯ve been taught all my life.¡±

 Chapter 71:

    Chapter 71:

    Stick with the winning side.

    Isaac smiled.

    It was a response worthy of a passing grade.

    ¡°Well learned.¡±

    That was the end of it.

    There was no need for phrases like, ¡°You will forever be my subordinate,¡± or ¡°You chose your side well.¡± Isaac was confident that Hesabel would not betray him if she acted as she said.

    Isaac was confident in his victory.

    Hesabel, somewhat awkwardly, got up and asked.

    ¡°Did you meet the Mirror Handmaiden?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m curious what form your Mirror Handmaiden took¡­¡±

    Isaac tilted his head in confusion at Hesabel¡¯s question.

    ¡°Why do you ask?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve heard that the Mirror Handmaiden takes on the appearance of the person it¡¯s speaking to, but makes itself much more beautiful or impressive to fuel the person¡¯s pride or vanity. But since you¡¯re already perfect, I can¡¯t imagine how the Mirror Handmaiden could have improved upon that.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    Isaac was about to say that it hadn¡¯t changed at all but stopped, worrying it mighte off as narcissistic.

    Hesabel looked around. The iplete sanctuary that the Prophet of Flesh was working on had now beenpleted into a nameless Sanctuary of Chaos. The Sanctuary of Chaos, unfamiliar to Hesabel, was bizarre, yet she somehow felt at peace.

    ¡°The Mirror Handmaidenpleted the sanctuary.¡±

    A lot of power and effort must have gone into even an iplete sanctuary, and Isaac hadpletely taken it over.

    Suddenly, Isaac asked Hesabel, as if he had just thought of it.

    ¡°I heard there was also a n to raise an ancient god here.¡±

    He spoke as if raising livestock, but in Isaac¡¯s mind, ancient gods were no more than livestock to be raised and eaten.

    ¡°Livestock? Livestock, huh¡­¡±

    Isaac suddenly had an idea.

    ¡°Instead of hunting down ancient gods raised by others, why not just raise and eat my own? That seems more efficient and straightforward.¡±

    However, it was just a fleeting thought; actual implementation would be difficult. It had taken decades to raise just one Zihilrat. Of course, Zihilrat had been suppressed under the influence of the Codex of Light in the monastery¡¯s basement.

    Still, knowing it was possible to raise ancient gods, it seemed worthwhile to research using Zihilrat.

    Coincidentally, the owner of this very ce where Isaac had settled was gone.

    ¡°I really should take over here.¡±

    He had initially nned to take over part of the domain, but his intentions changed after experiencing a series of events. Rather than risking it being coveted by others, it was better if he managed it himself. He thought it best to take over the whole thing.

    Of course, a humble Grail Knight should not covet a domain.

    But his thoughts changed after defeating the Prophet of Red Flesh.

    ¡°A few farms won¡¯t bnce the books.¡±

    As he absorbed the sanctuary, Isaac¡¯s senses expanded from Hendrake Castle, as they had from the Ariet Monastery. And he discovered something astonishing.

    This ce was unusually saturated with divine power. It was a prepared holy site, where it wouldn¡¯t be strange for a miracle to ur at any moment. Such an environment could not have naturally formed.

    Someone had clearly prepared this ce long ago.

    ¡°Whoever it was, thank you.¡±

    Isaac was determined to take over this domain.

    But to do so, he would have to ovee several obstacles.

    Some timeter, a group of horsemen entered the domain of Hendrake.

    Isaac had known of their arrival even before they reached, thanks to the three crows that began to circle above Hendrake Castle. These were the people from the Order of the Codex of Light, finally arriving as Reinhardt had mentioned. Knowing that crows precede the arrival of an Inquisitor to scout the area, Isaac felt a sense of familiarity.

    ¡°But it seems bigger than I heard?¡±

    Isaac observed the group approaching Hendrake Castle from the front gate.

    Knights heavily armed with white silver armor and various weapons. Though they bore no emblems indicating their affiliation, there were as many as five pdins among them.

    The pdins, upon encountering Isaac, stepped aside without exchanging greetings.

    An old priest of high rank appeared from behind the pdins. A young cleric, who seemed to be assisting the priest, spoke up.

    ¡°May the Light guide your path. Are you Sir Isaac, the Grail Knight?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s me.¡±

    Isaac responded modestly, and the young man looked back at the old priest happily. The priest mumbled something inaudible with his wrinkled face, but the young cleric ryed his words.

    ¡°This is Bishop Juan Liard. It¡¯s an honor to meet you.¡±

    ¡°Bishop?¡±

    Isaac was surprised but did not show it. He had expected a high-ranking clergy toe, but a bishop was a position involved in the election of the pope, one of fewer than ten throughout the entire Empire.

    Only then did Isaac see the group in a new light.

    Pdins and a bishop, two assistant clerics, and at the back, individuals in sleek attire with hoods deeply pulled over their faces¡ªlikely Inquisitors.

    ¡°They came prepared for war.¡±

    With fivepetent pdins and the miracles of a bishop, such a rural castle could easily be conquered. They had probably brought only the essential forces, knowing Reinhardt¡¯s soldiers were already there.

    ¡°Are they going this far just to collect a debt?¡±

    It seemed excessive, even for a debt collector. Sending just one or two pdins would have been enough to make Kyle submit, without needing a bishop. However, there was a hint of disappointment and bitterness on the faces of the pdins.

    Isaac understood the situation from their expressions.

    ¡°The appearance of the Prophet of the Red Flesh must have caused a rush to add more personnel.¡±

    Of course, the Prophet of the Red Flesh was swiftly defeated by Isaac upon appearing. Therefore, the news they received must have been that a celestial being appeared and was immediately subdued by a Grail Knight. But it was a hard story to believe, and not amon urrence, so they had no choice but to bring a carefully selected team.

    The appearance of a celestial being is often more about the aftermath than the appearance itself.

    The young cleric spoke again.

    ¡°We have much to hear from you. But first, may we enter and talk?¡±

    ¡°The castle is not yet in order.¡±

    Bishop Juan murmured something again, and the young cleric conveyed his words.

    ¡°It¡¯s alright. Bishop Juan requests it. Having participated in the Dawn Wars, the bishop is not ufortable sleeping in harsh conditions. He wishes to see the remnants of the unholy presence first.¡±

    Seeing no reason to refuse, and if they were more interested in celestial subjugation than debt collection, it was advantageous, if not neutral, for Isaac.

    ¡°Very well. Please,e in.¡±

    Isaac gestured for them to enter and walked ahead into the castle gates. But the group paused momentarily. The bishop sped his hands and began reciting a prayer. Soon, a soft glow enveloped Isaac and the group.

    ¡°The Lighthouse of the Watchers¡­ they¡¯re worried about curses.¡±

    Isaac immediately recognized the miracle. It could block weak curses from other faiths and even reduce the effects of stronger curses by half. Celestials often left dreadful curses upon their death, so it was a necessary precaution.

    The issue was that Isaac had already spent two days in the castle, and Reinhardt¡¯s soldiers were working inside, believing in Isaac¡¯s miraculous power to ward off curses. However, such a rtionship of trust was not established with the bishop and pdins.

    ¡°There have been no issues.¡±

    ¡°One can never be too careful.¡±

    The young cleric smiled gently.

    Isaac was not displeased. He thought of it as a precaution, like wearing a mask in a potentially diseased area.

    Leading with the pdins, the bishop¡¯s group entered the castle. Following them, Inquisitors, carrying or wearing crows on their shoulders or heads, approached.

    They watched Isaac closely as they passed by, but one of them did not. An Inquisitor at the back flicked a finger just before passing by Isaac.

    Looking up, Isaac saw a familiar face.

    It was Isolde Brant.

    ¡°As expected.¡±

    Isaac had already known Isolde woulde. He had felt a familiar presence among the crows.

    She gave him a small smile and sent a hand signal. It meant they would talk separatelyter.

    ***

    The bishop and pdins were diligently investigating something on the wall where Isaac had fought the Prophet of Red Flesh. Isaac wasn¡¯t included in their immediate investigation. They preferred to hear his testimonyter.

    ¡°I feel like I¡¯m under suspicion here.¡±

    While the investigation proceeded, the Inquisitors were interviewing the soldiers about what had happened. Isolde was doing the same, but she was conversing with Isaac instead.

    Isolde chuckled at Isaac¡¯sment.

    ¡°Think of it not as suspicion but as documentation. It¡¯s rare to directly witness and gather data on a celestial being from another faith. Especially a record of subduing one, it¡¯s indeed a noteworthy event in history.¡±

    Isaac decided to be more understanding. He would have been skeptical too if he heard that a Grail Knight, barely six months into his role, had defeated a celestial being.

    ¡°Lucky there were many witnesses.¡±

    Isaac had fought in front of people partly to weaken the Prophet of Red Flesh, but also hoping his feat would be witnessed and testified by others.

    Isaac knew from Gebel¡¯s words that his position could be precarious. The core of the Light¡¯s Codex harbored individuals with sinister intentions, and Isaac himself was not exactly of noble lineage, being a Nephilim and harboring an evil god named Nameless Chaos. If someone discovered his identity, maintaining a good reputation was vital for his survival.

    This was also why Isaac couldn¡¯t freely use his tentacles.

    ¡°So, did you really defeat the Prophet of Red Flesh? You didn¡¯t just make it retreat?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t believe it¡­¡±

    Isolde murmured as if groaning, then hastily added as if making an excuse.

    ¡°Oh, I don¡¯t mean I don¡¯t trust you. It¡¯s just that it¡¯s an astonishing event. The celestials from the Red Chalice Club are known to flee without hesitation, so there are no records of them being defeated.¡±

    Defeating a celestial being and subduing one are different. The former ismon, but thetter means dealing damage even to the essence, potentially wounding the faith itself.

    ¡°That¡¯s why the bishop and the pdins are here, to verify if the entity that appeared was truly the Prophet of Red Flesh, or if it was mistakenly believed to have been subdued after fleeing.¡±

    ¡°And yet, the Inquisitors seem to be giving me quite the re.¡±

    ¡°Ah¡­ the situation unavoidably bes a bit more critical.¡±

    Isolde offered a vague smile.

    ¡°A bit more critical?¡±

    ¡°Yes. If it¡¯s true that the entity was indeed the Prophet of Red Flesh and you managed to subdue it single-handedly¡­ well.¡±

    Isolde seemed to hesitate whether to continue but then, unable to resist the temptation to share a spoiler, she went on.

    ¡°After confirming your sanctity, there are ns to canonize you as a saint.¡±

 Chapter 72:

    Chapter 72:

    ¡°A saint?¡±

    Isaac stiffened slightly.

    Isolde spoke as if it was a joyous asion, but to Isaac, it was anything but pleasant.

    It was fine to be a saint. Isaac had tried to hide that he was a saint not because he wasn¡¯t a saint as defined by the Codex of light, but because he was too young at the time. But now, he had the power to protect himself and was gaining fame. He was no longer in a position to be unterally influenced.

    However, being designated a saint was different. Although he still intended to be a star pdin who attracts as much attention as possible, bing a saint was taking things too far.

    A saint is someone blessed by God. However, what a saint does with their abilities is of no concern to God.

    But an saint is someone rmended by humans to God.

    In other words, it¡¯s not just humans who take notice but also the gods.

    Specifically, it¡¯s akin to putting someone in front of gods or angels and saying, ¡°Look at this person! Impressive, isn¡¯t it? Don¡¯t you feel like giving them a wing or something?¡± Naturally, attracting the attention of angels or gods could only be ufortable for Isaac, who had many secrets.

    ¡°Being designated as an saint could be advantageous, but it¡¯s inconvenient now.¡±

    While Isaac was deep in thought, a question suddenly crossed his mind.

    He said with a humble smile, ¡°Me, an saint? It¡¯s merely due to luck and divine favor. It¡¯s nothing more than a fluke. Bing a saint can¡¯t be that simple, can it?¡±

    ¡°Ah, I mentioned it earlier. I n to nominate you as a candidate for saint designation. Of course. It¡¯s not possible to designate someone as a saint on the spot.¡±

    Isolde¡¯s cheerful words brought relief to Isaac, but internally, he cursed. Bing a saint and being a candidate were entirely different things. A few saint candidates are mentioned each year from across the continent.

    But Isolde¡¯s words continued, pressing down on Isaac¡¯s relieved heart.

    ¡°However, defeating an angel is a great achievement, isn¡¯t it? If even the bishopes to verify it personally, it seems the church is quite determined.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡­¡±

    Isaac remained silent.

    Local nobles trying to elevate their reputation, or country bumpkins mistaking miracles for attempts to be dered saints, were not umon. Compared to them, Isaac had indeed aplished a real feat.

    But the real feat isn¡¯t what¡¯s important in being designated a saint.

    While sainthood is a matter of the divine, saint designation is a human affair.

    In other words, the political situation and the individual¡¯s stance are crucial.

    And Isaac tried hard to delve into the intricacies of this saint designation issue.

    ¡°The church is in a hurry to designate a saint? To use as a figurehead for the Dawn Army? To hold onto a usable pdin? No.¡±

    The most recent saint was Kalsen Miller, and his end was tragic. It was a loss of face for the church.

    Thus, there was a need to quickly cover up the tainted title of saint.

    And the reason for the rush was¡­¡­

    Suddenly, enlightenment came.

    ¡°The church is in a power struggle with the emperor.¡±

    The essence of the situation wasn¡¯t about whether Isaac was really suitable to be an saint.

    The Codex of light was looking for a counterbnce to Gerthonia¡¯s emperor, Waltzemer.

    ***

    Isaac began to contemte in his room while the church¡¯s people conducted their investigation, trying to sort out hisplicated thoughts.

    The Gerthonia Empire, moremonly known as the White Empire, reveres the Codex of light.

    Like other nations in this world, Gerthonia has a powerful religious authority, and even the royalty and nobility cannot easily oppose the church.

    ¡°But everything changed when the current emperor, Waltzemer, ascended to the throne¡­

    The current emperor, Waltzemer, is a saint.

    The brilliantly shining horns above his head, his unbelievable strength, and the powerful miracles bestowed upon him were evidence of this.

    Waltzemer ended the imperial internal power struggles in an instant after bing emperor, bringing bnce to a power structure that had been overly tilted towards the Codex of light.

    The Codex of light side was naturally discontented, but they couldn¡¯tin too harshly.

    ¡®After all, he¡¯s not just any emperor. He¡¯s a saint.¡¯

    A saint, to varying degrees, is an entity in which the will of God is embodied in flesh. The stronger their power, the stronger the divine will projected onto their body. And Waltzemer was an undeniable possessor of powerful miracles.

    The church could not easily go against such a tant manifestation of God¡¯s will.

    However, the emperor also could not excessively weaken the church¡¯s power. After all, the power he wielded was derived from his faith in the canon of light.

    Thanks to this, a peculiar bnce was the political structure of the current White Empire.

    ¡®In the midst of this, a Holy Grail Knight appears who has defeated the angel of the Red Chalice, and he might even be a saint? Whether he¡¯s a real saint or not, they¡¯ll definitely try to make him a saint.¡¯

    Isaac understood the situation and felt overwhelmed.

    The church wanted to use Isaac as a symbol to stand against the emperor.

    That meant he would have to be a breakwater facing checks and bnces from the emperor and the nobles.

    Surely he would rise in status, but if the nobles became desperate to find his weakness, his precious ¡®secret¡¯ could be exposed.

    Would the church actively protect Isaac? Unlikely. They would probably urge him to fight more, and if his secrets were discovered, they wouldn¡¯t hesitate to speak up.

    Above all, Emperor Waltzemer himself was the problem.

    ¡®Waltzemer¡­ could be considered the final boss of the side aligned with the canon of light.¡¯

    In the game context, the final boss of the Immortal Church is the Immortal Emperor Besherk. However, if Besherk is excluded as a god, then Karlsen Miller could be considered the final boss.

    On the opposite side, Waltzemer is the final boss for those aligned with the codex of light.

    Although Isaac had devoured Kalsen, it was a stroke of luck, and moreover, it happened before Kalsen had fully awakened as a grand warrior of the Immortal Church. Since Waltzemer was in his prime from the start to the end of the Dawn Army, Isaac would definitely find it difficult to approach him now.

    ¡®No, wait. If I use this situation correctly¡­?¡¯

    A smile appeared on Isaac¡¯s lips.

    The conflict between the church and the emperor. And himself at the center of it.

    ¡®Am I not holding the trump card?¡¯

    If he managed to walk the line between the two, he might gain much more than initially nned.

    Then, Isaac received a message.

    It was Hesabel.

    [It seems the central nobles have arrived.]

    Isaac¡¯s smile deepened. The perfect counterweight had arrived.

    ***

    Thudding sounds of horse hooves loudly beat against the entrance of Hendrake Castle. Hearing the noise, Reinhardt and his soldiers hurried to the front of the castle gates. The ones who came to a halt amidst a cloud of dust were a group of cavalrymen.

    ¡°Reinhardt? Count Reinhardt!¡±

    A woman with a distinctive build among the dust-covered cavalrymen jumped down. Her armor looked splendid, but it appeared worn and faded due to the tremendous amount of dust covering it.

    Reinhardt looked at the woman who had jumped down in surprise.

    ¡°Lady Lyon? Why so early¡­¡±

    ¡°Where is the Holy Grail Knight! He must still be inside, right?¡±

    The woman, showing no time for greetings, hastily sought Isaac first. She quickly approached Reinhardt, still in a daze, grabbed the shoulder of a knight standing by her, and shook him.

    ¡°Is it this person? This one? Or that one?¡±

    ¡°Here, this person.¡±

    Reinhardt introduced Isaac hastily before she could cause any rudeness.

    The countess looked at Isaac with surprise.

    She was not someone ustomed to hiding her thoughts.

    ¡°Amazingly young! And handsome, too!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m Isaac.¡±

    Isaac responded, feeling calm amidst the chaos. The woman finally collected herself and showed proper manners.

    ¡°I¡¯m Delia Lyon. Holy Grail Knight! I¡¯ve heard of your great achievements!¡±

    Delia grabbed Isaac¡¯s hand with her dusty hands and shook it frantically. She only realized her impoliteness after a moment and tried to wipe her hands on her clothes, but her clothes were just as dusty. It was only after a servant rushed over with a handkerchief that she could properly clean her hands.

    ¡°You seem to havee in a hurry.¡±

    Isaac had heard that people from the central region were supposed toe four dayster. It was already fast for someone from the order toe, but this seemed like they had run here risking their lives.

    Delia screamed with a twisted face.

    ¡°I had to! That senile old¡­¡±

    She stopped speaking only when a servant hurriedly pulled her back.

    Isaac couldn¡¯t understand how such a blunt noble could survive in the central region, where fierce secret battles were fought.

    ¡°Yes. That senile angel of the Red Chalice caused a disturbance here. Thank you foring so hastily for a righteous cause.¡±

    Isaac managed to smooth things over, and curiosity flickered in Delia¡¯s eyes. Isaac did not miss that look. He thought that maybe her earlier words were not a slip of the tongue.

    Maybe her apparent carelessness and openness were a deception.

    ¡°I had nned toe with enough time to recruit mercenaries and scout. But then I heard stories of an angel appearing, a Grail Knight defeating it, and priests from the order rushing over. So, I rushed over with just my escorts.¡±

    Isaac understood how she could arrive so quickly. If it wasn¡¯t for preparing a siege but justing by themselves, they could significantly shorten the timeframe. However, it was no ordinary distance, as the knights and nobles who apanied her seemed like they could fall off their horses and d*e at any moment.

    Delia was the only one energetically chattering.

    ¡°We shouldn¡¯t be standing here. Let¡¯s go inside! Have something to eat and also visit the ce where the angel was vanquished!¡±

    As Delia led the way, Reinhardt hurriedly followed.

    ¡°You should wash up first. And the angel wasn¡¯t killed, it was banished¡­¡±

    ¡°Same difference!¡±

    Isaac watched the knights disappear into the castle gates.

    ¡®Interesting.¡¯

    Both the priests of the order and the central nobles had initiallye to collect debts from Kyle Hendrake. But now, it seemed like that was no longer their main concern.

    Of course, they were confident in collecting the debt, so perhaps they were ready to move on to the next step, but it was clear that it wasn¡¯t their most important concern.

    ¡®First, let¡¯s see what I can gain from this situation¡­¡¯

    Bing a saint would be a concern forter.

    There are ways, after all.

    ***

    Hendrake Castle was partly damaged or yet to be cleaned, but most facilities were still usable.

    The meeting room, which also served as a chapel, was a prime example. Although Kyle was not particrly devout, the chapel seemed to have been spared the major influence of the Red Chalice.

    At that ce, Juan, a bishop of the Codex of Light, and Delia, a duchess from the central region, met. Delia, having hastily washed and changed her clothes, tried to suppress her curling lips at the sight of Juan.

    ¡°It¡¯s an honor to meet you, Bishop Juan Liard. I am Delia Lyon, a humble believer.¡±

    However, she approached Bishop Juan without hesitation, knelt on one knee, and kissed his ring finger in greeting.

    ¡°It¡¯s bright to meet you, Duchess Delia.¡±

    While Juan mumbled something, a young priest ryed his words. Although it seemed like a cordial greeting, Isaac felt a tense atmosphere between them.

    A tension was also felt among the other knights and nobles who apanied Delia.

    And Isaac was at the center of this tense atmosphere. He knew he was in a precarious situation but decided to enjoy the attention focused on him.

    Breaking the tension and bouncing around on it was all up to his decision.

    Isaac spoke first.

    ¡°Now, everyone. Since the matter is urgent, let¡¯s deal with the important issues first.¡±

    ¡°Important issues?¡±

    As Delia and Juan¡¯s attention focused, the tension grew even more.

    Isaac, enjoying the chilling attention, began to speak.

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    Isaac tapped the table in the chapel and said,

    ¡°It¡¯s about how to dispose of the Hendrake territory.¡±

 Chapter 73:

    Chapter 73:

    The priests and nobles, all disyed perplexed expressions at Isaac¡¯s unexpected suggestion.

    ¡°The territory?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Didn¡¯t everyonee here to collect the money lent to Kyle Hendrake?¡±

    That was indeed the case. The reason they had all rushed here was initially due to the suspicion that Kyle Hendrake was trying to default on his debts. They intended to recover the financial losses from the Loracus incident, by threats or by force if necessary.

    However, everything changed when Isaac appeared and slew the prophet of the red flesh.

    The order needed to somehow make Isaac a saint, a symbol of the order, while the central nobles aimed to prevent this, keeping the bnce from tipping further towards the order.

    Both had concerns more pressing than the loss of the lent money.

    But then someone spoke up.

    ¡°Is there anything of value left to dispose of in this ce?¡±

    All eyes turned to one side.

    It was a man with calm features and dark blue hair.

    Isaac recognized him as a Northerner who hade with the central nobles, clearly of a different origin, dressed like a seafaring merchant.

    ¡°Your name?¡±

    ¡°Aidan Bearbeck. I came as a representative of the North Sea trading guild.¡±

    Indeed, he was from a merchant background. Isaac could even smell the sea on him.

    ¡°Disposing of the territory can wait.¡±

    Delia interrupted the northern merchant loudly at that point.

    ¡°A celestial being died here, and you¡¯re concerned about the territory now? We should be looking into how corrupt Kyle Hendrake was, whether he apostatized, was tempted, and see how many bad elements were involved! We can deal with such matters after everything is sorted out!¡±

    Although Delia spoke sensibly, not many nobles seemed to agree with her.

    Isaac noticed that not everyone had their priorities straight. Delia, being from a great noble family, might not care about losing a few coins, but among the nobles who followed her, some might face bankruptcy if they couldn¡¯t recover their debts immediately.

    Aidan Bearbeck seemed to be one of those.

    ¡®That¡¯s why he came all the way here.¡¯

    But for Delia, it was more important to check Isaac¡¯s ascension to sainthood than the money. Perhaps she might downy Isaac¡¯s achievements or use harsh measures to prevent the order from fully iming him.

    However, Isaac saw her as a valuable asset since he also did not want to be a saint.

    For Isaac, who couldn¡¯t easily reveal his intentions, Delia was a useful tool.

    ¡°Rather than such trivialities, we should focus on who is behind the celestial influence¡­¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right. It is a trivial matter. But that¡¯s why we need to decide what to do with this territory first.¡±

    Isaac¡¯s firm statement silenced Delia. The nobles seemed curious too. As a central noble, Delia couldn¡¯t ignore the opinions of other nobles. After all, she too had suffered significant losses.

    ¡°We would like to hear the opinion of the Grail Knight.¡±

    A young priest representing Bishop Juan spoke. With the order¡¯s opinion now added to the mix, all eyes turned to Isaac.

    ¡°Why is disposing of this territory now considered important?¡±

    At Eidan¡¯s question, Isaac answered with a smile.

    ¡°Because the entire territory has been cursed by the prophet of the red flesh.¡±

    ***

    That evening.

    After a long meeting, discussion, and some tension, no conclusion was reached. After the meeting, Delia examined the remnants of the battle against the prophet of the red flesh atop the walls.

    She said to Reinhardt, who followed her,

    ¡°They killed a celestial being here.¡±

    ¡°Yes. I saw it too.¡±

    It was a redundant statement. By now, hundreds of witnesses, including vigers, had seen it.

    In the darkest hour before dawn breaks, the witch who brought ruin to the territory faced the Grail Knight, revealing her horrific true form.

    But in a moment of crisis, just as dawn approached, the awakened Grail Knight struck down the wicked celestial being¡­

    Delia couldn¡¯t help but let out a hollowugh.

    ¡°To be honest, Count Reinhardt, when I first heard that story, I thought it was some kind of joke. It sounded like something out of the era when General Ellil was building his legend, centuries ago. Doesn¡¯t it feel too archaic and overly dramatic?¡±

    ¡°It is dramatic. But it is also what I witnessed.¡±

    Delia brought up a topic that was difficult to mention casually, yet she feltpelled to discuss.

    ¡°The possibility of the Grail Knight being behind a conspiracy?¡±

    ¡°What sort of conspiracy?¡±

    ¡°Something like using the celestial being as a sacrifice to infiltrate the core of the White Empire¡­ No, that¡¯s too far-fetched.¡±

    Delia sighed deeply. Her thoughts had ventured into the realm of the absurd in her attempts to undermine the achievements, given their dramatic nature.

    It seemed likely that this Grail Knight named Isaac had indeed started a new legend. This realization was frustrating for her because the bnce established by the emperor could potentially be upset by the emergence of this new saint.

    She recalled Isaac¡¯s words.

    ¡°This territory is cursed by the celestial being?¡±

    A curse left by a vanquished celestial being is not umon. Therefore, Delia had not dismissed the possibility. It would be better if the being Isaac defeated was not a celestial, but if it was, then the likelihood of a lingering curse was significant.

    Isaac had stated:

    Hendrake territory has been cursed by the celestial being.

    The nature of the curse might not be immediately apparent, but its signs will gradually manifest.

    Any object,nd, or asset could already be tainted by the curse. In a situation where the curse needs to be cleansed first, disposing of even a single log from this territory bes difficult.

    Even if it were to be sold, would it fetch its proper value?

    For the stability and peace of the territory¡¯s residents, who will take responsibility for resolving this issue needs to be determined first.

    The priests and nobles felt ashamed upon hearing Isaac¡¯s words. They had only been concerned with the property of Hendrake territory and the fact that Isaac had defeated a celestial being. However, Isaac had questioned who would take responsibility for the territory tainted by the curse.

    ¡°The Grail Knight is truly a Grail Knight¡­¡±

    Delia was somewhat impressed by Isaac¡¯s attitude, which suggested that whether he had killed a celestial being or not was less important than the suffering of the people afflicted by the curse.

    But she also knew she had a role to y and could not neglect it.

    ¡°If a new hero has truly emerged¡­¡±

    Delia thought it pointless to obstruct Isaac when hundreds of people had witnessed him defeating the celestial being. Should she then try to sway Isaac to the emperor¡¯s side? She found this challenging as well.

    From what she had heard so far, Isaac was the epitome of a noble knight. His drift towards the order seemed natural.

    Of course, after meeting him in person, she noticed some nuances, but their nature remained elusive.

    ¡°Count Reinhardt, have you ever seen any evidence of this curse?¡±

    ¡°Not as of yet¡­ But since the Grail Knight mentioned it, I believe it exists.¡±

    Delia looked at Reinhardt.

    Reinhardt, a noble from the frontier, was one of the emperor¡¯s loyal nobles who had aligned with Delia. Yet, he seemedpletely taken with the Grail Knight, Isaac.

    Whenever she asked about Isaac, Reinhardt had nothing but praise.

    ¡°Well, there¡¯s no point in worrying about the nature of the curse when we don¡¯t know what it is. Starting tomorrow, I guess I¡¯ll have to negotiate head-on with the order.¡±

    ¡°Mydy, just in case, please keep this with you tonight.¡±

    Reinhardt handed Delia something. It was a kind of amulet with the symbol of the Codex of Light engraved on a white piece.

    ¡°It¡¯s not highly miraculous, but it has been blessed. My wife gave me a few for safety, and I would like to give one to you.¡±

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    While it was uncertain how effective this simple amulet would be against a celestial¡¯s curse, it was better than nothing.

    Holding the amulet, Delia felt a surge of motivation.

    Even if the odds were low, her task was to entice Isaac.

    Delia considered Isaac her greatest concern.

    Until dawn arrived.

    ***

    Dawn.

    Delia suddenly awoke to a whispering sound.

    She wasn¡¯t fully awake, only her hearing had sharpened.

    ¡°[¡­died in the¡­]¡±

    Caught in a half-awake state, Delia quickly became fully alert due to the bizarre whispering. When she felt a sharp pain on the back of her hand, she opened her eyes wide and sat up.

    ¡°[¡­waiting¡­ in the darkness, for you who will not awaken again¡­]¡±

    The whispering voice grew louder, resembling hundreds of people gathered in one ce, chanting prayers. Delia felt a chill at the ominous and irreverent sound.

    Attempting to examine the stinging back of her hand, she found her surroundings unnaturally dark. A dense darkness filled her room, making it hard to breathe.

    ¡®Curse.¡¯

    The word shed through Delia¡¯s mind instantly.

    She hurriedly grabbed the dagger from under her pillow. Pulling it out, a faint light emanated, pushing back the darkness, but it only provided enough light to barely see her hand.

    ¡°Be gone!¡±

    Delia swung the glowing dagger, but the darkness remained uncut. Only then did she notice the wound on her backhand.

    It was a small bite mark, the perfect size for a five-year-old child¡¯s bite.

    Such bite marks lined up from her hand to her arm.

    ¡°Ah!¡±

    Delia btedly felt a tingling pain all over her body. It wasn¡¯t enough to cause injury but was enough to sting. She hastily checked her clothes.

    Her body was covered in bite marks, as if hundreds had tried to bite her.

    ¡°[Ah! The one who wears the skin of the yed gods!]¡±

    As the chanting resumed, Delia, in a frenzy, swung her dagger around. Her room quickly became a scene of chaos. As she destroyed and tore everything in sight, a familiar voice reached her.

    ¡°Lady Lyon! Lady Lyon!¡±

    Delia¡¯s eyes snapped open. Beyond the wreckage, Reinhardt and the other nobles looked at her in horror from outside the door.

    Breathing heavily, Delia looked around. The darkness that had filled her room had vanished.

    She quickly examined her body.

    Yet, the bite marks remained clearly visible.

    With a pale face, she said to the nobles.

    ¡°Call everyone. Now.¡±

    After giving the order, Delia leaned on the desk for support, feeling herself nearly copse. That¡¯s when something touched her fingertips.

    It was the amulet Reinhardt had given her.

    The once white amulet was nowpletely ckened, with the symbol no longer visible.

    ***

    Watching the turmoil in Delia¡¯s room, Isaac retracted the tentacles he had nted in the room.

    ¡®Indeed, the colors from beyond are the answer to driving people mad.¡¯

    Isaac had sprinkled a few of Delia¡¯s subordinates with the colors from beyond. This ability to spread dark, thick shadows that cause hallucinations and auditory hallucinations was enough topletely unsettle an unsuspecting victim¡¯s mind. Although they might conduct an investigation into the nature of the curse, the colors from beyond leave no trace, making it difficult for them to find anything.

    ¡®Now, onto the next step.¡¯

 Chapter 74:

    Chapter 74:

    Themotion that began in the early dawn continued until morning.

    Delia, having summoned the nobles and knights, paced the dining room anxiously.

    ¡°Are all the knights here? Are all the nobles gathered?¡±

    ¡°Some still haven¡¯t awakened¡­¡±

    Delia¡¯s face twisted as she yelled.

    ¡°Break down their doors if you must, but get everyone here now!¡±

    Her edgy response stirred unrest among the nobles.

    She felt like she was losing her mind at the nobles¡¯ reaction.

    When she first encountered the darkness, hallucinations, and auditory hallucinations, she fell into a state of delirium. Her guards rushed to her aid upon noticing her frenzy, pulling her out of her delirious state, but her ravaged room spoke volumes of what had transpired.

    While she was rtively stable now, not all nobles were.

    In a corner of the dining room, a noble wrapped in a nket was trembling, teeth ttering. This was a noble who had ridden through dust and grime with her, a person of resilience. Nearby, another noble had fainted after vomiting several times, and a knight had to be bandaged after scratching his skin, marked with bite wounds, till it bled.

    Byparison, Delia was in a fairly good condition.

    ¡°Could it really be a curse?¡±

    A noble cautiously approached Delia and asked.

    ¡®Curse¡­¡¯

    Even without him saying it, the word was deeply ingrained in her mind.

    Grail Knight Isaac had already warned about the curse. But since there were priests of the Codex of Light present, and Reinhardt had assured her there was nothing to worry about, she had stayed without concern.

    ¡°It¡¯s not just me who experienced it, so the probability is high¡­¡±

    The nature of curses left by celestial beings varies widely. Delia,cking theological knowledge, couldn¡¯t be certain, but there seemed no other exnation.

    ¡°What is all thismotion?¡±

    Bishop Juan and one of the holy knights entered the dining room.

    ¡°To cause such a disturbance at the time for morning prayers¡­¡±

    He was about to scold them, but when Delia red at him with bloodshot eyes, he hesitated and fell silent. Delia approached the holy knight, pointing and demanding,

    ¡°Did nothing happen on your end? With so many priests around, you can¡¯t deal with this curse? Even with the Bishop here? Did the inquisitorse just for show?¡±

    ¡°What sphemy¡­¡±

    The holy knight, his face reddening with anger, tried to retort, but he was facing a duchess. No matter his status as a holy knight, he couldn¡¯t disrespect a dignitary who served the emperor closely.

    ¡°People have been tormented by this curse all night!¡±

    Only then did the holy knight notice the people in the corners of the dining room, struggling with the aftermath of the curse. He hesitated for a moment before retreating quickly.

    ¡°I will report to the Bishop and return.¡±

    ***

    Shortly after, the clergy and the nobles gathered together.

    Seven people had suffered from the curse overnight, all from the central nobility. The priests offered healing and tranquility miracles to those, including Delia, suffering from the aftermath of the curse, but the delirium was hard to calm.

    One priest approached Delia and said,

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but we can¡¯t feel any curse.¡±

    At his words, Delia red at him, her face contorting.

    ¡°Are you saying I¡¯m lying? Even though I was affected too?¡±

    The priest, intimidated by her fierce tone, continued cautiously,

    ¡°A nightmare itself could be a curse. The symptoms of delirium you¡¯re seeing might just be due to psychological shock. If it were due to a curse, the symptoms should be identical. But, Lady Lyon, everyone¡¯s symptoms differ, don¡¯t they?¡±

    He was right, so Delia remained silent. The bite marks she had thought to present as evidence of the curse had already vanished.

    ¡°Everyone having nightmares simultaneously can¡¯t be a coincidence, so we do believe it¡¯s a type of curse. We haven¡¯t found any specific traces yet, but it¡¯s unlikely that the celestial being left quietly after being banished.¡±

    ¡°Ahem¡­¡±

    Delia felt her thoughts be muddled.

    While the notion of a curse had initially startled and confused her, if this curse was indeed left by the celestial being that Isaac had banished, then Isaac truly had achieved a great feat. This realization meant that her objective to prevent Isaac¡¯s designation as a saint had be significantly more challenging.

    At that moment, Isaac approached her.

    With a somber expression, Isaac apologized to Delia.

    ¡°It seems my inadequate abilities in dealing with the celestial have brought this unholy presence upon you, Duchess. I apologize.¡±

    Delia was taken aback by his apology and quickly dismissed it.

    ¡°No, Sir Grail Knight. How could this be your fault? It¡¯s due to myck of faith and weak spirit that I was susceptible to such vile influences.¡±

    Delia¡¯s words were now filled with respect. It was clear to her that Isaac had indeed performed a great deed by vanquishing the celestial. Despite theplications his existence posed for her, it was undeniable that he was a knight deserving of respect.

    ¡°However, this is troubling. If the curse continues to linger in thisnd, the people of the territory will grow anxious. This ce might be known as a cursed domain.¡±

    Delia sensed something in Isaac¡¯s words. A fleeting thought passed through her mind, but it was too delicate to voice, especially not in the presence of others.

    Tap, tap.

    At that moment, someone tapped on the table. As attention shifted, Bishop Juan and a young priest spoke up.

    ¡°An unholy darkness has descended upon this fortress overnight. My children, Bishop Juan has decided to consecrate the fortress to prevent the curse from infiltrating further. While it¡¯s a temporary measure and must be performed daily, you shall not be inconvenienced during your stay here.¡±

    For the nobles, this was a wee intervention. However, they believed that the clergy and knights, aware of the curse yet only extending protective miracles to themselves, had left them to suffer from the curse alone.

    ¡°That¡¯s evidence the curse affected only the nobles.¡±

    ¡°And, we have the results of our investigation. Based on the inquiries of the Inquisitors, testimonies of witnesses, and investigations by the priests, it has been conclusively determined that Grail Knight Isaac did vanquish the prophet of the red flesh here. This is undoubtedly an achievement worthy of the Light¡¯s Scripture¡¯s attention.¡±

    Everyone, nobles, priests, and knights alike, looked at Isaac with admiration. It was clear Isaac had aplished a tremendous feat, regardless of affiliations.

    However, Isaac did not smile; his expression remained grave.

    ¡°Therefore, Bishop Juan ns to report these findings to the central authorities and request Saint designation for Isaac.¡±

    Delia bit her lip. If these findings were conveyed to the Pope, Isaac¡¯s designation as a saint seemed inevitable.

    ¡°Of course, we still need to verify Isaac¡¯s holiness¡­¡±

    Boom. Suddenly, a thunderous noise shook the fortress.

    ¡°What was that? Go check it out.¡±

    Before Delia could even speak, knights and holy knights rushed outside.

    A giant boulder had been hurled their way. The sound of the boulder rolling into the dining room made everyone think of a ¡°siege.¡±

    Without hesitation, they drew their swords, ready to head out, but a shout from the knights who had gone ahead stopped them.

    ¡°It¡¯s trolls!¡±

    ***

    [I will move the trolls.]

    Isaac sent a brief affirmative message to Hesabel. The trolls, climbing over the walls, hurled giant boulders toward the entrance of the dining room where the nobles and priests had gathered.

    ¡®They really do listen well.¡¯

    Isaac watched, confirming that Hesabel still retained her powers from the Red Chalice.

    Trolls were akin to watchdogs bred by the Red Chalice Club, and Hesabel had mentioned she couldmand them.

    And her abilities remained intact, even in clear betrayal of the Red Chalice Club.

    Bang! A holy knight nearly hit by a boulder cursed as he ran toward the walls.

    ¡°These damned beasts!¡±

    As the knight ascended the stairs, trolls threw more boulders at him. The knight¡¯s aura intensified, deflecting a boulder with a dull thud. But the boulders targeting him weren¡¯t finished.

    Thump, thud!

    Struck by sessive boulders, the knight stumbled and lost his bnce, tumbling down the stairs.

    Isaac sprinted past him, climbing up. A boulder aimed at the holy knight fell directly in Isaac¡¯s path. Or rather, Isaac had leaped towards the boulder.

    Crack, boom!

    Isaac deflected the boulder with the shoulder of his armor. Although he didn¡¯t have an aura enveloping his armor like a holy knight, the tentacles wrapped inside mitigated the impact.

    ¡®In a consecrated domain, even the armor¡¯s defense seems to be enhanced.¡¯

    Reaching the top of the wall in an instant, Isaac swung his sword. Crick-crack! However, the sword made an unpleasant noise as it roughly scraped the troll¡¯s skin. The troll, sttered with blood, screamed and retreated.

    The sword of judgment, worn from the battle with the prophet of the red flesh, no longer possessed its ability to burn the wicked. Such a wound would leave no more than a scar on the troll.

    [I will order a retreat.]

    ¡°Ooooh! Aaaaah!¡±

    The trolls, screaming, descended the wall just as they had climbed it. The holy knight, climbing back up the stairs btedly, watched the retreating trolls in dismay. It was foolhardy for even a holy knight to chase after and fight a number of trolls in the isted woods.

    The wall and the inside turned into a chaotic mess after the trolls¡¯ rampage. The clergy and nobles looked around in bewilderment.

    ¡°What¡¯s all this about?¡±

    Isaac feigned ignorance as he responded.

    ¡°Trolls are the dogs of the Red Chalice. Perhaps they were drawn here by the curse.¡±

    Isaac¡¯s statement worsened the clergy¡¯s mood.

    ¡°If monsters are drawn to it, it must be a strong curse¡­¡±

    ¡°And if it¡¯s trolls, the range of the curse¡¯s influence could be quite extensive.¡±

    Given the antagonistic nature between the Light¡¯s Scripture¡¯s miracles and the trolls¡¯ regenerative abilities, trolls were usually found deep in the mountains. Though Hendrake¡¯s domain was mountainous, trolls weren¡¯tmonly seen.

    Of course, this was a misconception by the clergy.

    Already in the vicinity, there were not a few trolls gathered as guard forces by the prophet of the red flesh. They hadn¡¯t helped when the prophet was defeated, and some had be Hesabel¡¯s minions.

    ¡°It seems challenging to proceed with the saint designation under these circumstances.¡±

    Delia spoke with a hint of malice towards Bishop Juan, whose expression visibly hardened.

    Vanquishing a celestial being was indeed amendable act. However, if the ce of vanquishment remains cursed, leaving thend and its people in misery and destion, it could hardly be considered aplete achievement.

    It might even be ridiculed.

    ¡°However¡­¡±

    ¡°If the curse I¡¯ve brought upon thisnd causes hardship for its people, I have no desire for any honors.¡±

    A young priest attempted to interject, but Isaac cut him off with his deration. It was a noble statement fitting a Grail Knight, but it ultimately conveyed hisck of interest in being designated a saint.

    Since his reasoning was sound, the clergy found themselves unable to argue.

    Then Bishop Juan spoke up.

    ¡°Then let us dispel the curse.¡±

    Both Isaac and Delia, hearing Bishop Juan¡¯s voice for the first time, looked at him in mild surprise. Bishop Juan, his face full of wrinkles, spoke with rity and determination.

    ¡°I will remain here to find a way to dispel the curse. Therefore¡­¡±

    He pointed at Isaac with his wrinkled hand.

    ¡°You all must fend off the unwee guests that have descended upon thisnd. Ensure that the faithful do not suffer.¡±

 Chapter 75:

    Chapter 75:

    The directive to fend off monsters drawn by the curse essentially implied battling the curse itself until it dissipated, as monsters would continue to assail as long as the curse remained.

    ¡®Just as I expected.¡¯

    Isaac had anticipated such orders since the curse on the domain was first mentioned. Without dispelling the curse, the achievement of vanquishing the celestial could not be fully recognized.

    Failing to eradicate the curse would dy Isaac¡¯s saint designation indefinitely, and his feat would not be fully acknowledged.

    Isaac aimed to have his achievement fully recognized while avoiding the designation of a saint.

    ¡°I will faithfully execute themands of the Codex of Light.¡±

    Isaac knelt on one knee, drawing his sword, eliciting difort from Delia and satisfaction from Bishop Juan.

    However, Isaac wasn¡¯t one to kneel without cause.

    ¡°However, Bishop Juan. The sword suffered some damage while I wasbating the prophet of the red flesh.¡±

    ¡°Ah!¡±

    Isolde let out a soft gasp.

    The sword of judgment was lent to him by her, and seeing it rusted and damaged was naturally shocking.

    Bishop Juan nced at Isolde before examining the sword.

    ¡°This is an Inquisitor¡¯s sword.¡±

    The sword¡¯s engraving made it easy to identify its original owner.

    ¡°Were you acquainted with Inquisitor Isolde?¡±

    ¡°Yes, yes.¡±

    Isolde, visibly embarrassed, lowered her head. Juan looked at her intently before continuing.

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you mention this earlier?¡±

    ¡°I was concerned that involving my personal feelings in the inquisition would lead to suspicions¡­¡±

    It was a valid concern.

    If they were close enough to lend swords, personal feelings were bound to interfere with the inquisition. Technically, she shouldn¡¯t have been involved in the first ce.

    However, Juan silently examined the sword, then ran his wrinkled fingers along the de.

    Bright light emanated from his fingertips, heating the sword until it glowed red. The rust fell away, and a new edge formed on the de.

    Isolde¡¯s name also vanished from the sword.

    ¡°Your judgment was urate, Inquisitor Isolde. Your sword yed a role in ying the wicked celestial, which is cause for celebration. Henceforth, this sword shall have a new owner.¡±

    ¡°¡­Yes.¡±

    Isolde seemed relieved to have escaped with just a mild reprimand, clearly not fitting the typical Inquisitor mold.

    Juan handed the newly forged sword to Isaac.

    ¡°This should be more useful than the sword of judgment.¡±

    Isaac epted the sword. It pulsed with heat like a living breath, and next to his engraved name, mysterious characters glowed with white light.

    ¡°The Luadin Key?¡±

    Isaac muttered in surprise upon reading the characters, causing Juan¡¯s eyebrows to twitch.

    ¡°You can read the ancientnguage?¡±

    ¡°Ah, a bit¡­¡±

    Isaac wondered if he had made a mistake, but Juan seemed to take a liking to him, perhaps tired of dealing with less intelligent knights. Regardless, Isaac couldn¡¯t help but be astonished by the weapon he had inadvertently received.

    [The Luadin Key (S)]

    [The sword of judgment has shed its former guise to reveal its true form. A key that unveils and liberates what is hidden and trapped, forged in celestial heat, beyond the craft of mortal smiths. Continuously grants warmth and vitality to its wielder. Capable of unlocking intermediate seals.]

    The Luadin Key was referred to as the true form of the sword of judgment. Although named a ¡°key,¡± it naturally maintained the form of a sword. The name implied a purpose of liberating what is hidden or confined, whether a treasure chest shrouded in darkness or entrails trapped beneath the skin.

    Essentially, it was a wordy describing a very sharp de as a ¡°key.¡±

    But true to its name, it could unlock seals of a considerable level, naturally imbued with light and heat.

    ¡®It seems they¡¯re determined to push me towards sainthood, giving me a weapon fit for a high-ranking Inquisitor or chief knight.¡¯

    The Inquisitors and knights present also appeared quite surprised, indicating the gift was indeed from Juan, a clear message not to get sidetracked. While it was a generous gift, Isaac couldn¡¯t help but feel burdened.

    ¡°I will carry out themand.¡±

    Isaac bowed his head but inwardly apologized.

    ¡®Sorry, grandfather. The truth is, I¡¯m a knight of tentacled monsters¡­ But thank you for the gift.¡¯

    Some knights and holy knights were dispatched for troll hunting, with a group moving out together.

    Considering trolls could also approach the empty fortress, half of them stayed behind to guard it. After all, there was no guarantee that monsters drawn by the curse were only trolls.

    ¡°Damn it¡­¡±

    The knights heading out to hunt trolls were clearly frustrated. They hade for honorable victories and loot, not to sweat in the woods hunting trolls. However, sending Isaac alone would look bad, and with holy knights present as well, there was little they could say.

    Moreover, with Duchess Delia Lyon herself joining them, the knights had no choice but to keep theirints to themselves.

    This, too, didn¡¯t look very good.

    Evenpared to a bishop, a duchess¡¯s status was not to be underestimated. It seemed as if the duchess was executing the bishop¡¯s orders, which wasn¡¯t a good look.

    ¡°Duchess, there¡¯s no need for you to partake in such rough tasks. Surely you could rest inside¡­¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s for the safety of His Majesty¡¯s subjects. Should we shy away from hardship?¡±

    Delia chuckled, stretching her arms dramatically.

    ¡°And havinge all this way, we might as well twist a troll¡¯s neck or two. Can¡¯t go back empty-handed, can we?¡±

    At Delia¡¯s words, the knights grimaced but nodded in agreement. Delia was as formidable a warrior as her stature suggested. Her mace wasrge and solid enough to injure a troll beyond quick recovery. Yet, Delia¡¯s concern was not with the trolls but elsewhere.

    ¡®How to deal with the Grail Knight now that we¡¯ve bought some time¡­¡¯

    Isaac felt Delia¡¯s gaze fixed on him.

    He felt the need to talk to her but deliberately kept a distance to make her anxious. Delia, responsible for overseeing other knights, couldn¡¯t just stick to Isaac.

    Isaac activated his Eyes of Chaos, observing Delia¡¯s back as they moved through the dense forest shadows.

    Isaac¡¯s eyes tinted purple within the shade of the dense forest.

    [Delia Lyon (B)]

    [upation: Duchess (A)]

    [Abilities: Imperial Military Swordsmanship, Advanced Command]

    [¡®If I can¡¯t prevent the Grail Knight from being designated a saint, I at least need to undermine his achievements. Elimination isn¡¯t an option, not a choice. Any misstep leading to reckless actions would be on me. But how to proceed¡­¡¯]

    Delia¡¯s deep thoughts were as transparent as if her innermost intentions wereid bare. Her goal was clear, so there was no need to delve into the secrets she was hiding.

    Prevent Isaac¡¯s saint designation. If that¡¯s impossible, then tarnish his achievements.

    When Isaac felt Delia¡¯s anxiety had sufficiently ripened, he approached her.

    ¡°Duchess.¡±

    ¡°Ah, Sir Grail Knight.¡±

    While the other knights and soldiers spread out in search of trolls, Delia signaled her aide to give them space as Isaac approached. The aide naturally backed off.

    ¡°This wilderness is incredibly dense, and the terrain is harsh. I¡¯ve never thought of Hendrake¡¯s domain as a natural fortress¡­ But now, the thought of stepping foot here again vanishes.¡±

    ¡°Yet, it shows how His Majesty¡¯s authority reaches even these secluded hills. How grand is that?¡±

    Delia grumbled more like making small talk, but Isaac quickly steered the conversation to the main point.

    Delia narrowed her eyes at Isaac¡¯s natural tone, already suspecting he was far from the stern, traditional Grail Knight she had initially thought.

    Delia decided to subtly probe her suspicion.

    ¡°It seems you also hold a great interest in His Majesty¡¯s authority?¡±

    ¡°How could I take lightly His Majesty, who appears as an avatar of the Codex of Light?¡±

    Presenting the emperor as an avatar of the Codex of Light was an exalting expression. Just as a hammer being used by a person doesn¡¯t make the hammer a person¡¯s avatar, the Holy Scripture is merely a text, not divine enough to be considered an avatar of God.

    Despite this, those who supported the emperor hailed him as an avatar of the Codex of Light. However, such statements were not typical for a Grail Knight to make.

    Delia asked with a yful smile, ¡°Is it alright for a Grail Knight to speak such words?¡±

    ¡°Compared to His Majesty¡¯s aplishments, my humble journey is hardly worth mentioning.¡±

    ¡°Humble? Vanquishing an angel is a feat that will be etched in history, a deed even the gods will remember.¡±

    ¡°I am merely content if my journey contributes to the empire¡¯s wellbeing.¡±

    From their brief exchange, Delia could gauge Isaac¡¯s inner thoughts.

    No, it was impossible for her not to catch on, given how tantly Isaac was hinting.

    ¡°It seems the Grail Knight has greater ambitions than one might expect.¡±

    Instead of responding directly, Isaac just smiled.

    Having sufficiently hinted, it was now Delia¡¯s turn to inte her imagination with possibilities. Isaac had not provided a clear answer, but it was enough for Delia to conceive a new possibility.

    ¡®What if I could pull Isaac to the emperor¡¯s side?¡¯

    With the emperor already bncing the scales, the emergence of a new hero on the emperor¡¯s side could solidify their power.

    Saint designation wouldn¡¯t be an issue then. If a potential adversary to the emperor could be brought under hismand, it would be a significant coup.

    ¡°I¡¯m not one for beating around the bush. What is it that you want?¡±

    ¡°Want? As I said, I am content if I can aid in the empire¡¯s wellbeing.¡±

    Just as Delia was about to press further, Isaac continued.

    ¡°Perhaps, Duchess Lyon, you could lend your strength to my journey.¡±

    Isaac couldn¡¯t outright state his demands. It was crucial for Delia toe to her own conclusions and voluntarily offer something in return.

    Isaac needed to maintain a bnce between the church and the emperor¡¯s faction, extracting benefits from both without tilting too far in either direction.

    Ultimately, it was the other party that had to offer something of value.

    Just as Delia was about to inquire further, a shout came from somewhere.

    ¡°Trolls!¡±

    Following Isaac¡¯s direction, Hendrake had moved the trolls.

    With the conversation abruptly interrupted at the right moment, Isaac dashed towards the direction of the shout.

    Delia watched his back, biting her lip before quickly moving to follow.

    ***

    ¡°Drive them that way!¡±

    ¡°Damn it, why are they so fast?!¡±

    When Isaac arrived, the scene was filled with injured soldiers and broken trees. A severed troll arm was visible, but no bodies.

    Arriving a bitter, Isaac asked, ¡°Where did the troll go?¡±

    ¡°It went into that valley. The holy knights have followed.¡±

    It was a dark valley, thick with trees. But the traces left by the pursuing holy knights showed no hesitation. Pdins, capable of wielding heat, were natural predators of trolls.

    Isaac was about to enter the valley when he noticed something imprinted on the ground and bent down to examine it.

    There was something Isaac hadn¡¯t ounted for.

    ¡®Horse hooves?¡¯

    In a ce where the dense trees and rugged terrain should have made it impossible for horses to enter, there were clearly horse hoof prints.

 Chapter 76:

    Chapter 76:

    Hesabel had lured the holy knights into this challenging environment on purpose, making the troll hunt more cumbersome and highlighting Isaac¡¯s achievement. After all, Hesabel had no concern for the troubles of the holy knights.

    The idea of simply diverting and escaping was considered, but uncontrolled trolls causing troubleter was also an issue, hence the decision to deal with them now.

    However, the horse hooves were not part of the n.

    ¡®Hesabel, is there anything else besides trolls in the valley?¡¯

    Though it was a minor trace, Isaac didn¡¯t overlook it.

    [Hmm, I¡¯m not sure. But I do sense a strong curse.]

    A curse.

    Isaac remembered thest words of the prophet of the red flesh. After all, it was unlikely for the celestial being to be banished without leaving behind a curse. Yet, he hadn¡¯t truly encountered the real curse until now.

    ¡®Hesabel¡¯s ability is somewhatcking.¡¯

    Unlike Isaac, who could share senses with entities he controlled through his ¡®rate in the Wall¡¯ ability, Hesabel could only give directionalmands to the trolls, akin to herding sheep. Even this control was shallow, bing ineffective once the trolls got too excited.

    ¡°Pdin?¡±

    When Isaac continued to inspect the ground without entering the valley, one knight called out in confusion. Sensing no time to waste, Isaac proceeded forward.

    ¡®Hesabel, report any anomalies immediately. There¡¯s something in this valley.¡¯

    [Affirmative.]

    Isaac drew his sword and entered the valley, the warm heat from the Key of Luadin spreading around him. As he suppressed the sword¡¯s heat, its crimson glow quickly subdued to a dark blue.

    While the Key of Luadin¡¯s heat was useful, it wasn¡¯t necessary to draw attention to it.

    Boom, bang! Loud noises came from deep within the valley. Despite facing holy knights, the prolonged noise suggested Hesabel was managing to control the situation quite well.

    ¡°This damn¡­¡±

    Not long after, Isaac came across a holy knight swearing as he was stuck in mud. The knight quickly shut his mouth and made the sign of the cross upon seeing Isaac. It was unusual for a dignified holy knight to curse, indicating his frustration.

    ¡°It¡¯s difficult to deal with trolls in the forest.¡±

    Isaac offered his hand to the knight, who grasped it and pulled himself out of the mud, muttering excuses.

    ¡°These cunning creatures. They keep throwing stones or logs from atop the valley, driving me to fury¡­ I should have brought a bow.¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t there another holy knight with you?¡±

    ¡°He went ahead to track them.¡±

    Even for a holy knight of the Codex of Light, facing multiple trolls in the forest could be challenging, suggesting either overconfidence or recklessness.

    Isaac, along with the holy knight, ventured deeper into the valley.

    Eventually, they discovered something. Parts of a troll ¨C arms, legs, and a head ¨C cleanly cut.

    ¡°There are scorch marks on the cuts.¡±

    The knight examined them, indicating the holy knight ahead was capable. Despite Hesabel¡¯s cunning attacks, the trolls had fallen to someone skilled.

    But the trail of battle didn¡¯t end there.

    Suddenly, Hesabelmunicated her intent.

    [Isaac, several trolls have been disconnected simultaneously.]

    An anomaly had urred.

    ¡®Not by the holy knight?¡¯

    [No, he didn¡¯t have the skill for that. And it¡¯s not that they died¡­ It felt like someone took control away from them.]

    Isaac felt the odd sensation he had upon entering the valley materialize into reality. Something was indeed happening here. Then, the surrounding branches quivered.

    Whoosh.

    An ufortably warm breeze flowed from deeper within the valley, carrying a pungent scent of blood. The nearby holy knight widened his eyes and tightened his grip on his sword.

    It was an ominous presence anyone could feel.

    Soon, the source of the blood scent revealed itself. The valley water, now tainted red, began to flow down.

    As Isaac and the holy knight ascended the valley, the blood became denser. It could have been the holy knight¡¯s, but more disturbingly, this didn¡¯t seem like the blood of just one person.

    ¡®Where does this valley lead?¡¯

    Recalling the geography as they hurried up the valley, Isaac had no prior opportunity to study Hendrake¡¯s domain in detail, but he had acquired some information upon iming it as a sanctified area. The primary source of ie for Hendrake¡¯s domain was mining. However, he had heard that after a brief period of prosperity, some veins had been depleted, leading to abandoned mines.

    Isaac thought of this as he stopped at the entrance of arge cave.

    Red water flowed from the cave, likely the source of the valley¡¯s stream. It appeared the holy knight had entered this cave. Observing the surrounding ores and debris, Isaac deduced the cave was connected to one of the abandoned mines.

    ¡°Could the trolls have gone inside?¡±

    The anxious murmur of the holy knight received a silent nod from Isaac. The disconnection Hesabel reported about the trolls was near this location. Isaac stepped into the cave, immediately noticing the thickening scent of blood.

    Thud.

    Someone was walking out from deep within the cave. It was a holy knight.

    The knight¡¯s armor, stained with blood, glinted in the dim light of the cave. Without a word, he gestured for them to follow. His gauntlet clinked. The holy knight beside Isaac rushed forward, but Isaac stopped him. Instead, he raised his sword, igniting the Key of Ruadhin¡¯s warmth.

    A bright light filled the area along with intense heat.

    ¡°Damn it¡­¡±

    The nearby holy knight muttered a curse. The fully revealed holy knight¡¯s helmet waspletely crushed. It was hard to believe he was still alive. Suddenly, the knight¡¯s body jerked as if controlled by something. Realizing something was gripping his neck, Isaac quickly pushed the apanying knight aside.

    Bang! The dead holy knight¡¯s body disappeared into the darkness, then was thrown out of the cave.

    Boom! Simultaneously, the sound of hooves and a massive figure emerged from the cave.

    A vile scent of blood, a murderous aura, and a coldness that dispelled the warmth of spring filled the air.

    A knight in blood-red armor, growling like a beast, appeared.

    ¡°So, you¡¯ve finally fallen into my maw!¡±

    The blood knight¡¯s mouth opened wide, revealing a mouthful of fangs.

    [Blood Knight (A)]

    [Guardian of the Banquet Hall. Appeared in thisnd due to the curse left by the prophet of the red flesh. Suffers from an insatiable hunger due to the curse.]

    Isaac recognized the creature¡¯s identity through his Eyes of Chaos.

    ¡®The real curse.¡¯

    The curse Isaac had previously bragged about from the prophet of the red flesh was truly lingering in thisnd.

    A Blood Knight, a guardian of the ¡®Banquet Hall,¡¯ reputed as the Red Chalice Club¡¯s paradise. They always hungered for thevish and sweet food visible but out of reach, satiating themselves with the flesh and blood of intruders instead.

    This was no ordinary monster.

    However, Isaac smirked, thinking this was actually a good opportunity. An unforeseen curse, better dealt with here and now.

    Isaac identified the steed the creature rode.

    ¡®A Phantom Steed?¡¯

    It was the Phantom Steed that Owen had been riding. It seemed to have been acquired through cooperation with the Immortal Order by the Prophet of Red Flesh, possibly used as a catalyst for a curse.

    The Blood Knight¡¯s lower half was fused with the Phantom Steed, with blood drying on the bones of the Phantom Steed, forming a sort of skin. Originally, the Phantom Steed had no legs, but, perhaps to the Blood Knight¡¯s liking, it now had six.

    Thudding sounds echoed as the Blood Knight charged again with the fierce noise of hooves. Its spiked whip tore through the air towards Isaac. Isaac quickly dodged, sensing a simr energy to the thorn vines created by the Prophet of Red Flesh in the spiked whip.

    However, a pdin behind him, instead of dodging, quickly enhanced his armor¡¯s defensive power with the energy of miracles. It was a move made in faith of the heavy armor¡¯s defense, intending to retaliate by pulling the Blood Knight down from his mount the moment the whip entangled his arm.

    But the Blood Knight possessed strength beyond the pdin¡¯s expectation.

    ¡°Ugh!¡±

    With the whip coiled around the pdin¡¯s arm, the Blood Knight charged past, dragging the pdin over the rough rocky valley floor, his arm twisted at an unnatural angle.

    The shock caused the miraculous power in the armor to weaken rapidly. Isaac looked for an opening, lowering his stance.

    ¡°Is it because of the Phantom Steed?¡±

    Even in the game, the Blood Knight was strong enough to take on about two or three pdin units, but it wasn¡¯t so overwhelmingly dominant. Yet, the Blood Knight dragged the pdin around, throwing him here and there in the valley before charging at Isaac again.

    ¡°I¡¯ll chew you up!¡±

    ¡°Such a clich¨¦ taunt.¡±

    The Blood Knight swung the pdin at Isaac like a club. Even Isaac, protected by miracles, couldn¡¯t cut through a pdin whole.

    Nor did he want to.

    With a crash, Isaac caught the pdin and activated the color beyond. Dark ink-like darkness flowed from the gaps in Isaac¡¯s armor, dyeing the surroundings ck.

    As Isaac¡¯s silhouette blurred and disappeared into the darkness, the Blood Knight felt the weight of the whip disappear. The pdin was no longer dangling from the whip. Darkness engulfed the Blood Knight.

    ¡°I¡¯m hungry, so hungry, I¡¯ll die of starvation!¡±

    ¡°Give me flesh¡­ your flesh!¡±

    Irritating hallucinations filled the Blood Knight¡¯s ears. However, as a sentinel of the banquet, he was immune to mental disturbances.

    ¡°Evil spirits, begone!¡±

    With a thud, the darkness was expelled from the Blood Knight.

    But Isaac was already gone.

    ***

    At that moment, Isaac stood at the entrance of the valley, where he had dragged the pdin in. Delia and her knights, arrivingte, were shocked by the scene inside the valley.

    ¡°Sir, Pdin!¡±

    Delia was surprised to find the scattered dark shadows and the color beyond around the Blood Knight.

    ¡°That¡¯s it! The curse of the angel I saw is that!¡±

    Although it wasn¡¯t Isaac¡¯s intention, it seemed he had sessfully framed it quite convincingly. Isaac tossed the pdin towards Delia, who hurriedly caught him. The pdin was in bad shape but still alive.

    ¡°Take him and retreat first. We need the help of the bishop and other knights.¡±

    ¡°I can fight too¡­¡±

    ¡°This opponent is too much even for me. Please hurry.¡±

    Delia was shocked at the admission that even a Holy Knight who had defeated an angel found it challenging. She alternated her gaze between the Blood Knight, who dyed the valley red, and the battered pdin, realizing this was not her fight.

    She had learned swordsmanship, but her skills were meant for fighting people, not monsters.

    Delia and her men quickly retreated.

    The Blood Knight, watching the retreating men, remained still.

    ¡°Are you confident you can catch them if they run, or am I your target?¡±

    The Blood Knight growled, eyeing Isaac. He was summoned through the curse of the Prophet of Red Flesh. Targeting Isaac was natural.

    Isaac stared back at the Blood Knight. His admission of difficulty was not a lie. If it came down to pure swordsmanship, the Blood Knight could overpower Isaac with his strength and abilities.

    However, Isaac had never defeated a stronger opponent with just swordsmanship.

    Isaac sheathed his sword.

    ¡°What are you doing?¡±

    The Blood Knight was not a mindless monster.

    He did not whip the unarmed Isaac, not out of chivalry but because he was unsure of Isaac¡¯s intentions.

    ¡°Nothing much.¡±

    Isaac extended his hand towards the Blood Knight, making a motion as if grabbing something.

    ¡°Just wanted to check out a new ability.¡±

 Chapter 77:

    Chapter 77:

    ¡°Pathetic¡­¡±

    Blood Knight growled as he raised his whip. At that moment, he felt a strange tremor in the air. It was a low bass that, although inaudible, vibrated to the bone.

    Blood Knight shivered and looked around.

    However, the ghastly sound was noting from just one ce. Blood Knight instinctively realized that the noise originated from something as big as a mountain, vibrating through the air. Something was writhing in the darkness beyond.

    Btedly, Blood Knight deduced that Isaac was summoning something and hastilyshed out with his whip. In an instant, Isaac seemed to clench Blood Knight¡¯s body and legs with his fingers.

    Crack.

    A gust swept through as if the atmosphere itself had shattered. From the colored mist beyond, tentacles as thick as a torso emerged and coiled around Blood Knight¡¯s body and legs.

    Blood Knight¡¯s eyes widened as he saw the tentacles crush his armor and flesh in moments.

    ¡°Wait¡­¡±

    Blood Knight tried to say something in desperation, but Isaac mercilessly spread his arms wide.

    The sound was horrifying.

    Blood Knight screamed, in resistance or agony, it was unclear.

    Suddenly, trolls appeared from above the valley. Isaac recognized them as the trolls once controlled by Hesabel.

    Now, effectively stripped of her authority, the trolls were being manipted by the more powerfully controlling Blood Knight.

    ¡®It seems they were lying in ambush to attack all at once.¡¯

    But the situation became urgent, leaving no choice but to summon them. The trolls charged at Isaac all at once.

    Isaac slightly twisted his finger.

    Boom, the sound was like a bursting water balloon. Giant tentacles twisted and shredded Blood Knight¡¯s body into pieces. Fragments of armor and flesh were scattered around the valley.

    As Isaac waved his finger, the tentacles swiftly swept the surroundings.

    Unlike Blood Knight, the trolls couldn¡¯t withstand even for a moment. Instead of bursting upon impact, they were torn apart by the teeth and thorns on the tentacles and disappeared. Only the tragic remnants of battle and bloodstains were left everywhere.

    The tentacles devoured the remaining flesh and disappeared into the colors beyond.

    [¡®Blood Knight¡¯ has been devoured.]

    [¡®Intestines of a Dead God¡¯ perk increases consumption efficiency.]

    [Health recovery ability has increased.]

    [Stamina recovery ability has increased.]

    [Blessingsts until digested.]

    It seemed to be a mere physical force monster, hence no special ability was obtained. However, Isaac felt his depleted strength rapidly returning after using his power just now.

    ¡®Such insane power.¡¯

    Isaac looked at the remains of Blood Knight, expression incredulous.

    The ability Isaac had just used was a result of synthesizing ¡®Touch of Chaos¡¯ with ¡®Colors Beyond¡¯, a reward for defeating the Prophet of Red Flesh.

    This led to the acquisition of the skill ¡®Grasp of the Abyss¡¯.

    [Grasp of the Abyss (S)]

    [Summons the Grasp of the Abyss from the colors beyond. The thickness, length, and number of tentacles summoned depend on the user¡¯s satiety consumption. Observers receive mental shock proportional to the duration of exposure.]

    ¡®This was a technique originally usable only by high priests of chaos, wasn¡¯t it?¡¯

    Moreover, as a monster-specific skill, yers couldn¡¯t use it. True to its monster-specific nature, it boasted an insane level of power without concern for bnce.

    Of course, eating the red flesh and receiving the sanctuary buff might have further enhanced its power. The downside was the enormous amount of satiety consumed by such a powerful technique. Even after devouring Blood Knight, Isaac momentarily felt hungry.

    Isaac thought that if he had this ability when facing the Prophet of Red Flesh, it would have been much easier.

    ¡®Though I can¡¯t exactly use this in front of others¡­¡¯

    Isaac mused with a bitter smile. Still, he felt he had gained enough ability to deceive and influence those around him. Even the bishop considered canonizing him a saint. The Duke was eager to have him on his side as well.

    ¡®Well, as long as no witnesses are left, it¡¯s fine.¡¯

    A shocking thought, but Isaac considered it calmly as he walked on.

    The remains of Blood Knight turned to ash upon contact with sunlight, just as the human hunters had. However, the marks of battle remained vividly. Isaac, examining the site where Blood Knight died, discovered something.

    It was the saddle and tack of a Phantom Steed.

    [Phantom Steed¡¯s Tack (A)]

    [Tack for the Death Knight¡¯s mount. Without this tack, one cannot ride a Phantom Steed. If put on a normal horse, it bes immune to fear or pain. Even if fatally wounded, death is postponed for a short period, and after death, it is reborn as a Phantom Steed.]

    ¡°Could this be useful? Perhaps it could be.¡±

    Although the recent battles in the valley and siege warfare did not involve much mountedbat, Isaac hadn¡¯t forgotten the romance of a cavalry charge.

    Considering the vast areas he would traverse, there would likely be many opportunities for mountedbat, so he decided to keep it.

    ***

    Isaac thought it would seem odd to descend immediately after dering the fight dangerous to Duchess Delia, so he decided to look around a bit more. If a pdin or a bishop were toe and see this site, his greatness would be even more pronounced.

    ¡°Especially curious about why the Blood Knight was here and what he was lurking for.¡±

    If targeting Isaac, hiding in a ce like the holy underground would have sufficed. It would be easier to attack at night. Yet, the Blood Knight was hidden in a secluded valley cave, like a trap. As if he knew Isaac woulde here.

    Though the causal rtionship might be reversed, Isaac was convinced that the Prophet of Red Flesh had hidden something here.

    Inside the aqueduct cave leading to the mine.

    Isaac slowly walked into the cave.

    The cave was dark but spacious enough for the Blood Knight to move around.

    Mining debris, impurities, and remnants piled up along the groundwater. Among these sediments, half-buried was the body of a pdin.

    ¡°I¡¯ll need to have it recoveredter.¡±

    Isaac passed the body of the pdin and moved further in.

    ¡°Hmm.¡±

    Soon, Isaac stopped again.

    The cave narrowed due to excessive sediment umtion, making it difficult to proceed further. While it might be possible to crawl forward facing the stream, he wasn¡¯t keen on doing so.

    ¡°Nothing here? Was it all for nothing?¡±

    Just as Isaac was about to turn back, something caught his eye. A solid rock beside the groundwater was sparkling.

    Isaac brought the Luadin key closer to see what it was.

    Then, the rock he was touching became hazy and disappeared like mist.

    ¡°This is¡­ Ah.¡±

    Isaac realized it was because of the Ruadin key.

    Although he had been using it as a light source, the Luadin key, true to its name, had the ability to unlock seals from low to medium level. It seemed that whoever wanted to hide this ce had sealed it with an illusion.

    Several rocks vanished, breaking the illusion, and revealing a mine inside.

    Isaac waited with a nonchnt expression, wondering what could possibly be hidden in the mine, but soon his eyes widened in realization.

    ¡®This was the secret of the Hendrake territory.¡¯

    The mines of the Hendrake territory weren¡¯t closed due to exhausted veins.

    They were closed to hide what was discovered beneath the mines.

    stered on the massive wall of the mine was a being with multiple wings, fossilized. The tinum-colored fossil was only partially exposed, but even that was enough to be intimidating.

    Isaac estimated the size of whaty buried under the rock.

    ¡®It must be almost 10 meters. Bigger than the Prophet of Red Flesh.¡¯

    Its identity was unmistakable; it was an angel.

    And from its form, it seemed like an angel from the Codex of light. It wasn¡¯t hard to guess why the angel ended up in such a state.

    ¡®A fallen angel¡­¡¯

    As seen with the Prophet of Red Flesh, an angel¡¯s will doesn¡¯t always align with the will of God. However, if their will diverges too much or theymit an unforgivable sin, they are punished.

    The nature of the punishment varies by faith. However, the Codex of light is known to consign the punished to the darkness below, turning them into stone.

    Such punished angels were called fallen angels.

    This angel, too, likelymitted apostasy or a grave mistake.

    The former lord of Hendrake must have been terrified upon discovering this fossil. And to hide the fallen angel in his territory, he must have ordered the mine closed. After all, if an inquisitor were to find out, things could getplicated.

    This fallen angel was the source of the enormous amount of divine power lingering in the Hendrake territory. Likely, as the angel fossilized, its divine power leaked out but didn¡¯t escape the mine, remaining pooled there.

    It was a tragic discovery, yet Isaac felt a smirk forming on his lips.

    ¡°The divine power is one thing, but¡­ a fossilized angel like this can be used as a precious material for making powerful equipment.¡±

    Even in death, an angel remains an angel. In the game world, parts of such fallen angels, although varied in effects and uses, were utilized as incredibly potent catalysts. The Prophet of Red Flesh must have sought this as well.

    Suddenly, Isaac realized he had spent too much time here. Priests would soon arrive. If they discovered this, things would beplicated, as the former Lord Hendrake had feared.

    Then, an idea struck Isaac.

    Adding this fallen angel to his alreadyid ns seemed like it would make things proceed more smoothly.

    ¡°Stay put until I return,¡± he joked, tapping the fossilized angel with his finger.

    ***

    The priests, inquisitors, and pdins who arrivedter were horrified by the carnage spread across the valley.

    The remnants of the Blood Knight, just as those from the fight against the Wachia vampires, turned to ash and disappeared over time. However, the debris from trolls, broken trees, and shattered stones did not.

    ¡°It was a formidable enemy.¡±

    Isaac¡¯s testimony was in.

    His appearance was as neat as his testimony, yet one pdin had returned dead and another was critically injured. Moreover, Duchess Delia, who had apanied them, was babbling about the horrific enemy they had faced.

    Actions speak louder than words.

    The pdins praised Isaac for defeating yet another terrifying monster.

    Back at the castle, Isaac began his report.

    ¡°It seems he was the source of the curse.¡±

    Bishop Juan nced at the inquisitor, who nodded in agreement.

    ¡°We found no trace of the curse in the castle, and besides the curse, there was no reason for the Blood Knight to appear. Moreover, the testimonies of Duchess Delia and several knights align, so we believe Sir Isaac, the Grail Knight, is correct.¡±

    ¡°Well done. Amendable achievement.¡±

    Juan smiled, pleased. The obstacles to canonizing Isaac as a saint were now virtually nonexistent.

    Then, Isaac knelt before Juan.

    ¡°I have a request, Bishop Juan.¡±

    ¡°A request? You could demand a reward.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not in a position to receive rewards. It was merely a victory picked up thanks to the heroic efforts of two pdins before I even fought. Please send the fallen pdin to the Pdin Monastery to honor his valor, and I also request maximum medical support and rewards for the injured pdin.¡±

    Though one had been ambushed and killed and the other had been battered, Isaac deliberately embellished their contributions. It was a preparatory step for the next phase. Bishop Juan smiled, pleased with Isaac¡¯s humble and victory-yielding demeanor.

    A true asset needed by the scripture of light.

    ¡°That should be the Order¡¯s responsibility, not a request.¡±

    ¡°And there¡¯s one more thing. I only drove away the Blood Knight; I haven¡¯tpletely eradicated the curse.¡±

    ¡°You mean you failed to banish it?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    Bishop Juan and the inquisitors were puzzled, unsure how to react. They had seeded against an angel, but not against the seemingly lesser Blood Knight? Of course, the Blood Knight was no easy foe, but notparable to an angel.

    Bishop Juan asked Isaac,

    ¡°Do you mean he escaped?¡±

    ¡°No. While investigating the ce where he appeared, I found something profane.¡±

    ¡°Profane?¡±

    Isaac hesitated as if it were too sacred to utter, intentionally building suspense. As Bishop Juan was about to press further, Isaac spoke.

    ¡°A fallen angel.¡±

    Murmurs spread. A fallen angel was not amon find. Even if one were discovered, the Order usually dealt with it secretly, so it remained hidden from the public. Before themotion could settle, Isaac quickly continued, silencing the murmurs with his voice.

    ¡°I suspect that the Prophet of Red Flesh was also attempting to use this fallen angel. If so, the origin of the curse might lie with the fallen angel, and we don¡¯t know what harm a being that has sphemed against the scripture of light could bring to the territory¡­ Please allow the Order¡¯s power to suppress the curse.¡±

    Isaac requested as if he were a devout pdin, but the implication was clear. The members of the Order immediately understood what he was suggesting.

    The mostmon way for the Order to suppress evil emanating from thend was well known.

    ¡°Are you suggesting we establish a monastery?¡±

    ¡°No!¡±

    Before Juan could finish, Duchess Delia, as if provoked, stood up and shouted.

    ¡°Thisnd was granted by the Emperor to your vassal! The Order cannot just do as it pleases!¡±

    Watching the parties raise their voices against each other, Isaac secretly curled the corners of his lips.

    Now, let them fight it out.

 Chapter 78:

    Chapter 78:

    ¡°How dare you speak against the Bishop!¡±

    As Delia raised her voice, a pdin stepped forward in indignation. At the same time, other nobles and knights also surged forward. They were already discontented with Delia¡¯sck of eagerness to collect debts. The situation exploded when it seemed that the order was attempting to dispose of the Hendrake estate arbitrarily.

    Yet, the count was not outmatched by the bishop.

    ¡°How dare you tamper with the imperial territory!¡±

    ¡°Even if it¡¯s the order, this is not the way to do it!¡±

    ¡°These, these people¡­!¡±

    The other priests were just as flushed with anger. Although they depended on the order for their livelihoods and were not greedy, they could not tolerate any damage to the order¡¯s dignity.

    Especially not in front of the Emperor¡¯s nobles.

    Moreover, the stakes were high. If a monastery was established, one of them could be the abbot. While the order¡¯s expenses were mostly covered by donations, a monastery could enjoy a status not unlike that of a lord, depending on the region or policy.

    The problem, however, was that thisnd belonged to the noble Hendrake.

    That is, it was a territory bestowed by the Emperor.

    Despite its issues, the order could not just take it over arbitrarily.

    Isaac suppressed a smile as he waited for the chaos to unfold, anticipating how much his own value would increase in the meantime.

    ¡°Enough!¡±

    At that moment, Bishop Juan sternly rebuked them. Duchess Delia was also trying to calm the nobles to prevent further esction.

    ¡°The monastery was just an example. But what else can we do to stop the evil aura emanating from this ce?¡±

    ¡°Since the Grail Knight has already dispelled the curse, there¡¯s no evidence of any evil aura¡­¡±

    ¡°It was the Grail Knight who requested to suppress the aura. Moreover, if the Prophet of the Red Flesh intended to use fallen angels to take over this ce, who¡¯s to say it won¡¯t happen again?¡±

    Juan looked at Delia with displeasure, as if reprimanding her.

    ¡°Even if we do nothing, what will be of this estate? Which of you will manage it? Or will you sell it off? An estate cursed by an angel?¡±

    The nobles fell silent. They had onlye to somehow dispose of or divide the estate to collect debts. But if the curse was real and something ominously untoward was afoot, to whom could they sell the estate? And even if they did, it would be impossible to get a fair price.

    Delia clenched her teeth and said, ¡°But this is an imperial terriotry. For the order to dispose of it as they please could sow seeds of unnecessary conflict, could it not?¡±

    ¡°I do not believe the Emperor would engage in conflict with the order over such a trivial matter.¡±

    ¡°But it sounds like the order is willing to engage in conflict with His Majesty over this.¡±

    ¡°Presumptuous¡­¡±

    ¡°Just a moment, please.¡±

    Just as the argument was about to escte into a heated emotional conflict, someone spoke up.

    The person who had been silent up until now, along with the central nobles, was a merchant, Eiden.

    ¡°It seems we are discussing this without considering the opinion of the most important person here.¡±

    ¡°The most important person?¡±

    Delia looked at Aiden with suspicion and then suddenly thought of Isaac. She remembered the conversation they had just before he went out to expel the curse.

    That he had something to do.

    It was clear that Isaac had hinted at something to Delia.

    ¡°Right. We almost discussed this without the Grail Knight. It was the Grail Knight who reimed this estate and dispelled the curse. We cannot proceed without considering the most important person.¡±

    Indeed, the person who should have the greatest say. Delia hoped Isaac would support her and passed the speaking rights to him. However, before Isaac could speak, Eiden mentioned someone entirely unexpected.

    ¡°No. Not the Grail Knight.¡±

    ¡°Not? Then who?¡±

    ¡°Kyle Hendrake. The current owner of this estate.¡±

    Kyle Hendrake had been out of his mind for the past few days, but now he had recovered enough to speak. Or rather, Isaac had healed him.

    It was Isaac who had intentionally left Kyle¡¯s spirit unanchored.

    When Kyle was practically dragged into the hall by the pdins, all eyes focused on him. The nobles appeared somewhat anxious.

    Kyle Hendrake was a significant sinner, but his usations were mainly focused on heresy and apostasy. The sins of contacting a heretic angel, attacking the Grail Knight, and recently hiding a fallen angel had been added.

    The usations of attacking Reinhardt¡¯s knights and soldiers were pinned on Rae and Owen, based on the testimonies of survivors. However, the crimes that urred before Owen¡¯s rebellion were undeniably Kyle¡¯s fault.

    If Kyle were to beg the order for his life and offer his estate, the nobles¡¯ position would be utterly undermined.

    ¡°Kyle Hendrake.¡±

    Thud. The pdins forced Kyle to kneel on the hall floor. Juan examined Kyle with deep furrows in his brow. Kyle still looked dazed but not to the point of being unable to converse.

    ¡°We¡¯ll skip listing the charges since this is not a formal trial. Instead, let¡¯s use this opportunity to confess any hidden sins through confession.¡±

    ¡°Yes¡­¡±

    Kyle weakly responded before slowly beginning to speak.

    ¡°I confess my sins¡­¡±

    Kyle began to recite his offenses.

    ¡°I embezzled the estate¡¯s funds for spective activities, was unfaithful to the faith, mismanaged the estate neglecting the duty entrusted to me by His Majesty the Emperor, attended worship insincerely, and¡­¡±

    ¡°Hold on.¡±

    Juan interrupted with an annoyed tone.

    ¡°Skip the trivial matters. The reason you¡¯re here isn¡¯t for those.¡±

    Kyle looked nkly at Juan.

    ¡°What do you mean¡­¡±

    ¡°The contact with the heretic angel, attacking the Grail Knight, hiding a fallen angel! Those things!¡±

    A priest beside him chided angrily. At this, Kyle widened his eyes and hastily shook his head.

    ¡°No, that¡¯s not true! I haven¡¯t done such things! A heretic angel? I¡¯ve never met such a thing! How could I dare!¡±

    Juan looked incredulously at the inquisitor. Isolde and the other silently observing inquisitors exchanged nces before carefully speaking up.

    ¡°It¡¯s true.¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°We found no signs of mental corruption or drug use on Kyle. We thoroughly investigated the items within the lord¡¯s manor, and we found no evidence suggesting Kyle Hendrake was influenced by the Red Grail. The testimonies of survivors were consistent.¡±

    Inquisitors, through some rude and painful methods, could almost always uncover anything. Isaac knew through Isolde how recklessly the inquisitors pursued evidence of heresy. If they couldn¡¯t find evidence, then there truly was none.

    Despite direct contact with an angel, the fact that Kyle was this clean could indicate his convictions.

    ¡°Though there¡¯s evidence of Kyle being manipted due to ipetence, it seems unlikely he intentionally attacked the Grail Knight or Count Reinhardt.¡±

    ¡°What¡­¡±

    Juan¡¯s face began to redden. In contrast, a triumphant smile started to form on Delia¡¯s face. If the significant charges could be shifted to Rae, the advantage would swing to the nobles.

    Just as Juan seemed about to burst with high blood pressure, Kyle spoke up.

    ¡°Excuse me, Bishop Juan. May I say something?¡±

    ¡°Shut your mouth, you wretch!¡±

    Although Juan erupted in anger, Delia stepped forward as if to protect him.

    ¡°Bishop Juan, regardless of his sins, he hasn¡¯t received a formal trial yet. He deserves a chance to defend himself.¡±

    Juan seemed about to grind his teeth, but with hardly any left, his gums merely clicked together.

    Delia found this immensely satisfying.

    ¡°Go on, then. Say what you wish.¡±

    The prospect of striking a blow against the order was satisfying enough for her. Even if Kyle managed to preserve his estate, the nobility would likely be the ones to tear it apart next. Still, it might be better than losing his life.

    Without Juan¡¯s permission, Kyle began his defense.

    ¡°I was manipted by Ra. However, this is because I failed to properly manage the territory bestowed upon me by His Majesty the Emperor, and my faith in the Codex of Light was also weak. If I had acted faithfully in all trusts and maintained a firm belief, the heretic angel would not have dared to contact me.¡±

    The gaze of those watching the trial became nuanced. This was especially true for the expressions of the ministers and servants who had been serving Kyle in the castle for a long time.

    Was Kyle always so eloquent?

    ¡°If he¡¯s trying to defend his ipetence as a reason for his sins¡­¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    When Juan was about to rebuke, Kyle spoke.

    ¡°All this ipetence proves that I am not fit for this position. I intend to relinquish all my titles and territories and live the rest of my life in repentance. And I wish that God would take this domain.

    ¡°What?¡±

    Delia, who had been watching Juan¡¯s reaction with amusement, turned around in shock at thest statement.

    She had anticipated him giving up the territory. After all, holding onto it would only lead to being torn apart by the nobles. If he surrendered it willingly, he could live the rest of his life without hunger.

    But why would he drop such a bombshell now?

    Juan was equally surprised.

    ¡°Are you saying you want to donate the domain to the Codex of Light?¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    Kyle bowed his head and said.

    ¡°I wish to dedicate it to the one who has given me the opportunity to repent and has enlightened me, Sir Isaac, the Grail Knight.¡±

    ***

    The hall plunged into chaos again. Dedicating the domain to Isaac meant for the Codex of Light? However, Isaac was a wandering Grail Knight, not belonging to any specific knightly order or diocese.

    ¡°Can a Grail Knight hold a territory?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not unprecedented.¡±

    In the past, Grail Knights traveled around, defeating monsters and performing great deeds. The ces cleared of monsters were often uninhabited or barren, and it was not umon for the local lords or magnates to donate such areas to the Grail Knights as a gesture of praise.

    But never had a significant domain been given entirely.

    ¡°You¡¯re going to hand over the Hendrake domain entirely to Isaac?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Since he drove away the heretic angel and lifted the curse, he is the most fitting person, as the residents here would also agree. If Sir Isaac establishes a monastery here to suppress the evil spirits, everyone will be at ease.¡±

    ¡°Not bad.¡±

    Juan was irked by the idea of giving it to Isaac personally rather than to the Codex of Light, but he considered it a nominal expression. After all, Isaac was a Grail Knight. Moreover, there were ns to canonize him, so a monastery owned by such a saint would undoubtedly be considered territory of the Codex of Light.

    Amidst the confusion, Delia, whose mind was racing, quickly spoke up.

    ¡°Wait a minute. There¡¯s still a problem. Kyle has a huge debt. He cannot dispose of this domain without settling that debt.¡±

    ¡°Let the order take care of the debt.¡±

    ¡°Can the Hendrake domain also settle Kyle¡¯s debt? His debt has snowballed due to the recent Loracus incident. It¡¯s not just our debt that needs to be paid.¡±

    Juan ordered a priest to check how much Kyle owed. They hade to confirm the debts lent to Kyle by the order and Isaac¡¯s achievements, so they were unaware of the specifics. Shortly after, the priest returned with a pale face and brought the ledger of the Hendrake domain.

    Seeing the amount, Juan wanted to hit Kyle over the head with the ledger.

    It wasn¡¯t an unmanageable amount. However, it was too much for Juan to bear alone.

    While it was important to make Isaac a saint, it wasn¡¯t worth risking Juan¡¯s political and financial life. Moreover, selling a cursed domain at its full value was unlikely.

    ¡°So what do you propose?¡±

    As the discussion seemed to wander into a stalemate, Delia locked eyes with Isaac. In that moment, she suddenly had an idea.

    Who owns the domain isn¡¯t what¡¯s important.

    What was important to her was something other than money.

    ¡°The Empire will settle the debt. In return.¡±

    Delia¡¯s choice was to make the Hendrake domain a gray area.

    ¡°Let Sir Isaac Grail Knight be granted the territory by His Majesty the Emperor.¡±

 Chapter 79:

    Chapter 79:

    ¡°What did you say to Sir Isaac?¡±

    Juan frowned and asked again.

    ¡°His Majesty the Emperor can reim the territory and then grant it to Sir Isaac. Then, we would ept the construction of a monastery here to honor the achievements of the Holy Grail Knight. I will take care of the debt.¡±

    Delia said with triumphant confidence. Juan hesitated for a moment, unable to understand her attitude. It seemed like a no-loss proposition for the Order. The Empire would handle the debt, and they would get to build a monastery, plus Isaac would have a solid foundation with thend?

    Then, it suddenly dawned on him.

    The Emperor granting a territory to Isaac meant that he was granting him a title.

    In other words, Isaac was bing a noble of the Empire.

    ¡°What is this¡­!¡±

    ¡°And I¡¯ve heard rumors about elevating Sir Isaac to sainthood.¡±

    Juan clenched his mouth shut. Delia boldly continued, undaunted.

    ¡°You surely wouldn¡¯t cancel the elevation to sainthood just because he¡¯s a noble sworn to loyalty to His Majesty, would you?¡±

    This was Delia¡¯s intention.

    Given Isaac¡¯s clear achievement in driving away the angel, Juan had intended to elevate Isaac to sainthood. However, if Isaac became a noble with a territory from the Emperor, it would be like handing over the Order¡¯s influence to the Emperor, especially when the bnce of power was already tense.

    In the end, Juan had no choice but to grit his teeth and say,

    ¡°¡­Elevation to sainthood isn¡¯t that simple. I can¡¯t decide on my own, and the evaluation of his achievements needs to be more precise.¡±

    Essentially, this was canceling Isaac¡¯s elevation to sainthood.

    Normally, being a noble sworn to the Emperor wouldn¡¯t prevent someone from bing a saint. More often than not, it¡¯s just that saints are usually chosen posthumously.

    Bing a noble wouldn¡¯t negate Isaac¡¯s achievements, but it couldn¡¯t grant him the symbolic status of sainthood.

    Juan tried to find a way out of Delia¡¯s logic, but ultimately, the disposal rights of the Hendrak territory belonged to Kyle. Therefore, Juan had to consider the wishes of the creditors who had the right to dispose of Kyle¡¯s territory, especially the central nobles who had invested the most.

    Juan thought it might be better to go along with Delia¡¯s proposal under the circumstances.

    ¡®After all, Isaac is undoubtedly a faithful Holy Grail Knight. It¡¯s regrettable that we can¡¯t promote such a promising Holy Grail Knight as the new face of the Order, but the symbolic aspect is just that¡ªa symbol. Practically speaking, this situation could mean new territory for the Order.¡¯

    Juan looked at Isaac with a subtle expression.

    A great Holy Grail Knight like Isaac wouldn¡¯t settle down to govern thend himself, but would request a recement abbot to be sent. In a way, it was a slightly roundabout means of acquiring new territory for the Order. The Order was always starving for donations, so there was no reason to refuse such a stable ie from a monastic territory. Even if he stayed in the territory, the lord would inevitably be under the strong influence of the Order.

    ¡®Look at that.¡¯

    Isaac, meeting Juan¡¯s gaze, saw right through what he was thinking.

    Clearly, he was thinking, ¡®On second thought, it¡¯s not a bad deal. If we give up the pretext, we gain the benefit.¡¯

    Of course, Isaac¡¯s actual thoughts were the opposite.

    Isaac intended to tap into the Codex of Light through this territory.

    ¡°¡­The thoughts of our Holy Grail Knight are most important. What do you think, Sir Isaac?¡±

    Finally, the ball was in Isaac¡¯s court. A noble, clean, and shiningly faithful Holy Grail Knight.

    He was a great gray area where nobles supportive of the Emperor and priests of the Law of Light could meet without any burden.

    However, he couldn¡¯t immediately ept. After several refusals and disys of humility, Isaac reluctantly pretended to ept the offer.

    ¡°I am grateful for your trust. I will strive to ensure that the will of God is fully realized in thisnd.¡±

    Isaac lied effortlessly.

    ***

    ¡°Now you¡¯re a noble. Congrattions.¡±

    When Isaac was looking down at his new territory from atop the walls, Delia approached him. Delia looked much more relieved than when they first met.

    Isaac had be a noble of the Empire because he now had a territory. Since the Emperor couldn¡¯t grant it directly, the process was carried out in the form of Delia, a duke, granting the territory on his behalf. The Emperor couldn¡¯t personally receive loyalty oaths from thousands of nobles within the Empire, so such proxies weremon.

    Isaac was granted the position of Baron.

    ¡°To be a noble, that¡¯s quite an honor beyond my station.¡±

    ¡°Nonsense. Who else but you deserves to sit in this position?¡±

    Expelling a decadent lord, single-handedly quelling a knight¡¯s rebellion that massacred neighboring lord¡¯s soldiers, driving away a heretical angel, and even breaking the curse of that angel. It was a story worthy of a hero¡¯s tale.

    No one could deny Isaac¡¯s right to thisnd.

    In a society with a rigid caste system, acquiring a title like this wouldn¡¯t have been easy. However, in this world, the power of the church was greater than that of the nobility, and with constant conflicts, social mobility was more flexible than one might expect.

    ¡°Honestly, I¡¯m not that interested in the territory itself. Nobles prefer to just take the money, and the church had no particr interest to begin with. But it¡¯s different for you.¡±

    Delia smirked, meeting Isaac¡¯s gaze.

    ¡°You¡¯ve been granted thisnd because you wanted it the most.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t y coy. Didn¡¯t you already express your intention to me? That there was something you had to do. You understood and manipted the difference in positions between me and the church. You preferred the tangible benefits of a territory and a noble title over the empty honor of sainthood.¡±

    Precisely, it was more about acquiring thend to avoid bing a saint.

    Of course, even if he had be a saint, he would have sought to acquire thend. However, Isaac had tried to hide that intention.

    Delia keenly read Isaac¡¯s desires and achieved her own objectives.

    ¡°There¡¯s no need to be wary. I like ambitious and greedy people, especially those with the capability to back it up.¡±

    Deliaughed heartily and pped Isaac on the back.

    ¡°That¡¯s probably why you¡¯re wearing the guise of a Holy Grail Knight. With enough ability, it¡¯s the fastest way to gain fame.¡±

    She said this and then casually asked.

    ¡°Now that you have enough fame and a territory, do you have any ns to swear loyalty to His Majesty the Emperor and move to the center? Emperor Waltzemer is a warrior. He will surely value and use a strong knight like you.¡±

    Surely, as she said, Waltzemer, always eyeing the reconquest of holynds, wouldn¡¯t ignore a powerful Holy Grail Knight.

    Especially with the disappearance of Kalsen Miller, leaving a gap in their forces.

    ¡°Thank you for the offer, but I must decline.¡±

    However, Isaac had no choice but to refuse.

    Isaac¡¯s achievements were not solely his own doing. If he had to watch his actions around the Emperor, unable to use the nameless powers of chaos, he wouldn¡¯t be able to utilize even a quarter of his strength.

    ¡°You are an enigma. Clearly ambitious for sess, yet you decline such opportunities.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s just say I have bigger aspirations.¡±

    At Isaac¡¯s reply, Delia burst intoughter again.

    ¡°Fine. As long as your ambitions don¡¯t go against His Majesty, desire and strive for whatever you wish. It¡¯s quite refreshing to see such spirited youth. When you seed, don¡¯t forget Delia Lyon of the center.¡±

    Isaac decided to remember her name. Her assistance had been significant in this affair, and there would surely be an opportunity to repay the debt.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t this affair cause you a significant expense?¡±

    At Isaac¡¯s words, Delia nodded.

    ¡°Yes, it did. The empire has promised to repay, but since I proceeded without reporting to His Majesty, I had to dip into my personal funds¡­ and the nobles didn¡¯t recover their full principal either. Still, I should be grateful for salvaging half.¡±

    One could imagine how Delia pressed and threatened the nobles. Essentially, she used her own wealth to cover the nobles¡¯ debts, so there was no room for them toin. As she said, they should be grateful for salvaging half instead of losing everything.

    ¡°At least it¡¯s better than the church, which got nothing. They¡¯ve decided to use the entire debt repayment to build a monastery here. It won¡¯t cost much to convert the castle, but it¡¯s still a significant amount.¡±

    Essentially, the church¡¯s share had ended up with Isaac. In the end, everyone except Isaac suffered significant losses. Among them, Delia suffered the most. Although she was heard to be the leader of the Emperor¡¯s most loyal noble faction, not recovering the debts and incurringrge expenses must have been a heavy burden.

    Yet, she didn¡¯t seem to regret it. She appeared satisfied with preventing Isaac¡¯s elevation to sainthood. After all, the stronger the Emperor¡¯s power, the greater the authority she could enjoy under him, so perhaps such expenses were trivial inparison.

    ¡°The expenses were significant, but it¡¯s fortunate that I came to know such an outstanding talent here. Moreover, since this talent has received a territory from me, the more you raise your fame, the more my name will also be known, won¡¯t it?¡±

    Isaacughed.

    Above is the sun that has already risen, the Emperor, and below is the rising star, the Grail Knight. Is that what this is?

    Indeed, hearing it that way, Delia¡¯s idea didn¡¯t seem bad.

    She had bought authority with money.

    Isaac spoke to match Delia¡¯s judgment.

    ¡°Speaking of which, this territory will need a new name now. Might you, Lady Delia, be willing to name it?¡±

    ¡°Eh? Well, following the family name¡­ Ah, right. There¡¯s no family name.¡±

    Among the knights, many of whom were orphans, it wasmon to not have a family name. Therefore, knights often prided themselves more on their originating order or monastery than on their family name.

    Thus, nobles of knightly origin might take their name from the monastery they grew up in, but Isaac did not have such affection for any monastery to do so.

    ¡°Do you know the ce of your birth?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s far to the east from here.¡±

    Isaac had South Korea in mind when he said this. Of course, given this was a game world, it wasn¡¯t literally in the east, but emotionally, this ce felt closer to Europe, so Isaac felt that way too. However, Delia seemed to have thought of a slightly different ce.

    She nodded and opened her mouth.

    ¡°Your name is Isaac, so how about the surname ¡®Issacrea¡¯ read in the Eastern style?¡±

    ¡®So my name would be Isaac Issac?¡¯

    Isaac thought the naming sense was absurd, but he inwardly didn¡¯t dislike it. Above all, he liked that the first syble of ¡®Issac,¡¯ his original name, sounded simr. Isaac nodded.

    ¡°Good. Then thisnd is now the Issacrea territory.¡±

    ¡°Congrattions once again, Baron Isaac Issacrea.¡±

    ***

    ¡°Are the investigation results out?¡±

    ¡°Yes, District Head Ilya Dote. ording to the interrogation of the knight who apanied the Grail Knight, we¡¯ve secured testimony that Isaac never used a miracle.¡±

    In the outskirts of the forest of thend now known as Issacrea.

    Men and women wearing deeply hooded cloaks gathered, speaking quietly. Their simple attire was marked by crow brooches on their cloaks, indicating their status.

    They were inquisitors sent with Juan.

    ¡°A Grail Knight that doesn¡¯t use miracles¡­¡±

    Ilya Dote was an inquisitor overseeing the entire eastern region, one of the most challenging areas due to the proximity to the Immortal Order and the Red Chalice Club, with frequent incidents of apostasy and pagan infiltration, making her highly skilled as an inquisitor.

    But this case was a bit unusual. Ilya Dote felt something off about Isaac from the start. However, after thoroughly searching the castle and investigating, they found no evidence of apostasy or heresy rted to Isaac.

    ¡°Even when entering the cave, instead of the miracle of light, they used the Ruadin key to illuminate the surroundings. The apanying knight felt nothing strange and was impressed by the Grail Knight, but it¡¯s still odd.¡±

    Lighting up darkness is one of the most basic miracles, learned right after the miracle of igniting a candle. The inquisitors looked at another who remained silent.

    Isolde Brant nodded when their gaze turned to her.

    ¡°Yes. To my recollection, I also did not see him use any miracles. But at that time, it was before he had made a name as a knight, so it didn¡¯t seem strange.¡±

    ¡°It could be understood if he were an ordinary knight with insufficient skills. But the issue is that he¡¯s a Grail Knight who even defeated an angel.¡±

    Illya looked back and forth between the two inquisitors.

    ¡°There are reports of the Grail Knight exhibiting a halo. That¡¯s one thing. But is it possible for a knight who cannot perform other miracles to defeat an angel?¡±

    ¡°Unless it was Elil, who had reached the pinnacle of humanity through extreme training¡­¡±

    And the mentioned Elil had ultimately be a deity, hence a being beyond humans.

    Then Isolde spoke.

    ¡°Could the Grail Knight be a holy relic? If he is a holy relic, then his very body is a miracle.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s also a valid point. However, the issue is that there are no conspicuous proofs of being a holy relic¡­¡±

    Illya didn¡¯t want to hastily use or nder a Grail Knight gaining fame for exemry behavior and achievements, where no sign of malice was visible. She felt trust but thought a bit more investigation was necessary.

    ¡°Isolde, you mentioned you¡¯re acquainted with the Grail Knight. Observe him a bit closer.¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°It might be unnecessary worry, but he was considered by the order for sainthood. He¡¯s bound to gain more fame.¡±

    As Ilya spoke, she seemed to recall someone, her face contorting as she muttered.

    ¡°We must ensure we don¡¯t repeat the case of Kalsen Miller. We must verify.¡±

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    ***

    ¡°¡­And that¡¯s why I ended up staying with Sir Isaac.¡±

    Isaac looked at Isolde, who had candidly spilled everything about her discussions with the inquisitors, with an incredulous expression.

    ¡°Why would you tell me all that? Aren¡¯t you supposed to pretend you don¡¯t know and just quietly observe me?¡±

 Chapter 80:

    Chapter 80:

    ¡°Does being watched bother you, Sir Isaac?¡±

    In the midst of this, Isolde¡¯s confession made Isaac feel ufortable.

    ¡°Nobody enjoys being watched. But if an inquisitor wishes to observe me, how could I possibly tell them to go away?¡±

    Isaac clicked his tongue and continued.

    ¡°Moreover, you¡¯re free to doubt if you wish. What I¡¯m curious about is why Ms. Isolde would openly talk about it. Even if I knew Ms. Isolde was an inquisitor, couldn¡¯t you have just made up some excuse and secretly watched me?¡±

    ¡°Firstly, I¡¯d rather not deceive a Grail Knight who¡¯s started to gain fame.¡±

    ¡°And the second reason?¡±

    ¡°It seems difficult to deceive and observe a renowned Grail Knight up close. You already know I¡¯m an inquisitor. How could I say my purpose isn¡¯t to surveil?¡±

    It was a strategy of being upfront about it from the start, assuming it woulde out eventually.

    From Isaac¡¯s perspective, this forthrightness was more unsettling. If the other party hid their intentions and watched him, he could pretend not to notice and deceive them. But if they openly follow him with the intention to observe, it leaves him with fewer cards to hide.

    ¡°I suppose you haven¡¯t heard about the halo I supposedly wielded above my head?¡±

    ¡°Are you referring to the Lighthouse of the Watcher? It¡¯s a powerful miracle. However, my superior seems to think that¡¯s not sufficient evidence. There have been cases before where someone had that miracle and stillmitted apostasy.¡±

    Isaac felt a twinge of guilt but did not show it.

    ¡®The inquisitors indeed have a keen sense.¡¯

    The priests, including Juan, seemed to trust him implicitly, but it seemed the inquisitors nned to continue their investigation. Even defeating an angel was reason for suspicion to them.

    Not being able to perform the miracles of the Codex of Light was a sticking point for him as well. That was partly why he deliberately didn¡¯t join the Order of Knights.

    Of course, being poor at using miracles wasn¡¯t a big problem. The strength of a pdin lies in their ability to wield miracles alongside their swordsmanship. Without miracles, a pdin is no different from any other knight.

    Indeed, Bexter, from the imperial knights, was on par with some of the top pdins.

    In other words, without the ability to perform miracles, it would be hard to exin the power to defeat an angel.

    ¡®Well¡­ there¡¯s nothing I can do about it. It was a matter that needed to be addressed eventually.¡¯

    Fortunately, if Isolde, who was somewhat friendly towards him, was assigned to observe him, it was a silver lining.

    ¡°Is there a third reason?¡±

    ¡°I personally do not wish to deceive Sir Isaac or keep secrets from you.¡±

    Isolde smiled as she spoke.

    ¡°Could you do the same for me, Sir Isaac?¡±

    A strike using the conscience as a weapon.

    Isaac was caught off-guard by the unexpectedly sharp attack but pretended not to be surprised and smiled back.

    ¡°Very well. Then shall I demonstrate a miracle to resolve this?¡±

    Isolde¡¯s eyes lit up at Isaac¡¯s words.

    ¡°Can you?¡±

    ¡°Of course. However, I do not wish to use the divine power frivolously just to prove myself.¡±

    Isolde tilted her head, puzzled.

    ¡°Then?¡±

    ¡°One month.¡±

    ¡°Pardon?¡±

    ¡°Observe me for one month. During that time, I will show you me using miracles. Whether Ms. Isolde finds evidence of heresy in me or proof of miracles, I won¡¯t mind.¡±

    Isaac concluded with a sly grin.

    ¡°Though it might be a type of miracle Ms. Isolde is unfamiliar with.¡±

    The disposal of Kyle, who had not just lost his fiefdom but donated it and was confined to a cell, was left to Isaac.

    While the issue of debt was resolved to an unsatisfactory but somewhat eptable degree, it was Isaac who gained the most. Yet, undeniably, it was Kyle Hendrake who lost the most.

    Outside the cell, Isaac and Reinhardt discussed Kyle¡¯s fate.

    ¡°What shall we do about Kyle Hendrake?¡±

    ¡°By imperialw, he has been punished to some extent¡­¡±

    Reinhardt pondered upon Isaac¡¯s question.

    The suspicion of heresy against Kyle had been deemed negligible by the inquisition, and his responsibilities as a lord were resolved by the loss of hisnds and titles. It was the worst oue possible within the scope of preserving his life.

    In imperialw, nobility was limited to those who ownednd or were honored directly by the emperor. Since titles were mostly attached tonds, Kyle Hendrake was now no different from amoner.

    From Reinhardt¡¯s perspective, Kyle was like the murderer of his men, but considering he was manipted by an angel, it wasn¡¯t entirely devoid of pity.

    ¡°Let me ask again. What usually happens to nobles who are stripped of their titles andnds formitting crimes?¡±

    ¡°Once punished, by custom, they keep their surname but are exiled to remote areas. However, if they haven¡¯tmitted heresy or treason, they¡¯re given the chance to redeem themselves and regain their titles through meritorious deeds.¡±

    The treatment of nobility was admittedly lenient. In a world prone to wars and conflicts, nobles with influence and military power were seen as potential forces to be mobilized in times of need. For Isaac to operate the Issacrea estate smoothly, he needed the Hendrake name.

    ¡®Kyle may be detestable, but his ancestors were reputedly respectable lords.¡¯

    Isaac felt he could reach a satisfactory conclusion.

    ¡°Very well. Then let¡¯s confine Kyle Hendrake here, to the Issacrea Monastery. Let him reflect on his misdeeds here and seek forgiveness for his sins.¡±

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll deliver the message to Kyle. Count Reinhardt, I¡¯ll leave the reorganization of the territory¡¯s administrative structure to you. Even though it¡¯s a monastery¡¯snds, ensure the administration runs smoothly.¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    After the matters were concluded, Reinhardt did not return to his ownnds but stayed with a few of his knights. The rest of his forces were sent back to prepare for the sowing season, and he worked diligently as if he were one of Isaac¡¯s devoted followers.

    Isaac found this natural, having already assessed his situation.

    ¡®He¡¯s bing more deeply influenced than before.¡¯

    Just as the Barbarians and Hesabel in Seor, Reinhardt and his knights revered Isaac.

    No, they worshipped him.

    Without preaching any doctrine or persuasion from Isaac, they naturally supported whatever he said or did.

    Their faith was seeping into Isaac.

    If Isaac began preaching doctrine, they would naturally be followers of the nameless god of chaos. However, Isaac was postponing this moment. Despite pretending it aligned with the teachings of the Codex of Light, he wasn¡¯t bold enough to act right under the inquisitors¡¯ noses.

    Isaac ultimately aimed to influence Isolde as well.

    ¡®But that requires much more preparation and process¡­¡¯

    Even if Isolde had a personal liking for him, personal fondness and doctrinal differences were separate matters. To ensure a deep influence, thorough preparations were necessary.

    After seeing Reinhardt off, Isaac entered the cell.

    Inside, Kyle Hendrake, who could be considered the main contributor to Isaac acquiring the fiefdom, sat quietly. Upon making eye contact with Isaac, Kyle quietly bowed his head.

    Isaac sat opposite Kyle and began to speak.

    ¡°You¡¯ve had it tough, Kyle.¡±

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t difficult.¡±

    Something wearing Kyle¡¯s skin answered.

    ***

    During the siege of Hendrake Castle.

    Zihilrat¡¯s mission was simple yet challenging.

    To infiltrate the castle first, assess the situation, and ry the internal structure.

    And if Kyle Hendrake was found, to capture him.

    This was to prevent any witnesses when Isaac faced Ra.

    Others could be silenced, but keeping Kyle alive was beneficial. Fortunately, Owen¡¯s rebellion had locked away Kyle and all the servants, eliminating the concern of witnesses.

    After finding Kyle, Zihillrat took protective custody measures.

    The problem began from there. Kyle, weakened mentally due to the prophet of red flesh, lost his sanity upon seeing Zihilrat.

    In simple terms, he had be an imbecile.

    Isaac, returning after defeating the prophet of red flesh, was puzzled. It wasn¡¯t Zihilrat¡¯s fault, nor was it anyone¡¯s ce to me, since it was only because Kyle¡¯s mind was weak.

    But Isaac realized anew.

    His tentacles or minions could be seen as fear-inducing to the extent of inflicting mental wounds on others.

    Honestly, Isaac thought it was odd to receive such mental wounds from mere tentacle monsters in a world where angels who devour people alive and manipte minds run rampant. He even thought there was something abnormal about such an excessive reaction.

    But perhaps, this too might be a power unique to the nameless chaos.

    Nevertheless, Isaac considered leaving Kyle as a fool, but that seemed likely toplicate his ns of taking over the territory. Isaac had no choice but to imnt a parasite to take over from within.

    Zihilrat wearing Kyle¡¯s skin was considered, but the risk was too great if the inquisitor were to interrogate him. The parasite was small and insignificant enough not to be detected, and even if discovered, it was an expendable piece.

    Fortunately, the parasite undetectedly gnawed away at the brain over a long period, gradually restoring its functions, enabling normal speech and living.

    Of course, it wasn¡¯t ¡®Kyle¡¯ anymore.

    The punishment for being foolishly guilty was harsh. However, had he lived to receive his punishment, only a slow and lingering destruction would have remained. After all, Isaac intended to take over thisnd.

    Anyway, Kyle was now Isaac¡¯s faithful and valuable servant.

    ¡®It might continue to drain my faith for a while, but as someone to govern the territory in my absence, there couldn¡¯t be a better choice¡­¡¯

    Whether ipetent or foolish, a familiar leader was crucial to the territory¡¯s people. Having heard that the previous lord was not bad, it was necessary to keep the people from bing restless with a familiar face.

    Isaac tried invoking the Eye of Chaos on Kyle.

    [Kyle Hendrake (C)]

    [Job: Unemployed]

    [Ability: Touch of Chaos]

    The grade was insignificant, but all that was needed was a well-behaved guard dog.

    There was no need for undue cleverness.

    Isaac intended to turn this territory into a stronghold of nameless chaos from now on.

    ¡°Kyle.¡±

    ¡°Yes, speak.¡±

    ¡°You will now be the steward of the Issacrea Monastery.¡±

    Isaac continued speaking to Kyle, the former lord of thesends.

    ¡°Preserve and govern this territory to the best of your ability, spreading my teachings to anyone whoes here, be they monks, priests, or pdins.¡±

    ¡°Yes, I understand.¡±

    It would be a cunning and secretive approach. Isaac¡¯s forces were still weak.

    ¡°By the way, do you remember anything about the previous lord, Lisken Hendrake?¡±

    Since Kyle needed to actpetently, the parasite naturally absorbed Kyle¡¯s memories. However, the process wasn¡¯t perfect, making older memories jumbled or vague. Kyle could deceive those around him because there was already a perception of him being dimwitted, but Isaac was curious about the secrets the previous lord might have hidden.

    ¡°No need for too old memories. Just after the mine closure will do.¡±

    ¡°There was something that might be of reference among the memories of my father¡­¡±

    ¡°What is it?¡±

    ¡°It might be better to show you than to tell you.¡±

    Saying so, Kyle rolled his eye strangely. The grotesque sight of the eyeball moving independently made Isaac frown, but he understood what was happening. A small tentacle, the parasite controlling Kyle¡¯s brain, crawled out from under the eyelid.

    Isaac ced his left hand near the tentacle. A tentacle sprouted from his hand and connected with it.

    And instantly, memories shed through Isaac¡¯s mind as if experiencing them firsthand. In that moment, Isaac staggered, overwhelmed by the significant amount of memories that felt as real as if he himself had experienced them. For that brief moment, Isaac was also Kyle.

    And Isaac was baffled by the new memories he acquired.

    ¡®Kalsen Miller? Why is this guy here?¡¯

 Chapter 81:

    Chapter 81:

    Isaacbed through memories from Kyle¡¯s younger days.

    He observed the meeting between the former lord, Lisfen Hendrake, and Kalsen Miller with a sense of admiration. At that time, Kalsen was not seen as a betrayer but as a hero and a saint, so it was natural for Kyle to look up to him with admiration.

    Kalsen was having a conversation with Lisfen, and due to Kyle¡¯s deep immersion in his own emotions, the sound was almost inaudible. This memory remained clear in his mind.

    However, he distinctly remembered Lisfen Hendrake, tense and holding something resembling a white stone tablet. Kalsen examined the tablet before handing it back to Lisfen.

    That was all he remembered.

    ¡®What was written on it? And that stone tablet¡­¡¯

    Since it was returned to Lisfen, it was highly probable that the tablet was still within thesends. Isaac entertained a possibility. Considering Kalsen¡¯s long-prepared n to be a deity, it was only natural he had coborators among the nobles and powerholders.

    This meant Lisfen was likely one of them.

    ¡®Then something went wrong, and he ended up being taken care of by the prophet of the red flesh.¡¯

    Isaac couldn¡¯t detach himself from the memory of the white stone tablet.

    He had a feeling it was a crucial clue.

    ***

    Kyle¡¯s fate was settled as ¡®returning to the Codex of light, dering a life of celibacy and poverty.¡¯

    For a noble who ownednds to be a mere servant in a monastery was a harsh punishment, causing even other nobles to express their difort covertly.

    Nheless, the order was satisfied.

    Since establishing a monastery here was already a foregone conclusion, someone needed to be responsible for thend. In this regard, Kyle¡¯s actions were exemry.

    ¡°Having troubled the faithful with ignorance, it¡¯s only fitting to devote one¡¯s life to serving them as atonement for enlightenment,¡± Isaac remarked.

    Juan nodded in agreement.

    ¡°A model punishment that can serve as an example for the arrogant nobles.¡±

    Inside the abandoned mine.

    Bishop Juan and Isaac were touring the mine¡¯s fallen angel while discussing. Around the fallen angel, inquisitors and priests had ced sealed areas and golden ropes. The church¡¯s regtions forbade tampering with or removing parts of the fallen angel carelessly.

    The official reason was to prevent corruption or evil influence, but in reality, it was to harvest materials needed by the order in emergencies. Many of the church¡¯s sacred artifacts were secretly made this way.

    However, parts of the fallen angel were clearly tampered with. It wasn¡¯t natural erosion but deliberate excavation. But the priests conducting the sealing operation didn¡¯t seem overly concerned.

    ¡°There might have been miners who found it and secretly took some. It¡¯smon for the church not to always be the first to discover fallen angels. The rest can¡¯t be stolen now, anyway.¡±

    One priest even created a seal on the spot using parts of the fallen angel.

    ¡°What abilities does this seal have?¡±

    ¡°It prevents the evil aura of the fallen angel from leaking out,¡± the priest answered Isaac¡¯s question, pleased as if honored by his interest.

    ¡°This might sound rude, but it doesn¡¯t seem toobor-intensive?¡±

    ¡°Ha, you mean it looks like it¡¯s made rather casually? Yes, what you see is urate. To do it properly, we¡¯d need a world forge master.¡±

    World forge masters were priests of the World¡¯s Forge order based on the northern inds, known for their ability to manipte metal like y and for being skilled warriors and cksmiths.

    Isaac used the friendly priest¡¯s attitude to inquire about various tools surrounding the fallen angel and their effects, all while inspecting its material and texture. He casually asked,

    ¡°Would you know the use of a stone tablet made from a piece of fallen angel of this size?¡±

    Isaac was referring to the stone tablet from Kyle¡¯s memory, believed to be made of fallen angel material. Considering fallen angels were key in creating sacred artifacts, it was easy to specte that Kalsen intended to use it for something.

    However, after seeing Isaac¡¯s gesture, the priest hesitated, unsure, then spected,

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure, as I only work with seals. Maybe if I saw it, I could guess its use.¡±

    Yet, not wanting to end on an uncertain note, the priest ventured a guess,

    ¡°Still, if it¡¯s a tablet made of fallen angel material of that shape¡­ Are you talking about a Dawn Tablet?¡±

    ¡®Dawn Tablet?¡¯

    Isaac suddenly realized there was indeed a famous relic simr to what he had seen in his memory. It was so famously absurd that he hadn¡¯t thought of it until now.

    Isaac criticized himself for not immediately thinking of the Dawn Tablet, a tablet said to have been brought out from the mes of a pyre by Ruadin, the prophet of the Codex of Light. It was said to contain the messages of the Law of Light transcribed amidst burning mes, with glowing letters etched onto it. Based on the messages of this tablet, the Codex of Light was able to establish itself as a formal order.

    ¡®No, even so, the Dawn Tablet would be securely stored away; it couldn¡¯t possibly be the original. Then, what Lisfen was trying to make was¡­¡¯

    A copy, or perhaps a prototype.

    Kalsen might have been trying to replicate the miracle shown by Ruadin in his quest to be a deity.

    ***

    Isaac watched the sealing processe to an end with mixed feelings. Even though the fallen angel was already dead, the priests finished their preparations to leave after conducting one more sealing procedure.

    ¡°The sealing process isplete. Since we¡¯ve decided to convert the castle into a monastery, we can now prevent any unclean spirits from infiltrating this ce. You¡¯ve done a great job. The prophet of the red flesh was surely drawn here by the fallen angel, so this should prevent the same from happening again.¡±

    Juan patted Isaac on the shoulder as if tomend him.

    ¡°Who would dare attack a monastery guarded by a Grail Knight who has defeated angels? I¡¯ve entrusted you with a heavy burden.¡±

    In reality, Isaac didn¡¯t have much left to do. Juan expected him to be the nominal head of the monastery while continuing his journey as a Grail Knight. So, his words were merely a formality.

    Juan¡¯s prediction wasn¡¯t far off.

    However, Isaac had no intention of detaching himself from thisnd, not even slightly.

    ¡°With all due respect, Bishop, I have a request concerning the burden I bear.¡±

    ¡°A request?¡±

    ¡°Though a lenient decision was made regarding Kyle, I believe the order is not fully satisfied with how things turned out.¡±

    ¡®This matter¡¯ epassed several issues.

    The punishment of Kyle, the handling of thend, conflicts with the nobility, elevating Isaac to sainthood as a new symbol¡­ all these ended ambiguously from the order¡¯s perspective.

    Especially since Isaac could have received a title from Delia, bing part of the emperor¡¯s faction, which remained a point of concern.

    Of course, Isaac had only shown himself as a faithful Grail Knight, but doubts lingered.

    ¡°Speak your mind.¡±

    ¡°I epted the choice to establish a foothold for the order in thisnd, but it¡¯s true that Ipromised with evil-doers. To atone for this sin, I must depart for a missionmanded by the divine.¡±

    Isaac¡¯s insistence on not abandoning his journey pleased Juan. The more Isaac achieved, the more the Codex of Light¡¯s reputation soared.

    ¡°A noble intent.¡±

    ¡°However, I¡¯m concerned that evil-doers might target thisnd again in my absence.¡±

    ¡°So we established the monastery to suppress the energy and¡­¡±

    ¡°With all due respect, Bishop. Evil-doers are not only heretics, apostates, or non-believers but can also be among our own faithful. Please remember the greedy conflict that surrounded thisnd.¡±

    Juan fell silent at the hint about the nobility. Isaac, who had tactfully entered Delia¡¯s sphere of influence and gained her support, was now cautioning against the influence of the nobles.

    ¡°Are you saying the nobles will target thisnd again? Duchess Delia fulfilled her conditions, and all debts were settled. There¡¯s no reason for it.¡±

    ¡°Duchess Delia might think so, but not the other nobles. They were merely suppressed by her power, returning from this expedition at a loss.¡±

    Honestly, Isaac wondered how different these nobles were from gangsters who, after failing in their investments, demanded money. But that was the era they lived in. It was natural to anticipate the nobles harboring grievances.

    ¡°Are you suggesting they will demand debts again?¡±

    ¡°How could you possibly disregard the authority of the church? It¡¯s just that there might be an alternative way topensate for the loss. As you know, Isacrea is a poornd. It¡¯s in a state of ruin due to rebellion, exploitation, and misguided governance. If I were to continue this noble journey¡­

    Isaac hinted at Juan¡¯s sense of crisis ambiguously. Juan could guess what wasing next.

    ¡°¡­You mean we might have to dispose of part of the territory.¡±

    ¡°Regrettably, that is the case. It is due to my inadequacy.¡±

    Juan frowned at the idea that the nobles might demand the return of territories secured by the church or even those bestowed upon other celestial beings. ording to imperialw, the church had no way to secure territory other than through donations. There were plenty of ways to squeeze the territories, but Isaac seemed to have no intention of doing so now.

    ¡°So, what are you asking for? Financial support? You¡¯ve already spent a significant amount of money on building the monastery.¡±

    Juan expressed his overt reluctance. Isaac sensed the greed swelling within Juan. After all, Bishop Juan had gotten involved in this matter because he had asked Kyle for an investment in Loracus. He was no different from the nobles who had rushed here out of greed for money.

    However, the situation changed when an event involving the appearance of a heretical angel urred during their journey.

    Supporting the construction of the monastery was also because, in the long run, if Isaac were to govern this territory, he could extract much more in donations.

    Then, Isaac would simply have to gently scratch Juan¡¯s greed to extract what he needed.

    ¡°That¡¯s not it. I am aware of the church¡¯s difficult circumstances. What I need is the church¡¯s influence.¡±

    ¡°Influence?¡±

    ¡°Money is fine. Please dispatch priests and pdins. Let their teachings take root in thisnd and spread the word to even the impoverished, so that, though their lives may be poor, their hearts will be enriched.¡±

    Juan scratched his wrinkled chin at Isaac¡¯s words, indicating that money wasn¡¯t necessary. Sending a few priests and pdins was not a big issue for him. And with Isacrea bing a gray area, dispatching priests to clearly demonstrate influence seemed like not a bad idea.

    ¡°That¡¯s a good idea. I¡¯ll do that.¡±

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve made you the lighthouse keeper of thisnd; it¡¯s the least I can do. Remembering the grace of the church is enough for me.¡±

    Juan proudly unted his generosity, hinting that Isaac would pay a significant priceter. Isaac simply smiled in response.

    Juan ended the conversation and went back outside the mine. Now, he would return to his diocese.

    ***

    After Juan left, Isaac watched his departure with an expressionless face. The humble smile was nowhere to be found.

    ¡°Good. I¡¯ve secured the priests and pdins. Taming them will be done gradually¡­¡±

    Isaac had nspletely opposite to Juan¡¯s.

    Isaac intended to make Issacrea his base and sanctuary. He had already confirmed that he was on the verge of being proimed a saint and saw how much admiration he received among the priests and pdins.

    Isaac nned to tame the priests and pdins sent by Juan to follow him.

    Isaac knew well how easily those filled with religious fervor could be brainwashed, as opposed to nobles or knights who were harder to control.

    ¡°The canon of light is full of its contradictions and errors as it is. Just look at the emergence of Barbarians within the influence of the White Empire, and you can guess.¡±

    Barbarians are those who have forsaken religious beliefs.

    This means that many within the White Empire have chosen to live rejecting the teachings of the Codex of light.

    The craze for growing Loracus, a cash crop rather than a traditional food crop, had made it difficult for people to make a living, leading to an increase in their numbers.

    In this situation, even the church was focused on spection, showing how chaotic the church¡¯s situation was.

    In this context, Isaac intended to be a new trend himself.

    By introducing a new interpretation of doctrine and teachings, he nned to infiltrate the canon of light with nameless chaos, sucking up money and talent to grow.

    ¡°To put it nicely, it¡¯s internal reform; to put it badly¡­ it¡¯s bing a parasite.¡±

    In the history of religion, this is amon urrence. Once a symbol of reform, a religion bes conservative once it grows sufficientlyrge and powerful. Then, a new interpretation of doctrine and reform is demanded from within, leading to the birth of new factions and independence.

    The Roman Catholic Church experienced this, with numerous factions emerging and doctrines changing before splitting into new forms.

    Simr events have urred in this world.

    Elil was once a founding hero of the great empire that served the Codex of light, but eventually split into factions, Elil¡¯s daughter, after ripping out his heart, fled and established the Red Chalice Club. Even the Immortal Order can be said to have branched out from the Codex of light.

    In the midst of such transformation, each faith established its identity, solidified its internals, and underwent reform.

    Of course, Isaac was about to introduce apletely different deity, named Nameless Chaos, which essentially made him a real heretic.

    However, in this world where all faiths have firmly established themselves, the only way for Isaac to win was this.

    To plug a straw into a more powerful faith and suck out its strength.

    Juan believed he was the one who had ced a straw into Isaac within the Codex of light, but in reality, he would be the one being sucked dry.

    ¡®First of all¡­¡¯

    Isaac looked at the heretical angel sealed by the priests. The gold chains that had already been fully analyzed for their function, weaknesses, and power would pose no obstacle to Isaac.

    Isaac thought while looking at the petrified heretical angel.

    ¡®This needs to be dealt with first.¡¯

 Chapter 82:

    Chapter 82:

    Isaac approached Delia with a logic simr to the one he used with Juan.

    ¡°Bishop Juan has decided to dispatch 3 priests and 5 pdins here.¡±

    Delia, who was preparing to leave Issacrea, was startled by this news.

    In reality, priests capable of performing miracles hold immense status and influence. If these were priests sent by Bishop Juan, it was certain that they could perform genuine miracles.

    Although she had expected that priests and pdins would be sent to the newly established monastery, she hadn¡¯t anticipated such arge number. It was a number suitable for dispatch to a major city like Seor.

    ¡°Why so many? Has another angele here?¡±

    ¡°They probably want to firmly establish this ce as a monastery territory.¡±

    Delia frowned deeply and muttered curses about Juan under her breath. While her faith in the Codex of Light was beyond question, it didn¡¯t necessarily extend to reverence for the priestly hierarchy.

    To Delia, Juan¡¯s actions seemed transparent.

    ¡®So, the idea is to solidify influence over the territory while the Pdin is away on his noble quest? To sideline Isaac? That sounds like something that greedy old man would do.¡¯

    Delia realized that leaving things as they were wasn¡¯t an option. She was already aware of Isaac¡¯s ambitions. Whether or not he joined the Emperor¡¯s faction immediately, having a territory would pose a fundamentally different issue if he ever did join the Emperor¡¯s forces.

    ¡°Lord Issacrea, is there anything the territory needs? A new domain like this must have many needs.¡±

    Delia was well aware of what a new lord would most need.

    ¡°If necessary, I can offer a substantial loan under very favorable terms.¡±

    Under the Emperor¡¯s patronage, Delia possessed significant wealth.

    However, she had no intention of simply handing over money to Isaac. Giving money would end the matter, but creating debt allowed for ongoing influence under that pretext.

    Delia didn¡¯t mind if Isaac was unable to repay the loan. It was enough for him to remain under her influence. In fact, she preferred that he couldn¡¯t repay it.

    ¡°I have no need for a loan.¡±

    Isaac, who seemed well aware of her thoughts, promptly refused. Delia, knowing he had almost no money aside from what was needed to rebuild the monastery, looked at him in surprise.

    However, Isaac spoke like a seasoned merchant.

    ¡°Instead, exempt Issacrea from taxes for a while so that it can properly establish itself. Then, the domain can sustain itself with its own strength.¡±

    All territories in the Empire are naturally subject to taxation. However, taxation at that time involved a chain where serfs collected taxes and passed them to their lord, who then took a portion and passed it up the hierarchy. Tax rates and regtions varied wildly from one domain to another.

    Since Isaac had effectively received the territory from Duchess Delia Lyon, the authority to collect taxes rested with her. At Isaac¡¯s request for a tax exemption, Delia felt as though she¡¯d been struck, yet she couldn¡¯t help butugh at the absurdity.

    ¡®It¡¯s something I¡¯d never expected to hear from a Pdin.¡¯

    Isaac¡¯s proposal wasn¡¯t novel. Delia, as a grand lord, often heard pleas for tax reductions or exemptions. What made it remarkable was that it came not from a minor lord or merchant but from a Pdin.

    Normally, the Codex of Light¡¯s church, which operates on donations, enjoys wealthparable to the royal family without paying taxes, as they have no essential expenditures for running the Empire. Therefore, the church typically desires money itself, not concerned with taxes they don¡¯t pay.

    Delia could sense from Isaac¡¯s tax talk that he was already a prepared lord.

    ¡°The position of Isacrea makes it difficult to apply standard tax rates. However, it¡¯s impossible to fully exempt you from taxes, as paying them is a duty of Imperial citizens.¡±

    ¡°Even for a monastery territory?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s still a territory granted by the Emperor¡¯s representative, me.¡±

    ¡°Very well. Then, could you at least exempt us from mineral and trade taxes for a while? These are the main sources of ie for Isacrea, and exemption would allow us to find a way forward.¡±

    Isaac quickly offered apromise.

    Once again, Delia felt that Isaac was a prepared ruler.

    From her perspective, she had to concede somethingparable to the priests and pdins to Isaac. However,pletely exempting him from taxes would almost dere thend as church territory.

    Since Isacrea¡¯s main ie was from mining, exempting just the mineral and trade taxes could firmly demonstrate thend¡¯s ownership by the Empire.

    Since Isacrea¡¯s main source of ie was from the coal mining industry, exempting it from mineral and trade taxes alone could definitively show that thend belonged to the Empire.

    By naturally securing a concession from Delia, Isaac managed to secure his share of benefits while providing her with a reason to agree.

    ¡°That should be eptable. Let¡¯s see, I will grant an exemption from the rted taxes for the next three years. We can adjust the other conditionster.¡±

    After all, in two years, the Dawn Army would be formed. By then, religious fervor would be rampant, and Isaac was confident that he could negotiate even better terms than now.

    ¡°Agreed.¡±

    ¡°I will send my secretary to draft a document detailing this agreement. It¡¯s best to have these things in writing.¡±

    With both parties satisfied with the transaction, Delia prepared to depart. Holding the reins of her horse, ready to leave, she suddenly asked Isaac a question.

    ¡°Lord Isaac Issacrea, may I ask your age?¡±

    ¡°19 years old.¡±

    Isaac deliberately overstated his age, not wanting to seem too young.

    ¡°Ah, older than you look. Are you seeing someone?¡±

    Isaac froze for a moment at Delia¡¯s question, prompting her to burst intoughter.

    ¡°No, I wasn¡¯t implying that. Even if you¡¯re handsome, I¡¯m not considering you for courtship. Why would I, at my age? But my daughters would surely fancy you at first sight.¡±

    With a wink, she spurred her horse forward.

    ¡°Visit the capital sometime! My daughters, cute like me, are of marriageable age and waiting!¡±

    Delia, not outdone in stature by her apanying knights, rode off with a heartyugh. Isaac could only offer a half-hearted farewell.

    ***

    ¡®Good. The tax exemption went smoother than expected.¡¯

    Isaac¡¯s exemption from mineral and trade taxes was intended not only to maximize ie but also to avoid detection.

    He nned to secretly sell off parts of the angel while redeveloping the coal mines. Fragments of an angel could be used to create valuable artifacts imbued with miraculous powers, attracting eager buyers. He also wanted to keep whatever happened within the domain as hidden as possible.

    Tax records were, in this regard, the easiest means for spection and scrutiny.

    ¡®It¡¯s not for nothing that the FBI looks into the tax records of drug organizations¡­¡¯

    While such investigative techniques might not exist in this world yet, if the flow of goods out of the domain were tracked, it could raise suspicions.

    With this, Isaac hadid the foundational groundwork for veiling Isacrea.

    His next task was to send letters to the connections he made in Soer.

    ¡°¡­Why do I have to do this?¡±

    The inquisitor, Isolde, looked at Isaac incredulously.

    Isaac shrugged and replied.

    ¡°Well, you agreed to monitor me, right?¡±

    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t I stay here to keep an eye on you then, rather than run errands like delivering letters?¡±

    Isaac grinned and tapped two letters in his hand.

    ¡°To exin, this letter is for Caitlin, the Seor branch head of the Golden Idol Guild. While the Golden Idol Guild may be friendly donors to the Codex of Light and faithful contributors, their adherence to other faiths hasn¡¯t changed. Doesn¡¯t it concern you that I¡¯m sending a letter to such people, considering the content and recipient?¡±

    ¡°¡­It does concern me.¡±

    Isolde reluctantly admitted.

    She was staying to ascertain if Isaac harbored any heretical beliefs, so it was appropriate for her to be informed if he was contacting other faiths. Isaac tapped on the second letter.

    ¡°This letter is for Jacquette, a scoundrel we met in Seor. A former leader of the Barbarian gang who once sought to kill me, but¡­¡±

    ¡°Yes?¡±

    ¡°¡­has now reformed and is leading a virtuous life. However, the fact that she was a defector from the Barbarians, and still leads a group of Barbarians, hasn¡¯t changed. I¡¯m sending a letter to such a person. Doesn¡¯t that concern you?¡±

    ¡°Certainly¡­ it does.¡±

    ¡°So, would you rather stay by my side observing mundane administrative tasks, or monitor and verify the suspicious actions of a dubious knight?¡±

    Isaac¡¯s logic was wless, leaving Isolde no choice but to agree to the errand of delivering the letters. Even if she inspected the letters now, she would eventually have to go to Seor to meet and investigate the recipients.

    Before leaving, Isolde asked Isaac.

    ¡°May I read the letters?¡±

    ¡°If an inquisitor wishes to inspect the letters, how could I, a servant of the Codex of Light, refuse? Do as you please. However, if you respect etiquette, I assume you¡¯ll seek the recipients¡¯ permission before reading.¡±

    Giving her the choice implied that reading them without permission would be a shameful act.

    Isolde sighed heavily.

    Normally, in an investigation, permission would not be sought; the letters would simply be taken and read. However, these letters were not hidden or sneaked away; Isaac had handed them directly to Isolde.

    Thisplicated her feelings.

    ¡°Since I¡¯ll meet them anyway, I¡¯ll ask them. But I¡¯ll read them even if they refuse.¡±

    Isaac was not worried by Isolde¡¯s deration.

    He wouldn¡¯t have entrusted her with the letters if their contents were dangerous to reveal.

    ¡®Maybe the curiosity will make her hurry back. Will it take about a week?¡¯

    It had taken nearly ten days for Isaac to travel from Seor to Isacrea, considering the group¡¯s size and encounters like troll attacks. However, as Isolde was alone and motivated, a week seemed sufficient.

    Besides, if the content was harmless enough to risk detection, it was better to openly allow inspection than to create suspicion by using intermediaries like Zihilrat or Hesabel.

    ¡®With a week bought, something is bound to happen in the meantime.¡¯

    Thest reason Isaac sent Isolde away.

    He was waiting for someone.

    While Isaac was fully capable of avoiding her scrutiny, the person he awaited might not be. Surely, they would seize the opportunity of the inquisitor¡¯s absence.

    Isaac decided to wait and see how to proceed with Isacrea.

    ***

    Night.

    A man was climbing a mountain.

    He flinched at the remnants of a fierce battle in the valley but continued past the debris toward a cave.

    The cave led directly to the abandoned mine. Soon, the man stood before the angel, sealed by the priests of the Codex of Light.

    The sight of the angel, encased in numerous seals and golden threads, elicited a sigh from the man. The angel appeared trapped by the golden threads. Attempting to approach, the heat emanating from the threads forced him to recoil.

    ¡°I never expected that among those who came with the central nobles, there would be a heretic.¡±

    A voice echoed from the darkness of the cave. Startled, the man attempted to draw his sword but fumbled and dropped it. Hurriedly picking it up, he looked up to hear a mocking voice.

    ¡°Eidan Bearverk, was it? The merchant from the northern consortium.¡±

    With grey hair and a beard, Eidan Bearverk red at Isaac with anxious eyes.

    Isaac remembered him.

    Though many had left with Delia and Juan, a few remained in the vige, including the priests and pdins left by Juan, Isolde, and Eidan.

    Eidan, who had been the loudest about securing money or territory over the church and the emperor¡¯s power struggle, had a schrly air unlike other nobles, leaving a deep impression on Isaac with his sharp remarks.

    ¡°Why are you here? To take back the angelic fragment aspensation for the money you couldn¡¯t collect?¡±

    Isaac feigned guessing his motive.

    Eidan bit the bait.

    ¡°¡­If I could get an angelic fragment, it would more thanpensate for the losses¡­¡±

    ¡°No, that¡¯s not it.¡±

    Isaac immediately denied it, his smile shining through the darkness.

    He produced something from his pocket. Eidan¡¯s eyes flickered intensely.

    What Isaac revealed was the very white b created by Lisfen Hendrake and reviewed by Kalsen Miller.

    ¡°Is this what you¡¯re looking for?¡±

 Chapter 83:

    Chapter 83:

    Finding the stone b hidden by Lisfen wasn¡¯t difficult.

    Lisfen had died unexpectedly, without the chance to properly conceal the b. It was in a surprisingly easy-to-find location, under a desk, where Isaac discovered it.

    The b was unfinished.

    Nothing was written on it, nor did it hold any power.

    ¡°This looks unfinished. It was made following the Dawn b, right?¡±

    Eidan¡¯s pupils darted around erratically. As Isaac moved the b, Eidan¡¯s eyes followed, openly revealing his intentions.

    Isaac wondered why Eidan was so interested in the b.

    ¡®He doesn¡¯t seem like a vessel destined to be a deity.¡¯

    Kalsen had enough achievements and power to attempt bing a deity, for better or for worse. With the help of other gods, it seemed possible.

    But the man before him, Eidan, looked nothing more than an ordinary merchant.

    ¡°Tell me what you nned to do with this.¡±

    Eidan remained silent. Instead of pressing for an answer, Isaac raised the b high, as if about to smash it. Eidan hastily spoke up.

    ¡°The Nameless Scripture! That¡¯s the Nameless Scripture! We needed it for our council!¡±

    ¡°Council?¡±

    Isaac frowned before speaking.

    ¡°Are you a follower of the Salt Council?¡±

    The Salt Council was one of the Nine Faiths.

    Once builders of a great empire, they were now on a path to ruin, continuously declining. The reason they were in such a state, despite being one of the Nine Faiths, was simple.

    Isaac looked at the b and said, ¡°You thought this could be your scripture?¡±

    Eidan looked at Isaac with desperate eyes.

    The Salt Council had almost no scriptures, relics, or even temples. Naturally, they had few priests and limited miracles at their disposal.

    They were in this state due to their own historical misdeeds, but Isaac could imagine they were trying to regain their former glory.

    ¡®The Nameless Scripture¡­¡¯

    Isaac examined the b.

    Knowing its name gave him an idea of its purpose. Like the Dawn b recorded the Codex of Light¡¯s teachings, this b could record any deity¡¯s messages or perhaps inscribe them itself.

    The Salt Council, having lost their scripture and relics, was undoubtedly searching for the Nameless Scripture to rewrite the lost messages of their god.

    ¡®And Kalsen wanted to inscribe his own doctrines to be a deity. Makes sense.¡¯

    A nation begins with itsws. Simrly, a religion might begin with its scriptures.

    ¡°If you knew about this scripture, you must know who made it, right? Tell me who coborated with Lisfen Hendrake. Actually, I already know. Only the world¡¯s forge masters could artificially create something like the Nameless Scripture.¡±

    To shape an angel as one would y and create something desired requires divine intervention or the involvement of the world¡¯s forge masters. Of course, transcribing messages onto the Nameless Scripture after its creation is a task for a deity.

    Eidan looked pained.

    Isaac gestured for him to hurry up.

    ¡°The followers of the Salt Council can¡¯t lie, right? Just say it. My business is with the world¡¯s forge master, not you.¡±

    The Salt Council¡¯s followers are known for one thing:

    They cannot lie.

    This, too, is rted to their history of losing their scripture.

    Isaac wasn¡¯t particrly interested in whether the Salt Council was searching for their scripture or relics. His interesty in the world¡¯s forge master, a universal craftsman.

    However, as Eidan hesitated, Isaac, feigning to be a model knight, ignited the Luadin Key in his hand. The de heated up in the darkness, illuminating the surroundings.

    As the Luadin Key approached the Nameless Scripture, Eidan let out a shallow moan and began to speak.

    Isaac thought it was time to offer a carrot and gently persuaded him.

    ¡°I need to ask the forge master for something. My goal is the recovery of holy relics and the eradication of monsters. I have no intention of troubling the forge master. Even though they are heretics, the forge masters are worthy of respect.¡±

    ¡°What is your request?¡±

    ¡°If you¡¯re not a forge master, you don¡¯t need to know.¡±

    ¡°¡­I know where the world¡¯s forge master is.¡±

    ¡®Exactly.¡¯

    This was Isaac¡¯s aim all along.

    Finding the reclusive forge master, hidden away in the world, particrly without venturing to their stronghold in the northern Svalbard archipgo, was next to impossible. However, if any of those hermit-like craftsmen had ventured into the continent, they needed to be secured. The forge master¡¯s touch was essential for crafting items from the remains of an angel.

    Isaac extinguished the heat of the Luadin Key, but the sword remained faintly aglow with a warm crimson light.

    Eidan let out a sigh of relief and noticed the sword he was holding. Next to the Luadin Key, his own sword seemed no more substantial than a thin needle, so he dutifully sheathed it.

    ¡°Where is the forge master?¡±

    ¡°That depends¡­ Could you tell me what the request is first?¡±

    Instead of answering, Isaac yfully waved the still-glowing sword.

    Eidan reluctantly said, ¡°The forge master doesn¡¯t meet people carelessly. If I bring someone they don¡¯t know, they¡¯ll flee.¡±

    ¡°They won¡¯t be able to flee easily.¡±

    ¡°But you never know. If they escape, I won¡¯t be able to meet them again. Rather than that, just make your request through me.¡±

    ¡°Request?¡±

    The followers of the Salt Council were known not only as merchants and sailors but also as sought-after intermediaries due to their inability to lie. They had carved out a niche for themselves as honest brokers, connecting people while maintaining a neutral stance.

    ¡°The forge master collects necessary materials and meets others through me, instead of meeting petitioners directly. If there¡¯s a request, I can ry it for you.¡±

    ¡°So, you wantpensation for this request?¡±

    Frankly, sparing his life should be enough, but followers of the Salt Council are desperate. The anticipation they ced in this ¡°Nameless Scripture¡± wasn¡¯t ordinary.

    In fact, Eidan was looking thirstily at the b in Isaac¡¯s hands.

    Isaac didn¡¯t want the church or any other faction zealously pursuing him.

    He decided to take the initiative.

    ¡°I¡¯m assuming you¡¯re not just a thieving scoundrel looking to trade a favor for the Nameless Scripture. Let¡¯s build trust andpensation gradually.¡±

    With that, Isaac nced toward the angel.

    ¡°You wanted the angel, didn¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°Yes, actually, that alone would be enough.¡±

    The Nameless Scripture was made from an angel.

    Of course, it wasn¡¯t made solely of angelic remains; a variety of divine powers, materials, and godly interventions were likely involved.

    However, the fact that its base was angelic remained unchanged. That¡¯s why Eidan had sneaked into this sealed mine.

    ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll sell you the angel.¡±

    ¡°Excuse me?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll sell a part of the angel¡¯s remains at a fair price, then ry a message that I want to meet. But, they¡¯ll also have to craft something I need. So, I must meet the forge master myself.¡±

    Eidan looked shocked at the notion of selling the angel.

    It¡¯s considered sacrilegious to unearth an angel, let alone sell it to unknown parties.

    Seeing doubt on Eidan¡¯s face, Isaac strode forward and grasped the golden thread.

    ¡°Ah¡­!¡±

    As Eidan gasped in shock, Isaac effortlessly snapped the golden threads and seals. Having already understood the weaknesses of the golden thread, and given that neither ¡°Proof of Faith¡± nor ¡°Sword of Judgment¡± could harm Isaac, it was natural there was no impact.

    Isaac tore off all the golden threads and threw a piece of the angel¡¯s wing to Eidan.

    ¡°Consider this an advance payment.¡±

    He didn¡¯t expect Eidan to run away with it. For followers of the Salt Council, a contract was sacred, even feared, unlike the Golden Idol followers who were more concerned with their lives than with honesty. The Salt Council would not lightly enter into agreements or promises unless their lives depended on it.

    Eidan hesitated but eventually grasped the angelic fragment.

    ¡°I will arrange a meeting.¡±

    Eidan¡¯s eptance of the deal implied that securing the angel was as crucial to him as a matter of life and death.

    ¡®Of course, if he fails to arrange the meeting, it¡¯ll be a matter as critical as life and death.¡¯

    Fortunately, it didn¡¯te to that.

    Wrapping the angelic fragment carefully, Eidan bowed and hurried out of the cave.

    In the darkness of the cave, from which Eidan had fled, Hesabel, who had been hanging upside down, peeked out.

    ¡°Should I follow him?¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    Sending a tracker might scare off the forge master, making things moreplicated. Forge masters, due to their exceptional abilities, were highly sought after and thus extremely reclusive. (TL- Forge master ¨C cksmith)

    Isaac believed Eidan wouldn¡¯t break his promise.

    ¡°He¡¯s a follower of the Salt Council. He won¡¯t break his promise.¡±

    ¡°The Salt Council¡­¡±

    Hesabel murmured the name.

    In the ind nation of Wachia, encountering sailors was rare.

    Until tracking Isaac, Hesabel had operated solely within Walraika and knew of the Salt Council only by name.

    ¡°What does a promise not being broken have to do with being a follower of the Salt Council?¡±

    Isaac found it odd to be asked about ¡®lore¡¯ by Hesabel, an entity that could be considered part of the game world.

    And he momentarily found himself at a loss for words. To Isaac, the fact that someone was a follower of the Salt Council meant ¡®naturally¡¯ they could not lie.

    Because that was the game¡¯s lore.

    ¡°To exin that, I¡¯d have to tell you the epic that epasses the origin myth of the Salt Council?¡±

    ¡°Is it a long story?¡±

    Seeing Hesabel¡¯s curious expression, Isaac sighed. It might be a seemingly irrelevant story, but Isaac decided to speak up to organize his thoughts.

    He had suddenly be curious about the connection between the Salt Council and the world¡¯s forge.

    Isaac slowly began.

    ¡°The Salt Council was originally known by another name. They were called the Seafarers. The Seafarers worshipped an ancient deity from a city beneath the sea. They were once powerful enough to dominate the southern seas.¡±

    Isaac remembered that this world loosely resembled the map of Europe. In the past, the Salt Council had influenceparable to Carthage, dominating North Africa and its inds. But now, only remnants of their past glory remained, and their religion was secretly passed among sailors.

    ¡°Why haven¡¯t I heard of it?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s ancient history. Before the Codex of Light really got started. Even before the Immortal Order, not to mention Elil, the Red Chalice Club, or the World¡¯s Forge.¡±

    The nine faiths that dominate the current world all emerged after the Codex of Light began rewriting the rules. Other minor deities either died off or were subsumed, cooperating with or subjugated by the Codex of Light.

    ¡°Anyway, at that time, the Seafarers were virtually the world¡¯s superpower in their heyday. But facing their arrogance due to their strength¡­ a change began.¡±

    ¡°A change?¡±

    ¡°Luadin appeared.¡±

    The first prophet who emerged from the mes of a pyre with the ¡®Dawn b¡¯, the so-called Codex of Light, transforming what was just a local faith into a legitimate religion and eventually ascending as the first angel.

    He marked the end of the era of ancient deities.

    ¡°It could be said that the era of gods is divided before and after Luadin¡¯s appearance, such was the historic significance of the event.¡±

    ¡°Luadin was being pursued by an empire that worshipped other ancient deities. He was burned at the stake, only to return to life, but his followers were still weak. Eventually, Luadin led his followers westward, away from the holynd.¡±

    The ¡®holynd¡¯ mentioned in the myth is the same one the White Empire so desperately wants to reim.

    Currently under the control of the ck Empire.

    ¡°Luadin, wandering aimlessly westward, encountered the sea. And the sea¡¯s rulers at the time, the Seafarers. Luadin negotiated with them to cross the sea with his followers in exchange for payment. However, the Salt Council did not keep their promise.¡±

    The reason the Salt Council failed to cooperate is not clearly defined in the lore.

    It could have been greed for more money, avoiding conflict with forces trying to capture Luadin, or perhaps simply fearing that Luadin¡¯s burning body might damage their ships.

    The me of Luadin not causing harm to anyone might not have been very important.

    ¡°Luadin waited for three days, but the sailors did not cooperate. Instead, they mocked and insulted Luadin standing at the harbor. Then, Luadin petitioned the Codex of Light to punish the sailors¡¯ arrogance.¡±

    ¡°Punishment?¡±

    ¡°For three days, the sun did not set. The sea became fiercely hot. The boiling sea made the sailors regret toote as they screamed and pleaded, but the sun did not move.¡±

    Isaac paused the story and fell silent.

    Was this punishment a feasible miracle? If such power existed, why not confront the opposing forces directly?

    Well, the contents of myths aren¡¯t all rational.

    ¡°And as time passed, all that was left where the sea had been was a vast desert of salt. The once mighty fleet of sailors, the priests of salt, sacred relics, and cities beneath the sea were all trapped under hundreds of meters of salt desert.¡±

    Hesabel seemed to feel her blood drying up just from listening, touching her lips.

    ¡°And Luadin and his followers walked over the dried salt desert. Afterwards, they survived to establish the Order of the Codex of Light. But the sailors¡­¡±

    Isaac thought of how that brilliant faith copsed in an instant and bitterly smiled. The reason for the empire¡¯s downfall was just one broken promise.

    ¡°¡­their lineage was cut off and scattered across the world. Since then, they have been wandering in search of the legacy of a lost nation, renaming themselves the Salt Council, seeking to recover the lost scriptures.¡±

    ¡°So, they can¡¯t break a promise.¡±

    ¡°It became a collective trauma for the order. Even if they hide the truth, once spoken, they won¡¯t lie.¡±

    This isn¡¯t merely a psychological issue. In the game, lying was literally impossible, which was implemented as a penalty. Of course, this came with its own set of consequences.

    ¡®I liked the depressing setting of being a descendant of a fallen faith¡­ But now, the Salt Council and the World¡¯ Forge Order appearing at the same time? What curse is on this ce?¡¯

    Considering everything, this domain is eyed by four faiths: the Codex of Light, the Red Chalice, the Salt Council, and the World¡¯ Forge.

    Including Isaac, that¡¯s Nameless Chaos, and indirectly, the Immortal Order, making six.

    Having six out of nine faiths interested is no ordinary matter.

    ¡®Thinking about the remaining Elil, the Golden Idol, and Olkan Code being neutral or istionist, it¡¯s like all possible faiths have gathered. So, they¡¯ve been noticing something all along, even if no secrets have been revealed? Or were they predicting the birth of a new faith from this point on?¡¯

 Chapter 84:

    Chapter 84:

    In the game ¡°Nameless Chaos,¡± the major yer factions are outwardly referred to as ¡°the Nine Faiths,¡± a term echoed by NPCs within the game. They symbolize the nine rules that have governed the world since ancient barbarism receded and the age of human dominance began.

    However, in reality, there are only eight faiths.

    This is because the something that was the ninth faith spread a gue that killed all its followers who knew its name and then destroyed itself.

    ¡®That would be the Nameless Chaos, the thing that¡¯s parasitizing my body¡­¡¯

    The terrible gue that killed a third of the world¡¯s poption greatly increased the fear of death, creating fertile ground for the youngest of the Nine Faiths, the Immortal Order, to arise.

    Thus, the Nameless Chaos became a monster faith worshiped only by mindless monsters.

    Kalsen seemed to have aimed to im this nominal ninth faith for himself. However, he failed to be a god and merely set the stage for the 13th Dawn Brigade.

    With this thought, Isaac suddenly recalled the ¡°Ancient God XP Theory.¡±

    ¡®Wait, could Kalsen have been the one trying to feed the ancient god?¡¯

    It was a usible scenario.

    Kalsen had alreadymitted apostasy, but moving alone made it hard for others like Hesabel or Isaac to detect his actions, just as they were doing theirs. Actively seeking to resurrect the ancient god were Kalsen¡¯s coborators, the Red Grail and the Immortal Order.

    ¡®Wait, does this mean I¡¯m following in Kalsen¡¯s footsteps?¡¯

    Isaac was perplexed.

    Then, could Kalsen also have been chosen by the Nameless Chaos?

    But recalling the game¡¯s content, Kalsen did not use tentacles or wield the power of chaos.

    Instead, Kalsen, who became the final boss of the Immortal Order, was more akin to a death knight.

    Of course, this could have been the path he chose after failing to ascend to godhood. However, it seemed unlikely that Kalsen was chosen by the Nameless Chaos. Otherwise, when Isaac possessed this body, the tentacles would not have devoured Kalsen.

    ¡®Anyway, if Kalsen tried to establish a new faith in this domain, he must have had his reasons. And there must also be reasons why the other faiths are paying attention. Meeting the cksmith has just given me more questions.¡¯

    Isaac decided to expand the game even further. Unintentionally, he had already involved other faiths in this y.

    The moreplex andrger the board, the stronger the power of the joker.

    Since no one yet knows about the intervention of the Nameless Chaos, Isaac ns to be the joker card, gaining the most benefit.

    ***

    Caitlin, the head of the Golden Idol¡¯s Seor branch, was startled upon receiving a letter.

    The letter carrier was none other than Isolde.

    She had tensed up when told that an inquisitor had a letter for her.

    Even for a neutral faith, an inquisitor was a frightening presence to a heretic like her. However, despite the terrifying rumors about inquisitors, the Isolde she met was a fresh and lively twenty-year-old beauty.

    But her relief was short-lived upon reading the letter.

    ¡°A letter from Sir Isaac of the Grail?¡±

    ¡°He is now Lord Isaac Issacrea. He has inherited the Hendrake domain.¡±

    ¡°Ah, so quickly¡­¡±

    Caitlin shook her head in disbelief. Isolde found her reaction peculiar.

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you surprised that a young Grail Knight has suddenly be a lord?¡±

    ¡°Uh? Oh, I am curious about what happened. But on the other hand, I¡¯m not that keen on knowing. The new lord of the Hendrake domain is already infamous for being a fool, no offense. If my remark about nobility offended you¡­¡±

    ¡°I am an inquisitor. Nobility insults are not my concern.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a relief. Anyway, I heard the domain¡¯s management is erratic because of that noble, plus the incident with the angels and the knightly skills I know of¡­ It¡¯s not really surprising.¡±

    Caitlin already knew about the angel vanquishing. In fact, the entire city of Seor was abuzz with it. The very Grail Knight who had previously chastised corruption and saved merchants in their city had now defeated an angel.

    Isaac¡¯s fame had reached almost saintly levels. It wasn¡¯t without reason that the order had attempted to canonize him.

    Caitlin was so astounded by Isaac¡¯s achievements that the news of him bing a lord barely fazed her. Compared to the feats he had aplished, bing a noble seemed almost modest.

    After all, there were plenty of nobles with unremarkable abilities, but Isaac had achieved something truly unique to him.

    ¡°But with such rapid sess¡­ it must have been more than just pure faith and luck.¡±

    Caitlin found herself bitterly smiling, unknowingly. She recalled the terrible loss she nearly faced during the Loracus incident. If Isaac hadn¡¯t been considerate of her situation then, the foundation of the Golden Idol¡¯s Seor branch might have been uprooted.

    ¡®It seems that incident wasn¡¯t just a coincidence after all.¡¯

    But now, she felt neither unjustly treated nor at a loss. Instead, she thought it was fortunate that she had been dealt with by Isaac.

    In her eyes, Isaac was someone bound for greatness.

    A person with exceptional abilities, ambition, luck, and cunning? Caitlin couldn¡¯t even begin to guess how far Isaac would climb. As the head of the Golden Idol¡¯s branch, it made sense to maintain a connection, even if just through financial ties.

    Bound by money, they would have to see each other whether they liked it or not.

    ¡°So¡­ aren¡¯t you going to read the letter?¡±

    ¡°Eh? Oh, yes. I should read it.¡±

    Caitlin¡¯s thoughts had wandered, prompting Isolde to nudge her. Caitlin was about to see Isolde out before reading the letter, but their eyes met as Isolde remained seated.

    An awkward silence followed.

    Caitlin btedly realized why Isolde wasn¡¯t getting up.

    ¡°Ah, you want to see me read the letter?¡±

    ¡°No, I¡¯m more curious about what it says.¡±

    Isolde stated boldly.

    Caitlin found it absurd to be asked to share personal correspondence, but she remembered Isolde was an inquisitor.

    Inquisitors typically care little for personal privacy. It wouldn¡¯t have been surprising if she had inspected it without asking. Thus, Caitlin found Isolde¡¯s approach somewhat refreshing.

    ¡®It seems the young ones these days aren¡¯t as sinister as in the past.¡¯

    ¡°Well¡­ then I¡¯ll read it and let you know.¡±

    ¡°Yes. I would like to see the original after you¡¯ve read it.¡±

    Caitlin shrugged as if it didn¡¯t matter. By the time Isaac had used an inquisitor as a letter carrier, he must have expected as much.

    Caitlin quickly read through the letter. It was straightforward and clear, without any floridnguage, so it didn¡¯t take long to read. Although somewhat bureaucratic and filled with numbers, Caitlin was more ustomed to such figures. It was hard to believe a Grail Knight had written it, given its dry content.

    ¡°Already done reading?¡±

    ¡°Mm. There¡¯s not much to it. Our firm has an ount opened by Mr. Isaac, and he¡¯ll be sending some goods to purchase. He also needs to withdraw some gold, and the rest is about proposing a few business ventures.¡±

    ¡°Business ventures?¡±

    ¡°Yes. It seems he intends to take his role as a lord more seriously than his predecessor.¡±

    Caitlin handed the letter to Isolde, summarizing its content briefly. Isolde, after hearing the exnation and seeing the letter herself, found it to be exactly that: dry business proposals.

    There were no secrets hidden or significant implications to be found.

    ¡°Well, I should be on my way then.¡±

    Caitlin quickly got up as if her business was concluded. Isolde, noticing her hurried demeanor, asked,

    ¡°Do you have an appointment?¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    Caitlin responded with a smile.

    ¡°But for a merchant, business is more important than an appointment. I¡¯ve received a once-in-a-lifetime offer, so I¡¯m a bit eager to get moving.¡±

    The next person Isolde encountered was Jacquette.

    However, Jacquette, who acted as the leader of the local Barbarians, panicked and fled upon learning that an inquisitor was looking for him. It was no use telling him that he wasn¡¯t there to be apprehended.

    Even atheists weren¡¯t of interest to inquisitors unless they threatened the teachings of the Codex of Light. After all, Barbarianscked a unifying center, and conflicts between faiths wielding miracles andmanding angels were far more threatening.

    Isolde realized meeting in a polite setting would be difficult.

    One dawn, as Jacquette was sleeping in his hideout, he woke up to find Isolde sitting beside his bed. Escaping a dedicated inquisitor was impossible for a mere gang leader like Jacquette.

    Despite the difficulty, Isolde managed to deliver the letter¡¯s message, which was not much different from what Caitlin received.

    ¡°You want to hire them as guards?¡±

    ¡°Yes. For those without skills, that¡¯s the offer, and if there are those with skills, he¡¯s willing to take responsibility for employing them too.¡±

    Jacquette tried to speak confidently but had to suppress his instinct to kneel while exining the contents of the letter. His exnation was so detailed and forting that it seemed unlikely he was hiding anything.

    ¡®That¡¯s odd.¡¯

    Caitlin believes in the Golden Idol faith, yet from a neutral position, she offers help through gold and logistics. But the Barbarians? To a faithful like Isolde, they were practically useless. Of course, she would treat them as people from a moral standpoint, but frankly, they were not the sort of people she wanted to associate with closely.

    It wasn¡¯t a matter of their low status or danger.

    In a world where gods palpably exist, those without faith usually have their reasons.

    Madmen who believe they are gods, barbarians who cannot abandon long-fallen ancient gods, heretics worshiping obscure deities, or criminals too scared of going to hell for their sins to think about the afterlife¡­

    Since most Barbaris fall into such categories, it was natural for the faithful to keep their distance.

    Of course, had Isaac heard such reasoning, he might have argued, ¡°Without giving Barbarians a chance, they¡¯re more likely to head in that direction,¡± but Isolde¡¯s thinking wasmon sense for the era.

    ¡®But why specifically involve the Barbarians? What¡¯s the meaning behind it?¡¯

    Perhaps Isaac, a truly noble and virtuous Grail Knight, intended it. To gather the forsaken and neglected Barbarians, providing them with true teachings and salvation, bringing them into his domain due to a shortage of people.

    Yet, even to Isolde, that assumption felt ludicrous.

    Isaac wasn¡¯t so simple and naive.

    Even if conversion was the goal, there must be second and third motives hidden behind it.

    Isolde asked Jacquette,

    ¡°So, will you go?¡±

    ¡°Eh? Oh, um, of course. It¡¯s routine for Barbarians to drift between being mercenaries or bandits. If there¡¯s a chance to settle down and earn a living, there¡¯s no reason to refuse.¡±

    Isolde nodded. It was clear that Isaac was gathering people in the Issacrea domain for some purpose. Without anyone urging him, Isaac would likely reveal his ns.

    Isolde began to wonder what kind of miracle Isaac intended to show.

    ***

    ¡®How should I sell the potion to Isolde¡­?¡¯

    Honestly, promising to show Isolde a miracle was just a way to buy time.

    He had already thought about how to sell the potion. But he really couldn¡¯t show her the tentacles. Even if he wrapped the tentacles in halos, tied them with ribbons, and handed her a cute teddy bear, tentacles are¡­ tentacles.

    Isaac could roughly imagine the expression on Isolde¡¯s face upon seeing them.

    He wasn¡¯t thinking, ¡°She¡¯s annoying, so let¡¯s kill her!¡± Oveing this hurdle was necessary. If a notable figure suddenly emerged within the order, it was natural for an inquisitor to investigate, especially if that figure was a candidate for sainthood.

    Passing this first checkpoint wouldn¡¯t rid him of suspicion, but it would be a start.

    ¡®Fortunately, Isolde is a good person.¡¯

    Although today¡¯s inquisitors were more akin to a rational investigative organization than zealots, they weren¡¯t without dogmatic tendencies. Belief in absolute justice was essential to carry out the duties of an inquisitor.

    However, perhaps due to her background from the Brant ducal family, Isolde hadn¡¯t been indoctrinated with fanaticism. It seemed difficult for the order to pressure her too much, and given her still naive demeanor, it appeared she hadn¡¯t been tasked with mentally taxing investigations.

    That was precisely the point Isaac nned to exploit.

 Chapter 85:

    Chapter 85:

    Isolde was a concern, but Isaac had plenty to do before the Salt Council approached again.

    Isolde, the Salt Council, domain management¡ªit all seemed like a tangled web ofplicated issues, but in reality, they were interconnected.

    The most visible and fundamental problem was the devastation of the domain.

    This devastation was multifaceted.

    Kyle Hendracke had been managing the domain almost entirely with the profits from Loracus trade. Since the ie from Loracus trading was much greater than the domain¡¯s earnings, he had no interest in managing the domain. It was found that he had ns to eventually leave the domain empty and move to the capital if he could make enough money.

    Naturally, the domain was devastated, and the poption decreased. Moreover, due to recent events, the atmosphere was unsettled, and even the few fields that were avable missed the sowing season.

    ¡°Are we running out of food?¡±

    ¡°Yes, my lord.¡±

    The vige headman couldn¡¯t even look at Isaac and bowed his head as he spoke. Despite being much older than Isaac, whether because of the social hierarchy or faith, he could not meet Isaac¡¯s eyes.

    Especially since he had seen Isaac defeating the prophet of the red flesh on top of the walls. Most of the simple vigers regarded Isaac as an incarnation of a god. But hunger made even a mere viger dare to speak to the incarnation of a god.

    ¡°It is indeed a time of scarcity in spring. But haven¡¯t you prepared at all?¡±

    ¡°Originally, this domain does not produce much food. So we hunted or supplied manufactured goods to the lord¡¯s castle, and in exchange, the former lord would release food, but now hunting is also not going well¡­¡±

    Isaac understood the situation. The only way for the domain to secure food was to buy it from the outside. There were some crops and animals from the small farnd and mountains, but it was far from enough.

    However, the Loracus situation, Kyle¡¯s mismanagement, war, and even the appearance of angels made it a ce merchants avoided.

    The problem could be solved when Caitlin from the Golden Idol Guild arrived, but the immediate issue was that the residents were starting to run out of food. Considering the increasing poption in the future, it was a serious problem.

    ¡®When the upper echelons create chaos, it¡¯s always the lower sses who die first.¡¯

    Isaac decided to distribute the remaining food in the castle to the residents. Since the number of people had significantly decreased, there was some surplus of food. But it was not enough tost a year.

    Fortunately, there was Reinhardt, a neighboring lord who had be a devoted follower of Isaac, with a fertile domain.

    ¡°Do not worry. I am willing to support you.¡±

    Reinhardt¡¯s trust originated from believing Isaac was a pdin of the Codex of Light. However, after a series of events, his devotion became almost entirely personal to Isaac.

    Isaac, now essentially embodying nameless chaos, was gradually shifting Reinhardt¡¯s faith towards this nameless chaos.

    ***

    With Reinhardt¡¯s help, the immediate crisis was averted, but Isaac still had to deal with the myriad of problems in the domain in the long term.

    Food was not the only issue.

    After securing immediate sustenance, issues with administration and justice became apparent.

    The world¡¯s administrative and judicial systems did not operate ording to Isaac¡¯smon sense.

    If the asional disy of over-technology could be considered a miracle by the gods, the technological level of this world was simr to the Middle Ages.

    However, the administration was even worse. Whenever one wondered how it functioned, the saying ¡®pray if it doesn¡¯t get resolved¡¯ would inevitably appear.

    It was a universalnguage that filled every gap.

    Eventually, it seemed there was no reason to develop further since priests would be dispatched to miraculously solve any problem that arose. The Hendrack domain was also haphazardly managed by bureaucrats¡¯ quick fixes and stopgap solutions.

    Isaac, sensible enough not to force 21st-century administration on a medieval domain, first looked for an existing manual in this world.

    Surprisingly, there was a manual.

    It was of no help at all.

    ¡®The lord¡¯s goal is to expand the farnds, increase the poption, defend against external threats, implement thew fairly, and act in a manner that is not shameful under the name of the Codex of Light.¡¯

    It was difficult to know exactly what to do with only abstract principles to go by, but Isaac started by unfolding a map. The poption living in the domain, including those in the mountains, amounted to only about 500 people, which was notrge considering the size of the domain. This was due to Kyle¡¯s indifference to managing the popce, as he was focused on making money.

    Everyborer was valuable at this time. Isaac first ordered a census and updated the map. Thanks to the effects of the sanctuary, it was possible to urately determine the correct and incorrect parts of the map even from within the castle.

    Arge water source was located in the southeast of the domain, from which water flowed down to form a valley, passing through the domain and flowing to the northern sea. To the north, there was an abandoned mine where an angel was buried, and to the west, there was a road connecting to the central region, which had been left neglected after andslide.

    The domain itself was beautiful but had be deste due to recent events.

    Reviving the devastated farnds was an urgent issue. Although the current poption was notrge, there were ns to bring in many more people in the long term.

    It was necessary to reach at least a level of self-sufficiency.

    However, the domain had abundant water but not many t areas, which was disadvantageous for growing crops.

    Isaac thought of a crop suitable for this terrain.

    ¡®Now that I think about it, aren¡¯t potatoes not eaten in this region yet?¡¯

    During Isaac¡¯s time in the monastery, potatoes were an indispensable staple at every meal. Yet, in the Gerthonia Empire, potatoes were notmonly used as food. The reason was that potatoes, being root vegetables that grow in the dark soil, were considered ominous by the Codex of Light.

    It was a strange logic considering that the monastery where Isaac stayed had no issues consuming them. However, the monasteries on the frontier were too impoverished. If they hadn¡¯t eaten those, perhaps half of the monks would have starved to death, so it might have been an unavoidable choice.

    ¡®The priests living here probably see no reason to eat potatoes when they can have white bread, cheese, and meat on their tables at every meal¡­¡¯

    But there was no better crop to grow in the harsh mountainous regions than potatoes. Isaac began to inquire about the avability of potatoes in the area.

    Fortunately, poachers and sh-and-burn farmers over the mountains were growing potatoes. Isaac sent Hesabel to buy potatoes and persuaded the sh-and-burn farmers to settle in the domain. The residents who were unfamiliar with potatoes would change their minds seeing the Pdin himself growing and eating them.

    ¡®It¡¯s clich¨¦, but there¡¯s no reason not to use what¡¯s avable.¡¯

    Fortunately or unfortunately, there was a lot of vacantnd in the domain due to the departure of the residents.

    Isaac was able to nt potatoes on all the emptynd.

    ***

    Next was the task of repairing the damaged castle and walls, and fixing the broken roads.

    The western road,pletely blocked by andslide, was not a problem that could be solved in a day or two, so it was temporarily abandoned, but the castle needed to be repaired. Amidst the urgent need for sustenance, the notion of repairing the castle, rumored to be cursed, spread fear and anger among the residents.

    Although Isaac had expelled the curse, there was still uncertainty.

    Of course, no resident dared to oppose the Pdin who had even beaten an angel.

    However, Isaac considered repairing the walls as important as farming. Whether it was the Red Chalice, the Immortal Order, or even, though unlikely, the Codex of Light, if they were involved in a conspiracy here, there was now saying they wouldn¡¯t interfere again. Isaac did not want to be left defending on precarious walls when that time came.

    It was Kyle Hendracke who stepped forward then.

    ¡°If there might still be a curse, then all the more reason to repair the castle. If monsters drawn by the curse attack, will you hide behind the feeble walls of your homes? Will you leave the Pdin to reside in a crumbling castle and only call for help when you need it?¡±

    Although anyone could argue that Kyle was the cause of the castle¡¯s deterioration, Kyle was showing hismitment through actions.

    After being brainwashed, Kyle wore only the simplest of sackcloth garments, ate only the ¡®potatoes¡¯ distributed by Isaac, and slept only in the castle¡¯s prayer room. The transformation of the ¡®lord,¡¯ once known for his arrogance and stupidity, made people believe he had trulye to his senses, guided by the Pdin into a saint-like figure.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t the Pdin helping us with our immediate needs? It¡¯s a difficult time now, but we can¡¯t let the evil gods of heresy continue to disrupt our lives. Let¡¯s all stand against the heretic faith following our Pdin¡¯s will!¡±

    Kyle shamelessly incited them, creating an external enemy.

    It was all the fault of the ¡°heretic gods¡± that Kyle ended up in this situation and the domain became deste.

    By cing all the me on the Red Grail and creating a sense of unity with ¡°us,¡± there was also an intention to make people rely on the shadow of the giant named ¡°Isaac.¡±

    As their lord, Kyle personally carried stones and participated in the restoration work, leading people to believe his words were right and join in the effort. The neglected and damaged forest paths throughout the domain also began toe back to life.

    Of course, the prayers Kyle offered were directed towards Isaac, the representative of nameless chaos, and people might have thought differently if they knew a giant worm had taken residence in his brain.

    Isaac smiled as he saw the construction and agricultural development proceeding smoothly.

    ¡®Not bad.¡¯

    Of course, Kyle¡¯s actions followed Isaac¡¯s instructions, but the details couldn¡¯t all be dictated by Isaac, and Kyle did surprisingly well. Whether it was the intelligence of the worm or Kyle¡¯s own talents finally finding a ce to shine was unclear.

    The Issacrea domain was quickly shedding its devastated raggedness, but it was still far from being fully restored. Problems would continue to arise, and eventually, Isaac would have to intervene with specific guidelines.

    ¡®I can¡¯t afford to attend to these minor issues one by one.¡¯

    Isaac hadn¡¯t thought deeply when he decided to take over this domain. He simply didn¡¯t want to leave thisnd, which would be the starting point of significant events in the future, unguarded. By the time Isaac absorbed Kalsen, the future he knew was already veering off course.

    ¡®The flow of the Dawn Army itself will probably change¡­ I need to grow stronger until then, but I can¡¯t be held back by the domain forever.¡¯

    Fortunately, the general framework was in ce. With Kyle as the figurehead, Caitlin¡¯s Golden Idol Guild for supplies, and Jacquette¡¯s Barbarians mercenaries for security, some stability was expected.

    But that wasn¡¯t enough.

    The Immortal Order would surely cause trouble, the Codex of Light needed constant vignce, and the trustworthiness of the Red Grail was uncertain.

    ¡®I need a powerful backer.¡¯

    A backer solely for Isaac.

    [The nameless chaos watches over you.]

    ***

    In the deep cer of the monastery.

    Within the sanctuary of the nameless chaos, where a giant heart throbbed, Isaac was looking at an anonymous stone b. It was the trigger Kalsen Miller had intended to use to be a god, and it was uncertain how many beings had been involved in its creation.

    But now, ity in Isaac¡¯s hands, ownerless and directionless.

    Isaac had been fiddling with the anonymous b for a long time but had left it alone without doing anything.

    ¡®It¡¯s too dangerous to use recklessly.¡¯

    Isaac had not considered using the anonymous scripture to ascend to the ranks of gods, like Kalsen Miller intended. Well, maybe just a speck of thought.

    It felt so absurd that he dismissed the idea as soon as it came up.

    The fact that Kalsen Miller¡¯s path was a failure was one reason, but that was secondary.

    Isaac was content with leading a peaceful life without threats.

    Had he dreamed of bing a god to save people or seek revenge, his actions would have been entirely different from the start. But such grand objectives were far from Isaac¡¯s dreams.

    There was also the daunting reality that the greater and more powerful one bes, the more responsibilities one has to bear.

    ¡®However¡­¡¯

    Isaac pondered as he caressed the anonymous scripture.

    ¡®How much stronger could I be?¡¯

 Chapter 86:

    Chapter 86:

    Isaac already possessed overwhelming strength merely by wielding his tentacles.

    With these tentacles, he had devoured ancient gods, defeated angels, and overpowered knights and vampires. While some of this prowess was due to his own training, much of it was grounded in the power he derived from the nameless chaos.

    But what if he could draw even more power from the nameless chaos?

    What if, like other orders, he conducted rituals, gathered followers to chant hymns, and started to assemble an army equipped with sacred relics? How much stronger could he be then?

    At the very least, he wouldn¡¯t have to live in constant fear of his true identity being discovered.

    Not just for himself but for his people as well.

    ¡®Yes. To protect us all¡­.¡¯

    Isaac suddenly snapped back to reality at the word ¡®us¡¯.

    ¡®Us¡¯?

    Did he really have people he could refer to that way?

    Though he had brought in individuals like Hesabel and Jacquette as followers, they were more akin to employer and employee rtionships rather than a collective ¡®us¡¯.

    Isaac withdrew his hand from the anonymous b, feeling a chill. Suddenly, his obsession with the b vanished as if it had been a mere illusion.

    ¡°What the hell?¡±

    Isaac wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

    He had thought the anonymous b would be powerless until used. But that was not the case.

    The b yearned to be ¡®used¡¯.

    It seemed to barely contain its eagerness to burst forth from its thin confines.

    ¡®Is it trying to control my mind? No. That wasn¡¯t my own thought.¡¯

    The sound had emanated from within the anonymous scripture itself. Someone, or something, beyond it was desperately waiting for Isaac to release it. Isaac, impulsively, extended a tentacle and drove it down into the b.

    Despite a strike powerful enough to prate a sheet of the same thickness, the anonymous scripture remained unaffected. It was as sturdy as a shield.

    And the moment it came into contact with the tentacle, a series of whispers began to resound once more.

    ¡®Please, again¡­¡¯

    Suddenly, bizarre scenes shed before Isaac¡¯s eyes.

    Groups walking naked into the sea, priests offering infants as sacrifices, a man mutting his own body to birth tentacled monsters from his wounds¡­ These disturbing and nauseating scenes shook his mind.

    [The nameless chaos watches over you.]

    [The nameless chaos issues a strong warning to you.]

    ¡®What?¡¯

    Isaac was puzzled by the warning, which he couldn¡¯t make sense of, when a creepy feeling began to envelop him. A tepid, vile smell filled the sanctuary, unlike anything he had ever encountered. Isaac realized the smell was emanating from the anonymous scripture.

    Then, a worm crawled out of the scripture.

    It was a gray maggot.

    The maggot seemed to have burrowed out of the scripture, eating through it, and climbed onto the tentacle. Soon, countless maggots began to emerge onto the scripture. They rapidly spun cocoons, underwent metamorphosis, and emerged transformed.

    ¡°What is this¡­¡±

    Simultaneously, a corner of the sanctuary began to distort and bulge unnaturally.

    ¡®A hallucination? No. Is the space itself warping?¡¯

    Inside that fluctuating space, a few worms flew around. However, Isaac realized these worms had no counterpart on Earth or anywhere in the known world.

    No, Isaac had seen them before.

    That is, within the game Nameless Chaos.

    Among the monsters that worshipped the nameless chaos, there was one called the Night Stalker.

    Despite the sanctuary being no more than 20 square meters, it seemed as though the creatures, flying in from kilometers away at high speed, were growingrger andrger.

    Isaac attempted to retract his tentacles to confront them.

    However, instead of retracting, the tentacles extended sharp teeth and spikes, driving themselves into the nameless scripture in a sh. Isaac was perplexed by his unresponsive tentacles but soon realized their intent.

    The scripture fluttered as if it were paper, the tentacles acting to prevent it from ¡®unfolding¡¯.

    The fact that the scripture, seemingly as solid as a b, fluttered like paper was astonishing, but there was no time to dwell on such surprises. Isaac drew his sword, even as one hand remained bound.

    The pping of wings erupted loudly as the Night Stalkers revealed themselves. Three Night Stalkers, each reaching a height of 3 meters, emerged, making it feel as though he was surrounded by a forest.

    Beneath their four insect-like wings, a mass resembling a tapeworm protruded, with dozens of tentacles, each armed with teeth and eyes, undting beneath them. These tentacles served the exact same purpose as Isaac¡¯s.

    ¡°Damn it¡­¡±

    Whirring through the air, dozens of tentacles lunged towards Isaac, clearly hostile. Isaac swiftly swung his sword, which red up in response to the hostility, engulfed in mes.

    The ming sword easily sliced through several tentacles. Fortunately, the Night Stalkers¡¯ tentacles weren¡¯t as tough as Isaac¡¯s. However, enraged by their spilled purplish blood, the Night Stalkers beat their wings even more fiercely.

    The once-cramped sanctuary had now expanded into a vast wastnd, clearly having transformed into some sort of magical space.

    Night Stalkers typically hunt by snatching passing prey in the dead of night, crushing them into their stomachs in mid-air. This open, expansive space was an ideal hunting ground for the Night Stalkers.

    However, Isaac had no reason to be wary of onlookers when facing these monsters.

    Colors from beyond began to scatter from his hand immediately. Ink-like, nightmarish darkness spread, but there was no time to wait until the darkness filled the air. As soon as a sufficient amount of color had spread, Isaac activated the abyssal grasp.

    A tentacle as thick as a torso burst forth from the swirling colors, instantly crushing one of the Night Stalkers. He had hastily summoned it, unable to call forth anythingrger.

    The creatures shouted something indecipherable from a part of their body that could be either a mouth or a belly.

    ¡°¡ö¡ö¡ö ¡ö!¡±

    It was a strangenguage he had never heard before, but oddly, Isaac understood its meaning.

    ¡®A traitor? What are they talking about?¡¯

    Isaac was incredulous. He was effectively the chosen proxy of the nameless chaos. In his view, it was these monsters that were akin to traitors. They certainly weren¡¯t the kind of followers he¡¯d have chosen for their appearance.

    [The nameless chaos desires these worms to be eradicated immediately.]

    The nameless chaos itself seemed to echo this sentiment.

    Isaac considered whether he was entangled in someplex affair. Yet, in a situation where nearly a hundred tentacles were flying at him, there was little room for intricate thoughts. The Night Stalkers attacked Isaac with desperation, but those caught by the enormous grasp of the abyss were instantly crushed and obliterated.

    The Night Stalker emitted a bizarre pping sound. Isaac found the sound irritatingly peculiar, and he realized it wasn¡¯t just noise but a kind of warning signal to the surroundings.

    These creatures were merely scouts.

    The space began to quiver. From the underground, beyond the horizon, from the sky, through the gaps in space, and from the corners, sinister presences could be felt. Something was rushing in with the force of an overflowing sea. In the space that was once a mere wastnd, gravel, dry leaves, and even drifting clouds twisted bizarrely.

    Isaac¡¯s gaze turned to the anonymous scripture.

    ¡®No choice then.¡¯

    Isaac sent a firm will towards the tentacle gripping the anonymous scripture.

    [The nameless chaos watches over you.]

    As if seeking agreement, the nameless chaos sent a notification to Isaac and then started to move the tip of his tentacle. Isaac could feel the immense divine power he had umted thus far flowing into the tip of his tentacle.

    Isaac¡¯s name began to be engraved on the anonymous scripture.

    Although he ended up using the anonymous scripture somewhat inadvertently, Isaac didn¡¯t believe he would be a god or a failure like Kalsen Miller had. After all, Isaac already had a god in the form of the nameless chaos.

    In precise terms, he was akin to the lighthouse keeper Luadin, who received the Dawn te from the Codex of Light

    ¡®I¡¯m practically a chaos tentacle version of Luadin.¡¯

    As the tentacles left rough scars, the power with which the anonymous scripture thrashed grew stronger. However, Isaac felt the space, which had expanded to the horizon, quickly contract.

    ¡®As expected.¡¯

    The anonymous scripture was already connected to some space. Whether it was inherently so or as a result of contact with Isaac was unclear.

    It was probably rted to bing a god.

    But the anonymous scripture had no owner, making it essentially an open door.

    Now, Isaac had decided to be the keyholder.

    ¡°¡ö¡ö¡ö ¡ö¡ö ¡ö¡ö!¡±

    Strange dialects echoed from the approaching horde of beasts, the sounds so alien they made Isaac feel nauseous. This wasn¡¯t just a group of unusual monsters rushing towards him.

    It was an entire world. A twisted ecosystem, wrung out by something with a bizarre and malevolent taste, was rushing towards him like a wave. Isaac didn¡¯t want to imagine what these beings intended for him.

    Finally, Isaac¡¯s signature on the anonymous scripture waspleted.

    As the tentacles were released, the anonymous scripture fluttered open to its first page.

    The door opened by the anonymous scripture was now at Isaac¡¯s discretion to open or close.

    As the monsters charged right up to him, Isaac transferred divine words to be inscribed on the first page.

    ¡°Close.¡±

    The bloated space quickly contracted back to its original form.

    As if a vast horizon suddenly narrowed and walls were erected, the original sanctuary returned. However, the monsters did not fare as well. Trapped within the narrowing walls of this world, they were crushed and obliterated.

    A few that managed to leap into the sanctuary in time were sliced apart against the walls. The only survivor was a Night Stalker, missing just one wing.

    Isaac quickly whipped his tentacles, piercing the heart of the Night Stalker. It was easy to dispatch the creature, trapped in a confined space and unable to fly. Until the end, it iled its tentacles at Isaac.

    For Isaac, who knew how nightmarish a single Night Stalker could be at midnight, this was a trivial oue. These were the monsters rumored among yers to block entry into undeveloped areas, known as keepers.

    ¡®Location aside¡­ the nameless chaos truly is powerful.¡¯

    If not overly ambitious, Isaac spected he might manage against a knight or two.

    Isaac watched as thest remaining Night Stalker was squeezed by the tentacles into oblivion. Even as it nearly lost its form, it muttered something.

    ¡°¡ö¡ö ¡ö¡ö¡ö ¡ö¡­¡­¡±

    It was the same phrase the monsters had been screaming, each in their unique voice. Though the specific words varied and ranged from vitriol to pleas and passionate roars, their meaning was ultimately the same.

    Isaac could understand the meaning once more.

    Please,e back and save us.

 Chapter 87:

    Chapter 87:

    Isaac was shocked that these monsters were capable of speech, even if it was in the form of pleas or curses directed at him.

    ¡®The nameless chaos is now a faith believed only by monsters to the extent it could be called a monster religion¡­ And I¡¯m being opposed by those very monsters?¡¯

    The conclusion from the Night Stalker¡¯s words and reactions was clear. The nameless chaos had abandoned not only its followers but also its divine beasts and kin. And now, it was channeling all its power into Isaac.

    ¡®The nameless chaos killed all its followers who knew its name. That¡¯s why it was forgotten and treated as a dead god. That¡¯s why it¡¯s called the nameless chaos¡­¡¯

    It could be considered a kind of mythological suicide.

    This raised an essential question.

    Why did the nameless chaosmit suicide?

    Why did it decide to spread the White Death, a cmity that wiped out a third of the world¡¯s poption?

    Seeing that it mercilessly killed even its own kin and followers, it was clear that the nameless chaos had no intention of connecting its past actions with its current ones.

    This was both a relief and a regret for Isaac.

    As a modern person, Isaac didn¡¯t want to live in a world governed by the nameless chaos. Whether he liked it or not, he had no choice but to prefer the order led by the Codex of Light. However, he wondered if the tentacle monsters could be of use in a crisis. But it seemed unlikely at the moment.

    ¡®Well, can¡¯t be helped.¡¯

    Isaac surveyed the remnants of monsters scattered across the sanctuary. The veins and muscle fibers stretched across the sanctuary absorbed all the debris on the floor. However, there remained some debris from the monsters¡¯ bodies.

    Filled with divine power.

    It was a power belonging to the nameless chaos.

    Isaac pondered how to use this power. It felt wrong to absorb it immediately, but leaving it felt equally unsettling. It had to be discharged somehow.

    Then, Isaac remembered the sight of the worm crawling out of the anonymous scripture.

    ¡®Worms¡­ Worms, huh? Worms can be useful, depending on how you use them.¡¯

    Deciding how to use the power, Isaac ced his hand on the nameless scripture again. The whispering sounds continued, but they were no longer as distinct nor did they try to dominate him. They were merely prisoners, capable of nothing but weeping.

    [To initiate this ritual, you must name the scripture.]

    [Please name this scripture.]

    Considering the circumstances under which the anonymous scripture became a sacred text, and the origin of the ¡®ritual¡¯ it would perform as part of the nameless chaos, Isaac chose a name.

    ¡°The Book of the Nameless Worm.¡±

    [The Iplete Book of the Nameless Worm (EX+) has been created.]

    ¡®Iplete?¡¯

    That made sense, considering he had just named it and written a title. It was natural for it to be iplete.

    Around the Book of the Nameless Worm, the divine power filling the sanctuary began to gather. It started to take form and condense, then vanished like mist. Isaac felt the divine power that had filled the sanctuary diminish significantly.

    Separately, through the senses of the sanctuary, Isaac could feel what was happening throughout the Issacrea domain.

    The signs of a miracle went unnoticed by everyone.

    It started so slowly, over such a wide area, and from beneath the ground, that nobody realized what was happening. The divine power emanating from the remnants of the Night Crawler stimted theyer just beneath the soil. The stimted earthworms, maggots, and ground beetles began to move. These despised and loathed creatures began to proliferate like single-celled organisms, spreading vigorously beneath the surface. They constantly consumed the soil and excreted it, making the scarce arablend of the Issacrea domain more fertile than ever before.

    Pests too made their appearance, eagerly crawling up to the surface. The chickens and ducks on the farms started to fatten up significantly.

    Some creatures even plunged into the rivers, making the fish in the streams thicker than ever before.

    The seeds of the potatoes that Isaac had nted grew bigger, and birds and beasts gathered to feed on the bustling insects, making the forest even noisier.

    Spring arrived in the Issacrea domain earlier and more bountifully than ever before.

    All of this was achieved through delicate tuning to prevent the outbreak of harmful species or the copse of the ecosystem. Adjusting even the lowest elements was enough to enrich thend.

    Because these changes urred over a long period, the people living there hardly felt the dramatic transformation, feeling only that life had be somewhat better.

    However, Isolde, who returned after a week, was immediately struck by the changed atmosphere upon entering the domain.

    ¡°What is this? Even if it¡¯s spring¡­¡±

    Spring is a time of great changes, but there is a consistent atmosphere in any vige. Spring is usually a time of hardship for any vige. The Issacrea domain, having suffered wars and poverty, expected this spring to bring a major crisis. However, the faces of the Issacrea domain¡¯s people that Isolde met bore no shadows.

    ¡°The roads have been paved, and the walls repaired. Did they have the leisure for that?¡±

    ¡°Huh, was this ce always like this?¡±

    Isolde¡¯spanion, Jacquette, tilted her head and murmured in confusion.

    ¡°Have you been here before?¡±

    ¡°Well, um. We wander around here and there, so we¡¯ve looked around this area. But I remember passing by because it seemed there was nothing to feast on. The atmosphere is quite different now.¡±

    Isolde looked around, feeling strange that she wasn¡¯t the only one feeling this way.

    The snow that hadn¡¯t melted until early spring due to the shaded valley had disappeared, and the valley was now flowing with plentiful water. The dry and barren trees now proudly disyed branchesden with fresh green leaves. Even though it was still the nting season, it appeared that no one was starving.

    ¡°It seems we can trust the knight after all if things are this well-off. I thought we might have to hunt.¡±

    Jacquette was the vanguard dispatched ahead of the Barbarians following behind. Though she led no more than a hundred Barbarians, it was a significant force for a small domain. If there were no concerns about food, there would be much they could do.

    However, Caitlin was preparing and thus departingter. As the branch manager of Seor, she couldn¡¯t leave Sor entirely, but it seemed she nned to grant significant authority to the Issacrea domain.

    Isolde wondered what changes would ur once these two settled in the Issacrea domain.

    ***

    The only person who felt the changes in real-time was Isaac himself.

    The miraculous event was still ongoing, and the changes toe were greater than those that had already urred. Isaac could sense the entire domain from the sanctuary, knowing that the miracle wrought by the nameless chaos would change the region¡¯s ecosystem significantly.

    However, Isaac also considered the opposite possibility.

    ¡°If a barren valley can be made fruitful, the opposite is also possible¡­¡±

    What if Isaac had used this miracle with evil intent? Swarms of poisonous insects and pests would have risen from the ground, devouring everything like a gue of locusts, turning thend into a wastnd.

    Of course, Isaac had no such intentions. To him, that seemed a worthless endeavor. Why increase the wastnd? Unless he was to consume it himself.

    Isaac suddenly remembered that the nameless chaos was categorized as a malevolent deity.

    It would be hard to excuse the sin of killing a third of the world¡¯s poption. And then there were the tentacle monsters, controlling minds, and, incidentally, consuming them¡­

    Isaac wondered if the followers of the nameless chaos had also engaged in such deeds in the past.

    ¡°If so, why did it kill all its followers?¡±

    The question didn¡¯t linger long.

    Isaac had too much to do to get lost in such thoughts.

    To truly feel the changes that had urred in the domain, more time was still needed.

    Isaac was still distributing food to the people of the domain and had eradicated the traditional injustices that urred within it. Whenever monsters appeared, he personally went out to hunt or devour them, and when incidents urred, he used his Eye of Chaos to find the culprits.

    Isaac¡¯s actions as the lord not only left a deep impression on the residents but also on the priests and pdins. The priests, in particr, were amazed that Isaac, a young Grail Knight, could read and write ¡°like a noble,¡± and even perform calctions with numbers adeptly.

    ¡°How can he calcte so quickly¡­?¡±

    The priest dispatched to assist in managing Isaac¡¯s domain was taken aback upon seeing Isaac calcte faster than himself. Though Isaac was only performing simple arithmetic, it was impressive considering many among the pdins struggled with reading and writing.

    However, Isaac was internally grinding his teeth while handling his duties.

    ¡®These damned barbarians¡­¡¯

    Because people tended to resolve difficult situations with prayer, the administrative system of this era was incredibly primitive. Everyone seemed to adapt and live well, but from the perspective of Isaac, a modern person, it was the epitome of inefficiency, irrationality, and illogicality.

    Isaac felt that if he merely nudged it, the domain he had worked hard to build could crumble like a child¡¯s sandcastle, so he couldn¡¯t just leave it be.

    Most of the reasons Isaac was busy stemmed from this. He aimed to ensure the domain could function reasonably well even in his absence. This was something he couldn¡¯t entrust to anyone else.

    Indeed, he was incredibly busy.

    This was not at all what Isaac had expected, but he had no choice.

    He wished he could just leave it to the priests and pdins, but he knew all too well what might happen to the domain in his absence.

    A prime example was the domain¡¯s judicial system.

    ¡°Grail Knight.¡±

    Although Isaac had be both the lord and the abbot, the mostmon title used to address him was still ¡°Grail Knight.¡± This title upied a significant part of his identity, and its authority was in no way inferior to that of a lord or abbot. Especially since this Grail Knight had defeated an angel.

    ¡°Another trial?¡±

    ¡°It hase to that.¡±

    Pdin Werner answered with a troubled expression.

    Werner, who closely guarded and assisted Isaac with his duties, was one of the pdins who had stayed in the Issacrea domain after arriving with Bishop Juan. He was the same pdin who had been seriously injured in an ambush by a Blood Knight while pursuing a curse with Isaac.

    Thanks to Juan¡¯s direct treatment, his body healed quickly, but he wasn¡¯t as agile as before. Even if it¡¯s called a miracle, it could only mend bones and heal wounds, not undo the injury entirely.

    ¡°What¡¯s the issue this time?¡±

    ¡°Merchants dealing in leather stopped by for trade, and during their stay at the inn, a pouch containing money disappeared. They¡¯ve used the innkeeper. It seems the innkeeper used to store hunters¡¯ leather and broker deals for them.¡±

    ¡°They must have sworn oaths of innocence.¡±

    ¡°Yes. Both parties have testified to their innocence.¡±

    This was precisely the infuriating aspect of the judicial system that frustrated Isaac.

    At this time, trials wereughably conducted by swearing one¡¯s innocence in front of a priest. Just as one wouldn¡¯t go to heaven for minor good deeds, one wouldn¡¯t fall to hell for minor sins.

    However, an oath was different. Swearing an oath on one¡¯s faith meant that, regardless of the oath¡¯s content, viting it implied willingness to risk falling into hell after death.

    ¡®There is no separate trial for the priest.¡¯

 Chapter 88:

    Chapter 88:

    The authority of the order often came from this oath trial. However, priests also disliked invoking the name of the god for trivial matters, so they would not ept trials for just any reason.

    The problem arises when, after taking the oath, both parties still im innocence.

    Naturally, a lightning bolt does not strike down the liar on the spot for breaking the oath. It would only make the afterlife very restless.

    There were numerous instances in these trials where, due to the atmosphere or coercion, someone became a liar.

    ¡®After all, lying to protect oneself in the present rather than worrying about the afterlife is all toomon.¡¯

    If fear of hell had been enough to keep everyone on the straight and narrow, there wouldn¡¯t be a need for nine different religions. Priests also found it difficult when both parties imed innocence. Being literate and having the ability to argue does not necessarily mean one can deduce the truth.

    ¡°It seems like a significant amount was lost.¡±

    ¡°Yes, it was all the money for the leather payment this time¡­¡±

    ¡°What was the oath about?¡±

    ¡°The leather merchant insists he brought the money, and the innkeeper vehemently denies stealing it.¡±

    In such cases, it was often a third party who was innocent, with both sides being meless. However, those awaiting trial now were hoping that a great Grail Knight, who had defeated angels, would resolve their grievances with his remarkable insight.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go then.¡±

    Isaac covered the documents he was working on and headed to the corridor.

    ***

    Upon reaching the hall, the leather merchant and the innkeeper bowed deeply to Isaac.

    ¡°Please stand up.¡±

    The people got up awkwardly. They tried to awkwardly shower Isaac with praise and me their opponent, but Isaac raised his hand to silence them. He did not want to drag this out any longer.

    Isaac deliberately stood in the shadows, so no one could see his eyes turning violet.

    After a moment, Isaac pointed at one of the leather merchants.

    ¡°You there, what is your name?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s Hans.¡±

    Isaac thought of someone with the same name but didn¡¯t dwell on it since it was one of the mostmon names in the empire.

    Isaac sighed and said, ¡°So, Hans paid the innkeeper for the leather. The innkeeper had agreed to give only half of the promised leather. After the case is settled, Hans was toe back and take the remaining half of the leather for himself. Arrest both Hans and the innkeeper.¡±

    It was a ludicrously simple conclusion. Essentially, both had made a deal, thus avoiding breaking their oath of theft. It¡¯s amon form of fraud when unreliable business partners are involved, often leading to embezzlement for personal gain.

    ¡°But, this is unfair¡­¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s ridiculous! I¡¯ve done no such thing¡­¡±

    Before Hans could protest further, Werner stepped forward and kicked his knee.

    Werner, a Pdin capable of climbing mountains even in heavy armor, instantly bent Hans¡¯ knee backward.

    As Hans kneeled, Werner drew his sword and shoved it into his mouth.

    The sword stopped just before tickling the back of his throat.

    ¡°You bastard. Merely attempting to deceive with an oath deserves death. And you dared to dirty the ears of a Grail Knight? I¡¯ll kill you.¡±

    Werner¡¯s pause was just to state the crime, implying he was indeed ready to thrust the sword. If Isaac hadn¡¯t intervened.

    ¡°Stop it.¡±

    ¡°But¡­¡±

    ¡°The rest is a matter for imperialw. Attempting to evade an oath through deceit is not something the order should punish.¡±

    Upon hearing Isaac¡¯s words, the bureaucrats hired for estate management and the observers looked at Isaac with deep admiration. In fact, being horribly punished for breaking an oath in a swearing trial was amon urrence.

    Especially for the lower-ss without powerful backers, such incidents were all toomon. After all, a sword wielded in vengeance is still wielded by someone with eyes. However, because of the order¡¯s superiority in power, the empire could not properly protest against such matters. This led to considerable dissatisfaction among the imperial citizens, as if the order acted above thew.

    ¡°Such a trial by lord, if you can even call it that.¡±

    To Isaac, even this trial seemed utterly foolish. He had made his judgement without witnesses, testimony, or evidence. Although his conclusion, drawn through the Eye of Chaos, was correct, if Isaac had randomly used someone, the oue would have been the same.

    Werner nodded at Isaac¡¯s words and sheathed his sword. Hans, unable to scream, just groaned and clutched at his bent-backward knee before being dragged away by the soldiers. The leather merchants, who should have been angry at Hans, could do nothing but watch him.

    Isaac turned his gaze to the innkeeper.

    ¡°It seems like you had something to say?¡±

    ¡°Nothing. I admit to all my crimes.¡±

    ¡°Is that so? Then consider that you were only approached for a deal, and we¡¯ll consider the leather paid in full. Return the full amount received aspensation, and make sure to transfer all the leather as per the contract.¡±

    This was not a regtion known to imperialw.

    Legally, the innkeeper knew Hans was intending tomit fraud against his business partners but pretended not to know and went ahead with the deal, making it difficult to punish him. However, the intention to deceive by considering a swearing trial was clear, necessitating punishment at the order¡¯s level.

    The innkeeper nodded, sweating.

    The punishment was decided in a nonchnt manner, but some of the priests were deeply impressed by it.

    ¡°How wise and merciful¡­¡±

    ¡°Truly the insight bestowed by the Holy Scriptures¡­¡±

    ¡°Madness.¡±

    Isaac listened to the whispers, admiring yet relieved.

    ¡°Is the poison starting to spread among the priests?¡±

    While Isaac was lost in thought, Werner approached.

    ¡°This trial was truly magnificent, Sir Holy Grail Knight. Indeed, you are like a saint bestowed by the Holy Scriptures.¡±

    Although Isaac had not been sanctified or sought sainthood, Werner revered him as such.

    Just as Reinhardt had been, Werner too was an ardent fan of Isaac. Even though Werner had not witnessed Isaac achieving mythic feats like Reinhardt, Isaac had already be a role model for many pdins. Moreover, since Isaac had saved his life, it was natural for him to be a fervent supporter.

    Additionally, Isaac was humble and courteous to everyone, and his demeanor did not change abruptly with his elevation to nobility. Although all pdins were expected to exhibit these virtues, not many actually did. Especially, the more devoutly religious pdins often fell into arrogance.

    ¡°It was nothing, Werner. Is there anything else?¡±

    ¡°Hmm. It¡¯s not much, but we¡¯ve discovered some unidentified individuals in the western ridges.¡±

    ¡°Poachers again?¡±

    Lately, poachers had been the most frequent trouble for Isaac. The Nameless Chaos took care to not disturb local wildlife when performing miracles, but it couldn¡¯t exclude humans. As prey animals gathered near the domain, it was natural for poachers to approach the viges.

    ¡°They¡¯re not certain, but it seems likely. Simply scaring them off won¡¯t make them listen. This time, we¡¯ll capture and bring them in.¡±

    Isaac thought for a moment, then shook his head.

    ¡°No. Ask them first before driving them out. It doesn¡¯t matter if they¡¯re from Barbary; if they want to hunt, tell them toe to the domain, report directly, and then hunt.¡±

    Most of the sh-and-burn farmers and hunters are atheists from Barbarians. This is because most of the mountains and forests are hunting grounds owned by lords or monasteries, and hunting there naturally turns one into a criminal. Werner seemed taken aback by Isaac¡¯s words, but he nodded in agreement since this was not the first time Isaac had made such ¡®generous¡¯ decisions.

    What Isaac devoted his second most effort to, after managing his domain, was sowing ¡®ideological poison¡¯ among the priests and pdins.

    ***

    ¡°He truly is a saint!¡±

    It took Isaac less than a month topletely captivate the priests and pdins.

    At this time, the priests of the Holy Scriptures were mired inziness and old habits.

    Naturally, when they first became clerics, they were filled with the desire to spread the teachings of the Holy Scriptures, dispel darkness, and protect the weak. However, as time passed and they enjoyed a life of wealth, receiving treatment that even nobles would envy, pride inevitably crept into their hearts.

    They might question whether it was right to live this way, but when they see all other priests living the same way, and the higher echelons of the order showing even more corrupt behaviors, they naturally turn a blind eye.

    Nor do they wish to give up their current lives.

    Whether there¡¯s a food crisis due to skyrocketing prices of Loracus, border disputes leading to refugees, citizens being kidnapped by Wachia hunters, or drought devastating several farnds, they just need to make a show of dealing with the aftermath.

    After all, they are the only ones who can bestow salvation in this chaotic world as mediators of miracles. Besides, miracles are granted and the gates of heaven are open ¡®even if they live like that.¡¯ They saw no reason to change.

    But this esteemed Holy Grail Knight was different.

    ¡®How can he persuade without invoking the name of God, with such kindness?¡¯

    ¡®Why does he train his body without strengthening it through miracles?¡¯

    ¡®How is he knowledgeable about vulgar matters like agriculture, trade, and administration?

    ¡®How can he offer a chance even to those who have forsaken their faith?¡¯

    To Isaac, these were insane thoughts, but to them, these were serious issues. Isaac barely managed to suppress his sighs whenever he heard such questions from the priests. The priests here seemed oddly disconnected from the lives ofypeople, unlike when he spoke with the abbot at the Ariet Monastery.

    ¡®Maybe it¡¯s a problem with Bishop Juan.¡¯

    Birds of a feather flock together, as they say. Or maybe the monastery itself was a gathering ce for monks seeking to distance themselves from power and live in seclusion.

    In any case, Isaac was a refreshing presence for them, reminding them of their original intentions.

    It was as if he was setting an example of how to live righteously.

    ¡®This is crazy.¡¯

    In reality, Isaac hadn¡¯t made much of an effort.

    He simply tried not to do anything nonsensical ording to modern standards. But someone who grew up in a 21st-century democratic society with universal moral standards seemed almost saint-like in this era.

    Of course, asionally, there were ethical glitches, like eating his opponents, but that was just a bug in the left hand, so it was okay¡­ Isaac convinced himself.

    The natural charm of the Nephilim was strong here too, greatly shortening the time it took to enchant them. Of course, ¡®captivating¡¯ here meant earning a strong favorable impression, not converting them into followers like Leohart or Hesabel.

    Drawing out deeper emotions required more traditional methods.

    Namely, preaching and proselytizing.

    ¡°Would you, Sir Holy Grail Knight Isaac, be willing to share a few words at this morning¡¯s service?¡±

    At the time of the morning service, a priest made this request to Isaac.

    Despite the clear procedures and disciplines set for services, no one found it strange for a priest to ask a pdin to preach. Such was the extent of Isaac¡¯s authority.

    Isaac began his sermon with a smile.

 Chapter 89:

    Chapter 89:

    ¡°Even if the light stands by us, what meaning does it have if we turn away and avert our gaze? Even though we feel the warmth of the light from the closest ce to it, who are the sinners that dare not look into it?¡±

    ¡°The Codex of light!¡±

    ¡°Behold us!¡±

    ¡°Open your eyes and lift thentern high! If you do not see even when the Codex of light illuminates your path ahead, it is meaningless!¡±

    Under the passionate atmosphere, Isaac concluded his sermon.

    It was not just priests and pdins who came to listen to the sermon. Ordinary vigers who wanted to hear the words of the Pdin had also joined in. Some were even from Barbarians,ing along with Jacquette, and they were the most passionately responsive audience to Isaac¡¯s sermon.

    Isaac thought to himself as he wiped the sweat that had formed droplets all over him due to his passionate speech.

    ¡®I never thought I¡¯d be preaching and evangelizing in this world instead of fighting and preying on someone¡­¡¯

    Fortunately, Isaac was able to do well. Or rather, he had no choice but to do well.

    It was because of the ¡®Red Prayer,¡¯ a perk obtained by devouring the prophet of red flesh.

    [Red Prayer (A+)]

    [Your likability and charm towards the public increases. Once likability reaches a certain level, emotional sympathy with you urs.]

    Thanks to this perk, Isaac could draw the public¡¯s favor just by speaking usibly. What and how he should preach was entirely up to Isaac¡¯s efforts, but facing an audience that easily empathized, even a novice speaker could deliver a speech skillfully.

    And Isaac was surprised at his own unexpected talent.

    ¡®The problem is, it¡¯s a talent for being a cult leader.¡¯

    Frankly, the sermons Isaac delivered were not about the Codex of light.

    They were sermons filled with a cunningly crafted Scripture of nameless chaos.

    Naturally, the words could be somewhat shocking or provocative to priests and pdins. Moreover, reactions like crying or cheering towards the end were something that could not happen in the traditional strict sermon atmosphere.

    ¡®Who would have thought that going to church with my mom when I was young woulde in handy here.¡¯

    Thinking back, the church had a somewhat cult-like nature, but it was useful in drawing out passionate speeches and speaking in tongues, and the enthusiastic atmosphere among the believers.

    It was not without problems.

    However, perhaps because Isaac was a pdin and not a priest, and because Barbarians were also mixed in, making it a service that ¡®anyone¡¯ could attend, it seemed to pass by somehow.

    In the meantime, Isaac¡¯s ¡®ideological poison¡¯ was spreading to the ears of priests and pdins.

    They were not entirely on Isaac¡¯s side yet. However, when they returned to the church and heard the traditional services and sermons, they would feel stifled.

    That would be the moment they became Isaac¡¯s allies.

    ***

    However, Isaac could not be sure if this ¡®poison¡¯ had worked on one particr person.

    ¡°A splendid sermon, Pdin.¡±

    Isolde approached with a slight smile. Over the past period, instead of interfering or giving advice on Isaac¡¯s actions, Isolde had just quietly observed. She was faithfully waiting for Isaac to show a miracle within a month as he promised.

    That one month was now just around the corner.

    ¡°Thank you, Inquisitor.¡±

    ¡°But I wonder if it¡¯s okay to speak so freely.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    Isaac feigned ignorance, asking what she was referring to.

    ¡°Being in the closest ce to the light and feeling its warmth, yet being sinners who dare not look into it¡­ It sounds like a metaphor for the Holy Pope and the bishops.¡±

    ¡°You mean blind followers,¡± Isaac said bluntly, to which Isolde seemed flustered but then calmly nodded.

    ¡°Such terms are sometimes used by people.¡±

    ¡°I wonder if I will be subjected to an inquisition for this?¡±

    Isaac asked with a yful smile, causing Isolde to blush somewhat. However, she regained herposure and responded.

    ¡°You would be surprised to know how abundant the derogatory terms for His Holiness the Pope and the bishops are, Pdin. ¡®Blind follower¡¯ is actually on the polite side. If I were to catch all of them, I wouldn¡¯t have time to catch heretics or apostates.¡±

    However, she continued, indicating she wasn¡¯t just going to let it slide.

    ¡°The problem is that publicly teaching such things could be problematic.¡±

    Isaac realized her intent and was a bit surprised. Was the effect of the Red prayer working on Isolde too?

    ¡°Are you worried?¡±

    ¡°Frankly, I found it somewhat refreshing. But someone might take issue with it. The priests and pdins are people sent by Bishop Juan, they can¡¯t possibly miss the nuance. If support were to be cut off¡­¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry, Inquisitor.¡±

    The priests and pdins had a strong liking for Isaac. They wouldn¡¯t take issue with it, and even if it reached Bishop Juan¡¯s ears, he couldn¡¯t simply dismiss Isaac. Isaac¡¯s influence was undeniable, even if it was minimized.

    Traditionally, a Pdin was someone who killed, not someone who led.

    Of course, Isaac wasn¡¯t a traditional Pdin.

    ¡°It¡¯s almost been a month now.¡±

    Isaac subtly changed the subject. Isolde knew he was diverting the topic but respected the Pdin¡¯s privacy and nodded. The deadline for Isaac to show and prove a miracle to Isolde was one month. Of course, Isolde intended to wait as long as it took, without rushing him even if the month passed.

    ¡°That¡¯s true. The events in this domain alone are miraculous enough.¡±

    Isolde said with a smile.

    ¡°Of course, I assume you won¡¯t say something clich¨¦ like ¡®The miracle you wanted to see is the smile that has bloomed among the people of this vige,¡¯ but I think it¡¯s a change worth acknowledging.¡±

    ¡°Ha, ha, even as a joke¡­¡±

    Isolde quietly observed Isaac. She had almost never missed any of Isaac¡¯s public actions. Indeed, to the extent that the inquisitors found it strange, Isaac had not used miracles. Even the monks in the monastery could perform the miracle of lighting a candle, which was odd byparison.

    ¡°It¡¯s not that I¡¯m asking for a great miracle, Pdin. Even something as simple as illuminating the surroundings is enough. It¡¯s a sign that you¡¯ve been granted divine power.¡±

    ¡°And if I can¡¯t perform miracles, does that mean I haven¡¯t been granted divine power by God?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡±

    Isolde trailed off. In truth, the achievements Isaac had made were miracles in themselves. In a way, Isaac himself could be considered a miracle. Lighting a candle or illuminating the surroundings with a miracle were merely formalities.

    Isolde knew that even the most corrupt and debauched priests could easily perform the miracle of lighting a candle. If Isaac couldn¡¯t light a single candle, would that make him lesser?

    It was a basic contradiction, but she couldn¡¯t easily answer.

    ¡°It¡¯s just that many people can¡¯t believe someone could defeat an angel without miracles. I find it unbelievable myself. Even if you can¡¯t perform miracles, Pdin, it wouldn¡¯t be a big problem. Just questions would remain about how you did it.¡±

    The inquisition is like a group of skeptics, but inherently, any internal investigation organization is bound to be. Especially with the recent appearance of crazed apostates like Kalsen Miller.

    Isaac responded with a smile.

    ¡°Of course, my own strength is insufficient. I have certainly used miracles.¡±

    ¡°Really¡­¡±

    Isolde looked at Isaac with a bright face.

    ¡°But I don¡¯t wish to misuse the power granted by God just to prove myself.¡±

    ¡°Ah, of course.¡±

    It was the mindset that any sincere cleric should have. Isolde was honestly impressed by his faithful mindset, different from those priests who misuse miracles for trivial conveniences like reading in low light.

    ¡°Soon, Inquisitor, I will be able to show you my miracle.¡±

    Isaac was atop a high pyramid.

    Dressed in yellow, his hands filled with wrinkly creases, he held a serpentine ceremonial dagger. Before him on the altar, a man intoxicated by some substance gazed upwards with a hazy look in his eyes.

    Isaac followed the man¡¯s gaze towards the sky. The purple heavens churned, creating bizarre and stained contortions. Within those clouds, an indistinct, massive object oozed and shifted.

    Then, his hand moved.

    Isaac thrust the dagger deep into the man¡¯s chest. Blood spurted from the torn heart, but instead of flowing downwards, it climbed the de and began shooting upwards into the sky.

    Isaac sliced open the man¡¯s abdomen, and now exposed innards and organs started to spurt out, followed by bones, flesh, muscles, and veins unraveling and soaring into the heavens.

    Only a pping skin husk remained,pletely turned inside out.

    Isaac grasped this skin and shook it vigorously.

    From within the inverted hide, a child¡¯s fingers emerged. Something new was trying to be born from within the empty shell.

    That¡¯s when chaos erupted below the pyramid.

    A group of warriors broke through the crowd and stormed up the pyramid. Hidden among the masses, a group armed with swords quickly subdued the pdins and pushed upwards.

    Isaac furiously shook the inverted hide, urging the being within to emerge quicker, but its movements were painfully slow.

    Before the ritual could conclude, the attackers had rushed up and reached Isaac. He felt a chill. He wanted to act, but the intense cold froze him to the point he could hardly move a fingertip.

    Suddenly, a sharp de pierced Isaac¡¯s abdomen. He tried to see who had stabbed him, but the face was indiscernible. It was impossible to tell if it was a man or a woman.

    It was a knight of bones, burning with a cold, blue fire.

    ***

    Isaac woke up.

    As soon as he opened his eyes, he found himself staring into a pair of yellow eyes hanging from the ceiling. Hesabel, glowing eyes in the dark, spoke to him.

    ¡°Did you have a nightmare again?¡±

    ¡°Hmm.¡±

    Isaac neither confirmed nor denied, just sat up. He hadn¡¯t asked Hesabel for nighttime protection, but the domain was too peaceful for her to have much else to do during the night.

    ¡®I keep having the same nightmare.¡¯

    It would be a lie to say he hadn¡¯t experienced nightmares sinceing to this world. Whether due to tentacles, memories of eating rat carcasses, or seeing ghastly human corpses, the environment wasn¡¯t conducive to mental health, so nightmares weremon for Isaac.

    But this dream was different.

    It was almost always the same setting with the same characters. Cold sweat covered his forehead, but his fingertips felt a lingering chill, as though the dream was more than just a dream.

    And always, at thest moment, he was stabbed by a knight of bones.

    Isaac knew well who these bone knights that wielded the cold were.

    ¡®The Death Knights of the Immortal Order¡­¡¯

 Chapter 90:

    Chapter 90:

    Isaac couldn¡¯t understand why he kept dreaming of being killed by the Immortal Order. Nor could heprehend why he was the old man in yellow clothes.

    ¡®It¡¯s not like the nameless chaos is messing with me now, maybe¡­.¡¯

    Isaac recalled the book of the Nameless Worm. The moment he created it, he felt momentarily connected to another world, and the aftermath seemed to affect him.

    He would have preferred to face a physical assault, like the Night Stalker, able to fight or devour the intruder, rather than suffer these nightmares. The content was too troubling tofortably share with anyone, so he kept it to himself.

    It was still the dark blue dawn outside.

    Unable to fall back asleep, Isaac went outside.

    From atop the city walls, the Issacrea estate was quiet. The changing sight of his estate somewhat satisfied Isaac¡¯s heart. However, his peaceful dawn stroll was interrupted by an unexpected figure.

    ¡°Need help?¡±

    Isaac asked Eidan, who was hanging at the end of the wall.

    ¡°Sir Holy Grail Knight. It¡¯s nice to see you.¡±

    Eidan answered with an awkward expression. Before Eidan could finish speaking, Isaac grabbed his hand and pulled him up forcefully. He did not wish to cause a diplomat from the Salt Council to fall to his death.

    ¡°Why were you climbing the walls at dawn? I need a connection with a cksmith, not a corpse from the Salt Council.¡±

    ¡°I can climb this much. I was just startled by suddenly running into Mr. Isaac. And the guards arex at this time¡­ Actually, I wanted to seek you out again, secretly.¡±

    ¡°Secretly?¡±

    ¡°The cksmith has agreed to meet. However, there is a condition.¡±

    ¡°A condition?¡±

    ¡°Of course, it¡¯s a reasonable request. That you protect the cksmith while he stays in your estate.¡±

    Isaac narrowed his eyes. Eidan was right; it was a reasonable demand.

    Many would target the cksmith for his incredible skills, This is especially true for a cksmith who has entered the continent.

    Isaac had no intention of letting the cksmith slip through his fingers and naturally nned to protect him. However, depending on who was after the craftsman, the condition could either be cheap or costly.

    ¡°Who is after the cksmith?¡±

    ¡°If you¡¯re thinking of refusing upon hearing the condition, that would be problematic. I am also being pursued, so it¡¯s difficult for me to speak freely.¡±

    Tiredness was evident on Eidan¡¯s face. Climbing walls since dawn suggested he was avoiding pursuers.

    Isaac realized the situation for the cksmith and Eidan wasn¡¯t good. They were putting on a brave front, but without Isaac¡¯s protection, they were in a tough spot.

    ¡°If it involves opposing the Codex of Light, that would be troublesome.¡±

    Isaac could handle many things, but not that. It was impossible to live in the White Empire while opposing the Codex of Light. Eidan shook his head.

    ¡°It¡¯s not the Codex of Light.¡±

    ¡°Hmm, if it¡¯s the cksmith, many would ask for protection, so why me?¡±

    ¡°Perhaps they trust in Mr. Isaac¡¯s reputation and integrity¡­?¡±

    Eidan answered with a vague smile. Isaac read between the lines of Eidan¡¯s heart.

    True to the faith of the Salt Council, Eidan¡¯s trust in Isaac¡¯s reputation and integrity was not a lie, but it was only part of the truth. More than that, it was Isaac¡¯s open-mindedness, the rumors of his noble status as a Holy Grail Knight, and his capability to stand against angels that had truly impressed him.

    ¡®Do I need the power to stand against angels? Who is pursuing him so desperately?¡¯

    Isaac attempted to use his Chaos Eye to peer into Eidan¡¯s deeper intentions. However, followers of the Salt Council, while unable to lie, were skilled at concealing their deepest secrets.

    Others might have been deceived.

    But Isaac alone could sense the fragments.

    Darkness, white bones, chill.

    Isaac unknowingly clenched his fist. A sudden chill made his fingertips ache.

    Startled by the sudden shift in Isaac¡¯s demeanor, Eidan stepped back. Isaac guessed the identity of those pursuing the cksmith. He was unsure how they had made it to the Gerthonia Empire, but he was convinced their appearance was not coincidental.

    ¡°Fine. Bring the cksmith.¡±

    Isaac¡¯s interest shifted from the craftsman himself to those targeting him.

    With a tangible intent to kill.

    ***

    ¡®Is it already a month since our promise?¡¯

    In the evening, Isolde went to find Isaac in the central hall. However, what she wanted to say was not ¡®Why haven¡¯t you shown me a miracle as promised?¡¯ but to offer an extension, even indefinitely.

    Truth be told, Isolde felt that Isaac¡¯s management of the estate was miraculous in its own right.

    ¡®Honestly, I thought maintaining the status quo would be impressive enough.¡¯

    No one expected Isaac to be fit for lordship. Isaac was a man of the sword, not of administration.

    Yet, the Issacrea estate was changing day by day.

    This wasn¡¯t to say that Isaac¡¯s managerial skills were extraordinary. In terms of agriculture, Lehart was better; formerce or logistics, Caitlin was superior.

    What overshadowed these was Isaac¡¯s discernment, his ability to rally people, and a progressive stance rarely seen among the upper echelons of religious orders.

    Indeed, these three qualities were crucial for a leader.

    Isolde, observing from a step back, could see the changes in the estate, but almost everyone within seemed almost bewitched in their following of Isaac. The dramatic transformation of the estate wasrgely due to his overwhelming charisma.

    Even the priests and pdins sent by the order followed Isaac. Regardless of his ability to defeat angels, their deep faith in him seemed almost unnatural.

    ¡®Isaac does have apelling charm.¡¯

    This was different from rational appeal or appearance.

    His speech, vocabry, demeanor, all radiated apelling force.

    How a newly adult pdin possessed such qualities was beyond her. Isaac seemed to carry a conviction that his actions were just, supported by his mysterious abilities and charm. Even Isolde felt swayed to follow him.

    What held her back from these impulses was her position as an Inquisitor and Isaac¡¯s asionally anti-church remarks.

    ¡®It¡¯s clear Isaac isn¡¯t fond of the church. But the church isn¡¯t exactly the Codex of Light¡­ He¡¯s not a heretic yet.¡¯

    Isaac¡¯s unique interpretations of scripture sometimes baffled her. scripture interpretation could easily lead to usations of heresy, a concern not lost on her, but she sensed good intent and justice in his interpretations, avoiding malicious misinterpretations.

    The fact that she could make such interpretations was precisely because she wasn¡¯t a full Inquisitor.

    ¡®Did my father¡­ foresee this situation when he made me an Inquisitor?¡¯

    Isolde thought of her father. Not warm, but not cold-hearted either.

    He had pushed her into the Inquisitor position, half by force, yet taught her to maintain her own perspective.

    Thanks to him, Isolde could perform her duties without sumbing to fanaticism. It wasn¡¯t a path to promotion, but Isolde vaguely understood his intentions.

    Ironically, those who stood up to the corrupt old men of the church were likely to be Inquisitors themselves.

    In the midst of unexpected turmoil filling the central hall, Isolde¡¯s confusion grew as she observed the flurry of activity around her. Knights, soldiers, and bureaucrats were already gathered, buzzing with concern.

    ¡°What¡¯s happened?¡± Isolde asked, grabbing a bureaucrat who seemed particrly agitated.

    The bureaucrat¡¯s rm upon seeing her only deepened her sense of unease, though she did her best not to show it.

    ¡°Sir Knight Werner returned from investigating poachers. He went to warn a vige of sh-and-burn farmers not to encroach on the Lord¡¯snds, but found only bloodstains instead of people,¡± the bureaucrat hesitated before continuing.

    ¡°Bloodstains?¡±

    ¡°Yes, and not just from one or two people. It seems like a mass amount, but no bodies were found¡­¡±

    Realizing what the bureaucrat was hinting at, Isolde¡¯s expression hardened instantly. Raids, mass bloodstains, and an empty vige were not umon in the frontier.

    The ¡®Draft¡¯ of the ck Empire.

    She understood why the bureaucrat had recoiled at her presence.

    This was Gerthonia Empire territory, albeit on the fringes of the White Empire, but still far from the ck Empire. A Draft by the Immortality Cult here was no small matter.

    Then, Isaac entered with a stern expression. Dressed in armor, except for his head, he seemed ready for immediate action.

    ¡°Send word to Captain Jacquette of the mercenaries to scout the estate¡¯s surroundings immediately. Patrols should consist of no less than ten, including knights. Priests, please bless the walls,¡± Isaacmanded, outlining measures for the residents¡¯ protection and defense strategies. However, before he could finish, he sharply turned his gaze northwest.

    Following his lead, Isolde and the others turned in the same direction.

    The civilians, unfamiliar with such sensations, were merely puzzled by the chilling aura, but those of the clergy understood the ominous meaning behind it.

    Isolde paled at the force of the aura.

    ¡®At least a bishop¡¯s level¡­?¡¯

    Disying such chill without concealment was akin to a deration of war or a warning to back off. Yet, it seemed no one here had any intention of retreating.

    Especially Isaac, who seemed almost prepared for this, burning with a calm fighting spirit.

    That¡¯s when someone burst into the hall.

    ¡°Lord! A mysterious group attacked a merchant caravan near the bridge! The merchants have urgently requested aid.¡±

    ¡°Understood. Immediately¡­¡±

    Isaac paused, contemting. The knights too realized the implications of the report.

    ¡°The bridge is to the southeast, isn¡¯t it? That¡¯s¡­¡±

    It was theplete opposite direction from where the chilling aura was detected. Isaac and Isolde quickly understood the hidden message from the source of the chill: stay out if you don¡¯t want to be broken. Given the significant power behind it, if Isaac left to save the merchants, the estate might be attacked in his absence.

    Caught in a difficult situation, Isolde spoke up without hesitation.

    ¡°I¡¯ll head towards the bridge. Sir Holy Grail Knight, please protect the people.¡±

 Chapter 91:

    Chapter 91:

    ¡°Me, an Inquisitor?¡±

    The might of an Inquisitor was more concentrated on investigation, infiltration, or assassination, rather thanbat, making them generally less formidable than knights in battle. Of course, Isolde could stand against amon knight, but her personalbat skills were just that¡ªpersonal.

    Isolde was aware of this as well.

    ¡°It¡¯s right that you protect more of the residents, Sir Holy Grail Knight. But someone must protect the merchants.¡±

    If Isaac moved to the southeast, the mysterious enemy emitting the chilling aura from the northwest couldunch a swift assault on the domain. The aura suggested that a couple of knights wouldn¡¯t be enough to respond effectively.

    After a moment¡¯s thought, Isaac nodded.

    ¡°Then I¡¯ll leave it to you. I¡¯ll assign two knights to apany you.¡±

    It was a significant allocation of forces, but Isolde would need the support more than Isaac, who would remain fortified in the stronghold. Isolde nodded, quickly setting off with the designated knights.

    ¡°Everyone else, start preparing for defense immediately. And I would like one priest to stay behind to lead a salvation prayer meeting with the refugees,¡± Isaac ordered, setting everyone into motion.

    Holding a prayer meeting during an attack might seem absurd, but in this world, prayers could be answered, whether by gods, angels, or someone from the order. Isted instances of salvation through prayer were not unheard of.

    The enemy had yet to move, merely posturing a threat, but preparation was essential.

    Meanwhile, Isaac felt relieved.

    ¡®It¡¯s good that Isolde took the initiative.¡¯

    Isaac was aware of the Immortal Order approach.

    It wasn¡¯t just Eiden¡¯s implication; there were many signs and circumstances. Above all, Isaac was convinced that the cult wouldn¡¯t easily abandon this domain, into which they had invested much effort.

    But the reason for their emergence today had to be the cksmith.

    Following Eiden¡¯s request for protection of the craftsman, Isaac immediately ordered Zihilrat and Hesabel to search the vicinity. Continuous surveince of the sanctuary ensured that no anomaly went undetected.

    As a result, Isaac had anticipated the order¡¯s approach.

    Eiden might have been cautious, but the order was already on his trail. And when it became apparent they couldn¡¯t find the hiding cksmith, they deliberately let Eiden go, seizing the opportunity to attack as the craftsman neared the domain.

    ¡®The very caravan from Eiden¡¯s northern trade group.¡¯

    The order would position its main forces here to restrain Isaac, sending a smaller force to deal with the few merchants and mercenaries at the caravan. Isaac had nned to ask Isolde from the start, troubled by the simultaneous introduction of the Salt Council and the world¡¯s cksmith, an heretical faith, into his domain.

    With Barbarians and the Golden Idol already within the domain, introducing multiple faiths at once could attract unnecessary suspicion.

    In essence, Isaac nned to entangle Isolde as well.

    ¡®She might think she¡¯s being used, but she¡¯ll have to continue being the blindfold of the Codex of Light.¡¯

    ***

    Strange omens began from the darkened mountain ridges.

    As residents were evacuated and soldierspleted defensive preparations, they noticed bizarre shadows moving along the ridge. The soldiers murmured among themselves at the sight.

    ¡°Zombies¡­¡±

    Zombies,cking intelligence and being living corpses, are often confused with ghouls produced by the Red Chalice Club, but they are distinctly different.

    Ghouls don¡¯t decay. Decaying forms are not beautiful, and the Red Chalice abhors the unattractive.

    The zombies created by the Immortal Order were different. Bing a zombie was merely an interim process before full induction into the order. It was too cumbersome to strip flesh from every freshly dead corpse and drain the blood, so they were left as zombies until they naturally became skeletons.

    Only oncepletely skeletal do individuals meet the basic conditions to convert to the Immortal Order and be citizens of the ck Empire. By then, it¡¯s toote to turn back, so unless one has a particrly strong faith, they end up joining the cult.

    As Isaac watched the approaching horde of zombies, he asked a priest:

    ¡°Is the cemetery consecrated?¡±

    ¡°Yes. There are no corpses that can move.¡±

    In the White Empire, corpses were usually cremated to prevent the deranged priests of the ck Empire from ¡®drafting¡¯ them. However, in cases where cremation wasn¡¯t possible, a stone was ced in the mouth, and the body was sealed in a solid sarcophagus and entombed in a catb.

    The zombies slowly advanced towards the castle. Their silhouettes, which had seemed merely strange from a distance, revealed their gruesome details under the moonlight. Their appearances graphically showed how they died, with some even carrying the weapons that had caused their demise.

    ¡°Disgusting Immortal Order bastards¡­¡±

    The soldiers muttered angrily at the sight. Most of them were likely from Barbari or heretical sh-and-burn viges, but no one could look at them without imagining their own or their family¡¯s faces in their ce.

    However, Isaac was thinking something else internally.

    ¡®Actually, the life satisfaction of those who¡¯ve converted to the Immortal Order doesn¡¯t seem too bad¡­¡¯

    Once they be citizens of the ck Empire, they regain their senses and live without suffering from hunger or disease.

    Contemting whether that truly constitutes life is a never-ending question, but solving the problem of sustenance resolves most of life¡¯s issues. The remaining time could be spent fulfilling emotional needs.

    Of course, now was the time for outrage against the Immortal Order, so he had no intention of voicing these thoughts.

    The zombies hade close enough to surround the castle. As expected, there were no looters or arsonists among them.

    When the formation of the siege was somewhatplete, one of the zombies, arge man dressed as a hunter or perhaps a poacher, stepped forward.

    ¡°Cough!¡±

    After a loud cough of blood, the man twisted his neck grotesquely and began to speak in an odd posture.

    ¡°So you sent reinforcements. Do you have that much leeway?¡±

    Despite his grotesque appearance, his tone was dignified.

    Isaac realized that a priest of the Immortal Order was using this hunter tomunicate.

    ¡®As cautious as ever.¡¯

    Even through the sanctuary, they couldn¡¯t pinpoint the priest¡¯s location. Different faiths had various ways of concealing their energy, so he was undoubtedly hiding somewhere through some method.

    When Isaac didn¡¯t respond, the hunter coughed again.

    ¡°We didn¡¯te here with any business with you. We don¡¯t wish to harm the priests or knights of the Codex of Light, so if youmand the people who left the castle earlier to return, we won¡¯t touch you.¡±

    ¡°Shut your rotten mouth, you half-dead freak!¡±

    A knight responded harshly, breaking the usual decorum and polite speech expected of them. Apparently, such rules didn¡¯t apply when dealing with the Immortal Order. The hunter just stared at the knight.

    ¡°Knight Ansel. You¡¯re hiding your fear behind a rough demeanor. Be wary of the four spears.¡±

    Knight Ansel gasped at his name being called out.

    Isaac clicked his tongue.

    ¡®This is no ordinary foe.¡¯

    The fact that they could call out names meant they might have the ability to read the list of those destined to die. ¡®Could they really be of bishop rank?¡¯

    The list of the doomed is a unique prescient ability of the Immortal Order, allowing them to know how someone will die. The closer the time of death, the more urate the prediction bes. The mention of the ¡°four spears¡± indicated that if a battle ensued, Knight Ansel was likely to die.

    Merely mentioning this could significantly demoralize troops¡ªwhat was once a numeric factor in games was now ¡®real¡¯. Hence, it was a notoriously infamous ability.

    As Ansel began to tremble, Isaac ced a hand on his shoulder.

    ¡°Don¡¯t pay attention to every piece of nonsense they say. They often just spout nonsense.¡±

    At Isaac¡¯s words, Ansel visibly rxed, taking a deep breath. Indeed, priests of the Immortal Order were known to say anything that came to mind, as there was no way to verify their ims. Regardless, it was an effective method to lower morale.

    The hunterughed.

    ¡°Ha-ha-ha¡­ So it¡¯s you, the renowned Holy Grail Knight, Isaac. I¡¯ve wanted to meet you.¡±

    With an exaggerated bow, the hunter¡¯s grotesquely twisted neck swung loosely. Isaac considered ordering a shot, given the hunter was within arrow range, but seeing the trembling soldiers, he decided against it.

    Even if they were soldiers of a Holy Grail Knight, their roots as bordend vigers remained. Their fear of the Immortal Order was as strong as their loathing. A misguidedmand could easily lead to insubordination and copse their ranks.

    ¡®I need to boost morale somehow.¡¯

    Isaac whispered an order to Werner, who flinched but didn¡¯t question it, promptly heading somewhere below the wall.

    After issuing themand, Isaac boldly climbed up the wall.

    ¡°Sir Holy Grail Knight!¡±

    The nearby soldiers panicked, trying to stop him, but it was to no avail. Isaac stood precariously at the edge of the wall, looking down at the hunter and the horde of zombies. Although some zombies were armed with bows, showing courage in the face of an enemy required a simr disy of bravery.

    ¡°You¡¯ve sacrificed poor souls to create this ragtag bunch, you leftover-feast priest!¡±

    ¡°Leftover feast?¡±

    The hunter asked, puzzled by the unfamiliar analogy, to which Isaac responded.

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you just leftovers from a feast enjoyed by maggots?¡±

    Softughter erupted from somewhere along the wall.

    Isaac didn¡¯t think his joke was particrly funny, but the soldiers needed that moment of levity. His words provided a break in the tension, allowing the soldiers to regain theirposure.

    ¡°Thinking you can challenge the Issacrea Monastery with a mishmash of sh-and-burn farmers, poachers, and wanderers is a grave mistake. How do you n toy siege with the bodies of those poor souls? Are you going to headbutt the walls?¡±

    Isaac¡¯s remarks helped the soldiers regain their calm and observe the zombies. While their grotesque appearances induced disgust, the zombies had only their resilience; they were slower than ordinary people andcked proper equipment.

    ¡°We could burn down your humble viges and poison your wells.¡±

    The hunter responded with a threat. If Isaac remained holed up in the castle, his domain, painstakingly built, would be ruined.

    ¡°Try it if you can.¡±

    Isaac answered with a grim smile. As the hunter puzzled over his smile, Isaac raised and then swiftly lowered his hand.

    ¡°Fire!¡±

    At his signal, arrows rained down on the zombies, not from the wall but from the vige direction.

    ¡°Bury these rotting things for good!¡±

    Jacquette, along with mercenaries hired from Barbarians, had been ambushing from the vige buildings. When the vigers began evacuating into the castle, they didn¡¯t return with them but prepared for an ambush in the vige instead.

    Whooosh. Tar-covered fire arrows lit up, quickly setting dozens of zombies aze. Yet, the hunter only scoffed.

    ¡°Is this pitiful ambush what you were banking on?¡±

    From his perspective, the ambush was akin to willingly presenting flesh before the zombies¡¯ teeth, abandoning the advantage of the walls for a frail wooden house defense.

    But as he prepared tomand the zombies to attack, the gates of the Issacrea Monastery began to open. Leading the charge, Isaac, followed by knights and cavalry, surged forward, with soldiers flooding out behind them.

    ¡°What?¡±

    Caught off guard by the unexpected move, the hunter was stunned. By then, Isaac had already concluded his strategy against this Immortal force.

    The real ambush wasn¡¯t external; it was within their midst.

    Dozens of days ago, the flies, foxes, and maggots that had begun to run rampant had already begun to feast inside the bodies of the zombies.

 Chapter 92:

    Chapter 92:

    At the moment the vanguard of cavalry shed head-on with the zombie horde, a chilling sound of breaking bones echoed through the air. The zombies surrounding the walls crumbled swiftly under the charge led by Isaac and the knights. The spectacle of the zombies being torn apart buoyed the soldiers¡¯ spirits.

    ¡°Kill them all!¡±

    Though the shout seemed odd against the undead, no better rallying cry was at hand. The soldiers, armed with blessed spears, thrust at the fallen or advancing zombies, bringing them down. Thete attempt of the zombies to close their ranks and attack the soldiers who had ventured outside was thwarted by Jacquette¡¯s mercenaries attacking from the vige side.

    ¡°The Immortal Order weaklings, aren¡¯t they!¡±

    ¡®Well, yes.¡¯

    Isaac thought to himself in response to a soldier¡¯s shout.

    Zombies were barely considered a part of the Immortal Order¡¯s fighting force, useful only as temporary cannon fodder or to fill ditches until theypletely shed their flesh. Yet, even the weakest among them formed a formidable force when gathered inrge numbers due to their sheer mass¡ªunlike skeletons, zombies carried weight.

    But what roiled beneath their decaying flesh now were not muscles but swarms of maggots, ants, and flies.

    ¡®The priest of the Immortal Order must be flustered by now.¡¯

    Their ease in being torn apart was due to the flesh being so rotten it practically crumbled upon touch. The maggots that hadin dormant within the zombies now began their feast, causing the zombies to disintegrate from the slightest movement.

    Invading Isaac¡¯s domain had turned into a miscalction for them.

    ¡°Maintain your formation and always be aware of yourrades¡¯ positions! Any gap will be exploited immediately!¡±

    Even amidst the chaos, squad leaders continuously issued orders. Isaac had emphasized never to break the formation. He had anticipated the zombies would fall easily.

    However, should the soldiers scatter in excitement, they¡¯d quickly be overwhelmed by numbers and devoured, only to be reborn as zombies themselves¡ªthis time without maggots and much more durable.

    After a few soldiers, presumably new recruits, rushed forward to stab at the slow-moving zombies and were subsequently smacked on the back of their heads and dragged back, simr incidents ceased.

    The cavalry and knights tore through the zombies, with the soldiers finishing the job by crushing their heads, repeating the process.

    ***

    Knight Ansel could hardly believe what was unfolding. Though not the most experienced, he had faced the Immortal Order before and knew zombies were not usually such pushovers.

    ¡®How is this happening?¡¯

    Such an oue wasn¡¯t possible with a priest¡¯s blessing alone. He watched Isaac¡¯s back with a racing heart.

    ¡®Is it because of him? Do enemies fall so easily before the power of the Holy Grail Knight?¡¯

    To him, it appeared as though the zombies were copsing of their own ord before Isaac¡¯s authority.

    Having received a death prophecy from the order¡¯s priest and then hearing Isaac¡¯s order to charge outside, Ansel had doubted Isaac¡¯s sanity. Zombies alone couldn¡¯t breach the castle. Yet, abandoning the defensive advantage of the walls to charge out?

    The one-sided massacre now seemed more like a harvest than a battle. Ansel, forgetting the death prophecy, cheered enthusiastically as he sliced through zombies.

    ¡°Long live the Holy Grail Knight!¡±

    Then, a chill st hit him.

    Ansel caught a glimpse of a spearhead darting towards his side toote to react. ¡®Zombies can¡¯t move that fast,¡¯ he thought, but it was already toote.

    Suddenly, something serpent-like snatched the spear mid-flight.

    It was Isaac.

    The Luadin Key, shing against the spearhead, red up, deflecting the weapon. Ansel btedly realized his armor was nearly pierced through, and the surrounding area was discolored ck.

    ¡°Are you all right?¡±

    ¡°Y-you¡¯ve saved my life again¡­¡±

    ¡®Although I used you as bait.¡¯

    Isaac had been vigntly monitoring the battlefield, anticipating that the Immortal Order would target Ansel to undermine morale once again. The Order¡¯s priest likely chose Ansel, a knight who had received a death prophecy, as the next target.

    If the one prophesied to die actually perished, it would indeed terrify the soldiers.

    But Isaac thwarted that oue.

    Whether the prophecy was true or not, to the soldiers, it appeared as though Isaac had defied fate itself.

    ¡®In essence, the Order¡¯s trickery has now backfired.¡¯

    Witnessing Isaac save Ansel, the morale of the knights and cavalry surged once more. Isaac led the cavalry, swiftly turning their charge towards the source of the thrown spear. Among the horde of zombies, there were those who blended in with their dark garb, making them less conspicuous. They picked up another spear and hurled it towards Isaac.

    The spear was surrounded by a dark aura.

    ¡®Undead Spearmen.¡¯

    Isaac calmly identified them while watching the iing spear. Instead of dodging, he used the Ruadin Key to strike it down.

    The Undead Spearmen, though notparable to the Death Knights of the Immortal Order, could still cast spears imbued with the miracles of death. These miracles included powerful pration, curses, and even a homing ability. However, this also made the spears easier to deflect.

    The spears would change direction if avoided, so it was better to confront them with a miracle capable of incinerating them. The Luadin Key was a simple tool capable of shattering the miracles of death.

    Had the siege been led by the Immortal Order¡¯s direction, many would have fallen to these spears. They represented the true force behind the zombie horde.

    ¡®But their bodies are mere skeletons¡­ essentially ss cannons.¡¯

    Isaac charged through, trampling over the Undead Spearmen without even needing to wield his sword. He had identified approximately a dozen of them; as expected, the ck Empire could not bring a significant force of elite troops to this region of the White Empire.

    Isaac crushed the Undead Spearmen underfoot, demolishing them.

    Though they were part of the undead legion and attempted to reassemble their ttering bones, the knights followed with blessed weapons, ending them for good.

    ¡®Is this person truly sent by the gods?¡¯

    As Isaac easily overcame the enemies, the knights looked upon his back with admiration.

    Now, Isaac¡¯s focus shifted towards the hunter, possessed by the Immortal Order¡¯s priest, who contorted his body unnaturally. Flesh and joints were torn as arge, elongated skeletal frame emerged.

    The grotesque appearance of this skeletal giant, with unnaturally long limbs reminiscent of a ghast, sent shivers through all onlookers.

    Fear began to stir in their hearts again. However, there was someone who boldly charged forward, shining brightly alone.

    Isaac, wielding the zing Luadin Key, seemed like a spotlight on a dark stage. Whether the knights and cavalry could keep up or not, Isaac spurred his horse forward, outpacing them all. It was as if a beam of light shot forward.

    The skeletal giant, yet to rise fully, swung its arms attempting to knock Isaac away. From atop his horse, Isaac swung his sword.

    Eight shes of light instantly sliced through the giant. Thebined weight and speed of the horse enhanced his superior swordsmanship, unleashing formidable power.

    All could see was the Luadin Key zing brilliantly, its light shing. Then, as bones burned away, acrid smoke obscured Isaac¡¯s figure.

    ¡°There!¡±

    A keen-eyed soldier pointed beyond the smoke. Isaac was emerging on horseback, unscathed, and already changing direction for another charge. In contrast, the skeletal giant struggled to rise with its broken arms and legs.

    The giant turned its head, attempting to look at Isaac, but Isaac didn¡¯t nce back at the giant. Instead, he rode off elsewhere.

    The giant tried to stand again, but the sound of hooves approached.

    The knights were upon it, bearing down.

    Crack, thud!

    After the joint-by-joint dismantling of the skeleton giant, subduing the remaining zombies was akin to a cleanup operation. The priests of the Immortal Order seemed to have lost even the will tomand, as the zombies wandered aimlessly without any sense of unity.

    ¡°Do not inflict unnecessary wounds, aim for their heads to bring them down! They are but innocent victims sacrificed by the Immortal Order, and we must recover the bodies!¡±

    With some breathing room, Werner instructed his soldiers to minimize damage to the bodies as they moved. Normally, they would have been burned regardless, and he wouldn¡¯t have cared about the headless corpses of mere sh-and-burn farmers. However, Isaac had shown kindness even to barbarians and had taken them into his domain. Moreover, in this battle, they had risked danger with an ambush attack outside the castle.

    Werner caught the eye of Jacquotte, who was clearing up the zombies. Werner, who had never hidden his contempt for Jacquotte before, nodded to him in a strangely emotional moment.

    Jacquotte seemed a bit startled but nodded back in acknowledgment.

    ¡®The Holy Grail Knight seems to have changed me somehow.¡¯

    It was a minor change, but Isaac seemed to be bringing about change to everyone in his domain. However, Werner didn¡¯t find this change unpleasant at all.

    ¡°Isaac! Isaac! Isaac!¡±

    As victory seemed certain, cheers erupted here and there, chanting Isaac¡¯s name. It was a decisive victory at first nce.

    The undead forces, numbering in the hundreds, were annihted, whereas on the side of Isaac¡¯s domain, not a single person had died. There were a few injuries, but they were minor, caused by personal mistakes or friendly fire. None were injuries that would pose a problem if treated by a priest.

    ¡°Brother Werner!¡±

    In the midst of enthusiastic cheers, Knight Ansel rode up to Werner. Having survived the prophecy of death, he was also a symbol of this victory.

    ¡°Where is the Holy Grail Knight? This is a grand victory! Such glory should be in the midst of us!¡±

    ¡°Weren¡¯t you with him?¡±

    Werner asked back in confusion.

    Indeed, since the fall of the skeleton giant, no one had seen Isaac. Since all threats were deemed gone with the giant¡¯s fall, they hadn¡¯t thought there was any issue.

    In a moment of perplexed exchanges between Werner and Ansel, they recalled others they had forgotten.

    ¡°The bridge! The Holy Grail Knight went to assist the Inquisitor at the bridge!¡±

    Then, they hurriedly set off again on their horses. The cheering soldiers were confused by the pdins¡¯ sudden departure, but the pdins didn¡¯t stop to exin, driven only by their respect for Isaac.

    ¡®To forego the glory of victory right after such a harsh battle, and to go assist others instead. Who exactly is this man¡­¡¯

    ***

    In fact, Isaac¡¯s focus had never been on the zombie forces from the beginning.

    Right after speaking with the hunter, Isaac realized that the Immortal Order priest was towards the bridge, near the forge.

    Since then, all of Isaac¡¯s attention had been on the reinforcements that Isolde had set out with first.

    ¡®After all this trouble, I can¡¯t miss out on the core of it!¡¯

 Chapter 93:

    Chapter 93:

    Isaac had made a rushed assault to quickly clear the surroundings of the castle and to support the cksmith.

    ¡°Hasabel, have you not found him yet?¡±

    ¡°Not yet. He¡¯s well hidden.¡±

    Isaac had sent not only Isolde but also Hasabel ahead as reinforcements. The night was Hasabel¡¯s main stage, and assassination was her specialty. She had been searching around the procession at the northern edge, trying to find the priest believed to be a key figure of the Immortal Order, even before Isolde arrived.

    While she managed to decapitate the attacking undead from time to time, she had yet to find the priest, their most important target.

    ¡°Zihilrat, how¡¯s the situation?¡±

    Instead of answering, Zihilrat shared his senses with Isaac. Zihilrat, akin to Isaac¡¯s summon, could share sensations through his ability ¡®Mouse in the Wall¡¯. Wearing Baxter¡¯s skin and dispatched as reinforcements along with Isolde, Zihilrat was in the midst of fiercebat.

    The fire beasts summoned by Isolde were illuminating the surroundings, allowing for a clear view of the situation.

    ¡°The situation doesn¡¯t look good.¡±

    Though fewer in number than the zombies surrounding the castle, there was a considerable presence of what could be considered elite skeleton soldiers. Fortunately, there were no Death Knights in sight, and the wagon that the northern edge procession had arrived in seemed out of the ordinary.

    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡±

    It was unclear what it was, but a skeleton soldier that approached was electrocuted or something simr, then shattered by a scimitar wielded by a northern edge trader.

    It seemed to be the cksmith.

    It looked like they were holding out because of this ability, but it didn¡¯t seem like it could be used indefinitely. The priest of the Immortal Order would have learned of the battle¡¯s oue at the lord¡¯s castle by now and would be hurrying to find a way to break through.

    Then, the awaited information came from Hasabel.

    ¡°I think I¡¯ve found it.¡±

    ¡°What does he look like?¡±

    ¡°ck robe, golden halo, skullntern, in front of a bonfire.¡±

    Isaac¡¯s eyes sparkled. He immediately recognized who it was.

    ¡°The Liberation Bishop, Al Duard.¡±

    He was too famous an NPC in the original game to be unknown. Echoing Isaac¡¯s knowledge, a message from the Nameless Chaos was delivered.

    [The Nameless Chaos watches over you.]

    [The Nameless Chaos desires the demise of the Liberation Bishop ¡®Al Duard¡¯.]

    [The reward of Chaos awaits you.]

    ***

    ¡°Just hold on a little longer! If we hold, we can win!¡±

    ¡°Holding out won¡¯t do! We need to break through!¡±

    Arriving as reinforcements, Isolde felt like she was going out of her mind.

    Until she arrived, she was full of worries about how to calm and rescue the merchants, who she thought would be scared and frightened. She was bracing for a tough fight, even preparing for extreme situations. But upon arrival, the situation was different from what she had imagined.

    The merchants were holding their ground too well.

    They were repelling the undead forces converging on them in the middle of the bridge, centered around their strange wagon. Whenever the odd wagon emitted a bizarre wave, the undead of the Immortal Order staggered and were unable to move. Moreover, the people she had assumed to be mere merchants were all robustly built, with dark skin, wielding wide scimitars as if they were extensions of their own limbs.

    Even a man named Eidan, who looked genuinely like a merchant with a weak appearance, was skillfully fighting with a scimitar in each hand.

    ¡®Why are the guildsmen of the Salt Council here, so far ind?¡¯

    Isolde, true to her role as an inquisitor, recognized that they were not ordinary merchants but followers of the Salt Council. However, she had no time to delve into that matter. Finding a way to survive was more urgent. Even though they were holding off the enemies surprisingly well, the number of enemies was overwhelming. Moreover, there was no telling when a high-ranking undead might appear.

    ¡°How can we deal with this undead army if we leave the bridge now?! We must hold out until sunrise!¡±

    ¡°The monastery side is already struggling just to hold out! I will try to break through so we can join forces with the power at the lord¡¯s castle!¡±

    Isolde, not yet aware of the overwhelming victory at the Isacre Monastery, saw joining forces with Isaac as the way to survive. On the other hand, Eidan believed that if they could hold out on the bridge until sunrise, they could win.

    ¡°Why isn¡¯t Lord Isaacing?!¡±

    Eidan cried out desperately.

    Isaac is both the abbot and the lord. It was natural for him to prioritize the protection of his own people. Toe rushing out to save the merchants? Although Eidan mentioned it because he was promised protection, Isolde, unaware of the circumstances, was left speechless.

    It would have been better if their opinions were unified, but either way, the situation was difficult. Isolde actually saw breaking through as difficult, and Eidan, too, thought it hard to survive until sunrise, so he couldn¡¯t forcefully push his opinion.

    ¡°We must at least hold out until reinforcements arrive from the castle! We can¡¯t do anything in this situation!¡±

    Eidan¡¯s words made Isolde agree, at least this time. It was hard to give up the geographical advantage of the bridge. However, Isolde felt a sense of self-loathing for being unable to do much even aftering to rescue.

    ¡®If Isaac had been here instead¡­¡¯

    Of course, Isaac had to be at the monastery to protect more people. But she couldn¡¯t shake the thought that if Isaac had been here, he would have been able to do more than she could. Even Eidan had shown an openly disappointed face when the rescue forces arrived.

    Thump. Then, a wave was emitted from the wagon once again. Isolde felt a slight sense of alienation but nothing else, while the skeleton soldiers slinking across the bridge hesitated and stopped in their tracks when they encountered the merchants of the northern edge. The merchants did not miss the opportunity to smash their skulls.

    The wave emitted by the wagon was undoubtedly a miracle. The vibration of ultra-low frequency, inaudible to ordinary people but specifically affecting certain targets, could not be exined as anything but a miracle. Isolde realized it was a heretic miracle but did not show it. There were more important matters at hand.

    ¡®The interval between waves is getting longer.¡¯

    Since miracles couldn¡¯t be used indefinitely, it was right to break through and find an escape route. Otherwise, they would be surrounded and annihted. If they could get close to the castle, reinforcements would help.

    Isolde gritted her teeth.

    ¡°I will lead the way, everyone follow me¡­¡±

    Kugugugung.

    At that moment, a massive vibration that even the darkness seemed to tremble at was felt from the mountain side. Isolde saw dust rising from the direction of the mountain. And through the rows of trees, she spotted a ming sword. She immediately knew who the sword¡¯s bearer was.

    ¡°Isaac¡­!¡±

    ***

    The Immortal Order believes that human souls are trapped in their bodies and must be ¡°liberated.¡±

    ording to them, the existence of a physical body leads to the suffering of life and death, resulting in disparities in wealth, discrimination, and conflict. Indeed, those who have be undead do not suffer from the physical distinctions or the pains of living and dying, making their logic sound usible at first.

    However, ironically, the Immortal Order itself was not free from disparities in wealth or discrimination. After all, it was still amunity of people, minus the flesh.

    But more importantly, within the Immortal Order, there was a division between moderates and extremists regarding the concept of ¡°liberation.¡±

    Moderates thought that people would gradually be liberated over time anyway, while extremists argued for more proactive measures to liberate others.

    The ¡°Liberation Bishops¡± belonged to the extremist faction, venturing outside the Order¡¯s territory to carry out ¡°liberation¡± operations.

    They could be seen as somewhat radical evangelists.

    From the victims¡¯ perspective, they were simply terrorists, but from the perspective of the ck Empire, which needed to steadily increase its poption, the rampages of the Liberation Bishops were sometimes deliberately overlooked.

    However, the experienced Liberation Bishop, Al Duard, was feeling a minor annoyance in this operation.

    ¡®To be entangled with a Holy Grail Knight, of all things.¡¯

    The Liberation Bishop¡¯s main targets were the unprotected residents of the bordends and Barbarians. The Immortal Order, despite being antagonistic to the Codex of Light, didn¡¯t immediately resort to physical confrontations upon encounter to avoid diplomatic issues.

    For Al Duard, ¡°liberating¡± the citizens was of utmost importance. Pointlessly tangling with the Codex of Light within the territory of the White Empire and getting chased by pdins would result in losing the liberated zones he worked hard to create.

    Thus, Al Duard was initially reluctant about this operation.

    Attacking a monastery, especially one under the protection of the recently famous Holy Grail Knight?

    However, Al Duard had no choice but to follow through with the mission.

    It was a direct order from the Immortal Emperor Beshek, the god he served.

    ¡®I thought securing the cksmith would be enough¡­¡¯

    It was supposed to be an easy task. However, the sudden intrusion of the inquisitor and pdinsplicated matters. As a Liberation Bishop, he had the power to annihte them instantly. But ensuring the cksmith¡¯s safety in the process was uncertain, and if the pdins and inquisitor were to be massacred, it would surely cause an uproar from the Codex of Light.

    When the zombie forces sent to the lord¡¯s castle were decimated, he had no choice but to stand up.

    ¡®It seems I must take matters into my own hands.¡¯

    He hoped the Holy Grail Knight would be slightly dyed by the victory¡¯s aftermath and damage assessment.

    At that moment, something caught in Al Duard¡¯s senses as he stood in front of the bonfire. Something fast, powerful, filled with fear and destruction.

    The moment his skull turned, the world in front of him was torn apart.

    Crack!

    A giant tentacle tearing through the darkness from the sky swept away Al Duard along with the bonfire, erasing him as if sweeping the foothills with a broom. The tentacle, as thick as a sturdy oak tree, devoured the debris and vanished back into the darkness.

    Atop the ruins, Isaac¡¯s horse galloped forward.

    Despite the ghastly scene, Isaac kept his vignce, surveying his surroundings.

    The next moment, he felt a chilling presence and twisted his body strongly. No sound or visible effect was evident, but it felt as if a cold hand had grasped Isaac¡¯s heart. His horse copsed without even a whimper or scream.

    Isaac quickly leaped from the horse but was startled to see it dead on the spot.

    ¡°A death curse right off the bat? You¡¯re quite something.¡±

    Isaac lifted the Luadin key, illuminating the surroundings.

    The surroundings lit up, revealing a silhouette burning in blue mes. It was a Lich, dressed in a ck robe with a golden halo around its neck, holding its head like antern, and ring at Isaac, just as Hasabel described.

    Isaac closely observed the golden halo of Al Duard, noticing a ck pattern burning away.

    Meanwhile, Al Duard was beyond disbelief, astonished.

    ¡®He avoided the death curse? Without even knowing where it was cast from?¡¯

    Al Duard couldn¡¯t even guess what had swept him away. It was clear it wasn¡¯t a miracle from the Codex of Light, but whether it was a summoned entity or a one-time miracle was unknown.

    He had nned to feign death and ambush Isaac but was now being mocked by Isaac for evading his strongest curse.

    ¡°It seems we both failed to finish each other off with our strongest abilities right from the start, Al Duard.¡±

    Isaac knew Al Duard hadn¡¯t died from the first strike since he didn¡¯t receive a ¡°questpleted¡± message. This was a situation he had hoped to avoid.

    As expected of a bishop, Al Duard possessed formidable powers.

    Of course, a bishop¡¯sbat ability was far inferior to an angel¡¯s. But the prophet of red flesh that Isaac had faced wasn¡¯t abat-oriented angel to begin with, nor was it at full strength.

    In a serious fight, Al Duard in front of him would be a more challenging opponent for Isaac.

    ¡°¡­So you¡¯re Isaac Isacrea, the Holy Grail Knight.¡±

    Isaac¡¯s surprise attack seemed to have left a strong impression. Al Duard cautiously guarded against Isaac, not making any rash moves.

    ¡°What was that miracle just now? It certainly didn¡¯t seem like something from the Codex of Light.¡±

    ¡°What do you know about the Codex of Light?¡±

    ¡°I was a priest of the Codex of Light 180 years ago.¡±

    Isaac recalled that the Immortal Order, being a rtively young religion of just 300 years, had quickly risen to divide the world¡¯s major faiths alongside the Codex of Light. It wasn¡¯t surprising, considering they could absorb talents like Al Duard who had reached the end of their lifespan.

    ¡°It¡¯s a new miracle I created while you were decaying. It¡¯s called Octopus Legs Stir Fry¡­ no, Gospel¡­¡±

    ¡°Such nonsense¡­¡±

    ¡°What do you know! Are you a Holy Grail Knight of the Codex of Light?¡±

 Chapter 94:

    Chapter 94:

    As if the one who had made a mess was now angry, Isaac disyed his tentacles right in front of him and yet was the one to get angry.

    ¡°But it¡¯s definitely a miracle of another faith¡­¡±

    However, the argument didn¡¯t continue further.

    What does it matter? After all, they were both marked for death.

    Both Isaac and Al Duard thought so.

    Isaac made the first move.

    Springing from the ground, Isaac rapidly closed the distance to Al Duard. Naturally attempting to prepare for a miracle, Al Duard was instead taken aback.

    ¡°Charging at me without using a miracle?¡±

    Although he was quite fast, to a point where he seemed capable of confronting a swordsman head-on, the distance was still too great for Al Duard, who aimed his skull at Isaac and recited a prayer.

    He didn¡¯t use the death curse. Intuitively, he knew not to waste such a power-intensive miracle on a madman who could dodge the death curse.

    Instead, a chill rose from the ground, entwining around Isaac¡¯s ankles.

    It wasn¡¯t ordinary cold. The chill used by the Immortal Order was a nefarious energy crawling up from the afterworld. Isaac, as if waiting for this moment, scraped the ground with the Luadin key. The heat from the key drove away the encroaching cold.

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to use a miracle? But that Luadin key is quite troublesome.¡±

    Even if Isaac continued not to use miracles, it wasn¡¯t going to be a problem. Isaac¡¯s skill didn¡¯t look bad, but whether he was a Holy Grail Knight or whatever, someone who didn¡¯t use miracles couldn¡¯t match a priest. However, Al Duard didn¡¯t forget the powerful miracle that had swept across the mountain slope and stayed alert.

    Isaac charged forward towards Al Duard. Calmly, Al Duard turned his body into mist, ethereally moving back rapidly.

    Isaac¡¯s de swiped through empty air. Earlier, Al Duard had avoided an unidentified attack through etherealization.

    But Isaac continued his assault, using the Isaac Swordsmanship: Eight Paths.

    Crack! Al Duard flinched at the sight of eight trajectories tearing through the ground, flying towards him.

    ¡°It¡¯s not a miracle. But the momentum¡­?¡±

    The ferocity and brutal aura felt in the swordsmanship were reminiscent of that previous miracle.

    And the end of those trajectories urately aimed for the point where Al Duard¡¯s etherealization would end.

    ¡°You already know the timing of my etherealization? How presumptuous for such a young man!¡±

    Al Duard hurriedly recited a prayer right before his etherealization ended. Another ck pattern on his halo burned away, opening up another gap. The moment etherealization ended, the Luadin key urately aimed for Al Duard¡¯s skull and limbs.

    However, something suddenly appeared between them, pushing Isaac away with great force.

    Isaac¡¯s eyebrows twitched.

    ¡°A Death Knight? No¡­ a Duhan.¡± (TL- Duhan is a headless horseman from Irish folklore)

    Simr to a Death Knight in its armor and great stature, wielding a sword but without a head. Instead, burning ck smoke continuously billowed around the neck area. Unlike Death Knights, who could use miracles, this being possessedparable strength and swordsmanship skills.

    Summoning such a strong entity usually required a medium, ritual, and preparations. Until now, the bonfire had been used for the ritual, but Isaac¡¯s sweeping attack caused Al Duard to lose all his preparations.

    ¡°Did you prepare prayers and offerings on that halo in advance?¡±

    It was clearly a precious relic. It was tempting, but also a nuisance.

    As a Liberation Bishop ustomed to operating deep within enemy lines alone, summoning andmanding other beings when necessary, Al Duard didn¡¯t expect Isaac to prevent him from summoning anything so quickly.

    But the one who lostposure was Al Duard.

    ¡°To think I¡¯d have to use such a valuable card so soon¡­¡±

    The Duhan he had summoned was a warrior from the Elil Order, identally acquired while creating a liberated zone.

    The Elil Order, devoted to a deity who became transcendent through force, consisted entirely of warriors without distinguishing between priests and pdins. Consequently, a renowned warrior within their ranks boasted incredible skills, and Al Duard had happened upon one such warrior, recently buried due to old age, and transformed him into a Duhan.

    Conversion was impossible, so he remained a Duhan, but his skills were still exceptional. Al Duard had cherished him but had no choice but to bring him out to confront Isaac.

    Al Duard touched the scorched marks on his skull.

    ¡°This isn¡¯t the skill of a mere greenhorn.¡±

    In the midst of confusion, the summoned Duhan swung his sword, as massive as his body.

    Isaac, seemingly unfazed by the sudden appearance of the Duhan, immediately started to counter.

    sh, sh, sh! The sounds of their swords shing were unbelievably harsh.

    Al Duard¡¯s face twisted as he watched the battle. The Duhan¡¯s skills were indeed enough to press Isaac, but the Luadin key still posed a problem.

    Even as the Duhan pressed on, his sword quickly became a wreck.

    Yet, being a skilled undead, the Duhan tried to ovee the disadvantage of his equipment by avoiding sword shes and looking for openings. However, Isaac didn¡¯t easily move ording to his opponent¡¯s intentions.

    As soon as Isaac realized his opponent was avoiding a direct confrontation, he switched to an offensive, forcing a power struggle. Even Al Duard, who knew little about swordsmanship, could tell Isaac¡¯s skill was above average.

    Crack, sh!

    At the moment the Duhan¡¯s sword broke, Isaac felt a chilling cold from hell. This wasn¡¯t a metaphor; it was literally a cold summoned from hell by Al Duard. The surrounding meadows and woods that were once in spring became deadly cold and frosted over.

    Caught in a curse that felt as if someone was clinging to him, pulling him down, Isaac found it difficult to move properly. Without the warmth of the Luadin key, enduring would have been even more challenging.

    ¡°Still not using miracles?¡±

    Al Duard felt doubtful, watching Isaac refrain from using miracles to the end. Summoning hell¡¯s cold was a high-level miracle, but a pdin or priest of the Codex of Light, wielding heat and light, could counter it. Yet, Isaac continued to endure with sheer tenacity.

    Creaking, Isaac shattered the frost encasing his body and red at Al Duard, who felt a chill upon meeting his gaze.

    ¡°It¡¯s as if I¡¯m fighting against a seasonedmander of the Holy Knights.¡±

    Al Duard, feeling a sense of urgency, pressured the Duhan to finish Isaac. However, even as the Duhan drew his second weapon, a halberd, he didn¡¯t attack Isaac.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±

    ¡°Lich.¡±

    Suddenly, Al Duard felt a strange will from the Duhan.

    ¡°Do not interfere. I can handle this on my own.¡±

    For the first time since bing undead, Al Duard sensed the Duhan¡¯s self-awareness and will. The soul of the Elil warrior he had intended to awaken as a Death Knight was now inhabiting the Duhan. With a strong sense of rivalry, the Duhan raised his halberd against Isaac.

    Isaac, responding in kind, struggled to lift the Luadin key.

    Neither Isaac, ensnared by the cold, nor the Duhan, in a body not at its prime, was at their full capability.

    Regardless, the two shed weapons once more.

    ***

    The Duhan couldn¡¯t remember his name. He didn¡¯t think it was important.

    When Al Duard ¡°drafted¡± him from his grave, he could have evaded it as a mighty warrior of Elil. However, the Duhan epted this drafting quietly.

    Not out of fear of death, but because he had died of ¡°old age.¡±

    In the Elil Order, where honor, struggle, and courage are upheld, death from aging was both a measure of one¡¯s strength and a mark of shame.

    Had he be an angel, his skills would have been proven, but he wasn¡¯t quite there. He disliked this ambiguous end, so he willingly allowed his body to be conscripted by the Immortal Order, even if it meant being dug up from his grave.

    All for the sake of eternalbat.

    Having lived cutting down plenty of the Immortal Order and the Red Chalice foes, he thought it wouldn¡¯t be bad to show his prowess by cutting down the followers of the Codex of Light in death.

    However, contrary to his expectations, his days were filled with cutting down merely swidden farmers and Barbarians. The Duhan grew bored with this monotonous existence, slowly sinking into a puppet-like state under Al Duard¡¯s control.

    But today, the Duhan felt as if his petrified heart was beating once again.

    Bang, crack!

    Their weapons shed fiercely, sparks flying. But it was the Duhan¡¯s halberd that was being worn down. He felt regret; had his weapon been the one he wielded in life, or even something of a simr level, it would have been better.

    Meanwhile, Isaac was intoxicated by a distant feeling.

    For a while, he hadn¡¯t had the opportunity to face a high-level swordsman.

    Hisst encounter of note was just before leaving the monastery, witnessing the skill of the leader of the Rottenhammer. There had been Blood Knights, but that encounter ended too quickly with the Caller from the Abyss.

    But the skill of the Duhan before him, this headless knight, was quite impressive. His skills might not differ much from those of the Codex of Light pdins, but his movements were of apletely different form.

    Intentionally focusing on blocking the opponent¡¯s attacks, Isaac absorbed his swordsmanship like a dry sponge. It didn¡¯t seem like typical Death Knight swordsmanship but rather resembled that of the Elil Order. Isaac wondered at this recognition.

    ¡®How can I distinguish this? Is this also a memory from Kalsen Miller?¡¯

    Whatever the case, Isaac felt his own swordsmanship, which had been stagnant for some time, rapidly improving in real-time.

    Between the initial surprise attack on Al Duard and now, amidst the fight with the Duhan, only minutes had passed, yet Isaac was quickly learning from his opponent¡¯s swordsmanship.

    During this time, the color of the light emitted by the Luadin key Isaac wielded began to change subtly.

    However, lost in the movements of his sword, Isaac didn¡¯t immediately notice this change.

    In an instant, Isaac realized his sword was slightly faster than the Duhan¡¯s.

    Isaac recognized that he had somehow transcended a certain realm in swordsmanship.

    ¡°I think I understand a bit now.¡±

    ¡°Hm?¡±

    As Isaac murmured, Al Duard tilted his head in confusion. For a moment, the Luadin key, which should have been burning with a crimson light, seemed to emit a different color.

    ¡®No, could it be¡­ That¡¯s impossible. A pdin of the Codex of Light doing such a thing?¡¯

    Suddenly, Isaac¡¯s sword coiled like a serpent, swiftly entwining the Duhan¡¯s halberd.

    Crack.

    Surprised yet intrigued by the unrealistic movement, the Duhan attempted to shake off Isaac¡¯s sword. But the moment Isaac¡¯s sword bit into his wrist, preventing any escape, it seemed to devour everything in its path.

    Biting through the wrist, breaking the arm, Isaac¡¯s sword pierced the Duhan¡¯s chest in a swift motion.

    Crack. Right at the core.

    The hidden, cold heart within the armor was instantly engulfed in mes.

    The headless Duhan uttered no scream.

    Isaac, still lost in that distant feeling, sliced horizontally. The Duhan¡¯s chest was split open as if it were mere paper, Isaac¡¯s sword spinning through.

    At that moment, Isaac¡¯s swordsmanship clearly transcended physical limits.

    His sword didn¡¯t just cut but seemed to devour flesh and metal alike.

    The Duhan felt not as if he was being cut but swallowed.

    ¡°Remarkable skill.¡±

    Facing his second death, the Duhan sincerely admired it, marking a proper end to his unfulfilling life.

    ***

    ¡°How¡­?¡±

    Al Duard couldn¡¯tprehend how the Duhan had been defeated.

    He thought the Duhan was pushing Isaac until a moment ago, but after Isaac muttered something, the Duhan was suddenly downed. It seemed like a miracle, but it didn¡¯t look like any Codex of Light miracle.

    For a moment, the color emitted by Isaac¡¯s sword had changed.

    ¡®Sword energy? Isn¡¯t that an Elil miracle? Wasn¡¯t he a pdin of the Codex of Light?¡¯

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read up to advance 20 chapters or support me, you can do it at /Akaza156

 Chapter 95:

    Chapter 95:

    Sword energy was the most iconic miracle of the Elil Order.

    True to their devotion to Elil, a deity who ascended to transcendence through force, the Elil Order was a congregation solely of warriors gone mad with honor andbat. Among them, sword energy was a miracle granted only to the chosen top warriors.

    However, there was no time to ponder deeper. Isaac¡¯s gleaming gaze was fixed on Al Duard. Feeling a chill as if a beast was licking its prey, Al Duard instinctively began reciting a prayer.

    The cold gripping Isaac intensified, now taking a visual form and clinging to him. Blue handprints and frost formed on his skin, which began turning pale. It was a miracle of intensity that Al Duard had been restraining, fearing it might even seize the movements of the Duhan.

    Al Duard was exerting extreme concentration to perform three miracles simultaneously. He summoned the cold of theherworld, used wraiths to bind, and prepared another instant death prayer to crush Isaac¡¯s heart in a single blow.

    ¡®Please let this be the end¡­!¡¯

    But at that moment, Isaac violently swung his left hand, scattering the wraiths. It seemed impossible for the wraiths to be dispelled by such action, yet the impossible unfolded before Al Duard¡¯s eyes.

    ¡°What the¡­?!¡±

    The wraiths clinging to Isaac¡¯s arm didn¡¯t just fall off; they were torn apart as if ripped by a sacred miracle, screaming and dispersing into the void.

    Al Duard btedly sensed a disquieting sanctity vibrating from Isaac¡¯s left hand.

    ¡®A miracle in his left hand? No, is that even a miracle?¡¯

    What writhed in the darkness was something long and undting unpredictably. While a deep, dark power was felt, there was undeniably a presence of sanctity.

    Previously, against spiritual beings like Golruwaru, the tentacles hadn¡¯t been effective. But now, the tentacles, finally bearing a semnce of ¡®miraculousness,¡¯ housed sanctity to dispel wraiths.

    Now the tentacles had begun to embody holy power.

    On the other hand, Al Duard felt like his already rotten and festering heart was going to burst. The one known as the pdin of the Codex of Light was using Elil¡¯s miracles, and on top of that, some kind of ominous miracle. But fortunately, Isaac was still frozen and unable to move properly.

    Then, Isaac grasped the reins of his dead horse.

    Simultaneously, his body shot forward as if propelled. Al Duard couldn¡¯t help but be astonished once more.

    ¡°Phantom Steed? Where did thate from¡­?!¡±

    Screech.

    The Phantom Steed, acquired after defeating the Blood Knight, dashed with eerie hoof sounds. Controlled by the Blood Knight, it had openly disyed its grotesque, fleshly form, but under Isaac¡¯s control, the Phantom Steed appeared entirely different, its iplete and malformed neural tissue clumsily mimicking a horse.

    Ordinary people would have been petrified by the mere sight of it, overwhelmed by fear. However, Al Duard calmlypleted his final prayer.

    ¡°¡­and thus, You spilled their blood upon the ground!¡±

    Instant death curses closing in from all sides, aiming to crush the heart.

    This time, there was no escaping.

    The essence of death took on a physical form, encircling Isaac as he charged. Grass and trees around him withered to ckness instantly, pressuring him.

    But at that moment, Isaac¡¯s body turned into red mist.

    Transformed into red mist along with the Phantom Steed, Isaac effortlessly passed through the instant death curse. Al Duard recognized it as the Red Petition, a miracle of the Red Chalice Club, but it was toote to do anything.

    Crack. The moment the red mist reformed into Isaac¡¯s figure, the Luadin key struck his neck bones crisply.

    Al Duard regaining consciousness didn¡¯t take long.

    Though he could not see his body and only his skull was held in someone¡¯s hand, it wasn¡¯t a big issue for him. He had resurrected from far worse conditions. Losing his body wasn¡¯t much of a problem either since most of it wasn¡¯t originally his.

    Then, a voice came from behind him.

    ¡°Even without a body, you faint?¡±

    ¡°Soul momentarily detached from the body.¡±

    Isaac¡¯s voice was heard somewhere in the mix.

    Al Duard supplemented his exnation.

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s why we, surprisingly, faint quite easily due to such reasons. It¡¯s a side effect of the loose binding between body and spirit. Of course, as in your case, what could have been a fatal injury ends merely in fainting.¡±

    The woman behind him bent down to look at Al Duard. The person holding Al Duard¡¯s skull was someone he too recognized.

    ¡°¡­Miss from the Gulmar family, I presume. How have you been?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know you. All skulls look the same to me.¡±

    ¡°I somewhat agree. But you might find beauty in skeletons if you get used to them. Surprisingly, there are quite a few who do.¡±

    Clomp. Al Duard didn¡¯t have the luxury of time to continue his chatter. Someone walked up to him and plopped down.

    It was Isaac.

    Al Duard, who wanted to show some levity to Isaac, found himself unable to open his mouth. After all, undead didn¡¯t vibrate vocal cords but rather projected their voice through psychic waves.

    Isaac, too, was silent, staring intently at Al Duard for entirely different reasons.

    Al Duard couldn¡¯t understand why he was still alive. It was well-known that even with just a skull, one could recite prayers or, at the very least, bite.

    But Al Duard didn¡¯t dare attempt anything.

    Whether any of his attempts would work on Isaac, or whether the Isaac before him was even human, was uncertain. Although Isaac had limbs and facial features like any human, everything about him felt so unnaturally eerie to Al Duard.

    ¡®Is the Codex of Light breeding monsters? Or is this the body of an angel in human flesh?¡¯

    Meeting those emotionless eyes, Al Duard felt a chill.

    He secretly performed the Immortal Order¡¯s miracle, ¡®Netherworld Gaze,¡¯ which allows one to peer into the soul of the living. This miracle could reveal the soul¡¯s quality, including lifespan, purity, emotional state, strength, and even the deity protecting the soul.

    But looking at Isaac through Netherworld Gaze only intensified Al Duard¡¯s eerie feeling.

    He couldn¡¯t peer into Isaac at all.

    Certainly, if someone was under the protection of a powerful deity or angel, it could be enough to prevent such scrutiny. But Isaac went beyond that, seemingly ¡®devouring¡¯ everything around him.

    Be it power, skills, or even information.

    Yet, what truly unnerved Al Duard was Isaac¡¯s emotional state.

    ¡®After such a fierce battle, he shows no exhration, excitement, or anger.¡¯

    High-level warriors could manage that, but when facing foes of different faiths or imminentbat, some level of contempt, disgust, or slight annoyance would exist. Isaac showed none of that.

    It was natural for Al Duard to feel eerie under Isaac¡¯s gaze.

    Isaac didn¡¯t regard him as a bishop of the Immortal Order or an enemy he had fought with his life on the line but merely as a cold calction of experience points.

    ¡®It¡¯s of no use.¡¯

    [This target has no value as a prey.]

    Isaac had already consumed Al Duard¡¯s flesh. The tentacles chewed on the bone-only body as if bored, only to report back that it was nutritionally void.

    ¡®Liches have no value as prey? Because bonesck nutritional value, or is there a special rule for undead?¡¯

    It wasn¡¯t without gains.

    Defeating Al Duard would bring rewards from the Nameless Chaos, and acquiring Al Duard¡¯s halo was a significant achievement. The halo was quite a valuable relic.

    As Isaac remained silent, a bored Hasabel spoke up.

    ¡°Shall we torture him for information?¡±

    ¡°These beings don¡¯t feel pain. Torture is useless.¡±

    Isaac looked at Hasabel incredulously.

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you supposed to know about the Immortal Order? Wachia Kingdom is within the ck Empire¡¯s territory.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s just a political alliance. We¡¯re not exactly close.¡±

    Isaac was aware of that too.

    The Red Chalice Club and the Immortal Order, both organizations defy death, but their philosophies diverge starkly. While the Red Chalice Club consists of hedonists unwilling to forsake bodily pleasures, the Immortal Order aims to escape the physical suffering and constraints, reaching a utopia of absolute equality.

    Their ideologies could never align.

    They were merely allies of convenience against a greater enemy, the disdainful White Empire.

    Isaac crouched in front of Al Duard. Even though consuming him wouldn¡¯t be a problem, learning that there was no nutritional value made it seem wasteful just to eat him.

    Finally, Al Duard spoke.

    ¡°Having subdued the heir of the Gulmar family, dodging death curses, and deceiving the Codex of Light, who are you? Whose voice do you represent,ing to thisnd not as a heretic?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not a heretic.¡±

    Resigned, Al Duard asked.

    ¡°Were you going to ask why we wanted to take the cksmith?¡±

    ¡°You were trying to use him to create a god, but things gotplicated, and you ended up needing to take him away. I¡¯m not interested.¡±

    Al Duard¡¯s jaw dropped.

    Even without facial expressions, it was evident he was shocked. Isaac didn¡¯t need to ask; knowing the entire storyline of the Nameless Chaos, he understood why Al Duard was lurking here.

    ¡°You were the one sending priests to resurrect ancient gods everywhere. You tried to make Kalsen Miller a god, but his sudden disappearance made things difficult for you.¡±

    Al Duard was so stunned he forgot to make excuses. While some might have suspected the resurrection of ancient gods, the n to birth a new deity was top secret within the Immortal Order.

    ¡°Why try to birth a god? I can¡¯t understand that.¡±

    Isaac had cleared the Nameless Chaos several times, but the origin and failure of the ¡®Kalsen God-making Project¡¯ were unknown to him.

    Isaac might not have cared originally, but now, inadvertently stepping into this narrative and being forced to follow its path, it seemed necessary to understand.

    ¡°It seems too grand and dangerous just to terrorize the White Empire. If you wanted to form an alliance, you could do that within your own territory. So, why try to create a god within White Empire territory?¡±

    Hasabel, hearing this story for the first time, gaped at Isaac.

    Al Duard was bewildered by how much Isaac knew. But simultaneously, he was convinced Isaac wasn¡¯t a pdin of the Codex of Light.

    If he were an angel sent by the Codex of Light or an angel himself, he would know these things, or at least, high-ranking members of the order would.

    And above all, Isaac was utilizing bizarre miracles of unknown origins, prompting Al Duard to realize a surprising possibility.

    ¡°The world must always have nine faiths.¡±

    He voiced that possibility.

    ¡°The nine faiths? That¡¯s¡­¡±

    ¡°The barbaric ancient faiths were vanquished, and under the Codex of Light¡¯s leadership, a new era began. With the inclusion of the Immortal Order, nine orders were established to stabilize the world.¡±

    The Codex of Light, Elil, the World¡¯s Forge, Golden Idol, Salt Council, Olkan Code, Red Chalice, Immortal Order.

    And the Nameless Chaos.

    These nine religions are referred to as the nine faiths.

    But the Nameless Chaoscks a cult name because its followers were annihted, and with them, its name forgotten. Isaac felt a contradiction in Al Duard¡¯s words.

    ¡°Not eight faiths?¡±

    ¡°Eight remain, but the ninth seat must be filled.¡±

    ¡°Filled?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Otherwise, a deceased god might return to im its ce.¡±

    Al Duard looked directly at Isaac as he spoke.

    ¡°Honorable Holy Grail Knight. Do you realize your sacred duty is now endangering the great gods? The dead chaos might flood back to invade this world at any time.¡±

    Hearing this, Isaac realized the Immortal Order¡¯s conspiracy wasn¡¯t merely to spite the White Empire by creating a god within its territory. They were rushing to fill the vacant ninth throne to prevent the original owner from returning.

    Specifically, the Nameless Chaos.

    ¡°Why did we attempt to birth a god within White Empire territory? Shouldn¡¯t you first ask why it had to be Kalsen?¡±

    Isaac could now answer that question himself.

    Because there were coborators within the Codex of Light.

    By lending the territory filled with divine grace and the human closest to godhood in that era.

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read up to advance 20 chapters or support me, you can do it at/Akaza156

 Chapter 96:

    Chapter 96:

    Isaac recalled the words Gabel had said.

    ¡°And I think that someone among the Dukharian faction is behind theplete annihtion of the Avnche Pdin Order.¡±

    Kalsen was scheduled to be an angel this time, and he was even expected to be an Archangel. But within a few years after the Avnche Pdin Order was annihted in the outskirts without any trace, andbeled as apostates, Kalsen too became an apostate. Could this be a coincidence?

    Those words were both a warning and an admonition from Gabel.

    ¡°Was the Avnche Pdin Order also a victim of this n?¡±

    If two rival churches were coborating to fill the empty ninth seat of faith, it¡¯s likely that this attempt has been going on for quite some time. It seemed highly probable that the Avnche Pdin Order, to which Gabel belonged, got involved in it as well.

    And perhaps, there were more victims.

    Just like the vige that was attacked when Isaac had possessed this world.

    ¡°Of course, I can¡¯t blindly believe everything he says¡­¡±

    Isaac looked down at Al Duard.

    Why a Pdin of the Codex of Light needs the help of the Immortal Order to be a god, why it cannot proceed from one side only, among other things, there were many parts he still couldn¡¯tprehend.

    ¡°Why would you confess all this to me so openly?¡±

    ¡°Ah, Knight of the Holy Grail. I realized it when I saw you wearing the shell of the Codex of Light. Your hidden power, and your ambition. You are never a person who would be satisfied with the glory of a mere Knight of the Holy Grail.¡±

    A blue me flickered inside Al Duard¡¯s skull, staring at Isaac.

    ¡°The n¡­ has not been suspended yet. You can fill that position. With our help, that is.¡±

    ¡°How can the Immortal Order help me?¡±

    Upon hearing Isaac¡¯s words, Al Duard happily said, feeling as if Isaac was wavering.

    ¡°The Immortal Emperor is currently the only god walking thisnd, having performed the ritual to ascend to godhood by himself. Our sect is the only one that can help, at least in this ritual.¡±

    The Immortal Emperor Beshek, the god and ruler of the Immortal Order, is the most recently ascended deity. True to being a god of the undead, he moves alive in this world, constantly revealing and proving his existence unlike other gods.

    ¡®At least it proves that the Immortal Order was directly involved up to the Immortal Emperor.¡¯

    Then how far was the Codex of Light involved? The Pope? The Emperor? Did a god intervene on this side too?

    It was unknown.

    The Codex of Light represents light, wisdom, and order, and it¡¯s the antithesis of the nameless chaos. After all, the nameless chaos has always been at odds with all faiths.

    ¡®My head is going to explode.¡¯

    The Al Duard in front of him seemed convinced that Isaac could take over their n.

    Regardless of any beliefs or faith Isaac might have, as long as a god is born, that¡¯s all that matters to them. Or rather, they had to say something since they were in danger of being shattered to pieces.

    ¡®But they couldn¡¯t even imagine that I might be an agent of the nameless chaos¡­¡¯

    If they knew, they would never have reacted this way.

    Isaac considered the proposal to be a god. Honestly, he had thought about living a grand life as a pdin, but bing a god was too much.

    It was an offer he couldn¡¯t possibly ept.

    If they knew Isaac¡¯s true identity, they would all be after him.

    ¡°Tell me how you can help.¡±

    ***

    Isaac floated the topic to Al Duard while activating the Eye of Chaos. He wanted to see if he was telling the truth and if there were any conspiracies hidden. It was the easiest to read the surface thoughts when the topic was brought up.

    However, Al Duard noticed something strange right away.

    ¡°Before that, which god do you worship¡­ Wait.¡±

    The moment a flicker of doubt arose from Al Duard, the green pupils in Isaac¡¯s eyes turned purple in the darkness. Isaac sensed Al Duard¡¯s consciousness beginning to close rapidly and activated his ability even more strongly.

    ¡°Wait, what is this, no, could it be?¡±

    Shock, terror, astonishment, confusion.

    Isaac could only catch a glimpse of the dying emotions from Al Duard.

    ¡°Tell me everything you know!¡±

    Fear makes the opponent sumb and reveal themselves. Isaac learned this fact through Heinckel Gulmar. To use a simr approach on Al Duard, Isaac pushed the Eye of Chaos to its limits.

    ¡°You, uh, agh, ugh.¡±

    As Isaac¡¯s eyes bulged with veins, tears of blood began to flow.

    The soul lurking inside Al Duard¡¯s skull convulsed as if in spasms. Soon, tendrils resembling threads of blood began to flow out of Isaac¡¯s eyes.

    These tendrils didn¡¯t just flow out; they burrowed into Al Duard¡¯s skull, infiltrating it as if eroding its interior. This was an intensity Isaac had never dared to use before, for fear of being discovered.

    Al Duard, befitting his status as a bishop-level cleric, was skilled in closing off his consciousness. However, against such physical, invasive erosion, no method was effective. Isaac felt memories fragment and seep out from Al Duard¡¯s confusion and fear.

    The tendrils wrung out information greedily, like roots squeezing water from the ground.

    Yet, Al Duard was not in his position for nothing. Even in such circumstances, he knew exactly what to do.

    Even if it was something he did not wish for, he acted reflexively.

    ¡°©¤©¤©¤©¤.¡±

    A piercing tinnitus assaulted Isaac¡¯s ears,ing from Al Duard. Prayers were flowing out at an unbelievably fast pace.

    It was glosslia.

    Prayers that burst forth not from one¡¯s own will but from the subconscious, or when possessed by an angel.

    ¡°Master Isaac!¡±

    Hesabel¡¯s urgent voice reached him.

    Isaac felt frost forming around Al Duard, a cold far more rapid and fierce than anything he had attacked with before. Isaac hurriedly tried to cancel the Eye of Chaos and retreat, but his consciousness was too deeply connected to Al Duard.

    What Al Duard thought and spoke was on the same level as what Isaac thought and spoke.

    Therefore, Isaac could tell what Al Duard was doing, even in an unconscious state.

    Al Duard was trying to bring the afterlife to this earth.

    ¡®This is madness.¡¯

    Crack, crack.

    Isaac tried to break Al Duard¡¯s skull to stop the prayer, but before he could touch it, Al Duard¡¯s skull shattered on its own from unleashing an uncontroble miracle. Only a few trembling teeth fragmentspleted the echo of the glosslia.

    ¡°Everyone get out of here now¡­¡­.¡±

    Isaac grabbed the reins of the Phantom Steed, trying to flee immediately, but stumbled and fell to his knees.

    Isaac was baffled by the change in himself.

    Why?

    The arrival of the Immortal Order¡¯s afterlife alone should not make him this vulnerable.

    After all, the Immortal Order¡¯s afterlife would at most bring extreme cold along with the summoning of ghosts and an army of undead. That¡¯s because the Immortal Order¡¯s afterlife is already present on earth.

    Those who forcibly dragged the afterlife to the surface are the Immortal Order itself.

    Even now, ghosts were writhing and crawling up from the ground.

    But Isaac, seeing something emerge among the ghosts, realized that the change in him had nothing to do with the Immortal Order¡¯s afterlife. He hadn¡¯t weakened because of the Immortal Order.

    A man in yellow clothes was looking at Isaac.

    Isaac¡¯s nightmare was bing a reality and approaching.

    The sky tilted as if it were about to copse, undting, while dark red fingers stirred the clouds like a child ying. The sound that followed, though carried by the wind, did not seem like wind at all. Was it theughter of a child, or the crying of a flock of sheep uneasy in the middle of the night? Every crawling insect and livestock on the ground gave off a rotting smell, and all their limbs were odd in number. Everything was imbnced and precarious, threatening to copse in asymmetry.

    A man in yellow clothes was looking at Isaac.

    Isaac felt dizzy, as if he were about to vomit.

    Isaac couldn¡¯t identify the stranger. Despite ying the game countless times, witnessing numerous endings, death scenes, and bad endings, such an entity was nowhere to be found.

    ¡®Why the nightmare¡­ now?¡¯

    The surroundings were devastated, thanks to the afterworld opened by Al Duard. Yet, the Immortal Order¡¯s afterlife paled inparison to the sphemous and bizarre world rippling beyond it.

    Those repulsive and strange beings seemed ready to seep into Isaac¡¯s ankles like the tide in the middle of the night.

    Isaac¡¯s sense of reality was already fading into the distance.

    [The Nameless Chaos is watching you.]

    [The Nameless Chaos is watching you.]

    [The Nameless Chaos is watching you.]

    The Nameless Chaos sent notifications that were either ecstasy or a warning, their meaning unclear. Paradoxically, these alerts allowed Isaac to hold onto his sanity, however faintly. In a world he felt he was about to drown in, these notifications gave Isaac a slight sense of objectivity.

    This world is just a game, and you have cleared it countless times!

    Don¡¯t get too immersed in just a game! You are the yer I chose!

    ¡®Just a mere game.¡¯

    Isaac thought, trying to realign his consciousness. Then, the man in yellow clothes reached out to him. Simultaneously, an eerie sound of horns and flutes filled the air, and Isaac felt the notifications in his ears disappear.

    The nightmare was overflowing.

    ¡®Ah.¡¯

    Isaac saw his hand grotesquely transformed. Tentacles were extending uncontrobly from it. Isaac felt changes urring throughout his body.

    Inside, tentacles writhed as if a balloon was about to burst.

    It had been a long sleep. It was time to wake up.

    ¡®Is this the end?¡¯

    Isaac felt there was no longer any way to stop it.

    However, amidst everything crumbling, bing unbnced, and seemingly about to copse in dizziness.

    A figure, clear and distinct, was cutting through the nightmare, approaching.

    ¡°Isaac! Sir Isaac, Knight of the Holy Grail!¡±

    Between the afterlife and this life, between nightmare and chaos, she alone carried a steadfast order. Even in his distant consciousness, Isaac saw the identity of the radiance wrapping around her.

    The beast of the forge. The Codex of Light. A follower of order.

    A divine beast born from ashes protected her.

    But something more steadfast made her stand firm in this chaos, like an anchor.

    ¡°Isaac Issacrea!¡±

    Isaac wanted to approach her.

    He wanted to escape this chaos and approach that unhesitating order and goodwill. Isolde stepped forward briskly. Isaac reflexively reached out to her.

    With his left hand, now a bundle of tentacles.

    Isolde flinched at the sight but then grabbed and pulled it firmly towards her.

    Isaac fell into Isolde¡¯s embrace without resistance. At the same time, Isaac entered into the realm of light.

    Everything became clear, and he returned to a stable domain of order. The world, which had been crumbling, freezing, and melting away, regained its ce.

    And Isolde¡¯s perplexed face appeared before him.

    ¡°What in the world¡­¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s exin¡­ter.¡±

    As soon as Isaac escaped the confusion, he immediately activated the Lighthouse of the Watcher.

    A miracle from the Codex of Light, among the highest. The light emanating could determine what was right and wrong in its reach, the apex of order.

    The halo of light that emerged above Isaac¡¯s head chased away the afterworld of the Immortal Order and the domain of chaos originating from Isaac.

    In the brilliant sh, Isaac watched the chaos dissipate like a mirage.

    The faceless man in yellow clothes waved his hand.

    As if to say, see you again next time.

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read up to advance 20 chapters or support me, you can do it at/Akaza156

 Chapter 97:

    Chapter 97:

    The warm light emanating from the Lighthouse of the Watcher banished the night and restored order.

    The grass and trees that had frozen to death did note back to life, but no longer were there ghosts flowing, melting, and merging into the world. Only then did Isaac feel as though he had emerged from a storm, setting foot on solid ground.

    It was the world where he belonged, where he wanted to be.

    And Isolde was there.

    An inquisitor of the Codex of Light.

    Isaac still hadn¡¯t fully retracted the tentacles that had emerged during the overflow of the afterlife back into his body. He was trying, but the process was not quick enough. Complex emotions flitted through Isolde¡¯s eyes, but there was no immediate intent to strike Isaac down.

    And Isaac felt the same way.

    ¡°Sir Isaac!¡±

    Hesabel burst in suddenly, quickly positioning herself between Isaac and Isolde. The dagger and spear she drew aimed to pierce Isolde in an instant. Isolde, for her part, was taken aback by the sudden appearance of this unfamiliar Walraika hunter.

    Hesabel¡¯s intentions in that brief moment were clear. A chilling murderous intent enveloped her.

    Just as Hesabel was about to charge at Isolde, Isaac grabbed her wrist.

    ¡°Stop.¡±

    ¡°Ah, Sir Isaac¡­¡±

    Isaac staggered, losing his bnce. He was ovee by an intense hunger. Whether due to the fierce battle or the flood of the afterlife, his body had consumed almost all its ¡®meat¡¯ in an effort to restore itself to its original state.

    ¡°Is the cksmith secured?¡±

    ¡°Yes, yes! Be, no, Baxter is protecting him!¡±

    ¡°Then let¡¯s go back for now¡­¡±

    Isaac said this and then copsed as if he had fallen.

    Darkness enveloped his vision instantly.

    ***

    ¡°It¡¯s been a while.¡±

    Isaac opened his eyes. All around him was pitch darkness.

    But there was one person, dressed in the armor of a Codex of Light Pdin, who alone possessed color and was looking at Isaac.

    It seemed the halo encircling the man¡¯s head illuminated his body.

    Upon seeing the man, Isaac immediately realized he was dreaming. Because the man in front of him was someone who couldn¡¯t possibly be there.

    ¡°To be precise, this isn¡¯t a dream. It¡¯s closer to a thought process.¡±

    The Pdin, no, Kalsen Miller, seemed to have read Isaac¡¯s thoughts and responded.

    The Kalsen Miller that Isaac had devoured was standing before him.

    Though he looked much more tired and haggard than in Isaac¡¯s memories, it was unmistakably Kalsen.

    ¡®This is another strange dream.¡¯

    Isaac wondered why Kalsen of all people appeared in his dream. With his identity exposed to Isolde, the cksmith arrived, and the situation being urgent, it wasn¡¯t time to be sleeping.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. You¡¯ve returned to the monastery for recuperation. Hesabel is clinging to the ceiling to guard you, and Zihilrat is guarding the door. The cksmith and the envoy of the Salt Council have safely returned, and Isolde is waiting for you to wake up.¡±

    Isaac thought Kalsen¡¯s words were strange. He was unconscious. How could he know so much about the outside situation? Was it just a guess?

    ¡°¡®The rat in the wall¡¯ ability, remember? Fool. Even if I don¡¯t want to see or hear, that sense is awake and pushing information into your body.¡±

    Isaac felt a chill run down his spine.

    He reflexively searched for his sword, but his hand grasped nothing. In fact, there was no such thing as Isaac¡¯s body to begin with. This darkness, this space, was Isaac. He was looking at Kalsen from all directions.

    As if Kalsen had entered inside Isaac¡¯s body.

    ¡°Close. This is like the inside of your stomach.¡±

    So, everything I¡¯ve consumed so far is inside here?

    ¡°Some are weak, those with fragile egos melt away quickly. Heinkel Gulmar was here for a moment and now is nowhere to be seen, and an ancient god named Golruwa shattered into pieces, mumbling something before disappearing. Oh, and surprisingly, the prophet of red flesh also stayed for a while¡­ Of course, just because they are not visible does not mean they have disappeared. I don¡¯t know either.¡±

    Meanwhile, Kalsen sat neatly without any disorder, like a monk in meditation. Truly fitting for a pdin who dared to aspire to the throne of God. With a subtle halo, his figure seemed impossible to be seen as corrupted.

    But why did Kalsen appear all of a sudden? Is it something like indigestion?

    ¡°It must be because of the recent events.¡±

    Recent events? Is it about the sh with the immortal order?

    ¡°No. It¡¯s about the scripture you created.¡±

    Isaac recalled the ¡®Book of the Nameless Worm.¡¯

    A scripture created without much thought, merely to establish the nameless chaos as a religion.

    Kalsen was pointing that out.

    ¡°That became the connection between your faith and the afterlife¡­ with Urbansus. That¡¯s the start of all the recent changes and nightmares you¡¯ve been experiencing.¡± ( TL- I couldn¡¯t find the meaning of this word)

    The afterlife.

    Isaac snapped back to reality.

    In faith, the afterlife is inseparable. In fact, it¡¯s not an overstatement to say that faith exists to exin and justify the afterlife. Hence, every faith has its own version of the afterlife.

    The mostmon afterlife represents the values and fears they advocate for through heaven and hell.

    The Codex Of Light possesses a splendid and elegant heaven apanied by the light, but also a hell filled with boilingva. The Red Chalice Club has a heaven that¡¯s a banquet hall filled with all kinds of delicacies and beautiful people, but also a hell where the menu for the banquet is ¡®prepared.¡¯

    However, Isaac had never heard of what kind of afterlife the nameless chaos might have.

    It was unimaginably daunting.

    Kalsen said with a bitter smile to Isaac.

    ¡°A afterlife that not even the god, its proxy, or the believers know of. That would be quite something to see. A truly fitting afterlife for its name.¡±

    What do you know? Why did you suddenly appear before me?

    ¡°I originally intended to ignore you. No, I wished you would desperately die. I pondered a lot on how to harm you here.¡±

    But from Kalsen¡¯s bitter expression, it was clear that any attempt was futile.

    ¡°In this damned ce, neither swordsmanship, miracles, nor rituals work. It¡¯s a cursed ce where even the voice of God is not heard.¡±

    But then?

    ¡°I changed my mind after seeing you just now.¡±

    Changed your mind?

    Kalsen did not answer any further.

    He changed his posture resembling a praying figure, pushed off the ground, and stood up. He looked at the ceiling. Since Isaac was everywhere and Isaac¡¯s gaze was present everywhere, it was as if he was looking at Isaac.

    ¡°It¡¯s time to get up. If you want answers, ask the salt merchant. He knows your situation better than I do.¡±

    Isaac truly opened his eyes.

    As soon as he did, he met eyes with Hesabel, who was hanging from the familiar ceiling.

    ¡°Lord Isaac! You¡¯ve regained consciousness!¡±

    She immediately came down from the ceiling to check on Isaac¡¯s condition. Seeing that she didn¡¯t harm him even though he waspletely defenseless, Isaac thought it might be okay to trust her now.

    Despite waking up, Isaac still felt heavy and drained.

    Like an old man with low sugar.

    ¡°Hesabel.¡±

    ¡°Yes! Do you need anything?¡±

    ¡°Bring me a pig. No need to cook it, just hurry.¡±

    Only after devouring a whole pig was Isaac able to regain some energy. It was then Isaac realized that the reason he had been able to move around so energetically was due to the effect of ¡®devouring.¡¯

    The frailty he felt just now was, in fact, the natural state of a Nephilim. To act with the vigor of a radiant pdin, he had to continuously eat and drink.

    ¡°Even after all the training, what a cursed constitution.¡±

    Fortunately, Isaac had no serious injuries, so there was no need for further convalescence. Isaac intended to meet with the bureaucrats to assess the damage to his domain and see the cksmith, but Hesabel suggested he might want to postpone it a bit.

    ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°The atmosphere of worship and excitement for you right now is no joke. The pdins, priests, bureaucrats, and even the people of your domain¡­¡±

    ording to what Hesabel ryed, the people of the domain were now almost treating Isaac as an angel descended to earth.

    He had saved them from the mortal threat of the immortal order without any casualties, rescued outsiders in peril, and after a glorious battle against a lich, he emerged victorious, truly making him the protagonist of a legend.

    Isaac quickly realized that there had been considerable embellishment to the story.

    The battles had urred in two ces, and there were misunderstandings and exaggerations about the fight that one did not witness. The stories inted Isaac¡¯s deeds to the point where he was depicted as almost single-handedly ying thousands of undead and defeating the angel of the Immortal order, like a demigod.

    And now, the hero was supposedly in a critical condition, unconscious, leading everyone to pray for his speedy recovery throughout the night.

    ¡°¡­¡­Can¡¯t help it.¡±

    Isaac wanted to dispel this misunderstanding immediately and tell them to work on the domain¡¯s recovery instead of praying, but he decided to follow Hesabel¡¯s advice. The amount of faith he received while unconscious was no joke.

    Apparently, the number of people praying and the depth of their faith had increased so much that he received almost twice the amount he had before. With this, he could not only enhance the abilities of his apostles but possibly recruit more.

    Thinking that dying his return a few more days could result in even more faith, Isaac decided to pretend to be more injured than he was.

    ¡°But the restoration work for the domain cannot be dyed. It¡¯s already a busy spring with much to do. Tell them we¡¯ve ovee the crisis, and fulfilling their duties faithfully is the true mark of a believer.¡±

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    ¡°And¡­ what about the inquisitor?¡±

    When Hesabel thought of Isolde, she pursed her lips and answered.

    ¡°We¡¯ve kept her alive, as you said. I was ready to pull her tongue out if she spoke out of turn, but fortunately, she hasn¡¯t been spreading nonsense. She¡¯s currently helping with the purification work of the domain tainted by the Immortal order.¡±

    Isaac had expected as much.

    From the moment he heard about the fervent atmosphere in the domain.

    If Inquisitor Isolde had been spreading stories about Isaac sprouting tentacles or showing monstrous forms, it would have certainly dampened the spirits.

    But at the same time, he wondered.

    ¡®It¡¯s fortunate, but why hasn¡¯t she been spreading it? Because she wants to quietly interrogate and then secretly dispose of the celebrated Grail Knight?¡¯

    It was a usible guess.

    From the order¡¯s perspective, admitting that the Grail Knight, whom they even considered making a saint, was in fact a tentacle monster would be quite embarrassing.

    However, Isaac knew internally that the reason Isolde hadn¡¯t spread word of his true nature was the same reason he had spared Isolde.

    ¡°Call the inquisitor for me. I have something to discuss with her.¡±

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read up to advance 20 chapters or support me, you can do it at/Akaza156

 Chapter 98:

    Chapter 98:

    ¡°I have received a mission to serve the Light.¡±

    Isolde stood at the door, reciting a short prayer.

    Hesabel looked at her strangely for standing still, but Isolde paid her no mind.

    ¡°As before, grant me wisdom and patience moving forward, and help me fill my life with light. Assist me in serving you without tiring.¡±

    With a firm resolve, she opened the door.

    Inside, Isaac sat on the bed, hisplexion pale. Yet, despite this, he was as beautiful as the first time she saw him.

    As if the sight fromst night was a lie.

    Wondering how to start the conversation, Isolde decided to ask something she couldn¡¯t help but wonder.

    ¡°Why did you apply flour to your face?¡±

    At that, Isaac red at Hesabel. He roughly wiped his cheek, muttering,

    ¡°I told you it was useless. Did you really think the inquisitor would fall for such a trick?¡±

    ¡°It worked up until now¡­¡±

    Wiping his cheek, the pallor seemed to return to a normal color. Isolde burst intoughter upon realizing Isaac had been pretending to be sick.

    ¡°You didn¡¯t need to go through such trouble. Lord Isaac, you already look frail enough. It hardly makes a difference.¡±

    Hesabel red at Isolde, but Isolde paid her no mind.

    Though their n to garner sympathy failed, it seemed to lighten the mood. Seeing Isoldeugh, Isaac thought she wasn¡¯t about to attack him yelling, ¡°You tentacle monster!¡±

    Isaac gestured towards Hesabel.

    ¡°Step out for a moment.¡±

    ¡°Lord Isaac¡­¡±

    ¡°If you¡¯re here, it might deepen misunderstandings. After all, what could happen that I couldn¡¯t handle, that you would be able to stop?¡±

    Hesabel grumbled but, knowing he was right, quietly stepped out. Before leaving, she pointed from her eyes to Isolde with two fingers, warning her.

    Of course, Isolde seemed unfazed.

    With Hesabel gone, Isolde spoke up.

    ¡°It seems you really do have control over her, as expected.¡±

    ¡°Yes. I was worried if she might have caused any trouble while I was unconscious.¡±

    Before losing consciousness, Hesabel and Isolde were on the brink of a fight. Despite Hesabel¡¯s often clumsy demeanor, she is the heir of the Wachia Duke, with a number and power of kills that Isolde couldn¡¯t match. Had a fight broken out, Isolde might have disappeared without a trace.

    ¡°She was a bit aggressive butplied in the end, especially while taking care of you¡­¡±

    Isolde began to speak naturally but paused, seemingly recalling that moment.

    Isaac felt it was time to discuss matters seriously.

    ¡°I imagine you were quite shocked at the time¡­ but first, I want to thank you for not reporting me.¡±

    ¡°Before that, could I ask what exactly happened back then?¡±

    Isaac had endlessly pondered how to excuse himself, but seeing Isolde¡¯s demeanor, he felt confident enough to be honest. It was unclear whether it was a matter of life or death, but Isolde seemed to have postponed judging Isaac.

    There might be a chance to persuade her.

    ¡°It was as you saw.¡±

    ¡°So, it really was¡­¡±

    Isaac nodded.

    ¡°Yes, I am¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­ indeed suffering from a peculiar curse of the undead order, causing my body to transform!¡±

    Isaac nearly blurted out that he was using the power of the nameless chaos but swallowed the words just in time.

    Looking hurriedly into Isolde¡¯s eyes, it didn¡¯t seem she was joking.

    Isaac recalled the moment he revealed his tentacles in front of Isolde, his hands and eyes sprouting tentacles at the threshold of theherworld portal opened by Al Duard, creating a bizarre scene.

    ¡®Could she have misunderstood?¡¯

    Instead of eagerly agreeing and lying, Isaac opted for silence and a pained expression, thereby fueling Isolde¡¯s imagination. People are often more deceived by their own imaginations than by others¡¯ lies.

    Isaac could deceive Isolde if he wanted to.

    But he had already read her inner thoughts.

    She was prepared to be deceived. No, she wanted to be deceived.

    That the figure she saw was merely a hallucination caused by a curse from an evil priest, and that the person before her was a wholly pious and righteous Grail Knight.

    She wanted to believe that.

    And Isaac had no intention of letting her believe so.

    Isaac smiled bitterly.

    ¡°No. That¡¯s my secret.¡±

    The expression on Isolde¡¯s face faded.

    Isaac could deceive Isolde. But what then? Could he hide the truth forever?

    This situation made Isaac realize that he could face unforeseen circumstances beyond his preparation or prediction.

    Especially before verifying the identity of the figure in yellow clothes from the afterlife.

    Killing Isolde was an option, but despite considering it several times, he never followed through.

    Isaac didn¡¯t want to.

    For the same reasons Isolde didn¡¯t want to use Isaac.

    ¡°I am not cursed, Inquisitor.¡±

    ***

    Isaac spoke honestly.

    He exined that the tentacles had manifested since his time in the monastery, he fed on small animals to grow them, and that what the tentacles consumed had also helped his growth and survival. He even admitted to relying on the tentacles to stop the Walraika human hunters in the valley.

    However, he didn¡¯t tell her everything. It was a selective confession.

    ¡®There¡¯s no need to mentioning from another world, consuming Kalsen or Heinkel¡­¡¯

    Truthfully, Isaac felt no qualms about whom he had consumed. They were either beasts or those unworthy of life. He had even refrained from consuming humans, even the most criminal.

    ¡°¡­And that¡¯s how I defeated the Prophet of Red Flesh and repelled the bishop of the immortal order. But I cannot deny that I borrowed the power of an unknown divinity in the process.¡±

    While he had to admit to the tentacles since Isolde had seen them, he avoided mentioning the nameless chaos or the distasteful acts of consumption. After all, the negative perception built by the nameless chaos wasn¡¯t Isaac¡¯s concern.

    Isaac wanted to be responsible only for what he had to. In that regard, he acted out of selfish motives but hadn¡¯tmitted any evil deeds.

    Isolde listened to Isaac¡¯s confession silently for a long time. She wasn¡¯t a priest hearing a confession but someone more ustomed to extracting the truth under intense pressure.

    Ironically, she found this straightforward confession unfamiliar.

    After a while, Isolde finally spoke.

    ¡°Then, do you not believe in the Codex of Light?¡±

    ¡°I suppose you could say I don¡¯t actively deny it.¡±

    In a world where gods and miracles existed, denying faith seemed absurd. Rather, he had no intention of actively praising or worshiping any god.

    ¡°But the abbot performed a proof of faith for me. I believe faith isn¡¯t solely proved by praising and worshiping a deity.¡±

    Faith.

    The Codex of Light teaches universal physicalws as the ¡°Codex of Light,¡± essentially codifying the universal order itself. To Isaac, it seemed every other faith, in some form, adhered to the order led by the Law of Light.

    Though the form of worship varied, all acknowledged the world¡¯s existence in its current form.

    ¡°Then miracles too¡­¡±

    ¡°Yes. If you were to call it a miracle, this would be my miracle.¡±

    Isaac tantly showed his tentacles to Isolde. The crimson tentacles emerged from his palm, longer than a finger, undting gently. Isolde inhaled sharply out of a physiological repulsion but didn¡¯t immediately proim to burn Isaac at the stake.

    Suppressing her aversion, she cautiously reached out to touch the tentacle.

    The tentacle lightly wrapped around her fingers, not appearing ferocious in any way.

    ¡®This thing is cunning, too.¡¯

    Isaac was momentarily taken aback that the tentacle didn¡¯t show teeth or eyes.

    Although the tentacle didn¡¯t seem eager to reveal itself in front of Isolde, it followed Isaac¡¯s intent, not feeling ¡®threatening¡¯ by somewhat concealing its appearance.

    After a moment, Isolde withdrew her hand and sighed deeply.

    She seemed to be wrestling withplex thoughts and didn¡¯t speak for a long time. Isaac, understanding her position, thought she would need at least half a day to find words again and patiently waited.

    Fortunately, Isolde didn¡¯t take half a day to respond.

    ¡°Sometimes, the miracles of Gode in astonishing forms.¡±

    Isaac looked at her, wondering what she was getting at.

    ¡°A mercenary sending children saved from battlefields to orphanages, a merchant selling food at low prices in famine-stricken areas, a mother who jumps into a fire to save her child and returns alive¡­ I consider all these also miracles.¡±

    ¡°Are you saying this tentacle is a miracle?¡±

    ¡°Miracles don¡¯te only to save us from hardships. Sometimes¡­ the hardship itself is the miracle. Like when Luadin wandered the lowest ces and then stood at the stake.¡±

    Isolde gripped Isaac¡¯s hand firmly, not caring whether it had tentacles or not.

    ¡°You have already shown a miracle. Even in situations where ¡®it¡¯ could be easily misunderstood and miracles are hard to expect, you have done good and defended the weak. Unlike the priests who, despite performing miracles daily, don¡¯t even nce at what¡¯s under their feet!¡±

    This time, Isaac was startled by Isolde¡¯s unexpectedly radical words.

    Her eyes were on Isaac¡¯s hand, but it was clear she was seeing some past only she knew.

    What she had seen during her time as an inquisitor.

    Contrary to what Isaac might have thought, Isolde¡¯s mind wasn¡¯t a bed of roses.

    ¡°You don¡¯t need to loudly proim your faith in the Codex of Light. There are already too many of those types. You are already living by the values and rules that should be protected. That¡¯s enough!¡±

    Isaac was taken aback by her words. He had nned to rely on sentiment, not a real miracle, but he hadn¡¯t expected such an overflow of emotion.

    Her logic was not that of an inquisitor.

    ¡®Wait, does this mean I should be distancing myself from this crazy inquisitor?¡¯

    Isaac¡¯s aim was to be a knight within the Codex of Light, to live well and eat well. Making Isolde an ally in the process was sufficient.

    But to discover Isolde was such a radical¡­

    ¡°Inquisitor, please calm down for a moment¡­¡±

    However, Isolde grasped Isaac¡¯s hand even more firmly and said,

    ¡°Lord Isaac, you are undoubtedly a messenger sent by the Codex of Light to reestablish order!¡±

    ***

    ¡®This is madness.¡¯

    After Isolde left, Isaac reflected on her for a moment.

    It was clear Isolde did not follow the typical path of an inquisitor. Her infamy as an inquisitor was such that even Gebel openly despised it.

    Yet, Isolde was sincere and upright.

    Not exactly traits befitting an inquisitor.

    Isaac thought this was due to her being from a noble house that ¡®didn¡¯t get its hands dirty¡¯ with inquisitorial tasks. However, his view of Isolde changed today.

    ¡®A reformer. And a quite radical one at that.¡¯

    Nobles are divided into those aligned with the church and those with the emperor.

    Among them, the Brant ducal family is known for its deep piety. Was this solely her own will?

    Isaac considered that unlikely. If the church were to undergo radical reforms, who would benefit?

    ¡®Is this mingled with the intentions of the imperial faction nobles?¡¯

    Or was it genuine disappointment with the church?

    Isaac couldn¡¯t tell how purely Isolde wished for the church¡¯s reform.

    Just as Isolde chose not to use Isaac and to trust him, he also wanted to trust her.

    Whether for practical reasons or personal ones.

    Isaac recalled the moment when the afterlife overflowed through Al Duard¡¯s spell.

    When the world was crumbling, and the boundaries were blurring.

    When his body, too, was filled with chaos, and tentacles overflowed.

    Only Isolde remained unshaken, capable of pulling him back into the realm of order.

    Isaac felt this was an important clue for his future.

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read up to advance 20 chapters or support me, you can do it at/Akaza156

 Chapter 99:

    Chapter 99:

    Isolde returned to her room and wandered around for a long time.

    ¡°Tentacles!¡±

    She couldn¡¯t even scream. Someone might hear.

    In front of Isaac, she rambled about how the ordeal he was facing was a symbol of tribtion, but she didn¡¯t truly believe it.

    Isolde knew all too well what the tentacles symbolized and what horrific events had urred.

    The history of those who worshiped the god of chaos was almost entirely erased, but their infamous reputation continued to be passed down.

    ¡°But¡­ Isaac?¡±

    His demeanor and achievements werepletely contrary to everything she had learned.

    It could all be a deception. Isaac was revered as a devout Grail Knight and was benefiting greatly from it. And among the inquisitors, the same saying was passed down like a proverb.

    The most faithful willmit the most painful betrayal.

    Elil, who rebelled against Luadin; the Red Chalice, who plucked out Elil¡¯s heart; Beshek, a bishop of the Codex of Light who apostatized and dragged the afterlife to the earthly realm.

    The world of mythology was as full of betrayal and conspiracy as the human world.

    Inquisitors exist to prevent such incidents from happening again. So, it was natural to doubt Isaac. The moment Isaac showed the tentacles, Isolde should have immediately subdued him. If not possible, she should have escaped and reported him.

    But she didn¡¯t want to.

    Isolde was well aware that the Church of the Codex of Light did not adhere well to its doctrines. Compared to that, Isaac seemed worthy of the name of a Grail Knight.

    Isolde could not simply condemn Isaac as evil.

    ¡°Is my faith shaking?¡±

    No, her faith was not shaking. What was shaking was her trust in the order.

    Isaac could be the catalyst for changing the church, she truly believed.

    With that thought, Isolde felt that her role would not change significantly in the future. She was dispatched to monitor Isaac.

    She would continue to monitor Isaac, but the purpose would change.

    Whether Isaac was hiding the traits of an evildoer or bing one.

    Yet, at the same time, Isolde harbored another worry.

    ¡°The most faithful willmit the most painful betrayal.¡±

    An inquisitor who abandons their duty and loses loyalty to the church.

    Perhaps, she worried, the apostate might be herself.

    ***

    During his seclusion in the room, Isaac organized what he had gained from the recent battle.

    ¡°First, the rewards obtained by defeating Al Duard¡­¡±

    At the moment of defeating Al Duard, Isaac was engulfed in chaos spilling from the afterlife and lost consciousness, but the nameless chaos faithfully provided rewards. Although he couldn¡¯t consume Al Duard, the rewards were not bad considering.

    [The nameless chaos is satisfied with your defeat of Archdeacon ¡®Al Duard¡¯.]

    [You have been awarded the chaos rewards.]

    [You have acquired the trait ¡®Dark Eucharist¡¯.]

    [Dark Eucharist / You can consume targets with tentacles or treat them as a ¡®Eucharist¡¯. Faith increases in proportion to the quality of the Eucharist. Enemies witnessing the Eucharist fall into fear or chaos, but your followers experience religious ecstasy.]

    ¡°Is this really a good trait for me?¡±

    Isaac read the skill description with a dubious expression. It seemed more fitting for the Red Chalice Club than the nameless chaos, but he also thought there might not be much difference between tentacles that chew up enemies alive and vampires that suck blood.

    Still, he felt the need to increase his faith recently, and depending on how it¡¯s used, it could provide a wide-area debuff or a buff for allies.

    It was unclear what specific effects ¡°religious ecstasy¡± would have.

    ¡°Next, the relics taken from Al Duard.¡±

    Isaac ordered Hesabel to bring the reliquary.

    Hesabel promptly presented it. It was a reliquary that could instantly use a powerful miracle. After taking it, it indeed seemed to be a relic of significant value. There were already a few burnt marks, but 8 symbols remained.

    A window exining what this object meant appeared in front of Isaac.

    [The Reliquary of the Chosen (S)]

    [The Reliquary of the Chosen, previously used by Bishop Beshek before his apostasy. A powerful ritual tool that allows miracles to be performed withoutplex ceremonies by simply preparing the necessary sacrifices and prayers in advance. The burn marks can only be removed by Bishop Beshek himself.]

    It was a ritual item simr to the Rite of Division.

    Moreover, it was directly rted to the god of the immortal order, Beshek.

    However, its rank was lower than the Rite of Division. The Rite of Division was directly rted to the birth of a god, whereas the Reliquary of the Chosen was merely an item possessed by Beshek when he was still human.

    Still, as a divine object, it seemed not bad for ritual use.

    The Rite of Division served as a powerful ritual catalyst, simplifying many procedures and materials. However, this reliquary, in addition to acting as a catalyst, seemed to allow for the immediate activation of miracles ifplex processes were prepleted, much like loading a bullet.

    ¡®The problem is that I don¡¯t know which miracles are in it.¡¯

    No matter how much Isaac looked, he could only see information that it belonged to Bishop Beshek, with no details on the specific miracles. Blindly activating it could be problematic if it unleashed an undead summoning miracle, for instance.

    ¡®It¡¯s better to just carry it around as a buff item.¡¯

    [You have acquired the relic ¡®The Reliquary of the Chosen.¡¯]

    [The effects of your noble journey are further strengthened.]

    As a relic entwined with the story of the immortal emperor Beshek, just possessing it allowed Isaac to gain significant buff effects. Since it couldn¡¯t be returned in the hostile situation against the immortal order, this was the best course of action.

    ¡®Andstly¡­¡¯

    Isaac recalled his fight with the Duhan.

    That Duhan was clearly not an ordinary swordsman. Isaac was certain he must have been a renowned swordsman within the Elil order. However, there was no clue as to who he was, only the broken sword handle he used as a weapon remained.

    The sword handle had neither miracles nor power, making it seem worthless. Still, Isaac decided to keep it just in case.

    But that wasn¡¯t what was important.

    During the intense battle, Isaac could feel a surge of energy manifesting from within him towards the sword.

    It was something different from miracles or advanced swordsmanship.

    The Duhan¡¯s swordsmanship was clearly superior to his own. But by absorbing his swordsmanship skills, Isaac broke through his own limits.

    ¡®This must be thanks to Kalsen¡¯s talent. How strong was Kalsen, really?¡¯

    Being a candidate for godhood, a predestined archangel, and having risen to the second inmand of the immortal order, it was natural for him to be strong. The thought of such a being being consumed by him felt increasingly strange the more he considered it.

    Since this ability did not appear in the status window, Isaac decided to meditate on it during his seclusion, hoping to reawaken that sensation. If he could, his level would definitely advance by a significant margin.

    ¡®At least to Gebel¡¯s level or beyond¡­¡¯

    That¡¯s a level among the top ranks of pdins. Isaac closed his eyes and revisited his duel with the Duhan.

    ***

    ng, ng.

    The sound of metal being hammered echoed loudly. The forge at the corner of the castle, unused for a while, suddenly buzzed with activity and the sound of hammering after a long time. The man wielding the hammer furiously struck the Forge.

    Passersby nced at the hammering man. Compact but sturdy in build, his bushy beard singed in ces. He was that dwarf, known to have almost disappeared from the continent, sparking curiosity. Especially since he was a forge master who hadn¡¯t shown himself in public for over a hundred years.

    But no one dared to speak to him carelessly. They had been warned that he was a guest under Isaac¡¯s protection. Thanks to that, the forge master could hammer away without worry.

    Until someone spoke to him from behind.

    ¡°Sir.¡±

    Cutting through the noisy ngs, someone¡¯s voice was heard. The forge master turned his head. He sized up the woman who spoke to him before speaking.

    ¡°That inquisitordy, I presume.¡±

    ¡°Isolde Brant.¡±

    As Isolde answered politely, the forge master looked at her stiffly before responding.

    ¡°Ulsten. My responses may be blunt, but understand that¡¯s just how I speak¡­ Even if our faiths differ, I¡¯m not ungrateful.¡±

    Ulsten hadn¡¯t forgotten Isolde, the inquisitor who hade to his rescue when he was surrounded by the undead of the immortal order on a bridge. Recognizing him as a cksmith of the World¡¯s Forge, a priest within the Forge Church, Isolde had immediately identified his affiliation, and Ulsten felt the irony in being protected by an inquisitor.

    ¡°Helping each other among those belonging to the same White Empire is only natural.¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ if you think so, I¡¯m grateful.¡±

    Elil, the Codex of Light, the World¡¯s Forge.

    These three faiths among the nine are collectively referred to as the nations of the White Empire.

    Despite internal conflicts and disputes, they generally shared simr values and maintained good rtions. Although the rtionship had be strained recently due to the increasingly dogmatic atmosphere within the Church of the Codex of Light, theirmon history of standing against the ck Empire still bound them together.

    In this context, the cooperation between Isolde and Ulsten against the enemies of the immortal order was quite meaningful, especially since the World¡¯s Forge Church had been isting itselftely.

    And the reason the World¡¯s Forge Church fell into istion¡ªUlsten felt a bit awkward with Isolde¡¯s humble approach.

    ¡°Your response is not typical of an inquisitor. I¡¯ve heard they¡¯re so arrogant that just talking to them could raise one¡¯s blood pressure to lethal levels¡­ If you¡¯re not in a hurry, we can talk while I work. If I stop now, the quality will drop.¡±

    Ulsten resumed hammering the metal. Isolde, curious about what the renowned forge master was making, watched closely. However, it didn¡¯t seem like he was crafting a legendary sword.

    ¡°A spike?¡±

    It was arge nail, the kind used by stone masons or for mining.

    ¡°Yes. I¡¯ll be needing it soon.¡±

    Isolde, who knew forge masters used the miraculous fires of their forges to create magical weapons, found it odd to see Ulsten sweating profusely to make a mere spike. But knowing the forge masters had crossed the sea to arrive here about a hundred years ago, she thought she might have misunderstood their work.

    Ulsten nced at Isolde, who silently observed his work. If it were anyone else, he might have told them off, but he couldn¡¯t do that to an inquisitor.

    Finally, unable to bear it, he spoke up.

    ¡°If you have something to say, then say it.¡±

    ¡°Ah, no, it¡¯s nothing major. I just couldn¡¯t pass by without watching a forge master at work. Am I intruding, perhaps?¡±

    ¡°Hmm, no. This is akin to self-discipline and prayer.¡±

    Forge masters are both cksmiths and priests of the World¡¯s Forge Church. For them, this kind of forging is as much a ritual as morning prayers. Just as priests of the Codex of Light light candles on the altar before praying, they ignite the forge and hammer metal.

    Ulsten nced at Isolde and said,

    ¡°If you have nothing else to say, then I have a question.¡±

    ¡°Yes?¡±

    ¡°What kind of person is the Grail Knight? I thought I¡¯d meet him soon after returning to the monastery, but it¡¯s hard even to see his face. Is his injury that severe? I heard he even defeated an angel.¡±

    ¡°Ah, if you mean Isaac¡­,¡±

    Isolde began to talk about Isaac but then hesitated. Although she hadn¡¯t spent a long time with Isaac, she was probably the person in the estate with the longest acquaintance with him.

    Isolde thought she had seen the true side of Isaac at the Ariet Monastery, but recently, she found it hard to understand him.

    Stammering, Isolde managed to say something that only someone who had met him or knew him could say.

    ¡°He¡¯s handsome?¡±

    ¡°¡­Is that all? It seems everyone I meet mentions that, including Eidan.¡±

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read up to advance 20 chapters or support me, you can do it at/Akaza156

 Chapter 100:

    Chapter 100:

    Ulsten was aware that a handsome appearance could indeed inspire a mysterious faith and trust. In fact, he had asked about Isaac to various people in the monastery, including servants, bureaucrats, and even knights and priests.

    And Ulsten only learned that they all seemed like fanatics about Isaac.

    ¡®Not only is he incredibly handsome, but with just his devout voice, he awakened those enchanted by ancient gods, single-handedly defeated an angel, and when he casually swung his sword, the undead broke apart like straw? They all seem out of their minds.¡¯

    Of course, rumors tend to be exaggerated, but when everyone he met passionately preached about Isaac¡¯s virtues, Ulsten could only feel skeptical. It went beyond the usual respect for a Grail Knight; it almost felt like the adtion for some cult leader.

    ¡®I thought the inquisitor might be different, but it seems she¡¯s not quite sane either.¡¯

    Isolde, taken aback by Ulsten¡¯s chilly response, replied awkwardly.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. He¡¯s difficult to describe in simple terms. Just when you think you understand him, he shows something beyond expectation, and when you believe you¡¯ve figured him out, he presents somethingpletely unforeseen. All I can confidently say is what you can see of his appearance.¡±

    ¡°Hmm.¡±

    Ulsten showed a curious look at Isolde¡¯s answer.

    An unpredictable person, that was a new description for him.

    Everyone rushed to praise the Grail Knight, yet an inquisitor found him hard to predict. Although Ulsten was intrigued, he couldn¡¯t pry further.

    Isolde had shifted the direction of the conversation.

    ¡°Let¡¯s turn the question around. What brings the cksmith here?¡±

    Ulsten snorted before answering.

    ¡°A craftsmanes to make things, what else? I had an item to craft.¡±

    ¡°Did the cksmith cross the sea for amission?¡±

    The reason the cksmiths disappeared from the Gerthonia Empire was not only due to troubles with the Church of the Codex of Light but also because of the cksmiths¡¯ notorious fear of water. The sturdy dwarves would sink like pebbles if they fell into water.

    ¡°It was a job worth my while.¡±

    Ulsten said proudly.

    Though the response was crude, Isolde realized Ulsten was not inclined to say more.

    In the empire, nobles would line up and spare no expense for even a single dagger crafted by a cksmith. If money could have lured them, cksmiths would have been active all over the empire long ago.

    Now, Isolde¡¯s curiosity turned to Isaac.

    How did Isaac know the cksmith wasing? And what exactly did this Grail Knight, the only one in the Gerthonia Empire to host a cksmith, intend to make?

    ***

    Ulsten walked into the abandoned mine. Each step on the ancient stone echoed ominously throughout the mine. Eiden held a torch beside him, but the mine¡¯s darkness seemed to swallow even that light.

    ¡°You¡¯ve had a hard journey, cksmith.¡±

    Soon, a voice emerged from beyond the darkness. Ulsten and Eiden, who hadn¡¯t sensed his presence at all, stopped abruptly.

    Ulsten cleared his throat before managing to respond.

    ¡°¡­So, you¡¯re the renowned Grail Knight.¡±

    Despite Ulsten¡¯s response, Isaac did not emerge from the shadows. Ulsten signaled Eiden to shine the torch further ahead, but even then, only the area around Isaac¡¯s feet became visible.

    ¡°Seems we¡¯re a bit far for a conversation, don¡¯t you think? Can¡¯t we talk a bit closer?¡±

    ¡°First, I have a few questions. Based on your answers, we¡¯ll decide how to close our distance.¡±

    At that, Eiden showed signs of impatience.

    ¡°Lord Isaac, the cksmith trusted me and the Grail Knight to¡­¡±

    ¡°It was you who invited me, wasn¡¯t it?¡±

    Ulsten cut off Eiden¡¯s words.

    Under normal circumstances, he would have stormed off the moment he received such treatment. However, he felt as if turning his back now would invite something from the darkness to grab his ankle and drag him into an abyss.

    Isolde¡¯s words began to make a little sense to him.

    ¡®An unpredictable person¡¯, was it? This was not the feeling one would typically get from a Grail Knight.

    ¡°There are various reasons for an invitation. Let me ask you first.¡±

    Isaac, staring at the cksmith, began.

    ¡°Why did the cksmith of the World¡¯s Forge cross the sea? I understand there was almost no contact due to conflicts with the Church of the Codex of Light.¡±

    Fortunately for Ulsten, he had already faced this question from Isolde. However, whether the answer he had given her would satisfy Isaac was another matter.

    ¡°A craftsmanes to make things, what else? I had an item to craft.¡±

    Isaac watched Ulsten silently, his gaze unsettling.

    It felt as if long antennae were probing into his brain, searching every corner. If he did not speak the truth, it seemed it would be forcibly extracted.

    ¡°What was the item you intended to make?¡±

    Ulsten finally spoke up.

    ¡°¡­To create a god.¡±

    ¡°A god?¡±

    Isaac frowned.

    The notion wasn¡¯t absurd to him. It wasn¡¯t typical for a priest, but countless priests had been involved in the n to make Kalsen Miller into a god.

    There were many reasons behind it. For their god, to prevent some malignant faith, for rewards in exchange for service¡­ But Ulsten¡¯s reasoning seemed different.

    ¡°Creating a god was the goal itself?¡±

    ¡°Ah, quick on the uptake.¡±

    This was also because Isaac had already seen the ending of the World¡¯s Forge.

    The Church of the World¡¯s Forge, like the Church of Elil, was ssified under the White Empire. However, instead of symbolizing their god with the sun in the sky, they chose the bubblingva beneath the earth.

    ording to their doctrine, the god entered ¡®the World¡¯s Forge¡¯ below the earth¡¯s crust to rebirth itself into its true form, and when that forging isplete, it will emerge once more.

    Interestingly, they believed that god to be the same deity worshipped by the Church of the Codex of Light.

    While other believers say the Codex of Light¡¯s god watches from the heavens, the World¡¯s Forge Church ims that is not the true form of god and that it will reveal itself when the rebirth isplete.

    Effectively, while worshipping the same deity, they followed a different doctrine, existing as separate denominations.

    And the ultimate goal of the World¡¯s Forge Church, which holds such a doctrine, is one.

    ¡°The day the World¡¯s Forge breaks, you shall shed the earth¡¯s crust and reveal your radiant form. What the Codex of Light deems god and worships now is but a faded sun. They are deceived while the true god undergoes rebirth.¡±

    Such words would shock any priest of the Codex of Light.

    Speaking of creating gods and slicing through ancient gods, angels, and bishops in front of a Grail Knight, Eiden listening by the side felt a chill.

    Under normal circumstances, Ulsten wouldn¡¯t discuss such topics in front of believers of different faiths.

    But Isaac wanted an answer. He had to present his philosophy as a craftsman.

    ¡°So, as a craftsman serving the World¡¯s Forge, what is there to do? Just wait for the god beneath the earth¡¯s crust to awaken on its own? No. We are craftsmen. The reason god gifted us the miracles of creation and transformation is for us to craft its flesh.¡±

    ¡°¡­That¡¯s not the official stance of the World¡¯s Forge Church, is it?¡±

    ¡°Huh? Quite perceptive. Yes. Not many craftsmen think like me. Some say it¡¯s sphemy.¡±

    Not just a minority, but within the World¡¯s Forge Church, they were considered extremists or radicals.

    By some interpretations, even heretics.

    Isaac shook his head, understanding Ulsten¡¯s true nature.

    ¡®It seems I keep attracting these types around me¡­ Is it because of the nameless chaos?¡¯

    Gebel was an emunicated pdin, Hesabel, although coerced by Isaac, was an apostate, Isolde was a twisted inquisitor proiming the church¡¯s corruption, and Ulsten was a priest iming to create a god. It seemed that only a thorough minority gathered around Isaac.

    Starting with Isaac, who harbored the nameless chaos within, perhaps like attracts like.

    ¡®Maybe, it¡¯s for the best. If our goals align, the bottom-dwellers should band together.¡¯

    Given Ulsten¡¯s bold im of creating a god, his skills must be unquestionable. Creating the nameless scripture was not something just anyone could do.

    ¡°But in the end, seeing Kalsen fail, it seems he failed to create a god.¡±

    As Isaac¡¯s silence grew longer, Ulsten spoke up.

    ¡°Well, then it seems it¡¯s your turn to answer. What business do I have here, having been invited? I came because I needed protection, but I think I should hear your purpose as well.¡±

    Instead of answering, Isaac turned around.

    ¡°Let¡¯s talk while we move.¡±

    ***

    Isaac, Ulsten, and Eidan headed deeper into the abandoned mine.

    They stopped in front of a seraph embedded in the wall. The seraph,posed of eight wings stretching dozens of meters, seemed about to soar off the wall at any moment. Most of its body was trapped within the rock, so it was impossible to imagine what it would look like if fully extracted.

    Ulsten stared intently at the seraph.

    ¡°This is¡­ the seraph then. A stone angel.¡±

    ¡°Have you never seen one? I understand it¡¯s from the seraph that the nameless scripture was made.¡±

    ¡°It was made with pieces brought by Lisfen Hendrock. At that time, I didn¡¯t even know where it was.¡±

    Ulsten, as if the heart of a craftsman was beating within him, couldn¡¯t take his eyes off as he touched the seraph¡¯s contours with his rough hands.

    His touch was incredibly delicate.

    The seraph was a precious material. Each god has a different way of punishing angels, but not many leave as clear traces as the seraphs of the Codex of Light.

    Ulsten seemed eager to extract the seraph from the rock and make something immediately, but he couldn¡¯t do it under Isaac¡¯s gaze.

    ¡°So, what do you want me to do? After all, I am a craftsman with nothing but the skill to make things. By bringing me all the way here to show this, it seems you want to ask me something?¡±

    ¡°Exactly.¡±

    Isaac answered with a faint smile.

    ¡°What is it?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s hard to exin in words¡­ I¡¯ll show you the rough blueprintster. It¡¯s something like armor, but probably a form you¡¯ve never made before.¡±

    Ulsten snorted at the notion it would be something he had never made before. He was an experienced cksmith. There were beings simr to pdins in the world¡¯s forge orders.

    ¡°You seem unaware of the Lycanthrope warriors. Making armor for thempared to regr armor is nothing.¡±

    ¡°It won¡¯t be as easy as you think.¡±

    Isaac said, imagining Ulsten¡¯s astonishment upon seeing the blueprint.

    ¡°You¡¯ll have to make a form of armor you¡¯ve never even imagined before.¡±

 Chapter101

    Chapter101

    ¡°And there¡¯s one more thing I would like to ask of you.¡±

    ¡°What is it?¡±

    Isaac pointed at Eidan. Having been quietly listening to the conversation, Eidan suddenly straightened up in surprise upon receiving their attention.

    ¡°There¡¯s something I¡¯ve promised to make for this friend. For the Salt Council¡­¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not possible.¡±

    Ulsten cut him off abruptly. His expression had hardened.

    Isaac asked, puzzled, ¡°You say that without even hearing what I want made?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s going to be something for the Salt Council, a relic, like an nameless scripture, I suppose.¡±

    Isaac smiled because Ulsten was exactly right.

    It wasn¡¯t unusual for the cksmith to create relics for different faiths. In fact, angels and priests of other faiths even preferred the relics made by the cksmith. After all, the relics he made were merely vessels, and what was filled inside them depended on the deity.

    Even if the same vessel was made, whether it was filled with water or blood was a matter of the holder¡¯s heart.

    However, Ulsten firmly refused to even make that vessel.

    ¡°Eidan, do you think this friend has never asked me before? It¡¯s not that it¡¯s difficult; it¡¯s impossible.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°The nameless scripture wasn¡¯t made by me alone. You would know, havinge this far, that many hands were involved. It¡¯s so controversial that even being called a heretic would be putting it lightly. The necessary materials are also varied. It¡¯s not something you can make just because you have a fallen angel.¡±

    Isaac had anticipated this.

    The union of the Immortal Order, the Codex of Light, the World¡¯s Forge, the Red Chalice, and the feuding orders desperate for supremacy was a miracle in itself. The Nameless scripture was not something that could be made simply because it was desired, nor could it be remade.

    But what Isaac wanted was not the nameless scripture.

    ¡°Even if you wanted a different relic, it would be the same. The god of the Salt Council is now buried under the salt deserts. A relic made without the god¡¯s message, blessing, or permission, do you think it would be a proper relic?¡±

    Ulsten snorted dismissively.

    ¡°It¡¯ll probably end up being a mess, infested with evil spirits or something. The Salt Council folks would probably worship it regardless. In the meantime, an nameless scripture? They¡¯d be lucky if they don¡¯t end up worshiping ancient deities and killing each other.¡±

    It was a situation reminiscent of the acts performed by the ancient deities in Seor, and indeed, it was typical behavior of the Salt Council, which made Isaacugh.

    Currently, the Salt Council was a mess of superstitious actions and taboos, having lost their proper doctrine.

    Eidan looked disappointed at Ulsten¡¯s firm stance.

    Frankly, Isaac wanted to suggest not worshipping a difficult god but rather a proper deity¡­ something like the nameless chaos.

    But for now, the Salt Council was still necessary in its own way.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that and just make it, please.¡±

    ¡°So, even for this friend¡¯s sake, making such a thing recklessly¡­¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll make it into a proper relic once it¡¯s made. I have made a promise, after all.¡±

    At Isaac¡¯s words, Eidan¡¯s eyes widened.

    To make it into a ¡®proper¡¯ relic? That was as good as saying he knew a way to reconnect with their god, who had lost contact. Even the few priests of the Salt Council didn¡¯t know such a method.

    In fact, having seen the Salt Council¡¯s end, Isaac knew a simple way.

    Receiving their astonished looks, Isaac gently made his request.

    ¡°May I ask for your help now?¡±

    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we discuss what kind of relic to make first?¡±

    ¡°It will be used as a catalyst, so it doesn¡¯t have to be anything grand. Ideally, something small and usable for rituals would be good. I¡¯ll give you a rough idea of its form.¡±

    After a moment of thought, Ulsten nodded.

    ¡°Fine¡­ I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re nning, but since I¡¯ve agreed to cooperate, I¡¯ll help. Then, I have to make two, but how do you n to pay?¡±

    ¡°I have no intention of employing the cksmith at a low price.¡±

    Isaac said, tapping the fallen angel lightly.

    ¡°You didn¡¯t cross the sea just to collect payment, did you? During your stay here, I will provide the materials you need for whatever you make. Equipment and facilities as well. In fact, considering the value of a fallen angel, it seems like the best material we could negotiate with.¡±

    Ulsten stared intently at Isaac. He had already exined the reason he had crossed the sea: to reincarnate his god through the craftsman¡¯s hands in the forge. In other words, Isaac was offering to help with that. Depending on who was looking, this could be interpreted as apostasy.

    ¡°Can you swear to your god?¡±

    Isaac smiled.

    ¡°I swear by the Codex of Light.¡±

    ***

    Even offering a precious piece of a fallen angel, it¡¯s a bargain to employ a cksmith. Just having a cksmith is enough to make the nobles and merchants of the empire go wild with envy.

    The size of the fallen angel was sufficient. It could be divided satisfactorily between both the cksmith and the Salt Council. After all, if it were to be distributed inconspicuously in the market, it would have to be leaked out bit by bit.

    But he couldn¡¯t swear in the name of the nameless chaos, so he swore by the Codex of Light. It wasn¡¯t at all because he didn¡¯t want to pay the price for breaking a vow made ¡®just because his mind had changed¡¯. Not at all.

    However, Eidan, walking by his side, didn¡¯t seem to think so.

    ¡°Can I ask where we are going?¡±

    Isaac didn¡¯t answer.

    Leaving the fallen angel behind with Ulsten, Isaac took Eidan deep into the mine. Although it wasn¡¯t dark thanks to the light from the Luthidin key Isaac carried, the oppressive air typical of a long-abandoned mine weighed on Eidan¡¯s chest.

    Eidan began to imagine Isaac saying, ¡°Now that our business is concluded, you¡¯ll die here,¡± and drawing his sword.

    But when Isaac started heading back towards the exit, Eidan breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that Isaac did not n to make this ce his grave after all.

    Then Isaac stopped.

    ¡°What makes you feel relieved?¡±

    ¡°Uh, because it seemed like we were heading back outside¡­¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ve never walked the same passage twice. We¡¯re still walking through a dark and deep abandoned mine. How did you know this was the way out?¡±

    Eidan stiffened.

    Isaac was testing him. But Eidan hesitated to answer rashly.

    However, Isaac spoke the answer Eidan couldn¡¯t.

    ¡°Since you¡¯ve been here before, you¡¯d know even the paths you¡¯re unfamiliar with, right?¡±

    Eidan didn¡¯t respond.

    What role did the Salt Council y in the Hendrake estate?

    ¡°If you can¡¯t say because of a taboo against lying, let me say it for you. It¡¯s what the Salt Council does. Naturally, it would involve transport and smuggling.¡±

    As evident from even a cksmith needing the help of the Salt Council to cross the sea, most of the seafarers are followers of the Salt Council. At sea, nobody can move unnoticed by the eyes of the Salt Council.

    Conversely, to smuggle materials or people for the Immortal Order or the Red Chalice Club past the eyes of the Codex of Light, the help of the Salt Council is essential. The Salt Council is not beholden to either the White Empire or the ck Empire, so they have no reason to hesitate.

    ¡°So, Eidan Bearveck, what were you smuggling into this mine?¡±

    Again, Isaac asked Eidan a question he already knew the answer to.

    Eidan, realizing it was futile to keep silent, gasped for breath before speaking.

    ¡°Weapons and equipment¡­¡±

    Isaac waited for more, but Eidan said nothing further.

    Isaac tilted his head and asked.

    ¡°Anything else?¡±

    ¡°Uh, that¡¯s it.¡±

    ¡°Didn¡¯t bring any corpses or bones?¡±

    Eidan, looking horrified at Isaac¡¯s grim suggestion, realized what he was implying and frantically waved his hands in denial.

    Undead?! The Salt Council may have been involved in this affair, but they wouldn¡¯t resort to such madness! There¡¯s a difference in the level of sin between a local lord acquiring weapons and smuggling undead!¡±

    Eidan spoke earnestly, showing his sincerity. Being a follower of the Salt Council, Isaac believed him without needing to use the Eye of Chaos.

    Lisfen had been preparing something akin to a rebellion here. Likely, with the intention of creating a new god, Kalsen Miller, and founding a state, they would have needed many things. Hence, they would have first stocked up on weapons that wouldn¡¯t rot.

    The abandoned mine would have been a good ce to hide such materials.

    And while they had received help from the Immortal Order, it seemed they hadn¡¯t gone as far as hiding an army, too.

    ¡®After all, the goal was to establish a new god, not to dedicate themselves to the Immortal Order.¡¯

    There must have been their own logic and reasons for it. Then, as often happens with such conspiracies, Kalsen Miller disappeared, and after some trouble with the prophet of the Red Flesh, he was eliminated.

    ¡°Where are those equipments?¡±

    Isaac asked, gripping Eidan¡¯s shoulder. Eidan obediently led him towards a storage hidden by Lishen, supposedly filled with acorns. Isaac observed Eidan¡¯s skilled navigation in the darkness, contemting.

    The Salt Council is often considered just smugglers or sailors, but in reality, they possess greater utility.

    A secretive secret shared only among their followers.

    Once Ulsten creates the relic, it will serve a very useful role.

    ***

    Guided by Ulsten, they headed back into the mine. It didn¡¯t take long before Eidan and Isaac arrived at a tunnel blocked by nks. The only sign was a shabby warning that read ¡°Danger! Abandoned Shaft.¡±

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem too far from the entrance.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s difficult to manage if left too deep, and troublesome if the mine copses.¡±

    Isaac easily broke the nks with a knife and entered. The abandoned mine, though long unused, was surprisingly well-preserved from copse. However, Isaac soon felt a change in the air inside the tunnel.

    The interior was quite spacious. Inside arge cavity, wooden crates were stacked to the brim.

    ¡°Ah, there it is. Just like thest time I saw it¡­¡­¡±

    Isaac suddenly stopped Eidan. Eidan froze, looking ahead.

    Rustle. Something moved in the darkness. Eidan suddenly felt the air turn chilly. While caves are naturally cool, this was different.

    ¡°Uh, undead? Surely not¡­¡­¡±

    ¡°Necromancy. Living Armor.¡±

    What began to move in the darkness were armors and swords flying through the air.

    Eidan paled, shaking his head in haste.

    ¡°I, I didn¡¯t lie¡­¡­¡±

    ¡°I know. You were just deceived. Besides, Living Armors aren¡¯t good enough for an army.¡±

    Ghosts don¡¯t understand tactical behavior and only perform simple actions. It seemed they were set up to manage simple guard dogs or machinery using spectral chains. It wasn¡¯t surprising. The Immortal Order was known to confine their own priests in monasteries for decades to serve an ancient deity.

    The Living Armors, sensing an intruder, began to rustle and move about. None seemed a threat to Isaac. Destroying Living Armors could be done either by casting undead banishing miracles or removing the magical catalysts hidden within the armors.

    But Isaac didn¡¯t want to damage the valuable machinery.

    ¡°Should I call someone from outside?¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    Isaac nced at Eidan and turned away.

    ¡°Watch what I do.¡±

    Eidan slipped the Luadin key into his sheath and dusted off his left hand. As a Living Armor silently charged towards Isaac, in the moment of their crossing, Isaac thrust his palm into the chest of the Living Armor.

    Crackling noise filled the air.

    Tentacles pierced through the armor, quickly subduing the catalyst inside. However, Isaac didn¡¯t stop there. He infused the tentacles with divine power, voraciously consuming the soul embedded within the armor.

    The tentacles swelled instantly. In a sh, they spread into dozens of strands, filling the armor and even bursting out of every hole, greedily devouring the scattering soul.

    The sight caused the remaining Living Armors to emit panicked spiritual screams.

    [The Dark Eucharist is activated.]

 Chapter 102:

    Chapter 102:

    The Living Armors, merelymanded to guard and maintain this ce, were infused with an alien emotion: fear. Isaac, with a sh in his eyes, ruthlessly tore through the armors. The tentacles, not leaving even a pinch of soul behind as they devoured, shocked the Living Armors spiritually.

    The dozen or so Living Armors that had risen were quickly dispelled, their spirits ejected and vanishing into the cave¡¯s exterior.

    ¡®It¡¯s fortunate their bond was weak.¡¯

    Isaac had intentionally infused his actions with divine power to amplify the effect, but the initial creation of these Living Armors hadn¡¯t been particrly meticulous. However, the fact that the effect of the Dark Eucharist alone was this significant suggested that lower-ranked soldiers wouldn¡¯t need much attention.

    ¡®Of course, there¡¯s the downside that I have to bring out the tentacles and kill them off spectacrly¡­¡¯

    Isaac turned his head to look at Eidan, who had witnessed the ¡®Dark Eucharist¡¯ effect. Part of the reason he had shown this ¡®show¡¯ was because of Eidan.

    To manipte him at will, just like the ghosts who couldn¡¯t flee and were frozen in fear.

    As expected, Eidan was sitting on the ground, trembling.

    However, the emotion reflected in his eyes was not fear but something else.

    Unexpected words flowed from his mouth.

    ¡°Dreamer¡­¡±

    ¡°What? What are you talking about?¡±

    Isaac frowned, looking at Eidan.

    Only then did Eidan seem to snap back to reality, hastily standing up. Yet, in his eyes, fear was reced by admiration and awe, not what Isaac had anticipated.

    Then, Isaac remembered another effect of the Dark Eucharist.

    ¡®Those who witness the sacrament fall into fear or chaos, but your followers enter a state of religious ecstasy¡­ was it?¡¯

    Ironically, Eidan seemed to be ¡®following¡¯ Isaac. Isaac briefly wondered when exactly Eidan had started following him.

    ¡°What¡­ what was that just now?¡±

    Eidan couldn¡¯t explicitly say what ¡®that¡¯ was, but Isaac understood. He also realized he hadpletely misjudged the situation.

    Eidan hadn¡¯t been a follower before. It was the Dark Eucharist that made him one.

    Specifically, the tentacles.

    The Salt Council, a major religion with its peculiarities, had not a few followers who revered tentacles. Some of the Salt Council¡¯s angels took the form of marine life¡­ precisely, cephalopods.

    And Isaac¡¯s tentacles, at a nce, didn¡¯t look much different from octopus arms. Though they appeared much more terrifying.

    Realizing what Eidan was thinking, Isaac immediately adopted an ambiguous stance.

    ¡°It¡¯s a miracle of the god I serve.¡±

    ¡°So you weren¡¯t a pdin of the Codex of Light!¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t tell you the details.¡±

    Isaac suppressed Eidan with authority.

    The overwhelming charisma of a Nephilim silenced Eidan, lending credibility to every word. Already influenced by the Dark Eucharist, Eidan began to fervently rationalize Isaac¡¯s identity.

    ¡°Yes¡­ that¡¯s why you said you could make any vessel into a Salt Council relic. You¡¯ve been hiding within the Codex of Light to conceal yourself from them¡­¡±

    Though Eidan seemed to be earnestly piecing things together, Isaac had no intention of exining everything.

    Some thought of him as a avenger, others as an angel, some as a devout grail knight, and still, others saw him as a revolutionary poised to end corrupt orders.

    Now, someone mistook him for a deity, but Isaac had no interest in fitting himself to anyone¡¯s perception.

    If their misconceptions made them easier to manipte, that was enough. He had no desire to sacrifice himself to fulfill their illusions.

    ¡®Why should I take responsibility for their misunderstandings? It¡¯s their fault for being deceived.¡¯

    ***

    Isaac checked the armaments hidden in the mine. Their condition was surprisingly pristine.

    It was unclear if the Living Armors had diligently maintained them or if it was due to the cave¡¯s structure. The design seemed to keep humidity low and oxygen slightly scarce, and the chill emitted by the undead made it an optimal weapons storage.

    ¡®These aren¡¯t weapons made by a cksmith.¡¯

    He had hoped but, of course, the armaments weren¡¯t crafted by cksmiths. They preferred to delicately handcraft each weapon, not mass-produce military supplies.

    ¡®They aren¡¯t from the Immortal Order or the Red Chalice, either.¡¯

    Producing such quality armaments inrge quantities would require state or church intervention. However, the style of the armaments didn¡¯t match the Codex of Light, nor did it resemble those of the Immortal Order or the Red Chalice. The Salt Councilcked skilled cksmiths.

    ¡®Could it be the work of the Olkan discipline?¡¯

    It could indeed be the Eastern Orc nomads. Another religion was involved, but Isaac considered it a relief. He couldn¡¯t just melt down all these weapons; they had to be used, and if they were weapons from the Immortal Order or the Red Chalice, involved in many disputes with the Gerthonia Empire, they would be immediately recognized.

    The Olkan discipline, being too distant from the White Empire, was likely to be considered merely an exotic weapon.

    While inspecting the armaments, Eidan kept stealing nces at Isaac, seemingly bursting with questions about what he had witnessed, including whether it was real.

    ¡®It¡¯s understandable, really.¡¯

    The followers of the Salt Council were desperate to find traces of their god buried under the salt deserts. Their ultimate goal was also to shatter the salt deserts and dere the resurrection of their god. In the midst of this, if someone who held a clue appeared, it was natural that they would be eager to speak with Isaac.

    But Isaac was more curious about what he could answer than what Eidan was curious about.

    Inspecting the inside of the armors from which the Living Armor had escaped, Isaac discovered a magical catalyst. Curious about itsposition, he rubbed it with his finger.

    Instantly, whether from the remnants of a ghost or the power of the catalyst, a tingling sensation brushed through his body. It was too faint to harm Isaac, but a fleeting afterimage shed before his eyes.

    [The Nameless Chaos watches over you.]

    ¡°Damn it¡­¡±

    Isaac barely managed to keep from staggering.

    The afterimage imprinted on his cornea was none other than a man dressed in yellow.

    The same man who had constantly appeared in Isaac¡¯s nightmares and gestured towards him when the afterlife overflowed.

    Although the afterimage vanished quickly, Isaac couldn¡¯t easily shake off the shock. At the same time, he wondered what the hell this was that tormented him so.

    Suddenly, Isaac remembered something Kalsen Miller had said in a dream or delusion, blurring the lines between reality and fantasy.

    ¡®If you¡¯re curious about your current situation, ask the salt merchant.¡¯

    It was clear that referred to Eidan. The nickname pinpointed the characteristics of a follower of the Salt Council precisely.

    ¡®I was going to ask him once I had properly tamed him, anyway.¡¯

    ¡°Are you alright, Lord Isaac?¡±

    Seeing Isaac lost in thought, Eidan approached cautiously. He would be disappointed to learn that what he regarded as sacred was actually a tentacled monster, but there was no need to disappoint him prematurely. Pressing his throbbing temples, Isaac spoke.

    ¡°It seems like some aftereffects from fighting that bishop of the Immortal Order.¡±

    ¡°The bishop of the Immortal Order¡­ Ah, I saw the remnants. You had opened the door to Urbansus. It¡¯s natural to suffer aftereffects from being involved in such an incident, even temporarily.¡±

    Urbansus.

    The precise term for the afterlife.

    Ancientnguage, or thenguage of the gods, but from the perspective of angels or divine beasts, it¡¯s not precisely the afterlife since it¡¯s the world they inhabit.

    Isaac didn¡¯t find it strange that Eidan knew these things.

    Most followers of the Salt Council are well-versed in theology. They have the knowledge to distinguish what is a relic. Among them, certain professionals, the ¡®archaeologists¡¯ who wander in search of the relics and legacies of the Salt Council, were exceptionally knowledgeable in theology.

    Eidan Bearverk was one of those archaeologists.

    ***

    ¡°I¡¯ve heard that people who wield strong divine power often connect with the afterlife. That¡¯s why some get corrupted by strange powers or fall into decay. Please be careful, Lord Isaac.¡±

    Isaac felt intrigued by Eidan¡¯s words.

    When he had only known this world as a game, Isaac had no interest in the afterlife.

    He knew that the afterlife was important in all religions, but frankly, as a yer who could simply start over upon death, it was a matter of indifference.

    But in ¡®reality,¡¯ it was different.

    Some devoutly sought monastic life or threw their lives into battlefields to reach heaven, while others became societal outcasts, the Barbarians, out of fear of hell. Conversely, there were those who betrayed their families and lords to devote themselves to heretical faiths, aspiring to be angels.

    The notion that life is short and the afterlife is eternal made such actions understandable. However, Isaac couldn¡¯t grasp how ¡®that¡¯ afterlife could cross into reality, influencing and corrupting people.

    It seemed absurd, yet perhaps it was happening to Isaac as well.

    ¡°Strong divine power connects with the afterlife?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Divine power is a force that descends from Urbansus. The more one epts this power, the more the boundary between worlds blurs. I¡¯ve heard that¡¯s why angels primarily dwell in the afterlife.¡±

    Isaac was intrigued.

    The recent events surrounding him didn¡¯t seem unrted.

    As expected, the Salt Council¡¯s archaeologists knew a lot.

    ¡°Can you exin more about that?¡±

    After pondering for a moment, Eidan began with aparison.

    ¡°Are you a begotten son?¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°Ah, um. It means being born alone. A being born without borrowing from any ancestors, lineage, or connections. Like a figure from myths. Such beings don¡¯t really exist, of course.¡±

    Eidan cleared his throat and continued.

    ¡°Do you believe that everything you say and do is entirely your own will? It¡¯s not. It¡¯s Urbansusmanding you. It¡¯s the same for all people.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t recall experiencing any majestic lightmanding me to eat or whispering to step with my right foot followed by my left when I walk.¡±

    ¡°But you know how to use a spoon and how to walk. Every living thing is influenced by the past. Precisely, by those who have died. The ways you eat, sleep, and walk are all methods created by the deceased.¡±

    What Isaac initially thought of was the collective unconscious or gic memory imprinted in DNA. But there was no need to bring up such grand concepts.

    Ordinary culture, morals, etiquette, and norms all subtly govern human subconsciousness.

    ¡°So, all those are summed up as Urbansus?¡±

    ¡°Yes. So, it¡¯s more urate to call it Urbansus rather than the afterlife. Calling it the afterlife seems to imply it¡¯s just the world the dead go to.¡±

    ¡°Then, the stronger the miracles I possess, the thinner my free will bes, and the will of the afterlife reces mine?¡±

    ¡°That could be said. Some might call it true faith, enlightenment, sainthood, or even¡­ being an angel.¡±

    Having faith itself implies ¡®how one should act,¡¯ a kind of pressure.

    A neer to faith retains much of their essence. Faith doesn¡¯t exert much pressure on them.

    But as one gains more power and higher status over time, the pressure applied can only intensify.

    The individual might think of it as ¡®deepening faith.¡¯ However, Eidan exined it as a phenomenon where the consciousness of the afterlife and the individual merge.

    Isaac thought over Eidan¡¯s words before responding.

    ¡°But isn¡¯t that something that happens in general groups, not just among the faithful?¡±

    When an individual joins a group, it¡¯smon to be influenced by that group. There¡¯s no need to involve grand concepts like the afterlife, gods, or angels.

    Eidan seemed a bit perplexed but then nodded.

    ¡°Ah, um. That could be seen that way. Perhaps all of this is metaphorical.¡±

    In the end, he was just a schr who studied through records and books. There was no way to confirm what Urbansus or gods really were.

    However, the nightmares Isaac had been frequently experiencing could be fully understood through Eidan¡¯s exnation. They weren¡¯t just nightmares but actual existences in some part of Urbansus, the afterlife.

    The malice and obsession of Urbansus were precisely targeting Isaac.

    Then Eidan added,

    ¡°By the way, the traces left by Al Duard were indeed strange.¡±

    ¡°Strange? How so?¡±

    ¡°Usually, when the door to Urbansus is opened, the afterlife rted to the opener appears. Since Al Duard was from the Immortal Order, one would expect environments simr to the ck Empire to appear. Destends with ghosts and creatures contaminated by frost, something like that. But¡­¡±

    Initially, such phenomena did appear. Haunting ghosts and frost-killed nts. However, the world that began to reveal itself shortly after was entirely different.

    A world where everything melted and twisted.

    ¡°Thanks to your powers, the ¡®normalized¡¯ world became intact, but not thend underneath. It had nothing to do with the afterlife of the Immortal Order.¡±

    ¡°How was it different?¡±

    ¡°Beneath the dead grass was filled with white sand.¡±

    Upon hearing this, a term immediately came to Isaac¡¯s mind.

    The Nameless Chaos that had once erased a third of humanity in an infamous event.

    The White Death gue.

 Chapter 103:

    Chapter 103:

    Isaac recalled the lore about ¡®that disease¡¯ which erased a third of humanity.

    The Nameless Chaos, before it lost its name, had killed all those who knew its name in a significant event.

    Naturally, this included not only the priests who worshiped the Nameless Chaos but also theologians, priests, pdins of other faiths, and evenmon people.

    The term ¡°disease¡± isn¡¯t precisely urate. Strictly speaking, it was a massacre driven by some will. Yet, it¡¯s called the ¡°White Death gue¡± because hearing its name essentially ¡®infects¡¯ one.

    Those afflicted would turn to white ash, disintegrating into fine white dust particles.

    The southern regions across the sea, where followers of the Nameless Chaos had been most abundant, turned into deserts covered in white sand due to the White Death gue.

    Subsequently, other faiths undertook relentless efforts to erase nearly all traces of the Nameless Chaos. What happened, why it happened¡ªeverything became unknowable. Even Eidan couldn¡¯t immediately recall the White Death gue.

    It was akin to a mass suicide of divine beings.

    The cult of the Nameless Chaos vanished from the world after the event, and a god forgotten by all ceased to influence the world.

    Until Isaac appeared.

    ¡®He¡¯s not nning to use me as his agent for that miserable event again, is he?¡¯

    If such an event were to ur, Isaac would be the first to turn into sand. However, to Isaac, the Nameless Chaos was still just ¡®a god without a name.¡¯ The thought of the same event repeating, or even the idea of it happening, didn¡¯t ur to him.

    Whether creating the Book of the Nameless Worm, encountering the Night Stalker from another world, or when the afterlife overflowed, the Nameless Chaos always sent warnings through message windows to Isaac. If it wished to repeat its past actions, it would have sent encouraging messages instead of warnings during dangerous moments.

    [The Nameless Chaos watches over you.]

    Yes, this message.

    The message that someone is watching over him.

    Without this message window, without status and quests, how would he have adapted to this world? In reality, Isaac had never killed anything, not even a rat. Yet, here he was, skillfully slicing through people, willingly throwing himself into the face of death.

    It wasn¡¯t because of an exceptional ability to adapt but because he could maintain a distance from this world. That this world he was living in wasn¡¯t reality. That the actions he was undertaking were those of a game character, not real life.

    The whispered messages from the Nameless Chaos protected Isaac¡¯s psyche in such a way.

    The Nameless Chaos wanted to use Isaac to fix something.

    Then, what was the Nameless Chaos expecting by calling upon Isaac, after having killed all its followers?

    An old question that had been lingering since Isaac arrived in this world surfaced once again.

    ¡®The Nameless Chaos, Urbansus, the White Death gue¡­ and the man in yellow.¡¯

    The man in yellow.

    If he was already a being from the afterlife, then perhaps everything was connected to that man.

    The Nameless Chaos killing all its followers.

    The fact that they would now be popting the afterlife.

    The Nameless Chaos specifically choosing him.

    The man in yellow continuously seeking him out.

    All of it was an intricately tangled issue. Though clues hadn¡¯t been found yet, everything seemed interconnected.

    And Isaac felt that the key to the answery within himself.

    ¡®Ironic.¡¯

    The more power and greater strength Isaac gained from the Nameless Chaos, the closer he would be to the afterlife. He was, in a sense, the highest leader of the cult and an agent of the Nameless Chaos.

    ¡®And eventually, I¡¯ll encounter him again.¡¯

    Isaac didn¡¯t want to face that moment unprepared. Whether it was the Nameless Chaos or the man in yellow, whoever wanted something from Isaac, he had no desire to sacrifice himself for anyone.

    His gaze turned to Eidan.

    Fortunately, the archaeological capabilities of a Salt Council follower could be very useful in filling the gaps of the past.

    It was too soon to utilize Eidan directly. But keeping him close meant eventual connections to the Salt Council¡¯s senators, allowing for resolution when the time came.

    ¡®There¡¯s also a matter I need to settle with the Salt Council eventually.¡¯

    Until then, Isaac began to prepare his domain for departure at any moment.

    ¡°What¡¯s all this?¡±

    Isaac had the Barbarian mercenaries under Jacquette retrieve some of the weapons from the armory in the abandoned mine. It seemed they were prepared for long-term neglect, with thorough precautions against rust from humidity and oiling, so most of the equipment was in good condition. There were enough arms not only to fully equip the Barbarians but also to have reserves.

    ¡°Lost and found.¡±

    ¡°¡­These are military-grade, aren¡¯t they? And they¡¯re new. Not imperial standard issue, but still¡­¡±

    Isaac looked at Jacquette curiously. Considering most Barbarians were treated as illiterate savages, her observation seemed quite astute.

    ¡°How did you know they were military-grade?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve been a guard captain for years.¡±

    Had Jacquette simply responded with something like they all looked the same, Isaac might have let it go. But her answer piqued his curiosity.

    Jacquette seemed to feel further exnation was necessary and continued.

    ¡°Military equipment needs to be uniform. Weapons are consumables, so if one breaks, you should be able to pick up yourrade¡¯s and use it without issue. It¡¯d be chaos if a swordsman suddenly had to use a mace, right? Itplicates supply and is necessary for recognizing allies in the heat of battle.¡±

    Mercenaries or levied troops of local lords often carried whatever suited their fancy or was handed to them. Barbarians weren¡¯t much different. Therefore, understanding weapons could give levied troops an edge over regr soldiers in a one-on-one scenario.

    But for the reasons Jacquette mentioned, when ites to group versus groupbat, the value of regr troops bes evident. Their collectivebat effectiveness and endurance are of a different magnitude.

    Jacquette understood this structure.

    ¡°Where did you say you were from again?¡±

    ¡°The Svalbard Archipgo.¡±

    A territory dominated by the World¡¯s Forge Church. It was also where Ulsten hade from.

    It was highly likely she had been a follower of the World¡¯s Forge. Why she chose to leave for Gerthonia and be a Barbarian, Isaac didn¡¯t ask. Perhaps she had killed someone there.

    Suddenly, Isaac inquired about her current situation.

    ¡°Jacquette, how do the vigers view the Barbarians?¡±

    ¡°Well, they weren¡¯t exactly fond of us. To be honest, even from my perspective, many Barbarian are rude, dirty, andcking in manners.¡±

    Jacquette quickly added,

    ¡°But recently, the perception has changed a bit. As their living conditions improved, the children softened up, and some began to take seriously and practice the teachings you¡¯ve given us. Plus, after fighting alongside the Immortal Order¡­ the vigers have be quite friendly.¡±

    Jacquette seemed pleased with these developments.

    The gang of thieves and assassins that roamed the back alleys of Seor seemed no more. The Barbari had been overly aggressive mainly because of the food shortage during the Loracus incident, so it made sense they became gentler.

    ¡°Good. Jacquette, you¡¯re now the guard captain here again.¡±

    ¡°Ca, captain? Me? But I¡¯m a Barbarian.¡±

    It was aplex issue. Barbarians weren¡¯t considered faithful, and in some cases, they were even hard to recognize as imperial citizens. Some extreme zealots even treated Barbarians as beasts.

    And now a Barbarian in public office?

    He couldn¡¯t just say ¡®find faith now.¡¯ If returning to faith was easy, there wouldn¡¯t be so many Barbari in the first ce.

    But Isaac didn¡¯t care about thoseplexities.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about the details. Just know if I say it, it¡¯s so. I am Isaac Issacrea, lord of the Issacrea domain. Also, the abbot of the Issacrea Monastery. You¡¯re the guard captain now, but who knows, maybe someday you¡¯ll be a knight of the Issacrea Order.¡±

    ¡°Kni, knight¡­¡±

    Jacquette was taken aback, seemingly overwhelmed by the prospect. But Isaac was serious.

    He needed a force loyal only to him.

    Jacquette might fall short of being a knight at the moment, but that could be solved with the growing faith and time. Of course, it would require a mix of sweat, tears, and effort on Jacquette¡¯s part.

    ¡°Tell the others not to worry about being Barbari and to put in the effort. If anyone gives you trouble, let me know.¡±

    Isaac left it at that before suddenly remembering something.

    ¡°Where¡¯s Caitlin? I need to sort that out too.¡±

    ***

    ¡°I thought you had forgotten the promise you made to me.¡±

    Caitlin smiled wryly as Isaac approached, initiating the conversation.

    Caitlin was staying at the newly established Issacrea branch of the Golden Idol Trading Company. In a short time, she had acquired the original building, creating spaces for carriages, a warehouse, a lobby, and a lounge, turning it into a reputable branch.

    The level ofpletion of the branch alone showed how much Caitlin was expecting from this venture.

    ¡°Honestly, I¡¯ve been too busytely and forgot. I figured it wasn¡¯t a problem that would be solved quickly, so I thought you¡¯d keep reminding me.¡±

    ¡°Yes, I was aware. Investments don¡¯t yield results overnight, after all.¡±

    The reason Caitlin left her position as the head of the Seor economic powerhouse branch for Issacrea was to turn the Issacrea domain into a new trading hub.

    Though she hadn¡¯t left the Seor branchpletely unattended, having delegated responsibilities to a deputy, she was deeply invested in the Issacrea domain investment, attending to it personally.

    ¡°Technically, it¡¯s an investment, but it¡¯s more about managing the funds you¡¯ve entrusted to ourpany. That alone is sufficient. And if everything goes as you mentioned before, the return will be much quicker.¡±

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s something time will take care of.¡±

    Turning the Issacrea domain into a trading hub was a n proposed by Isaac. Naturally, it included viable and executable ns. There were things he couldn¡¯t discuss with Isolde but could with the head of the Golden Idol Trading Guild.

    Caitlin¡¯s eyes sparkled as she spoke.

    ¡°I¡¯ve already verified the Salt Council traders and the forge master. If you can just open up the North Sea route as you said¡­¡±

    Caitlin trembled with excitement. While the point of her thrill seemed slightly awkward to Isaac, he could understand her enthusiasm.

    The North Sea route was the most coveted trade route by the Golden Idol Trading Guild.

    The Kingdom of Elil, the Svalbard Archipgo, and the Gerthonian Empire all fell under the White Empire¡¯s influence, but aside from smuggling, trade was practically nonexistent due to religious conflicts and various historical events. The fact that the Salt Council almost monopolized the routes was another issue.

    ¡°If we could get even a small portion of the goods produced by those secluded old men¡­ The profit margin we could enjoy is unimaginable. If the Salt Council handles transportation, we won¡¯t have to worry about pirates, and perhaps even goods from the Salt Desert or the Vast Sahar¡­ Especially if such trade is tax-free and exclusively under our jurisdiction here¡­¡±

    Caitlin murmured dreamily, verging on dangerous self-talk.

    It was a statement that could get her arrested under different circumstances, but Isaac didn¡¯t deny her dream. The Golden Idol already traded with the Immortal Order, so it wasn¡¯t entirely impossible.

    Frankly, Isaac also hoped it woulde true. Though he aimed for the restoration of the holy sites, religious taboos and exclusivity meant nothing to him.

    However, the n was near impossible for now, with the priority being to open trade properly with Elil and the World¡¯s Forge. Despite both being under the White Empire¡¯s recognition, proud Elil had been incessantly bickering, halting official trade, and the World¡¯s Forge had secluded itself in the Svalbard Archipgo for a long time.

    If a proper market could be established between these two, Caitlin could secure an overwhelming position within the Golden Idol Trading Guild, oveing the trust lost during the Lorekus incident and more.

    Naturally, the resources of the Issacrea domain would also increase.

    ¡°Speaking of which, have you resolved the transportation issue?¡±

    ¡°Ah, don¡¯t worry about that.¡±

    Isaac was well aware of the Issacrea domain¡¯s poor transportation. Situated in a valley between mountains, even if the transportation was convenient, one would still have to pass through the Issacrea domain to cross the thick mountain range.

    The main issue was the pass to the central area being blocked by andslide, but it was a solvable problem.

    ¡°It seems the previous lord intentionally caused andslide to block it. It¡¯s not even an area prone tondslides, and it was left that way as if it was too difficult to clear.¡±

    The previous lord, Lisfen Hendrake, had dreamt of religious rebellion, deliberately making the domain more secluded. The less traffic, the easier it was to keep secrets.

    Isaac had many secrets to hide as well. But unlike Lisfen, he nned to do the opposite.

    It¡¯s absurd for a city aiming to be a trading hub to be secluded. He intended to make the domain as open as possible, a cultural melting pot essible to all religions.

    And within that, the teachings of the Nameless Chaos would spread.

    Like a tree hidden within a forest of faith.

 Chapter 104:

    Chapter 104:

    Isaac confirmed that Caitlin¡¯s preparation and will were more than ready and moved on to the next matter.

    ¡°Have you not forgotten about the request I made regarding the establishment of a base?¡±

    ¡°Are you referring to this? It¡¯s already prepared.¡±

    What Caitlin presented was a rather thick stack of documents. The first page caught the eye with its title.

    Financial Statements Rted to the Hendrake Estate Transactions.

    ¡°Indeed, there had been signs of turning into a bad debtor recently, so I was organizing them separately. It would have been a big problem for our tradingpany if it went bankrupt. Fortunately, some of it was preserved with Mr. Isaac¡¯s acquisition¡­¡±

    The documents contained information about what items Lisfen Hendrake and Kyle Hendrake had brought in and out of the estate. Sensitive items like weapons were probably smuggled through the Salt Council, but there were things that simply could not meet the demand through smuggling. Those items must have been acquired through the Golden Idol Trading Guild.

    ¡°When selling, I didn¡¯t notice anything strange, but as I was organizing it, I definitely saw some subtle points. Like purchasing a considerable amount of iron even though there were mines, and buying long-term preservable foods more than necessary.¡±

    Such materials must also be secretly stored somewhere in the estate.

    Isaac was nning to plunder the acorns that the previous lords had carefully gathered.

    ***

    However, not everyone was enchanted by Isaac¡¯s charm.

    Isolde was loading her horse to leave the Issacrea estate. She had decided to keep an eye on Isaac, but for now, she had to report in person to her superiors.

    ¡®How should I report¡­¡¯

    If she reports him as innocent, there would be no reason to continue the mission, and if she honestly reports the signs of worshipping tentacles and an evil heretical faith, the Pdins would be dispatched immediately. She had to find a delicate ¡®clean but suspicious¡¯ word to report.

    It was not an easy task.

    If she makes a mistake and Isaac shes with the Codex of Light, the situation would be irreversible.

    Currently, Isaac was faithfully following the doctrine of the Codex of Light and doing good. Maybe his faith has enough breadth to even embrace the Codex of Light.

    But the Codex of Light did not have such breadth.

    If the Codex of Light decides to reject Isaac, they will face a terrible disaster.

    ¡°Inquisitor Isolde.¡±

    At that moment, someone called her, and Isolde turned her head.

    A thin young priest looked at her irritably. Isolde didn¡¯t remember his name, but she knew that his expression wasn¡¯t because he disliked her but because that¡¯s just how he looked.

    ¡°Father.¡±

    ¡°I came urgently because there¡¯s something I need to tell you before you leave.¡±

    ¡°If it¡¯s something urgent¡­¡±

    Isolde nervously trailed off. Moving around monasteries and temples filled with young men often attracted unnecessary attention to her beauty. Dealing with those sudden confessors was more ufortable for her than interrogating heretics.

    ¡°It¡¯s about the Holy Grail Knight. I know you¡¯ve been staying to observe the Holy Grail Knight, but have you noticed anything?¡±

    ¡°Ah, yes. That¡¯s good.¡±

    ¡°Good? What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°No, I was thinking about something else. But the Holy Grail Knight? Is there a problem?¡±

    The priest looked around cautiously and then spoke secretly.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you find the Holy Grail Knight suspicious?¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    Isolde found itplicated to exin her feelings and turned her gaze to the air. However, the priest took this as an encouragement to continue.

    ¡°Suddenly appearing young pdin, I even doubt he¡¯s a pdin. Although Rotenhammer endorsed him, what did he see in someone who hadn¡¯t received proper training? A suddenly appeared orphan who bes a pdin as soon as he reaches adulthood?¡±

    ¡°Hasn¡¯t he achieved something worthy of that status?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s exactly the problem. The Holy Grail Knight has evaded the pursuit of the Wachia human hunters, healed the minds of corrupted merchants in Seor.

    , and here, even defeated an angel. But is there anyone who actually witnessed it?¡±

    This point was also a concern for the inquisitors.

    While it¡¯s true Isaac, as a pdin, had aplished various feats and his swordsmanship was remarkable, hardly anyone had directly witnessed his exploits. That¡¯s why Isolde was ordered to investigate whether Isaac was hiding his ability to perform miracles. The result was indeed that Isaac had reasons to hide his miracles.

    ¡°But many witnessed him defeating the angel.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s also a reasonable hypothesis I have about that!¡±

    ¡°A hypothesis?¡±

    ¡°Yes! It¡¯s a spection that the Holy Grail Knight had been in cahoots from the start.¡±

    The priest spoke fervently, quite convinced of his thoughts.

    ¡°As you know, the Red Chalice excels in conspiracies. Not to mention the Prophet of the Red Flesh. They pretended to be defeated on purpose to infiltrate the Holy Grail Knight deeply into our order! It would be easier to use a saint of the order than a border lord, after all!¡±

    Isolde felt aplexity while also sensing that the priest¡¯s words reflected some voices within the order.

    The voices of those who resist changesing from the outside.

    ¡°Look at his actions after taking over the estate! He lets heretics into the monastery, distributes assets to make the estate¡¯s residentszy, and even arms the barbarians! Does that make any sense?¡±

    The priest¡¯s voice was filled with unteral antipathy.

    Isolde intuited that the more people were enchanted by Isaac, the more naturally the number of people feeling repulsion like this would increase.

    It was more of an instinctive bacsh from feeling out of ce with the trend than a rational judgment. Even if Isaac became an adult andpletely sided with the order, it wouldn¡¯t change much.

    However, she realized that the priest¡¯s current words were based on circumstances and spection rather than logic or evidence. And that this denunciation was not truly for the sake of protecting the faith, but rather out of jealousy.

    Isolde decided to cate the unnecessarily sharpened priest due to dissatisfaction.

    ¡°It¡¯s all spection at this point. I¡¯m still looking into it, so please, Father, focus on caring for the doctrine and the needy believers. This estate has been contaminated with the faith of the Red Chalice until recently¡­¡±

    ¡°But, look at his appearance! Isn¡¯t he the type the Red Chalice would adore! Surely a catamite of the Red Chalice¡­¡±

    Snap!

    The priest¡¯s face turned sharply.

    The priest looked at Isolde in bewilderment. Isolde, wondering why there was a handprint on his face, looked at her hand and then realized. And she thought to herself.

    ¡®I hit him without realizing, so it doesn¡¯t feel like I¡¯ve hit him.¡¯

    ¡°What is this¡­¡±

    Just as the priest was about to protest, Isolde clenched her fist and struck the priest¡¯s nose once more. The priest let out a bizarre moan and bent over. However, Isolde didn¡¯t stop there but grabbed the priest by the hair and lifted him up.

    ¡°Priest.¡±

    ¡°Yip, yipe.¡±

    As Isolde whispered quietly, the priest took a deep breath. Only then did he realize who he was facing once again.

    Though she appeared calm and gentle, she was nheless an inquisitor. One who extracts the truth with a sword and torture among barbarians and evil heretical faiths roaming the borders.

    The priest, who had never thought that the inquisitorial awl and hammer would turn towards him, found it difficult to breathe just by making eye contact.

    ¡°Right now, you are using the lord of Issacrea, who is being prepared by Bishop Juan as a candidate for sainthood and was personally granted the title of knight by Duchess Lyon. The same person who was appointed a pdin by Commander Rotenhammer and whom I, Isolde Brant, as an inquisitor, have investigated directly without finding clear evidence.¡±

    ¡°Gasp, ah, uh¡­¡±

    ¡°Until now, I tolerated it thinking it was content that could be reported by a believer, but personal attacks are hard to overlook. Would it be alright with you if I ryed what you¡¯ve just said to the guarantors of Lord Issacrea¡¯s identity?¡±

    Only then did the priest seem toe to his senses. The figures he had casually antagonized in a moment of jealousy were too significant. Even Isolde herself was not just any daughter but that of the Brant ducal family.

    Even in the powerful Gerthonia Empire, where the priest¡¯s authority was significant, it was a house that could not be ignored.

    ¡°Ah, uh, I think I was mistaken! I misunderstood something!¡±

    ¡°Really? Why did you have such a misunderstanding?¡±

    ¡°Seeing the Holy Grail Knight seed at such a young age, something just welled up in me¡­¡±

    ¡°No. You, as a priest, should not harbor such wrongful feelings. Wouldn¡¯t such words harm your priestly integrity?¡±

    ¡°Then, what¡­?¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s say you tripped. You were confused because you tripped.¡±

    Isolde said this and made the priest kneel. Then, she pushed his face close to the ground.

    ¡°Let¡¯s say it was a fall. Understand?¡±

    The priest realized what she meant and shook before forcefully nting his face on the ground. After repeating this several times, Isolde finally lifted him by the shoulder. His face was a mess with dirt and blood, but it was a wound that would heal quickly with a healing miracle anyway.

    Isolde was not pleased with this.

    The Codex of Light deres that even those unworthy may be granted miracles if only they offer their faith. Isolde believed that miracles should not be bestowed so trivially.

    If one were to perform miracles, it should be like Isaac¡­

    ¡°Then, do not fall again, Priest.¡±

    ¡°Yes, yes. Ah, I understand.¡±

    The priest scrambled out as soon as Isolde released him. Isolde sighed deeply as she watched him leave.

    ¡®¡­An unnecessary overreaction.¡¯

    The priest would probably keep quiet now, but she felt that what she did was needless. Isaac himself wouldn¡¯t have gone this far.

    ¡®Surely, he would have persuaded them with usible words or bribed them to his side. He wasn¡¯t just a naive pdin after all.¡¯

    In fact, if Isaac had been in such a situation without any witnesses, the priest would not have made it out alive.

    While Isolde¡¯s actions were much more moderate inparison, she was left with a sense of guilt for having hit the priest and even causing him to harm himself, unaware of the gravitypared to Isaac¡¯s potential actions.

    However, she had a foreboding feeling that if such an event urred again, she would act in the same way.

    ***

    As summer deepened and autumn arrived, the situation in the domain hadpletely stabilized.

    Despitete sowing and exhaustednds, the Issacrea domain was on the verge of an unprecedented harvest. Compared to other domains that had wasted theirnds due to the Loracus, it was a dazzling achievement. It was the result of Isaac¡¯s miracle rituals, enhancing value from the bottom to the top of the ecosystem.

    Moreover, the western passage blocked by andslide was opened through construction, paving a new way. The news of a new route over the mountains brought not only the Golden Idol Trading Guild but otherpanies to the Issacrea estate.

    Isaac did not just sit idly within the domain. He collected information on peculiar phenomena and monsters around the domain, continuing to collect relics under the guise of subjugation.

    Not always with significant finds, but he managed to return a few relics rted to the Codex of Light.

    [The Codex of Light blesses your noble journey.]

    [Your faith increases.]

    [Your mental fortitude increases.]

    Instead of quietly returning the relics to the order, Isaac returned them to a monastery within the Issacrea domain. Since the Codex of Light¡¯s priests resided there and it was considered a monastery of the Codex of Light, he could receive the effects of returning them. Although not powerful relics, they were handy since they could be retrieved at any time if needed.

    ¡®It would be nice to store other faith relics this way too.¡¯

    Of course, while hereticsing and going might be overlooked, the priests would find it difficult to ept the construction of shrines or temples of other religions.

    Isaac decided to be content with returning the relics of the Codex of Light for the time being.

    ¡®It seems the domain has stabilized now.¡¯

    He had deliberately left the domain without any specific orders during this expedition, but no problems arose. There were a few minor issues, but Kyle and Zihilrat took care of them.

    Since a manual had already been created, there was no chance of the domain copsing due to unforeseen circumstances. In case of an urgent situation, direct guidance woulde from Kyle.

    Just when Isaac was considering diverting his attention away from the domain, a letter arrived.

    Stripping away the many pleasantries, the core message was as follows:

    ¡®You are urgently requested toe to Norden Harbor¡¯

    It was a summons from Bishop Juan Liar.

 Chapter 105:

    Chapter 105:

    ¡°Norden? Why all of a sudden?¡±

    Since it was a summons from a bishop, no less, Isaac immediately headed to Norden Harbor. In the upper echelons of the order, Bishop Juan was the only one who could be considered a backer for Isaac. After all, it was he who had ced Isaac in his current position, regardless of what anyone thought.

    However, Isaac felt a pang of guilt over the sudden summons.

    In fact, Isaac had recently sent Eidan to Norden Harbor in rtion to the Salt Council.

    ¡°I was in the middle of trying to bring the Salt Council into our fold. Could it be that we¡¯ve been found out?¡±

    Norden Harbor was one of the base cities of the Salt Council. Like the Golden Idol, the Salt Council did not have a state that adopted them as the state religion, hence they had base cities all over the world.

    Given that most of the Salt Council¡¯s followers were seafarers, where there was a harbor, there were bound to be followers. However, there were certain ces where the so-called ¡®members¡¯ would gather. Norden Harbor was one of those bases.

    It was an ideal location for controlling the Salt Council, being close to the Issacrea estate. It was going to be an important base for dominating the Northern Sea trade routes. Therefore, if Isaac were to leave the Issacrea estate, Norden would be his immediate destination.

    ¡°Whatever happens, I¡¯ll have to meet him. It would be nice if we can resolve it by talking and persuading¡­¡±

    Whether through dialogue or confrontation, a meeting was inevitable.

    Isaac spurred his horse onward.

    ***

    ¡°The Holy Knight has arrived, Bishop.¡±

    Bishop Juan was staying in a mansion at the outskirts of Norden, borrowed from a localndowner. Although there was a cathedral of the Codex of Light here, the old and impoverished church seemed unsatisfactory.

    The elderly bishop turned his head from the window.

    ¡°Oh, our Lord of Issacrea has arrived. How do you find the life of a lord?¡±

    His tone was somewhat mocking.

    Isaac had expected some dissatisfaction since he had notplied entirely with the order¡¯s wishes before, but he did not anticipate the bishop to express his displeasure so directly.

    After a moment of consideration, Isaac decided to start with the courtesies.

    ¡°It¡¯s an honor to see you, Bishop.¡±

    Isaac approached, knelt on one knee as per the ritual, crossed himself, and then kissed the back of Juan Bishop¡¯s hand. However, Juan did not respond.

    Isaac pondered what to say before speaking up.

    ¡°Due to my insufficient talents andck of faith, I have not been able to repay your trust, Bishop. I have been earnestly and passionately serving the followers, so if there is any aspect in which I have disappointed you, I am open to any advice.¡±

    In reality, Isaac had been doing exceptionally well as a lord. Compared to the previous mismanagement by the Hendrake family, the estate was thriving day by day, with new roads being built andw and order being maintained. Isaac felt confident about his management of the estate, but his counterpart was a bishop, who might expect more than just fulfilling the duties of a lord.

    ¡°Hmm.¡±

    Pleased by Isaac¡¯s humble demeanor, Bishop Juan¡¯s expression softened.

    ¡°How long has it been since Lord Issacrea took over as lord?¡±

    ¡°About half a year.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s still time to focus on stabilizing the estate. Indeed, through the priests, I¡¯ve heard of the efforts Lord Issacrea has been making for his estate. However, there are too many disappointing aspects that have caught my eye.¡±

    Disappointed? Isaac quickly went through his actions, trying to figure out what he could have done wrong. Considering the estate was already in a poor state when he took over, it was bound to have shoringspared to more prosperous estates. But he didn¡¯t think that was what the bishop was pointing out.

    ¡°Is it because I made a barbarian the captain of the guard? Or because I allowed heretics into the monastery? Did I subtly alter and amend the doctrines of faith to suit my tastes? Was it the theft of the angelic sculpture? Or creating an nameless sanctuary of chaos beneath the monastery?¡±

    Upon reflection, there were too many potential issues. Any of them could have been the reason for criticism, and some might even justify an immediate invasion by the pdins.

    Isaac carefully broached one of the potential issues.

    ¡°If it¡¯s about appointing a barbarian as the captain of the guard¡­¡±

    ¡°Barbarian? Ah, that¡¯s neither here nor there. Such changes are to be expected. Maintaining order is the prerogative of the lord. The part I want to seriously point out concerns faith.¡±

    Isaac tensed up, realizing the critique was indeed about what he had feared. As he was gathering his thoughts for a defense, Bishop Juan continued.

    ¡°For half a year, not a single contribution to prove one¡¯s faith has been made to the order. How can that be?¡±

    Isaac, momentarily dazed, quicklyposed himself and nced around. There were acolytes serving and knights standing guard, but none seemed to find Juan¡¯s statement odd.

    He initially thought this symbolized the corruption of the order, but then he remembered the order operated solely on donations and support from the monarchy. Considering that donations were often forcibly extracted, such an attitude might be expected among the clergy.

    ¡°I apologize, Bishop. I was unaware of such matters¡­ And given the poor state of the estate, there were many necessary expenses.¡±

    ¡°Tsk!¡±

    Bishop Juan clicked his tongue in apparent displeasure. Isaac wondered if this was an insinuation to conjure up money from thin air. Of course, Isaac himself was not short on personal funds, having invested heavily in the Golden Idol Trading Guild. He considered dipping into his personal wealth to silence the bishop, but Juan¡¯s expectations were far from what Isaac had anticipated.

    ¡°Of course, Lord Issacrea, being a naive Holy Knight, might not be aware of these matters. That¡¯s why I decided to take this opportunity to educate our Holy Knight.¡±

    ¡°Excuse me?¡±

    ¡°It seems you¡¯re smart but not when ites to this. So, I¡¯ll teach you directly.¡±

    Isaac then realized he had grossly misunderstood the situation.

    ¡®So, he didn¡¯t summon me here to reprimand or interrogate me¡­ but to teach me how to extract money?¡¯

    Although Isaac had already amassed a considerable fortune, the knowledge Juan was about to impart was from apletely different world.

    ***

    Norden Harbor presented a dpidated sight, unbing of a strategic port.

    It had once flourished but began to decline when trade with the order was cut off due to worldly strife. The streets were empty and the port quiet, seemingly reflecting the current state of the Salt Council.

    As they rode down a sloping path, Bishop Juan continued his sermon towards Isaac.

    ¡°Did you say the estate has many expenses, so there¡¯s no surplus for donations? That means you know one thing but not another.¡±

    ¡°I would appreciate your guidance.¡±

    ¡°Between those who spend money and those who earn it, who do you think holds the power?¡±

    As Isaac hesitated to answer, Juan didn¡¯t seem to expect a reply but continued unterally.

    ¡°Obviously, the power lies with those who spend the money. Even the act of spending money attracts more money. If you spend a lot to improve the estate, naturally, that money must be flowing to someone, right?¡±

    Juan spoke with a solemn tone to the naive pdin.

    ¡°For instance, if you repair a bridge, the money goes to stonemasons and stone merchants. Let¡¯s say it costs about a thousand gold coins. If you announce you¡¯re willing to spend such a sum, masons and merchants will line up.¡±

    ¡°¡­I suppose so.¡±

    ¡°Then you simply state the work is for the order¡¯s cause, allowing only those who can sufficiently prove their faith to take on the job. Just like that, a considerable donation will flow into the order. I even heard you¡¯ve not only repaired roads and bridges in your estate but also opened new paths, fortified walls, and even reorganized waterways!¡±

    Juan shook his head as if in disbelief.

    ¡°And yet, not a single donation hase from your estate. That means the cost of repairing the bridge went entirely tobor and materials, right?¡±

    ¡®¡­Isn¡¯t that normal?¡¯

    Normally, this is called bribery. And even if Isaac did end up with surplus funds, he never intended to donate any of it to the order unless it was for his own gain.

    ¡°Even as a believer, if one received such an amount, it would only be right to donate half of it to the order! There¡¯s much to be said about theck of faith in your estate, but I¡¯ll leave it at this much for now.¡±

    Isaac suddenly remembered that his monastery had received quite a few ¡®donations.¡¯ He naturally considered these as taxes for the estate and spent all of it on repairing the estate, thinking it was only right to use it for the estate since it was still in disarray. However, he did not disclose this fact to Juan.

    ¡°And when you became the abbot of the Issacrea estate and its lord, did not the nearby nobility, merchants, andndowners send you gifts?¡±

    ¡°Ah, yes. I received a few but was too busy to attend to them, so I¡¯ve stored them for now. If you need them, I can give them to you anytime, Bishop¡­¡±

    Isaac spoke insincerely, but Juan shook his head.

    ¡°Keep those trifling gifts! What¡¯s important is who sent the gifts and how. Were they sent to ¡®the abbot of Issacrea¡¯ or to ¡®the lord of Issacrea¡¯?¡±

    Isaac found it odd to be reprimanded for such a distinction.

    Isn¡¯t it the same person?

    Sensing Isaac¡¯s confusion, Juan continued in a scolding tone.

    ¡°If it was sent to the abbot, it means they¡¯re seeking the blessing of the Codex of Light by offering a gift. If it was sent to the lord, it means they¡¯re trying to curry favor with the newndowner. But aren¡¯t you both the abbot and the lord? So how should you receive it?¡±

    Isaac felt he knew what to say in front of the bishop.

    ¡°As the abbot, I suppose.¡±

    ¡°What a fool. You should receive it once as the abbot and once as the lord. Isn¡¯t it obvious?¡±

    ¡®Is he insane?¡¯

    Isaac was speechless at this outrageous logic. Yet, Juan continued as if it were only natural.

    ¡°You¡¯re performing the duties of both the abbot and the lord, even though they are distinctly different! Or are you neglecting one of these roles? Surely not. There¡¯s no one as innocently diligent as you!¡±

    Put that way, it almost made sense. If you¡¯re doing twice the work, it only seems fair to receive twice thepensation.

    Looking back, there were indeed those who had sent gifts twice. Isaac, thinking it was a mistake, had returned one of each, but those people were probably ustomed to thinking like Bishop Juan.

    ¡®I knew they were greedy, but not to this extent.¡¯

    Though Isaac was suddenly confronted with a sh of values, Juan¡¯s lessons continued.

    ¡°Send a letter to those who only sent once. If it was sent to the abbot, write in the name of the lord, and if it was to the lord, then in the name of the abbot. And if anyone didn¡¯t send a gift, make a note and never forget. Those are the worst kind of scoundrels. The Codex of Light will surely not forget them and send them straight to hell.¡±

    ¡®Is he really insane?¡¯

    A god that sends people to hell for not offering bribes sounds quite deranged, unless it¡¯s some twisted deity.

    Juan sternly advised,

    ¡°Remember this. Spending money is power, earning money is power, and having money is power. But the worst is just holding onto the money you¡¯ve earned. Holding onto money only creates enemies and misses opportunities to earn more. Money must constantly circte for everyone to be happy.¡±

    ¡°¡­I¡¯ll keep that in mind.¡±

    Isaac hadn¡¯t expected to receive such advice from a bishop of the Codex of Light, not a mogul from the Golden Idol Trading Guild, but it seemed somewhat usible. The idea that continuous capital cirction leads to overall economic growth is essentially the foundation of capitalism.

    ¡®The problem, though, is that it¡¯s about offering bribes upwards as well as consuming them.¡¯

 Chapter 106:

    Chapter 106:

    Isaac learned from the merchants not only about taxation but also about extracting donations as an order, methods of selling indulgences, items exclusively produced and sold at the order¡¯s monasteries, and how to disguise taxes owed to the empire as expenses for the order to receive tax exemptions, among other things.

    The mix of absurd and usible strategies made Isaac realize how deeply entrenched the corruption and malpractice were within the order. The system was so sophisticated that Bishop Juan seemed less like a Bishop of the Codex of Light and more like a regional head of the Golden Idol Guild.

    Of course, Juan¡¯s teaching of these methods was also meant to ensure that Isaac would contribute his share upwards.

    ¡°Do we really need to extort money to such an extent?¡±

    ¡°Oh, to such an extent? Do you know how much money has gone into securing your position as a Knight of the Holy Grail, the abbacy of the Issacrea estate, and the title, all to quell dissent within the order?¡±

    Isaac was taken aback by Juan¡¯s words.

    ¡°Is there a lot of dissatisfaction with me within the order? I thought bing a saint would eliminate such issues.¡±

    ¡°The order is full of mouths. Many are inept yet line up hoping to be saints. And the bishops are desperate to promote their own people to sainthood to strengthen their positions. So, regardless of your character, there are those who oppose you, Isaac.¡±

    Isaac got a rough idea of the political situation within the order.

    While there was amon agreement on elevating a saint as a counterbnce to the emperor, opinions varied on who it should be. Everyone wanted to dy the decision to promote their own candidates until Isaac appeared¡ªa person with no affiliations but guaranteed capabilities and achievements.

    This expedited Isaac¡¯s elevation to sainthood.

    And it was Bishop Juan who had aggressively pushed for it.

    ¡°It seems you¡¯ve spent a lot of money to protect me.¡±

    ¡°A significant amount, indeed.¡±

    Juan¡¯s expression twisted.

    Isaac had thought of him as stingy for not providing much support beyond debt forgiveness, but in unseen ways, Juan had spent a lot to protect him.

    ¡°Now, with the dy of my sainthood, it must be troublesome for you.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s true. But securing an estate directly controlled by the order is not amon urrence, so it¡¯s not a huge loss.¡±

    Juan looked at Isaac with a sardonic smile.

    ¡°That¡¯s why I need to firmly ce ¡®my person¡¯ in that rare estate. You, even more so, need to learn how to extort money to repay me.¡±

    Isaac¡¯s brief feeling of gratitude quickly faded, realizing he was being taught corruption and bribery to expedite his repayment to Juan.

    Yet, it wasn¡¯t entirely bad.

    If it meant establishing a connection with Juan, one of the top echelons of the order, the cost was irrelevant. Such connections couldn¡¯t be made by simply wishing for them.

    If it was a matter solvable with money, it was easier to handle.

    Juan nced at Isaac, then spoke in aforting tone.

    ¡°Of course, for someone as innocent and devout as a Knight of the Holy Grail like yourself, my mercenary ways might be repulsive. What was it? Blind and deaf to goodness? Some call people like me that.¡±

    ¡°Ah¡­ How could anyone dare say that about you, Bishop?¡±

    Isaac recalled hearing this from Gebel.

    But Isaac pretended it was the first time hearing it and held back his words.

    ¡°But it¡¯s because of people like me that many in the Codex of Light order have something to eat and live on.¡±

    Bishop Juan looked around at the priests and pdins.

    ¡°Think about it. All these people have are their prayers and sword skills. Worthless in earning a living. If the Codex of Light doesn¡¯t answer their prayers, half of them would starve or turn to banditry within a month. What about the orphans, beggars, and employees the monasteries take care of?¡±

    Was he surprisingly consistent in paying wages?

    As Isaac pondered, Bishop Juan continued.

    ¡°Sure, many are volunteers, but just feeding and sheltering them costs a fortune! It¡¯s not all free!¡±

    Isaac remembered his time in the monastery. Even the powerful Abbot Yevhar, capable of great miracles, couldn¡¯t afford to feed everyone well. But if Juan had been the abbot, Isaac wouldn¡¯t have needed to catch rats for food.

    Of course, as a clergyman, the abbot was a better person.

    However, for leading an organization, the capabilities of someone like Bishop Juan were also necessary.

    ¡°Do you really think the order runs solely on pure donations? Absolutely not. You¡¯re a lord now, so you should be starting to understand. When leading a group of any significant size, regardless of its purpose, the ability to attract money bes more important than any inherent talent it might have.¡±

    Juan was essentially saying, ¡®Fighting against evil forces like the Immortal Order requires a certain level of corruption as a necessary evil!¡¯

    Isaac added a bit more to Juan¡¯s statement.

    ¡°¡­And we receive a portion of that effort as our due.¡±

    ¡°Exactly.¡±

    Juan seemed pleased with Isaac¡¯s response and answered with a smile.

    ¡°I had already recognized your exceptional talent as a Knight of the Holy Grail, but seeing how you took control of your estate with just a few words made me realize you¡¯re a kindred spirit. I know you¡¯re capable, but from now on, you¡¯ll need more than just the money you can earn honestly.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Bishop.¡±

    ¡°Excellent. If you show sufficient zeal, it¡¯s entirely possible for you to not just remain a mere Knight of the Holy Grail but to rise up to a bishopric.¡±

    ¡°A bishop? How could I possibly stand alongside Bishop Juan¡­¡±

    ¡°Ha-ha-ha! If not you, then who would I pass my position to?¡±

    As Juan and Isaac shared these pleasantries, their carriage stopped at the docks. Unlike the impoverished appearance of Norden¡¯s port, there were quite a few ships moored at the docks.

    Gaunt-looking sailors looked down at Isaac.

    Only then did Isaac remember the matter of the Salt Council.

    ¡®Now that I think about it, why did Bishop Juan bring me all the way here to lecture me on making money?¡¯

    When Isaac looked at Juan, thetter shed his yellow teeth in a grin and said,

    ¡°This is the most important lecture. I¡¯ll teach you how to extort money from heretics.¡±

    ***

    As Juan and Isaac¡¯s party approached one of the moored ships, the sailors turned their heads. Even after making eye contact with the bishop, they remained indifferent, which was enough to identify them as followers of the Salt Council.

    However, at this moment, the sailors were experiencing a fierce internal conflict.

    Clearly, a high-ranking priest had arrived, but should they respond or not? Even if they belonged to a different faith, they were worried about incurring bad luck at sea for disrespecting a ¡®priest.¡¯ Yet, they also fretted over the possibility of attracting misfortune for casually addressing a heretic priest.

    The reason the Salt Council¡¯s sailors were caught in such an indecisive dilemma was because they had lost clear doctrinal guidance. Lacking a logical foundation, they clung to their own superstitions. Sailors navigating the unpredictable seas often had to rely more on uncertain fate than on meticulous order.

    Therefore, they desperately hoped the bishop would initiate the conversation.

    ¡°Who is in charge here?¡±

    A young priest leading the group with Bishop Juan shouted out loud. A somewhat older sailor hurriedly rushed forward as if he had been waiting for this moment.

    ¡°Uh¡­ What brings you here, priest?¡±

    This time, it was the young priest, not Bishop Juan, who responded.

    ¡°You fool! This is Bishop Juan Liar of the Codex of Light! A mere sailor has no right to speak to him; summon the captain of this ship!¡±

    Juan sat on his horse, silent as when Isaac first saw him. Isaac quietly asked Juan a question.

    ¡°I noticed that even when you visited the Hendrake estate before, you had this priest speak on your behalf. Is there a reason for that?¡±

    ¡°Of course. I am a bishop of the Codex of Light. Each of my words holds the value of gold. I don¡¯t cheapen my ¡®words¡¯ by spending them lightly, so it¡¯s natural to borrow someone else¡¯s tongue. Only those who have proven their worth can directly hear my words. Like you.¡±

    ¡®He¡¯s really insane.¡¯

    Witnessing Juan¡¯s madness in putting a price even on his own tongue, Isaac could only shake his head.

    Meanwhile, as the sailors hesitated and nced around in confusion, Juan whispered something to the young priest, who promptly ryed his message.

    ¡°We already know you are followers of the Salt Council. The order governed by the light is generously inclusive, and we haven¡¯te here to drive you away, so don¡¯t worry.¡±

    ¡°Uh, yes, thank you, Bishop, I mean, Priest¡­?¡±

    The sailor, unsure whether to speak to the priest or the bishop, eventually turned to address the young priest.

    ¡°I¡¯ll bring someone to greet you right away. You there, run to the captain¡¯s quarters. He¡¯s probably passed out drunk, so ssh some seawater on him. And make sure he¡¯s dressed properly.¡±

    ¡°Yes? Oh, yes, understood!¡±

    The sailor designated ran off in a hurry. While the sailor who had been dealing with the bishop busied himself away, he turned to the priest with a deferential attitude.

    ¡°If you could let us know your business, we might proceed more swiftly. The captain has been heavily inebriated sincest night and might not be thinking clearly. There¡¯s no need for you to waste words on us lowly ones; I can ry and organize everything for you.¡±

    Isaac observed the sailor¡¯s nimble response with keen interest. Clearly, this sailor was of a higher rank than the others and seemed experienced in dealing with figures like Bishop Juan.

    Before the young priest could reply, Isaac stepped in and asked,

    ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡±

    The sailor turned to Isaac.

    ¡°Hyanis Nikos. And you are¡­ Sir Isaac, the Knight of the Holy Grail?¡±

    Isaac was slightly surprised that even a follower of the Salt Council recognized him. When Isaac nodded, the sailor¡¯s gaze sharpened. Isaac felt a curious urge to activate the Eye of Chaos, but with the bishop beside him, it seemed unnecessary to take such a risk.

    ¡°And what brings a bishop and a Knight of the Holy Grail to this humble port? Is there a demon that needs vanquishing?¡±

    A smile formed on Bishop Juan¡¯s lips. The young priest shouted in his stead,

    ¡°Exactly!¡±

    Isaac turned to Juan with a look of surprise.

    ¡°We¡¯ve received intelligence of a monstrous heretic emerging in the seas near Norden Harbor. For the safety of the faithful, this monster must be vanquished immediately, and we seek the cooperation of the Salt Council.¡±

    ***

    A monster in Norden Harbor? This was new to Isaac. However, something clicked in his mind.

    ¡®Are they calling that a monster?¡¯

    If so, Bishop Juan wasmitting a tremendous act of rudeness.

    The so-called ¡°monster¡± was likely one of the angels of the Salt Council residing in the North Sea.

    With the Salt Council¡¯s deity sealed beneath the salt deserts, not only the followers lost their connection to the afterlife but also the angels on a mission on earth were left stranded.

    But earth was not an environment suited for angels. Their geometric and unnaturally shaped forms were designed for the afterlife, not the physical world. Hence, the Salt Council¡¯s angels, waiting for their deity¡¯s return, spent most of their time in slumber.

    ¡®I did have business with that angel, but was it already awake at this point?¡¯

    Isaac intended to share some secrets of the Salt Council¡¯s doctrine with the angel and, in return, gain the cooperation of the Salt Council. He had even nned how to awaken it. However, the angel being awake already was an unexpected development.

    ¡°I¡¯ve brought them!¡±

    At that moment, someone rushed down from the ship in a hurry. True to Hyanis¡¯s words, a man drenched in seawater, wearing an ill-fitting captain¡¯s coat, came down. The captain looked around, bewildered, trying to grasp the situation before his gaze met Isaac¡¯s.

    Isaac and the captain both froze.

    ¡®Eidan?¡¯

    The maning down in captain¡¯s attire was Eidan Bearbeck, a follower Isaac had sent ahead to facilitate the Salt Council matters.

 Chapter 107:

    Chapter 107:

    ¡°Are you the captain?¡±

    ¡°Oh, no. I am¡­¡±

    Eidan hurriedly tried to say something but straightened his back when someone kicked him from behind. He quickly made eye contact with the other sailors, grasped what the situation was, and nodded.

    ¡°I, I am Eidan Bearbeck of the ¡®Brave Salmon¡¯. May fair winds be with you. What brings the Bishop of the Codex of Light here?¡±

    Eidan managed to regain hisposure and spoke with dignity. Although his dignity was somewhat diminished by his soaking wet attire, the way he spoke, as if he were among nobility, hadn¡¯t gone anywhere.

    Isaac seemed to roughly understand the situation. It was unlikely that Eidan was the real captain, and someone of high rank had suddenly arrived, so they brought someone who could speak properly and entertain without making a mistake. It seemed likely that a man named Hyanis was the real captain.

    Reflecting on the conversation, Eidan had never once imed to be the captain.

    ¡®I didn¡¯t expect Eidan to be on this ship¡­ But it seems I¡¯vee to the right ce.¡¯

    If Isaac¡¯s and Juan¡¯s purposes were aligned, it wasn¡¯t strange for Eidan to be on the ship. Indeed, as soon as Hyanis whispered something to him, Eidan¡¯s face turned pale.

    ¡°A monster, you say? There seems to be some misunderstanding. The sailors sometimes mistakerge waves or whales for something else¡­¡±

    Eidan¡¯s statement was met with a whispered retort from Juan, and the young priest ryed it with a sneer.

    ¡°Then why are there so many ships docked at this port? There must be some reason they can¡¯t leave. It¡¯s not the season for typhoons, and the seas aren¡¯t rough. Is it because of a monster?¡±

    Eidan looked around, at a loss for words, trying not to make eye contact with Isaac, but their eyes inadvertently met.

    Isaac decided to give Eidan a bit of help.

    ¡°Bishop. May I ask you something, if you don¡¯t mind?¡±

    Juan narrowed his eyes but nodded. He and Isaac stepped aside for a moment.

    ¡°If there really was a monster, they would ask for help rather than hide it, wouldn¡¯t they? There must be a reason they¡¯re denying it so vehemently.¡±

    ¡°Do not underestimate the intelligence capabilities of the Inquisition, Sir Issacrea.¡±

    Juan replied with a shallow smile.

    ¡°But you¡¯re right. What¡¯s out there is not a monster but the ¡®Drowned King¡¯, a seraph of the Salt Council. It¡¯s in the records but hasn¡¯t shown itself in nearly 300 years. However, it¡¯s recently made an appearance.¡±

    ¡°Are you nning to vanquish the seraph?¡±

    Isaac wondered if Juan Bishop was harboring some fantastical dream, having vanquished the prophet of the Red Flesh.

    The prophet of the Red Flesh was not a warrior but a schemer, and they had managed to drive it away because they fought on advantageous ground. Against another seraph, they wouldn¡¯t stand a chance, especially not in the sea, against a seraph of the Salt Council in its own element.

    Isaac had no such foolhardy n.

    ¡°Are you overconfident because you¡¯ve vanquished a seraph before? The Drowned King is different from the prophet of the Red Flesh. It wouldn¡¯t dare touch it onnd, but in the sea, it must not be disturbed.¡±

    Fortunately, Juan was not mad. Although he somewhat reproached Isaac, Isaac was relieved.

    So, there was no need to push Juan into the sea.

    ¡°Then why have youe here?¡±

    ¡°I heard the Drowned King has made some outrageous demands of the followers. That¡¯s why the ships can¡¯t leave, stuck here, unable toe or go. Even the councilors of the Salt Council have gathered to decide whether to meet the demands of the Drowned King.¡±

    Bishop Juan stroked his beard as he continued.

    ¡°What demands are those?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not clear. They¡¯re keeping it hush-hush¡­ Whatever decision theye to, it¡¯s none of our business. But the important thing is, I came to offer advice to handle it amongst themselves appropriately, in exchange for a suitable ¡®gift¡¯. If the order hase to us, we can¡¯t just sit idly by, can we?¡±

    So, the crux of the matter was that the port was blockaded due to an angel of the Salt Council, and Bishop Juan was here to extort money under the pretext of turning a blind eye to it.

    The Salt Council bears the loss due to the port blockade, and if the Drowned King were to sh with the Codex of Light, the Salt Council would suffer losses, yet it is also the Salt Council that has to pay.

    ¡°Obviously, the Salt Council won¡¯t just say, ¡®Oh, then could you please take care of our angel for us?¡¯ and lend a ship. They¡¯ll pay a substantial amount. This is the secret to reforming heretics while generating profit. Do you understand?¡±

    Juan seriously imparted this lesson to Isaac.

    ¡°Remember this. When heretics gather, for whatever reason, it bes a pretext to extract money without any guilt!¡±

    ¡®Do they even have a conscience to feel guilt?¡¯

    Isaac wanted to retort but could understand the logic, regardless.

    Meanwhile, Hyanis and Eidan seemed to have finished their consultation and were watching them. Juan approached them, estimating how much they should be charged to overlook their situation adequately.

    As Juan approached, Eidan spoke as if he had made a decision.

    ¡°The grace you extend even to the wandering followers of other faiths is overwhelming. I¡¯m not sure how we could possibly repay such immense kindness, Bishop Juan.¡±

    Eidan humbly lowered his posture as he spoke.

    ¡°If it¡¯s alright, might we settle this conversation on board? We would like to show our ¡®sincerity¡¯ in appreciation of your grace.¡±

    ***

    The ship was quiterge, contrary to its outward appearance. However, it was cluttered with cargo due to being anchored at the port for a long time.

    Juan was taken to the captain¡¯s quarters and received luxurious alcohol and some ¡®sincerity¡¯ as a gift.

    While he was examining the ¡®gifts¡¯, Isaac stepped outside to look around the ship.

    The sailors were still busily moving cargo around, their tension palpable. It wasn¡¯t long before Isaac was walking on the deck that the person he had been waiting for appeared.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you toe looking so soon. I was actually nning to contact you soon.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t know you had be the captain either.¡±

    Only then did Eidan awkwardly shrug off the captain¡¯s coat he was still wearing.

    ¡°Ah, erm. As you might have noticed, I¡¯m not the captain. I¡¯ve just been staying here to have a conversation with the ship¡¯s captain. The guy wouldn¡¯t speak unless he¡¯s drunk, so after days of drinking, my head feels like it¡¯s about to split.¡±

    ¡°Hyanis?¡±

    ¡°You know of him? Yes, that¡¯s correct. He¡¯s the captain of the ¡®Brave Salmon¡¯ and one of the councilors of the Salt Council.¡±

    The Salt Council, being unable to receive divine oracles like other faiths, relies on its councilors to make significant policy and doctrine decisions. Since they cannot arbitrarily determine the will of the gods, they only resort to meetings in cases of severe conflict or opposition, often concluding with decisions shrouded in vague superstitions.

    It seems that most councilors are captains or shipowners, thus unable to escape the grip of superstition.

    ¡°Then you must have shown him the relic.¡±

    ¡°Ah, yes! It was truly¡­ a functioning relic.¡±

    Eidan excitedly pulled something from his pocket. It was a model with a small, intricately designed ship inside a transparent ss bottle, a piece of art that could only have been created by the hands of a master ssblower, as well as a relic.

    [Homnd of the Drifter (Rare)]

    [When sea water is ced in the bottle, the bow of the ship model always points towards the location where the water was collected.]

    It wasn¡¯t anything extraordinary, just a slightly unusualpass like a luminous stone ne. However, the significancey in the fact that it was a relic of the Salt Council, and a ¡®newly¡¯ created one at that.

    ¡°Just as you said, when I filled it with sea water and recited the prayer, the relic waspleted. There were records of such a relic existing, but the method of making it was lost when the Salt Desert was formed¡­ This must be the first one made in almost a thousand years.¡±

    Followers of the Salt Council are voracious seekers of ancient knowledge, artifacts, and ruins. The discovery of technology to create a new relic was an immense joy for them.

    Especially if it was knowledge that had disappeared a thousand years ago.

    ¡°I¡¯m d it was helpful.¡±

    Isaac considered himself fortunate to remember his time ying as a member of the Salt Council. Even as a Nephilim, it was impossible to create a relic of another faith without preparation. However, ¡°Homnd of the Drifter¡± could be made by any follower of the Salt Council with a simple prayer.

    This knowledge, that Isaac possessed, was enough to make the Salt Council hold him in high regard.

    Eidan looked at Isaac with eyes filled with admiration, or perhaps thirst. There was an expectancy in his gaze that made Isaac ufortable, prompting him to look away.

    The gray sea of the North churned ominously.

    ¡°If the council business is concluded and the relic ispleted, that¡¯s settled. But what about this monster of the North Sea? That¡¯s about the Drowned King, right?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    Eidan nodded somberly. Isaac had suspected as much but now had confirmation. He wondered why a seraph that should be dormant was awake but couldn¡¯t pinpoint the reason.

    ¡®Is this a butterfly effect stemming from Kalsen Miller¡¯s disappearance, starting to distort history?¡¯

    Isaac had no choice but to assume so.

    ¡°I heard the Drowned King has made some difficult demands of the Salt Council. What are they?¡±

    ¡°That¡­ I¡¯m not at liberty to discuss.¡±

    Eidan, usuallypliant with Isaac¡¯s requests, was hesitant on this matter. Followers of the Salt Council cannot lie; when faced with difficult situations, they opt to remain silent. Extracting information from Salt Council followers who choose to stay silent was not easy.

    However, the answer came from an unexpected source.

    ¡°Allow me to exin, Sir Knight of the Grail.¡±

    A man with ash-blonde hair appeared from around the corner of the corridor.

    It was the sailor, or rather the captain, Hyanis, who had been dealing with Bishop Juan and Isaac earlier.

    ¡°The Drowned King is demanding human sacrifices from the Salt Council.¡±

    ***

    Human Sacrifices.

    The act of offering living people as sacrifices to perform rituals.

    It was amon and powerful method for conducting rituals in the era when ancient faiths were prevalent, as it quickly satisfied the demands of faith. However, after the nine faiths came to dominate the world, such practices were strictly prohibited.

    Thus, offering human sacrifices is one of the key distinctions between ancient faiths and the nine faiths. While the Red Chalice does engage in cannibalism, it¡¯s for pleasure, not as an offering to the gods.

    Of course, to those who be ingredients, the distinction might seem moot.

    ¡°Human sacrifices? Is that true?¡±

    If the Drowned King truly demanded human sacrifices, it meant that the seraph was approaching its limits and was on the verge of corruption. Moreover, it suggested the entire Salt Council could be falling to the level of ancient faiths.

    In other words, all other faiths, excluding the Salt Council, could be hostile towards them.

    ¡°Yes. The Drowned King has demanded human sacrifices. The council is still debating over it. They are uncertain if it¡¯s okay to defy themand of a seraph.¡±

    Hyanis¡¯s face was etched with fatigue as he spoke.

    Eidan turned pale upon hearing the conversation.

    Revealing this to Isaac, who was superficially affiliated with the Codex of Light, was akin to providing a pretext for an attack. Eidan wondered if Hyanis had lured the bishop and Isaac onto the ship with the intent of eliminating them.

    But Isaac looked at Hyanis with a cold smile.

    Then, the ship began to rock heavily. The gray sea outside the window flowed sluggishly.

    Isaac spoke up.

    ¡°You deliberately drew us into this ship.¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    Hyanis answered anxiously.

    ¡°I cannot ept the Drowned King¡¯s demands. And since the Codex of Light has sent someone to deal with that ¡®monster¡¯, I could hardly refuse the help. Thank you for your cooperation, Sir Knight of the Grail.¡±

 Chapter 108:

    Chapter 108:

    ¡°Has the council decided to exclude the Drowned King?¡±

    ¡°No. As always, the council will drag its feet with vague and ambiguous conclusions and will likely muddle through the demands. But those fools don¡¯t understand the situation on the ground. For the sake of the sailors¡¯ livelihoods, we can¡¯t continue to have ships detained here.¡±

    Hyanis answered solemnly.

    ¡°The Drowned King¡¯s demands are not the kind that can be quietly rejected. The fate of the Salt Council is at stake. It¡¯s better for us to cut the seraph¡¯s lifeline than to watch it sever the Salt Council¡¯s.¡±

    In essence, the council¡¯s opinion was split.

    Whether toply with the Drowned King¡¯s demands or not.

    Hyanis seemed to be part of the faction that insisted on refusal. In fact, he had gone beyond merely being part of a ¡°hardline faction.¡±

    He had decided not to wait for the council¡¯s decision and instead aimed to decapitate the angel himself.

    ¡°So, just as Bishop Juan and a Grail Knight, known for defeating an angel, happen to appear willing to help?¡±

    ¡°It turned out that way, coincidentally.¡±

    Isaac chuckled.

    Perhaps Isaac¡¯s appearance had indeed hastened Hyanis¡¯s decision.

    The bustling movement of the sailors and the disorderly cargo on board were preparations for battle.

    ¡°Do you think Bishop Juan will cooperate properly?¡±

    Hyanis smiled bitterly.

    ¡°I¡¯m aware that Bishop Juan didn¡¯te with that intention, but having dered his involvement, he can¡¯t run away now. Especially since the ship has already set sail. He¡¯ll have no choice but to cooperate if he wants to return alive.¡±

    ¡°Smart move.¡±

    ¡°All the money we¡¯ve given to Bishop Juan up to now has to count for something.¡±

    In truth, Hyanis ced more hope in Isaac than in Bishop Juan.

    He had already heard about Isaac through Eidan. Isaac had defeated an angel and vanquished ancient gods, amassing countless achievements and rising as a new holy figure.

    Momentum ys a role in sess.

    Hyanis knew that confronting an angel was no easy task.

    But perhaps with this Grail Knight¡¯s momentum, they could manage somehow?

    ¡°Are you nning to let a wicked and corrupt angel continue demanding human sacrifices, just because it¡¯s considered a heretical faith?¡±

    Isaac took a moment to gather his thoughts.

    ¡°So, Captain Hyanis is heading out to execute their own angel without the council¡¯s decision. Do all the crew members agree?¡±

    ¡°Not just me, but all captains who share my conviction have decided to set sail. It¡¯s an earlier decision than nned, but there¡¯s no better time than now. I may be the first, but others will follow.¡±

    Hyanis murmured resolutely.

    ¡°If I meet my demise, we¡¯ve agreed to be considered as human sacrifices offered to the Drowned King. It¡¯s to prevent the followers from being retaliated against by the king.¡±

    ¡°Captain Hyanis¡­¡±

    Eidan murmured, seemingly moved.

    Even though he had been dragged into this situation somewhat unwillingly, being on the same ship meant he shared some level of agreement.

    ¡®To think the person who was afraid of making a blunder in front of the bishop and had Eidan wear the captain¡¯s coat to delegate tasks is showing quite bravery. Or was it to somehow drag Bishop Juan onto the ship?¡¯

    ¡°Can I know exactly what the Drowned King said?¡±

    Normally, this would be information that shouldn¡¯t be disclosed outside the council. But since they¡¯ve already revealed their intent and set sail, there¡¯s no concern of the information leaking until the issue is resolved or they all perish.

    Hyanis cleared his throat and ryed the Drowned King¡¯s words.

    ¡°Offer up those who shall drown. With their blood, I shall moisten my throat with wine-colored seas. Offer up those who shall be salted. Their flesh shall be the feast that wees the deity in the sea breeze.¡±

    ¡°You didn¡¯t trante that exactly, did you?¡±

    Hyanis¡¯s eyes widened at Isaac¡¯s remark.

    ¡°How did you know? Um, there was a lot of archaguage, so a lot was changed in the process of trantion and smoothing out the text. But after heads of priests and councilors came together, it¡¯s the interpretation that most closely matches the original text.¡±

    Upon hearing Hyanis¡¯s exnation, Isaac couldn¡¯t help but click his tongue inwardly.

    ¡°The Drowned King isn¡¯t asking for human sacrifices.¡±

    Silence fell upon those in the corridor upon hearing Isaac¡¯s words.

    After a pause, Hyanis spoke up.

    ¡°What do you mean? If this isn¡¯t a demand for human sacrifices, then what is it?¡±

    ¡°The words mean he¡¯s looking for someone to perform a ritual. It¡¯s a warning that the ritual is extremely dangerous, so he¡¯s asking for someone with sufficient faith and agreement toe forward.¡±

    Isaac had a rough idea of the situation.

    ¡®The Drowned King¡­ has quite the dialect, it seems.¡¯

    A seraph that might wake once in hundreds of years.

    Withoutmunication through the afterlife, it¡¯s natural for their knowledge, concepts, and even their manner of speaking to remain centuries to a thousand years old. Such archaic speech could easily be mistaken for the eerie voice of an ancient deity demanding sacrifices.

    ¡®Of course, requesting someone for a potentially lethal mission is problematic in its own right.¡¯

    But this mission was a crucial storyline for the Salt Council faith. yers who chose the Salt Council would have the opportunity to meet the Drowned King. Those who awaken him assist him and receive rewards in return.

    It was a quest with great risk but substantial rewards, one that Isaac remembered. Somehow, that story quest had be active now. However, the idea of the angel directly sending someone to the afterlife could easily be mistaken for human sacrifices.

    Hyanis and Eidan shared a look of confusion.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but this is a difficult tale to simply ept.¡±

    Hyanis finally spoke up.

    ¡°With all due respect, Sir Knight of the Grail, you are an outsider. You didn¡¯t directly hear the decree from the Drowned King, nor did you participate in the council¡¯s discussions. The council members have collectively analyzed and interpreted the message, so it¡¯s hard to just ept it at face value.¡±

    ¡°I understand.¡±

    Isaac readily epted this.

    Anyone would find it hard to simply ept when someone from the outside says all you¡¯ve believed is wrong, especially when the fate of the organization is at stake.

    But Hyanis seemed somewhat relieved.

    ¡°Still, if your words hold true, it means there¡¯s a possibility to resolve this matter more amicably. Though the prospect of that potentially fatal ritual is concerning¡­¡±

    Whether Isaac was correct or not, they had to meet the Drowned King.

    If the King wasn¡¯t demanding sacrifices but had been misunderstood, they needed to rify that. Otherwise, it was time for a showdown.

    But Isaac was confident in his interpretation.

    ¡®This might be resolved more easily than expected.¡¯

    Ultimately, Isaac¡¯s intention to influence the Salt Council was primarily for this ¡®quest.¡¯ He had gotten involved unexpectedly, but it was fortunate that things could proceed quickly.

    However, a minor question lingered.

    ¡®But who awakened the Drowned King?¡¯

    ***

    The Brave Salmon set sail with a favorable wind, quickly leaving Norden Harbor for the open sea.

    As Captain Hyanis had mentioned, a few ships began to follow them from the horizon. The number was more than Isaac had anticipated, but he didn¡¯t believe all of them wereing to assist the Brave Salmon.

    ¡°How many of those do you think areing to catch us?¡±

    At Isaac¡¯s question, Hyanisughed bitterly.

    ¡°About half, I¡¯d guess.¡±

    ¡°Only half? And the other half are here to help us?¡±

    ¡°No. Half of the remaining will wait to see if things can be resolved peacefully before turning on us if things go sour. Still, about a quarter might actually support us.¡±

    At that moment, Bishop Juan rushed onto the deck, followed by a young priest struggling with a gilded box under each arm.

    ¡°Wait, hold on. What¡¯s happening? Why has the ship left the harbor?¡±

    Juan reeked of strong alcohol. It seemed Hyanis had provided quite the potent liquor.

    With a gesture of gratitude, Hyanis ced a hand on his chest, greeting, and responded.

    ¡°As per your words, Bishop, we are on our way to vanquish the evil monster.¡±

    ¡°Monster? Hold on, not the monster? You¡¯re not talking about the Drowned King, are you?¡±

    Hyanis nodded.

    Juan looked at Isaac with a pale face, hoping for a denial, but Isaac¡¯s silence confirmed his fears.

    Juan staggered for a moment before grabbing the railing, and the young priest hurried to support him.

    ¡°No, damn it all. Is this true? Attacking their own angel? Have these madmen buried their sanity beneath the salt desert along with their god?¡±

    Isaac was about to mention the possibility of resolving the situation without a fight but decided to enjoy Juan¡¯s frightened reaction a bit more instead. Hyanis didn¡¯tin about the situation, unlike when he boldly epted money in the captain¡¯s quarters.

    However, Isaac found the bishop¡¯sck of confidence puzzling. Angels are indeed powerful, but a bishop of the Codex of Light should not be easily overpowered. Even the Prophet of the Red Flesh would hesitate to confront a bishop directly.

    It wasn¡¯t without reason that Hyanis thought, ¡®This might be manageable,¡¯ and decided to set sail suddenly.

    Realizing this, Hyanis decided not to bring up his earlier point.

    ¡°You worry too much, Bishop Juan. This ship is well-armed. Besides, we have you and the Grail Knight who has experience in defeating angels, don¡¯t we?¡±

    ¡°You deceived us!¡±

    ¡°Deceived? We merely did not refuse an offer of help. And we¡¯ve already paid you for it.¡±

    ¡°If I had known we were really going to confront the Drowned King, I wouldn¡¯t have settled for that amount!¡±

    Was it about the amount? Isaac was momentarily at a loss for words but whispered to Hyanis.

    ¡°Do you have more money?¡±

    ¡°Unless the Salt Council had decided, I can¡¯t say. Actually, the money we¡¯ve given you alreadyes from my personal funds.¡±

    ¡°Stop this nonsense and turn the ship around! I do not wish to encounter a heretic angel¡­¡±

    Thud. As Juan continued to protest, the ship suddenly rocked from a collision, silencing everyone on deck.

    Juan¡¯s face turned even paler, if possible.

    ¡°It won¡¯t be the Drowned King. Not yet¡­¡±

    Crash, thud!

    Instead of continuing, Hyanis rushed to the railing to look down at the water. He spotted dark shapes moving beneath the surface.

    ¡°Sea Monsters! All hands, prepare for battle!¡±

    ***

    ¡°Sea monsters? Is this area known for their appearances?¡±

    As Hyanis grimly prepared for battle, he answered.

    ¡°No. But¡­ with the Drowned King awake, it¡¯s not surprising to see the ecosystem bing disturbed.¡±

    An angel¡¯s mere presence can disrupt the local ecosystem. While the Drowned King slept, his influence was minimal and stabilized over a long time. But his awakening and subsequent activities have started to cause anomalies.

    ¡°Meeting Sea Monsters is not umon for seafarers. The crew is well-prepared to handle them, so don¡¯t worry.¡±

    ¡°What if this is a signal from the Drowned King to attack us?¡±

    Bishop Juan¡¯s question was ignored by Hyanis.

    The Sea monsters quickly multiplied, surrounding the ship in dozens, seeking an opportunity to attack. The crew cursed at the Sea monsters, aiming their bows and harpoons.

    Simrly, the Sea monsterscked tools to attack therge ship.

    While they could sustain themselves on the water surface, they chose a more effective approach rather than risk climbing aboard and being attacked.

    The Sea monsters, swirling around the ship, suddenly gained momentum and charged towards it. Seeing the bubbles trailing behind the charging Sea monsters, the crew yelled a warning.

    ¡°They¡¯re using battering rams!¡±

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read up to advance 20 chapters or support me, you can do it at/Akaza156

 Chapter 109:

    Chapter 109:

    Boom! A heavy thunderous noise shook the ship. It was clear that therge piece of wood, which couldn¡¯t possibly have been carved from a tree found at sea, was in fact a ship¡¯s mast, now entangled in the hands of the sea monsters.

    They swam swiftly through the water, aiming to ram this ¡°battering ram¡± into the ship to sink it. Onnd, they might be at a disadvantage, but underwater, all they had to do was wait for the sailors to drown.

    This collision seemed to have a significant impact, as some of the sailors staggered and fell to their knees, indicating part of the ship was already damaged.

    ¡°Deck officer!¡±

    ¡°Yes!¡±

    Without needing detailed instructions from Hyanis, the deck officer understood immediately and went below deck with a few sailors. They began repairing the ship and bailing out water. Then, in a rush, sailors brought up the prepared countermeasures against the sea monsters to the deck.

    ¡°Throw the!¡±

    The sailors threw the in unison. The widely spread entangled the sea monsters who were swiftly circling the ship, causing them to scatter in disarray. Watching the sea monsters struggle in the, the sailors were gleefullyughing. However, theirughter didn¡¯tst long.

    ¡°What, what?¡±

    At some point, the sea monsters caught in the stopped thrashing and biting each other. Instead, they began swimming in unison in one direction, even joining forces to drag the along. The sailors holding the screamed in pain as their hands were injured.

    Hyanis urgently shouted.

    ¡°Let go of the!¡±

    The was wrapped around the mast to prevent it from falling into the sea. However, as the sea monsters pulling grew stronger, the ship began to tilt and was dragged along. It wasn¡¯t until a sailor hurriedly drew a knife and cut the that the ship was able to right itself.

    Only then did Hyanis realize the seriousness of the sea monsters¡¯s attack.

    He looked around. The surrounding waters were darkening.

    Hundreds, no, thousands of sea monsters were surrounding their ship.

    The sailors looked to one ce, believing only a miracle could resolve this situation.

    ¡°Holy Grail Knight, please help us!¡±

    ***

    ¡®Why are they asking me for help when they dragged me here?¡¯

    Isaac was bewildered by the sudden call for help, but since he was on the same ship, their fate was intertwined with his. However, Isaac didn¡¯t have the means to instantly resolve the situation. That would be something Bishop Juan might be capable of, not him.

    Hyanis seemed to havee to a simr conclusion as he quickly approached Bishop Juan.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry to ask, but could you perform a miracle to counter them?¡±

    Bishop Juan, thinking along the same lines as Isaac, saw no other option but to help.

    ¡°These fools¡­ can¡¯t even handle a fish head and they think they can capture an angel?!¡±

    ¡°I have a n to deal with the Drowned King. But it¡¯s not suitable for mere sea monsters, nor is it in a state to be effective.¡±

    Hyanis, anxious, urged Juan.

    ¡°I will apologize for the rudeness. Nheless, we need to survive to ensure you can either earn more money or at least keep what you have been paid.¡±

    Juan red at Hyanis with narrowed eyes. But for Juan,ining further was pointless.

    If the ship split in two, they would all be dragged into the abyss by the sea monsters before rescue could arrive. Everyone, even the young priests apanying them, looked at Juan with desperate eyes, prompting him to grimace and head towards the railing.

    Everyone awaited the miracle that the Bishop of the Codex of Light would perform to drive away the sea monsters. Followers of the Salt Council simultaneously despised and admired the Codex of Light for abandoning their god, expecting a powerful miracle from Juan.

    Several miracles that could counter such swarm creatures came to Isaac¡¯s mind. A bishop could theoretically boil the sea, turning the sea monsters into cooked shrimp.

    However, as Juan stared into the water, he stepped back with a grim expression.

    ¡°Sir Isaacrea.¡±

    ¡°Bishop?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s your turn¡­ Please handle this.¡±

    Isaac was about to question Juan, but seeing Juan¡¯s earnest expression, he realized Juan wasn¡¯t in a state to answer such questions.

    Regardless of whether he had ichthyophobia or was seasick, it didn¡¯t matter.

    Isaac passed Juan to a panicked young priest and approached Hyanis withrge strides.

    ¡°Do you know of any miracle that could help in fighting in the water? Whether it¡¯s walking on water or breathing underwater, anything from the Salt Council.¡±

    ¡°How could I¡­¡±

    Hyanis looked at Isaac, surprised. Priests of the Salt Council were rare, with limited transmitted knowledge, often awakening to their powers by chance, akin to a divine calling.

    Therefore, they closely guarded the identity of their priests.

    ¡°I guessed as much when you mentioned having a n to confront the Drowned King. To face an angel, you¡¯d need a relic or a miracle, and only a priest could properly wield such a thing.¡±

    ¡°Please keep this a secret. And yes, I can use the ¡®Doctrine of Waves.¡¯ It allows movement over water as long as you¡¯re moving. But beware, you¡¯ll sink if you stop.¡±

    Hyanis grasped Isaac¡¯s hands, murmuring a short prayer. As the prayer concluded, Isaac tasted saltiness in his mouth, a sign that the Salt Council¡¯s miracle had permeated his body.

    [The Nameless Chaos watches over you.]

    As the miracle took effect, the Nameless Chaos seemed displeased.

    ¡®What are you going to do, attach an octopus to my foot?¡¯

    Meanwhile, the sea monsters escaped the, regrouping to equip their battering ram for another charge. Without a moment to test the miracle, Isaac jumped over the railing.

    ***

    The moment his feet touched the water, Isaac felt an odd fluctuation. Hesitating to bnce himself, his feet began to sink slowly.

    ¡®I need to keep moving.¡¯

    As soon as he moved, Isaac¡¯s body slid forward, the sensation of running on hard ground vastly different from the sshing of water underfoot. Isaac realized it was more advantageous to glide over the water, akin to skating.

    The sea monsters, charging with the battering ram towards the ship, emitted a sharp, high-frequency noise upon seeing Isaac floating. They swiftly swam towards Isaac and the ship, intending to pierce both with the ram.

    [You are facing multiple enemies alone.]

    [The effect of the Noble Journey is enhanced.]

    In that moment, Isaac drew the Luadin Key, slicing through the water¡¯s surface.

    Woosh!

    As the heated Luadin Key touched the water, it generated a ferocious steam, cutting through the salt-hardened battering ram at an angle.

    A sharp, indescribable scream erupted from the sea monsters. Used to the cold depths, their skin couldn¡¯t tolerate even slightly higher temperatures. The heated Luadin Key, though only generating a bit of steam, was too hot for them to endure.

    ¡®Would be nice if they just got scared and ran away.¡¯

    Isaac felt a tingling in his palms, pondering. Cutting directly through the solid ram might break his wrist, so he sliced off a corner and struck the following sea monsters. Fortunately, the enhanced Noble Journey effect allowed for a deeper cut than expected.

    The cooked or sliced sea monsters floated up, but they seemed undeterred, diving deep with the severed ram, waiting for another chance.

    It seemed they had realized Isaac couldn¡¯t enter the water.

    In the meantime, other sea monsters had attacked Isaac. However, it was not easy to capture Isaac, who kept sliding on the water¡¯s surface. Without even needing to use his swordsmanship, Isaac simply ran with the Luadin Key dipped in the water, and the sea monsters screamed and fell away.

    Among them, a few of considerable size gripped their tridents and attacked all at once as if they were prepared to risk their lives. Only then did Isaac properly wield his sword and use the Isaac Swordsmanship: Eight Branches.

    Eight des tore through the surface of the water.

    Where the white steam passed, the mutted bodies of the sea monsters poured out.

    In fact, it would not have been possible to fight like this on a normal battlefield.

    No matter how powerful Isaac was, if there were so many enemies, their sheer mass would be violent. Onnd, he would not havested long and would have died under a pile of bodies. But the bodies were sinking into the water, and Isaac was able to attack the enemies unterally from above.

    ***

    As Isaac carried out a one-sided massacre, cheers and support burst from the sailors on the ship.

    Hyanis was also surprised. He groaned towards Eidan.

    ¡°I heard about it from you, but I didn¡¯t know it would be to this extent.¡±

    ¡°¡­Actually, I didn¡¯t know it would be to this extent either.¡±

    Eidan had never actually seen Isaac fight. He wasn¡¯t there when the Prophet of Red Flesh was executed, and it was the same when the Immortal Order invaded; he was subtly out of ce.

    It was hard to say that the Living Armor fought properly. So when Eidan spoke of Isaac, he focused more on the achievements Isaac had made rather than the way he fought.

    But the way Isaac was fighting now transcended all that Hyanis, who had seen all sorts of things, knew.

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t make sense. Is he really a pdin who just turned twenty? The swordmasters of Elil would go crazy if they saw this Holy Grail Knight.¡±

    ¡°Is it that significant?¡±

    ¡°Of course. Do you know how hard it is to fight on a rocking ship? But this Holy Grail Knight is fighting continuously on the churning sea, and even in a ce where you¡¯d sink if you stopped moving. He¡¯s even using advanced swordsmanship that wouldn¡¯t activate unless he moved precisely.¡±

    Hyanis muttered with excitement and amazement he could hardly hide.

    ¡°Besides the miracle of walking on water, he¡¯s not using any other miracles, and he¡¯s charging without hesitation towards unfamiliar enemies that pop out from under the water in an unfamiliar battlefield. Even with the key of Luadin, it doesn¡¯t make sense logically. Doesn¡¯t he have any fear?¡±

    If Isaac harbored even a bit of fear and stopped moving, he would immediately sink into the sea. Or perhaps a sea monster that endured the heat and surfaced might grab his feet. But Isaac was relentlessly shing the sea monsters.

    However, even in such a struggle, his limits were gradually showing.

    ¡®There¡¯s no end.¡¯

    In fact, Isaac¡¯s situation was not good.

    His stamina was slowly reaching its limit. No matter how light the armor made by miracles, running to death while using swordsmanship would tire anyone out.

    Eventually, at a moment when Isaac¡¯s movements slowed, a huge ssh erupted.

    The sea rose almost vertically, flipping Isaac¡¯s body in an instant. Along with the wave, something huge crashed down on Isaac, who had lost his bnce.

    It was a giant sea monster with sharp bristles.

    Despite the miracle of walking on water, Isaac helplessly sank below the surface with the giant sea monsters.

    Isaac saw sea monsters that resembled frogs. Even under the sea, he could see their saw-like fangs. The creature did not let go even though its hand was being pierced and cooked by the key of Luadin.

    If you ask if it was a crisis, it wasn¡¯t.

    Isaac had been waiting for this situation.

    ¡®This is worth preying upon.¡¯

    After confirming he was far enough from the surface, Isaac thrust his left hand into the chest of the sea monster.

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read up to advance 20 chapters or support me, you can do it at/Akaza156

 Chapter 110:

    Chapter 110:

    Crack.

    The tentacle pierced the sea monster¡¯s chest roughly. The giant sea monster flinched but did not move, thinking perhaps Isaac had stabbed him with a dagger, and sank deeper into the abyss.

    However, if there is pain, one should not self-diagnose but seek a hospital early, as it¡¯s a shortcut to longevity.

    For a moment, the sea monster was under the illusion, during which the tentacle brutally tore through the thick skin and burrowed into the chest of the sea monster, devouring it.

    The pain of having his ribs torn out made the giant sea monster btedly realize something was wrong and tried to shake Isaac off.

    However, Isaac, who had firmly rooted himself inside the creature¡¯s body, did not detach. Attempts to crush him with sheer strength only increased the pain without crumpling the solid armor.

    The sea quickly turned red with the blood of the sea monster. Other sea monsters gathered around but seemed unable to understand the situation due to the blood, merely circling.

    The giant sea monster, unable to detach Isaac, changed its strategy.

    It began to move more furiously towards the deeper abyss, intending to suffocate Isaac to death¡ªa decision too wise for a mere frog¡¯s brain.

    Meanwhile, Isaac pushed his tentacles even more aggressively. The inside of the giant sea monster was already a mess. Even if Isaac were released, the creature was as good as dead.

    But in ast-ditch effort or post-mortem spasm, it dug even deeper into the abyss.

    ¡°Just about now¡­¡±

    As Isaac reached his limit of breath, the awaited effect urred.

    [¡®You have devoured the Abyssal General (A).¡¯]

    [¡®The privilege of ¡®Dead God¡¯s Intestine¡¯ increases your absorption efficiency.¡¯]

    [¡®Abomination devouring effect progresses body fusion.¡¯]

    [¡®You can now breathe underwater.¡¯]

    [¡®Your movement in water bes faster.¡¯]

    Thin gills formed below Isaac¡¯s chest. He no longer needed to gulp sea water through his mouth; water entered his lungs, filtering oxygen in and out. The giant sea monster, waiting for Isaac¡¯s death, failed to see him die and slowly sank.

    Tentacles burst from within the creature, devouring and swallowing essential parts in an instant. Isaac, not yet fully aware of the situation, leaped powerfully towards the other sea monster. Without the giant sea monster¡¯s pull, Isaac would sink naturally due to the weight of his armor.

    However, Isaac was now under the ¡®Doctrine of Waves¡¯, the miracle of walking on water.

    The moment Isaac kicked the sea, it propelled him ferociously. Like a torrent of arrows, he sliced through the sea monster, soaring upwards.

    Blood foam followed him, with sea monsters strapped with siege weights at its end.

    Slowed by the siege weights, sea monsters couldn¡¯t avoid Isaac.

    Boom. Isaac burst through the water surface at high speed. Behind where he sprang up, pieces and cooked corpses of sea monsters floated up, along with ownerless siege weights. Screams or yells of the sea monsters echoed above and below the sea.

    ¡®The giant sea monster, or should I say, the Abyssal General? Its movements are disrupted because it¡¯s dead.¡¯

    The sea monsters could no longer approach Isaac recklessly. Without their siege weights, they had no means to sink his ship. Still, their numbers filled the sea.

    Undeterred, they began to chant something together.

    [The Nameless Chaos watches over you.]

    A warning notification sounded to Isaac.

    ¡®The Siren¡¯s Song.¡¯

    A power that muddles the mind, drawing those who hear the song into the sea. Isaac tried to cover his ears immediately but soon realized that he was unaffected by the song.

    ¡®Is it because I ate the Abyssal General? Or is it because of the Nameless Chaos?¡¯

    For some reason, Isaac experienced no abnormalities. However, the crew might not be so fortunate. Isaac quickly scanned the deck. Even the trained sailors might have their own countermeasures, but the chorus of countless sea monsters was an attack difficult for ordinary people to resist.

    Ssh. Someone staggered and threw themselves over the railing.

    ¡®An attack more effective than siege weights, why only now?¡¯

    But soon, Isaac understood why the sea monsters had started their chorus sote.

    Rumbling¡­

    Isaac noticed that the sky and sea had turned a deep ash color. Currents twisted into a giant whirlpool below him. Waves lost their direction, sshing water everywhere. The sea monsters¡¯s chorus was btedly halted, but it was already toote.

    Isaac realized what was happening.

    ¡°Drowned King¡­¡±

    The angel with the most colossal physique among them.

    A being that could change the currents merely by moving was approaching.

    ***

    Screams! Real screams began to burst from among the sea monsters. These were not cries of me or pain but screams filled with terror. They started to flee toote, and it was futile. A dark shadow loomed beneath the surface.

    The moment ¡®it¡¯ arrived, the sea monsters were no different than shrimps in a whale¡¯s mouth.

    Roaring¡­ A sound like a waterfall began to echo.

    Isaac felt the sea itself rise.

    The ship tilted as if it would capsize in the fierce waves. However, at that moment, a tentacle crawled up from the sea, preventing the ship from tipping over.

    As the tentacle lightly wrapped around the ship, a crushing sound echoed, but instead of destroying, it surprisingly gently held the ship, protecting it from the waves. Then, with unbelievable delicacy, it picked up a sailor who had fallen into the sea and ced him back on the deck.

    The entity revealed from the parting sea was a colossal kraken.

    ¡°Ha ha¡­¡±

    Isaac couldn¡¯t believe that Hyanis had thought of confronting ¡®that¡¯.

    The head exposed above the water surface seemed to be about 500 to 600 meters in size. Much more of its body and tentacles, likely several timesrger, were hidden beneath the surface.

    The Drowned King lightly waving his tentacles underwater caused the sea monster to be swept by the currents, crashing into each other and bouncing above the surface. Isaac could sense their fate, as if they were being corralled for a round-up fishing.

    But that did not happen.

    The Drowned King, after gathering the sea monster, observed them for a moment with his luminescent turquoise eyes. The sea monster soon felt the movement of the currents loosening. They hurriedly escaped from the sea prison that held them and started to flee.

    ¡°O Drowned King!¡±

    Hyanis urgently clung to the railing and shouted. The Drowned King did not turn his head, but his massive eyes made it seem like he was watching everywhere.

    ¡°We must catch them!¡±

    [Why should I?]

    The moment the Drowned King replied, the sea seemed to boil. It felt like each rising bubble contained his voice. The pronunciation was unclear and hard to understand, but the mere expression of his question allowed Hyanis to sense his will.

    ¡°They attacked your followers!¡±

    Isaac was taken aback by Hyanis¡¯s bold appeal to the Drowned King, given that they hade to attack him. However, he quickly understood his intent.

    Hyanis was questioning whether the sea monsters¡¯s assault was not orchestrated by the Drowned King.

    Indeed, the Drowned King silently observed the sea monsters. Only after the sea monsters disappeared into the vast ocean did he respond.

    [They are pitiable creatures.]

    The Drowned King then turned his gaze towards the ship. However, when his gaze met Isaac¡¯s, Isaac felt as though the turquoise eyes were aze.

    But that sensation didn¡¯tst long, and the Drowned King slowly looked away again.

    ***

    When Isaac returned to the deck, he noticed a change in the crew¡¯s attitude towards him. If before they had begrudgingly epted him aboard, now their looks were filled with awe and respect.

    ¡®Of course, that awe and respect is nothingpared to that octopus over there¡­¡¯

    Isaac thought bitterly, ncing at the Kraken quietly resting beneath the water¡¯s surface. The Drowned King hade to save his followers of the same faith but had quietly disappeared below the surface at Hyanis¡¯s request for more time. Yet, his dark silhouette still cast below showed he hadn¡¯t left.

    It seemed that theck of dialogue or confrontation with Hyannis was partly due tomunication difficulties.

    ¡®He was definitely speaking in an ancientnguage¡­¡¯

    It was the samenguage spoken by the nameless creatures of chaos from the afterworld. The difference was that while the creatures of chaos spoke entirely in the ancient tongue, the Drowned King, perhaps having learned recently, mixed modern intonations and pronunciations into his speech.

    Strangely, Isaac could understand everything.

    ¡®They are pitiable creatures, he says?¡¯

    Why would an angel of the Salt Council pity the sea monsters who had been hunting down his followers?

    Given that many sea monsters lived as pirates, their rtionship with the Salt Council would presumably be hostile.

    ¡°Sir Grail Knight, I¡¯m relieved you¡¯re safe!¡±

    Hyanis hurried over, arms wide as if to embrace Isaac. However, not feeling that close to him, Isaac pushed the embrace aside and went straight to the matter at hand.

    ¡°Are you not going to talk directly with the Drowned King?¡±

    ¡°That is¡­ As you¡¯ve heard,munication isn¡¯t smooth. Until now, it¡¯s been mostly the Drowned King conveying his wishes unterally, and we bring those to the council for interpretation. But since we need to have a conversation this time, it seems we¡¯ll have to wait for another ship.¡±

    ¡°So, you n to meet with the councilors to interpret and converse in real-time.¡±

    ¡°Yes. They should be arriving soon anyway.¡±

    The fleet that hade to aid or possibly capture Hyanis was now quite close. It was natural for about a third of them to flee upon the Drowned King¡¯s appearance. If Hyanis had already started an assassination attempt on the Drowned King, it would be healthier not to be nearby.

    ¡°The chairman of the Salt Council, Captain Yenkos, is an expert in the ancientnguage. He¡¯s not capable of real-time interpretation, though. Our opinions are entirely opposite, but he will still want to verify if what you¡¯ve imed is true.¡±

    Isaac¡¯s statement that the Drowned King did not demand human sacrifices. Being opposed to Hyanis meant supporting the idea that sacrifices were necessary to aid the Drowned King, but Isaac wasn¡¯t worried. He was confident in his stance.

    ¡°We might not need an expert in the ancientnguage.¡±

    ¡°Excuse me? But to uncover the true intentions of the Drowned King¡­¡±

    ¡°I can interpret myself. I can handle the real-time speaking and conveying.¡±

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read up to advance 20 chapters or support me, you can do it at/Akaza156

 Chapter 111:

    Chapter 111:

    ¡°You understood what the Drowned King said?¡±

    Hyanis asked, eyes wide in disbelief. Isaac nodded.

    Hyanis stumbled over his words before managing to speak, but his voice was drowned out by a much louder voice that filled the deck.

    ¡°Hyanis!!¡±

    A ship muchrger than the Brave Salmon had approached so closely it seemed they might collide.

    A woman on the ship was shouting at the top of her lungs.

    The ship passed by, throwing hooks thattched onto the Brave Salmon in an instant. The crew pulled on the ropes, making the ship screech as if it were being pirated, which made Hyanis frown.

    The woman with bronze skin jumped onto the deck. The Brave Salmon¡¯s crew, seemingly familiar with her, did not intervene but instead greeted her with nods.

    Ignoring the crew, the woman, with a cuss drawn, approached Hyanis.

    ¡°Stay right there, you! I warned you, mess around and I¡¯ll split your skull!¡±

    ¡°Sir Grail Knight, allow me to introduce you. This is Yenkos Hare, the chairperson of the Salt Council.¡±

    The chairperson, a surprisingly young woman, did not seem to fit her prestigious title, but Isaac knew that title was not lightly earned. She had mastered various disciplines at the Imperial College and, turning down an offer to be a graduate student, dedicated her life to exploration.

    Isaac greeted her with a nod. Yenkos flinched at the mention of ¡°Sir Grail Knight,¡± a title Hyanis had deliberately used, suggesting she behave modestly in the presence of a Grail Knight, as discussing human sacrifices was not an option.

    Consequently, Yenkos appeared somewhat deted, as Hyanis had intended. She reached out her hand, then realizing she was still holding her cuss, sheathed it.

    ¡°I¡¯m Yenkos Hare.¡±

    ¡°Isaac Issacrea.¡±

    Isaac deliberated on his tone, opting for formality out of respect for her title. Yenkos scrutinized him, arms crossed.

    ¡°So, the renowned Sir Grail Knight, what brings you to these stinking seas? Though, having seen thatrge figure earlier, hiding it won¡¯t do. Do you have business with our angel?¡±

    Tension was evident in Yenkos¡¯s demeanor.

    The prospect of Isaac knowing about the human sacrifices was intolerable, yet attacking a Grail Knight, particrly one as popr as him in the Codex of Light, was daunting. Moreover, Yenkos had witnessed, even from afar, Isaac cutting through the mermen on the sea.

    Even if she resolved to throw Isaac overboard, it would undoubtedly not be an easy task.

    Isaac decided to alleviate her concerns.

    ¡°The Drowned King demanded human sacrifices, I heard.¡±

    But first, he decided to tease her a bit.

    As expected, Yenkos looked as if the sky had fallen.

    Her gaze shot towards Hyanis. Before Yenkos could split Hyanis¡¯s head open with her cuss, Isaac continued.

    ¡°However, I suspect that the demand for human sacrifices might be a misunderstanding. That¡¯s why I warned Captain Hyanis not to act rashly.¡±

    ¡°A misunderstanding?¡±

    Yenkos looked like someone who had been plunged into the abyss and then pulled back out. Observing her extreme shifts in expression was amusing, but Isaac was now bracing for a barrage of focused questions.

    ¡°A misunderstanding, wait. So, you¡¯re aware of what the Drowned King said? We only recently finished interpreting it. How do you specte those words to be a misunderstanding? Is this the stance of the Codex of Light, or your personal stance?¡±

    Hyanis seemed equally curious about the answer. Isaac summarized his response to the question.

    ¡°I can understand what the Drowned King says. Let¡¯s have a conversation.¡±

    ¡°You can understand the ancientnguage?¡±

    Yenkos¡¯s disbelief prompted Isaac to simplify his exnation.

    ¡°I¡¯ve studied the ancientnguage before.¡±

    ¡°But isn¡¯t it strange to im understanding from studying? Reading, maybe, but understanding spokennguage?¡±

    ¡°Didn¡¯t Chairperson Yenkos also interpret the Drowned King¡¯s words?¡±

    ¡°Yes, interpretation, not conversation! I can read and write the characters in real time too. The method of reading characters doesn¡¯t change even after hundreds or thousands of years. But if you speak with the pronunciation or intonation of a thousand years ago, only a person from that time could understand it; anyone else could only guess!¡±

    Isaac felt he understood her point.

    Even people from 50 years ago spoke differently, let alone from the Joseon Dynastypared to Isaac¡¯s own era. How much more so for anguage used by angels a thousand years ago?

    This meant Isaac might be one of the few, aside from the angels themselves, who could directly understand the ancientnguage. Instead of further evasions, Isaac chose to wrap his ability in mystique.

    ¡°There were reasons for it. But those reasons aren¡¯t important, are they?¡±

    After all, demonstrating it in person would suffice. The issue, however, was trust in Isaac.

    Without the ability to verify his truthfulness in real time, there was a limit to how much they could take his word for it.

    Yet Yenkos could press no further.

    If there was even a chance that Isaac could converse with the angels, providing trantion, then they could move beyond unteral revtions to actual ¡®dialogue,¡¯ much like priests of other faiths.

    Seeing Yenkos wavering, Isaac decided to throw in another piece of bait.

    ¡°Let¡¯s start by tranting what the Drowned King said earlier. I assume everyone heard it.¡±

    Hyanis and Yenkos nodded. The voice had been so booming that even Yenkos, who was farther away, had heard it.

    ¡°While releasing the sea monsters, he said they were pitiable creatures. You can verify the original words through Captain Hyanis and his crew.¡±

    Leaving that remark, Isaac was about to leave when he seemed to remember something and asked, ¡°Do you know why the Drowned King said that?¡±

    ***

    ¡°Pitiable creatures.¡±

    The angel had referred to the sea monsters, nearly monsters in their own right, with these words.

    This fact troubled Isaac.

    The Drowned King was not known to be particrlypassionate or lenient, especially not towards monsters rather than humans.

    During the time when the Salt Council was part of a vast empire, their significant influence was partly due to the Drowned King¡¯s fearsome deeds.

    ¡°Empathy? A sense of shared history with the sea monsters?¡±

    When Isaac inquired why the sea monsters were considered ¡°pitiable creatures,¡± Yenkos responded:

    The sea monsters were once humans transformed by the power of ancient gods, growing gills and webbed limbs. They developed their own civilization under the sea but have been in decline since the era of the Codex of Light, bing monsters incapable of dialogue.

    The sea monsters and the Salt Council shared a history filled with simrities yet harbored mutual hatred.

    Perhaps the Drowned King felt a kinship with their parallel histories.

    The Salt Council was declining, and while they might not be monsters like the sea monsters, they were almost certainly going to live out their existence without their god.

    Creak.

    Opening the door, Isaac saw a young priest jump up, fear evident in his eyes, clutching a dagger. Realizing the young priest might have misunderstood the situation due to the ships outside, Isaac reassured him.

    ¡°We¡¯re not here to capture you. Put the knife away.¡±

    Recognizing Isaac, the young priest rxed and almost copsed as he put down the knife. Isaac wondered what storyy behind this young priest, who had been appointed by Bishop Juan to ¡°speak on his behalf.¡±

    But first, he had to check on Bishop Juan.

    ¡°Bishop.¡±

    Bishop Juan was lying in bed, turned away. The vigorous man who had been lively discussing ¡°ways to make money¡± on the way down the hill was nowhere to be seen.

    ¡°Seasick, maybe?¡±

    ¡°Do you also find me pitiful?¡±

    Isaac was taken aback, then recalled that he hadn¡¯t used a miracle when he was asked earlier.

    It seemed Bishop Juan felt either inferiority or defeat after Isaac took action while he was left on the ship. Understandably, everyone had been expecting the bishop¡¯s miracle.

    Isaac hadn¡¯t been overly concerned, but seeing Juan so dejected made him wonder if there was a deeper issue.

    In this world, he had learned that miracles not urring was asmon as erectile dysfunction, especially the more powerful ones. It could be due to a wavering in faith or perhaps having fallen out of favor. Even Hesabel, with her noble lineage, had times when she couldn¡¯t use her miracles at will.

    However, Isaac soon realized that Juan hadn¡¯t even recited a prayer.

    ¡°Bishop Juan, are you unable to perform miracles?¡±

    Bishop Juan¡¯s shoulders twitched. He then straightened up, as if making a firm decision.

    ¡°¡­There¡¯s no excuse. Yes.¡±

    Isaac was speechless. A bishop who couldn¡¯t perform miracles was unheard of.

    A bishop is among the highest-ranking priests in the Codex of Light, second only to the pope, and is expected to perform powerful miracles and blessings.

    ¡°Blind and deaf indeed. Isn¡¯t that an apt description?¡±

    Isaac couldn¡¯t help being stunned. What about the creation of the Luadin key, wasn¡¯t that a kind of miracle?

    ¡°So, then¡­¡±

    ¡°Talking about the Luadin key? That¡¯s different from miracles. Every Sword of Judgment is cloaked by the heavenly light to prevent it from showing indiscriminately. It only twists that cloak to reveal a bit of the light to those deemed worthy.¡±

    Juan exined, sensing Isaac¡¯s confusion. Changing the Sword of Judgment into the Luadin key was not about ability but eligibility, and naturally, as a bishop, Juan was eligible.

    Juan lightly rubbed his fingers towards a candlestick by the bedside. Without any prayer, a me naturally arose, lighting the candle. It seemed he was not entirely unable to perform miracles, just unable to perform the more powerful, higher-order ones.

    ¡°Given my position, necessary miracles are mostly taken care of by the acolytes, and nobody doubts me even if I don¡¯t lift a finger. While other bishops might be dispatched to battlefields or disaster areas¡­ I¡¯ve been tasked with more important matters.¡±

    Isaac understood why Juan had been focused on ¡®political¡¯ matters like money-making and sanctification.

    Juan had no choice but to prove his ¡®necessity¡¯ in such areas. He was bound to face criticism, but Juan had to cling more to the Codex of Light to prove his worth.

    ¡®Wait, so this man is now useless.¡¯

    Honestly, an old man¡¯s search for self and retirement issues were none of Isaac¡¯s concern.

    The problem was that Bishop Juan, whom Isaac had somewhat considered a reliable(?) force, had turned into an incapable old man. In the middle of the sea, facing potentially mutinous crew and the world¡¯srgest angel, this was an unexpected variable.

    ¡°¡­Why the Codex of Light has taken my ability to perform miracles is beyond me. Though I¡¯ve fallen, so have many other priests, and without me, the organization would struggle to function¡­¡±

    ¡°Hold on, Bishop. Have you told anyone else about this?¡±

    ¡°Eh? Oh, no. It¡¯s just us in this room.¡±

    Isaac nced at the young priest. The boy seemed trustworthy enough not to be a concern.

    ¡°For now, keep quiet about this. Announcing the bishop is powerless in the midst of heresy benefits no one.¡±

    ¡°Powerless?!¡±

    Oops. Isaac realized he had identally spoken his mind and hurriedly tried to cover it up. He patted Juan on the shoulder, whispering.

    ¡°I¡¯ll say the incident earlier was due to seasickness. We can¡¯t reveal the mighty powers of the Codex of Light for mere fish-catching, so I, the hunting dog, was unleashed. That¡¯s the truth, isn¡¯t it? Should you, a bishop, be bothered with such fishy matters?¡±

    ¡°Is, is that so?¡±

    ¡°Yes! Even if you could perform miracles at such times, you shouldn¡¯t. Continue to show the dignity of a bishop of the Codex of Light. You are needed now more than ever.¡±

    Isaac¡¯s eloquence left Juan in a daze, but Isaac¡¯s charisma shone even in this moment.

    The respect and support of the crew for the revered Grail Knight infused Juan with a peculiar strength.

    Juan asked timidly, ¡°Is that really so?¡±

    ¡°Of course! You might yield before an angel or the pope, but not before these sailors! After all, they dragged us here against our will!¡±

    ¡°Right¡­ that¡¯s true!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s the spirit! You¡¯re the best, Bishop!¡±

    ***

    ¡°It¡¯s tough.¡±

    It was not emotionally easy to cajole a man nearly seventy years old. But it was a necessary task.

    Isaac felt a stronger sense of fatigue moving onto the deck than when he had been slicing through the sailors.

    Now, he had to face an entity even older than the seventy-year-old man.

    Roughly over 930 years old.

    ¡°Drowned King, let¡¯s have a talk.¡±

    Isaac opened his mouth, locking eyes with the Drowned King, who shone aquamarine eyes above the water.

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read up to advance 20 chapters or support me, you can do it at/Akaza156

 Chapter 112:

    Chapter 112:

    The night sea was remarkably calm, likely controlled by the Drowned King.

    Facing the shining aquamarine eyes of the Drowned King beneath the calm surface, Isaac felt a shiver run down his spine. Those pale eyes reminded him of the dead bodies floating in the sea.

    Isaac felt he understood why he was called the Drowned King.

    ¡°¡­I wish you would speak a little more respectfully.¡±

    Yenkos, standing by, cautiously spoke.

    This conversation with the angelic being was not just with Isaac but also included Yenkos, Hyanis, and Eidan. Many captains and sailors wanted to join this meeting.

    However, Isaac was expected to lead the conversation, and the Drowned King disliked unnecessarily noisy atmospheres. Thus, those gathered were a trantor, the ship¡¯s captain, a chairperson, and Eidan, whose role was unclear but somehow ended up being involved.

    When the Drowned King did not respond, Isaac spoke again.

    ¡°By now, I assume you recognize who I am. But the reason you haven¡¯t capsized our ship yet must be that you intend to converse.¡±

    Isaac thought the Drowned King recognized him as a Nephilim. Even the ancient gods and the prophet of the red flesh could identify one immediately. Being a Nephilim was enough reason for the angels to be displeased.

    Finally, there was a response from the Drowned King.

    A crab crawled onto the deck. Smaller than a palm, the crab bubbled foam from its mouth. As the bubbles burst, a voice emerged.

    [To think there still exists a living sin. Who are your parents?]

    Though the crab¡¯s tone was cheeky, it was merely conveying the Drowned King¡¯s words, so Isaac let it slide.

    The Drowned King spoke in an ancient tongue. It was considerate when speaking to the other sailors.

    ¡°Living sin¡± was one of the terms for Nephilim. It wasn¡¯t exactly a friendly expression, but it wasn¡¯t hostile either. Not being called a mongrel or an aberration was courteous enough.

    ¡°I do not know my parents. Both of them. Do you refrain from speaking with those of unknown lineage?¡±

    The Drowned Kingughed lowly. Though theughter was inaudible, the sea bubbled and churned noticeably.

    [Conversation is good. But I didn¡¯t know you were a follower of the Salt Council.]

    ¡°I am not a follower of the Salt Council.¡±

    The Drowned King was silent for a moment. Isaac felt the King¡¯s eyes burning from beneath the water, though it could have been the reflection of the moonlight.

    [Not a follower of the Salt Council?]

    ¡°However, I am aware of what you¡¯ve asked the Salt Council. I don¡¯t know the exact wording, but you requested the drowned. So, the members of the Salt Council thought you were asking for human sacrifices and were terrified.¡±

    [Human sacrifices?]

    A lowughter spread again, making Yenkos and Hyanis ufortable. Theughter ended with a long sigh.

    [It feels anew that the era of separation has been long. The children find it increasingly difficult to understand me. I try to learn newnguages, but it¡¯s hard even to stay awake.]

    There was no twist. He had not requested human sacrifices.

    Isaac mentioned what the Drowned King truly sought.

    ¡°You intended to conduct the ¡®Moonwell Ritual¡¯?¡±

    Mentioning the unfamiliar ritual, the Drowned King fell silent, as if taken aback.

    [Yes. The irony that an outcast knight, moreover, a living sin, correctly understands my intention when even the councilors fail to see it. It must be difficult to find records of it even within the Salt Council now.]

    The Drowned King spoke as ifmenting.

    [The separation has been too long. It would be ideal if I could go myself, but there are neither mediators nor priests to assist in the ritual. And even if I went, I doubt I could return. Hence, a brave volunteer was needed.]

    ¡°Are you looking to send someone to the afterlife to ask your gods what has be of them, to see when this hardship will end?¡±

    [Yes. There¡¯s no more dying it.]

    The Drowned King murmured slowly.

    [The children have been neglected for too long, and I¡¯ve grown too weak. Before it gets anyter, we must find out the will of the gods. If the gods dy further¡­]

    The Drowned King left the sentence unfinished.

    Isaac could hardly imagine what it meant for an angel to watch their faith crumble away.

    Perhaps it felt like a denial of his existence from the very roots.

    There were those whomitted apostasy or sinned and became fallen angels, but the Drowned King had silently served as an angel for a thousand years under a silent god.

    In any case, to proceed, a caster of the ritual, the Drowned King, and a volunteer to be thrown into the Moonwell Ritual were needed.

    Needless to say, it was a dangerous affair. The chances of failure were staggeringly high.

    Isaac recalled the events that urred when he was connected to the afterlife. If lucky, he might fall into the Salt Council¡¯s heaven, but there was also a chance of ending up at the banquet of the Red Chalice or thrown into Elil¡¯s Colosseum.

    Isaac looked over the representatives from the Salt Council.

    They, who were effectively only catching half of the conversation, could not hide their uneasy expressions. Isaac recalled the conversation they had before starting the negotiation with the Drowned King.

    ***

    ¡°I assume you are aware of the Resurrection Ritual.¡±

    Yenkos and Hyanis looked baffled. It was a rhetorical question. The Resurrection Ritual was among the most important and frequently performed rituals remaining in the Salt Council.

    Yenkos and Hyanis were themselves recipients of that ritual.

    ¡°Are you referring to the ordination ritual mentioned in the Codex of Light?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°Of course. We have undergone that ritual.¡±

    The procedure of the Resurrection Ritual is as follows:

    First, the priest candidate is taken to the beach. They are gradually submerged in water until their head is dipped. Initially, they are quickly removed. Then, they are asked if they heard the voice of God. If they did, they are awakened as priests; if not, their head is submerged again. As time passes, the duration of submersion increases.

    The original ritual ended here.

    However, it changed after their god was buried beneath the salt desert.

    Because the answer from God could no longer be heard.

    Thus, the current Resurrection Ritual has be quite severe. The priest candidate is repeatedly submerged in the sea until the ritual seeds or they give up. Eventually, their lungs fill with seawater, their heart stops, and their skin turns blue. Only then is the candidate pulled out of the water for CPR.

    Some survive, but most do not return.

    Only those who are resurrected in this way finally be priests.

    Hyanis and Yenkos were those who had beaten the slim odds to be priests.

    Only by dipping a foot into the afterlife could they reconnect with their god.

    This miracle of connecting to the afterlife while alive was unique to the Salt Council. The Immortal Order did not have an afterlife at all.

    Isaac wanted to discuss this.

    ¡°The ritual the Drowned King intends to perform is likely the ¡®Moonwell Ritual¡¯.¡±

    ¡°¡­What is that?¡±

    Even Yenkos, the chairman of the Salt Council, had never heard of the ritual. Indeed, it had not been performed even once since the burial beneath the salt desert.

    ¡°It¡¯s a ritual that sends someone alive to the afterlife and then brings them back.¡±

    The Resurrection Ritual was dangerous enough, but needless to say, the Moonwell Ritual was even more perilous. It was a ritual that could endanger not only the person sent to the afterlife and the caster but also everyone involved.

    It was as absurd and risky as diving into a deep well to scoop up the moon.

    Yenkos asked incredulously, ¡°Is such a thing¡­ possible?¡±

    ¡°As far as I know, only the Salt Council is capable of such miracles.¡±

    ¡°What about the Immortal Order? They are known to open the doors to the afterlife at will.¡±

    ¡°They drag the afterlife down to earth. That¡¯s why the Immortal Order doesn¡¯t have an afterlife. For them, earth is both the beginning and the end.¡±

    ¡°Why does the Drowned King want to perform such a ritual?¡±

    ¡°People who return from the Resurrection Ritual are known to be priests after hearing the voice of God in the afterlife. But does anyone remember what God said?¡±

    Yenkos and Hyanis both nodded at Isaac¡¯s words. They had attained the status of priests but could not remember the voice of God. It was then Hyanis seemed to realize something and said, ¡°The Drowned King¡­ wants to send a messenger to God.¡±

    Isaac nodded. He concluded that to fully converse with God and remember the dialogue, one must send a living flesh to the afterlife and bring it back. To ask about the end of their tribtions, when the salt desert would break apart, and their temples would reemerge.

    The councilors fell silent for a long while.

    How Isaac knew such knowledge that even the councilors were unaware of was a mystery. However, since he was almost the only person who could converse with the Drowned King in the ancient tongue, doubting him was pointless.

    Hyanis raised her hand. ¡°Then, I was wrong, Chairperson.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s not dwell on right or wrong at this moment, Hyanis. We all misunderstood the Drowned King¡¯s intention.¡±

    ¡°No, I still must take responsibility for the sphemy.¡±

    Hyanis stood up, fists clenched. ¡°I volunteer for the Moonwell Ritual. I¡¯ve been fortunate before; I might be again.¡±

    Yenkos frowned. ¡°What are you saying? As the chairperson, I am equally guilty. Without knowledge of the ancient tongue, how properly can I hear God¡¯s words? I am younger and more knowledgeable; it makes sense for me to go.¡±

    ¡°No. Then isn¡¯t it right for you to stay? You have many years ahead¡­¡±

    ¡°Wait.¡±

    Isaac stopped the bickering couple. Whether their argument was genuinely for atonement or a desire not to miss the opportunity to converse with God was unclear. But for this ritual, something other than zeal and motive was more critical.

    ¡°I¡¯ve heard that there¡¯s no consistent pattern to who returns from the Resurrection Ritual.¡±

    Their argument ceased at Isaac¡¯s words. Indeed, deep faith or widespread respect did not necessarily increase the chances of surviving the Resurrection Ritual.

    ¡°Nobody knows where they will fall the moment they are sent to the afterlife. Only a very few luckily fall into the Salt Council¡¯s afterlife and return by chance. Can both of you guarantee that?¡±

    ¡°Having returned once, I¡¯m surely fortunate enough¡­¡±

    ¡°What if that luck doesn¡¯t hold this time? If the Moonwell Ritual were easy, the Drowned King would have performed it several times over thest thousand years. Considering that dozens die each year just to create priests, there¡¯s no reason not to have killed thousands over a millennium to converse with and awaken God.¡±

    It was a cruel notion, but when considering the power of the gods, the number of deaths was negligible.

    In essence, the Moonwell Ritual was thest resort for this grand angelic being. A thousand years was too long to wait. In a world where the afterlife was severed, such a ritual posed significant risk even for the Drowned King.

    ¡°If this ritual fails, there might not be a second chance. And if it fails, I doubt the Drowned King will just be disappointed.¡±

    Hyanis and Yenkos were left speechless again.

    After a silence, Yenkos spoke again. ¡°Then, Knight of the Grail, what conditions do you think are necessary?¡±

    ¡°First of all, luck, of course.¡±

    Isaac ticked off on his fingers, ¡°A robust physique capable of facing anything in the afterlife, the ability to remainposed in any crisis, proficiency in the ancient tongue, charisma that endears to anyone. And above all, a pious faith based on God¡¯s powerful protection that can sustain in the afterlife.¡±

    Seeing Isaac unfold his fingers, people wore expressions of disbelief. But soon, Yenkos looked at him as if he had been struck, ¡°You don¡¯t mean the person you¡¯re talking about is¡­¡±

    ***

    Isaac opened his mouth towards the Drowned King.

    ¡°I rmend Eidan Bearverk.¡±

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read up to advance 20 chapters or support me, you can do it at/Akaza156

 Chapter 113:

    Chapter 113:

    After a long silence, the Drowned King answered.

    [¡°Who is that?¡±]

    The Drowned King¡¯s question echoed everyone¡¯s doubts.

    Hyanis, being a half-human devotee like Eidan, knew him well, but Yenkos and the other captains did not know who Eidan was.

    But Isaac confidently said, ¡°He is a thief who would dly climb walls to obtain what he desires, a fanatic who would not spare his life for the Salt Council, and a merchant with flexible thinking willing to serve priests of other faiths for his purpose.¡±

    The sound of Eidan¡¯s hup could be heard from behind. The Drowned King remained silent, as if asking for more exnation.

    ¡°He also has excellent archaeological knowledge, and knows a bit about ancientnguages. He might not be as excellent as me, but surely you wouldn¡¯t send me. Would you send the other captains? I see them as having used up their luck in life after having already been to the afterlife once.¡±

    Yenkos and Hyanis started hupping as well.

    ¡°Most importantly, Eidan is single. He mentioned there would be no family to mourn him if he died. Isn¡¯t that the best?¡±

    The sound of the wavespping and crashing echoed softly.

    The moon was not visible due to the dense clouds. Isaac felt the salty smell in the breeze bing stronger. The presence of an angel, especially an honest one like the Drowned King, influences everything around them.

    The rough waves, the gloomy clouds flowing by, and the taste of salt carried by the wind.

    Everything was showing the Drowned King¡¯s emotions instead of his face, although he was merely burning with cyan eyes beneath the waves.

    ¡°¡­Can such words truly persuade?¡±

    Eidan whispered to the two captains with a look of unease. As an archaeologist and merchant, there was nowhere he hadn¡¯t been. Considering archaeologists are essentially no different from tomb raiders, the afterlife might not be much different.

    ¡°Honestly, it¡¯s unsettling. I¡¯m not even sure how you¡¯re superior to us in any way.¡±

    Yenkos answered with a diforted expression. Her gaze turned towards Isaac¡¯s back.

    ¡°But since the Holy Grail Knight is strongly rmending you like this, we have no choice but to trust.¡±

    In truth, she expected Isaac to rmend himself. After hearing the conditions he listed, she couldn¡¯t think of anyone more suitable. She even felt a sense of disappointment when Eidan was mentioned. Isaac, being of a different faith, was never an option to be sent.

    ¡°I¡¯m willing to sacrifice as much as needed. From the moment I decided to be a priest, I entrusted my life to the sea. The problem is, it might be difficult to conduct this ritual again.¡±

    Yenkos muttered irritably. At her words, Hyanis also nodded with difficulty.

    The Drowned King seemed to need time to think and did not answer immediately. Hyanis looked around to suppress his nervousness. While they were stopping for the conversation with the Drowned King, nearly fifty ships, following the Brave Salmon, had lined up around them.

    ¡®At this rate, almost all the ships from Norden Harbor havee out.¡¯

    If they had to fight the Drowned King as nned, about half of those ships would have been enemies. They might already be exchanging cannon fire with Yenkos. Butpared to the Drowned King, a few ships were hardly a problem.

    ¡®Now that I think about it, we¡¯ve inadvertently formed a siege.¡¯

    Yenkos would protest that it¡¯s not a siege but protection, but Hyanis, who had been nning to fight the Drowned King, unconsciously thought of it as a siege. He suddenly realized that the other captains were not sleeping and were waiting for the oue of this conversation.

    And Hyanis thought something was strange.

    ¡°Chairperson Yenkos?¡±

    ¡°Yes?¡±

    ¡°The movement of the currents¡­ No, wait a moment. I¡¯ll check something and be back.¡±

    A possibility Hyanis did not want to consider crossed his mind. He quietly moved back, desperately hoping he was mistaken.

    ***

    ¡°Is that your rmendation, or the decision of the Salt Council?¡±

    After a long silence, the Drowned King¡¯s response came, and Isaac tranted it to Yenkos.

    ¡°The Holy Grail Knight rmended him, and the Salt Council has epted.¡±

    ¡°I see. Understood.¡±

    The Drowned King responded calmly to the mention of the council¡¯s decision.

    With that, he seemed to have fulfilled his duty, no longer foaming at the mouth, and crawled out over the railing and fell. Then, bubbles furiously boiled up from the sea, and the Drowned King¡¯s booming voice resonated.

    ¡°I asked for someone willing to dive into danger, and you have proposed a volunteer. I will not interfere with my judgment. Whether this ritual seeds or fails, we shall share the joy and sorrow together.¡±

    The voice that shook the sea was both a deration and a challenge. As if responding to his deration, the wind began to blow fiercely. The clouds in the sky churned and moved even faster.

    ¡°Let¡¯s start the ritual!¡±

    ¡°Right now?¡±

    Isaac was taken aback by the Drowned King¡¯s swift action. It was a decision made after waiting a thousand years. Honestly, he had expected more thorough preparation and caution. But the Drowned King did not want to prolong things.

    ¡°There might be interlopers. There are those who wish for us to remain in this state.¡±

    Isaac suddenly realized that the clouds were rotating around the Drowned King¡¯s head.

    The waves were calm because the wind was asionally blowing unstable, but they were actually already inside a typhoon. Isaac realized why the Drowned King had summoned the typhoon in advance¡ªto prevent external interference.

    ¡°There will be those who have been watching us since we made contact. It¡¯s best to proceed as quickly as possible to prevent interference. Is this Eidan Bearvack here?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Here he is.¡±

    Eidan still doubted whether he was fit for this task. However, he knew that this ritual was an honorable act and had no thoughts of refusal. If his death could help the Council rise again, he was willing to ept it.

    Eidan stepped forward, holding the relic Isaac had given him tightly in his hand. A giant tentacle emerged from the sea and touched Eidan¡¯s forehead with a drop of seawater. A cold and eerie energy seeped into his mind.

    At the same time, Eidan copsed as if crumbling. Isaac hurriedly caught him, but he had already lost consciousness.

    ¡°His body and soul are being strengthened to match the Urbansus. The spiritual density of Urbansus and this world do not match. Without a sufficiently strong spirit and body, the soul could be crushed or possessed.¡±

    Isaacid Eidan downfortably. Yenkos, too, was taken aback by the sudden start of the ritual but began to recite prayers and took out relics to assist in the ritual in a manner befitting a priest. She knelt beside Eidan¡¯s head, starting to cast blessings and protections on his body.

    ***

    The sea water flowed down like a waterfall as the Drowned King slowly stood up. Hundreds of meters of his body and pir-like tentacles supporting the sky became visible. The surrounding ships all swayed and screamed in unison.

    ¡®Compared to that octopus leg, my tentacles are rather cute.¡¯

    But Isaac, seeing it for the second time, was lost in thought rather than awe.

    ¡°The Nameless Chaos watches over you.¡±

    ¡®¡­It¡¯s not that my tentacles are weak or poor, but that they¡¯re appropriately modest. After all, strength and skill are more important than size when ites to tentacles.¡¯

    Though it was a bit of a justification, Isaac truly believed that.

    The Drowned King¡¯s tentacles might be massive and delicate, but they were essentially flesh of a living creature. Isaac¡¯s tentacles, however, were monsters that could chew through steel.

    Isaac saw cyan eyes watching him from the flowing seawater. For some reason, those eyes were once again aze.

    ¡°But I wonder, Holy Grail Knight. What are you risking for this danger?¡±

    ¡®There¡¯s a risk? All I¡¯m doing is tranting.¡¯

    Thinking such, Isaac realized it was too naive a thought. He had confidence in surviving any situation, but for others, meeting an angel of a different faith was a life-threatening act.

    Moreover, whether the ritual seeded or failed, the aftermath could be significant, and if it failed, the disappointed Drowned King might relieve his stress by munching on the Holy Grail Knight and bishops of other faiths who happened to be there.

    ¡°A major period of change will arrive in a short time. My reward will be sufficient if the Salt Council cooperates then.¡±

    That had been Isaac¡¯s purpose from the beginning.

    Isaac was speaking with the Dawn Army in mind. However, he knew that the Drowned King, insensitive to external changes, was unlikely to know about the Dawn Army. He barely understood the Immortal Order. It was natural, as the order was 700 years younger than the Drowned King.

    ¡°A vague request.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a clear request. When I ask you to stand by my side, all I need is for the Salt Council to support me. I do not wish for the Salt Council to appear weak and indecisive as it does now.¡±

    Isaac deliberately proposed a future reward, not immediate gains like relics or treasures. For the Drowned King, this was a sufficiently convincing issue. With the deity of the Salt Council absent, the Drowned King was the only one who could unterally move them.

    ¡°Alright.¡±

    Before Isaac could smile in triumph, the Drowned King continued speaking. His murmuring voice carried an air of emptiness and loneliness.

    ¡°The codex of light does not recognize half-breeds, are you hiding in secrecy?¡±

    ¡°It seems so. What can I do about it?¡±

    ¡°The Salt Council can overlook the sins of your blood.¡±

    Isaac smiled at the Drowned King¡¯s subtle persuasion.

    He was suggesting that Isaac renounce the codex of light right there and then. Although Isaac was never a follower of the codex of light to begin with, hence had nothing to renounce or ept, he couldn¡¯t ept the offer either.

    ¡°The Nameless Chaos watches over you.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but the one I serve is quite jealous.¡±

    Since the codex of light is a non-personified deity, it doesn¡¯t really get jealous, but the Drowned King took that as Isaac¡¯s polite refusal.

    ¡°Is that so? Well, it¡¯s unlikely for luck to strike twice in a few years.¡±

    He murmured without a hint of disappointment.

    In truth, he would have preferred Isaac over Eidan as a messenger. As Yenkos felt, Isaac was far more suited for the task.

    However, Isaac had no desire to set foot in the afterlife.

    ¡®I¡¯m curious about what happens there, but who knows what chaos stepping in again could bring¡­ Wait?¡¯

    Isaac felt a dissonance in the casualment made by the Drowned King. A word he uttered was minor but bothersome. But before he could inquire further, the Drowned King continued.

    ¡°Then, let us begin the ritual.¡±

    Curiosity held back, Isaac decided to step back and allow the ritual to proceed smoothly. There was nothing left for the trantor to do. The rest would be managed by the priests of the Salt Council and the angel.

    Then, something squishy touched his back. The Drowned King was preventing him from stepping away.

    ¡°Stay here and help with the ritual.¡±

    It could have been a simple request for assistance.

    Yet, Isaac felt a shallow sense of dissonance once again.

    ¡®The mention of luck not striking twice means there was a first instance of luck.¡¯

    A Holy Grail Knight of another faith, as remarkable and extraordinary as himself, willingly epting the Drowned King¡¯s offer. And Isaac could only think of one such knight who fit the description within ¡®a few years.¡¯

    ¡®Kalsen Miller? Did Kalsen Miller meet with the Drowned King?¡¯

    The Drowned King, being so disconnected from the outside world that he barely knew of the Immortal Order, how could he know Kalsen Miller?

    ¡°Lord Isaac! Stop the ritual!¡±

    Isaac turned his head at the sudden outcry. From the stern of the ship, Hyanis was shouting, holding a luminous signal device used for long-distancemunication between ships.

    Hyanis¡¯s face, illuminated by the signal device, was pale.

    ¡°We¡¯ve been deceived! The Drowned King has no intention of performing the Moonwell ritual!¡±

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read up to advance 20 chapters or support me, you can do it at/Akaza156

 Chapter 114:

    Chapter 114:

    Episode 114: The Drowned King (1)

    ¡°What the¡­¡±

    In a reflexive motion, Isaac moved. He didn¡¯t have time to determine the truth of Hyanis¡¯s words. The nagging sense of dissonance and the assumption that ¡°the Drowned King had no intention of performing the Moonwell ritual¡± were enough reasons to act.

    As he leapt away, the Drowned King¡¯s tentacle brushed past the space he had just upied. The railings and deck of the Brave Salmon shattered, causing the ship to rock violently. Yenkos, in horror, quickly grabbed Eiden to prevent him from falling into the sea.

    Clinging to the mast fornding, Isaac thought, ¡°He had no intention of performing the Moonwell ritual? Why? Wasn¡¯t the n to send a messenger to awaken the deity?¡±

    The Drowned King¡¯s tentacles aimed for Isaac again. It was hard to gauge expressions on an octopus¡¯s face. The visage, covered in a mucus-like substance, was expressionless. However, the roughened winds and waves substituted for his urgent emotions.

    With a loud crash, Isaac evaded again, but this time the Brave Salmon¡¯s mast was utterly destroyed. The ship, now immobile without its sails, waspletely isted on the sea.

    Isaac pieced together the clues and circumstances given.

    ¡°The Salt Council was confused, even fractured, due to a misinterpretation of the Drowned King¡¯s message. Ultimately, the council split, and they sailed out to execute the Drowned King. Amidst this, they were attacked by sea monsters and nearly sunk, barely surviving with the Drowned King¡¯s intervention. Then, he revealed the misinterpretation and announced the Moonwell ritual to send a messenger to the afterlife.¡±

    Isaac, retracing the events, realized there was a problem from the start.

    Could the Drowned King, despite his dialect, have been so vague as to confuse a volunteer for the ritual and a sacrifice for human offering? For such an important ritual, the Drowned King should have been precise.

    But if not¡­

    What if it was deliberately vague?

    ¡°Could the misinterpretation have been my doing?¡±

    In truth, Isaac hadn¡¯t heard the original message.

    Perhaps the council members had tranted it urately. The Drowned King¡¯s message, filled with poetic words prone to misinterpretation.

    ¡°He really intended to receive a human sacrifice!¡±

    ***

    Isaac¡¯s angry exmation focused everyone¡¯s attention. Hyanis gritted his teeth, and Yenkos¡¯s eyes widened, holding her breath. The Drowned King stopped iling his tentacles and stared at Isaac.

    Continuing to thrash his tentacles would risk sinking the ship entirely. Instead, he wrapped his tentacles around the Brave Salmon, causing the ship to creak as if it were about to be crushed.

    Isaac, determined to protect Eiden, drew the Luadin key. The searing heat radiated in all directions, causing the tentacles to recoil.

    Isaac began to expose the truth.

    ¡°You intentionally made the message ambiguous to divide the Salt Council! You wanted to filter out those willing to ept human sacrifice and those who would risk their lives to protest! And then, when the protesters came to the sea, you nned to sink them all!¡±

    A simple method of purge.

    A king feigns weakness or engages in nonsensical actions to reveal the true colors of a disloyal subject, then swiftly suppresses them.

    For what purpose? It¡¯s obvious.

    A angel, cut off frommunication with their deity, decides to be the new deity of the order.

    [You¡¯re being absurd, Holy Grail Knight. Why then, would I have saved you from the sea monsters?]

    Despite being used, the Drowned King¡¯s tone remained calm. Since Isaac¡¯s ship was already in his grasp, there was no need for lengthy justifications, but he seemed to be saying, ¡°Let¡¯s hear your argument.¡±

    An overwhelming presence loomed over Isaac.

    In defiance, Isaac shouted, ¡°Because the attack by the sea monsters was your doing!¡±

    The scale and organization of the sea monsters were abnormal, something Hyanis had already pointed out.

    But if an angel was involved, it made sense. The Drowned King sought mercenaries to dirty their hands in his stead, to avoid scorn from other deities of the Salt Council.

    ¡°You promised to save the sea monsters in exchange for a human sacrifice, iming you¡¯d be their new deity to rece the one they lost! A deity for both the Salt Council and the sea monsters!¡±

    The origins of the sea monsters were said to be the same as the Salt Council. They chose to return to the sea to worship another ancient deity, while the Salt Council remained above the waves. Thus, it wasn¡¯t far-fetched for the Drowned King to ept them again.

    In this case, the Drowned King might be entering the role of a deity for the sea monsters.

    ¡°And you saved us? Because the sea monsters¡¯s song would¡¯ve drowned not just the ¡®traitors¡¯ but also the councilors loyal to you! You wanted to consume the Salt Council in its entirety!¡±

    Indeed, the ship carrying Chairperson Yenkos had surfaced shortly after the Drowned King appeared. For the Drowned King, it would have been problematic if even those who might side with him ended up at the bottom of the sea. Thus, he intervened and saved them from the sea monsters, who began to sing their siren songs, staging a rescue.

    Had things gone as nned, all would have proceeded smoothly. The hardliners like Hyanis would have been drowned, and only the conformists like Yenkos would have remained.

    However, everything changed with Isaac boarding this ship.

    And thus, an opportunity was created.

    The Moonwell ritual.

    ¡°And now, you n to offer a sacrifice under the guise of the Moonwell ritual. It¡¯s the simplest way to attain divinity. Is that what you wanted, Drowned King?¡±

    [Ha ha¡­]

    The Drowned King let out a slowugh.

    [Interfering unnecessarily in the faith of others, you hasten your end, living sin]

    ***

    With the howling wind, rain began to pour down.

    The sky contorted wildly, developing into a typhoon. Pir-like raindrops battered the deck. Amidst this, the Drowned King and Isaac locked eyes without blinking.

    [I did say conspiracies don¡¯t suit me¡­ Should¡¯ve stopped when those skeletal beings urged me on.]

    Isaac realized from the Drowned King¡¯s words that the Immortal Order had been involved again. Apparently, Kalsen Miller had been in contact with them.

    The Drowned King seemed to have no intention of hiding that fact.

    ¡°So, you have no intention of making excuses?¡±

    [Though I found our conversation enjoyable enough to indulge, it seems there¡¯s no need for lengthy justifications.]

    Arrogance and leisure stillced the Drowned King¡¯s words.

    Initially, there was a hint of disarray when he tried to capture Isaac. Now, disying such ease suggested he had no intention or need to hide anything anymore.

    This was typical of the rtionship between angels and humans.

    Angels do not converse with humans.

    They are messengers and representatives of the divine will, only dering and delivering.

    [Listen!]

    Isaac felt a painful intensity in his mind, simr to when the Nameless Chaos conveyed its will.

    The method of using faith to transmit will. Yet, it was much cruder and rougher than that of the Nameless Chaos.

    However, the Drowned King could deliver his will with no room for misinterpretation.

    [The long wait is over!]

    The storm intensified.

    Amid the tumultuous waves that shook the ships senseless, each crew clung to the railings, awestruck by nature¡¯s fury, the Drowned King¡¯s forcefully delivered voice, and the fear of the unknown unfolding.

    [I intend to lead your way forward, not wait for an answer from a father who won¡¯t respond!]

    Captains who had heard about the Moonwell ritual exchanged perplexed looks.

    Wasn¡¯t the purpose to send a messenger to the afterlife?

    Has the ritual already concluded?

    Is our deity not returning?

    They were so shocked by the mention of ¡°a father who won¡¯t respond¡± that they missed the significance of what came after.

    But Yenkos understood exactly what it meant.

    [Wanderers and sufferers adrift, heed the call from beneath the sea!]

    ¡°Take Eiden inside the cabin!¡±

    Right after the Drowned King¡¯s deration ended, Isaac shouted forcefully. However, Yenkos, who had been protecting the unconscious Eiden, was barely able to breathe, let alone move.

    Yenkos did not know the specifics of the conversation between Isaac and the Drowned King, but the King had openly dered apostasy without even attempting to justify himself.

    Yenkos sensed that Isaac¡¯s words were all true.

    ¡®He deliberately used ambiguous expressions to cause division?¡¯

    Indeed, the words they heard upon meeting the Drowned King had no room for misinterpretation when tranted slowly.

    Hyanis then forcefully grabbed Yenkos¡¯s shoulder, his face tense with anxiety as he looked around.

    ¡°The currents are moving the ships as a whole. We¡¯re already far fromnd, in the middle of the sea. He¡¯s preventing us from escaping!¡±

    ¡°Not able to escape? Why¡­¡±

    Yenkos muttered in confusion, then recalled Isaac¡¯s words. The Drowned King intended to ¡°purge¡± those who might oppose him to engulf the Salt Council. And now, more than half of the Salt Council¡¯s members, whether in support or opposition, were gathered here.

    This meant the fate of the Salt Council would be decided here.

    Hyanis eximed as if desperate.

    ¡°We must prepare for battle, Chairperson Yenkos!¡±

    Whether to offer a human sacrifice and worship the Drowned King as a new deity or to y the apostate fallen angel, the Drowned King.

    Either option was daunting to Yenkos.

    She had only passively supported the idea of human sacrifice for the sake of maintaining the status quo. And now, she found herself unable to make a choice.

    Losing the Drowned King meant not only theplete departure of their deity but also losing the only angel left beside them.

    Hyanis tried to pull the still unresponsive Yenkos, but she pushed his hand away and drew her cuss.

    Her trembling de pointed at Hyanis.

    ¡°Step back, Hyanis. The ritual is still underway.¡±

    ¡ª

    Isaac was too preupied to notice what was happening on the other side of the ship. The Drowned King was too vast an adversary to be distracted by other matters. Despite having weakened over time, his power to summon storms was evidence of his formidable strength.

    And this battlefield, the sea, favored him immensely.

    Isaac struggled even to maintain his bnce on the ship.

    [Do you n to resist, Holy Grail Knight?¡±]

    Instead ofshing out with his tentacles, the Drowned King whispered with a voice full of amusement.

    [If you are under the illusion that the sea¡¯s surface is still within your reach, I wouldn¡¯t mind having a conversation after plunging you into the abyss and draining the air from your lungs.]

    The Drowned King lifted a massive tentacle and mmed it down towards the ship, intending to split it in two.

    mes fiercely erupted from the Luadin key, colliding with the tentacle.

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read up to advance 20 chapters or support me, you can do it at/Akaza156

 Chapter 115:

    Chapter 115:

    A ferocious heat burst from the Luadin Key as it collided with the tentacles of the Drowned King, thanks to Isaac¡¯s infusion of the precious holy power he had cherished.

    Shock and amazement filled the eyes of everyone watching nearby. All had been preparing to plunge into the sea at the mere sight of the Drowned King wielding his tentacles.

    Isaac, too, was no exception.

    This realization allowed Isaac to understand that it wasn¡¯t so much his own strength that had increased, but rather that the Drowned King was holding back.

    [Impressive.]

    The heat emanating from the Luadin Key seared the tentacles white and boiled the moisture within, yet the Drowned King¡¯s tone remained utterly serene.

    He simply continued to press down on Isaac calmly.

    Already, the deck under Isaac¡¯s feet was on the verge of shattering.

    ¡°So you talk of sinking into the depths for a chat, yet you¡¯re loath to sink the ship?¡±

    [Ha ha, there¡¯s no need to harm my followers, is there?]

    The Drowned King seemed confident that the followers of his heretical sect, the Council of Salt, would agree with him.

    Only then did Isaac realize that the surrounding crew members were not moving at all.

    Even those who hade prepared to eliminate the Drowned King were in this state. Hyanis had even said that if they actually met the Drowned King, more than half of their own side would turn against them¡ªa situation they should have been prepared for.

    Even Yenkos, who was supposed to protect Eidan, had drawn his sword against Hyanis.

    [You do realize this isn¡¯t in your favor. Who exactly are you fighting for?]

    Isaac gripped the Luadin Key tightly.

    He could see the Drowned King¡¯s massive tentacles writhing ceaselessly. Seeing such a massive being, Isaac had thought Hyanis mad for wanting to fight it, and now he found himself doing the same.

    If the majority of the Salt Council agrees with the Drowned King, then for whom is Isaac fighting?

    Isaac felt he had unnecessarily gotten involved.

    ¡®Should I have just turned a blind eye?¡¯

    But upon reflection, it was Hyanis who had started this by revealing the truth. From the moment Hyanis revealed the truth, the situation had spiraled out of control.

    Initially, Isaac had merely reacted to the Drowned King¡¯s attack.

    ¡®Me? Now that I think about it, why did he want to capture me?¡¯

    Instead of shing, the Drowned King withdrew his tentacles and then swung them horizontally with force. If the Drowned King wasn¡¯t intent on sinking the shippletely, there were many ways to avoid his attacks.

    But it seemed the Drowned King was not particrly interested in bothering with catching a rat.

    [Capture the Grail Knight.]

    At the irrefutablemand, several crew members in Isaac¡¯s path hesitated and then moved. Isaac was ready to draw his sword at any moment, but in the end, he did not have to. Theirckluster movements could easily be ovee with simple hand-to-handbat techniques.

    Even amidst this, Isaac¡¯s mind raced.

    ¡®He wants to capture me. Because I interfered with the human sacrifice? No. He¡¯s not even paying attention to Eidan, the actual sacrifice.¡¯

    Eidan, who was originally supposed to participate in the Moonwell Ritual, was already in Yenkos¡¯s custody. If a human sacrifice was the goal, they could have just used him as is.

    ¡®So the goal is¡­ me?¡¯

    Isaac stumbled upon this unsettling possibility. The swaying ship and slippery deck contributed to his misstep.

    At that moment, the Drowned King¡¯s tentacles seized the opportunity to strike. Isaac braced himself for the impact.

    Then, a cabin door on one side of the deck burst open.

    The Drowned King¡¯s tentacles retracted as if shocked.

    ¡°What in zes is this mess?!¡±

    The one emerging, fuming with anger, was none other than Bishop Juan.

    ***

    ¡°Why is the ship rocking so much?! Are we sinking?¡±

    Bishop Juan, who seemed to have intended to sleep off his drunkenness during the ceremony, was unmistakably reeking of alcohol from afar. But in the face of a tempest and tentacles battering the ship, staying asleep was impossible.

    His priestly garments bore the vivid marks of severe seasickness. Seeing the sacred bishop¡¯s robe soiled with vomit, Isaac felt pity, but never had Juan been more wee.

    He rushed to Juan¡¯s side and hid beside him.

    ¡°What, what¡¯s this, Sir Isaac? What¡¯s going on?¡±

    ¡°Exactly, Bishop! Your authority is needed now more than ever!¡±

    ¡°What, what are you talking about? Wait, what is this¡­¡±

    Juan, seeing the disastrous state of the ship btedly, was at a loss for words.

    The ship was entangled in tentacles, the mast nowhere to be seen, and among the shattered debris, crew members stood with dazed expressions.

    It was only then that he spotted the gigantic face looking down at them from a great height.

    [It seems we have one more unexpected guest.]

    The Drowned King appeared to be taken aback by the emergence of a significant figure, a bishop of the Codex of Light.

    Of course, his consternation was more physiological than due to fear of Juan.

    Having vivid memories of their god being buried beneath the salt deserts, the Drowned King harbored a stronger sense of caution and fear towards the Codex of Light than other followers of the Salt Council.

    Sensing this fear, Isaac positioned Bishop Juan as a shield behind him.

    Worried that Juan might foam at the mouth and faint, he was instead met with a sharp whisper from the bishop.

    ¡°What is this chaos? Were you conducting some heretical ritual that went awry?¡±

    ¡°The Drowned King demanded a human sacrifice.¡±

    ¡°Human sacrifice?!¡±

    Juan¡¯s voice was overly loud. He red fiercely at the Drowned King, whether out of genuine piety or the lingering effects of alcohol was unclear.

    The Drowned King halted his attack and watched them cautiously, wary of any miracles the bishop might perform.

    ¡®Is it from the bishop rank that one can summon angels?¡¯

    While priests and inquisitors could summon celestial beasts belonging to heaven, it was from the bishop rank onwards that one had the authority to summon angels.

    Of course, whether the angels would ept the summoning request was entirely up to them. Such miracles required a detailed backstory, special rituals, and timing, making them difficult to achieve.

    However, if the whims of the angels aligned, they could appear spontaneously at the recitation of a single prayer. This was a scenario the Drowned King decidedly did not want.

    ¡®I hope Juan doesn¡¯t reveal that he can¡¯t perform any miracles.¡¯

    Fortunately, Juan was not so clueless. Briefly enraged by the mention of human sacrifice, he quickly realized the reality of being surrounded by heretics in the middle of the ocean, alongside a single knight.

    ¡°Drowned King! Your long wait was supposed to be an example of noble piety even to the followers of the Codex of Light, yet why tread this path of corruption!¡±

    Instead of pleading, he rebuked the celestial figure in a scolding tone, with not a hint of hesitation in his impromptu act. Isaac marveled inwardly.

    How can he be so shameless without performing a single miracle? Truly, the experience of a bishop is not to be underestimated¡­

    ¡°Luadin himself would have admired your piety, melting the salt deserts and returning the lost temples! Have you forgotten the vow never to utter falsehoods again?¡±

    Juan deliberately mentioned Luadin, one of the oldest archangels and a figure of ancient reverence in the Codex of Light, as a veiled threat to behave unless the Drowned King wished to be buried under the salt deserts again. Of course, Luadin likely neither knew nor cared about Juan¡¯s whereabouts or actions.

    Isaac, however, held no illusions about the Drowned King capitting to Juan¡¯s threats.

    The Drowned King hade too far and waited too long for that.

    The ship began to rock more violently as the waves grew higher. It was now difficult to stand without holding onto the railing. Contrary to the Drowned King¡¯s silent demeanor, his emotions were intensifying.

    ¡°We must protect ourselves, Bishop. First, we need to¡­¡±

    Before Isaac could finish, the ship lurched violently with a loud noise.

    It seemed the Drowned King, unable to contain his anger, had struck the sea with his tentacles. The ship tilted nearly 90 degrees, teetering on the brink of capsizing but narrowly avoiding it. Instead, several crew members screamed as they fell into the sea.

    ¡®It seems the bishop¡¯s presence has backfired.¡¯

    Fortunately, thanks to Isaac, Juan was spared from falling overboard.

    ¡°Sorry, sorry. It seems I¡¯m of no help after all¡­¡±

    Juan, pale and gasping for breath, clung to the railing. Isaac wore a bitter expression. Despite all this, Juan had not managed to perform a single miracle to protect him. It was inevitable that the Drowned King would notice.

    [Old man, stay out of this. I have no desire to create unnecessary victims!]

    The Drowned King violently shook the ship once more, as if there was no turning back, squeezing the ship with his tentacles as if he was willing to sacrifice it.

    It looked like they were moments away from being shattered to pieces and falling into the sea.

    At that moment, Isaac locked eyes with Hyanis, who was clinging to the railing but still ring fiercely at the Drowned King with bright eyes.

    Isaac remembered that Hyanis hade to capture the Drowned King.

    His eyes did not show defeat.

    Biting down, Isaac then leaped into the sea.

    ***

    Whirlpools wrapped around him as Isaac saw white hands approaching him in the dark depths below.

    They were merfolk.

    Thousands of merfolk were waiting under the sea, following the Drowned King¡¯s orders. As soon as they saw Isaac, they tried to pull him down swiftly. However, when Isaac drew the Luadin Key and swung it, they screamed amidst bubbles and fled.

    Isaac was propelled out of the water.

    Back on the surface, Isaac locked eyes with Hyanis on the deck. Hyanis had blessed him with the Doctrine of Waves, allowing him to protect the ship by jumping overboard. Recognizing Isaac¡¯s actions, Hyanis looked at him with eyes full of apology and gratitude.

    However, separate from that gratitude, Isaac now found himself facing the Drowned King without any defenses.

    With the ship as his only means of defense gone, the Drowned Kingshed out with his tentacles. Using the Doctrine of Waves, Isaac surfed through the rough waves, sliding through them.

    But this effort was as futile as the merfolk trying to escape the currents created by the Drowned King. Isaac soon realized the wave he was riding was, in fact, one of the Drowned King¡¯s massive tentacles.

    Without any viable strategy, Isaac plunged below the surface.

    As a whirlpool formed, the miracle of walking on water was useless; Isaac was dragged helplessly to the ocean¡¯s depths. Fortunately, he had the ability to breathe underwater, having devoured the deep-sea general.

    But Isaac couldn¡¯t help feeling dizzy.

    It was only deep under the sea that he could fully see the Drowned King¡¯s entire form.

    Even though he felt massive from above, the Drowned King¡¯s full size viewed from the dark waters was overwhelmingly oppressive.

    [There is a w in your story.]

    The Drowned King, wrapping his tentacles around Isaac as if cherishing him, whispered.

    [I indeed nned to conduct the Moonwell Ritual if the Salt Council brought a suitable person. Human sacrifice was always myst resort. But that changed the moment I met you.]

    The Drowned King murmured with a lowugh.

    [The children of the Salt Council wouldn¡¯t survive in Urbansus. Their flesh would be crushed purely by the pressure of that world. It¡¯s a realm that does not tolerate the uninvited.]

    Only those who have been trained ordingly, received a divine invitation and had their bodies remodeled, or were born suitable for that realm, like nephilim ¨C the hybrid offspring of angels and humans, could return alive from the realm of the dead.

    [But everything changed the moment I saw you.]

    ns?

    [The Immortal Order¡¯s skeletons promised to break the salt desert if Kalsen became the ninth faith. But that promise was broken. He is no more! But, but!]

    The Drowned King, unable to hide his excitement, whispered to Isaac, looking into him with his enormous eyes.

    [You could be the sacrifice sufficient for me to ascend to divinity. I will attain divinity right here and challenge the vacant ninth throne! Thus, ending my millennia of waiting!]

    There was even joy in his tone.

    [The sacrifice I want is you, Isaac!]

    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±

    Isaac felt a chilling me ignite beneath his heart.

    [The Nameless Chaos watches over you.]

    [The Nameless Chaos desires you to vanquish the ¡®Drowned King¡¯.]

    [The reward of Chaos awaits you.]

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read up to advance 20 chapters or support me, you can do it at/Akaza156

 Chapter 116:

    Chapter 116:

    The feeling of being overwhelmed by the Drowned King¡¯s massive form vanished in an instant.

    The Drowned King felt a sense of puzzlement as Isaac, whom he expected to be terrified by his roar, stared back at him with a different kind of gaze.

    The deep sea is not kind to humans.

    To the Drowned King, who had forgotten his past as a mere fisherman, the eyes of most humans were filled with the pain of drowning, the cloudy gaze of a decaying floater, or the awestruck and begging eyes of someone adrift in the vast sea, asking for mercy.

    However, Isaac¡¯s eyes were none of those.

    Faced with Isaac¡¯s unfamiliar gaze, the Drowned King felt confused, unable to read his emotions, which in turn, angered him.

    Sea monsters, fueled by vengeance under the Drowned King¡¯smand, rapidly approached.

    Unlike when he was ughtering them effortlessly above water, Isaac was now trapped underwater.

    In the water, Isaac could not outpace them, no matter what.

    Dozens of white hands surged towards Isaac, intending to tear him apart.

    Isaac immediately drew the Luadin Key.

    Seeing this, the Sea monsters reflexively pulled back. There were more than a few among them who had been burned by its searing heat.

    [Continue. He cannot ignite the heat.]

    Igniting the Luadin Key¡¯s heat would boil the surrounding water, cooking Isaac in the process. He might stop the steam-level heat, but being in boiling water was a different matter.

    Hearing this, the sea monsters charged at Isaac once more.

    Isaac did draw the Luadin Key, but he didn¡¯t ignite its heat.

    Instead, he smirked and propelled his body forward.

    Isaac¡¯s movement was so swift that he appeared right in front of the sea monsters in an instant, causing bubbles to form around him. This unexpected velocity, a result of the predation effect, caught the Sea monsters off guard.

    Crack. The de shattered bones and sliced through flesh.

    The speared sea monsters let out a silent scream, iling helplessly as spears from itsrades pierced its body, silencing it. The other sea monsters didn¡¯t care if their own were hit; they continued their assault, but Isaac cleverly used the first Sea monsters he stabbed as a shield to dodge the attacks.

    ¡®This is strange.¡¯

    The Drowned King frowned, watching Isaac¡¯s movements. Initially, he thought it was mere iling, but it clearly wasn¡¯t the movement of someone drowning.

    Even the most trained individuals panic when submerged. Especially a trained knight like Isaac, who couldn¡¯t use swordsmanship underwater.

    Swordsmanship required not just swinging arms but also movement of the feet and a solid ground to stand on. Although Isaac couldn¡¯t use swordsmanship, he was surviving remarkably well.

    Even with greatposure and self-control, one would show at least some sign of distress in such violent motion and situation.

    But Isaac didn¡¯t.

    How could he move so freely, as if he wasn¡¯t struggling to breathe at all?

    ¡®It¡¯s nothing but waiting to drown!¡¯

    Thud. Then, the Drowned King noticed a spear that barely managed to stab correctly slid off Isaac¡¯s armor.

    ¡®Is that armor the problem?¡¯

    The armor Isaac wore emitted a significant miraculous energy.

    It was a strange and twisted force, but too potent to overlook.

    Isaac couldn¡¯t dodge all the spearsing from every direction. However, he skillfully avoided letting the spear tips prate any gaps, deflecting them away.

    ¡®This won¡¯t do.¡¯

    Without making any noise, the Drowned King extended his tentacles.

    Though they didn¡¯t seem fast, due to his massive size, it was an illusion. Isaac, being close, felt the destructive power of the tentacles, sweeping everything in their vicinity.

    Tentacles engulfed Isaac from all directions in an instant. Even if he could predict them, the sheer size made them impossible to evade, tearing apart several Sea monsters caught in the onught.

    There was no escape.

    At that moment, Isaac¡¯s form blurred into a vague, blood-colored shape.

    ¡®What?¡¯

    The Drowned King¡¯s tentacles cut through the water futilely.

    The blood-red shape rapidly swirled and dispersed in the whirlpool, only to reappear not far away as Isaac¡¯s form once more. The Drowned King realized that Isaac had performed a miracle for the first time.

    ¡®A miracle? No, does the Codex of Light have such miracles?¡¯

    The Codex of Light is an older faith than the Salt Council. The Drowned King knew well that such miracles were not part of the Codex of Light.

    The Drowned King¡¯s massive tentacles futilely sliced through the seawater several more times. However, each time, Isaac would transform into a blood-red shape, evading the tentacles. Yet, the Drowned King also understood that despite Isaac¡¯s evasive maneuvers, he couldn¡¯t escape from the water.

    Even though he could change his form, he would be swept back into the deep sea by the whirlpool.

    ¡®The smell of blood? This is definitely not a miracle of the Codex of Light.¡¯

    The Drowned King¡¯s sense of smell was as keen as a shark¡¯s. He noticed the scent of blood intensifying each time Isaac transformed.

    The Drowned King then spected that Isaac might not be a pdin of the Codex of Light. Thinking about it, Isaac hadn¡¯t used miracles from the Codex of Light when facing the Sea monsters either.

    He borrowed the Doctrine of Waves and wielded only the Luadin Key.

    [You, what kind of creature are you!]

    Of course, there was no answer from Isaac.

    But the Drowned King realized that Isaac was not someone who would simply be a sacrifice.

    ***

    ¡®As expected, he doesn¡¯t recognize it.¡¯

    Isaac, noticing the Drowned King¡¯s confusion, felt it was as expected.

    Hesabel knew almost nothing about the Salt Council.

    Being from the ind Duchy of Wachia, there was little intersection between the two faiths.

    It was no different for the Drowned King, who was insensitive to changes in the outside world.

    After all, the Red Chalice faith had emerged after the Drowned King had fallen into slumber, so it was natural for him not to be familiar with it.

    It¡¯s hard to properly respond to what one does not know well.

    Conversely, Isaac knew a lot about the Drowned King.

    ¡®A sacrifice? You, make me one?¡¯

    Isaac chuckled.

    The moment the Drowned King spoke of making him a sacrifice, the emotions Isaac felt were neither anger nor fear.

    The best word to describe his feeling was ¡®insignificance.¡¯

    Isaac had felt pure awe when he first saw the Drowned King. The difference between seeing him in a game and in reality was immense.

    He even found it amusing when Hyanis said he would face such a being.

    He never thought he would actually have to fight the Drowned King.

    In other words, Isaac hadn¡¯t nned a strategy to fight the Drowned King.

    More urately, there was never a need to make one.

    The moment he decided to fight, dozens of methods to take down the Drowned King, considering his abilities, equipment, and support, surfaced in his mind.

    None of the methods could be said to be easier than when he fought the prophet of the red flesh. However, Isaac never considered the possibility of defeat.

    He had already conquered the Drowned King dozens of times in the game.

    With Isaac¡¯s current capabilities, losing was not an option.

    The Drowned King realized that catching Isaac was like trying to grasp water with bare hands and changed his strategy. Whatever miracle Isaac was using to transform his body into a liquid or gaseous state, controlling the flow of water would suffice.

    A circr current formed in the water, trapping Isaac, now a petition of red, within it. The Drowned King opened his massive mouth to swallow everything whole.

    The Sea monsters, realizing his intent, struggled to avoid being caught in the current.

    The circr current soon began to be sucked into the Drowned King¡¯s gaping mouth. Thousands of sharp teeth awaited Isaac. Instead of struggling against the flow, Isaac propelled himself towards the Drowned King with a kick.

    From the Drowned King¡¯s perspective, it was as absurd as a fly rushing into a mouth.

    What could he possibly do by charging? Wield a sword? Even if he could raise the heat of the Luadin Key inside him, it would be futile against the Drowned King.

    A mere relic¡¯s miracle could notpare to the miracles embodied by angels themselves.

    [¡­Foolish creature!]

    The Drowned King closed his mouth as soon as Isaac entered, preventing him from escaping.

    Swallowed in a sea of ck bile, Isaac¡¯s strange silhouette writhed. It was muchrger than him.

    Only then did the Drowned King realize that the insides of his mouth felt as if they had been torn apart.

    The eerie silhouette was derived from the Drowned King¡¯s own flesh.

    ***

    [You have partially devoured ¡®The Drowned King¡¯.]

    [Your consumption efficiency is enhanced by the ¡®Intestine of Dead God¡¯ perk.]

    ¡®To think I¡¯d get a devouring perk just from this much.¡¯

    Isaac smiled at the pleasing notification. Typically, partial devouring didn¡¯t grant perks. Only consuming the heart, a core part, or a significant amount of flesh did, but apparently, even a part was enough in the case of an angel.

    [Tentacle length significantly increases.]

    [Tentacle regeneration significantly increases.]

    [Blessing remains until digested.]

    ¡®I can guess what perks woulde from devouring himpletely.¡¯

    Though temporary now, consuming more would surely permanently and significantly enhance his tentacle abilities. Isaac sensed the Sea monsters approaching again within the cloud of blood.

    Isaac no longer hid his true form.

    He swung the tentacles that extended from his left hand without hesitation.

    The long tentacles bit and tore apart the Sea monsters within a 10-meter radius in an instant. The Sea monsters retreated in horror at the one-sided massacre, iparable to before.

    Isaac devoured the torn apart Sea monsters with his tentacles, satiating himself.

    The disadvantage of being unable to wield his sword underwater vanished the moment his tentacles appeared, turning the situation into a unteral ughterhouse.

    [You are¡­¡­.]

    The Drowned King was appalled by the sight. Isaac mocked him with a sneer, rushing forward again.

    The Drowned King felt disgust at the sight of the beast rushing in after tasting blood. However, as Isaac approached, his tentacles splitting into two, then three strands, the Drowned King¡¯s disgust was reced by a chilling terror.

    A primal fear seized him as Isaac¡¯s eight tentacles, splitting like ferocious snakes, rushed to tear into his flesh.

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read up to advance 20 chapters or support me, you can do it at/Akaza156

 Chapter 117:

    Chapter 117:

    In the moment when instinct overpowered reason, the Drowned King abandoned the dignity of an angel and instead unleashed the protective instincts of an animal.

    Grrrrrr!

    A cloud of ck ink erupted right in front of Isaac, who was charging forward. Isaac, who had been shooting forward with the ferocity to bite anything that touched his mouth, lost his direction and staggered as the ink obscured his vision.

    The Drowned King did not miss this opportunity andshed out with his tentacles.

    Kwaaaaa!

    Isaac could see the world flipping upside down in a frenzy. Rapid currents swirled around his body, stirred up by the Drowned King¡¯s massive tentacles. Isaac¡¯s body was swept away by them.

    Even attempting to use the Red Prayer to wash it away was futile.

    [Dare you oppose one who has been granted divine power, just because you managed to inflict a mere wound!]

    The Drowned King was nursing a severe wound to his pride.

    He hadpletely forgotten how to spew ink, having had no need to evade or defend for the past millennium. Instead of proper miracles and powers, he possessed a strong body and near-infinite regenerative abilities.

    The flesh that Isaac had torn from his mouth was regenerated in mere seconds. Isaac¡¯s feeble tentacles leaving a mark on his leg was clearly not going to be a significant blow.

    ¡®What trickery is this¡­!¡¯

    Yet, he reflexively moved to avoid the tentacles.

    It was fear he felt.

    Instead of considering himself weakened, the Drowned King suspected Isaac of some trickery.

    Isaac¡¯s power was that alien.

    The tentacles constricted Isaac in an instant.

    A crushing force, as if it would shatter him at any moment, emanated from all directions.

    There was a sound of bones cracking and breaking.

    [You, what are you! How can you use that miracle? How did you steal it?]

    The Drowned King did not believe Isaac to be a disciple of the nameless god of chaos. He only thought that Isaac, being a Nephilim, must have stolen the miracle. But even as his bones broke, Isaac did not stop mocking the Drowned King.

    Isaac muttered something towards him.

    The Drowned King could not understand the words, but he felt something strange.

    Something was happening.

    ¡®Poor thing, your intelligence has fallen to the level of an octopus¡­¡¯

    The Drowned King shuddered at a sudden voice. He thought it was Isaac speaking, but it was impossible for him to make a sound underwater. The Drowned King quickly checked for any presence of someone else around.

    All that was in the water were Isaac, himself, and the merfolk.

    ¡®An octopus releases ink when chased by a predator, and if it still gets caught, it will sever a limb and escape. Aren¡¯t you lucky you didn¡¯t have to sever a limb and flee?¡¯

    ¡®What is this?¡¯

    It was as if someone was whispering softly into his head. The voice was strangely sweet yet piercingly sharp, making it hard to ignore. The Drowned King felt something writhing in the sea filled with the ck ink he had released.

    ¡®But I understand. If you¡¯re stuck in the deep sea for a long time, unable to converse or hear the voice of a god, it¡¯s natural to question your very existence.¡¯

    [Shut up¡­ Shut up!]

    ¡°Is it not true that you¡¯ve already been living a life akin to a beast? A thousand years. For a thousand years, you¡¯ve neither heard the word of God nor gazed upon thendscapes of Urbansus.¡±

    The Drowned King thrashed wildly with his tentacles, stirring up fierce currents that could tear apart the limbs of the merfolk with a mere brush. The mud and blood brought up from the depths darkened his vision even further.

    The whispering voice in the darkness continued unabated.

    ¡°It¡¯s only natural that you feel impatient. Above all, you must have felt yourself falling to the level of a beast.¡±

    The voice pierced painfully into his fearful parts, as if it could see right into his mind.

    ¡°Oh, angel cast into the abyss, were you afraid? Afraid that an angel once great has now fallen to be a mere monster of legend? Is that why you rebelled and sought to be a god of savagery?¡±

    ¡°Silence¡­!¡±

    In an instant, the Drowned King snapped back to his senses.

    He bit off one of his tentacles in a single breath. The intense pain jolted his consciousness awake. Only then did he realize that there was a strange, undting color flowing through the water, aside from his own ink.

    The unidentified voice was emanating from within that color.

    ¡°Could this be¡­?¡±

    The Drowned King realized he had been tricked by a hallucination, a hallucination potent enough to bewitch an angel. He looked down at Isaac in horror.

    Isaac, having freed himself from the severed tentacle, wore a bitter smile and spoke without a sound.

    ¡°You¡¯re toote.¡±

    Crack. Suddenly, something began to constrict the Drowned King¡¯s body tightly.

    Only when red fissures started appearing all over his body did the Drowned King realize what he had missed.

    His gaze turned upward, towards the surface.

    ***

    Hyanis shouted as he saw the rising silhouette tinged with blood.

    ¡°Gotcha!¡±

    Yenkos nervously bit his nails as he looked down at the sea.

    The act that Hyanis wasmitting, and the one that Yenkos was tacitly condoning, was an irreverent transgression that could not be overlooked. However, silently witnessing and condoning the rebellion of an angel was just as sphemous.

    She could not tell which was the greater sin and which would have the greater repercussions.

    ¡°To capture an angel of the Salt Council with a relic of the Salt Council!¡±

    ¡°God will understand!¡±

    The relic of the Salt Council, ¡®The Net of the Fisher King¡¯.

    This relic, capable of capturing anything it targeted, was one of the most treasured among the relics of the Salt Council and what Hyanis had brought to deal with the Drowned King.

    It was even a relic connected to the Drowned King himself, for it was the that had pulled up his drowned body when he was still known as ¡®The Fisher King¡¯.

    Resurrected from drowning in the sea, he was reborn as the Drowned King, a once-celestial angel.

    It was ironic that the very relic that had once revived him was now being used to subdue him, pulling him up alive from the depths.

    ¡°Is the Grail Knight safe? Does he seem unharmed?¡±

    Yenkos anxiously peered into the water, but Isaac was nowhere to be seen. The Drowned King himself would have to wait a while before he could surface, indicating how deep he had sunk. Everyone knew it was difficult to hope for survival after so much time had passed.

    ¡°We can only hope for a miracle.¡±

    Hyanis said, pulling on the end of the Fisher King¡¯s.

    The Fisher King¡¯s was not really a, but a rosary made of wood. However, within each bead of the rosary, there existed a vast, formless and immeasurable in size, powerful enough to pull even the Drowned King¡¯s massive body above the sea.

    The problem began thereafter.

    The Fisher King¡¯s could only pull up its target, not harm it.

    From then on, dealing with the Drowned King would be entirely up to the Salt Council.

    They would have to face the wrath of the Drowned King.

    As the rose, Yenkos became acutely aware of this fact and prayed fervently.

    ¡°I hope we¡¯re prepared.¡±

    ¡°Well, we¡¯ve done our best. It¡¯s you who are the problem.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ve made the best preparations we could. Though not weapons to face the Drowned King.¡±

    Yenkos¡¯s fleet was equipped with weapons to face Hyanis¡¯s fleet, a formidable armament in itself.

    Hyanis smirked and nced at her sideways.

    ¡°Why the sudden change of heart?¡±

    As soon as Isaac fell, Hyanis brought the Fisher King¡¯s and began the ritual. Yenkos saw this but did not actively intervene.

    She could have stopped Hyanis by drawing her sword and taking his head, but she did not.

    In the end, she had tacitly consented to Hyanis¡¯s angel hunt. Yenkos¡¯s fleet would follow her decision as well.

    Yenkos clenched her eyes shut and shouted.

    ¡°Damn it, what are we supposed to do?! ¡®Wait for the resurrection of God and hold out as long as possible¡¯ was the directive of our council, but that damned octopus bastard made a unteral decision!¡±

    Taking Eidan hostage was also a hasty decision made in a confusing situation to maintain the status quo. It was natural for the followers of the Salt Council to trust the angels of the Salt Council.

    But neutrality was no longer possible after attacking the Bishop of the Codex of Light and dropping the Grail Knight into the sea. She had to abandon ¡®maintaining the situation¡¯ and follow the decisions already made by the council.

    If the Drowned King were to be defeated here, the cause of his defeat would be ¡®unteralmunication¡¯. If he had calmly persuaded the Salt Council, there would be no members who would dare refuse the opinion of an angel.

    ¡°He¡¯sing up!¡±

    The sea began to bubble and froth.

    Hyanis could not suppress the urge to shout a phrase that could be deemed sphemous as he watched the Drowned King¡¯s body being hauled up by the.

    ¡°It¡¯s a big catch!¡±

    ***

    The sound of the sea water pouring out resonated like a waterfall. The water held within his body cascaded down, making it seem as if a river was falling from the sky. The ships swayed and trembled like leaves in the wind, just from the sheer size of the Drowned King¡¯s body being lifted.

    The crew, including Hyanis, were all speechless at the sight of the Drowned King¡¯s body, which was farrger than anticipated.

    They had only ever seen parts of the Drowned King¡¯s body, and could only imagine the enormity of whaty beneath the surface. But the reality of his size instilled an instinctual fear in them all.

    In the meantime, Isaac kicked his way up to the surface of the water. Once the whirlpool dissipated, escaping out of the water was easy.

    ¡°Grail Knight!¡±

    Hyanis eximed with joy upon seeing him emerge. Despite having been submerged long enough to drown, Isaac appeared rtively unscathed. Instead, he gestured to Hyanis, signaling his to focus on his own task.

    The opponent was an angel. Not someone to be taken lightly.

    Isaac felt ridiculous looking at the Drowned King, who still had part of his body submerged even after revealing such a massive form.

    ¡®All these dozens of shipsbined might still be smaller than the Drowned King.¡¯

    The sight of that gigantic body suspended in mid-air was a spectacle in itself.

    Isaac thought anew that Hyanis¡¯s n was absurd. And the Drowned King seemed to feel simrly.

    [¡­How absurd.]

    The Drowned King had naturally been wary of this relic. He had sensed that Hyanis had brought the Fisher King¡¯s.

    That¡¯s why he had tried to eliminate him first, but he got distracted and forgot about it as the situation twisted and a sudden battle ensued.

    But it was not a significant problem for him. It was merely an inconvenience.

    His tentacles writhed and moved. Although many were entangled in the, his boneless, flexible body was not hindered.

    Whooosh!

    A tentacle that had escaped the scraped the surface of the sea. A wave that seemed to split the ocean overturned a nearby ship. The sailors screamed as they jumped overboard.

    Overwhelmed by his power, Hyanis tensed up.

    [Release this at once, priest.]

    It was a warning. Had he struck the ship instead of the sea, all the sailors aboard would have been annihted instantly.

    But Hyanis clenched his teeth and shouted.

    ¡°Prepare the whaling harpoons!¡±

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read up to advance 20 chapters or support me, you can do it at/Akaza156

 Chapter 118:

    Chapter 118:

    After being hauled in by the Fisher King¡¯s, whaling equipment was deployed to hunt the Drowned King.

    This was the irreverent yet crude strategy established by Hyanis.

    The Drowned King thought the Fisher King¡¯s was usible, but found it absurd that whaling equipment was all that was summoned for the hunt.

    Could a few mere harpoons used for whaling capture an angel?

    But this was a misconception of the Drowned King.

    The whaling industry, also known as whaling, had developed beyond the Drowned King¡¯s imagination over the past millennium.

    ¡°Fire!¡±

    As soon as the ships adjusted their angles, the whaling harpoons hanging from the ballistae were simultaneouslyunched towards the Drowned King. Even without the Fisher King¡¯s, hitting such a massive target was more challenging.

    Boom, boom-boom!

    The Drowned King couldn¡¯t help but be astonished by the giant harpoons that instantly pierced through his torso.

    Harpoons nearly the size of anchors were embedded in his body.

    In the past, whaling meant driving whales to the shore and throwing harpoons or causing them to beach. However, these harpoons were equipment designed to finish off the whales and drag them to the harbor.

    The Drowned King felt a strange sensation upon seeing this.

    He had spent a millennium buried in the deep sea, declining to the level of beasts without even speaking. But during that time, his followers had continuously advanced to survive in a world without the miracles that protected them.

    ¡°Jam them in with everything we¡¯ve got!¡±

    The sailors of the Salt Council closed their eyes tightly and fired the harpoons. The Drowned King did not attempt to dodge or block with his tentacles; he simply took the hits. Some sailors cried as they fired the harpoons at the Drowned King, who was bleeding miserably.

    They all grew up hearing stories of the angel who remained in this world to protect the Salt Council after God had left. Of course, the Drowned King had spent most of that time asleep in the deep sea, but the mere fact of his existence allowed the followers of the Salt Council to feel a connection to God.

    But now, they were severing that connection with their own hands.

    ¡°The first fleet¡¯s work is done!¡±

    ¡°The second fleet is finished!¡±

    As the notifications of the harpoon work¡¯spletion followed one after another, Hyanis gave the next order.

    ¡°If the harpoons are set, the first fleet will immediately break formation!¡±

    The ships promptly exited the formation and began to move. In traditional whaling, this would be the process of dragging the catch to the harbor, but there was no direction to this fleet¡¯s departure.

    Rather, they were scattering in all directions.

    It was a process designed to tear the Drowned King to pieces.

    The ropes attached to the harpoons made a fierce vibrating sound. The whaling ships used every sail and oar to pull the Drowned King in their direction with all their might.

    Thud, thud-thud.

    With gruesome sounds, the flesh of the Drowned King began to tear. Some pieces flew off with the harpoons, leaving behind massive wounds, while others were dragged out whole, tangled in the Fisher King¡¯s.

    The Drowned King was being disassembled alive.

    [So it is.]

    The Drowned King muttered calmly as he watched his body being torn apart, in a tone that belied the brutal dismemberment he was undergoing.

    [This is the decision of the Council.]

    The Drowned King remembered the time before the Salt Council was formed when it was called the Salt Sect.

    Those left behind, severed from God, feared making decisions on their own without God¡¯s will. Instead, they created the Council so that everyone could share the responsibility.

    If a decision was made by the will of all the followers, it might not be much different from God¡¯s will.

    Thus, the Drowned King had respected the decisions of the Salt Council.

    And now, the Salt Council had decided and was executing his death sentence.

    A fitting conclusion for a heretic.

    [If that¡¯s the case¡­]

    ***

    Isaac squinted his eyes as he watched the Drowned King being torn apart.

    Hyanis seemed to think the battle was already decided. But Isaac had a different view.

    ¡®It would be nice if this was the end of the Drowned King, but¡­¡¯

    The regenerative abilities of the Drowned King are nearly infinite. The current scene may seem horrific, but if he decides to resist, it wouldn¡¯t be surprising if half the fleet were to be sunk immediately.

    If the Drowned King dies here, it would be because he has given up himself. Respecting the Council¡¯s decision, realizing his sins, and repenting for his crimes.

    In fact, this was one of the strategies Isaac had considered.

    However, Isaac deemed the likelihood of this happening to be low.

    At that moment, Isaac noticed the Drowned King¡¯s body writhing.

    Creak, creak-creak.

    The Fisher King¡¯s began to scream. Seeing this, Isaac immediately shouted.

    ¡°Cut all the ropes!¡±

    Hyanis, who was vigorously pulling the sail ropes to encourage the ships to depart, did not hear Isaac¡¯s voice. Even if he had, it would have been difficult to respond immediately to Isaac¡¯smand to release the Drowned King in the current situation.

    Without much thought, Isaac kicked off the surface and cut the nearest ropes. Bang. The taut ropes snapped, whipping the surface of the water. The suddenly freed ships shot forward, tossing the sailors about.

    Hyanis, seeing some ships teetering as if about to capsize, realized that Isaac had cut the ropes. Just as he was about to scold Isaac, the Drowned King violently twisted his body in midair.

    Boom. One of the Salt Council¡¯s most precious relics, the Fisher King¡¯s, was torn to shreds, and dozens of ships were lifted into the air.

    A deafening roar swallowed all other sounds.

    Therge ships fluttered lightly like fallen leaves. After a brief silence, dozens of ships collided and shattered in the air and sea in an instant.

    Kaboom!

    A terrifying roar echoed.

    In a situation where even the sturdy ships shattered like ss, there was no chance for human bodies made of flesh and blood to withstand.

    Mangled debris, blood, and flesh mixed together and poured down with the rain.

    Only the ships that Isaac had cut the ropes of, those that had already lost their anchors, or those fortunate enough to have their ropes snap due to poor condition, survived. The Brave Salmon, which Hyanis was aboard, was one of those lucky ships.

    But Hyanis could not consider himself fortunate.

    Those who survived had to witness hell with their own eyes.

    Splish-ssh. Unrecognizable human fragments and broken ships poured onto the deck. One ship, impaled by arge mast, tilted and eventually sank.

    Hyanis felt deaf.

    It seemed his hearing had gone when the Drowned King blew all the ships away.

    Or perhaps he had lost his mind.

    ¡°¡­Hyanis!¡±

    Why did I try to confront an angel? Did I underestimate the angel because of rumors that a nearby Holy Grail Knight had banished an angel alone? Did I really think we could win with just the relics and whaling equipment?

    Was the angel who helped the sect build a maritime empire a thousand years ago thatughable?

    ¡°Hyanis!¡±

    Annihtion.

    That word shed through Hyanis¡¯s mind. The Salt Council¡¯srgest and most expensive ships had almost all gathered here. Including the rare priests who were captains.

    All those assets would be worthlessly sunk to the bottom of the sea.

    With no one left to tell of their deaths.

    And the person who led to this tragedy was none other than Hyanis himself.

    ¡°Hyanis, snap out of it!¡±

    p! Hyanis¡¯s cheek turned.

    Finally, Hyanis came to his senses and turned his head. Yenkos, covered in blood, clenched her fist. She thought Hyanis was still out of it and pped him again.

    ¡°That¡¯s enough. I¡¯m awake. Stop hitting me. I lost a tooth.¡±

    ¡°Are you back? So, what¡¯s the next move? You must have a next strategy, right?¡±

    Yenkos asked for the next strategy, seemingly unfazed by the shocking scene. Suddenly, Hyanis realized his proficiency in archaeology. He knew far more about the Drowned King than others. He must have known that this would be the oue if they faced the Drowned King.

    Only then did Hyanis understand why Yenkos had been so reluctant to confront the Drowned King. And that it must have taken her several times more courage to decide to face him than anyone else.

    But Hyanis felt like crying.

    ¡°There is no next strategy.¡±

    ¡°No? Is this all you have against an angel?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    There was a n.

    But the moment he saw this catastrophe, he realized that a second or third n was useless. It would only increase the food for fish and the trash in the sea.

    Everything he had prepared was useless against the overwhelming power of the angel.

    Yenkos silently looked at Hyanis. There was no me or resentment in her gaze. She turned her head calmly, her eyes empty.

    ¡°Then we have no choice but to pray.¡±

    Hyanis followed Yenkos¡¯ gaze with tears in his eyes. She was not looking at the sky.

    Her gaze was on the sea, towards the only person who could save them in ce of the silent God.

    ***

    Isaac watched the tragic scene of the ships being shattered.

    The scene seemed to symbolize the rtionship between the Salt Council and the Drowned King.

    The Drowned King had shown leniency and forgiveness to the Salt Council, even when they took a subtle stance and resisted passively. Even in that fierce situation, he tried to ensure that not a single sailor of the Salt Council died.

    But he dered the end of the rtionship in a gruesome and cruel way.

    It meant that the Drowned King was no longer the angel of the Salt Council but had be a monster of the deep sea.

    Of course, the god of the Salt Council could neither make him a fallen angel nor punish him.

    The Fisher King¡¯s, even torn, squeezed out thest miracle to hold onto the Drowned King, but it didn¡¯tst long. The Drowned King returned to the sea as if flowing down.

    The sea was ckened with the blood of the Drowned King and the sailors.

    His body was holed, torn, chopped, and mutted. But as soon as the seawater seeped in, the wounds healed as if filling the gaps.

    The Drowned King¡¯s azure eyes flickered as they turned towards Isaac.

    [It¡¯s hard to deny that you also bear responsibility for this scene, Holy Grail Knight.]

    ¡°Talking big.¡±

    Isaac felt not even a speck of guilt.

    But he gestured towards Hyanis. The morale of the Salt Council must have been at rock bottom, and they had no means to attack anymore. It was better for them to be gone if even the Fisher King¡¯s, their only hope, was destroyed.

    The ships of the Salt Council hesitated but eventually began to drift away slowly. The Drowned King did not pursue to destroy them as they retreated. Or perhaps he believed that even if they retreated, he could soon follow and sink them all.

    [Why do you oppose me? Because you think I aspire to be an ancient god? No, even the term ¡®ancient god¡¯ isughable. Until the rise of the Codex of Light, the ancient gods were simply the gods of this world!]

    The Drowned King seethed with anger.

    [They were the gods and the very order that ruled thisnd for tens of thousands of years! The era of light created by Luadin hassted merely a thousand years! We¡¯re merely returning to the starting point!]

    ¡°It took a thousand years to get this far.¡±

    Isaac muttered as he drew out the key of Luadin.

    ¡°Having consumed a domain, I understand now. Even now, I think it¡¯s barbaric. Every time I open my eyes, I grumble about how to make these ignorant andcking zealotse to their senses.¡±

    The Drowned King quietly listened to Isaac¡¯s sudden soliloquy.

    ¡°At least these people don¡¯t sacrifice humans, and in their own ways, they wish for as many people as possible to be happy, and they believe that living a good life by their moral standards will get them to heaven. I¡¯m thankful for that.¡±

    Isaac gripped the key of Luadin again and lifted it. The sword was slippery with blood and rain. It was hard to even keep his eyes open.

    It¡¯s all about living well and prospering, so why has ite to this?

    But this was precisely what Isaac was doing to livefortably and well.

    It was also the reason he couldn¡¯t actively ept it until he knew the inner workings of the nameless chaos.

    ¡°It¡¯s not that we should return to the times when ancient gods ruled for tens of thousands of years¡­ It¡¯s that we¡¯ve only just progressed to this level after adding a thousand years to those tens of thousands of years. You¡¯re talking about returning to such a primitive era. I can¡¯t stand to watch that happen.¡±

    He desired light and order.

    [The nameless chaos watches over you.]

    The Luadin Key red up with a red heat again.

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read up to advance 20 chapters or support me, you can do it at/Akaza156

 Chapter 119:

    Chapter 119:

    ¡°O light, please lift the shadows cast before my path¡­¡±

    Juan, trapped in the cabin below the deck, could only pray.

    He couldn¡¯t forget the disaster earlier when dozens of ships had soared into the sky and shattered to pieces. The deafening noise that made his ears ring, the ships wrecked in mid-air, and the fragments of people scattering seemed to appear before his eyes whenever he closed them.

    Juan had already been overwhelmed by the power that an angel could wield.

    Powerlessness.

    The feeling of helplessness that humans could do nothing before this immense being had seized him. If given another miracle, if there was divine help, he would have supported Isaac in any way possible. But now, with nothing left but his skill at counting money, there was nothing he could do.

    Nothing but shivering and praying to escape this predicament.

    ¡®Why?¡¯

    Though he was reciting prayers with his lips, inside, he was screaming. It had been a long time since hest heard an answer to his prayers. Now, he was not so much earnestly wishing as he was protesting against this irrational tragedy.

    ¡®Why do you put me through such trials?¡¯

    God is supposed to give humans only the trials they can ovee. But Juan painfully felt that his survival was merely due to luck.

    There is nothing humans can do before this immense violence.

    Unless they are chosen to stand against this trial.

    Suddenly, Juan looked up and out the window. The sky was still covered with thick clouds, and a storm was raging, with the Drowned King appearing no less immense beneath it.

    With tear-filled eyes, Juan looked at it and felt a sense of wonder.

    He saw a me flickering like a candle through the rolling waves.

    ¡®Could it be?¡¯

    He staggered to his feet and headed for the deck. A young priest, looking defeated, tried to hold him back, but he didn¡¯t look back.

    The Brave Salmon was moving away from the Drowned King. It was fortunate enough, but Juan couldn¡¯t find the person who should rightfully be there.

    Isaac, who had gone out to sea earlier, was nowhere to be seen.

    ¡°Where is Sir Issacrea?¡±

    Hyanis, who had been staring intently at the distant sea, turned around.

    ¡°Where is Sir Isaac Isaacrea?¡±

    Without a word, Hyanis pointed to the distant sea.

    In the midst of the storm, beneath the massive body of the Drowned King, a pitiful me was burning.

    Juan watched it intently.

    ¡°Isaac.¡±

    He whispered hoarsely.

    ¡°The Knight of the Holy Grail.¡±

    ***

    The Drowned King listened to Isaac¡¯s deration, silent for a long moment.

    But Isaac hadn¡¯t expected to sway the celestial being. Angels, with their acknowledged strength, faith, and deeds, rarely changed their minds. Isaac had merely reminded himself why he endured this suffering.

    Yet the Angel surprised him.

    ¡°Yes,¡± it finally spoke. ¡°Your words hold truth.¡±

    Isaac stared, disbelief washing over him. Angels rarely conceded. Perhaps there was hope yet.

    Yet, the Drowned King was already amidst a tumultuous transformation.

    Isaac¡¯s words were, in fact, the veryws the King had upheld for a millennium.

    Despite this ord, the King extended his tendrils towards Isaac.

    Actions and words diverged, but Isaac, undaunted, dashed across the waves.

    Crack, snap.

    Just before collision, Isaac propelled himself into the air, driving his left hand deep into the King¡¯s leg. The immense pressure of the air crushed down on him.

    Instead of being flung away, Isaac clung to the leg, thrusting his tendrils deeper inside,

    In an instant, Isaac had to dodge the tendrils that swooped down upon him.

    ¡°Stop behaving like a parasite and draw your sword, Isaac.¡±

    The Drowned King muttered, noticing Isaac had once again consumed a part of his flesh. Had he lived onnd, he might have likened it to a mosquito, but such memories had long been forgotten.

    ¡°Well, it¡¯s not much different, really.¡±

    Whoosh! The Drowned King, now unconcerned with appearances, spewed ink. The jet-ck mist obscured Isaac¡¯s vision in an instant. The ink, more than just a cover, enveloped Isaac¡¯s entire body, rendering him blind.

    Amidst the ink fog, the sound of tearing air reached him. Isaac could sense the tendrils, capable of shattering his body in a single blow, rushing towards him.

    ¡°It¡¯s about time.¡±

    Isaac sharpened his senses. Suddenly, within the dark ink, the movements of the King¡¯s body and legs became vividly clear to him.

    The leg surging up from directly below was real.

    Boom! The moment Isaac recoiled backward, the seawater exploded, and the King¡¯s leg burst forth.

    The Drowned King couldn¡¯t help but be surprised. Isaac had shown agile movements before, but this was unexpectedly swift.

    The astonishment continued.

    In the darkness, where visibility was near zero, Isaac reacted swiftly as if predicting the King¡¯s movements. Not only that, but he cleverly entangled the paths of the legs, causing them to hinder each other.

    The King felt an odd anxiety about Isaac¡¯s movements and urged him.

    ¡°If you wish to enforce order, then put away those hideous tendrils and draw your sword!¡±

    ¡°You wield tendrils yourself¡­ but indeed, you¡¯ve slowed down.¡±

    Isaac realized that despite the King¡¯s appearance of vitality, he was not in perfect condition. It was clear that the attacks from the Salt Council and the forced destruction of the Fisher King¡¯s had dealt significant blows to him.

    The of the Fisher King, an artifact originating from the King himself, had been destroyed by his own hands. It was akin to self-harm, destroying his very foundation.

    Above all, the preparations Isaac had meticulously arranged until now began to shine.

    Suddenly, Isaac spotted an opening in the King¡¯s movements.

    Between the waves, as high as his stature, and the menacing tendrils skimming the surface, Isaac found the intervals between the surges.

    The Drowned King¡¯s sole weaknessy in the cerulean glow of his eight eyes, and Isaac seized the opportunity.

    The King sneered inwardly at the sight.

    [You must be feeling just as impatient.]

    Suddenly, a massive current appeared in Isaac¡¯s path, a trap meant to ensnare him as he had no choice but to run across the sea¡¯s surface.

    The gap was deliberately left open by the King. Regardless of how Isaac predicted and evaded his movements, he couldn¡¯t possibly have infinite stamina, not being an angel.

    The King had opened this vulnerability intentionally, knowing that Isaac would try to end it before the Salt Council¡¯s ships could distance themselves further.

    It was far easier to trap and catch a bug than to chase it down with bare hands.

    [If you insist on acting like a parasite instead of drawing your sword, then I shall treat you as such.]

    The Drowned King readied his massive maw to swallow Isaac whole, while his tendrils prepared to strike him down in an instant.

    But Isaac dove in even faster.

    ¡®What?¡¯

    The King¡¯s tendrils struck the water in vain. At the same time, he realized something was amiss with the world¡¯s bnce. Looking within, he was horrified.

    His body was teeming with unidentified lifeforms.

    They were the parasites from beyond that Isaac had imnted within the King¡¯s body.

    [Parasites from Beyond / Tendrils give birth to short-lived parasites under the skin of those they touch. The infected host suffers continuous pain.]

    The parasites grew quickly and strongly, following the abilities of their host. Jihileth, born from the corpse of an ancient god, had be one of the most capable subordinates. And now, countless such parasites thrived within the Drowned King.

    His massive body, full of parasites, made this possible. The Drowned King, who spent most of his time asleep, had no need to concern himself with the parasites within.

    Until now, Isaac had predicted the Drowned King¡¯s movements through the signals sent by these creatures. He had controlled them to miss by a hair¡¯s breadth. And at this moment, they had temporarily subdued part of the Drowned King¡¯s optic nerve.

    The trap set by the Drowned King was as good as an open invitation.

    Isaac rode the current created by the Drowned King effortlessly, reaching his brow with ease.

    Before the Drowned King could react, a tendril shot from Isaac¡¯s left hand, piercing the cerulean eye. Amidst the King¡¯s enraged roar, Isaac, who hadnded atop his head, murmured,

    ¡°Never mock a parasite again.¡±

    ***

    ¡°What in the world¡­¡±

    As the cries that seemed not of this world echoed over the sea, the sails trembled. The sailors watched the battle unfold from afar with fear in their eyes, unable to discern what was happening.

    They could only guess that the vivid scarlet light darting across the Drowned King¡¯s massive form amidst the ck ink fog was Isaac. Silently, they observed the battle, and involuntarily shuddered as they prayed during the King¡¯s furious roar.

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t an exaggeration,¡± Yenkos murmured, and most of the sailors, including Hyanis, shared the sentiment.

    Rumors often exaggerate, but the feat before them was reality.

    The Drowned King, who had shattered dozens of ships, was now screaming, unable to subdue a single man.

    ¡®Could the ancient Elil have done the same? How could such a thing¡­¡¯

    Meanwhile, Juan gasped for breath, unable to fully witness the scene.

    His sentiments were not much different from those of the Salt Council¡¯s followers. He believed in the powers and miracles granted by the Codex of Light and that Isaac had vanquished the prophet of the red flesh. However, he was preupied with how to politically exploit the meaning behind it.

    As a result, he had presented Isaac with the logic of a merchant.

    ¡®Codex of Light, what have I done?¡¯

    Juan couldn¡¯t lift his head in shame.

    To the noble Holy Knight, money,nd, or power meant nothing.

    Only establishing the sublime order of Light on thisnd mattered. Offeringnd was akin to shackling the Pdin, no, the Saint¡¯s ankles.

    Juan wept, pondering how petty he must have appeared before Isaac.

    He felt it was only right that he was stripped of miracles and faced such disgrace.

    ¡°Ah!¡±

    At that moment, Juan heard the sailors¡¯ distressed cries. He looked up to see what was happening.

    Across the sea, the key of Luadin was faintly losing its light, ensnared by the giant tendrils.

    ***

    Isaac began to devour the sacred body and soul of the Drowned King, tendrils embedded within. The hunger from the intense battle was satiated, fitting for an angel¡¯s body. Just as he aimed to consume the King¡¯s core, he felt an odd unease.

    [The Nameless Chaos watches over you.]

    Pop, pop, pop! At the sound of the warning alert, Isaac felt the parasites within the King burst forth. In an instant, he had concentrated his power and eradicated all the parasites within.

    ¡°Madness¡­¡±

    In a desperate attempt to disengage and prepare for another bout, Isaac found himself ensnared by the Drowned King¡¯s twisted gaze. With the mere force of his eyelids, the Drowned King had the power to bind Isaac¡¯s hand.

    Menacing tendrils loomed, advancing towards Isaac.

    [Did you truly believe you could defeat an angel?]

    Isaac was astounded by the immense power emanating from the King.

    His belief in the Drowned King¡¯s weakness was a misconception.

    The Drowned King had merely been conserving his strength all along, preparing to ascend to godhood. It was no easy feat. Thus, he had not squandered his power in battle with Isaac but had reserved it.

    Now, he chose to unleash even that reserved power.

    [Those with faith perform miracles. Had you wielded your sword, had you continued the pretense of being a noble Holy Knight, perhaps the oue would have been different.]

    The King¡¯s tendrils swiftly enveloped Isaac¡¯s body. There was no consideration for sparing his life this time. The same force that could crush a massive ship to splinters now wrapped around Isaac.

    The warmth of the Luadin key in Isaac¡¯s right hand faded, and soon, it perished.

    Crunch.

    A chilling sound echoed from within the tendrils shortly after exerting force.

    Simultaneously, the Drowned King let out another cry.

    This time, it was neither a roar of victory nor a bellow of rage.

    It was a scream of agony.

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read up to advance 20 chapters or support me, you can do it at/Akaza156

 Chapter 120:

    Chapter 120:

    <i>Crack, crackle, crackle.</i>

    Terrible sounds burst one after another from inside the tentacles. The Drowning King groaned in pain he had never felt before, trying to spread his tentacles again, but they wouldn¡¯t unfold. It was as if something powerful inside his legs was gripping the tentacles in reverse.

    [What is this? What in the world¡­?]

    The sounds flowing from within were not of Isaac being crushed in his armor, but of his own muscles and flesh being torn and shredded.

    It was the sound of him being chewed alive.

    Only then did the Drowning King realize the true nature of the instinct that had been driving him like a beast.

    He knew he could never escape from Isaac, or rather, this unknown entity, by his own will, so he cut off his leg without hesitation. It was the leg that contained the most strength among his limbs, but there was no time for second thoughts.

    As soon as he cut off the leg, pain overwhelmed him, but it was nothingpared to the agony of being chewed and swallowed alive.

    It was an abnormal pain.

    The Drowning King had endured countless battles and hardships. He had suffered worse wounds several times before. But this pain was something he had never experienced.

    The leg he had cut off writhed and was graduallypressed inward. The Drowning King couldn¡¯t even breathe as he watched the giant leg being sucked into a small hole. He couldn¡¯t even think of attacking while it remained still.

    When the leg finally disappeared without leaving a single piece of flesh, what was revealed inside was something the Drowning King had never imagined.

    ¡®¡­A m? No, a sea slug?¡¯

    At first nce, he thought of a sea slug covered in a shell.

    Under Isaac¡¯s armor, tentacles were blooming at every joint. Since he had been fighting Isaac¡¯s armor until now, he could only guess that it had been ¡®Isaac,¡¯ but he had no knowledge in his long life of what it actually was.

    The tentacles, like suction cups of a m, were sticking the pieces of armor together, awkwardly pretending to be human. And in its hand, it still held the extinguished key of Luadin.

    Its helmet creaked as it turned towards the Drowning King.

    It staggered awkwardly a few times but soon began to move as if it had adapted to its form. However, its movements were as bizarre as a barnacle learning to walk with limbs for the first time.

    Despite the ridiculous motion, the Drowning King couldn¡¯t bring himself to confront it and began to retreat.

    Suddenly, he found himself missing Isaac.

    Then, the monster wearing Isaac¡¯s shell began to run across the sea. But the Drowning King couldn¡¯t tell if it was really running.

    It seemed more like it was changing the order of its body.

    The head led the way, stepping forward with what looked like arms or legs, followed by the torso, and then a second or third arm appeared, stepping on the water¡¯s surface. Even the Drowning King, who had no joints, had never seen such bizarre movement.

    However, the direction of the malice was clear, so the Drowning King couldn¡¯t act rashly. Instead, he used the current to push Isaac away while moving his own body backward. Fortunately, the tentacle monster maintained a human form as if trapped inside Isaac¡¯s armor.

    It seemed to decide that it couldn¡¯t catch the Drowning King as it was, so it swung the key of Luadin. There was no form or heat in that motion.

    It seemed utterly random.

    But the Drowning King felt a chilling murderous intent within it.

    Isaac¡¯s arm suddenly stretched out nearly tens of meters. The Drowning King was shocked by this absurd change, but he had no time to prepare.

    <i>Boom!</i>

    Eight ces in total. Red scars were etched across his body in an instant.

    ¡®Strong. No, not just that¡­¡¯

    The Drowning King couldn¡¯t even follow the attack with his eyes. Each wound was a critical injury that couldn¡¯t be ignored. If he hadn¡¯t been an angel with infinite regenerative abilities and a massive body, he would have been torn to pieces along the cross-section by now.

    Even the wounds weren¡¯t cleanly cut but were roughly gouged as if torn by a pack of beasts, making regeneration difficult. Unknown toxins and germs swarmed at each cross-section, hindering the healing process.

    [What are you¡­ Isaac?]

    The Drowning King muttered in confusion. Even when Isaac had stepped forward, he seemed noble. The Drowning King felt diminished even in the face of Isaac¡¯s bravery, who didn¡¯t flinch and showed his inner strength, even when left alone to confront him.

    But what was this now?

    Was such a monster hiding beneath that noble appearance?

    [Is that the god you protect with your order, Isaac?]

    The Drowning King spat out a self-mocking murmur.

    ***

    Meanwhile, Isaac was watching the situation with a strange feeling.

    ¡®Hmm¡­ It feels like sleepwalking.¡¯

    He thought it was a mistake when he was entangled in the Drowning King¡¯s tentacles. In fact, he had caught the Drowning King several times in the game, but he had lost more often. He was present but hadn¡¯t prepared enough, so it wasn¡¯t strange that he lost.

    Nevertheless, Isaac didn¡¯t think this was the end for him.

    Because he had a tentacle monster that would emerge in times of crisis.

    Of course, it was uncertain how omnipotent this tentacle monster was.

    It was strong enough against humans, but it might not stand a chance against an angel like the Drowning King. However, seeing the Drowning King retreat even to the point of sacrificing his arm, it seemed like the power was effective.

    ¡®Did Ulsten do a good job? I¡¯m not sure yet.¡¯

    In the meantime, the armor was acting as a seal, preventing the tentacles from splitting or rampaging indiscriminately. The armor, forged by the cksmith¡¯s hands, was already excellent even in normal times, but in such ¡®emergency¡¯ situations, it could control the tentacles.

    It was to prevent the unfortunate incident of Isaac identally devouring all the people around him due to a mistake.

    ¡®There might be room for improvement, but¡­ I guess I should be satisfied with this.¡¯

    Even if his body turned into a tentacle monster, the fact that it maintained a human form was already worthy of apuse for Ulsten. Indeed, he was the cksmith who also made armor for Lycansrof.

    ¡®But I didn¡¯t expect it to be able to use advanced swordsmanship.¡¯

    The technique with which the tentacle monster attacked the Drowning King, wielding the key of Luadin, was clearly Isaac¡¯s own advanced swordsmanship, ¡®Eight Branches.¡¯

    It was surprising that a tentacle monster could use swordsmanship, but then again, Isaac had originally created his swordsmanship with the movement of tentacles in mind.

    That meant, perhaps, Isaac¡¯s swordsmanship was optimized for when he turned into a tentacle monster.

    ¡®But when will this end?¡¯

    Originally, such a ¡®rampage state¡¯ ended only afterpletely devouring all threatening entities nearby. That meant it would end only afterpletely devouring the Drowning King, but it was hard to estimate when that would be. He didn¡¯t want to leave it entirely to the tentacles to finish.

    And the Drowning King felt the same way.

    ***

    ¡°Bishop! Please do something!¡±

    The scene unfolding beyond the sea was also visible to the followers of the Salt Council. However, they could only see that Isaac was captured by the Drowning King¡¯s tentacles, and the key of Luadin had lost its light. Because what it meant was so clear, they lost theirposure. They were even clinging to Juan, who couldn¡¯t do anything.

    But Juan felt just as suffocated.

    He was also tearful, finding the current situation frustrating and hopeless.

    ¡®Is this trial not a divine arrangement for the Grail Knight to ovee?¡¯

    At first, that¡¯s certainly what I thought. Isaac would once again y the heretical angel and elevate his noble purpose. But now, he was being captured and losing strength. Despite this, there was nothing I could do.

    ¡°Bishop, please do something! Has the Codex of Light abandoned the Grail Knight?¡±

    ¡®You angels figure it out yourselves!¡¯

    Those words rose to his throat. But he couldn¡¯t say them.

    It was the Codex of Light that buried the god of the Salt Council under the salt desert.

    For Juan, a priest of the Codex of Light, to say such a thing would be cruel and irresponsible.

    ¡®If Isaac didn¡¯te here to ovee this trial, then why am I here?¡¯

    Suddenly, Juan was struck by that question.

    What role was he ying in this trial? To receive meaningless me? To feel despair because he could do nothing? Surely it wasn¡¯t to chastise himself by sacrificing a great hero, the Grail Knight, before his very eyes.

    At that moment, a piercing realization came to him.

    ¡®This trial was meant for me.¡¯

    Juan hurriedly rose from his seat. Though the ship was still in the midst of a storm, he found the spot where the light would shine best, clutching the rosary he didn¡¯t remember taking out.

    Across the sea, the Drowning King was thrashing the ocean with his massive tentacles. It was impossible to gauge what terrible fate Isaac was suffering beneath them. Overwhelmed by the mythic scene, Juan closed his eyes tight in fear and began to pray.

    ¡°O Light, please lift the darkness that blinds my eyes.¡±

    A long-forgotten sense of the Light¡¯s nobility and the beauty of order came to mind.

    The days when he was a green priest, not asking for miracles for the sake of miracles, but for salvation. The beauty of the candles he lit in those still pure times.

    ¡°A world without Your truth is filled with darkness and fear. Please illuminate the path for Your lost child to return to Your fold. Help Your tender candle not to be extinguished by the sea breeze¡­¡±

    As the soft prayer was recited, a dawn light twinkled from beyond the sea.

    ***

    Suddenly, Isaac felt a surge of faith flowing towards him.

    A faith several times more concentrated and devout than that of other believers. A prayer filled with earnest desire was being bestowed upon him. And that faith began to manifest as a miracle, taking on a clear physical form.

    Isaac knew the identity of this miracle.

    ¡®Wings of Radiance?¡¯

    Wings made of light began to sprout one by one behind Isaac. A miracle that ordinary priests could never invoke. A powerful miracle that could grant even a mere human the strength and authorityparable to a weak angel was flowing into his body.

    One, two, three¡­ a total of four wings sprouted from Isaac¡¯s back.

    ¡®Could it be?¡¯

    Only someone of bishop rank or higher could perform such a miracle.

    Isaac realized that the faith was flowing in from the ship of the Salt Council, far away.

    A smile formed on his lips.

    ¡°See, it can be done. Old man.¡±

    As the overwhelming power of the miracle took hold, the tentacles quickly receded. Isaac regained his body and reason as soon as he recovered. And in response, the grasping hand of the abyss that had been writhing above the clouds also hid its presence.

    Isaac, about to step onto the sea, realized that his body was already slightly above the water¡¯s surface. Without any effort to move, the Wings of Radiance naturally supported him. The heat of the rekindled key of Luadin evaporated the falling raindrops before they could even touch him.

    And the Drowning King was watching this scene.

    As soon as Isaac thought to move forward, the Wings of Radiance propelled his body.

    The tip of the key of Luadin flew like an arrow towards the Drowning King.

    The tip pierced the Drowning King¡¯s brow all too easily.

    As if it had been waiting for this moment.

    ¡®What?¡¯

    Isaac, who had thought this would finally be a fair fight, was taken aback. He wondered if this was another trick to draw him in, but the wound he inflicted this time was definitely fatal. Especially since the Wings of Radiance had enhanced the key of Luadin, doubling its heat and mes.

    Isaac suddenly remembered how the Drowning King had strangely fixated on the sword.

    ¡®Was there some significance to this sword?¡¯

    Within the heat that even turned his blue eyes white, the Drowning King embraced the moment he had been desperately waiting for.

    As if worshiping Isaac, he lifted his tentacles and murmured.

    [¡°Take me as the door¡­ and perform the Moonwell ritual.¡±]

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read up to advance 20 chapters or support me, you can do it at/Akaza156

 Chapter 121:

    Chapter 121:

    Chapter 121. Urbansus (1)

    ¡°Was it because of this¡­ that he told me to use the sword?¡±

    The Luadin Key.

    The Drowned King had been obsessively insisting that Isaac use the sword. Suddenly, Isaac realized that the sword he was holding was named ¡®The Luadin Key.¡¯

    The sword is a key that opens both the inside and outside.

    The Drowned King had intended to send Isaac beyond the door.

    Creeeak.

    The wound where The Luadin Key was inserted began to widen significantly. Soon, crimson blood started pouring out like a waterfall. Considering that The Luadin Key was essentially cooking the Drowned King¡¯s body in real-time, this blood could not be his.

    It was overflowing from somewhere beyond.

    ¡°Could it be?¡±

    Isaac recalled that the Drowned King had never once performed the Moonwell Ritual in a thousand years, even though it was the only way to summon the buried god.

    Of course, entering the afterlife without the god¡¯s permission was akin to trespassing. Therefore, the Drowned King needed a safe way to send the traveler through.

    That was to make a door using his own body as a sacrifice.

    That¡¯s why it was something that could only be done once, and why he had hesitated for a thousand years.

    ¡°But why now of all times?¡±

    [Isaac. I apologize for testing you.]

    The wound left by The Luadin Key tore the Drowned King¡¯s body even longer and wider. However, the Drowned King whispered in a voice as weak as fading bubbles.

    [But before Iy you before my god¡­ I needed the courage to believe that you were not just a ything of chaos.]

    ¡°Courage? Damn courage¡­¡±

    Isaac wanted to retort, but the unidentified pressure pouring from the wound made it hard even to open his mouth.

    [You said that this world hase this far, adding a thousand years to tens of thousands of years.]

    Isaac remembered his own words.

    The Drowned King had clearly remembered those words, which he thought had been ignored.

    No, it went beyond that; it had be the reason to send Isaac beyond the door.

    [Then I believe that you, like me, would wish for the perpetuity of this world.]

    The Drowned King murmured in a voice that was indistinguishable between sobbing and pleading.

    It wasn¡¯t a plea for salvation or protection from the Salt Council, but rather an odd statement. Before Isaac could even ask what it meant, the blood pouring from the wound became a massive waterfall, engulfing him.

    The sea turned a purplish wine color with the blood. The surrounding merfolk sang a strange hymn at the sight.

    The heat generated by The Luadin Key evaporated the seawater, and salt crystals formed all over Isaac¡¯s body.

    The wound had widened so much that itpletely split the Drowned King¡¯s body in half.

    And beyond that wound was andscape even more vast.

    ***

    Ssh.

    Isaac opened his eyes in a stark whitendscape.

    The sea, which had been dyed wine-colored by the gushing blood, the storm that seemed to bring down the sky, and the rough waves were nowhere to be seen.

    Only a blindingly white horizon stretched out far into the distance.

    Beyond the horizon, a pyramid of such immense size that it was difficult to gauge appeared. Atop the unrealisticallyrge pyramid shone a sun that seemed to hang at its peak.

    The shape of the pyramid was peculiar. There were red rivers flowing in some ces, and broken fragments floating in others. Fierce mes burst forth from the cracks.

    ¡°Is this¡­ the heaven of the Salt Council?¡±

    Isaac felt as if he had entered a vast salt pan, seeing that his limbs were intact, and he still had his armor and sword. It was a ritual carefully performed by an angel sacrificing its own body. It couldn¡¯t have failed.

    Isaac had be one of the very few humans in history to reach the afterlife with a living body.

    Beneath the shallow water pooled on the ground were white grains of salt covering the floor. Isaac felt as if he had entered a giant salt t.

    Even if the religion¡¯s name was the Salt Council, there was no need for heaven to be a salt t¡­ Isaac thought, when he sensed someone¡¯s presence above him.

    Swoosh.

    Isaac spotted a small boat approaching from a little above his height. A man with a somewhat thin and irritable appearance, who seemed to be the boatman, was looking down at Isaac.

    There was arge wound on his forehead, which looked quite vicious.

    Without saying much, he naturally steered the boat downward and brought it closer.

    ¡°Get on.¡±

    ¡°Do you even know who I am?¡±

    The boatman red at Isaac with a nk expression.

    ¡°Isaac Issacrea.¡±

    It would be a lie to say that the famous ¡®boat to the underworld¡¯ didn¡¯te to mind. But Isaac had already arrived in that very underworld. Moreover, the chances were very high that this boatman was an angel.

    One way or another, he couldn¡¯t fall into a more dangerous situation than he was already in.

    ¡°It¡¯s safer inside the boat than out there, so get on. We don¡¯t have time to waste.¡±

    With those words, Isaac obediently climbed aboard.

    In the afterlife, there are gods, angels, and perhaps even ghosts ¨C none of which are particrly wee. Isaac, who was not a follower of the Salt Council, did not want to encounter them unnecessarily.

    Perhaps he would soon meet the angels of the Salt Council.

    ¡®Come to think of it, being a Nephilim is one thing, but it would be troublesome if they found out I¡¯m a nameless offspring of chaos.¡¯

    If discovered, he would certainly not be weed. But now that he was already on the boat, Isaac had no choice but to leave his fate to luck and quick thinking.

    As the boatman pushed off the ground with a long oar, the boat lifted into the air as if gravity didn¡¯t exist. Isaac felt strange, but from this higher vantage point, he could see the salt t.

    There was nothing but a vast salt desert around them.

    ¡°Why is it dangerous here when there¡¯s nothing around?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t you know? Have you forgotten what your prophet did here?¡±

    Isaac looked at the boatman with a puzzled expression, and the boatman frowned.

    ¡°If you stay there for half a day, you¡¯ll be drained of moisture and turn into a dry salt pir. If you want that, you can get off now.¡±

    Of course, Isaac had no desire for that. But something about the boatman¡¯s words triggered a familiar memory.

    ¡®Is he talking about how Luadin turned the sea into a salt desert?¡¯

    Thinking about it, it was more rational to call this ce a salt desert rather than a salt t. But Luadin turning it into a salt desert was something that happened in reality.

    Wasn¡¯t he supposed to be in the afterlife?

    While Isaac was lost in thought, the boat moved swiftly. There was no background to give a sense of speed, but it was incredibly fast.

    ¡°We¡¯re almost there. Get ready to disembark.¡±

    Isaac suddenly looked down. There was a city that seemed out of ce where the salt desert met the real desert. It was a massive port.

    It was a huge port that could amodate hundreds of ships, but in front of it was nothing but a white salt desert. Isaac wondered why there was a port in the middle of the desert, but then he noticed things sticking out between the structures that looked like docks.

    Masts and parts of ship hulls protruded like tombstones. It looked as if the ships had sunk and then been buried in salt.

    The sailors would have had no chance to escape. The sea must have turned into salt instantaneously, turning the dock area into a graveyard for ships.

    Thud. The boatman¡¯s boat touched the dock floor.

    Isaac looked around with an awkward expression. The surroundings were deste. With the port city dried up, the residents would have been at a loss for how to survive. Many residents had left, and the few who remained wandered around with gaunt faces.

    It was all too realistic.

    Isaac couldn¡¯t shake the thought that had been nagging at him.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t this the afterlife?¡±

    Finally, Isaac asked the boatman, who was walking ahead of him.

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°Then is this the hell of the Salt Council?¡±

    The boatman stared intently at Isaac.

    ¡°You know nothing about Urbansus. Don¡¯t you know whoes to the afterlife?¡±

    ¡°Aren¡¯t dead people supposed toe here?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Dead people. Times that have passed. Urbansus is the umtion of all the past. The past time. The dead time. The strata of the past. The dead are merely inserted into the crevices of those moments.¡±

    Isaac didn¡¯t fully understand what the boatman said. But then he remembered what Aidan had exined about the afterlife. The afterlife epasses all cultures, morals, manners, norms, and more.

    It wasn¡¯t the exact phrase, but he remembered something simr.

    However, reflecting on the currentndscape and the boatman¡¯s words, the true meaning finally became clear.

    The scene before his eyes was indeed a moment that had truly existed.

    It was an event that urred not long after Luadin buried the Salt Council.

    Isaac had arrived at the memory of that time.

    ***

    The boatman, who turned out to be the captain named Amunds, led Isaac to a ship nearly buried in the salt desert. As they entered below the tilted deck, they found it half-filled with salt, seemingly solidified during the sinking.

    Isaac had to walk half-bent over because of it.

    The captain¡¯s quarters were their destination.

    Upon opening the door, an old woman, half-buried in salt, was revealed.

    ¡°Ah¡­ we have a guest.¡±

    The old woman¡¯s eyes sparkled as Isaac entered.

    Despite her haggard appearance, the unnatural gleam in her eyes made Isaac realize she was not human. The oppressive aura she exuded was overwhelming, even more so than the Drowned King¡¯s.

    ¡°Forgive me for greeting you while seated, Isaac Issacrea. My current state is rather¡­ fixed.¡±

    Isaac wasn¡¯t surprised that she knew his name. The boatman knew it too. It was clear that the Moonwell Ritual had imparted the necessary knowledge to them.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t even realize you were sitting.¡±

    Isaac barely managed to keep his knees from buckling and leaned against the wall as he spoke.

    ¡°¡­Are you the god of the Salt Council?¡±

    The old womanughed heartily. Isaac thought he had been too hasty in his judgment.

    ¡°Hardly. Thank you for thinking so highly of me. But don¡¯t speak too loudly. The one who calls has be too weak and doubtful.¡±

    ¡®The one who calls¡¯ was a rarely used name for the god of the Salt Council, especially after being buried beneath the salt desert, it became a name almost unmentioned, almost like a mockery by the followers.

    The old woman, pointing to her lower half, rooted like a trunk, said,

    ¡°I am Amunds. The captain who decided not to board Luadin. Now, I am the one responsible for the Salt Council¡¯s current state and the captain who remained on the sinking ship.¡±

    ***

    The boatman, now known as Captain Amunds, left Isaac alone with the woman.

    Though she merely referred to herself as a captain, Isaac was certain she was a seraph.

    ¡®So it wasn¡¯t just the greedy captains who decided not to board Luadin¡­ Was it the result of divine intervention?¡¯

    That would change the narrative significantly.

    A god wouldn¡¯t havemitted such acts just to extort a few pieces of gold.

    The tale shifts from a story about human greed to a conflict between a once-powerful god and a newly rising deity. It¡¯s about the fall of one religion and the rise of another.

    ¡°So, the one who calls refused to board Luadin to check the growth of the Codex of Light?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right. After safely delivering Luadin, the Codex of Light flourished too mightily. It seems that wasn¡¯t satisfactory to the one who calls. But as you know, the result turned out even worse, and we lost the chance to reverse it.¡±

    Isaac found her words strange.

    Unsatisfactory results? A chance to reverse?

    ¡®Did she foresee the future if Luadin had been boarded? And the refusal of that choice led to the Salt Council¡¯s current state?¡¯

    It sounded like a hint of foresight or regression, and such questions flitted through Isaac¡¯s mind. Amunds looked intrigued as if she had noticed his confusion.

    ¡°Hmm, just as I¡¯ve heard. You seem to know nothing about Urbansus. Have you lost your memory? Or do you think it¡¯s better to leave it unknown?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t understand what you mean. I have no lost memories, nor have I ever heard of it.¡±

    Isaac said so, then remembered what Aidan had told him.

    ¡°My friend said that Urbansus is something like a collective unconscious that controls people, but this ce¡­ it feels like we¡¯re on a timeline from the past.¡±

    Amundsughed out loud.

    ¡°Your friend told you correctly. But to be more precise¡­ this method is better.¡±

    She began to scratch the salt-crusted floor with her fingernail, drawing lines. It was the image of a ship rocking on the waves under a scorching sun. Despite the doodle-like style, the drawing conveyed a vivid sense of life, as if it could move at any moment.

    As Isaac stared intently at the drawing, Amunds leaned in and whispered.

    ¡°You are on the ship.¡±

    In an instant, Isaac found himself standing on the ship.

    ¡®What?¡¯

    The sun was zing so intensely it hurt his eyes.

    Isaac went to shield himself from the sunlight and realized he was not wearing his usual armor but an outfit that felt ancient, reminiscent of Greek or Egyptian attire. And beside him, hundreds of ships were lined up, all looking in one direction.

    Isaac¡¯s gaze naturally followed the ships¡¯ focus, towards the harbor.

    Across the blue sea, something stood at the harbor.

    A pale-faced man, his body engulfed in mes, was there.

    At the sight of the man, Isaac immediately thought of one of the most famous figures in the world.

    ¡®The Lighthouse Keeper, Luadin.¡¯

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read up to advance 20 chapters or support me, you can do it at/Akaza156

 Chapter 122:

    Chapter 122:

    The Lighthouse Keeper, Luadin.

    He is the one who made the Codex of Light the most powerful faith in the world and still wields great authority as a renowned seraph. He was right there before Isaac¡¯s eyes.

    Around Luadin, there was a throng of people, indistinguishable whether they were followers or refugees, standing and watching the ships.

    The mes he was raising were as high as the tall trees around him, but it was immediately apparent that there was no heat. This was evident because the refugees were crowded around him.

    ¡°There¡¯s an angry man over there.¡±

    At that moment, Amunds¡¯s voice was heard.

    Isaac suddenly realized that Amunds was standing right next to him. However, she was not buried in salt or desated by it; instead, she appeared as a seasoned veteran naval officer with sunburnt, tawny skin.

    ¡°Can you guess why that man is angry?¡±

    In contrast, Isaac appeared to be a low-ranking sailor. Fiddling awkwardly with the spear shaft in his hand, he said,

    ¡°Because you promised to take Luadin and those refugees aboard but didn¡¯t?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right. That man has already paid a lot of gold. Now he can¡¯t find another ship. Moreover, viins are chasing them from behind.¡±

    Amunds, with her arms crossed, faced Luadin. Watching her nemesis, who had destroyed her congregation, she seemed refreshingly untroubled, as if it were just like the day of the tragedy.

    Luadin began to pray, looking up at the sky. Then, the refugees around him also started to kneel or prostrate themselves in prayer.

    The sailors on the shipughed or snorted at the sight.

    ¡®It seems miracles were notmon in this era?¡¯

    In Isaac¡¯s time, even if it were not a bishop but a mere priest praying like that, the soldiers would be pulling their bowstrings in a fit or chiding their priest, asking why he wasn¡¯t performing miracles.

    Especially for someone with such a distinct physical presence. It would be fortunate if they didn¡¯t fall into despair.

    However, the sailors seemed oblivious to what was about to happen.

    Suddenly, Luadin drew a dagger and wounded his palm. Instantly, mes burst forth from his body with ferocious intensity.

    Isaac and the sailors held their breath at the sight.

    The zing mes quickly rose and became a sun above the port city.

    Isaac felt as if he was going blind from the heat and brilliance. Would it feel like this to see the sun up close? His skin turned bright red as if it were cooking, and his whole body seemed to shrivel. It seemed not only Isaac felt this agony; everyone around him screamed and copsed.

    Then, all the pain stopped.

    The sun had not disappeared. Isaac realized that Amunds had blocked his senses. Not to protect him, but to ensure he witnessed the catastrophe.

    Amunds raised her hand to create a barrier of water. But even that bubbled and boiled away to nothing. Everyone scrambled for shade, and the sailors, blinded, couldn¡¯t even flee.

    Hell was all around.

    And this hell was much more terrible, prolonged, and cruel than being burned at the stake.

    It was too weak to kill by burning, yet too hot to survive. The sea boiled under the scorching heat. Ships carrying oil exploded, scattering oil rain everywhere.

    Isaac wondered if this would harm the refugees, but the light was directed only at the sea.

    The difference in brightness was such that, even under the same sun, Luadin and his surroundings appeared to be in the shade.

    ¡°Look, Isaac. This is the site of the first historic massacre created by a prophet who came to thisnd with truth and order.¡±

    Isaac thought the catastrophe was terrible, but honestly, he wanted to argue that they should have kept their promise. After all, this catastrophe happened because the Salt Council did not keep their contract.

    Amundsughed again, as if she knew what Isaac was thinking.

    ¡°You¡¯re thinking¡­ this happened because you didn¡¯t keep your promise, right?¡±

    Time seemed to fast-forward like a tape being rewound.

    Suddenly, the surroundings became a scene all too familiar to Isaac. This ce, once a thriving port city, was now dead, with ships either sunk or buried under the salt desert.

    Luadin crossed the parched salt desert on foot and headed for thend beyond the sea.

    To thend where the current Gerthonia Empire stands.

    Amunds watched the mes of Luadin crossing the salt desert and said,

    ¡°After that, Luadin spread the faith of the Codex of Light beyond the sea, receiving protection from many kings and emperors, and grew a great empire. The tale of the salt desert is always recounted with his historic emergence.¡±

    She looked down at the dry salt desert and said,

    ¡°In fact, we did keep our promise at that time.¡±

    ***

    ¡°You say you kept your promise? Was that sea of fire the promise?¡±

    ¡°No, it means we did put Luadin on the ship. We ¡®originally¡¯ transported Luadin and his refugees by ship. That¡¯s the real history. But the result was not pleasing to the one who calls.¡±

    She tried to raise her finger but dropped it weakly.

    ¡°Unfortunately, I can¡¯t ¡®show¡¯ you because it¡¯s a history that has been erased.¡±

    Isaac looked at Amunds, wondering what she meant.

    Amunds, looking at Isaac, seemed to feel the need to exin further.

    ¡°When Luadin arrived at our sanctuary and port city, Miarma, we had two choices: to take him aboard or to ignore him. We chose to take Luadin aboard and send him across the sea. What do you think happened then?¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ it must have turned out well.¡±

    Considering the feats Luadin has shown now, it was clear he would have created a remarkable congregation, with or without the miracle of creating a salt desert. After all, he is still a renowned seraph, isn¡¯t he? Luadin alone might beparable to a significant faith.

    ¡°Yes. The oue wasn¡¯t much different from now. He established a great empire and dyed many vassal states in the name of the Codex of Light. Our congregation enjoyed the blessing of entering Urbansus and bing one of the nine faiths, but we walked the path of decline, overshadowed by rtive power.¡±

    Not much different from now. But if there¡¯s a difference, at least in the past that Amunds speaks of, there would be no salt desert. Communication between gods and their followers would have been smooth, and angels would have existed.

    ¡°But the one who calls did not like that. And many angels, including myself, thought that we should have left Luadin to die rather than taking him aboard at that time.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re not suggesting we turn back time, are you?¡±

    ¡°No? What nonsense. Have you read too many novels?¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not about turning back time; it¡¯s about revising history.¡±

    ¡°¡­How is that different?¡±

    Amunds scratched her head.

    ¡°Let me exin it this way. You¡¯re walking down the road and find a knife on the ground. But you¡¯re worried about being used of theft, so you leave it and walk away.¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°Unfortunately, you encounter a robber on that road and end up being stabbed by that very knife that was on the ground. If you had picked up the knife, you might have survived.¡±

    ¡°There are crossroads in life, aren¡¯t there? So?¡±

    ¡°But you¡¯re already dead. That can¡¯t be reversed. It¡¯s a truly regrettable fact. Up to here, it¡¯s a ¡®fact¡¯ that realistically happened.¡±

    She looked intently at Isaac.

    ¡°But your surviving family would be different, right? They might resolve to carry a knife to protect themselves on their travels. But let¡¯s say someone is a captain of the guard. From the captain¡¯s perspective, he might not like people carrying knives around. Eventually, he decided to slightly modify the ¡®fact¡¯ that happened.¡±

    ¡°Modify what happened?¡±

    ¡°He spread the rumor that ¡®you didn¡¯t die because youcked a knife, but because someone held a grudge against you.¡¯ Your honor would be tarnished, but if the belief that ¡®you got stabbed because you deserved it¡¯ spreads, people will feel safer and reduce the number of times they carry knives around.¡±

    ¡°The rtives wouldn¡¯t just stand by, would they?¡±

    ¡°Of course not. Either the captain or the rtives would fight over the ¡®fact¡¯ of your death. Regardless of the truth, the winner determines ¡®history.¡¯ Do you understand? ¡®History¡¯ and ¡®fact¡¯ are separate.¡±

    Isaac finally understood what Amunds was saying.

    ¡°Is that¡­ what happened to the Salt Council?¡±

    ¡°Yes. ¡®Factually,¡¯ Luadin did not create the salt desert. But the Salt Council tried to revise that ¡®history¡¯ and ended up defeated, in a more terrible state.¡±

    Amunds stopped there, grinned, and said,

    ¡°Now do you understand that Urbansus is time itself that has passed?¡±

    Isaac understood.

    Eidan said that Urbansus is like a collective unconscious. Even the way to hold a spoon is learned from Urbansus.

    But if one day the gods and angels decide in Urbansus that ¡®there is no such thing as a spoon,¡¯ then the spoon suddenly bes an unidentified tool.

    ¡°¡®Fact¡¯ doesn¡¯t need to be changed. If you change ¡®history,¡¯ ¡®the present¡¯ will be believed as the truth, and people¡¯s perceptions and the world will also change. Just like the followers of the Salt Council now believe in a false history and cannot lie.¡±

    There are multiple streams of time in the world.

    That time is woven like warp and weft and bes one present when ovepped.

    If there is a god who cannot tolerate that history, they try to ¡®revise¡¯ it through miracles or angels. But if that request conflicts with other gods, the gods determine the direction of history through war or negotiation.

    Once history is revised, we live as if we have always lived in that world from the beginning.

    It¡¯s an unbelievable thing, but that¡¯s what¡¯s possible in Urbansus.

    The afterlife.

    A ce where the dead, worlds, knowledge, and time converge, Urbansus.

    And one of those revised histories was the Salt Desert incident.

    The war in Urbansus waged by the Salt Council and the Codex of Light.

    ¡°Then other faiths must have an afterlife too.¡±

    ¡°Not all. Only the nine faiths.¡±

    Amunds said with a smile.

    ¡°The ancient gods do not have an afterlife. How do you think the Codex of Light managed to defeat those mighty ancient gods and stand in their ce now?¡±

    There is no afterlife for ancient faiths.

    Urbansus is only possessed by the nine faiths.

    The ancient gods just wield power and enjoy authority in the present world.

    Isaac could now understand how the ancient gods, who once built a great empire, fell and were defeated by the emerging force of the nine faiths.

    The ancient faiths could not defeat the nine faiths, who brought the invention of the ¡®afterlife.¡¯

    Led by the Codex of Light, the first to enter Urbansus, as other faiths appeared or joined, the ancient gods without an afterlife fell and degenerated into lowly beasts. Their once-held divinity was still strong but notparable to the nine faiths.

    ¡°How that could happen, why there are ¡®nine faiths,¡¯ I cannot exin. I don¡¯t know either, except that ¡®it was always so.¡¯ If anyone knows, it would be from the Codex of Light.¡±

    Isaac realized just howplex and dangerous the world he thought was simply the afterlife, Urbansus, was.

    There was a reason why the gods had to focus more energy and power on this ce, which is merely an afterlifepared to the present.

    No matter how much one wins in the present, if they lose in history, they don¡¯t know how they will be transformed.

    ¡°People think of the afterlife as ¡®a ce where those who died in the past gather¡¯¡­¡±

    Amunds said with a somewhat dry smile.

    ¡°Originally, the present is dominated by the past.¡±

    ***

    After listening to Amunds, Isaac thought for a moment before speaking.

    ¡°Thank you for exining all this, but¡­¡±

    However, there was one thing Isaac did not understand.

    Why was Amunds kindly exining all this to him? After all, to Amunds, he was nothing more than an uninvited guest.

    Although the Drowned King had sent Isaac this far, Isaac was a suspicious character who had killed an angel of the Salt Council and harbored an unknown chaos within.

    Yet, Amunds kindly exined everything.

    ¡°Why are you exining all this to me?¡±

    Was it a request for cooperation for a new historical transformation? If so, Isaac could not ept it.

    Even if it was a request to deal with Luadin, regardless of whether it was possible, Isaac could not even predict what would happen to reality as a result.

    At that, Amundsughed heartily.

    ¡°Because you came to Urbansus in the first ce to hear this exnation.¡±

    ¡°Yes?¡±

    Isaac¡¯s body tensed at the words that followed from Amunds.

    ¡°Why do you think chaos chose you?¡±

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read up to advance 20 chapters or support me, you can do it at/Akaza156

 Chapter 123:

    Chapter 123:

    Chapter 123. Urbansus (3)

    ¡°¡­Are you asking why I was chosen?¡±

    Isaac was neither surprised nor flustered by the mention of the Nameless Chaos.

    It was a situation he had somewhat anticipated. Since the Drowned King seemed to have already conveyed information about him, it was unlikely that Amunds was unaware. What he wondered was why Amunds was being so kind to him, knowing that he had been chosen by the Nameless Chaos.

    ¡®Wasn¡¯t the Nameless Chaos disliked by the other gods?¡¯

    Perhaps it was due to a personal liking for Isaac. Regardless of the circumstances, there was a reason why Amunds was being favorable to him, and ordingly, there was something she wanted.

    ¡°Yes. Of course, you have exceptional talent. You¡¯re quite smart too. But there¡¯s a reason the Nameless Chaos chose you. Now that you¡¯ve heard the story of Urbansus, you must have some thoughts.¡±

    Isaac thought back to the first time he encountered the Nameless Chaos.

    After clearing all eight yable faiths of Nameless Chaos, he chose a new hidden faith called the Nameless Chaos.

    But now, thinking about it, it wasn¡¯t Isaac who chose the Nameless Chaos; perhaps it was the Nameless Chaos that chose him.

    While pondering this, Isaac recalled a familiar concept about Urbansus.

    ¡®Come to think of it, the concept of Urbansus is a bit¡­ like a game, isn¡¯t it?¡¯

    For example, ¡®Nameless Chaos.¡¯

    The game Nameless Chaos deals with a story set slightly in the future from now.

    The protagonist chooses a faith and races for the victory of that faith.

    There are as many worlds within it as there are yers. Isaac, as one of the yers, died hundreds of times to restart and strive for the desired oue. Winning is very difficult, but the world changes significantly depending on which faith wins.

    However, if he doesn¡¯t like the oue, Isaac can always restart the game.

    Isaac thought that the game ¡®Nameless Chaos¡¯ strangely resembled Urbansus.

    ¡®Did the Nameless Chaos draw me in as its follower?¡¯

    There are many people who control the game better than Isaac. There are plenty who have done speedruns to clear it in the shortest time.

    There are also those who y well with optimized strategies. But one achievement Isaac had over them was this:

    He had yed and seeded in all the faiths.

    But soon, Isaac denied his own thought.

    ¡®¡­It must be just a coincidence.¡¯

    The concepts of changing history, turning back time, restarting a game are all toomon.

    If Urbansus is a world that can overwrite history, it¡¯s not strange for the game and the concept to ovep.

    However, he could make this spection.

    If Urbansus is Nameless Chaos.

    Or if it¡¯s a simr concept.

    No matter what changese, Isaac would be the person best adapted to Urbansus.

    ***

    ¡°It seems you¡¯vee upon a realization.¡±

    Amunds spoke as if she was quite pleased.

    ¡°¡­Do you want to join because you think I will win?¡±

    ¡°Something like that. You know what we want, don¡¯t you?¡±

    What the Salt Council wants.

    It was clear that she was referring to the victory conditions of the Salt Council as expressed in Nameless Chaos. And that did not conflict with Isaac¡¯s goals.

    ¡°To break the Salt Desert and awaken the Dreamer.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right. We have always referred to the entity that will appear someday as ¡®the Dreamer¡¯¡­¡±

    If it were possible to awaken the Dreamer simply by breaking the Salt Desert, it would have been done long ago.

    However, the god buried under the Salt Desert cannot be awakened from the outside. To awaken the Dreamer, only one who dreams together can do it¡­ that was the interpretation of the doctrine of the Salt Council. The ¡®one who dreams together¡¯ was a metaphor for Urbansus.

    But no one from the Salt Council had ever set foot in Urbansus while alive.

    Until they sent Isaac as their representative.

    ¡°If you are considering our request¡­ I will ensure that the Salt Council receives a revtion that you are ¡®the Dreamer.¡¯¡±

    Isaac¡¯s eyes widened at Amunds¡¯s unexpected words. Her words almost made Isaac a second prophet or savior.

    Even though he was already a holy knight of another denomination and an outsider with a different faith.

    It went beyond the ¡®full support of the Salt Council¡¯ that Isaac had hoped for; it was almost as if he wouldpletelymand them.

    ¡°Is that¡­ possible? I understand that the Salt Council is currently cut off from the afterlife.¡±

    ¡°Just send undeniable evidence in your hands. Don¡¯t worry.¡±

    ¡°¡­Even though I belong to a different faith?¡±

    At Isaac¡¯s words, Amunds shrugged her shoulders.

    ¡°To be honest, we are not pleased with the current situation either. How could it be pleasant to entrust our fate to an outsider? But there is a reason why the Drowned King sent you at the cost of his own life.¡±

    Amunds raised her finger in front of Isaac and whispered in a voice as if she was thirsty.

    ¡°Chaos always brings change. Always.¡±

    She grinned, her fangs shining sharply.

    ¡°There may be things that do not wee change. But the weak always crave change. There may be others besides us who wish for the intervention of chaos. Haven¡¯t you already been approached by someone who recognized your identity?¡±

    Isaac immediately thought of the Mirror Handmaiden of the Red Chalice Club but did not mention it.

    There was no need to show his hand. He had not yet confirmed Amunds¡¯s exact identity.

    ¡°There is a condition.¡±

    ¡°A condition? Besides the full cooperation of the Salt Council?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s just secondary. I originally tried to get close to the Salt Council to get answers.¡±

    Amunds¡¯s lips twitched.

    ¡°Good. If you¡¯vee all the way to theherworld to ask, it must be no ordinary question. What are you curious about?¡±

    Isaac had been looking forward to this moment since he made contact with the Salt Council through Aidan.

    He had tried to find answers on his own and conducted investigations, but the rted history had been persistently deleted. And now, Isaac realized that it had gone beyond artificial levels.

    Perhaps Urbansus had intervened and erased the rted history.

    ¡°What happened 300 years ago when the White gue was rampant?¡±

    Isaac asked about the history erased by the relentless Nine Faiths.

    ¡°Why did Nameless Chaos kill all its followers andmit suicide?¡±

    Amunds looked at Isaac without expression. She didn¡¯t seem surprised, as if she had expected this question. Isaac felt a sense of impatience with her silence and urged her for an answer.

    ¡°Please tell me. The erasure of records about the White gue went beyond the level of human intervention. Hearing the story about Urbansus today makes sense.¡±

    The Fate of an Empire and a Faith Hinged on a Single Act

    ¡°Whether Luadin was loaded onto the ship or not, that simple fact alone divided the rise and fall of an ancient empire and brought a faith to the brink of copse.

    That is the power Urbansus holds.¡±

    The events that befell the Nameless Chaos also suggested to Isaac that something had been decided in Urbansus and a particr history had been erased.

    ¡°If you don¡¯t know, then is there someone who can answer¡­ ?¡±

    ¡°No, it¡¯s not that I can¡¯t answer. I just hesitated because I didn¡¯t understand the question.¡±

    Amunds tilted her head in confusion as she spoke.

    ¡°Chaos. The Nameless Chaos. Yes, that¡¯s what it¡¯s called now. I see. That entity has always had thousands of names, no different from being unnamed. What I don¡¯t understand is, hmm. You said the Nameless Chaos killed all its followers andmitted suicide?¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t that right? Otherwise¡­¡±

    ¡°Although I am trapped here, history continues to flow in. The Nameless Chaos did notmit suicide. It was¡­¡±

    Amunds seemed to think again and waved her fingers in aplex manner.

    ¡°This is not erased history, so see for yourself.¡±

    ***

    Scenes passed by quickly before Isaac¡¯s eyes.

    From the end of the sea to the end of the mountain range, from the endless great cliffs to the distant ins, from the bright yellow desert to the forests reaching up to the sky. Isaac ran through all of it. He was a pdin, carrying the g of the Codex of Light, embodying the honored circle and the spreading rays of light, racing across the fields.

    The glory and order of the Codex of Light filled the whole world.

    ¡°It¡¯s andscape from 300 years ago.¡±

    Next to him, Amunds, dressed as a priest, followed and spoke. Atop the hill, Isaac saw the world spread out under the high-rising sun.

    The Codex of Light dominated this world.

    ¡°It was the time when the power of the Codex of Light was at its peak. The traitor Elil and the World¡¯s forge were banished to an ind across the sea, the despicable orc horde under Olkan¡¯s rule fled to the fringes of the world, and the Red Chalice hid in back alleys and brothels. It was indeed the era of light.¡±

    It seemed that the immortal order did not exist at this time. All knownnds and what could be called ¡®the center¡¯ were under the rule of the Codex of Light.

    Isaac could not understand how nameless chaos spread disaster amidst this bright prosperity.

    ¡°Where are the followers of the nameless chaos?¡±

    ¡°Do you not see?¡±

    At Amunds¡¯s voice, Isaac looked down at the ground. Only then did he realize that the hill he was standing on was not made of dirt.

    It was a mound of corpses piled high enough to form a shallow hill. And around this hill of bodies, new corpses were continually being brought and added.

    It seemed like a massacre, but no wounds were visible. Amunds pointed to the people who were carrying the bodies like a swarm of ants and said,

    ¡°There was a gue in that vige. The vigers pleaded for salvation from the priests of the Codex of Light. But the priests refused to perform miracles.¡±

    ¡°They refused to perform miracles?¡±

    ¡°Being afflicted by the gue is evidence of heresy. The priests thought the vigers had worshipped the gue god. Do you think it¡¯s nonsense? If they weren¡¯t heretics, they would go to heaven after death and serve the Codex of Light, so what¡¯s the problem?¡±

    Eventually, when enough bodies had umted, people sprayed oil and set the pile of corpses on fire. The fire spread quickly, perhaps because oil had already been poured over the hill of bodies. Suddenly, Isaac spotted a viger holding a baby amidst the approaching mes.

    The baby was crying out loud.

    In that moment, the viger holding the baby threw it into the mes.

    Without realizing it, Isaac tried to leap forward, but in the next moment, he was somewhere else. This time, it was a bustling downtown market.

    Isaac red at Amunds. Amunds, in the guise of a merchant, shrugged as if to ask what the problem was.

    ¡°Was that baby also infected with the gue?¡±

    ¡°No. It was a healthy baby.¡±

    ¡°Then what¡¯s the problem¡­¡±

    ¡°But it could have caught the gue. Being infected means heresy. Then you can¡¯t go to heaven. You have to die as a pure baby to go to heaven.¡±

    Isaac was speechless at the bizarre logic.

    Amunds walked on. The market was bustling, and the merchants were lively. But Isaac could not look at the market with the peaceful gaze he had when looking at the fields before.

    In the alleys between the market, beggars were begging, and a man with religious symbols tattooed all over his body was muttering something incessantly. In the center of the market, a bishop-certified cloth was being auctioned off and sold.

    Isaac felt a sense of dizziness.

    ¡°That¡¯s not what I asked about.¡±

    ¡°Weren¡¯t you curious about what happened?¡±

    ¡°Yes. When a single system overwhelmingly seizes power, it bes rigid and starts to rot. That¡¯s what happened to the Codex of Light 300 years ago.¡±

    Isaac said, ring at Amunds with annoyance.

    ¡°But after all, it¡¯s a thing of the past. I can¡¯t say that the order is clean now, but it¡¯s an old story, so it doesn¡¯t really matter, does it? So where are the followers of chaos, and did the nameless chaos kill them all?¡±

    At that, Amundsughed and replied,

    ¡°Everyone you¡¯ve seen so far has been a follower of chaos.¡±

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read up to advance 20 chapters or support me, you can do it at/Akaza156

 Chapter 124:

    Chapter 124:

    Chapter 124. Urbansus (4)

    Isaac was momentarily at a loss for words.

    The priests who refused to treat the gue, the farmer who threw his newborn into the fire for fear that his child would not reach heaven, the merchant selling indulgences, the begging poor¡­ How could they all be followers of the nameless chaos?

    Before he knew it, Isaac was walking through a monastery with Amunds.

    Amunds gestured to Isaac as they walked down the quiet monastery corridor. At the tip of her finger, there were monks whispering something devoutly.

    Amunds exined what they were discussing.

    ¡°They are precisely those who wish for the end of the world.¡±

    ¡°Those who wish for the end?¡±

    There have always been fanatics who cry out for the end of the world, regardless of the era. They shout that the end is near and that we must prepare for it immediately.

    ¡°But who do you think are the people who wish for the world to end? The poor? Those dissatisfied with society? The oppressed? Well, they might wish for destruction too.¡±

    Amunds showed the market scene again.

    ¡°But surprisingly, even those powerful and deeply religious also wish for the end of the world. They prefer ¡®and they lived happily ever after¡¯ to living in fear of when their glory will crumble.¡±

    The monks whispered a name. To Isaac, the name sounded muffled, as if erased. That fact alone made it clear that it was the original name of the nameless chaos.

    And suddenly, he felt a chill.

    The white gue breaks out just by knowing the name of the nameless chaos.

    They will die.

    Amunds continued, pointing at the monks.

    ¡°They think that the Codex of Light has pletely conquered the world¡¯ and thus established this glorious kingdom in their era. They do not want this beautiful creation to break. And they want to go to heaven before theymit more sins.¡±

    ¡°Surely, that¡¯s why.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not a guess; it¡¯s obvious. The Codex of Light says that the eternal kingdom is in heaven. Compared to that, this life, where one can sin at any time, is just insecure and ufortable. The same goes for the rulers, priests, and the wealthy. They believe they deserve to go to heaven because they contributed to this ¡®golden age.¡¯ So many kings, nobles, priests, and the wealthy hoped for ¡®the end¡¯ toe. The poor, in their own way, hoped for the end of this oppression and suffering.¡±

    Amunds waved her hand again and changed the location. This time, she took them to a vast desert. A pyramid-shaped altar was visible.

    The moment Isaac saw it, he felt nauseous with d¨¦j¨¤ vu of a certain scene that came to mind. Seeing Isaac¡¯s reaction, Amunds muttered expressionlessly.

    ¡°It seems you have been eroded by the memory of an event that took ce here?¡±

    Isaac recalled the nightmare he had and the ritual performed by a man in yellow clothes on this pyramid altar.

    ¡°It seems that really happened.¡±

    ¡°Yes. Among those you saw earlier, there were those who desperately wished for the end. They decided not to wait for the end quietly¡­ but to invoke it themselves. They began to draw out the faith, the power of chaos, that was spreading among themselves.¡±

    Terrifying memories shed through Isaac¡¯s mind like lightning.

    A tilting and distorting world, monsters crawling out using human skin as gates, mountains of human corpses. Scenes that could not be seen with a sane mind.

    ¡°Is chaos originally such a faith?¡±

    ¡°No. Of course not. But as I said before, everything in the world is influenced by Urbansus. The followers of chaos desperately wished for the destruction of the world and the end of this order. Then the form of that miracle could not be normal.¡±

    The result was tentacled monsters and a crumbling world.

    Isaac realized why the miracles he performed were all like this.

    They are the remnants left by those who wished for the end in the past.

    It is still a trace of Urbansus that affects Isaac.

    ¡°In the meantime, one person¡­ prepared this unprecedented ritual.¡±

    Isaac immediately thought of the man in yellow clothes. The man who always stared at Isaac with desperate obsession from the afterlife. Isaac was sure that the man was constantly approaching him and that he would eventually encounter him.

    ¡°Who is that?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know. His name was erased along with him. Even if I knew, it would be best not to mention it carelessly. This ce is also Urbansus.¡±

    Somewhere in this Urbansus, there is the man in yellow clothes. Amunds was warning him.

    Isaac was silent for a moment, then spoke as if he still had lingering thoughts.

    ¡°Even so, such a crazy cult religion couldn¡¯t have spread widely.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right. It didn¡¯t spread that much.¡±

    Amunds said, as if mocking Isaac¡¯s expectation.

    ¡°It spread to only about a third of the world¡¯s poption at the time.¡±

    At that figure, Isaac fell silent.

    The white gue that wiped out a third of the world¡¯s poption.

    Isaac realized that it was not the nameless chaos that spread the white gue. It was just that the n of the madmen who dreamed of the world¡¯s destruction had seeded.

    But their destruction ended with their death, not the world¡¯s.

    However, Isaac suddenly realized that such an absurd miracle could not have been aplished by the power of a single believer.

    It was impossible with human power alone.

    Not without the help of a god.

    ¡°Did chaos agree to all this?¡±

    ¡°It must have. Even if the man in yellow clothes was an unprecedented genius sorcerer, he couldn¡¯t have done it alone. Killing so many people at once.¡±

    ¡°Why would he do such a thing?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know. Gods create many mysteries. But even other gods may not understand the white gue.¡±

    It¡¯s back to square one.

    The white gue was not created by the nameless chaos, but the fact that it agreed to it does not change. Then why did the nameless chaos agree to annihte its own order with the white gue?

    ¡®Did it ultimately not withstand the pressure of Urbansus?¡¯

    ***

    Before he knew it, Isaac was back under the deck of the ship in the salt desert.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know if this is enough of an answer for you, Isaac.¡±

    Shey down on the salt floor, looking tired, and said,

    ¡°The white gue is the result that the followers of chaos wanted. Whether to escape the oppression of the Codex of Light or to leave the painful present life for heaven, the desired result hase. It¡¯s just that we don¡¯t know why the nameless chaos agreed to it.¡±

    That much is the will of the gods.

    As Amunds, who can only see the information that flows in, it was something she could not know. Isaac bowed his head, realizing that Amunds had answered as sincerely as possible.

    ¡°Thank you. Your answer is sufficient.¡±

    Amunds gazed intently at Isaac and suddenly, as if struck by a thought, issued a warning.

    ¡°I just want to caution you on one thing.¡±

    Tapping the floor with her fingernail, Amunds continued,

    ¡°Using strong divine power means that you are getting closer to the gods. It means the boundary with the afterlife is thinning. It means Urbansus could taint you.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve heard something simr from an acquaintance before.¡±

    Eidan had said something with a simr nuance. As the power of miracles grows stronger, individual free will disappears, and the collective will of the faithful can take over.

    ¡°At that time, I replied, ¡®Isn¡¯t that what happens when you join any group?¡¯¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right. If you set aside Urbansus and everything else, it¡¯smonly called peer pressure. Groups can¡¯t tolerate dissimrity.¡±

    However, Amunds¡¯s eyes sparkled as she pointed at Isaac and said,

    ¡°But you are exceptional. Strikingly different. The pressure of thousands of years, of hundreds of millions of people, will be transmitted to you alone. Right now, it might not be very strong, so the pressure from Urbansus might not be significant. But the stronger you be with the power of chaos, the more dangerous it will be.¡±

    Isaac kept silent for a moment, not responding.

    He understood what Amunds was saying and what she was worried about. Isaac¡¯s safe growth so far was all thanks to the power of the nameless chaos. But he also felt that he should not rely entirely on that power.

    It wasn¡¯t just about hiding his identity.

    It was the anxiety that a power given without reason could also disappear without reason.

    It would have been the same with any other faith, not just the nameless chaos.

    ¡®It¡¯s not entirely my own power.¡¯

    Isaac thought about the nameless chaos.

    It was clear that the nameless chaos was benevolent. And it didn¡¯t seem likely to withdraw that benevolence easily. Honestly, Isaac had trusted the nameless chaos and risked his life on it many times. It wouldn¡¯t be an exaggeration to say he trusted it more than anyone.

    But his afterlife¡­ Urbansus was different.

    Isaac now knew where his tentacles and miracles originated.

    From those who desperately wished for destruction.

    And the man in yellow clothes.

    The fact that the nameless chaos killed a third of the world¡¯s poption with the white gue means that a third of the world will exert pressure on Isaac.

    If such an alien afterlife pressures Isaac to ¡®be like them,¡¯ can he really withstand it?

    Amunds was concerned about that.

    After a long silence, Isaac finally spoke.

    ¡°I understand your concerns.¡±

    ¡°Thank you for understanding.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a serious matter to just say ¡®don¡¯t worry, nothing will happen¡¯¡­ But for now, it¡¯s been helpful to me. I should thank you again.¡±

    Isaac bowed his head in gratitude.

    So far, he had never felt his will being influenced by another¡¯s. But if what Amunds described was true, it woulde in a form beyond his awareness.

    But Amunds looked at Isaac and smiled slyly.

    ¡°I like your cautious nature. It seems the Drowned King¡¯s sacrifice was not in vain.¡±

    Suddenly, Isaac began to understand how much courage the Drowned King must have needed. That battle had been his desperate struggle to discover Isaac¡¯s true intentions.

    ¡°By the way, did you know I wasing?¡±

    Amunds seemed to know a lot about Isaac, more than what could have been conveyed through the Moonwell Ritual.

    She clearly knew a great deal.

    Isaac was curious, but Amunds covered her lips and shook her head.

    ¡°I cannot reveal everything now. Especially about you, as mentioning it might attract unwanted things.¡±

    She whispered with a smile.

    ¡°However, I believe that, unlike them, you wish for the permanence of this world.¡±

    Isaac remembered what the Drowned King had said before sending him to this world.

    ¡®Then I believe you, like me, also desire the permanence of this world.¡¯

    ¡°What does that mean¡­¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s time to go back. I¡¯ve already revealed too many secrets. I¡¯ll have my share of struggles here, so you go on and work hard there.¡±

    With that, Amunds pushed Isaac¡¯s shoulder lightly.

    In the next moment, Isaac¡¯s vision changed.

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read up to advance 20 chapters or support me, you can do it at/Akaza156

 Chapter 125:

    Chapter 125:

    Chapter 125. The Ancient Future (1)

    Isaac found himself aboard the ferryman¡¯s boat.

    As soon as the ferryman confirmed Isaac was on board, he pushed off the ground with his oar, and the boat shot into the sky. Overwhelmed by the incredible speed, Isaac fell back. The ground beneath his hand began to recede rmingly.

    ¡°What is this¡­¡±

    Isaac was about to express his anger but stopped upon seeing the ferryman¡¯s determined expression. The ferryman wasn¡¯t just steering the boat; he was rowing to escape from something.

    The fallen port city, Miarma, quickly receded into the distance.

    A vast white salt desert spread out before him. And just as Miarma shrank to the size of a fingernail, a ck wave appeared, dwarfing the immense salt desert. Compared to the sprawling ck sea, the salt desert seemed like just a drop of ink.

    Then, Isaac saw the giant pyramid he had discovered when he first arrived in Urbansus. Below the pyramid, everything except the salt desert was filled with dark waves. The area around the pyramid seemed to retreat as if it couldn¡¯t bear the sun¡¯s light, but the edges of the salt desert were constantly breached by the waves.

    ¡°Hold on tight.¡±

    The boat¡¯s speed increased even more.

    Isaac realized that the ck wave was also rushing towards him. On closer inspection, the ck wave wasn¡¯t liquid but a massive swarm.

    Isaac found it hard to shake the thought that this swarm resembled the movement of tentacles. Even as the ferryman rowed faster, the ck wave seemed difficult to evade.

    ¡®Are we going to get caught?¡¯

    Isaac drew the key of Luadin. Fighting something in the afterlife was the worst choice for many reasons, but if that thing reached the boat, there seemed to be no other option.

    Especially if that thing was what Isaac thought it was.

    At that moment, the fiercely pursuing ck swarm retreated, emitting smoke. Despite the vast distance, screams could be heard.

    The ferryman¡¯s boat had reached the area touched by the sun¡¯s heat. Now, leaving the burning ck swarm behind, the boat headed towards the sun above the pyramid.

    It was a kind sun, unlike the harsh sun that had dried up Miarma.

    Finally, the ferryman¡¯s boat plunged into the mes.

    ¡°Thank you, Isaac.¡±

    In the light that made everything seem distant, the ferryman suddenly called his name.

    Isaac, taken aback by the ferryman¡¯s sudden gentle call, turned around. The ferryman¡¯s face bore an expression of relief, like someone who had finished a hard day¡¯s work and was about to rest.

    In an instant, Isaac realized who the ferryman was.

    But before he could say anything, the ferryman ced something in Isaac¡¯s hand and murmured,

    ¡°I¡¯m d I could finish my duty by protecting you, even if it was for a short time.¡±

    The ferryman¡¯s blue eyes faded in the bright sunlight.

    ***

    [The Nameless Chaos is watching over you.]

    Isaac opened his eyes to the notification sound.

    As he got up, his body felt unusually light. Looking around, he saw the sea filling his view. He was somewhere on the coast, though he couldn¡¯t tell where.

    A terrible stench wafted from somewhere.

    ¡°Ugh¡­¡±

    Isaac groaned softly as he looked in the direction of the stench.

    The giant corpse of the Drowned King was rotting away.

    Like a beached whale, the Drowned Kingy sprawled out, his white flesh exposed, emitting a fierce stench of decay.

    Isaac closed his mouth at the miserable sight of a being that was once an angel.

    ¡°Honestly, it was Isaac who actually killed the Drowned King, and Isaac himself almost died at the hands of the Drowned King. If it weren¡¯t for the Nameless Chaos, he would have certainly died.

    However, at the moment when the final blow was struck to the Drowned King, if he had not epted death as ifmitting suicide, the oue would have been uncertain.

    Moreover, after talking with Amunds, his position was not iprehensible.

    Isaac approached the corpse of the Drowned King and inserted his tentacles.

    ¡®At least it¡¯s not a body that will rot away worthlessly.¡¯

    Angels do not die easily, but even if they do, they do not remain in such an ugly form unless they are cursed. However, the Drowned King was severed from the afterlife, so he could not tidy up his flesh.

    The tentacles burrowed into the body began to devour the flesh of the Drowned King. Although it was already rotten and decayed in many ces, it was not a problem for the tentacles. Unfortunately, most of the angelic divinity had evaporated from the corpse, leaving it with no more value than meat.

    [You have acquired the perk ¡®Poison of a Rotten Angel (S)¡¯.]

    [The blessing will be maintained until digestion.]

    But inside that body, Isaac discovered something.

    It was invisible to the eye, but it was like a small pearl. Isaac recognized that it was the essence of the Drowned King.

    [The Dark Eucharist has been activated.]

    In an instant, the tentacles explosively grew around the essence, wrapping it tightly. Then, as if asking Isaac, the tentacles paused before tearing into the essence. When Isaac nodded, the tentacles crushed it as if determined not to leave a single grain of powder.

    Brrrrrrr¡­

    Before Isaac¡¯s eyes, the corpse of the Drowned King began to dissolve into foam and disappear. At the same time, a considerable amount of faith began to seep into his body.

    Isaac concluded his ritual by devouring the body of the Drowned King.

    And then a familiar notification began to appear.

    [You have devoured the Drowned King (EX-).]

    [Your consumption efficiency has increased with the perk ¡®Intestines of a Dead God¡¯.]

    [The strength of the tentacles has permanently increased.]

    [The length of the tentacles has permanently increased.]

    [The number of strands of the tentacles has permanently increased.]

    [The blessing will be maintained until digestion.]

    Isaac sighed.

    ¡°Really breaks the mood.¡±

    [A reward for the subjugation of the Drowned King has been given by Chaos.]

    [Choose one of the following three rewards.]¡±

    ¡°Whether Isaac was immersed in his thoughts or not, the Nameless Chaos faithfully proposed a reward to him. He had already received an enormous reward simply by devouring the Drowned King, but that did not mean he was unwee to the rewards of the Nameless Chaos.

    However, Isaac had more questions than the immediate desire to strengthen his power.

    Instead of choosing a reward, he looked down at his left hand and said,

    ¡®Nameless Chaos.¡¯

    [The Nameless Chaos is watching you.]

    ¡®Why did you bring me here? No, I get it. You brought me here to win. So what I mean is¡­ who do you want me to defeat, and what oue are you hoping for?¡¯

    A god who gave destruction to those who wished for it and then gloriouslymitted suicide.

    Isaac could not fathom what he truly wanted.

    Regardless of the goals of the Nameless Chaos, Isaac hade this far to achieve his own goal, to be a Pdin of the Codex of Light and live well.

    So, is it just about giving what is desired to those who want it?

    But Isaac realized that regardless of his own will, the will of the gods would not leave it alone.

    Something is bound to happen within the next year, from the start of the Dawn Army.

    Something that could bepared to the Codex of Light turning into a salt desert, or rather, something that would cause a struggle entangled with almost all faiths.

    In that battlefield, the Salt Council and the Red Chalice even reached out to beings like Isaac to grasp the tail end of victory.

    Then what does the Nameless Chaos want by choosing Isaac?

    For what purpose did the god reach out to humans?

    [The Nameless Chaos is watching you.]

    [Choose one of the following three rewards.]

    But instead of answering, the Nameless Chaos shamelessly proposed a reward.

    Isaac chuckled and shook his head. He already knew that the Nameless Chaos could send other messages besides ¡®watching you.¡¯ But it kept its distance from Isaac until the end.

    Isaac had no choice but to repeat the threats he had always made.

    ¡®Whatever you want, I have no intention of choosing a crazy option.¡¯

    Isaac saw thendscape from 300 years ago that Amunds had shown him. He saw that ck wave overflowing from Urbansus.

    Although they could not be seen in detail, they were waves filled with tentacles, insects, bugs, and deformed monsters. Isaac found it hard to believe that they were unrted to the Nameless Chaos.

    No, in fact, he realized what they were as soon as he saw them.

    It was the afterlife of those who had served the Nameless Chaos in the past and wished for the end.¡±

    ¡°Those who call Isaac a traitor, seeking any opportunity to overflow and pressurize him to restart the unfinished apocalypse.

    However, he did not feel that their will aligned with the Nameless Chaos.

    In the end, Isaac could not immediately demand an answer from the Nameless Chaos.

    Instead, he checked the three rewards that were offered.

    [Crawling Chaos (S) / You can summon a divine beast belonging to the Chaos by offering a sacrifice. The quality of the sacrifice determines the grade of the divine beast.]

    [Scythe of the Boundary (A) / Turns the cross-section of the tentacles into saw des, devouring everything they touch.]

    [Shadow Cast Over the World (A) / You can wrap the tentacles in the color beyond visibility or hide them in the shadows.]

    After some thought, Isaac unhesitatingly chose the Shadow Cast Over the World.

    ¡®The S-ss Crawling Chaos is tempting, but¡­¡¯

    Isaac recalled the monsters he had seen in the afterlife. Of course, none of the bugs or tentacles he had summoned so far had been disobedient. The ones he would summon this time would naturally be the same. Moreover, a proper divine beast would have powerful and useful abilities like a Blood Knight or an Abyssal Beast.

    How powerful would the monsters described as the kin of the Nameless Chaos be?

    Yet, Isaac thought he should keep his distance because of that.

    He remembered Amunds¡¯s warning.

    The more he relied on the power of the Nameless Chaos, the more the afterlife would consume him.

    ¡®At least I have to be stronger as my abilities do.¡¯

    The Nameless Chaos is generous with rewards. Maybe he could obtain itter, and if necessary, he could summon it through a ritual.

    On the other hand, the ability to hide or wrap the tentacles in shadows was a powerful advantage for Isaac, who needed to conceal his identity. The functionality alone made him want to rate it beyond S-ss, even EX-ss.

    Lastly, he did not choose the Scythe of the Boundary because he did not feel the tentacles¡¯ offensive capabilities werecking.

    When he chose the Shadow Cast Over the World as his reward, Isaac¡¯s eyes shone with a deeper purple light.

    ¡®Come to think of it, I got a new perk.¡¯

    [Poison of a Rotten Angel (S)]

    [A rare angelic corpse poison. A powerful poisonbining strong regenerative power, divinity, the aura of death, and curses. Especially more effective against beings with divinity.]

    It was a perk he gained by devouring the decaying corpse of the Drowned King. Although the perk would onlyst until digestion, it was a very powerful weapon. Especially, a poison that works on beings with divinity, like angels or divine beasts, was something you couldn¡¯t get even if you wanted.

    ¡®Drowned King, you¡­¡¯

    Isaac felt a poignant feeling once more.

    ¡®You really give without holding back.¡¯

    The Drowned King would find it ridiculous, but Isaac thought that if he used it carefully, even Urbansus would be grateful.¡±

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read up to advance 20 chapters or support me, you can do it at/Akaza156

 Chapter 126:

    Chapter 126:

    Chapter 126. The Ancient Future (2)

    ¡°First, I need to figure out where I am.¡±

    Isaac looked around. Because the Drowned King had be the ¡®gate¡¯ to the afterlife, it seemed that the coordinates were set based on his body when returning. It appeared that Isaac had returned while the Drowned King¡¯s corpse, which had drifted here and there in the ocean currents, was stranded and decaying on the beach.

    It would have been quite troublesome if he had returned to the middle of the sea, so it was fortunate in a way, but the situation was still problematic.

    The air was cold, and the waves were rough.

    Judging by the vegetation, there were many tall conifers that usually grow in the north. Fortunately, it seemed that Isaac had not yet left the North Sea near the port of Norden from where he had departed.

    ¡°If I¡¯m lucky, I might have returned to the coast near the port of Norden, but if I¡¯m unlucky, I could be near Elil or Kilmar, where the World¡¯s Forge is located.¡±

    Both were faiths belonging to the White Empire, so they wouldn¡¯t kill or spare him, but he could still be held for a long time. Now that he knew the identity of Urbansus, he didn¡¯t want to waste time like that.

    Isaac concentrated his will and sent it towards his followers, who were scattered around carrying out their own missions.

    Hesabel, who was working on matters rted to the Red Chalice; Zihilrat, who was tasked with finding the retreat of an ancient god; and Kyle, who was managing the territory of Issacrea, all quickly responded.

    The first to send their will was Hesabel.

    ¡°You¡¯ve returned!¡±

    ¡°Yes. But I still don¡¯t know where I am. Can you gauge my location?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure, other than it¡¯s in the north.¡±

    Hesabel showed loyalty as if she would rush over immediately if called, but she was unlikely to be of help. After all, she was a perfect ind country person who found the concepts of fish and boats foreign. Isaac asked Hesabel to send a message to the Salt Council to search in the direction he was in. However, Hesabel gave an unexpected answer.

    ¡°There¡¯s no need for that.¡±

    ¡°Why? Are you trying to drown me in this sea?¡±

    ¡°What? No, I mean¡­ The Salt Council is already searching for you, Lord Isaac. They must be heading towards where you already are.¡±

    Isaac was about to ask how the Salt Council could find him when he suddenly realized he was holding something in his right hand. He had been clutching it so tightly that he hadn¡¯t even realized he had it.

    ¡°¡­!¡±

    It was the object that the Drowned King, no, Urbansus, had handed over to Isaac at thest moment.

    Then, he saw a boat starting toe ashore on one side of the beach.

    Following that single boat, a line of boats that had been thoroughly searching along the coast came in one after another. Isaac spotted a man who seemed to be hanging onto the bow.

    Eidan, who made eye contact with Isaac, waved his hand with joy.

    ***

    The ind where Isaac was located turned out to be an uninhabited ind in the northern Svalbard archipgo. The Svalbard archipgo was under the influence of the World¡¯s Forge sect, part of the Arl tribal alliance.

    Fortunately, there were no encounters with the patrol boats or guards filled with those furry beasts. It was thanks to the Salt Council, who had cunningly hidden and searched for Isaac.

    At the moment the Drowned King died, the priests of the Salt Council all felt a connection to the afterlife. They felt the aura of divinity, certainty, and the sanctity of that being.

    Afterward, they searched for Isaac for 48 days.

    48 days.

    That was the time that had passed in reality while Isaac briefly set foot in the afterlife. Isaac felt deep anger at this tremendous waste of time, but considering he would have been bedridden for a while due to the rampage of the tentacle monster, he managed to calm his anger.

    The reason they were able to find Isaac immediately upon his return was thanks to a special relic.

    ¡°So¡­ you found me with this.¡±

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s correct!¡±

    Eidan answered vigorously.

    ¡°It seems that Lord Isaac would return around the corpse of the Drowned King, so I was waiting nearby. However, the stench was severe, and it would have been troublesome if we encountered the guards of the Arl Alliance, so we were hiding. In the midst of that, this relic reacted and moved, so I immediately returned!¡±

    What Eidan held in his hand was a relic called ¡®Homnd of the Drifter,¡¯ which Isaac had once made.

    [Homnd of the Drifter (Rare)]

    [When seawater is ced in the bottle, the bow of the ship model always points to the ce where the seawater was collected.]

    It was thought to be an insignificant relic, but strangely, it was pointing towards Isaac. Or more precisely, it was pointing towards another ¡®Homnd of the Drifter¡¯ that Isaac had. Eidan began to exin.

    ¡°While I was unconscious, it seems I was also sucked into Urbansus. I unintentionally performed a resurrection ritual.¡±

    ¡°You performed a resurrection ritual? Then¡­¡±

    ¡°Yes. I also have no memory from inside Urbansus, but when I woke up, I was allowed the miracles of a priest. It wasn¡¯t through proper procedures, but¡­ Captain Hyanis and Chairperson Yenkos seemed to have anticipated it to some extent when they were preparing for the Moonwell Ritual.¡±

    In any case, having dipped his feet in and out of the afterlife, Eidan had performed the rites of a priest.

    This was an unexpected benefit. Eidan, who believed in and followed Isaac, had gained the status of a priest, surpassing a mere merchant or archaeologist. It even seemed that his power of miracles was much stronger than that of ordinary priests.

    ¡°But after returning from Urbansus, the Homnd of the Drifter had strangely changed. The water turned milky white, and the ship, unable to point in one direction, was spinning in circles, tilted towards the sky. Then, at some point, it pointed in one direction. So I followed that direction, and there was Lord Isaac!¡±

    Isaac examined the relic that Eidan held. The color of the water inside resembled the rippling salt desert that Isaac had seen.

    ¡°This is water from the afterlife.¡±

    ¡°What?!¡±

    Eidan nearly dropped the relic in shock but managed to hold on to it. He looked at it as if it were a treasure like no other in the world. It was an object that proved the afterlife, which had been disconnected for nearly a thousand years. It could not be neglected.

    Isaac also lifted the Homnd of the Drifter that he had, which was given to him by the Drowned King. It also contained the same water. Isaac remembered the words of Amunds.

    ¡°She said she would send evidence that I am the Dreamer, but she sent something so simple.¡±

    However, Isaac did not overlook it as being simple. There were times when a relic created more dramatic effects with the history and events it contained than its own function.

    The most precious relic Isaac had, ¡®The Rite of Division,¡¯ was a simple dagger, but after extracting the heart of Elil, it became a magical tool that could tear apart even angels.

    Above all, it was hard to think that a relic containing water from the afterlife would be ordinary.

    ¡°For now, I don¡¯t know how to use this. Since Amunds said he would send it down as evidence that I am the Dreamer, it must be useful somewhere. First, let¡¯s get off this ind¡­¡±

    At that moment, Isaac saw Eidan looking at him with an expression as if his eyes were about to pop out.

    ¡°Wait, before that, Amunds? Who is that? An unknown angel? And the Dreamer? What do you mean by that? Please exin in detail, Lord Isaac!¡±

    ***

    Isaac shook off the annoyingly clinging Eidan and entered the cabin.

    Eidan could be exined to, but Isaac strongly felt the premonition that he would have to repeat the same exnation when he met council captains like Hyanis or Yenkoster. In any case, Isaac had to stop by the port of Norden again before returning.

    ¡°Bring me some paper and a pen.¡±

    Isaac received paper and a pen from a crew member assigned to run errands and began to draw.

    The priests of the Salt Council would ask Isaac what Urbansus was like, whether out of their schrly curiosity or their thirsty faith. But apart from their curiosity, Isaac also felt the need to organize his own memories.

    ¡°Urbansus will be deeply involved with me one way or another in the future.¡±

    Isaac began to draw and record thendscape of Urbansus as he remembered it.

    The salt desert was only a tiny part of Urbansus.

    The first structure that caught his eye was the pyramid.

    The pyramid felt so massive that it seemed unreal.

    Like everything else in Urbansus, it seemed more appropriate to approach it as a concept rather than a physical entity.

    Perhaps the pyramid itself was Urbansus.

    ¡°And the noticeable ces in parts of the pyramid could be considered the afterlives of various faiths.¡±

    Isaac recalled the strange spaces he had seen throughout the pyramid. At the time, he hadn¡¯t thought much of it, but now he realized they bore the characteristics of different faiths.

    For example, the red river flowing down the wall could be thought of as the blood overflowing from the Red Chalice.

    The crackling mes could represent the World¡¯s Forge, and the space where broken pieces formed an order could be Elil, and so on.

    Naturally, the salt desert at the base of the pyramid would be the afterlife of the Salt Council.

    The salt desert seemed vast when standing on it, but when viewed from the top of the pyramid, it was as small as a fingernail. Isaac checked several other notable parts of the pyramid, but it was hard to be sure which faiths they specifically represented.

    However, it was clear that the sun at the very top symbolized the Codex of Light.

    That ¡®order¡¯ was repelling the encroaching ck masses.

    ¡°Then, are these ck masses the Immortal Sect?¡±

    But Isaac soon denied it himself. The afterlife of the Immortal Order does not exist in Urbansus. They had brought the afterlife down to earth.

    ¡°Then¡­ it¡¯s likely to be the nameless chaos.¡±

    Suddenly, Isaac remembered what Amunds had said.

    ¡°Urbansus only contains the afterlives of nine faiths.¡±

    Not eight, but nine.

    That means there is also an afterlife of nameless chaos somewhere in Urbansus.

    The afterlife, where the entire congregation that was annihted 300 years ago might be gathered, could be somewhere in Urbansus. Isaac couldn¡¯t think of any ce in the pyramid that might be it.

    However, a ce that he reluctantly guessed came to mind from thestndscape of Urbansus he had seen.

    Not the inside of the pyramid, but the masses eroding from the outside.

    Isaac thought that the ck masses eroding the surroundings might be the afterlife of the nameless chaos thatmitted suicide 300 years ago.

    As his thoughts becameplicated, Isaac stood up and looked down at the drawing he had made. He wasn¡¯t sure how valuable this drawing, which could also be seen as a map of the afterlife, would be, but he wondered if there was much significance in depicting an abstract world in a drawing.

    What needed to be clearly defined was Isaac¡¯s path ahead.

    ¡°My purpose is to make a great contribution by reiming the holynd through my actions in the Dawn Army.¡±

    And thus, to be recognized for his merits, receive des, and live well.

    It¡¯s a clean-cut goal without much fuss.

    However, the interests surrounding it didn¡¯t seem so straightforward. The Codex of Light seeks to reim the holynd, and the Immortal Order wants to protect it.

    Other minor faiths may cooperate or interfere with this goal depending on their alliances, but ultimately, who bes the owner of the holynd changes many oues.

    The faithsplicate Isaac¡¯s purpose.

    ¡°That means something important happens because of the holynd.¡±

    It was hard to think that the oue would be exactly the same as the game. Isaac had seen the game¡¯s ending several times, but the game didn¡¯t show how the world changed after the ending.

    In the end, possessing the holynd could be seen as determining some advantage in Urbansus.

    Isaac organized his thoughts again before his head got tooplicated.

    He didn¡¯te to this world to serve anyone.

    Nameless chaos, the Codex of Light, the Immortal Order, and so on¡­ He would take advantage if it benefited him and eliminate it if it hindered him.

    He erased theplex rtionships from his mind one by one.

    All power, angels, faiths, time, and concepts were erased.

    Only one thing remained in his mind.

    To survive in this world until the end.

    ¡°If everyone¡¯s purpose is clear, then it means it¡¯s easy for me to take advantage of, right?¡±

    In other words, his purpose had not changed.

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read up to advance 20 chapters or support me, you can do it at/Akaza156

 Chapter 127:

    Chapter 127:

    Chapter 127. The Ancient Future (3)

    ¡°Lord Isaac!¡±

    It¡¯s unclear how the news spread, but as Isaac¡¯s ship headed towards the Norden Harbor, the ships carrying Hyanis and Yencos approached. They were quicker than anyone else to board Eidan¡¯s ship and weed Isaac¡¯s return.

    ¡°You¡¯re safe!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a relief that you¡¯re unharmed. We¡¯re preparing a wee event at the port. Soon¡­¡±

    ¡°No wee event.¡±

    Isaac refused sternly.

    He is, after all, a pdin of the Codex of Light. It was good that he resolved the issues of the Salt Council with a heart ofpassion and service. It was also good that the Salt Council prostrated themselves before Isaac as a result.

    However, it was problematic that his involvement in the ritual and his return from the afterlife, being designated as ¡®the Dreamer,¡¯ became tantly exposed.

    ¡®The inquisitors are already keen on finding my faults.¡¯

    Isolde, who should have been monitoring Isaac, left for the Issacrea estate to report and has not returned since. It would be nice if her report was so well received that the Inquisition decided there was no need for further surveince, but that seemed unlikely. It was more probable that Isolde, who had been ¡®persuaded¡¯ by Isaac, had been transferred elsewhere.

    Isaac still needed to be cautious.

    He judged that it was enough for these three people to know that he had entered and exited Urbansus to subjugate the Salt Council.

    ¡°Let¡¯s talk for a moment.¡±

    ***

    Isaac told the priests of the Salt Council about what happened in Urbansus.

    The Salt Desert and the boatman, the fallen city of Miarma, the encounter with Amunds, the reality of Urbansus.

    He couldn¡¯t confirm specifically how heaven and hell existed within it, but conceptually, as an infinite space, it seemed not impossible.

    The subject of their interest was, of course, Amunds, presumed to be an angel of the Salt Council.

    ¡°Amunds? Who is Amunds?¡±

    With so many records lost, the Salt Council naturally had no remaining records of the angels. In a state wheremunication was impossible, every record of the afterlife was precious.

    ¡°He¡¯s the captain who decided not to take Luadin aboard.¡±

    At Isaac¡¯s response, the captains were turned upside down again. From the perspective of the Salt Council, he was a traitor who had caused their current downfall.

    However, they couldn¡¯t help feeling conflicted that she still maintained the status of a distinguished angel and had acted only ording to God¡¯smand.

    After all, the hardships they were enduring meant that God had dug his own grave.

    But what was immediately important was not Amunds.

    ¡°You¡¯re going to designate the Holy Grail Knight as¡­ the Dreamer?¡±

    Yencos¡¯s eyes shook greatly.

    Only Eidan nodded vigorously, as if he was the only one who knew this would happen.

    The one to break the seal trapped in the Salt Desert and awaken God. Essentially, it was like choosing the second prophet from among the heretical believers.

    Isaac nned to pour out curses on Amunds if they doubted or refused to acknowledge this. After all, it was as if they had sent ¡®undeniable evidence¡¯ and then passed the responsibility of persuasion onto him.

    ¡°It¡¯s shocking. But¡­¡±

    ¡°Well, it¡¯s not unprecedented.¡±

    They epted it more calmly than expected. They were not merely fanatical believers but also archaeologists well-versed in history and literature. They knew how many ¡®exceptions¡¯ like Isaac had existed throughout the history of faith.

    Yencos asked Isaac with a subtle expression.

    ¡°But I don¡¯t think Amunds would have sent you without any evidence. Perhaps¡­?¡±

    Her interest was more towards the evidence that Isaac might have brought, rather than doubting whether he was truly ¡®the Dreamer.¡¯

    It could be a treasure beyond the destroyed Fisher King¡¯s.

    ¡°I might disappoint you.¡±

    Isaac took out the relic he had, ¡®Homnd of the Drifter,¡¯ in front of Yencos.

    It was filled with salty white seawater, but its true identity was the water from the afterlife. Yencos carefully epted Homnd of the Drifter.

    ¡°Eidan has the same thing.¡±

    The two Drifter¡¯s Homnds were facing each other. They were the only ones in this world who had this seawater. It could be a mark to find each other wherever they go, but there were already many miracles for finding people or estimating locations.

    It was somewhat modest as a mark proving a prophet.

    Yencos looked into the two Drifter¡¯s Homnds and activated some miracle. It was unclear what kind of miracle it was, but soon after, Yencos turned pale and stood up abruptly.

    ¡°Uh¡­ what? This is¡­¡±

    ¡°Why? Is there some kind of great miracle?¡±

    ¡°No. This is¡­ just ordinary seawater.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    At Isaac¡¯s silence, Yencos quickly shook her head.

    ¡°No, no. The problem is that it¡¯s ordinary seawater! The miracle I just activated can measure how old something is, and this is, well¡­¡±

    ¡°Is it an artifact from a thousand years ago?¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    Yencos answered with a nk expression.

    ¡°It¡¯s seawater that will fill the Salt Desert three years from now.¡±

    ***

    The fact that it was an object from the future, three yearster, was more shocking than if it had been water from the afterlife. It was a definitive object of proof rather than an ambiguous prophecy.

    Even more so, it was the seawater that they longed for, which would fill the now dried-up Salt Desert.

    Of course, whether it could really be evidence of awakening God is unknown.

    But if Amunds really did travel through time via Urbansus to fetch the water?

    There could be no clearer evidence that Isaac was a prophet.

    In the end, it seemed that Yencos, Hyanis, and Eidan had no doubt in believing Isaac.

    ¡°The evidence, which also serves as the homnd of the drifter, was decided to be kept by Eidan and Isaac, each holding one, both belonging to the Salt Council.

    This will serve as a medium that the Salt Council will inevitably have to rely on Isaac for a long time.

    ¡®He handed over the evidence in quite an impressive way.¡¯

    ¡®Homnd of the Drifter¡¯ contained a message more powerful than any sacred relic or prophecy with usible power.

    It was as good as getting an answer to the question ¡®When will the deity return?¡¯ with ¡®It will return within three years.¡¯

    Of course, Isaac was left wondering whether Amunds really knew about the future.

    ¡®Well, whether it was a scam or real¡­ Anyway, I have to make this real.¡¯

    Isaac smirked bitterly as he looked at Homnd of the Drifter.

    He had seeded in subjugating the Salt Council, going beyond the goal of making them friendly, but this collusion had to remain a secret for the time being.

    It was fine to be friendly with the Salt Council. However, if anyone started talking about awakening the caller, it would displease more than a few people in the Codex of Light.

    The one who created the Salt Desert was none other than ¡®that Luadin,¡¯ and to say that the Salt Desert would be filled with seawater again could seem like denying his achievements.

    ¡®By the way, Bishop Juan was also involved in this matter, wasn¡¯t he? I forgot to ask what happened afterward.¡¯

    Since he was nowhere to be seen, it was clear that he had been dropped off at Norden Port or a nearby port. However, since the entire Salt Council had been looking for Isaac afterward, he thought they wouldn¡¯t know what happened to a single bishop.

    Isaac recalled the moment he finished off the Drowned King. It was clear that the radiant wings that appeared on him were the work of Bishop Juan. Without him, he might have devoured the Drowned King in a tentacled monster state.

    ¡®That¡¯s appreciated, but¡­ when you think about it, isn¡¯t it thanks to me that the miracle was revived?¡¯

    Isaac harbored a begrudging expectation of how the revived Bishop Juan would treat him. It seemed like he had been nning to raise him as a sessor or something, so now he might even propose to adopt him.

    At that moment, Isaac began to seend.

    It was Norden Harbor.

    Just as he was about to rejoice at the sight ofnd after a long time, Isaac noticed an unusually unfamiliar ship docked among therge and small boats in the port.

    The ships of the Salt Council were mostly fast and narrow. However, the docked ship was a warship. The imperial g was fluttering above it.

    And right below it, another familiar g was fluttering.

    ¡®Where have I seen that g?¡¯

    The coat of arms with a lion facing away from the sun.

    Isaac suddenly remembered where he had seen that coat of arms. It was the one he found when Isolde was sick in the monastery. Isaac finally realized the identity of the ship.

    ¡®Why is the ship of the Brant ducal family here?¡¯

    The sudden appearance of the warship startled him, but the sailors of the Salt Council handled it skillfully. They surrounded the ship of the Brant ducal family, pretending to be fishing or just returning home normally. The versatile sailors of the Salt Council usually acted as merchants or fishermen, but they could also be pirates when necessary.

    However, Isaac stopped such movements through Eidan.

    ¡®Tell them not to cause unnecessary misunderstandings.¡¯

    Isaac spected why the Brant ducal family had suddenly appeared here but couldn¡¯t think of any other reason.

    ¡®Does the Codex of Light also know that I have returned?¡¯

    It would be called an overinted ego, but he couldn¡¯t think of any other reason why a big shot like Duke Brant would suddenly appear with a warship.

    The warship was so tallpared to Eidan¡¯s ship that it had to be looked up at. Already, a considerable number of soldiers were lined up on the deck, looking down. Isaac deliberately raised his head so that his face could be seen well.

    Then someone who looked like a knight hastily poked his head over the railing.

    ¡®Excuse me! Are you Sir Isaac Issacrea?¡¯

    ¡®Yes.¡¯

    As soon as Isaac¡¯s answer was heard, amotion broke out on the deck. Shouts erupted to hurry and call someone or prepare something. Amidst the bustlingmotion, the knight looking down at Isaac hurriedly said.

    ¡®I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Isaac! Unfortunately, it seems you won¡¯t be able to go to Norden Harbor!¡¯

    ***

    Isaac set foot on the warship of the Brant ducal family.

    Fortunately, the knight¡¯s words did not mean ¡®You can¡¯t pass any further¡¯ or ¡®You¡¯ll never set foot onnd again,¡¯ but rather a polite invitation to the ship.

    ¡®I need to improve my vocabry a bit.¡¯

    The knight blushed and couldn¡¯t say a word. It was embarrassing enough that words could slip out, but it was a moment when the ships in the port could all turn into pirate ships if not careful.

    Isaac followed the knight¡¯s guidance to the VIP room. There was already one person waiting for Isaac.

    Despite his expectations, Isaac couldn¡¯t help but brace himself at the sight of the big shot in the VIP room.

    ¡®Ah¡­ Thank you for responding to the sudden invitation, Sir Issacrea.¡¯

    Duke Dietrich Brant.

    The cousin of Emperor Waltzemer and the leading contributor to the civil war. At the same time, he proved to be the most faithful believer in the Codex of Light with generous donations.

    One of the biggest shots, who ruled the wealthiest andrgest territory after the royal family, was in front of Isaac.

    He was also the father of the heretic inquisitor Isolde, but that was hardly relevant.

    ¡®May the Light shine upon your path. You are Duke Dietrich Brant.¡¯

    The first impression was that he was quite in for someone who was the next biggest shot after the emperor and the pope in the empire. The pope had a halo over his head, and the emperor had horns, but even considering that, Dietrich Brant had a very in impression.

    ¡®Oh, have we met before?¡¯

    ¡®How could I not know the most faithful believer known to all?¡¯

    He was quite important in the game, so it was impossible not to know. Dietrich Brant also ys the role of a quasi-suprememander in the Dawn Army.

    Isaac was surprised that Dietrich recognized him.

    ¡®It¡¯s surprising that you know me, Duke. How did you hear about me? Was it Bishop Juan? Or Duke Lyon? I¡¯m worried I might disappoint you if you¡¯ve heard rumors.¡¯

    ¡®Ah, it¡¯s nothing.¡¯

    Isaac tried to show a humble appearance with a social smile.

    But his expression broke at Dietrich¡¯s next answer.

    ¡®My daughter says you are a very lovely person. So I really wanted to meet you.¡¯¡±

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read up to advance 20 chapters or support me, you can do it at/Akaza156

 Chapter 128:

    Chapter 128:

    Chapter 128. The Brant Family¡¯s Concern (1)

    ¡°Lovely¡­?¡±

    At Isaac¡¯s grim expression, Dietrich burst intoughter.

    ¡°Ha ha, it¡¯s a joke. She didn¡¯t really say that.¡±

    Isaac looked at Dietrich with an expression as if to say, what kind of joke is that?

    ¡°But listening to her, as a father, I can tell what my daughter wants to say. Even if she doesn¡¯t use direct words.¡±

    ¡°¡­What did the inquisitor say about me?¡±

    Isaac didn¡¯t know what Isolde had said, but it was clear that Dietrich didn¡¯t see him as just an ordinary holy knight.

    It was an awkward situation for Isaac.

    Facing the second most powerful man in the empire as a somewhat aplished Grail Knight was one thing, but dealing with a father concerned about his daughter was another level of difficulty.

    However, instead of telling Isaac what Isolde had said, Dietrich brought up a different topic.

    ¡°Ah, she¡¯s not an inquisitor anymore.¡±

    ¡°What? Did she quit?¡±

    In the Issacrea domain, Isolde had dered she would monitor Isaac. But after she left the domain, there had been no contact.

    It was unthinkable that she had quit being an inquisitor.

    ¡°She¡¯s been indefinitely suspended from the Inquisition Office and is under house arrest. It¡¯s a shameful affair.¡±

    ¡°Indefinite suspension¡­¡±

    It was as good as being expelled. Although she wasn¡¯t the type to look around much, she wasn¡¯t ipetent. There had to be a reason for her expulsion¡­

    ¡°¡­Actually, there are too many points to consider.¡±

    She had always been treated like a burden by the Inquisition Office. Considering that inquisitors are often more involved in purges, assassinations, and cleansing operations, her position didn¡¯t fit her status. Thanks to that, she only went to scenes where she wouldn¡¯t have to dirty her hands.

    Moreover, she was a fervent reformer, using words like ¡®blind followers¡¯ in her heart. It wouldn¡¯t have been surprising if she had been expelled at any time.

    ¡°May I ask what happened?¡±

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you take a guess?¡±

    Dietrich asked Isaac back. It wasn¡¯t a joke about his daughter¡¯s issue; Isaac realized it was a simple test.

    A test to see the capabilities of a sessful Grail Knight.

    It would be easy with the Eye of Chaos, but he didn¡¯t feel the need to use it.

    ¡°Is it a heresy charge? Seems like she got entangled with the Red Chalice Club.¡±

    Dietrich¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. It was a test question Isaac had proposed, but he didn¡¯t expect him to guess so quickly and urately, even pinpointing the specific heresy in question.

    ¡°How did you know?¡±

    The Inquisition Office is an organization with strong internal unity. It would be difficult to expel a duke¡¯s daughter without a valid reason, no matter how much of a thorn in their side she was.

    But more importantly¡­

    ¡°Otherwise, Duke Brant wouldn¡¯t havee all the way here.¡±

    The fact that Dietrich Brant was here was a clue in itself.

    Isaac had disappeared from the world for the past few weeks, and thest ce his whereabouts were known was here, Norden Harbor. It was there that the great Dietrich Brant had been waiting endlessly, for who knows how long.

    ¡°Thedy was originally monitoring me. But after returning to the Inquisition Office, the contact was cut off. I thought it might be because the internal investigation results didn¡¯t please the Inquisition Office, but since it¡¯s a case involving the Prophet of the Red Flesh, I thought it was more likely she got entangled with that.¡±

    Whether the Inquisition Office tried to frame Isolde to expel her is unknown. They are skilled at such acts, and that¡¯s what they exist for. But regardless of the truth, just being used of such charges is fatal for an inquisitor.

    If you ask why they would do such a thing to the daughter of the church¡¯s biggest donor, it¡¯s because she¡¯s an inquisitor. It¡¯s an organization that looks into the dirtiest parts of the church.

    If Isolde had been an ordinary priest, they would have rather pampered her than kept her in check.

    ¡°To summarize, it seems that you¡¯vee to ask me to prove Isolde Brant¡¯s innocence and clear her name. Is my understanding correct?¡±

    Dietrich Brant nodded as if surprised. A look of satisfaction crossed his face.

    However, what bothered Isaac was Dietrich¡¯s expression. For a father whose daughter was in crisis, he seemed too rxed. Isaac wondered if he had missed something.

    ¡°Almost urate, Sir Issacrea.¡±

    ¡°Is there something I¡¯ve missed?¡±

    Dietrich looked around and carefully adjusted his posture. Since they were alone in the VIP room, his actions were merely ceremonial.

    Just an attitude that the words he was about to say were secret and should not be leaked outside.

    ¡°The truth is, Isolde is not innocent.¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°That child is indeed a heretic, Sir Issacrea.¡±

    ***

    Dietrich¡¯s story was perplexing.

    After returning to the Inquisition Office, Isolde had reported that Isaac was innocent and an excellent Grail Knight.

    However, not long after, Ilya Dote, the Eastern District Chief of the Inquisition Office, concluded that Isolde ¡®appeared to have been exposed to forbidden knowledge while investigating the Prophet of the Red Flesh¡¯ and ced her under house arrest. The term was until all signs of heresy werepletely removed.

    Isolde was furious and strong protests followed. But she couldn¡¯t fight against the Inquisition Office.

    In fact, the fact that she received house arrest despite signs of heresy meant she was being treated incredibly leniently.

    Of course, the Brant family¡¯s position as the church¡¯srgest donor in the empire must have yed a part. Anyway, Isolde returned to the ducal family with just a light disciplinary result of house arrest, despite the fatal wound of heresy charges.

    ¡°That was indeed a light punishment. Because¡­ Isolde was truly a heretic.¡±

    Dietrich murmured, stroking his lips.

    ¡°I knew Isolde made radical statements, but not to the extent of being called a heretic¡­¡±

    ¡°Did she say that the church¡¯s leaders all have eyes like melted candle wax in stone heads that need to be smashed? If that was the case, I wouldn¡¯t have called her a heretic either. That¡¯s just venting dissatisfaction.¡±

    ¡°¡­Well, she didn¡¯t go that far, but, um.¡±

    It seems Isolde¡¯s temperament might havee from her father.

    Dietrich Brant also seemed to have manyints about the church. Even if he had heard about him, to say such things in front of a Pdin.

    And yet, he¡¯s the church¡¯s biggest donor.

    ¡®Either a devout believer or a great ambitious man. One of the two.¡¯

    Either way, it was clear he was more dangerous than he appeared.

    ¡°I also thought it was the church¡¯s check when I first heard she was under house arrest by the Inquisition Office. She was indignant, iming it was unfair. But the child who returned home was clearly not normal.¡±

    ¡°Not normal means¡­ there were clear signs of heresy for anyone to see.¡±

    And yet, Isolde was safely returned to the Brant domain by the Inquisition Office. This could only be interpreted as a result of her being the daughter of the Brant family.

    It seemed like they were saying, ¡°We¡¯re sending her back, so deal with it at home.¡±

    But still, Dietrich didn¡¯t seem worried, although he might have been troubled.

    ¡°May I ask what the problem is?¡±

    For a moment, Dietrich bit his lip hard. Isaac was surprised as Dietrich¡¯sposure vanished in an instant, but Dietrich quickly erased that expression.

    However, he still seemed somewhat anxious.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Honestly, I still don¡¯t know how to ept this situation. I don¡¯t even understand it very well.¡±

    ¡°The more detailed exnation you provide, the easier it will be for me to respond.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s¡­ ording to the Inquisition Office, it seems that she received some kind of ¡®blessing¡¯ from the Red Chalice Club.¡±

    ***

    What Dietrich requested was simple.

    He wanted Isaac to visit the Brant domain and ¡®purify¡¯ Isolde, who was afflicted with the heretic¡¯s blessing.

    There were many more capable people in the church who could perform purification miracles, but Dietrich insisted on Isaac. It seemed to be because of the blessing that Isolde had received. Dietrich was reluctant to mention or reveal what kind it was.

    He acted as if he was just visiting a famous Grail Knight all along.

    Isaac then set sail for the Brant domain.

    However, the ships of the Salt Council did not return to Norden Harbor but instead requested to apany him. It was essentially a siege disguised as an escort, but Dietrich epted it calmly.

    ¡°I heard that Sir Issacrea has shown great favor to them. It¡¯s not easy to receive such respect from heretics, but it seems that Grail Knights have an amazing charm, as I¡¯ve heard.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s an overstatement.¡±

    Isaac thought, does killing their angel also count as a favor? But he epted it as a good thing. In reality, he was treated more like a prophet than just someone who had shown favor, but that was a secret for now.

    In any case, it allowed Isaac to stand tall.

    Even so, the difference in power between Isaac and Dietrich was as vast as the sun and a firefly.

    The Brant family directly and indirectly controlled nearly one-fifth of the Gerthonia Empire¡¯s maind. The size of the territory directly governed by Dietrich was enormous.

    He was a noble among nobles within the empire, with no equal.

    Justparing the nobles of the faction he led to Isaac was iparable. He was even a contributor to the current emperor¡¯s rise to power, and his daughter was devoted to the church.

    ¡®I thought it was just a distant story¡­¡¯

    But up close, Dietrich was just a doting father.

    During the journey to the Brant domain, despite the difference in power, Isaac quickly became friends with Dietrich.

    Isaac¡¯s charm might have had an effect, but Dietrich Brant himself seemed like a friendly person who easily got along with others. And it seemed that Isolde¡¯s judgment had influenced him as well.

    The problem was that his attitude was so ambiguous that it was unclear whether he was treating Isaac as a Grail Knight or as a potential son-inw.

    Of course, Isaac was under no illusion.

    The Brant family had the power to change the politicalndscape of the empire. And Isolde, as the only daughter of that family, was a political entity in herself. Even if Isaac was a sessful Grail Knight.

    ¡®It¡¯s true that Isolde views me positively, so maybe he¡¯s checking to see if any strange fellows are entangled.¡¯

    Of course, Isaac assumed that Isolde¡¯s favor was as a respectable Grail Knight, not as a romantic interest. It was natural for her to have some favor after all the effort he had put in. If Dietrich also thought favorably of him, that was enough.

    ¡°We¡¯re almost there. This is my home, Rougeberg.¡±

    Dietrich said as they entered the port city nked by sheer cliffs. Atop the cliff was a massive fortress carved out of a red rock mountain, too grand to be called a ¡®home.¡¯ The castle built on the steep cliff looked majestic.

    But the ship did not dock at the harbor. Instead, it anchored near the coast by the cliffs, and they transferred to a boat. They then joined the knights who had been waiting on the coast and headed straight for Rougeberg Castle.

    During this time, Isaac had to move with his entire body covered in a robe and his hood pulled down to his nose. Even the warship that had brought them here did not return to the harbor but sailed out to the open sea. It seemed to prevent the sailors from even stopping at the harbor.

    The ships of the Salt Council did not go to such lengths, but at Dietrich¡¯s request, they agreed to refrain from entering the port for a few days.

    ¡°The fact that Sir Issacrea is currently in my domain could create a somewhat difficult situation if it bes known. Since the secret will be out in a few days anyway, I would like to maintain security for at least those few days.¡±

    ¡°The security of the Salt Council is quite thorough.¡±

    At that, Dietrich looked intently at Isaac.

    ¡°Sir Issacrea. How do you think I believed you would return and waited for you at Norden Harbor?¡±

    That was something Isaac had also been curious about. Only Eidan knew that Isaac had returned from the afterlife, and they had been heading straight to Norden Harbor without any chance for rumors to spread.

    ¡°I bribed one of the Salt Council¡¯s priests at Norden Harbor to get information about you. There¡¯s no such thing as perfect security in front of sword and gold.¡±

    Isaac fully agreed with that point.

    There was no reason to refuse a polite request in the first ce. Considering the power that Duke Brant could wield, it was better not to make an enemy for a smoother life.

    Fortunately, the captains of the Salt Council understood.

    Isaac felt like he was on a secret mission as he went to meet Isolde.

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read up to advance 20 chapters or support me, you can do it at/Akaza156

 Chapter 129:

    Chapter 129:

    Chapter 129. The Brant Family¡¯s Concern (2)

    ¡°This is that¡­ the historic castle.¡±

    Isaac stepped into the red fortress, muttering impressively.

    Rougeberg meant ¡®red mountain¡¯. While it wasmon for the castles of great nobles to be renamed after the family name, Rougeberg was a ce too historic for such changes.

    ¡°You could just say it¡¯s the castle where Elil lived. It¡¯s a well-known story.¡±

    Isaac deliberately avoided mentioning ¡®that¡¯ Elil¡¯s domain, but Dietrich spoke of it nonchntly.

    During the era when the Codex of Light was spreading its influence while building a great empire, Rougeberg was the central city bestowed upon Elil, who had achieved numerous feats enough to be granted the status of a living angel.

    The castle, which waster passed down to his daughter, the dancer, had since changed hands through countless people and now belonged to the Brant Ducal Family. In some ways, it was a ce with a deeper history than the imperial capital, Ultenheim.

    However, Isaac had no time to be immersed in the nostalgia of such a famous historical site.

    Dietrich immediately led Isaac deep into Rougeberg. As they went further, Dietrich¡¯s steps quickened, and eventually, he was almost running. The smile that had been constant on the ship hadpletely disappeared, making Isaac think the situation must be quite serious.

    After passing through several heavily guarded gates, they arrived in front of a tower with a small garden. An odd and somewhat awkward sight awaited him in front of the narrow and diminutive tower.

    ¡°Have you arrived?¡±

    A group of women was guarding the front of the tower.

    They had an air of dignity not typical of maids, and their attire was not uniform. Seeing that they did not show formal respect even to Dietrich, they seemed to be rtives or acquaintances.

    What was strange was that all of them were holding weapons like swords, spears, or bows. They did not seem particrly skilled at holding them.

    Dietrich approached the women without concern.

    ¡°Where is Isolde?¡±

    ¡°She became somewhat disheartened after hearing about her condition, but she is healthy. She¡¯s eating well too.¡±

    Dietrich looked up at the tower with a troubled face. A silhouette was moving about at the window above.

    It was clearly Isolde.

    ¡°Understood. Please step back for a moment.¡±

    The women withdrew as instructed, dragging their heavy weapons away. Dietrich then turned to Isaac after scanning the surroundings.

    ¡°From here, it seems Sir Issacrea will have to go alone.¡±

    ¡°The situation feels increasingly strange.¡±

    ¡°Have you ever asked what kind of ¡®blessing¡¯ Isolde has? I think I can finally tell you.¡±

    The content had been so securely guarded that not even hints were given.

    Dietrich opened his mouth with difficulty.

    ¡°It¡¯s presumed to be some kind of ¡®charm¡¯ effect.¡±

    ¡°¡­Charm?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know the exact doctrine. But I¡¯ve heard that the Red Chalice Club has a relic or a simr type of miracle called ¡®love potion.¡¯ It¡¯s suspected that a simr miracle has been cast upon Isolde. Not to fall in love, but to make others fall for her. It¡¯s said to grow stronger over time.¡±

    Isaac was shocked.

    He too had yed the Red Chalice Club and knew what kind of miracle it was.

    Although it was ssified as a trash skill because it was non-mainstream and unhelpful inbat, it was also a miracle mentioned in countless legends and traditions.

    Charming someone or mentally controlling them was a specialty of the Red Chalice.

    ¡°How long has it been cast?¡±

    ¡°About three months now. We¡¯ve been looking for a way to purify it, but the matter is such that it¡¯s difficult to reveal openly, and it¡¯s more troublesome because it¡¯s not a curse but a blessing.¡±

    Some types of blessings are hard to distinguish from curses.

    Beauty is one of them.

    ¡°Originally, we thought it would be enough to be cautious of men and had only maids serve her. But, um, as the blessing became more serious, even the maids had to be forbidden from visiting.¡±

    ¡°¡­Did a problem arise?¡±

    ¡°Fortunately, Isolde has the skills to defeat any decent knight.¡±

    Isaac realized why women who seemed to have never held a sword in their lives were guarding the tower. It was to prevent men from entering out of curiosity, and in case someone did enter, to ensure Isolde could subdue them herself.

    ¡®I think I understand why the Heresy Inquisition hurriedly sent Isolde to the Brant territory.¡¯

    I thought it was a check against the Brant Ducal Family, but it was also a struggle for the Inquisition¡¯s own survival.

    If something happened to Isolde, it wouldn¡¯t just be one or two heads rolling. They must have hurriedly sent her back to her family before the blessing, or rather the curse, grew stronger.

    In the end, Dietrich, unable to find a solution, had sought out Isaac.

    The question was, why him?

    ¡°Wait, does that mean I shouldn¡¯t visit either?¡±

    ¡°Well, I¡¯ve found out a few things during my investigation.¡±

    Dietrich looked up at the tower cautiously as he spoke.

    ¡°The blessing, or whatever it is, is presumed to have been cast by an angel. It would be difficult to exert such power if it were simply cast by a priest.¡±

    ¡°¡­You suspect the Prophet of the Red Flesh.¡±

    ¡°Thest ce my daughter visited rted to an angel was there, so that¡¯s the suspicion. Therefore, the Grail Knight who expelled that angel is deemed suitable.¡±

    The Grail Knight who repelled the seduction of the courtesan and defeated the evil curse.

    It¡¯s a story fit for a fairy tale. Perhaps Dietrich is expecting such a thing from Isaac.

    But for Isaac, it was nothing but trouble.

    ¡°Is there no other reason?¡±

    ¡°Um, for such blessings, there is one method of release that is passed down.¡±

    ¡°A method of release?¡±

    ¡°To satisfy the conditions of the blessing.¡±

    Dietrich murmured, clutching his forehead. Isaac tilted his head, not understanding. Then Dietrich muttered as if he couldn¡¯t bear to say it.

    ¡°The traditional phrase thates from the legends rted to the love potion is that the blessing naturally dissolves when you unite with the one you love.¡±

    Only then did Isaac realize why Dietrich had been so polite yet seemed to be sizing him up as a potential son-inw during their journey here.

    ***

    As Isaac opened the door and entered, a dark staircase immediately came into view. Dietrich had already distanced himself. It was said that men could hardly bear even the scent that wafted out.

    [Nameless Chaos watches over you.]

    ¡®I do smell something slightly sweet, but I¡¯m not sure yet.¡¯

    Isaac cautiously climbed the stairs. But soon, he nearly fainted at the sight of a dark silhouette standing at the top of the stairs.

    Standing still in the darkness was a middle-aged noblewoman with streaks of gray in her hair.

    She held a sword and shield in her hands. Like the women outside, she was guarding Isolde.

    However, unlike those women, her stance with the sword was properly formed.

    ¡°Are you the Grail Knight?¡±

    The noblewoman¡¯s voice, devoid of highs and lows, reached him. Isaac cautiously nodded.

    Isaac suddenly realized that the position where she stood was quite strategic. If Isaac swung his sword, it would hit the wall or his vision would be limited, but the ce where thedy stood allowed freedom of movement and was convenient for swordy.

    ¡°Not only has she trained with a sword¡­ she has realbat experience. A bodyguard, perhaps?¡±

    Thedy just looked down at Isaac for a while. He wondered if something was wrong, but as he waited quietly, she eventually nodded.

    ¡°Your eyes are not bloodshot, you¡¯re not speaking obscenities, and you¡¯re not rushing in madness. I apologize for thete confirmation. Please follow me.¡±

    ¡°Ah, yes.¡±

    As thedy moved, the sound of clinking echoed. She had chains wrapped around her ankles. It seemed like a self-imposed restraint to prevent any ¡®unfortunate incidents.¡¯ She probably didn¡¯t have the key either.

    As they climbed the stairs and thedy came to a stop, the chains became taut.

    She pointed her sword towards the door.

    ¡°She is inside there. I entrust her to you.¡±

    ¡®She?¡¯

    It was dark, but Isaac realized that thedy¡¯s face bore a resemnce to Isolde.

    ¡°Are you the Duchess?¡±

    Thedy looked at Isaac with a haggard face. Then, as if realizing her mistake, she sighed.

    ¡°Ah, I haven¡¯t introduced myself. I haven¡¯t slept well for a while. I am Freya Brant. Her mother.¡±

    It was a modest introduction, but she was the Duchess.

    Isaac felt a strange feeling seeing the Duchess with chains around her ankles, standing guard all night in a narrow tower.

    Even the family that ruled the empire was, after all, just a mother and father to someone.

    Then Freya bowed her head and said,

    ¡°I trust that a Grail Knight of your renown will not allow any disrespect.¡±

    ¡°¡­You don¡¯t need to worry.¡±

    ¡°Yes. Thank you. However, if it really can¡¯t be helped, please ensure that she does not suffer any severe indignity.¡±

    Isaac thought that the parents were overly worried because they cherished their daughter so much. Of course, Isolde couldn¡¯t be left to suffer from this insane blessing, so it had to be lifted, but Isaac didn¡¯t want to cause any unpleasant incidents in the process.

    ¡®After all, doesn¡¯t the condition have to be fulfilled with someone you love? Isolde has never shown that kind of affection for me.¡¯

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡±

    But all Isaac could do was reassure the worried parents.

    Isaac already knew how to lift this blessing.

    And it wasn¡¯t a difficult method.

    ***

    As he opened the door and entered, the sweet fragrance intensified.

    Isaac felt a slight dizziness, but that was all. The room was small, and Isolde was not visible.

    ¡°Inquisitor?¡±

    When Isaac called out, there was a rustle from somewhere. Isolde cautiously peeked out from behind a curtain hidden by a pir. She looked much more disheartened than before.

    ¡°¡­Grail Knight?¡±

    A mix of emotions¡ªjoy, surprise, worry, hope, anxiety, fear¡ªflitted across her face. And at the same time, Isaac felt a throbbing in his head.

    He finally understood the impulse that men who saw Isolde felt.

    ¡®This must be the effect of the love potion or whatever it is.¡¯

    All of Isolde¡¯s charms seemed maximized and overwhelming.

    This was not a sensation that could be resisted. He had thought she was pretty before, but this charm was iparable.

    If the charm of a Nephilim caught the crowd¡¯s attention with the charisma of a leader, then the blessing created by the Red Chalice was a violent charm that made one imagine even the unseen.

    Contrary to the confidence he had before entering, Isaac realized that there was no way to ovee this blessing.

    When Isaac didn¡¯t respond, a look of anxiety crossed Isolde¡¯s face.

    Isaac took a deep breath.

    [ Nameless Chaos watches over you.]

    In that moment, Isaac rushed forward and stabbed Isolde in the sr plexus with the prepared knife. Isolde¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief, and then she copsed, rolling her eyes back.

    As Isolde fell, Isaac felt his head clear somewhatpared to before. But it still throbbed.

    Isaac hurriedly opened the window and sent out his will.

    ¡®Hesabel.¡¯

    Then, as if waiting for it, a red mist seeped in through the bars of the window. Soon, the red mist took the form of Hesabel and revealed itself.

    ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting for you, Isaac!¡±

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read up to advance 20 chapters or support me, you can do it at/Akaza156

 Chapter 130:

    Chapter 130:

    Chapter 130. The Brant Family¡¯s Concern (3)

    Isaac realized that Hesabel was nearby around the time they arrived in Rougeberg

    ¡°Isaac had anticipated that the Prophet of Red Flesh would return someday. So, while he was on his way to Norden Harbor, he investigated and prepared countermeasures against the Prophet of Red Flesh for Hesabel.

    The fact that she had already arrived here was no coincidence.

    ¡°Is the Prophet of Red Flesh causing trouble again?¡±

    ¡°Yes, it seems so. Given the aftermath of being expelled and having even the flesh torn, it¡¯s understandable that the Prophet wouldn¡¯t reveal their true form and instead engage in such subterfuge.¡±

    Upon seeing Isolde, she recoiled in fear.

    ¡°Wow, this¡­ It¡¯s incredibly well-aged. Unless it¡¯s imprisonment, it¡¯s rare to reach this state. Well, practically speaking, it¡¯s as good as being imprisoned.¡±

    ¡°Well-aged?¡±

    ¡°Usually, before reaching this stage, whether it¡¯s a man or a woman, they bear the fruit of love¡­¡±

    ¡°Never mind that. Why did the Prophet of Red Flesh do this? Well, it¡¯s not urgent now. Do you know how to deal with it?¡±

    The dagger that pierced Isolde¡¯s chest was the EX-ss relic of the Red Chalice, the Rite of Division.

    Although it was a dagger that could even rend angels, against an ordinary person, it barely left a scratch on Isolde¡¯s flesh.

    However, whether it was a curse or a blessing from the Red Chalice, it was top-notch as a catalyst for rituals. And the person who would assist in the ritual was the heir of one of the three major families in the Wachia Kingdom, the Duke of Gullmar.

    There was no reason why they couldn¡¯t undo the curse, even if the opponent was an angel.

    Hesabel examined Isolde¡¯s condition and then spoke.

    ¡°There are two ways: a simple, straightforward method and a difficult, arduous one. Which one would you prefer?¡±

    ¡°¡­Usually, in cases like this, the difficult and arduous method bes the solution. Tell me the simpler one first.¡±

    Hesabel chuckled.

    ¡°Actually, the rumors are true. What has afflicted this youngdy is called the ¡®Doctrine of Thirsty Love.¡¯ It¡¯s often referred to as the ¡®Love Elixir¡¯ because it usually works as a catalyst. However, contrary to popr belief, the one affected by the miracle ends up in a position of being loved.¡±

    ¡°So?¡±

    ¡°The solution is straightforward. Connect with someone else.¡±

    As Isaac tightened his grip on her face, Hesabel continued her exnation.

    ¡°However, unlike the stories, it doesn¡¯t have to be someone you love. Originally, this miracle was used for that purpose. But it seems the Duke doesn¡¯t want to connect his daughter with just anyone. Considering that he went to great lengths to bring you here, he probably doesn¡¯t worry about where you¡¯ll end up¡­¡±

    Isaac interrupted her.

    ¡°Tell me about the difficult,plex, and arduous method.¡±

    ¡°It involves infiltrating the afflicted person¡¯s mental realm and engaging in a battle of miracles. Such a powerful blessing has a self-protective nature.¡±

    Hesabel spoke seriously.

    ¡°In other words, you might have to fight the Prophet of Red Flesh again. Isaac, honestly, this path is likely a trap. Why would the Prophet of Red Flesh curse you or this youngdy? Well, it¡¯s not urgent now. Do you know how to prepare for the method?¡±

    Exorcising a person possessed by a demon was one thing, but it might not be easy for Isaac, especially if the curse itself acted as a sort of bait through a human intermediary.

    However, Isaac answered without hesitation.

    ¡°Then the easier path is probably the trap. Prepare for the method of infiltrating the mental realm.¡±

    Despite grumbling, Hesabel prepared for the ritual.

    Although it was originally a powerful angelic blessing, with just the Rite of Division, all other conditions could be bypassed.

    Hesabel was also highly skilled as a ritual performer. There was hardly any room for error.

    ¡®If only I can keep my wits about me.¡¯

    For a moment, he imagined Isolde¡¯s disheveled appearance. Even when he nursed her body afflicted by the gue, he hadn¡¯t felt this way. The miracle was the first thing that truly frightened him.

    ¡®Come to think of it, they said women should be cautious too. But Hesabel seems unfazed.¡¯

    ¡°Are you okay?¡±

    ¡°Yes? Oh, well. I¡¯ve ovee even the temptation of an angel¡¯s fruit, so what?¡±

    Hesabel replied with a chuckle.

    It seems that the Prophet of Red Flesh referred to the flesh he offered as the fruit of an angel.

    Seeing how she spoke so lightly of the current temptationpared to what she had felt before, Isaac could tell how great a temptation she had ovee.

    ¡®Of course, the Mirror Handmaiden helped control the desire back then.¡¯

    Only then did Isaac think of another angel.

    Azy being who had offered to help and proposed an alliance but did nothing.

    It was time to demand the Mirror Handmaiden¡¯s worth.

    ***

    While Hesabel was preparing the ritual, Isaac brought all the mirrors from the other room. Standing in a room surrounded by mirrors felt strange, but he knew of no other way to summon the Mirror Handmaiden.

    ¡°I know you¡¯ve been watching me.¡±

    Isaac spoke while looking into the mirror.

    ¡°This situation must not be unrted to you. If you have something to say,e out and talk now.¡±

    Then, the reflection of Isaac in the mirror slowly tilted its head.

    The reflections of Isaac in the other mirrors also began to move. Some started trimming their nails, and others leisurely reclined in chairs.

    Only one kept a straight gaze on Isaac.

    ¡°What has our Grail Knight gotten himself twisted up in this time?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t y dumb. You¡¯re here to clean up the mess you guys made.¡±

    In the Red Chalice Club, where conspiracy and assassination are the main skills, it¡¯smon for angels to hatch ns unknown to each other.

    But considering that all of it ultimately rolls under the n of the Red Chalice, it was impossible for the Mirror Handmaiden, who is thought to represent her will, to be unaware of this situation.

    As expected, the Mirror Handmaiden already knew.

    ¡°Isolde Bratt. A beautiful, capable, ambitiousdy with a good background. Why?¡±

    ¡°Did the Prophet of Red Flesh cast something like the Doctrine of Thirsty Love on her?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s more than that.¡±

    The Mirror Handmaiden said, brushing back her hair. Since it was Isaac¡¯s own face, the gesture felt strangely out of ce.

    ¡°She was fed a piece of flesh. Thanks to that, she¡¯s made everyone around her unable to help but love her.¡±

    Isaac was at a loss for words.

    It was more than a mere blessing. The Prophet of Red Flesh had risked losing part of his power to do this.

    ¡°Why go to such lengths?¡±

    ¡°Why not?¡±

    The Mirror Handmaiden shrugged.

    ¡°Isolde Brant is the only daughter of the Duke of Brant. There¡¯s a saying that the man who wins her will have the empire as a dowry. If you can control her, it¡¯s a hundred times more valuable an investment than the Hendlock domain.¡±

    ¡°Cut the nonsense. Isolde isn¡¯t a follower of the Red Chalice Club. It¡¯s impossible to control her, isn¡¯t it? Other than messing with her, it¡¯s a useless trick.¡±

    At that, the Mirror Handmaidenughed out loud.

    ¡°Right. You could feel that way.¡±

    The Mirror Handmaiden smiled, arms crossed.

    ¡°But Isaac, I don¡¯t see why you¡¯re angry. Is there anything disadvantageous for you in this situation?¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s true that the Prophet of Red Flesh fed Isolde flesh to mess with you. But do you think she nned and proceeded with it all on her own? I led her to it. To give you a gift, as promised.¡±

    Isaac¡¯s eyebrows twitched.

    A gift?

    ¡°As I said, Isolde is a beautifuldy with a good background. And you are a rising hero and a Grail Knight. The two of you could make a well-matched pair. So why refuse?¡±

    Isaac was momentarily speechless.

    So, this trickery was to ¡®gift¡¯ Isolde to Isaac.

    Even if you take your mind off it for a moment, it sounded usible. If Isaac takes Isolde, and although the order is a bit reversed, receives the approval of the Duke and Duchess, and manages the situation well, he would live the perfect ¡®sessful life¡¯ he wanted.

    And that was the way the Red Chalice had been taking power.

    ¡°As you said, we can¡¯t control Isolde. But the Brant Duke¡¯s family is powerful. And we are allies with you. So if you take hold of the Duke¡¯s family, our power will also grow, won¡¯t it? Isn¡¯t that a win-win?¡±

    In an instant, Isaac kicked the mirror in front of him. The mirror shattered into pieces.

    The other mirrors, which had been feigning indifference, all looked at Isaac at once.

    Isaac growled in a voice that seemed to rumble.

    ¡°Don¡¯t equate me with the likes of you.¡±

    The Mirror Handmaiden remained silent for a moment, waiting for Isaac to calm his anger. Countless reflections of Isaac stared back at him from the shattered fragments.

    When Isaac no longer showed his anger, she spoke.

    ¡°I apologize if I seemed tock empathy. I thought you would appreciate this kind of logic based on your usual manner of speaking.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°Then let me put it this way. Isolde Brant has feelings for you. And from what I can see, you¡¯re not entirely indifferent to Isolde either.¡±

    ¡°Nonsense¡­¡±

    ¡°I know you regard most people around you as mere pawns with some attachment. But it¡¯s clear that you consider Isolde special. I¡¯m an expert in love, at least more so than you.¡±

    Isaac was so dumbfounded that he was at a loss for words, but the Mirror Handmaiden continued.

    ¡°However, from my perspective, this mismatched pair seems unlikely toe together properly unless they¡¯re bound by a ¡®curse that can¡¯t be escaped unless fulfilled.¡¯¡±

    ¡°Cut the crap. It¡¯s none of your business how I feel about Isolde. I have neither the heart nor the intention for it. Especially not in this situation.¡±

    At Isaac¡¯s stubborn refusal, the Mirror Handmaiden sighed.

    ¡°Your aversion is abnormal, you know?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s your logic that¡¯s twisted. You vampires and cannibals who enjoy orgies.¡±

    ¡°Fine. If you¡¯re going to refuse to the end, I¡¯ll tell you another way to resolve this situation.¡±

    The Mirror Handmaiden agreed to advise on another method, but she didn¡¯t know a simple and easy way to resolve the situation in one fell swoop.

    She had to at least give Isaac the impression that she was bestowing a favor upon him.

    ¡°Let Isolde absorb the flesh.¡±

    ¡°¡­The flesh of an angel?¡±

    Isaac doubted whether the Mirror Handmaiden was ying tricks again.

    He knew all too well what she had tried to do by feeding Hesabel the red flesh before, and he couldn¡¯t do the same to Isolde.

    But the Mirror Handmaiden scoffed and continued.

    ¡°I mean to weaken it, not remove itpletely. Remove the Prophet of Red Flesh¡¯s malice, leaving only the power. That way, Isolde herself will absorb the power of the flesh. Then she¡¯ll develop a resistance to being swept up in such ¡®tricks¡¯ again.¡±

    ¡°Is that all?¡±

    ¡°Well, there might be some cosmetic effects. Enhanced regeneration or strength are just bonuses. But since there¡¯s not even a speck of faith in the Red Chalice, we won¡¯t be able to exert any influence.¡±

    Isaac thought the Mirror Handmaiden¡¯s advice might be another trick. But there was nothing to gain for her by ying another trick on him.

    After all, the Mirror Handmaiden wanted to maintain a good rtionship with Isaac.

    ¡°So the Prophet of Red Flesh will lose power again. Doesn¡¯t that matter?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯ll be furious, of course. But what can you do? The Prophet of Red Flesh is just a gift to be chewed up and given to you over and over. He¡¯s just expendable in the ns of the Red Chalice.¡±

    Suddenly, the Mirror Handmaiden looked straight at Isaac and whispered.

    ¡°The Muhui holds you in high regard, Grail Knight. So I hope our rtionship remains untroubled.¡±

    Isaac found her words oddly unsettling.

    Aren¡¯t gods supposed to shun nameless chaos? Of course, the Red Chalice wasn¡¯t the first deity or angel to show him favor.

    But as the situation continued, he felt a disconnect from what he knew.

    ¡°Doesn¡¯t the Red Chalice dislike chaos?¡±

    ¡°More precisely, there was no reason to like it. Considering the history it has left behind.¡±

    The Mirror Handmaiden answered with a twinkle in her eye.

    ¡°But you seem capable of making the distinction.¡±

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read up to advance 20 chapters or support me, you can do it at/Akaza156

 Chapter 131:

    Chapter 131:

    Chapter 131. The Brant Family¡¯s Concern (4)

    As Isaac stepped out of the room, Hesabel was waiting there.

    Seeing the subtle expression on Hesabel¡¯s face, Isaac frowned.

    ¡°Did you hear?¡±

    ¡°Well, you were talking to the Mirror Handmaiden, right? I didn¡¯t hear exactly what the Mirror Handmaiden said, but I did catch that you were making a lot of noise in the room. Even with just that, I can guess what it might have been about.¡±

    Isaac let out a deep sigh.

    ¡°So, do you think the same way?¡±

    ¡°Well, Lord Isaac, I was once an enthusiastic follower of the Crimson Grail Club too. Even there, such miracles are not unheard of. Sometimes they¡¯re used to improve the fortunes of married couples.¡±

    ¡°Those decadent vampires can use miracles however they want. Are you prepared for the ritual?¡±

    Hesabel pursed her lips but didn¡¯t say anything further. However, it was clear that her thoughts weren¡¯t much different from the Mirror Handmaiden¡¯s.

    If they obtained Isolde, they could definitely sway Duke Brant to their side.

    In other words, they could solve most of Isaac¡¯s current problems.

    Convincing an Inquisitor was a different league from recruiting a single interrogator. Moreover, Isolde didn¡¯t seem entirely indifferent to Isaac, and Dietrich Brant also held a favorable view of him. So, there shouldn¡¯t be any issues, at least from Isolde¡¯s side.

    The problemy with Isaac himself.

    ¡°Create a person to love, bear a child, and raise them in this world?¡±

    It was an absurd notion. Something he hadn¡¯t even imagined.

    Even when envisioning a golden future of prosperity in this world, he never once considered having someone by his side for a lifetime. While he could imagine thend he ruled flourishing, fields full of crops, he never pictured someone smiling at him or someone he loved.

    It was an impossible task, and even if it were possible, it shouldn¡¯t happen.

    [¡°The Nameless Chaos is watching you.¡±]

    Isaac staggered and leaned against the wall.

    He could feel Hesabel¡¯s strange gaze upon him.

    ¡°Your aversion is abnormal, you know that?¡±

    The Mirror Handmaiden¡¯s words echoed in his mind once again.

    But what could he do?

    If he were to create someone to love, bear a child, and raise them¡­

    ¡°Maybe I¡¯ll be too immersed in this world¡­¡±

    Keeping a distance from the world.

    That was the only basis for Isaac to hold onto his sanity, even after being reincarnated into this nonsensical world.

    Eating dead mice, killing people, facing ancient gods, and even resisting the fatal allure of miracles in the afterlife¡ªall of it was possible because he maintained that distance from this world.

    [¡°The Nameless Chaos is watching you.¡±]

    That message.

    Thanks to that message, Isaac could enjoy this world as if it were a game, not real life.

    A game he could y while perpetually reincarnated. That was just right.

    If the world he lived in now were not a game but reality, Isaac wouldn¡¯t have been able to handle everything he had done and still needed to do.

    Keeping a distance from the world meant he was more of a character than a person.

    But if someone to love were to appear¡­

    ¡°That won¡¯t happen.¡±

    Isaac thought such foolishness would never ur.

    ***

    Hesabel drew a simple circle with the extracted blood andid Isolde within it. Isaac knelt beside Isolde¡¯s head within the circle, awaiting the ritual. The Doctrine of Thirsty Love that still clung to Isolde continued to tempt him relentlessly, but aside from a throbbing headache, it was bearable.

    ¡°Begin.¡±

    Hesabel held the Rite of Division and began reciting the prayer. Normally, interfering with a blessing bestowed directly by an angel, especially one involving sharing a piece of flesh, would requireplex preparations. However, the Rite of Division bypassed all those steps.

    Hesabel began tracing the circle with the Rite of Division. Following the line, the red blood on the floor started to rise into the air. More blood than what was spilled gradually formed a curtain, surrounding Isaac and Hesabel, and soon they were trapped within the surging veil of blood.

    ¡®We¡¯re in.¡¯

    As if a bubble had burst, the curtain instantly flowed down and disappeared. Isaac found himself in the corridor of a citadel made of red stone. The citadel was twisted into a geometric structure that shouldn¡¯t exist normally, appearing as a building that should have copsed long ago.

    ¡®Is this Rougeberg?¡¯

    Although the structure and form werepletely different from what Isaac remembered, the overall atmosphere and architectural style resembled Rougeberg. If he were to dream with Rougeberg as the background, it would probably look like this. This was Isolde¡¯s hometown and home, so it wouldn¡¯t be strange to dream about it.

    Isaac began walking down the corridor, searching for Isolde. People who appeared to be servants frequently caught his eye, but he didn¡¯t speak to them. Their faces were all blurred like fog, making it seem impossible tomunicate.

    The corridor wasplex but connected as one, so there was no risk of getting lost. Then Isaac heard musicing from the direction he was walking.

    Beyond a thin curtain, Isolde was performing a sword dance.

    Unlike her usual attire that tightly covered her entire body as an Inquisitor, she was now half-naked. What little she was wearing didn¡¯t even function properly as clothing.

    The humming sound of her humming was as sweet as a fragrance.

    Isaac stopped for a moment and watched her. No, he couldn¡¯t help but watch. The captivating dance of her enchanting body was enough to numb his reason faintly. It was a mesmerizing sight that captivated all who saw it, regardless of gender.

    ¡®Is that the form of the Doctrine of Thirsty Love?¡¯

    It felt distasteful because it was an outfit Isolde would never wear. Soon, Isolde¡¯s dance began to slow down. Isaac regained hisposure and reached for the Luadin Key.

    But at that moment, the feeling in his hand was unfamiliar.

    The sword he wore at his waist was not the Luadin Key.

    He had two curved swords, one longsword, and three daggers hanging from his waist.

    One of the dagger sheaths was empty, and Isaac knew where the missing dagger was.

    Isolde¡¯s slowing sword dance came to aplete stop. Despite the intense dance, she didn¡¯t seem to have shed a single drop of sweat.

    ¡°Were you trying topare a dancer and a general?¡±

    Isaac spoke towards Isolde, or rather, the thoughts left by the Prophet of the Red Flesh.

    She smiled and approached him. The dagger in her hand, which she had been using for the sword dance, was none other than the Rite of Division.

    The only dagger missing from Isaac¡¯s waist.

    ¡°Not a bad analogy, is it, Grail Knight?¡±

    Isolde, clearly containing the will of the Prophet of the Red Flesh, spoke.

    ¡°Rougeberg was the territory of General Elil. So Isolde grew up listening to the terrifying legends and myths surrounding Rougeberg as a girl. Her older cousins would tell Isolde erotic stories about dancers seducing Elil.¡±

    Just as Elil is called the General or Overlord instead of his name, another nickname for the Red Chalice is the Dancer. The current scenery depicted the past of Rougeberg.

    He had thought it might be Urbansus, but it seemed like a dream space based on Isolde¡¯s memories.

    ¡°Are you trying topare the rtionship between the general and the dancer to Isolde and me?¡±

    ¡°Elil held the whole world in his hands. Even angels could not oppose his might. Among the living, there was no one to rival him, and he became an angel while still in the flesh, eventually obtaining the most beautiful woman in the world. It¡¯s a position envied by all ambitious individuals, wouldn¡¯t you say?¡±

    ¡°Considering that the beautiful woman was his own daughter, and he had to betray the Codex of Light for that, he¡¯s just a madman.¡±

    Of course, the apparent reason for the rise of the Elil faction was the corruption of the Codex of Light and its ¡®cowardly actions¡¯ in the war against the ancient faiths. The Elil Church firmly believed that it was only right to split to uphold honor, but the Codex of Light Church firmly believed that Elil split to remarry his own daughter.

    ¡°It was 700 years ago. It wasn¡¯t a big deal back then. Even the Red Chalice loved Elil.¡±

    The Prophet of the Red Flesh, who served that very dancer, didn¡¯t even deny it.

    She unted her body, revealing it to Isaac.

    ¡°Of course, this woman is not as beautiful as the Red Chalice. Compared to the Red Chalice, all beings in the world are likeparing a ruby to tick fluid. But a generous dowry, an army, and power¡­¡±

    ¡°Haaaaaaaaaa¡­¡±

    Isaac sighed deeply before the Prophet of the Red Flesh could finish her sentence. The Prophet of the Red Flesh, whose words were cut off, frowned at Isaac.

    ¡°Is that all you guys have to say? Considering how Elil and the dancer ended up, shouldn¡¯t you avoid using that analogy?¡±

    Isaac poured out hismentations at the tiresome demands and pressure.

    ¡°No, and why are the guys here so clueless? If you call someone over and say, ¡®Now, you two kiss,¡¯ do you think they¡¯ll just say, ¡®Yes, I understand,¡¯ and do it?¡±

    The ending of this historical incestuous couple concluded with the dancer ripping out Elil¡¯s heart.

    Elil, who had be an angel in a living body and ascended to the ranks of a Martial God, finally died and became a true god. The dancer also awakened as the Red Chalice through Elil¡¯s heart.

    This bloody ending didn¡¯t seem like a happy one.

    ¡°No, wait,e to think of it, you did this on purpose, didn¡¯t you? First, you¡¯re linking me to Isolde, and then you¡¯re going to rip out my heart?¡±

    However, the Prophet of the Red Flesh simply shrugged.

    ¡°Marital rtionships are naturallyplicated.¡±

    ¡°If that¡¯s all you have to say, just die here.¡±

    If he hadn¡¯t heard simr things from the Mirror Handmaiden or Hesabel, he might have listened to more of the story. But now Isaac had no more patience left.

    He immediately drew the sword in his hand.

    As if reacting to the threat, soldiers made of lumps of blood began to seep out one by one from between the bricks around them.

    Isaac had already heard from Hesabel how to weaken the blessing.

    The Red Flesh resisted in its own way, but with its limited power and limitations, it was no match for Isaac. The blood clot soldiers were torn apart in an instant, and only Isolde remained in the middle of the bloodstained hall. And even as the Red Flesh¡¯s thought-form, she had no abilities beyond Isolde¡¯s physical body.

    Crack. The Luadin Key split Isolde¡¯s chest in one stroke.

    It was just a dream space, not reality, and merely a process to weaken the power of the Red Flesh. But Isaac felt disgusted.

    Centered around the split wound, Isolde¡¯s skin peeled off like a shedding shell. And from within, another Isolde appeared. She had a hazy expression, as if she were both asleep and awake.

    Soon, the walls of Rougeberg began to crumble. As the Red Flesh¡¯s blessing weakened, the ritual began to end.

    ¡°Ah¡­¡±

    At that moment, Isolde nkly reached out her hand.

    Caressing Isaac¡¯s face, Isolde muttered in a daze.

    ¡°My angel.¡±

    ¡°¡­It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve heard that nickname, Inquisitor.¡±

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read up to advance 20 chapters or support me, you can do it at/Akaza156

 Chapter 132:

    Chapter 132:

    Isolde¡¯s eyes snapped open as she had been feeling Isaac¡¯s cheek. Only then did she realize that this situation was not a dream or a mental realm, but reality, and she hurriedly got up.

    Unlike in the mental realm, Isolde was naturally dressed in simple indoor clothing. However, due to the effects of consciousness or possibly still lingering blessings, the peculiar outfit she wore in the mental realm faintly shimmered before her eyes.

    Isaac felt a stronger impulse from seeing Isolde¡¯s flustered demeanor than from when the red-fleshed prophet, imitating Isolde, had shown coquetry.

    Isaac tried to act calm as he stood up with her.

    Isolde¡¯s eyes were relentlessly shaking.

    ¡°It¡¯s only temporarily that the Doctrine of Thirsty Love has been suppressed, but it hasn¡¯t beenpletely removed. It¡¯s deeply rooted due to the long time it¡¯s been there, and it would take some time to remove it without side effects.¡±

    ¡°Of course, there¡¯s a much simpler and quicker way to remove it,¡± added Hesabel unnecessarily, to which Isaac red at her.

    Isolde, still not fully grasping the situation, frantically touched her stomach where Isaac had stabbed her earlier with the Rite of Division.

    ¡°It¡¯s the spot where I stabbed you with the Rite of Division. It¡¯s lethal for beings made by miracles, but just an ordinary dagger for normal beings. The Doctrine of Thirsty Love was too strong, so there was no choice. Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s been treated.¡±

    [Sacred Artifact of Healing (A)]

    [When it touches a wound, it immediately heals the bleeding and injury, but uses blood.]

    It was the sacred relic Isaac used while treating Isolde¡¯s wound.

    His own regenerative abilities were so remarkable that he hardly needed to use it, but it was useful when healing others.

    Isolde blushed as she realized what ¡°the Doctrine of Thirsty Love was too strong, so there was no choice¡± meant.

    ¡°Ah, so, that¡­ to me¡­ that?¡±

    ¡°There was no such incident, so please don¡¯t worry.¡±

    Exining this tired Isaac, but he had to rify it several times to prevent her from harboring unnecessary misunderstandings.

    Isolde¡¯s expression becameplicated by the reassurance that nothing had happened, but Isaac had a lot more to exin to her.

    ¡°As I mentioned, the Doctrine of Thirsty Love hasn¡¯tpletely disappeared. The one who cast the blessing was an angel, so it¡¯s unusually potent. We need to repeat the same process for a while.¡±

    ¡°Um, ah, so you mean to perform the ritual of the Red Chalice Club?¡±

    Isolde, true to her role as an inquisitor, seemed to have realized what had happened in this room by looking at the blood-colored pattern and Hesabel on the floor.

    Not that there aren¡¯t rituals to expel blessings or curses in the Codex of Light, but as a heretic faith, it tends to be violent. To expel it without major side effects, it had to be a miracle of the same Red Chalice Club.

    ¡°Yes. Hesabel will help. Until wepletely remove the Doctrine of Thirsty Love, it would be wise to restrict outside interactions.¡±

    ¡°Oh, then the Knight of the Holy Chalice is¡­¡±

    ¡°Right now, the intensity of the Doctrine of Thirsty Love has lessened. It¡¯s probably about as strong as on the first day the blessing was cast. This level is manageable.¡±

    At this level, it might just cause other men to have strange delusions. It was nothingpared to the earlier charm that violently attracted people.

    ¡°As time passes, its power might increase, but for now, it¡¯s safe for you to meet your parents again.¡±

    At this, Isolde¡¯s eyes widened and she covered her mouth.

    Tears began to well up in the corners of her eyes.

    Isolde knew the struggles her parents, the ducal couple, were facing. Isaac, not wanting to delve intoplicated feelings, patted her shoulder and prepared to leave.

    It was now time to exin the situation to Freya, who would be waiting at the door, and to Dietrich, who was pacing the garden non-stop.

    ¡®What are you supposed to do with Isolde in such a situation? Knowing all too well the outside circumstances, how could you possibly be motivated?¡¯

    The thought of spending the night with inws waiting outside seemed like something only a fan of orgiastic cannibal parties would conceive.

    Isaac could never do such a thing.

    As he was about to leave, Isolde murmured,

    ¡°Thank you¡­ Thank you for saving me again.¡±

    Moved by Isolde¡¯s tearful voice, Isaac, roughing up his hair, said,

    ¡°No need to worry, Inquisitor. This situation arose because of me.¡±

    Isolde looked intently at Isaac with tear-filled eyes. Isaac felt a heaviness in his heart due to her tears.

    ¡°And you have saved me several times too. You also kept my secret. I know that wasn¡¯t easy.¡±

    Isaac wished he could say something more eloquent, but he didn¡¯t have the vocabry for it. He simply spoke honestly.

    ¡°So let¡¯s not count how many times we¡¯ve saved each other. It looks like we¡¯ll both owe each other a lot in the future.¡±

    ***

    ¡°Thank you. This means¡­ I owe you a great debt.¡±

    After reuniting with Isolde, the Brant Ducal couple met Isaac again. Although the Doctrine of Thirsty Love had weakened, it clearly still existed, making it harmful for Isolde to face them for long.

    Dietrich spoke with a relieved face.

    ¡°To be honest, I thought that if it were someone of your stature, a holy Grail Knight, even marriage to our daughter wouldn¡¯t pose a problem. In fact, that was the only solution we were considering. But it seems you found another way. I¡¯m not sure whether to be disappointed or d. Do you love someone by any chance?¡±

    Seeing Isolde¡¯s condition improved, Dietrich even made a joke.

    Though his expression was quite serious, he hoped it would be taken as a joke.

    ¡°No, there are no issues with Miss Isolde, and if there¡¯s a problem, it¡¯s with my own shorings.¡±

    Being under the influence of the Doctrine of Thirsty Love, his own charm wouldn¡¯t be a problem¡ªit would be irresistibly attractive.

    ¡°Well, isn¡¯t it okay for a beautiful man and woman to spend a night together?¡±

    ¡°¡­You¡¯re joking, right?¡±

    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s a joke. But I¡¯m not particrly delusional about my children. I first became involved with my wife when she was four years younger than Isolde is now¡­¡±

    Freya Brant, who had been quietly listening, kicked Dietrich in the shin. Dietrich closed his mouth.

    Although it was nice to see the human side of the empire¡¯s most powerful figure, there was a lot to discuss.

    ¡°Duke, as I mentioned, the Doctrine of Thirsty Love has notpletely disappeared. We n to weaken it over time and then allow Miss Isolde to absorb the red flesh within her. This should build her resistance to the miracles of the Red Chalice.¡±

    At the mention of absorbing the red flesh, Dietrich¡¯s expression wavered. A devout believer would never tolerate such sphemy, but he didn¡¯t protest.

    It was hard to refuse an offer that promised a solution and prevention.

    ¡°Do as you wish, Holy Grail Knight. Miss Isolde would want that too.¡±

    Freya responded calmly. Herposed and serious demeanor seemed to hold the discipline of the family.

    ¡°Good. Then we¡¯ll need to repeat the same ritual over the next few days, and we¡¯ll need your help.¡±

    ¡°Tell us what you need.¡±

    ¡°Please host a banquet to promote the marriage of Isolde Brant.¡±

    Silence fell. Freya¡¯s face darkened, and Dietrich looked as if his world had copsed. Isaac hurried to rify his statement.

    ¡°No, just rumors of the marriage are enough. There¡¯s no need topromise thedy¡¯s honor. I understand she is of age to be married, isn¡¯t she?¡±

    ¡°Um, that is true.¡±

    People in this era typically marry before turning twenty. By twenty, they are considered fully mature. Especially in a noble family like the Brants, strategic marriages aremon, so there would be many suitors.

    ¡°The news of Miss Isolde¡¯s return to Rougeberg must have spread by now. The only daughter of the Brant family, who was working for the Order, has returned home when she is of full marriageable age. Just this will stir many rumors. To quell unnecessary gossip, we must host a ball to make it seem ¡®as if she has returned for marriage.¡¯¡±

    ¡°Hmm, I see what you mean. That¡¯s very thoughtful of you.¡±

    ¡°The real purpose is different. We need to identify who fed her the flesh.¡±

    Isolde had ingested the red flesh.

    No matter how cunning the Prophet of the Red Flesh might be, the flesh wouldn¡¯t just crawl into one¡¯s mouth on its own. Whether through seduction or coercion, there must be someone in the Red Chalice Club assisting.

    ¡°Whoever fed Miss Isolde the flesh will surely react to the rumor of a ball being held. They might try to dishonor her or check on her condition, but they will definitelye.¡±

    The spy might not like the reduction in their numbers, but what can be done?

    Isaac had never agreed to such a thing in the first ce.

    ***

    Rumors about the banquet at the Duke of Brant¡¯s duchy spread quickly.

    Already, the social circles were buzzing with news that Isolde Brant, the only daughter of the duke, had returned to her domain from the convent. This was followed by her reclusive behavior in Rougeberg, which fueled all sorts of malicious gossip. However, the announcement of a grand banquet inviting all the lords of the Brant territories quickly overshadowed the previous rumors.

    And a new rumor began to circte among all ears and mouths.

    ¡®Who will be the duke¡¯s son-inw?¡¯

    ***

    It was the seventh day since Isaac had stayed in Rougeberg. The castle was busy with preparations for the uing banquet.

    In the meantime, the power of the red flesh was continuously weakening, and inversely, the amount Isolde could absorb was increasing. However, the ritual could only be conducted once a day, so the duration was quite lengthy. During this time, Isaac mostly stayed in the tower where Isolde was, asionally visiting the inner castle upon Dietrich¡¯s invitation.

    Isaac¡¯s interactions were extremely limited, so he only met a few people ¨C Dietrich, Freya, and Isolde. However, Isolde, afterpleting the ritual, would fall into a deep sleep and spend most of her day asleep, making her a poor conversation partner.

    Dietrich, watching the busy preparations below, spoke up.

    ¡°You know this is not how you usually choose a marriage partner, right?¡±

    Isaac knew about social engagements only from historical dramas and fantasy movies. In his mind, beautiful couples formed at grand balls, leading to marriages.

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure about that.¡±

    ¡°Usually, marriage discussions happen well in advance. My office is piled with enough letters of such discussions tost a winter¡¯s firewood. If a suitable match exists, they check the bnce of power between them, the dowry amount, the benefits of the marriage, how the inheritance is split¡­ and then they inform the children, ¡®This lord¡¯s son is quite the catch.¡¯¡±

    Dietrich continued with augh.

    ¡°Having a banquet like this usually happens during the selection of a princess consort. But even that is rigged with a pre-nned script under the guise of fairness.¡±

    ¡°Oh, this might cause a misunderstanding with His Imperial Majesty?¡±

    ¡°Uncle loves his niece; he¡¯ll understand. Emperor Waltzemer will.¡±

    Realizing Isolde¡¯s high status as the emperor¡¯s niece, Isaac remembered his initial contemtions about killing her in the convent.

    ¡®I almost killed myself in a troublesome way.¡¯

    ¡°Actually, my daughter is no longer a concern. Now, it¡¯s all up to you, Mr. Isaac.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll do my best.¡±

    ¡°No, the problem actually lies with you, Mr. Isaac.¡±

    Isaac looked at Dietrich, puzzled.

    ¡°My problem¡­ you mean?¡±

    ¡°You might feel this situation is quite stifling, being confined to the castle and the tower. It¡¯s almost like being imprisoned. I wouldn¡¯t want to keep a Grail Knight under such conditions¡­¡±

    ¡°I understand the situation¡­ I can handle it.¡±

    ¡°No. There¡¯s also another reason involving Isolde, but it¡¯s essentially an excuse. The truth is, I have reasons to keep you here, for the empire¡¯s sake.¡±

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read up to advance 20 chapters or support me, you can do it at/Akaza156

 Chapter 133:

    Chapter 133:

    Isaac felt perplexed by the statement that he was being confined for the sake of the empire.

    ¡®Is it not just to suppress rumors about Isolde¡­ but there is a need to confine me within Rougeberg?¡¯

    As he pondered the meaning, Isaac realized that indeed, the security in Rougeberg was excessively cumbersome.

    If it were truly about securing Isolde¡¯s blessing, it would have been cleaner to connect her with a reliable person and then bury the matter.

    Isolde was a strong character.

    Although it wouldn¡¯t be pleasant, thinking about her family and her own future, the most trouble-free method was evident. Moreover, the Duke of Brant¡¯s house had enough power to handle it quietly.

    Yet, Dietrich had chosen not to do so.

    Over several weeks, he had gone through the trouble of finding Isaac and bringing him here, creating and maintaining rigorous security measures, even refusing ships from the Salt Council to dock at Rougeberg.

    ¡°You¡¯ve shared this much¡­ does this mean you will exin further?¡±

    Rather than getting angry, Isaac requested an exnation. Dietrich nodded.

    ¡°I think I should start with Bishop Juan.¡±

    Isaac was startled by the unexpected name.

    ¡°Bishop Juan? I¡¯ve worked with him at Norden Harbor on matters rted to the Salt Council, but¡­¡±

    ¡°Yes, I know. It¡¯s arguably the most famous incident in the empire right now.¡±

    ¡®What is he talking about?¡¯

    Dietrich murmured with a shake of his head.

    ¡°Hmm. It was quite an event. A few weeks ago, during a mass presided over by the Pope, Bishop Juan appeared barefoot in the square and began a penitence ritual, tearing his garments.¡±

    ¡°A penitence ritual?¡±

    It was essentially a ritual to confess sins.

    In this world where gods are real, after confessing, depending on the sin, divine punishments are meted out. Surviving the punishment of these divine sanctions could result in forgiveness and even blessings.

    It was a kind of punishment that the church and even the emperor could not easily impose on anyone, but Juan had voluntarily undergone it.

    ¡°He confessed that he had been hiding the fact that he had lost his miracles and had been pretending to be a bishop. Amid his faltering faith, he imed to have seen a true saint in the turbulent sea and received enlightenment. Are you alright?¡±

    Isaac almost choked but managed to catch his breath.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine. Please continue.¡±

    Dietrich smiled and continued.

    ¡°This saint, Isaac Issacrea, fought a fallen angel in the North Sea and was gloriously submerged in front of thousands of faithful.¡±

    ¡°¡­Yes.¡±

    Submerged?

    Isaac thought maybe Juan saw it that way.

    The Salt Council had anticipated Isaac¡¯s return when the gates to the afterlife opened, but Juan only saw Isaac disappear over the sea with the drowned King.

    Whether Juan understood the exnation from the Salt Council was also doubtful.

    ¡°Bishop Juan came forward to seek punishment for his sins and then he awaited divine sanction. Suddenly, Bishop Juan¡¯s body began to glow as if on fire, and he sprouted two wings.¡±

    ¡°Wings of Glory?¡±

    Isaac asked, his mouth agape. Dietrich nodded.

    ¡°Yes. The faithful were astounded. It was the first appearance of the Wings of Glory in 30 years.¡±

    Isaac knew the Wings of Glory were rare, but he was surprised at their significance. In games, they were treated as a high-level ultimate ability; summoning an angel was even higher.

    At first nce, it seemed like a divine act to forgive Juan by granting him the Wings of Glory. However, Isaac remembered that Juan could already perform the Wings of Glory miracle by himself.

    So, it was not a symbol of divine forgiveness but possibly a blessing Juan timed for himself.

    ¡®Either he¡¯s a saint appearing once in a century or an incredibly bold fraud. One of the two.¡¯

    Given Isaac¡¯s observations of Juan, he was inclined to believe thetter, but the revival of a lost miracle could also mean aplete transformation.

    Dramatic experiences can change a person.

    ¡°Thanks to this, Bishop Juan is now called the ¡®Barefoot Saint¡¯ and is a candidate for cardinal. It¡¯s not easy because those who knew the old Bishop Juan oppose it.¡±

    Cardinal was a powerful position in the church, responsible for one of the three administrative bodies.

    Isaac thought it the end of days if Juan took such a position but decided to take it as a good sign since Juan liked him.

    Then Dietrich pointed at Isaac and said,

    ¡°But at the center of this controversy isn¡¯t Bishop Juan or my daughter, but you, Isaac.¡±

    ¡°Me?¡±

    ¡°Bishop Juan has proimed that you martyred yourself fighting the heretical angel. As a result, the faithful are highly energized, almost ready to march towards the holynds.¡±

    Isaac was baffled.

    He was supposedly killed(?) fighting an angel of the Salt Council in the North Sea.

    But why suddenly march on the holynds?

    The North Sea and the holynds were nearly in opposite directions.

    After a moment of reflection, Isaac understood the underlying motives.

    ¡°The church is instigating this. This whole plot is connected to the Immortal Order.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right. It¡¯s a ploy to form the Dawn Army.¡±

    Dietrich responded with a grin.

    Considering that the drowned king had tried to be a god with the Immortal Order¡¯s instigation, it wasn¡¯t far from the truth.

    However, there was another reason why the church was spreading these conspiracy theories.

    The bnce of power within the empire currentlyy in a delicate equilibrium between the church and the emperor. However, the formation of the Dawn Army would undoubtedly shift the atmosphere towards a more doctrinaire mood within the empire, tipping the bnce in favor of the church.

    ¡°Even now, they¡¯ve already proimed you a saint and are calling for vengeance. They¡¯ve even coined slogans in your name, something like ¡®The de of Issacrea cries for vengeance!¡¯¡±

    Isaac could hardly keep his mouth shut as the narrative continued to escte.

    He was astounded to find himself inadvertently sanctified. While he had hoped to y a significant role in the formation of the Dawn Army, he did not expect to be its symbol so soon.

    Suddenly, Isaac realized that the slogans and sanctification were not the real issue.

    The problem was that Isaac was alive.

    At that moment, Isaac understood Dietrich¡¯s concerns.

    ¡°But you are alive now. It¡¯s curious how the church will take this news, but for the time being, you shouldn¡¯t appear in public recklessly.¡±

    The church likely preferred a martyred hero to a living one as the former was easier to manage.

    ***

    ¡®Things have gottenplicated.¡¯

    As Isaac prepared for the ritual for Isolde, he was deep in thought.

    The banquet was scheduled for the next day, but Isaac had no clue how to resolve the current situation.

    Juan¡¯s actions had caused a massive ripple effect.

    Presumably, it was done out of guilt or fondness for Isaac. The church¡¯s perspective was simr¡ªit wasmon to canonize a fallen hero as a saint, a respectful tribute.

    In this scenario, the person who had done wrong was ironically Isaac, for havinge back to life.

    Waking up at one¡¯s own funeral was a supremely awkward situation to be in.

    Uninvited to his own funeral, Isaac wondered if he needed to marry Isolde to escape this predicament.

    Even the church would have trouble meddling with a Duke of Brant¡¯s son-inw.

    It felt as though the times were pushing him into this arrangement.

    ¡®Now that I think about it, I haven¡¯t asked why they¡¯re protecting me. It¡¯s probably because of Isolde, but still¡­¡¯

    At that moment, Isolde, who was preparing for the ritual, spoke up.

    ¡°Sir Isaac, you seem troubled.¡±

    ¡°Uh, it¡¯s nothing.¡±

    Having just considered the possibility of marrying Isolde, Isaac tried to appear nonchnt.

    Isolde had been sleeping more than she had been awake over the past few days.

    Because of this, she hadn¡¯t been maintaining her appearance well, and her face seemed slightly haggard, yet her beauty shone brighter than before¡ªa sign she was assimting the red flesh correctly.

    The aggressive allure from the doctrine of strife had faded, reced by a captivating charm.

    Even without makeup or a beautiful dress, she would be the center of attention at the banquet.

    Isaac examined her condition and then spoke.

    ¡°How have you been feelingtely?¡±

    ¡°Well, my clothes don¡¯t seem to fit right anymore. Some parts are tight, others are loose¡­¡±

    Isaac knew exactly which parts she meant, as every encounter with the prophet of the red flesh had confronted her with progressively more provocative attire. The red flesh was affecting not only her aura but her physical form as well.

    However, Isolde didn¡¯t seem pleased with these changes.

    ¡°It seems you¡¯re not too happy with the changes?¡±

    ¡°A beautiful vessel shines only to sit in a cab. I¡¯d rather be a useful vessel, even if it¡¯s slightly chipped.¡±

    Considering the challenging and life-threatening role of an inquisitor she had performed, especially on the frontier, a radiant appearance was probably more of a constraint to her.

    ¡°Well, there might be other benefits you¡¯re not aware of yet.¡±

    ¡°Such as?¡±

    ¡°For starters, even without using miracles, your wound regeneration should improve. Your strength, stamina, and reflexes are likely enhanced, and you¡¯ll have increased resistance to curses. It¡¯s uncertain by how much, though.¡±

    The amount of red flesh left by the prophet determined these enhancements. But this was something not even the mirror maid knew for sure.

    Therger the residue of the flesh, the greater the power Isolde could wield.

    On the downside, although it¡¯s hard to call it a downside, her beauty could be even more pronounced.

    Isolde¡¯s mood seemed to lighten at Isaac¡¯s reassurances. Given her consistently grim expressions recently, this change brightened Isaac¡¯s mood as well.

    ¡°Let¡¯s keep our spirits up; we¡¯re almost at the end.¡±

    The tricks yed by the prophet of the red flesh would ultimately nourish Isolde.

    Isaac had no doubt about that.

    ***

    As the curtain of blood descended, a forest emerged.

    Isaac, stepping into Isolde¡¯s psychic realm, looked around the unfamiliar scenery in wonder.

    The dark forest at dusk felt strangely familiar; soon, Isaac

    realized this was thendscape surrounding Arieth Monastery.

    ¡°Have you decided to change tactics?¡±

    The prophet was nowhere to be seen. Isaac was not surprised by this hide-and-seek approach; it had happened several times before. The remnants of the doctrine of strife in her psyche aimed to tempt Isaac. Its nature was unchangeable.

    Sure enough, shortly after, a shadowy figure dashed between the trees. Isaac immediately gave chase. It was Isolde, running through the forest, but her appearance was different.

    ¡®Inquisitor¡¯s uniform?¡¯

    It was the attire Isolde had worn when Isaac first saw her. Isaac quickly caught up to her, the grass brushing against his face, grains of sand sticking between his toes as he pounced, biting into Isolde¡¯s nape. The taste of blood was intense.

    With the spreading of blood in the air, the scenery flipped.

    Isaac now stood on the steep slope of a ravine, with Isolde once again running ahead. This time, rather than mindlessly following, Isaac paused to examine his own hands.

    He was dressed as a Wachia human hunter.

    ¡®Such petty tricks.¡¯

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read up to advance 20 chapters or support me, you can do it at/Akaza156

 Chapter 134:

    Chapter 134:

    The psychic world was akin to a dream realm, so it was not odd for Isaac or Isolde to appear in various forms. While Isaac could potentially influence this world¡¯s construction, it was clear that the prophet of the red flesh, who had a strong grasp on Isolde, was the dominant force.

    ¡®Is it trying to instill guilt in me by manipting memories?¡¯

    The prophet¡¯s intentions were not clear, but Isaac¡¯s task remained unchanged.

    The more he defeated the prophet, the weaker her powers became. He was nearly at the end of this process. Just one more push to break the shell, and the red flesh would be fully exposed for Isolde to absorb.

    The Wachia human hunter attacked Isolde in the darkness.

    A crossbow bolt pierced her heart.

    As she was about to fall, the scene flipped again.

    Isaac felt unnaturally light, as if he might float away at any moment¡ªbecause he had no flesh left on him.

    Beyond the gray-white vista, Isolde was struggling alone on a bridge against an undead army. Isaac sneaked through the skeleton soldiers to get close to her. She fought well, but among the myriad des, she could neither see nor block Isaac¡¯s.

    His de sharply tore through her lungs.

    Finally, a familiarndscape caught Isaac¡¯s eye.

    ¡®Back in Rougeberg.¡¯

    The sight of the red-brick fortress somehow felt weing.

    And at the end of a column-lined corridor stood Isolde¡ªor rather, the prophet, whose expression was a mix of slight annoyance, fatigue, and anxiety.

    One could tell at a nce that it wasn¡¯t Isolde but the prophet, and that her powers were dwindling.

    The prophet was running out of time.

    ¡°Trying to pull out guilt like this is pointless. Just die already.¡±

    Of course, a mere psychic entity like the prophet wouldn¡¯t listen to him. Thatment was more a pep talk for Isaac himself.

    As expected, the prophet turned and fled. Isaac chased after her again.

    She darted between pirs and corners, fluttering curtains and hangings, hiding from Isaac¡¯s view.

    ¡®Something feels off.¡¯

    A fleeting doubt passed through his mind. Hide and seek was not unusual¡ªthere had been simr instances before, and the oue was always the same. Isaac tried to rationalize his uneasy feeling but couldn¡¯t¡ªit was just an instinct.

    Despite this, feeling he couldn¡¯t dy any longer, Isaac swung his sword as he had done dozens of times before.

    The sword plunged into the prophet¡¯s back. Atst, as if this resistance wasing to an end, the shell began to peel away.

    Fflrrr! A sound like flipping through hundreds of pages in a book burst through the air.

    Isaac saw Isolde¡¯s skin, thin as parchment, puffing up and splitting into thousands of pieces under his de.

    This reaction, never seen before, signaled to Isaac that the end was near.

    The curse¡ªor rather, the blessing¡ªbegan to reveal itself, taking the shape of a throbbing heart. But the shape was irrelevant; it was merely how Isolde imagined it.

    The now unprotected red flesh pulsed and spewed blood.

    Suddenly, lips emerged in the center of the heart. The lips of a seductive woman spat out a shout.

    ¡°Atst!¡±

    The exmation echoed beyond the corridor of Rougeberg, reverberating throughout the entire psychic realm. Isaac nearly copsed from the direct impact of the sound but managed to regain his bnce. The red flesh still seemed far too powerful to be considered weakened.

    ¡®No way?¡¯

    In a sh, thick eyelids sprouted in the middle of the red flesh. No, not eyelids¡ªdozens of blood-soaked hands. As the hands pushed back the eyelids, a stench of blood filled the air, and red eyes appeared.

    Looking into those eyes, Isaac realized their true nature.

    ¡°Atst, I am free from the Red Grail! Thank you, Grail Knight!¡±

    It was not just a piece of flesh that had separated from the prophet of the red flesh.

    It was the prophet of the red flesh herself.

    ***

    ¡®Has she gone mad?¡¯

    The first thought that came to Isaac¡¯s mind was just a single phrase.

    Given the uncertain size of the red flesh, he had anticipated some danger.

    However, he never imagined that the prophet herself, in her entirety, would be encased within Isolde.

    Not even when she had performed simr feats in the Hendrake estate.

    ¡®All those pieces I had cut away to weaken her¡­ were just camouge to hide her power.¡¯

    This could be a self-destructive move from the prophet, especially since she had already weakened significantly from the prolonged ritual.

    To Isaac, it seemed she might be attempting aplex form of suicide.

    ¡°You think I¡¯m mad, Grail Knight.¡±

    The prophet, having shed her shell, smirked.

    ¡°Yes. It was madness. But from the moment the Red Chalice chose me as its sacrifice, I had no other choice.¡±

    ¡°Ah¡­ quick to notice, aren¡¯t you?¡±

    Indeed, in the midst of conspiracy and assassination plots, the prophet seemed to have noticed that the Mirror Handmaiden had chosen her as a ¡®gift¡¯.

    Given the situation, the prophet had few options: either sacrifice herself quietly for the Red Grail or renounce her faith while epting the penalty. She chose thetter, which meant she had to significantly reduce her power.

    The probability that the Mirror Handmaiden knew about this was low, but Isaac wasn¡¯t ruling out any possibilities just yet.

    ¡°And was it because of me that you chose Isolde¡¯s body?¡±

    ¡°Yes. It seemed like a good strategy. I could fool the Mirror Handmaiden¡¯s eyes, and with Isolde Brant¡¯s own background, it looked like I could mess with you too. Plus, I thought maybe I could get your protection. I tried to seduce you but¡­ I didn¡¯t expect you to be impotent.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not impotent.¡±

    ¡°Prove it then.¡±

    Isaac didn¡¯t fall for this juvenile provocation. Instead, he held the key of Luadin and simply stared at the prophet of the red flesh. But instead of showing any displeasure, the prophet looked back at him with a smirk, seemingly enjoying the situation.

    ¡°Unfortunately for you, Grail Knight, thanks to your devoted care, I¡¯ve merged quite well with Isolde. If you kill me now, Isolde won¡¯t survive either. To be precise, she will die before I do.¡±

    That made sense.

    Even if an angel¡¯s wings are clipped, twisted, and pulled out, an angel is still an angel.

    Since she had sessfully renounced her faith before bing a fallen angel, her power still overwhelmingly surpassed that of the mere human Isolde. In blunt terms, even if Isolde was shattered to pieces, the prophet¡¯s throbbing heart would still be beating.

    However, Isaac did not sheathe his sword.

    Instead, he smiled.

    The prophet might have mistaken his smile for false bravado, but she couldn¡¯t deny that it unnerved her. She tried to recall if she had missed something, but nothing came to mind. She had been thorough.

    Before and even weeks after entering Isolde¡¯s body, she had monitored Isaac for any other powers he might possess. As expected, Isaac hadn¡¯t used the miracles of the Codex of Light. In fact, it was clear he couldn¡¯t.

    There was no way to separate the fused flesh from Isolde without using miracles.

    Yet, Isaac advanced towards the prophet and said,

    ¡°I anticipated some of this, but this is a bigger catch than I imagined.¡±

    ¡°Ha, acting all rxed won¡¯t help you¡­¡±

    In an instant, Isaac dashed towards the prophet. She thought he might actually try to cut her and started to defend herself. Thorns that looked like red veins sprouted from the ground. However, Isaac stopped short of reaching the thorns and raised his hand, snapping his fingers.

    A me sparked at his fingertip. The prophet was shocked.

    ¡®Could it be? He¡¯s been hiding his ability to use the miracles of the Codex of Light all this time!¡¯

    As she was horrified and bristled with thorns all over her body, the me at Isaac¡¯s fingertip flickered out as quickly as it had appeared. Isaac was disappointed in the miracle, which was as ineffective as it had been years ago, even in a dream.

    But that was enough.

    There was one more person who could perform miracles here.

    ¡°¡­I am sworn to serve the Light.¡±

    An unbelievable voice came from behind the prophet.

    The shell that she had thought was discarded, Isolde, was standing and reciting a prayer.

    ¡°As before, grant me wisdom and patience, and help fill my life with Light.¡±

    ¡°Oh, no!¡±

    Realizing what the prayer was, the prophet thrashed about. Thorns that had sprung from the ground pierced Isolde¡¯s body, but for her, all this was just a dream. It had no bearing on reality.

    Furthermore, she had been an inquisitor.

    Battling heresy was her specialty.

    Isolde instead grasped the thorns piercing her andpleted her prayer.

    ¡°Help me to serve you tirelessly. Allow me to be your shadow.¡±

    Cracks began to spread from her grasped hand. Light seeped through the cracks, quickly enveloping the prophet¡¯s core. The prophet writhed in agony as she burned up, but there was no escape.

    She had fused too much with Isolde.

    The red flesh burned from the inside out, turning her body into a charred lump. Even in this grotesque form, the prophet¡¯s eyes zed with fury as she screamed.

    ¡°This is just a moment of silence, Grail Knight! I will return! Again¡­¡±

    With a pop, her zing eyes burst from the pressure.

    Fluid leaked out, and the dozens of hands that had emerged folded back into the lids, disappearing inside. With that,

    the prophet of the red flesh was silenced.

    Isaac brushed off the ashes of the thorns as he approached the prophet.

    ¡®Sess.¡¯

    From the moment the Mirror Handmaiden mentioned absorbing the red flesh, Isaac had been suspicious of their intentions. It could have been genuine advice, but given that it came from an angel of the Red Chalice Club, skepticism was warranted.

    Therefore, if the red flesh turned out to be toorge for Isolde to absorb, Isaac had decided to seal it instead. He had nned to use his modest and seemingly insignificant miracle as a signal to awaken Isolde¡¯s consciousness.

    It was just a sh of light, but it was enough to awaken her.

    As a result, Isolde had unleashed one of the most powerful weapons an inquisitor could wield: the sealing miracle.

    ¡®I never imagined that the prophet herself would be caught in it.¡¯

    But a seal is a seal. The threat was notpletely gone.

    The scorched flesh looked like nothing more than a lump of coal, but the power of an angel still pulsed within it. It had simply been too weak to withstand the inquisitor¡¯s sealing prayer.

    ¡®Even the craftiest angel of conspiracy wouldn¡¯t have imagined Isolde would intervene here.¡¯

    Especially since she had already merged so significantly with her.

    It was the downfall of a proud angel.

    For the foreseeable future, the prophet of the red flesh would have no choice but to serve as a battery for Isolde¡¯s energy. She might try to emerge and rebel again someday, but by then, preparations would be even more robust.

    Isaac turned to Isolde.

    After reciting the sealing prayer, Isolde was sitting dazed, looking at Isaac. Although this was the only option, Isolde had inadvertently sealed another faith¡¯s angel within her.

    That in itself was a dangerous undertaking.

    ¡°Are you alright, Inquisitor?¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    Suddenly, Isaac realized that this ce was like a dreamspace for Isolde. He had instinctively trained her to recite the sealing prayer, but she couldn¡¯t possibly be acting with a proper self-awareness.

    It would be like moving in a dream.

    Thinking they needed to talk outside this psychic realm, Isaac tried to exit the ritual.

    Then, Isolde suddenly spoke.

    ¡°This isn¡¯t reality, right?¡±

    ¡°Yes? Oh, well, yes.¡±

    ¡°So¡­ this is a dream?¡±

    Isolde, seemingly in a daze, suddenly leaned into Isaac. He tried to push her away in confusion, but for some reason, he found it harder than when he was fighting the prophet of the red flesh.

    A sweet fragrance wafted over.

    ¡®Is the Doctrine of Thirsty Love still lingering? It shouldn¡¯t be after sealing the prophet.¡¯

    While he was lost in his thoughts, Isolde¡¯s lips met his.

    Isaac¡¯s mind went nk, overtaken by a powerful temptation.

    The Grail Knight had missed his chance to resist.

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read up to advance 20 chapters or support me, you can do it at/Akaza156

 Chapter 135:

    Chapter 135:

    ¡°Did you have a nice dream, Isaac?¡±

    The first thing Isaac encountered upon opening his eyes was Hesabel.

    Hesabel, who was filing her nails, brightened up at the sight of Isaac waking up. Isaac, still a bit dazed as usual after regaining consciousness, tried to get up nonchntly but then noticed Isolde still lying down. This made him almost wish he could faint again.

    Noticing the change, Hesabel eximed in amazement.

    ¡°It seems the Doctrine of Thirsty Love haspletely vanished. You¡¯ve fully suppressed the Red Flesh, haven¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°Hesabel, bring me some water.¡±

    ¡°Yes, right away!¡±

    Isaac regretted making a random request just to quiet Hesabel, as a suffocating silence ensued the moment he was left alone with Isolde.

    Suddenly, Isolde got up briskly. She remained expressionless and silent until she abruptly spoke.

    ¡°It looks like the ritual is over. You¡¯ve been through a lot, Isaac.¡±

    ¡°No, it was you, the Inquisitor, who suffered the most.¡±

    Isaac was taken aback by Isolde¡¯s strangely calm demeanor. Was he the only one who was flustered? Come to think of it, Isolde had never recalled what she looked like in her dreams.

    Though it was due to the Prophet of the Red Flesh¡¯s influence, there was a chance she might not remember what had happened in her dream just moments ago. Isaac felt a sense of relief realizing this.

    Isolde started to tidy up her clothes and was about to stand when she staggered and reached out to the table for support.

    ¡°Are you alright¡­¡­¡±

    Isaac moved to support her but stopped short upon seeing her flushed face, realizing she remembered everything. In the next moment, Isolde went into her room without a word.

    Though screams could be heard from behind the pillow, Isaac pretended not to hear them.

    ¡°Here¡¯s your water, Isaac. But why is she acting like that?¡±

    ¡°It might be an aftereffect of the ceremony.¡±

    ¡°Really? I haven¡¯t heard of such aftereffects¡­ And Isaac, you don¡¯t seem to be in good shape either. Why can¡¯t you look at the table properly?¡±

    Intrigued, Hesabel peered at Isaac and then suddenly, realizing something, smacked him on the back.

    A p caught Isaac off-guard, reflecting in his stunned expression. He realized that hiding their true nature from a group of physically indulgent deviants was impossible.

    ¡°What are you even talking about? Just prepare to leave quietly.¡±

    ¡°But it was just a dream? How can both of you have such childish reactions? No, maybe because it¡¯s a dream, it¡¯s even crazier¡­¡±

    ¡°Be quiet.¡±

    ¡°Well, you might say that, but what exactly happened that you can¡¯t even look at a window sill properly? Really, isn¡¯t that dangerous?¡±

    Isaac opted to ignore her and headed for the door, but hesitated and instantly regretted it as Hesabel¡¯s astonished voice burst out.

    ¡°Stairs, really? That¡¯s a bit too much, isn¡¯t it? You never know who mighte up!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not that¡­¡±

    Isaac decided it was better not to exin as it might look weirder and chose to ignore her again.

    He turned back towards Isolde¡¯s room,pelled to speak to her.

    ¡°Inquisitor, I have something to tell you.¡±

    As Isaac knocked, Isolde slightly opened the door. Seeing just a glimpse of her face made Isaac forget all the nonsense Hesabel had been spouting.

    But as the reason he hade resurfaced, his mood fell again.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I have a favor to ask.¡±

    Isolde¡¯s eyes widened at Isaac¡¯s whispered words.

    ***

    The Brant family¡¯s banquet had begun.

    Though called a banquet, there were no elegant chandeliers or marble floors here; the nobles dressed in spotless suits and dresses swirling in dance were absent. This era¡¯s ¡°banquet¡± more closely resembled a barbecue party. Servants tirelessly carried and chopped up pork, chicken, and beef, while nobles, regardless of gender, spilled beer and wine as they drank.

    Thanks to the priests living in Rougeberg who generously lit up the ce, the nighttime party was surprisingly bright, though still rugged.

    The banquet was ostensibly for fostering noble camaraderie, preparing the army for the Dawn Brigade, and celebrating Isolde Brant¡¯s return, but the main attraction for most was Isolde herself.

    ¡°Does anyone remember what thedy looks like?¡±

    ¡°I saw her ten years ago, but she was too young then¡­ Kids change a lot, so who knows what she looks like now.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s a rumor inside the Inquisition that she¡¯s a beauty.¡±

    ¡°Ha, even if she is a beauty, after years of not bathing or grooming in the bordends, how could she still look good?¡±

    ¡°I heard she returned early from Seor after getting a serious injury, before she became well-known.¡±

    ¡°Really? I heard she had the gue in Ariet and ended up withrge pockmarks on her face.¡±

    ¡°With Duke Brant as her background, what does appearance matter? If she just gets married, she could instantly be a central figure in the empire¡­¡±

    Rumors swirled and vanished like bubbles at the event.

    From birth, thedy had always been the subject of discussion.

    Despite Isolde having vanished from public view while studying at the religious order, her sudden return was enough to set tongues wagging. Yet, the rumors that had swirled relentlessly were about to be overshadowed by the reality of her appearance.

    Suddenly, there was a loud banging on the window.

    ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, Lady Isolde Brant has arrived!¡±

    All eyes instantly turned towards the entrance.

    The murmuring crowd fell silent. The sound of footsteps broke the quiet.

    A young woman dressed in a light blue gown made her way into the banquet hall.

    The arrival of Isolde had attracted a variety of society¡¯s elites: a socialite determined to win thedy¡¯s heart to better his own fate, a younger noble son eager to catch a glimpse, a woman who had been outspoken in her jealousy of the fameddy, among others.

    A hush fell over the crowd.

    Even the faint whispers that should be audible were drowned out by the intensity of the silence; not even the sound of swallowing could be heard.

    Isolde exuded a maic charm that captivated everyone, men and women alike, within the hall.

    She crossed the hall calmly amidst the silence and approached Dietrich. It wasn¡¯t until Priya nudged him with her foot that he reacted.

    ¡°You¡¯ve been through a lot. My¡­ daughter.¡±

    Isolde smiled faintly, bowing her head slightly as she stood by Dietrich.

    Breaths were held, then suddenly, the hall buzzed with whispered conversations. Only then did everyone realize that the music had never stopped ying since Isolde entered.

    The silence had been so profound that only when it was broken did other sounds begin to filter through.

    The nobles couldn¡¯t stop stealing nces at Isolde, and some men even gulped down their drinks as if parched. It was clear that Isolde¡¯s beauty would be the talk of high society for some time toe.

    Dietrich, witnessing the scene, murmured with a conflicted expression.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t this too much?¡±

    ¡°It was left to the maids. Surely you don¡¯t think I did my own makeup?¡±

    What entered as ¡®Isolde¡¯ was none other than Isaac.

    ***

    The original intent of the banquet was to use Isolde as bait to find those who fed on the tainted flesh. However, neither Isaac nor Dietrich actually nned to put the newly healed Isolde in such a position.

    Instead, the n was decided that Isaac would disguise himself as Isolde.

    It sounded like a mad n, but it was Isaac who suggested it.

    His androgynous looks and the fact that Isolde hadn¡¯t been seen in society since her debut made the deception possible. Even if someone who knew Isolde from her Inquisitor days recognized him, the makeup and thepletely different impression from her usual armored appearance would throw them off.

    ¡®More effective than I expected.¡¯

    Isaac had never used his appearance as a weapon before. However, the charm of a Nephilim was potent on a social stage like this.

    Just a light touch of makeup and a well-supporting dress were enough to provoke almost religious fervor in those who saw him. He also wore body-shaping gear toplement his naturally slim figure sufficiently.

    Additionally, Isaac made an effort to divert the nobles¡¯ attention.

    Again, this era¡¯s banquets were more akin to a rugged BBQ party. Amongst the noisy crowd, Isaac deliberately appeared more refined andposed, as one might expect in a modern social gathering, drawing even more attention.

    If there was anyone plotting something, they would surely make a move now.

    Despite Dietrich¡¯s amusement with the n, he seemed troubled when faced with the actual reactions within the banquet hall.

    ¡°It seems you¡¯re going through a lot of trouble because of my daughter. It¡¯s not easy for a man¡­¡±

    ¡°On the contrary, dressing as a woman is perhaps the most manly act a man can undertake.¡±

    Dietrich didn¡¯t quite understand Isaac¡¯sment but decided to let it go. He was more concerned about the atmosphere in the hall.

    ¡°If the rumors continue, all the potential suitors will be disappointed when they see my daughter. Someone will have to take responsibility then.¡±

    ¡°¡­Isolde is also beautiful in her own right. Don¡¯tpare her to a charming wanderer.¡±

    Isaac wasn¡¯t particrly bothered by dressing up. He was still partly treating this world as a game.

    This was merely changing his character¡¯s costume. His priority was identifying any potential threats.

    ¡®Let¡¯s see¡­¡¯

    With a fan slightly covering his face, Isaac activated his Eye of Chaos. The subtle violet hue of his eyes blended well, difficult to notice unless one looked closely. Given how often people were stealing nces at him, it was easy to gather information.

    Threats worth noting had been identified even before he arrived. As a banquet hosted by Duke Brant, it was crucial to filter out dangerous elements in advance, but this

    time, they intentionally let them be to catch them in action.

    ¡°Mdy, would you honor us with a dance?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but my daughter isn¡¯t feeling well; dancing would be difficult.¡±

    Even then, nobles continuously approached, asking for dances or conversation. Isaac politely declined, keeping his role.

    While some praised the Duke¡¯s daughter for her unexpected modesty and culture, others snickered, suspecting a physical ailment that made her reluctant to move. But Isaac paid them no mind.

    As the night deepened, Isaac¡¯s gaze suddenly met that of a man.

    His features were rough, with one eye scarred from a burn and a build like a bear; he was clearly intoxicated.

    Dietrich whispered to Isaac with an annoyed look.

    ¡°That¡¯s Count Boliven Tretia. He wasn¡¯t even invited but still showed up.¡±

    ¡°Should I remember this name?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s been pestering me to give him my daughter since she was a child. If it weren¡¯t for the wheat fields of Tretia, I would have dealt with him long ago¡­¡±

    ¡°How old was she?¡±

    ¡°Eleven.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    As Boliven stood and approached, the intensity in his eyes was unmistakable.

    ¡°Lady, you remain as beautiful as ever. May I have this dance?¡±

    Isaac stood up.

    Until then, he had been politely refusing from his seat. Now that he responded, all eyes were on him, including Boliven¡¯s, whose facial muscles twitched in surprise.

    Isaac whispered to Dietrich.

    ¡°I¡¯ll ept this one dance. Please, dim the lights a bit.¡±

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read up to advance 20 chapters or support me, you can do it at/Akaza156

 Chapter 136:

    Chapter 136:

    Without any chance for Dietrich to intervene, Isaac strode toward Boliven. Dietrich, left with no choice, instructed a priest who hade to help at the banquet to dim the lights slightly and change the music.

    Initially, Boliven seemed flustered but soon stood in front of Isaac with a ferocious smile. It was clear what he was thinking even without activating the Eye of Chaos.

    Boliven whispered into Isaac¡¯s ear.

    ¡°Would you like to dance here, or shall we go to a room and get intense¡­?¡±

    Isaac smiled and took his hand. He didn¡¯t even want to touch fingertips, but as with removing animal skin, one couldn¡¯t avoid getting bloodied.

    As their fingers interlocked, Boliven smirked, but his expression stiffened instantly.

    Boliven¡¯s face turned pale, then flushed red with bulging veins. Onlookers watched in puzzlement as the two stood facing each other with their fingers interlocked, unaware that Boliven¡¯s fingers were almost bending backwards.

    Boliven wanted to scream but clenched his teeth due to pride. However, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn¡¯t match Isaac¡¯s grip strength.

    Even if Nephilim were considered physically weak, Isaac, armed with various blessings, had already surpassed normal human capabilities. Though it drained some of his energy, this was nothingpared to his strength during battle.

    ¡°What, uh, you, what are¡­¡±

    Isaac didn¡¯t reply but began to step as if to dance. Although these were preparatory dance moves, the barely standing Boliven couldn¡¯t move properly and fell.

    Only then did Isaac let go of his hand. Dietrich intervened.

    ¡°He seems drunk. Send him to his room.¡±

    Some guards tried to help Boliven up.

    But then, Boliven locked eyes with Isaac.

    A mocking, scornful look.

    Boliven was overwhelmed by intense anger. He couldn¡¯t forgive the woman who had embarrassed him in front of other nobles, even if she was the daughter of the Duke of Brant.

    ¡°Fine. Keep it up.¡±

    As Isaac watched Boliven charge at him with a scream, he smiled faintly.

    The charm of a Nephilim wasn¡¯t just about gaining affection and poprity; it was also about controlling the atmosphere and manipting emotions.

    The ability to induce extreme liking could also induce extreme hatred.

    ¡°Bitch!!¡±

    In an instant, Isaac pped Boliven¡¯s cheek with his left hand, not the right.

    With a loud bang, Boliven¡¯s face hit the stairs as if his neck would snap.

    The hall fell into a chilling silence as even Dietrich was taken aback. A priest rushed to check on Boliven.

    ¡°He¡¯s alive.¡±

    Sighs of relief and disappointment mixed among the onlookers who first checked if he was alive.

    Dietrich, finally relieved, exploded in anger.

    ¡°How dare you attack my daughter in my own house, on my ownnd? This madman! Throw him out of Rougeberg immediately! The Tretia family must pay a sufficient price!¡±

    Dietrich¡¯s anger was genuine, mixed with the troubles caused by Isolde, making it clear to everyone that Boliven was at fault. Other nobles looked on with contempt as he was dragged away.

    After receiving treatment from the priest, Boliven was taken away by the guards, his face bearing a new,rge scar torn by Isaac¡¯s left hand¡¯s tentacle.

    And within that wound lurked parasites from beyond.

    It might be better for Tretia¡¯snds to be overseen by a more rational new lord rather than a foolish one.

    Dietrich then approached Isaac and whispered.

    ¡°Next time, please warn me before you cause a scene.¡±

    ¡°Wasn¡¯t it good though?¡±

    Instead of replying, Dietrich simply gave a thumbs up. The banquet continued without the troublemaker, but the incident would long be discussed among the nobles.

    The reputation of ¡®elegant and chaste Lady Isolde¡¯ had vanished, reced by rumors of ¡®monstrous strength that could knock down a bear-sized man in one hit.¡¯

    ***

    Three days had passed since the banquet began.

    At Isaac¡¯s request, the banquet extended for quite some time. Since it was early winter and the nobles had less to do, they enjoyed the event at leisure. Meanwhile, Isaac had been gathering considerable information about the nobles approaching Isolde.

    There were mainly three types of nobles around Isolde.

    First, those hoping to improve their fortunes by courting her.

    This was the mostmon type.

    They approached her calctingly and withdrew as soon as they realized there was no chance.

    Second, those genuinely smitten with Isaac.

    They dreamed only of ¡®romance,¡¯ not marriage. Isaac avoided talking to men altogether and struggled to dismiss the women despite their attraction to Nephilim charm. Fortunately, he had the help of Isolde¡¯s mother, Freya.

    Third,

    the suspicious ones.

    They neither approached nor spoke to Isaac but quietly observed him during the banquet, convinced they were tracking his movements.

    ¡°How many today?¡±

    ¡°Five. It¡¯s increasing.¡±

    Suspicious figures were also appearing within Rougeberg Castle.

    The Duke of Brant¡¯s security was notx; it was deliberately designed with gaps as traps. Thanks to this, Isaac could monitor these individuals through Hesabel.

    ¡°Keep up the good work. Just watch for now.¡±

    ¡°Got it.¡±

    It was clear that those who had fed Isolde the red flesh were connected. However, Isaac chose not to apprehend them immediately but to observe them instead. If he acted rashly now, the others might flee. It was essential to eradicate them when the opportunity was right.

    Unexpectedly, theplication arose from the length of the banquet being too extended.

    ¡°People would naturally assume it¡¯s about that given the scale of this banquet¡­¡±

    ¡°Are you deliberately dying the announcement?¡±

    The nobility was expecting some announcement at this banquet.

    Specifically, about the new son-inw of the Brant family.

    Dietrich was well aware of the rumors already circting.

    ¡°Normally, you wouldn¡¯t have a banquet of this scale without it being for a marriage or an engagement. Everything in society is politics and plots. ¡®The Duke of Brant just wants to enjoy some drinks and dancing at a banquet¡¯ won¡¯t fly.¡±

    ¡°It seems we need to make some announcement after all.¡±

    Isaac responded reluctantly to Dietrich¡¯s whisper.

    Isaac had been attending the banquet without fail, as it was ostensibly to ¡®celebrate Isolde¡¯s retirement.¡¯ After all, the guest of honor couldn¡¯t be absent. It was regrettable considering the real guest of honor was bored, spending time in a tower.

    ¡°That¡¯s right. Plus, Isolde is of marriageable age. Everyone her age is already married. There used to be the excuse that she was working for the church¡­¡±

    ¡°If we dy further, rumors might start that there¡¯s something wrong.¡±

    ¡°Exactly. So, if my daughter ends up not marrying, someone has to take responsibility, right?¡±

    ¡°Why should I be responsible?¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t say you had to take responsibility, Sir Knight. But, um, there are some strange rumors going around.¡±

    ¡°What rumors are you talking about?¡±

    ¡°Rumors like you have to be confident that your neck won¡¯t break even if pped by the Duke of Brant¡¯s daughter, or that Isolde herself has dered she will marry only a strong contender who can defeat her¡­¡±

    Isaac, the source of these rumors, had nothing he could say.

    He just kept silent, pretending not to know.

    However, Dietrich was right. To quell the rumors about Isolde, they needed to hurry up and announce an engagement, or at least someone should act as a matchmaker. And in the Brant family, suitors would likely be lining up; there was no shortage of candidates.

    Dietrich¡¯s words were a kind of warning.

    If it was clear that Isaac was not interested, he would consider a political marriage for her.

    And Isolde was a person loyal to her duty and family. She would not refuse her family¡¯s obligations for romantic feelings. It seemed likely that the Duke of Brant was considering a son-inw who could support her, not just teach her how to be supportive.

    ***

    ¡°Ah, Dietrich Brant!¡±

    As Isaac was deep in thought, a familiar voice called out.

    Not many could address Dietrich Brant so casually¡ªit required someone of sufficient rank, age, or social respect.

    Or just someone with a bold personality.

    ¡°Duchess Delia Lyon.¡±

    Dietrich greeted Delia with a forced smile as she approached, her robust figure swaying. Isaac had met her before in the Issacrea domain.

    Her booming voice, loud enough to be heard across the banquet hall, approached with a heartyugh. Dietrich visibly disliked her, but Delia seemed unfazed.

    ¡°I heard you were busy?¡±

    ¡°How could I miss a big party in Rougeberg! Don¡¯t look too upset, is she your famously beautiful daughter?¡±

    Delia grabbed Isaac¡¯s hand and looked into his face, then tilted her head as if something was odd.

    ¡°Huh? You do have the looks I heard about, but haven¡¯t we met before?¡±

    Isaac tensed up, but she soon pped her hands as if realizing.

    ¡°Ah, yes! That¡¯s right! Issacrea domain! You were one of the inquisitors who visited. Did you know, Dietrich? Your daughter and I have met before in Issacrea domain!¡±

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t aware.¡±

    ¡°Yes. I couldn¡¯t properly greet her then due to the circumstances, but I¡¯m d to meet her again. She seems very modest and well-mannered now. She would have matched well with that friend back then¡­¡±

    Isaac now felt a kinship with Dietrich. He started feeling the urge to kick Delia out.

    However, contrary to Isaac¡¯s feelings, Dietrich seemed curious about herment.

    ¡°That friend?¡±

    ¡°Sir Issacrea. Martyred in the North Sea.¡±

    ¡°Ah, the Holy Grail Knight.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a bitte to say this, but the Holy Grail Knight and I were very close. I thought he would achieve great things, but I never imagined he would die so tragically and be a star¡­¡±

    Delia continued to praise how much she respected and cared for Isaac, and how much Isaac respected and followed her. It was torture for Isaac to listen to this directly, but he managed to keep a smiling face.

    ¡°Oh, I¡¯ve kept the busy Duke too long. There are many young men ncing at thedy; I can¡¯t keep holding you up. I¡¯ll go and ruin some party food now. The chef is quite skilled. Oh, by the way, I just remembered something to ask.¡±

    After talking nonstop, Delia suddenly seemed to remember something and asked Dietrich, who frowned as if expecting more nonsense, but her next words shook him visibly.

    ¡°That Holy Grail Knight you mentioned. I heard he¡¯s actually alive, is that true?¡±

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read up to advance 20 chapters or support me, you can do it at/Akaza156

 Chapter 137:

    Chapter 137:

    Dietrich looked at her with a stern expression.

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°Ha-ha, yes, well, rumors are just rumors after all. I was just curious and asked. Now, I will take my leave.¡±

    Delia crossed the banquet hall again with a heavy step. Dietrich red at her back as if he wanted to stab her with his gaze.

    Isaac seemed to understand why Dietrich disliked Delia.

    Behind her muscr and seemingly simple appearance was a snake-like trait. The fact that she asked about Isaac was not out of ignorance but merely to confirm the truth.

    However, whether she had realized that Isaac was disguised as Isolde was unknown.

    Now, Dietrich had no choice but to ponder where the information had leaked from.

    He bowed his head as his eyes met Isaac¡¯s.

    ¡°I asked you to maintain security, and yet the information has leaked; I am ashamed.¡±

    ¡°No, it was information bound to be revealed eventually. As you said, perfect security does not exist, and it¡¯s possible that the rumors started from the Salt Council and not the Duke.¡±

    ¡°If the Church finds out¡­¡±

    At the moment, the Church considered Isaac a ¡®heroic martyr who had met a saintly death.¡¯

    The Order was promoting Isaac to sainthood and using his ¡®murder¡¯ by the Immortal Order as a pretext to incite the Dawn Army.

    The resurrection of Isaac could indeed be embarrassing.

    Therefore, Dietrich worried that the Order might insist ¡®such a thing never happened¡¯ and confront Isaac with a sword.

    But Isaac was not overly worried.

    ¡°I have already considered some options. You need not worry. More importantly¡­¡±

    At that moment, Isaac¡¯s eyes shone. Someone was crossing the banquet hall towards him. It was one of the people who had been observing rather than approaching Isaac during the past few days of festivities.

    ¡°I am d to see you are well, Miss Isolde Brant.¡±

    Isaac immediately recognized him.

    Eastern Regional Chief Ilya Dote of the Inquisition.

    The very inquisitor who had met Isaac in the territory of Issacrea. Isolde had been under hismand to investigate Isaac.

    Recalling his keen intuition, Isaac tensed up. He also remembered that Isolde had eaten the ¡®red flesh¡¯ at the Inquisition.

    ¡°I hope you recover fully soon.¡±

    However, Ilya merely kissed the back of Isaac¡¯s gloved hand and stepped back. Yet, a small note remained in Isaac¡¯s palm.

    The message left behind was in a code that other inquisitors could not read, but Isaac could.

    ¡®Come to the backyard, alone.¡¯

    ***

    Rougeberg Castle was as vast as its history was long.

    This meant that, just like its history, the castle was aplex mess of expansions and overdevelopments, with secret passages and hideouts unknown even to its owners. There were also discreet ces that rarely caught people¡¯s attention.

    The backyard was such a ce.

    Ilya Dote was waiting there, amongst the overgrown bushes. It was unclear how long he had been waiting, but Isaac disliked his audacity in summoning ady sote at night without prior notice.

    Therefore, Isaac intentionally arrived quitete, forcing Ilya to endure the night dew for a prolonged period.

    ¡®Six¡­ no, seven.¡¯

    Before even stepping into the backyard, Isaac had detected that, aside from Ilya, seven others were hiding there. It seemed that the guests were all from Ilya¡¯s faction.

    While it would not be a problem if he decided to kill them all, he needed to be cautious if he wished to conceal his tentacles.

    ¡®Hesabel, standby.¡¯

    ¡®Yes.¡¯

    With Hesabel already in position and covertly prepared, Isaac stepped into the backyard.

    As Isaac approached, Ilya turned his head.

    ¡°You arete. Is Isolde noting herself?¡±

    It was clear that Ilya had recognized Isaac¡¯s disguise. Even makeup couldn¡¯t fool someone who knew his face, especially not an inquisitor.

    Isaac did not respond and waited for Ilya to continue.

    ¡°Right. You had to use a stand-in. Couldn¡¯t you at least send a message to Isolde? The Inquisition¡­¡±

    Suddenly, Ilya turned as if giving a signal, and a shadow burst from the thick bushes, charging at Isaac. Ilya drew a short sword and struck the shadow.

    ¡°What is this¡­! Hey,e this way!¡±

    Instead of joining the shadows to attack Isaac, Ilya moved to protect him.

    Surprised by his unexpected reaction, Isaac pretended to be flustered while moving to his side. The attacker, undeterred by the dagger wound, continued to try to drag Isaac away.

    As the attacker grabbed Isaac¡¯s left hand, the arm twisted 360 degrees and snapped.

    The opaque energy surrounding the attacker made it impossible to see what exactly happened to the broken arm.

    However, as the attacker quickly retreated, the arm healed

    instantaneously.

    Isaac stood next to Ilya.

    ¡°Are you okay? It looked like you were grabbed.¡±

    Ilya, who had not seen what happened, simply thought it was because of the short sword.

    Isaac also drew his dagger, ready to fight.

    As the first assault failed, those in ambush began to emerge as if shadows were sprouting from the ground. They were covered in pitch-ck attire, surrounded by an opaque aura that made focusing on them difficult.

    Ilya instantly invoked a miracle, igniting a me above his head. The backyard lit up as if it were broad daylight, violently shaking the obscure aura of the ambushers. Seeing their briefly exposed forms, Ilya muttered through gritted teeth.

    ¡°Wachia human hunters, you¡¯vee a long way!¡±

    Sure enough, they were Wachia human hunters.

    ***

    The human hunters were dressed not as hunters but in the ordinary garb of knights and guards, as Isaac had seen at the Ariet Monastery. They were the ones under surveince by Hesabel, and their numbers nearly matched.

    ¡®I knew the Red Chalice was involved, so it was expected that they¡¯d appear, but I didn¡¯t foresee such a tant attack.¡¯

    One who seemed to be the hunting leader muttered in a grating voice.

    ¡°The inquisitor can be killed, but thedy just needs to be captured alive at all costs.¡±

    They quickly drew crossbows to decide the oue swiftly. Ilya clenched his teeth, attempting to invoke another miracle. Just then, a crossbow bolt pierced the head of one of the human hunters, apanied by a tearing sound through the air.

    Distracted by the unexpected arrow, their attention shifted from Ilya.

    In the next moment, Isaac was already moving. It took only a split second for him to gouge out the throat of the nearest human hunters with his dagger.

    Ilya, quickly grasping the situation, subdued another one. The seven enemies had now been reduced to four. However, facing the Wachia human hunters in the middle of the night, even after a sessful surprise attack, was challenging.

    Click, ck.

    The human hunters whom Ilya had slit the throat of began to heal before he even fell, his wound regenerating. As he attempted to escape from Ilya, several more crossbow bolts pierced his body.

    Thump, thud! Ilya narrowly avoided the bolts that pierced the human hunters¡¯s torso and rolled on the ground.

    The human hunters, looking like a porcupine from his allies¡¯ bolts, staggered and pulled the arrows out himself.

    Ilya gritted his teeth at the sight. These assassins treated their bodies like weapons. Ilya assessed that with the current forces, it was difficult tobat the human hunters.

    ¡°Hey, you! I¡¯ll hold them off so you can¡­¡±

    Ilya tried to allow Isaac, disguised as Isolde, to escape and call for help. However, where ¡®Isolde¡¯ had been, only two choking, human hunters clutching their throats were found.

    Their wounds weren¡¯t cut but appeared as if they were massively gouged.

    Isaac¡¯s de was wrapped in an iprehensible opaque aura, but its nature was unclear.

    ¡°What is this¡­?¡±

    ¡°I would appreciate a little help.¡±

    Isaac, who had approached quietly from behind, whispered. Startled, Ilya turned around only to be knocked down by a powerful impact.

    ¡°Being unconscious might help you.¡±

    After knocking Ilya out, Isaacid him on the ground. The illuminating miracle that Ilya had activated extinguished, and darkness enveloped the backyard.

    Confused by the situation, the human hunters hesitated.

    Suddenly, Isaac yelled at them in a furious voice.

    ¡°You dare attack an inquisitor and expect to survive!¡±

    A man¡¯s voice unexpectedly rang out, causing confusion among the human hunters.

    ¡°That¡¯s not thedy.¡±

    An annoyed voice came from the hunting leader.

    Hesabel¡¯s crossbow bolt flew towards the leader¡¯s head, but he deflected it with a scythe without even looking at the approaching bolt.

    ¡°Don¡¯t interfere, Hesabel. If you don¡¯t want toplicate things for the Gullmar family.¡±

    Hesabel felt rmed but didn¡¯t respond. Meanwhile, the human hunters, armed with crossbows, surrounded Isaac.

    The hunting leader red at Isaac from beyond the dark aura and said,

    ¡°Where¡¯s thedy? Surrender her quietly, and we¡¯ll spare both of your lives.¡±

    ¡°Introduce yourself first.¡±

    ¡°Fire.¡±

    Bang. Isaac¡¯s body jerked.

    The hunting leader decided to make conversation easier by nting a few arrows in him first.

    But then, a puzzled frown appeared on his face.

    A shadowy, ink-like aura swirled around Isaac, where he was thought to have been hit by arrows.

    Crunch, crunch. The iron-made crossbow bolts were absurdly crunched up as if they were light.

    ¡°The huntercks manners in his hunting skills. One should introduce oneself politely before inquiring about ady¡¯s whereabouts.¡±

    ¡°What is this¡­¡±

    Isaac was unharmed, not even a speck of a scratch on him. The human hunters immediately drew their swords to subdue him, but at that moment, their eyes dropped to the squishy feeling under their feet.

    For a moment, they thought they were standing on a pitch-ck void.

    An inexplicable, mysterious color had filled the garden floor, which they had not noticed until now.

    [The shadow cast over the world (B) / Tentacles wrapped in the color from beyond, hidden within the shadows or made invisible.]

    In an instant, a tentacle wrapped in the mysterious color from the ground pierced through the head of one human hunters. Before they could even scream or react in horror, the tentacle crushed the inside of the human hunters¡¯s skull, sucking it dry and shattering it to pieces.

    The remaining human hunters, trying to retreat in shock, found themselves trapped in a mire-like color from beyond. Inside, they faced snapping jaws, teeth, and tongues¡ªall eager to tear them apart. Even those who emphasized decorum were forced to scream in this horrifying situation.

    At that moment, the hunting leader gritted his teeth and shouted,

    ¡°It¡¯s an illusion! Snap out of it!¡±

    But by then, Isaac had already decapitated two more human hunters. The severed heads were disintegrated by the tentacles whirling through the color. Even their powerful regenerative abilities were useless before the predatory teeth that devoured everything.

    The hunting leader, grinding his teeth, swung his scythe at Isaac. Dressed only in a gown and armed with a mere dagger, Isaac found it difficult to directly confront the hunting leader.

    Bang. Instead, Hesabel continuously fired arrows at the back of the hunting leader¡¯s head. Annoyed, the leader swung his scythe as if resolved to something and cut off his own wrist.

    Obviously, he had been nning to invoke a powerful miracle, but Isaac had no intention of allowing such a miracle to be unleashed in the middle of Rougeberg.

    ¡°Shh.¡±

    Watching for an opportunity to activate a miracle, Isaac did not miss the moment the hunting leader paused. He invoked the Grasp of the Abyss, and massive tentacles erupted from the ground like giant trees. The hunting leader tried to shout in horror, but the enormous tentacle swallowed him whole in an instant.

    At the same time, the Dark Eucharist was activated.

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read up to advance 20 chapters or support me, you can do it at/Akaza156

 Chapter 138:

    Chapter 138:

    Blood scattered like rain.

    Fragments of the hunting party leader, gruesomely chewed up, fell everywhere in the backyard, but even those werepletely devoured by the tentacles.

    In the midst of the horrific scene, the surviving human hunters were seized by convulsive terror.

    ¡°AAAAAAH!¡±

    Bang, bang. Hesabel¡¯s crossbow pinned the remaining ones¡¯ heads to the ground. Soon after, the tentacles having finished their feast of Predation, disappeared back under the hues from beyond.

    ¡®This is troublesome.¡¯

    Affected by the Dark Eucharist, all nearby human hunters were lost in terror,pletely petrified. However, Isaac realized that the cleanup was not perfect. Thest miracle invoked by the hunting party leader was a Red Prayer that transformed his body into a mist of blood.

    Despite bing a mist, whether still under the influence of the Dark Eucharist or not, he panicked and stirred the skies above Rougeberg before vanishing.

    Isaac, clicking his tongue, quickly pulled out a human hunter whose head was buried in the ground. The hunter had an arrow piercing one eye, but since the other was intact, it didn¡¯t matter.

    ¡°Where did your leader go?¡±

    There was no need to wait for an answer.

    Isaac¡¯s eyes filled with a deep violet hue. Thin tentacles burst through his eyelids and swiftly burrowed into the human hunter¡¯s eyes.

    Soon, Isaac had extracted their operational tactics, emergency actions, and their original ns in meticulous detail.

    And he clicked his tongue again.

    ¡°Headed to the tower?¡±

    They already knew where Isolde was hiding.

    ***

    Whirring, crunching, thud.

    The blood-mist form of the hunting party leader, having frantically wandered, soon lost the power of the miracle and reverted to his original form.

    He fell onto the roof and rolled down into the dirt of the courtyard, mming his head into the ground. His mind seemed to clear a bit then.

    He felt an unprecedented fear when swallowed by the Grasp of the Abyss, due to the effects of the Dark Eucharist, but he never wanted to experience that again. Tears were streaming down his face ¨C tears he had never shed since bing a human hunter.

    ¡®I can¡¯t face that monster again.¡¯

    He gasped for breath, walking aimlessly forward.

    ¡®Where did it all go wrong?¡¯

    His wrist, cut to invoke the red prayer, had not regenerated. It was a sacrifice to the Red Chalice, after all. Though he could restore his form, being heavily drained of blood by the giant tentacles, he wasn¡¯tpletely healed.

    He had lost his wrist and his subordinates.

    And the angel he was supposed to serve, the Prophet of the Red Flesh.

    ¡®If only we had stuck to the original n¡­¡¯

    The original n was to ambush Isolde in the tower. But when a banquet was announced, they thought it would be an easier ce to kidnap her from. Little did they know the opposition was bait¡­ and that they were dealing with a monster.

    ¡®First, I¡¯ve escaped to regroup¡­¡¯

    While looking for an escape route, the hunting party leader suddenly noticed something massive ahead.

    It was the very tower they had nned to attack.

    Staggering towards the tower as if hypnotized, he then realized the banquet was a trap to lure them out! He had foolishly taken the bait.

    ¡®So, does that mean Isolde Brant, or rather, the Prophet of the Red Flesh, is still here?¡¯

    He staggered to the tower¡¯s entrance and smelled something familiar.

    A sweet scent.

    It was both the lingering scent of the Doctrine of Thirsty Love and that of the Red Flesh.

    The hunting party leader felt like he had grabbed a lifeline.

    Even though his team was wiped out and he was severely injured, if he could rescue the Prophet of the Red Flesh, or even obtain a part of her flesh, he could recover immediately. His only chance to survive was this.

    He tried to open the tower door, but of course, it was locked.

    Frustrated, he banged on the door until he regained his senses.

    He had to hurry. He gritted his teeth and pushed his severed wrist into the keyhole.

    His dripping blood solidified inside the keyhole, unlocking it. Although he had to use more of his scarce blood, he was relieved to see the door open. Now, all he had to do was go inside and take Isolde hostage¡­

    That¡¯s when he noticed someone standing in front of the door.

    A person in a tattered white armor, faintly glowing sword in hand.

    He couldn¡¯t fail to recognize someone who was high on the assassins¡¯ list of the Dawn Army.

    The hunting party leader muttered dumbfoundedly.

    ¡°The Pdin?¡±

    Bang. The Pdin kicked him in the chest.

    Already exhausted, the hunting party leader tumbled down the stairs with a series of thuds. Managing to get back on his feet amidst grunts and groans, he looked up the stairs with trembling eyes.

    Why was the Pdin, reportedly drowned in the North Sea, here of all ces?

    This was the Pdin who had annihted human hunters in Ariet Valley, banished the Prophet of Red Flesh, and defeated the Drowned King.

    Facing him in any state was daunting, let alone when he was right before his eyes.

    Thud. Just then, the Pdin began descending the stairs.

    ¡°Ha, hah.¡±

    The hunting party leader couldn¡¯t tell where the truth ended and the lies began, nor could he remember when he had fallen into this swamp-like trap. Before the approaching Pdin, he felt a terror of the iprehensible world.

    ¡°Huh, huhaha, hahaha¡­¡±

    Suddenly, he caught a strange scent.

    The same scent he had smelled before even entering the tower.

    The scent of Red Flesh.

    The divine power of the angel he worshiped seemed to emanate from the Pdin. In his nearly deranged state, he saw this scent as his only salvation.

    An irresistible temptation overtook him.

    ¡°My angel!¡±

    He crazily smashed his head into the ground, muttering.

    ¡°My angel, I spheme!¡±

    ***

    When Isaac arrived at the tower, he was speechless at the scene before him.

    The hunting party leader was either unconscious or had fainted with a pool of blood under his head, and Isolde, wearing Isaac¡¯s armor, looked down at him with a puzzled expression.

    ¡°Why did youe outside?¡±

    ¡°Well, the door was open, and it seemed better to be out here in case a fight broke out¡­¡±

    Isolde, fumbling with her arms, seemed bothered by the heavy armor.

    Despite the armor being enchanted with miracles for agility and strength enhancement, it was still cumbersome for Isolde who was used to wearingfortable leather clothes.

    The armor she wore had been lent to her by Isaac when he decided to attend the banquet, thinking it might make others think twice before attacking her if they recognized it.

    The Pdin¡¯s armor was designed to adjust to the wearer¡¯s body, so Isolde could wear it without any difort.

    However, Isaac felt a different kind of burden because, in essence, the armor was like his own shell. Inside, tentacles intertwined to enhance strength and durability, and due to their shared sensations, he could distinctly feel Isolde¡¯s body outline.

    But this also meant he wasn¡¯t overly worried when he thought the hunting party leader might go after Isolde. He trusted the armor¡¯s durability and could monitor any activity around it in real time.

    Isolde was not an easy target to kidnap.

    She waspetent in her own right and could summon the furnace beast to buy time if necessary. She could also call upon skilled knights if she wished.

    But it seemed that the situation didn¡¯t require that much effort. Whether it was carelessness or confusion, the oue would probably have been the same even if the hunting party leader had been in better condition.

    ¡°This man kept saying things like ¡®I spheme my angel.¡¯ Could it be because of the Red Flesh?¡±

    ¡°Hmm, it seems so. We¡¯ll need to look into it.¡±

    Isaac had a foolproof method of interrogation that could be used even if the subject was dead.

    The hunting party leader likely knew a lot.

    ¡°Well then, I¡¯ll leave the interrogation to you. But¡­¡±

    Isolde looked at Isaac up and down with a peculiar expression.

    ¡°¡­you look surprisingly good in that.¡±

    Although Isaac¡¯s dress was disheveled from the fight and stained with blood, it wasn¡¯t ruined. He naturally suited the outfit quite well.

    Isaac wasn¡¯t sure whether to take that as apliment or an insult but decided to return the remark.

    ¡°You too.¡±

    ¡°¡­Thank you.¡±

    Thus, the two, having swapped their outfits, spent a long time searching for the right words, their gazes drifting through the air.

    ***

    When Ilya woke up, he realized his hands were tied behind his back.

    Noticing him awaken, Isaac, dressed in the same outfit and stunningly beautiful, turned around. His face was nowpletely different from when Ilya first saw him.

    It was an expression devoid of any emotion.

    ¡°Wait, what is this¡­¡±

    Ilya started to protest but froze upon seeing not just Isaac but also Dietrich in the backyard. He took a deep breath and greeted Dietrich again.

    ¡°Your Grace, if there¡¯s been a misunderstanding¡­¡±

    ¡°Misunderstanding? You arranged for my daughter to be alone where Wachia human hunters were hiding. I¡¯m curious what misunderstanding there could be. If it weren¡¯t for this friend, who knows what might have happened.¡±

    Ilya gritted his teeth.

    Everything seemed to incriminate him.

    ¡°I was trying to protect her! I didn¡¯t know about human hunters either¡­ Wait, what happened to those human hunters? Interrogate them. I don¡¯t know anything!¡±

    ¡°They all ran away,¡± Isaac replied.

    ¡°It seemed they decided to flee since they couldn¡¯t overpower a noblewoman, and catching human hunters in the middle of the night is difficult.¡±

    Of course, it would be hard.

    Except for the hunting party leader, the rest were already part of the backyard¡¯s soil or had been deliciously consumed by the tentacles.

    Ilya looked defeated.

    But he recognized Isaac¡¯s voice.

    ¡°The Pdin? Are you Sir Isaac Issacrea?¡±

    Dietrich responded before Isaac could.

    He stepped forward and kicked Ilya in the face, scattering the Eastern Inquisition¡¯s formidable teeth across the backyard.

    ¡°Do you think you¡¯re in a position to ask questions!¡±

    Watching Ilya bleed, Isaac felt a twinge of regret.

    Ilya had indeed tried to protect Isaac, and from delving into the hunting party leader¡¯s mind, Isaac knew that Ilya was genuinely uninvolved with the human hunters.

    But now, it was necessary to press Ilya firmly to the ground.

    Ilya clenched his eyes shut and pressed his forehead to the ground.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­ I never intended to put thedy in danger. I just wanted to quietly pass on a message.¡±

    ¡°A message to be passed quietly?¡±

    ¡°About the Doctrine of Thirsty Love.¡±

    ¡°You mean the thing about Isolde eating the Red Flesh? That¡¯s been resolved already.¡±

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read up to advance 20 chapters or support me, you can do it at/Akaza156

 Chapter 139:

    Chapter 139:

    At that remark, Ilya¡¯s head snapped up.

    ¡°You¡¯ve resolved the issue with the Red Flesh? As long as any flesh remains, the Doctrine of Thirsty Love won¡¯t disappear, so how¡­ Could it be that the Prophet of the Red Flesh withdrew voluntarily?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re not in a position to be asking questions,¡± Dietrich retorted, evading the question with an authoritarian tone.

    Even if it was Isolde, digesting and absorbing the Red Flesh could pose long-term problems, especially if it involved the whole Prophet of the Red Flesh. That¡¯s why it was necessary to break Ilya¡¯s spirit intentionally.

    Subdued, Ilya bowed his head.

    ¡°What I meant to say was¡­ I found the person who fed the Red Flesh to Miss Isolde. We dealt with it internally within the Inquisition. You won¡¯t meet him again.¡±

    When an inquisitor says you won¡¯t meet someone again, it usually means they¡¯ve been cleanly incinerated.

    Who it was or why it happened didn¡¯t matter. It was likely a one-time use agent anyway. The Red Chalice¡¯s schemes involving seduction and maniption were not new.

    Dietrich had experienced it several times, so he merely frowned.

    ¡°Did you find out why they did it?¡±

    Ilya shook his head. Such disposable minions likely didn¡¯t even know what they were carrying or who they were working for, given the cunning nature of the Red Chalice¡¯s plots. At best, they might have tried to create a scandal involving the second highest in the empire¡¯s hierarchy.

    Isaac knew this was aimed at him, but he couldn¡¯t disclose that. Dietrich sighed heavily.

    ¡°Is that all you had to tell Isolde?¡±

    ¡°Since we can¡¯t reveal that Lady of the Duchy is affected by the Doctrine of Thirsty Love, I just wanted to ensure everything was resolved since she was attending the banquet. But I never expected this to happen¡­¡±

    Isaac whispered to Dietrich by his side.

    ¡°He seems to be telling the truth.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s what I see as well.¡±

    However, Dietrich still looked at Ilya as if he was something to be devoured, without showing any sign of softening.

    Sending Isolde to the church was meant to expose her to the world, including the darker sides of the order. Although Isolde seemed to have nine lives, wandering as she did, she had managed to survive and return safely.

    That was enough for Dietrich.

    He turned to Isaac and seemed to ponder for a moment before pulling off a ring that was fitted on his finger.

    ¡°The Pdin collects relics and returns them to the temple to receive the gods¡¯ blessings. Please, take this.¡±

    Isaac could hardly hide his surprise at seeing the ring.

    [Broken Crystal tomestone Fragment (S)]

    [In the Crystal Battlefield, ten thousand warriors fight in ten thousand ways, tasting victory ten thousand times, and facing death just as often. The tomestone mourns the warriors¡¯ deaths, during its luminescence it aligns their movements wlessly, guiding them to certain victory or death.]

    ¡°This is¡­¡±

    Isaac started to speak but stopped at Dietrich¡¯s urgent gesture.

    ¡®The Crystal Battlefield¡¯ is the afterworld of Elil. And this ring was forged from the fragments that flowed from that very afterworld of Elil.

    The ring, encrusted with dense crystal fragments around its golden band, emitted an extraordinary aura.

    ¡°It was found by one of my ancestors in Rougeberg. It might have belonged to a high knight under Elil, or perhaps to Elil himself.¡±

    ¡°No, I can¡¯t ept something this valuable.¡±

    It wasn¡¯t a refusal out of politeness or modesty, but genuine difort. Such an item would be considered a heirloom in the Duchy of Brant, and if the ducal session were even slightlyplicated, epting it could lead Isaac to face assassination.

    But Dietrich forcibly ced the ring in Isaac¡¯s hand.

    ¡°It¡¯s not the Codex of Light nor a relic of the Elil Order that I could openly disy; it was a sanctified object I kept hidden. It saved my life numerous times during thest war. I have no use for it now, but as a Pdin, it might be of use to you.¡±

    Isaac looked at the ring in his hand, visibly uneasy.

    ¡°You¡¯re not suggesting I join the Brant family by epting this, are you?¡±

    ¡°Haha, was it that obvious?¡±

    Although it seemed like a transparent attempt to secure Isaac¡¯s allegiance by integrating him into the Brant family, Dietrich merelyughed it off.

    Isaac, feeling the weight of the coerced gift, ultimately epted it.

    The Broken Crystal tomestone Fragment, known simply as a ¡®tomestone Fragment,¡¯ was indeed a top-tier essory for any de-wielding profession.

    To obtain a crystal tombstone fragment of this size, one would need to hunt nearly a hundred divine beasts in the afterlife of Elil or harvest it directly from there¡­

    Moreover, there wereplicated conditions such as usage limits and time restrictions. If exceeded, it would either destroy itself or lose power, but the fragment received from Dietrich was quite a powerful relic.

    It would be a lie to say it wasn¡¯t tempting.

    ¡°I gratefully ept.¡±

    Even as Isaac epted the ring, he couldn¡¯t shake off the thought that it was too much. Although a precious only daughter, it seemed too much for saving just one person.

    And Isaac did not want to feel indebted.

    ***

    Issue: The Red Chalice had agreed to cooperate with Isaac.

    Then why did the Wachia human hunterse now to kidnap Isolde?

    Answer: Because the intentions of the gods are not always clear.

    Especially, the Red Chalice Club, heavily influenced by angels, was more so.

    The royalty receives blood directly from the Red Chalice, but it is the angels who care for and manage them. Among them, the Prophet of the Red Flesh from the Gullmar family was actively involved in grooming sessors.

    ¡°It was the men sent from the Gullmar family.¡±

    Isaac said, tapping the barrel in front of Hesabel.

    Hesabel¡¯s eyes flickered.

    In the barrel, slightly lower than knee-height, overflowing with blood, the Hunt Leader was efficiently packed without wasting space.

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t because of you, but it seems they came to recover the flesh after something went wrong with the Prophet of the Red Flesh¡¯s work.¡±

    ¡°So they mentioned my family, huh.¡±

    ¡°The Gullmar family must be burning inside, having the Prophet of the Red Flesh as their backing.¡±

    ¡°Even losing two relics and the heir to the dukedommitting apostasy, they must have thought they needed to do something,¡± Hesabel pointed out, though Isaac had deliberately not mentioned it.

    She emphasized as if she had nothing to do with this matter.

    ¡°Did the Gullmar family know that this was a trick by the Prophet of the Red Flesh trying to flee andmit apostasy?¡±

    ¡°They wouldn¡¯t have known. It¡¯s easy for the Prophet of the Red Flesh to just run away, but the Gullmar dukedom remains in the Wachia kingdom. It¡¯s clear what happens to a family that aids an angel¡¯s apostasy.¡±

    Ironically, the reason they weren¡¯tpletely stripped of their nobility and punished was because of Hesabel. Because of the secret alliance between Isaac and the Red Chalice, the Gullmar family wasn¡¯t given a reason to be punished. But the angels of the Red Chalice seemed to have left them uneasy on purpose; it was easier to handle that way.

    And indeed, Iliya was not involved in this attack.

    The Huntwe Leader had anticipated that he would contact Isolde and had simply tracked his movements and ambushed him.

    ¡®After all, being used by a heretic, especially for an inquisitor, is a grave sin in itself.¡¯

    Though this stopped the attack targeting Isolde, the problem wasn¡¯tpletely resolved.

    ¡°There are still spies.¡±

    ¡°Spies?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Those deceived, bribed, or threatened¡­ The Prophet of the Red Flesh must have prepared thoroughly. After all, she was the most active angel in the Red Chalice Club.¡±

    The scale of the conspiracy wasrger than expected.

    It was suspicious that they had nned so much just to kidnap Isolde.

    Even if the plot was to dominate the Brant duchy, it would have been enough to bewitch a few close nobles after gaining control over Isolde.

    However, this conspiracy involved not just nobles but also guards, merchants, thieves, and smugglers.

    This scale was abnormal.

    No, it wasn¡¯t typical of the Prophet of the Red Flesh to manage even the lowest ranks; he would rather overthrow the duchy by force.

    The problem was that these people were organized in cells, so detailed ns were unknown due to their strict secrecy. They didn¡¯t even know they were following the orders of the Red Chalice Club¡¯s angel.

    Fortunately, the Hunter Leader had the names of all the nobles he had bewitched.

    Isaac sent the list into Hesabel¡¯s mind. However, Hesabel still looked uneasy.

    She cautiously observed Isaac and said,

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Isaac. It¡¯s impossible topletely eliminate all the spies of the Red Chalice. Unless you can solve everyone¡¯s poverty, make them saints who don¡¯t sumb to temptation, or ensure they live contentedly, that is.¡±

    Expecting the spies of the Red Chalice Club to disappear is like hoping there are no people who are bribed, seduced, or dream of immortality.

    It was an impossible task that only those with unrealistic expectations about humans would dream of.

    As long as desires exist, the Red Chalice Club would always find a way to infiltrate.

    Isaac knew this well.

    He nodded and said,

    ¡°Right. I know. But this time, the scale is sorge that I just want to know what they are plotting. Especially because they have been unusually aggressivetely.¡±

    It might not be a big deal.

    But the hunters of the Red Chalice were caught too easily, and the scale of those involved in the conspiracy seemed toorge for their goals.

    Isaac thought that the attack by the human hunters might just be a part of arger scheme.

    And soon, he coulde to a conclusion.

    ***

    ¡°Isaac, if you have time, would you like to have a cup of tea?¡±

    The kidnappers targeting Isolde had been dealt with, so the banquet could now end without issues. Dietrich seemed to have thought of a way to conclude the event convincingly, but Isaac no longer cared.

    ¡°Of course. What kind of tea is it?¡±

    To refuse the duke¡¯s teatime would be too materialistic for Isaac.

    ¡°It¡¯s a very expensive tea. Directly brought from the central regions.¡±

    Isaac wondered how special the tea was for Duke Brant to praise it so highly.

    ¡°The Emperor himself wishes to meet you.¡±

    Indeed, it was going to be a very expensive teatime.

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read up to advance 20 chapters or support me, you can do it at/Akaza156

 Chapter 140:

    Chapter 140:

    ¡°Ah, I see.¡±

    Isaac¡¯s calm response somewhat perplexed Dietrich.

    He had expected even a renowned Grail Knight to be flustered upon the sudden mention of the Emperor. It was supposed to be a startling revtion, and Dietrich felt slightly disappointed by theck of reaction.

    Meanwhile, Isaac, who had been deep in thought, quickly exined after noticing Dietrich¡¯s reaction.

    ¡°Ah, actually, I was somewhat expecting it.¡±

    ¡°Expecting it? You anticipated that His Majesty the Emperor woulde?¡±

    ¡°Yes, since Duchess Lyon was here.¡±

    Dietrich looked confused, but for Isaac, it was a predictable sequence of events.

    Delia Lyon was a staunch imperialist and a representative of the central nobility, deeply loyal to the Emperor¡¯s faction. It was no small matter that she attended the Rougeberg banquet despite her busy schedule.

    At first, Isaac didn¡¯t think much of it. However, as he eliminated the Red Chalice Club¡¯s conspiracy and saw the influx of spies in Rougeberg, he changed his mind.

    Someone very important wasing to Rougeberg.

    And the only person who could influence Duke Lyon and was close enough to Duke Brant was Emperor Waltzemer.

    ¡°¡­But I never imagined he would summon me. Why would he suddenly seek me out?¡±

    Only then did Dietrich respond with the eagerness he had anticipated.

    ¡°His Majesty finds your existence quite fascinating. A Grail Knight returned from death¡ªwho wouldn¡¯t be curious?¡±

    It was no secret to Isaac that Duke Lyon knew of his return; the Emperor must have been aware as well. There could be many reasons for the Emperor¡¯s sudden visit to Rougeberg, but the rumor of the resurrected Grail Knight must have yed a significant role.

    ¡°It¡¯s an informal visit, and His Majesty isn¡¯t one for much ceremony, so you can meet in a rxed atmosphere.¡±

    Yet, the Emperor himself.

    Isaac had thought he might meet him someday, but this was skipping several steps ahead of what he had envisioned.

    On one hand, if you think about it, it¡¯s not too surprising since Duke Brant is among the closest to the Emperor in the empire.

    ¡°But are you sure this is alright? As I mentioned, the spies of the Red Chalice are still swarming, and not all have been dealt with. Anything could happen¡­¡±

    Isaac was initially worried.

    Whether it was because of the banquet or the Emperor, the number of suspicious individuals in Rougeberg had surged. Most were insignificant, and those who needed attention were under surveince, but it still seemed risky for the Emperor to visit.

    The safety of the Emperor wasn¡¯t really Isaac¡¯s concern. However, if anything happened to him in Rougeberg, Dietrich would face significant political repercussions.

    ¡°It¡¯s fine. His Majesty is a living testament to the Codex of Light. Besides, the Imperial Guard and the divine beast Haltaba are always by his side. Who would dare harm him?¡±

    Isaac reconsidered the Emperor¡¯s security and realized that he need not worry after all.

    At this point, Emperor Waltzemer was the strongest in the White Empire.

    Moreover, the forces hemanded were formidable.

    To harm even a finger of the Emperor, it would take more than a single angel. A few human hunters couldn¡¯t possibly manage it.

    ¡°I was worried over nothing.¡±

    ¡°No, it¡¯s not unfounded. Our enemies are not to be underestimated.¡±

    Isaac realized that he should have been more concerned about his own safety first.

    ¡°¡­I¡¯m worried about what His Majesty might have heard about me.¡±

    Dietrichughed at that.

    ¡°You worry too much. What unsavory rumor could possibly exist about a Grail Knight? If there were any, they would have been thoroughly erased by the Order. You are now a symbol of the Order.¡±

    Isaac forced a smile.

    ¡°Shall we go then? I don¡¯t want to keep His Majesty waiting too long.¡±

    ¡°Of course.¡±

    Isaac nodded and followed Dietrich, smiling secretly to himself.

    ¡®The Salt Council worked out well. It¡¯s a rapid development but it¡¯s going as expected.¡¯

    The rumor that the deceased Grail Knight was actually alive and staying in Rougeberg had been spread by none other than Isaac himself.

    ***

    Hearing the rumor that he had be a saint and a symbol for the Dawn Army, the first thing Isaac did was announce his return.

    This was contrary to Dietrich¡¯s request for maximum security.

    Dietrich was doing everything he could to keep things secure.

    But his request for security was to prevent scandals about Isolde. Now that her wellbeing was publicly known, there was no need to insist on secrecy.

    The primary reason Isaac spread the rumor was for safety.

    The Codex of Light Order would find the rumor of the Grail Knight¡¯s return most troublesome.

    They had been portraying the dead Grail Knight as a ¡®honorably martyred saint¡¯ for their convenience. The problem was that Isaac was very much alive. Dead

    heroes are easy to manipte, but living ones, not so much.

    Perhaps the Church would feel pressured to ¡®correct¡¯ this ¡®error¡¯ instead. That would be cleaner.

    Of course, they might also venerate him extensively as a resurrected saint.

    ¡®That might happen, or it might not.¡¯

    However, Isaac disliked the idea of anyone else having control over his life and death.

    So, he decided to simplify his options.

    Isaac had instructed the Salt Council to spread the rumor of his return at every port they visited.

    The Grail Knight has returned.

    He was recuperating from his injuries at Red Mountain, waiting to resume his noble quest.

    It was precisely this rumor that had brought Delia Lyon to him.

    And, unexpectedly, this bait had snagged a big fish¡ªEmperor Waltzemer himself.

    For Isaac, this was an outstanding achievement.

    Now, the Church could no longer consider the option of eliminating Isaac recklessly.

    They were forced to pave a ¡®path of roses¡¯ for him, having already made him a saintly figure.

    Even if they sensed ¡®heretical tendencies¡¯ in Isaac.

    Unless Isaac tantly disyed evidence, they had no choice but to ignore it.

    ***

    ¡°Is there anything I should be wary of in front of His Majesty?¡±

    While heading to the secretive inner chamber in Rougeberg, Isaac was nervous about the etiquette.

    He was well aware of Emperor Waltzemer¡¯s capabilities and his strength, but when it came to etiquette, he was only slightly better than a country bumpkin.

    Actually, a bumpkin might even be more humble.

    He would have been less nervous if he was going to confront the emperor in battle instead.

    Dietrich looked at him incredulously.

    ¡°Has anyone among us ever demanded proper etiquette from you? Since everyone already knows about you, just behave as you do with me.¡±

    Isaac wondered how he had appeared to others all this time.

    He had tried to act as humbly as possible, but it might be possible that he seemed like a rude ruffian to others. Maybe they saw him as a ¡®Grail Knight too busy with his noble quest to learn civility¡¯.

    Dietrich led him not to a grand guest room in Rougeberg, but to a small mansion in the city. Isaac could tell that this mansion was well-built and luxurious, and the surrounding houses and alleys were cleverly designed to make it difficult to observe those entering.

    ¡®It must be a safe house used when hosting important guests.¡¯

    As they approached the door, they saw two people in casual attire sitting on the steps. They both wore white scarves; one held a spear, and the other a sword.

    They appeared unarmed otherwise.

    The pair seemed to be joking with each other and paid no attention to their approach. However, Isaac instinctively tensed up at the sight of them.

    Dietrich looked at him puzzled.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±

    ¡°¡­No, it¡¯s nothing.¡±

    Isaac could feel a strange aura emanating from the pair, spreading out several meters around them. Dietrich seemed unaware of it, but Isaac could sense their readiness to strike.

    He felt as if he was putting his neck on the line just stepping into that space.

    Only then did they look up. They greeted Dietrich with a smile and remained seated.

    ¡°Ah, you arrived quickly, Duke. Is this the renowned Grail Knight?¡±

    ¡°Yes, it is.¡±

    Isaac approached and bowed.

    ¡°Imperial Guards, it is an honor to meet you.¡±

    As Isaac bowed, they scrambled up in surprise and returned the greeting.

    ¡°Oh, we shouldn¡¯t be treating His Majesty¡¯s guest like this!¡±

    ¡°Hurry, let¡¯s go inside!¡±

    Isaac was amused by their flustered reaction.

    He instantly knew they were members of the Imperial Guard tasked with protecting the royal family.

    Though they were few, they were among the most powerful selected from across the empire.

    ¡®Could I win against them in a fight? ¡­Not with swordsmanship alone.¡¯

    ¡°While it¡¯s good to bepetitive, Grail Knight, now doesn¡¯t seem like the right time. His Majesty has been waiting for you for quite some time.¡±

    A guardmented, seemingly reading his mind. Isaac realized he hadn¡¯t read his thoughts but rather hispetitive spirit and alertness. These guards, sworn to die for the royal family, seemed particrly attuned to detecting murderous orbative intentions.

    ¡°And could you chase away that bat trying to find a spot under the roof? It¡¯s rather distracting.¡±

    ¡°¡­Of course. It tends to be overly loyal.¡±

    Isaac signaled Hesabel, who was trying to sneak in, to back off.

    As an heir of the Gullmar dukedom, proud of her infiltration skills, Hesabel reluctantly retreated, nursing her bruised ego.

    But the Imperial Guards only marveled at her obedience.

    ¡°So you¡¯ve really reformed the princess of the Wachia kingdom. So obedient.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s still much to teach her.¡±

    Isaac apologized inwardly to Hesabel while responding. It seemed that his use of Hesabel as both a bodyguard and a servant was well known among the empire¡¯s knights.

    The guard then opened the door and led Isaac inside.

    ¡°I thought you¡¯d be a very stiff priest from the rumors, but you¡¯re surprisingly humble and young.¡±

    ¡°¡­That¡¯s too generous.¡±

    ¡°Since you seem like a fine person, let me give you a tip for meeting His Majesty.¡±

    The Imperial Guard whispered in Isaac¡¯s ear.

    ¡°Don¡¯t try to look directly into His Majesty¡¯s eyes or read his emotions. It¡¯s better to just act as you feel inclined to.¡±

    Isaac looked at the guard, puzzled by the ¡®tip¡¯. It wasmon courtesy not to make direct eye contact with the emperor. But the guard seemed proud of his advice, leading Isaac further inside with a satisfied expression.

    ¡®He seems to be rather oblivious, except when ites tobat.¡¯

    Isaac stepped into the mansion.

    And as he entered, he felt like it was summer.

    Despite the deepening winter, the mansion was bathed in a sunny warmth.

    A man emitting a sunlight-like radiance from his head was looking at a painting in the corridor.

    When he turned around, Isaac internally cursed the Imperial Guard.

    ¡®Not to look? I can¡¯t even see properly because of the brightness.¡¯

    Without needing an introduction, Isaac knew who he was.

    Emperor Waltzemer, who had unified the fragmented White Empire after winning the civil war with his brothers.

    Then, the Emperor spoke.

    ¡°So, you are our famous son-inw.¡±

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read up to advance 20 chapters or support me, you can do it at/Akaza156

 Chapter 141:

    Chapter 141:

    ¡°That¡¯s a joke Duke already made, Your Majesty. I am Isaac Issacrea.¡±

    Isaac responded calmly. However, Emperor Waltzemer tilted his head in confusion.

    ¡°A joke?¡±

    ¡®¡­He seems to take his jokes quite seriously.¡¯

    Isaac thought to himself and lowered his gaze, noticing someone else beside the Emperor.

    Isolde, with a flushed face, was standing next to Waltzemer.

    ¡°What do you mean by a joke, Dietrich?¡±

    Dietrich shrugged and replied.

    ¡°I¡¯ve already mentioned that nothing has been decided yet. It¡¯s His Majesty who didn¡¯t heed those words.¡±

    ¡°But who would refuse our dear niece?¡±

    Isaac nced at Isolde¡¯s expression.

    In fact, she looked like she wanted to beat the emperor and everyone else, but to Waltzemer, even that seemed endearing.

    Waltzemer leaned in and continued,

    ¡°I¡¯d like to talk face-to-face, but it¡¯s too bright here for that. Isolde, please help.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡±

    Isolde began to wrap a bandage around the Emperor¡¯s head, bending it forward. Perhaps, aside from the pope, Isolde was the only one who could make the Emperor bow.

    Isaac waited quietly, contemting this.

    ¡°There are no strict ceremonial officers, no ministers telling me to uphold dignity, nor nobles who disrespect me if I rx a little, so feel free to be at ease, Sir Issacrea.¡±

    ¡°How could I possibly feel at ease before the father of all? Please allow me to act humbly from a lower stance.¡±

    Dietrich looked at Isaac as if he couldn¡¯t believe what he was hearing. It was unusual for Isaac to show such politeness, given his own significant status.

    Waltzemerughed.

    ¡°More polite than I heard, eh, Dietrich? But you¡¯ll getfortable soon, Isaac. I prefer romping on the battlefield over tiptoeing in the pce. I don¡¯t care for unnecessary formalities.¡±

    ¡°All done, Your Majesty.¡±

    Only after Isolde had wrapped the Emperor¡¯s horns with bandages could Isaac finally see Waltzemer¡¯s face clearly.

    Waltzemer was in his 50s ording to Isaac¡¯s knowledge, but the man in front of him looked to be in his early 30s. He had arge, robust physique fitting for a warrior, with no signs of aging visible.

    He had a long ck beard, seemingly grown to add to his majesty. His attire was as modest as that of the guards outside, barely distinguishable.

    But no crown, cape, scepter, or beard was necessary to denote his regality; the most defining and authoritative feature was shining right above his head.

    Deer antlers pointed towards the ceiling.

    This was a symbol of authority that no crown could match. Even wrapped in bandages, they couldn¡¯t hide the light emanating from them.

    Truly, a divine miracle on earth, a manifest agent of will, as one would expect of a holy body.

    The only thing undermining his dignity was the butterfly bow made from the bandage between the horns.

    Whether or not Waltzemer was aware of Isolde¡¯s subtle act of revenge with the cute bow, he looked at Isaac with a dignified expression.

    Dietrich struggled to keep a straight face but seemed to have decided to remain silent.

    ¡°Let¡¯s walk and talk.¡±

    ***

    The four of them strolled down the corridor. From the outside, the house appeared small, but there was a hidden space inside; the corridor was unexpectedly wide and long. The central garden was well-maintained and beautifullyndscaped.

    Waltzemer looked at Isaac¡¯s face and said,

    ¡°Hmm, Sir Issacrea has a face just as impressive as mine.¡±

    ¡°Be mindful of your conscience, Your Majesty,¡± Dietrich muttered incredulously.

    ¡°I¡¯m talking about physiognomy, Dietrich. Exceptionality cannot be hidden. That face doesn¡¯t belong to amoner, does it?¡±

    Isaac didn¡¯t know how much a noble¡¯s face differed from amoner¡¯s. Honestly, from his modern perspective, he thought nobility just meant those who had started wielding swords andmitting murders early on, eventually rising to power.

    ¡°If you were to look for a noble¡¯s physiognomy on Earth, you might have to start with the faces of murderers.¡±

    ¡°How about it, Sir Issacrea. If you¡¯re not pleased with being a nephew-inw, have you considered adopting a historic noble¡¯s name and title?¡±

    Waltzemer smiled and locked eyes with Isaac. It wasn¡¯t just the antlers that were a characteristic of his divine nature; his golden eyes also shone brightly like the sun.

    ¡°How about ¡®Brant¡¯ for instance?¡±

    ¡°Your Majesty!?¡± Isolde eximed in surprise, but seeing Dietrich¡¯s unshaken demeanor, it seemed the Duke might already have been informed.

    ¡°Just a suggestion, a suggestion. But surely Isaac Brant sounds more prestigious than Isaac Issacrea. If we¡¯re transnting roots, we might as well craft a narrative. What do you think, Dietrich, about iming he was a seed sown during the 12th Dawn Army campaign?¡±

    ¡°If Freya doesn¡¯t kill me first, it might be possible,¡± Dietrich responded lightly.

    Isolde looked confused by their conversation, but Isaac was pondering why the Emperor would make such a suggestion.

    ¡°What do you think, Grail Knight? How does the name Isaac Brant sound?¡±

    Isaac concluded his thoughts.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Your Majesty, but Brant doesn¡¯t seem like the right name for me. And I believe we can reach a satisfying conclusion without such measures.¡±

    Both Dietrich and Waltzemer fell silent.

    Waltzemer¡¯s golden eyes glimmered as he smiled. It was a peaceful atmosphere, but Isaac knew he was in a potentially perilous situation.

    Instinctively, his hand moved towards the Luadin key, although he doubted pulling out his sword would make a difference against Waltzemer.

    He would have to navigate this situation cleverly with his words.

    ¡°It seems the brilliant Grail Knight has already figured out my intentions?¡±

    ¡°If I change my name and abandon my status as a Grail Knight, the church will also be satisfied while ignoring my return. Thank you for your consideration.¡±

    Consideration? Not quite.

    The fact was that not only the church but also Emperor Waltzemer himself was ufortable with Isaac¡¯s return. Indeed, it would be urate to say that the Emperor felt even more burdened than the Order did.

    After all, Isaac had be a symbol of the newly rising Dawn Army.

    Moreover, a Grail Knight who had returned with the title of ¡®resurrected¡¯ and actively supported the Dawn Army could potentially be unstoppable.

    Neither the Church nor the Emperor wanted a resurrected Grail Knight like Isaac. Yet, Waltzemer had offered Isaac the option of ¡®changing his surname to save his life.¡¯

    And Isaac had just refused it.

    ¡°May I ask why?¡±

    ¡°I have no intention of abandoning my domain.¡±

    Waltzemer did not scoff at Isaac¡¯s ¡®tiny domain.¡¯ It was natural for a man who had fought for everything he owned to value what he had gained.

    But for Isaac, the Issacrea domain meant more than justnd.

    ¡°Alright, you said you could reach a conclusion that would satisfy me? Let¡¯s hear it.¡±

    ¡°Your Majesty, I know you do not wish for the Dawn Army.¡±

    The initiation of the Dawn Army would mean that the resources, talent, and time of the Gerthonia Empire would be sucked into a crusade towards the Holy Land.

    Indeed, the fragmentation of the Gerthonia Empire under Waltzemer¡¯s predecessors wasrgely due to the repeated mobilizations of the Dawn Army.

    ¡°The Empire is just beginning to recover and catch its breath. We don¡¯t have the capacity to start another Dawn Army now. It might be possible if it were led by civilian volunteers like during the 12th Dawn Army, but if the Codex of Light dictates full participation, the Empire could fracture again.¡±

    Waltzemer smiled at Isaac¡¯s exnation.

    ¡°A Grail Knight wandering the wastnds knows something that the Church¡¯s bishops don¡¯t?¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re not unaware; I believe they actually hope for it.¡±

    ¡°They want the Empire to divide?¡±

    ¡°Currently, the Gerthonia Empire is more powerful than ever under your rule, Your Majesty. The nobility¡¯s power has increased significantlypared to the past, creating a bnce with the Order. The Order likely finds this displeasing.¡±

    Of course, a major part of this backdrop was that Waltzemer was a divine agent anointed by the gods.

    If Waltzemer were not considered a holy figure, the Order wouldn¡¯t have let things slide this far. Thus, they are likely trying passively to restore the old bnce.

    To a time when the Gerthonia Empire was fragmented and the Order could control its pieces.

    ¡°So the Church might be intentionally leading the expedition to fail?¡±

    ¡°Not exactly. I believe the Church genuinely wants to reim the Holy Land. Reiming them is a critical religious goal, and if sessful, it would significantly enhance their authority. But if they fail, they lose nothing.¡±

    Even death on the battlefield is inconsequential. As long as they don¡¯t renounce their faith out of fear at thest moment, they can proudly enter heaven.

    What better ticket to heaven than dying on a crusade to reim the Holy Land?

    As Waltzemer listened to Isaac¡¯s exnation, his smile gradually faded.

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s why I do not want the Dawn Army right now. Of course, I haven¡¯t forgotten the mission the Codex of Light has given me. The Holy Land must be reimed, and the undead of the Immortal Order must be exterminated. But not yet.¡±

    Waltzemer said this with a subtle expression and asked Isaac,

    ¡°So, do you know how to stop the Dawn Army?¡±

    ¡°No, Your Majesty. The Dawn Army cannot be stopped.¡±

    ***

    Waltzemer¡¯s face hardened again as Isaac spoke firmly. His eyes brightened fiercely.

    Isaac wanted to use his eye of chaos to read Waltzemer¡¯s emotions and intentions, but he couldn¡¯t. He now understood the warning the Imperial Guard had given him.

    Beyond those god-gifted eyes was the me of Urbansus.

    Looking into that would be like scorching one¡¯s soul. Especially with the eye of Chaos, the mes would directly touch him.

    Despite feeling an overwhelming pressure, Isaac continued speaking.

    ¡°The Dawn Army cannot be stopped. Your Majesty must use it to your advantage.¡±

    ¡°Use it?¡±

    Isaac nodded.

    ¡°Religious fervor will shift power to the Church. That¡¯s inevitable. Trying to stop the Dawn Army could be seen as abandoning the duties of the Codex of Light.¡±

    This was the Emperor¡¯s biggest concern.

    He didn¡¯t want the Dawn Army, but actively hindering it or not participating could lead to condemnation from the Order, or in extreme cases, emunication.

    The Emperor of the White Empire could be forcibly turned into a pariah.

    It seemed impossible to emunicate a holy figure, but even Urbansus, the first pope, had such authority.

    ¡°Participate actively in the Dawn Army. Rally your forces with the resolve to actually reim the Holy Lands this time.¡±

    ¡°And face yet another failure¡­¡±

    ¡°Also, you must gain the cooperation of the Elil Order and the Word¡¯s Forge.¡±

    Waltzemer fell silent.

    People often divide the world into the White Empire, which follows the Codex of Light, and the ck Empire, which opposes it.

    Coboration between these factions is rare.

    Except for the early stages, the Dawn Army hadrgely been a solo effort by the Gerthonia Empire.

    ¡°Except for the beginning, neither Elil nor the World¡¯s Forge properly joined the battles due to the Church¡¯s arrogance and dogmatism. You must not only represent the Codex of Light but lead as the Emperor of the White Empire.¡±

    ¡°That sounds easier said than done.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not easy. But if you cannot bring them together, the 13th Dawn Army will fail just like the others.¡±

    Isaac emphasized what the Emperor could do.

    ¡°Your Majesty is a warrior. Your ce is not in the pce or temple, but on the battlefield. Do not avoid it. Join hands with allies and defeat enemies. Then, earthly power will naturally return to you.¡±

    Waltzemer found Isaac¡¯s suggestions intriguing.

    He had already unified the fragmented Gerthonia Empire. But if he could also embrace the Elil Order and the World¡±s Forge, bing ¡®the true Emperor of the White Empire¡¯?

    His authority would surpass even that of the pope of the Codex of Light.

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read up to advance 20 chapters or support me, you can do it at/Akaza156

 Chapter 142:

    Chapter 142:

    ¡°Interesting opinion.¡±

    Emperor Waltzemer muttered with a smile.

    Isaac breathed a sigh of relief internally when he saw Waltzemer¡¯s favorable reaction.

    In truth, if the Dawn Army did not exist, Isaac would be in a difficult position too. He had to earn a recognition-worthy achievement in the Holy Land. Therefore, Isaac found himself in a position where he had to side with the Church, even though it was difficult.

    To do this, he had to make the emperor sympathetic to the Dawn Army, which was the hardest part because the empire¡¯s foundations were not yet solid.

    The economy was controlled and shaken by the Golden Idol guild, spies bought by the Red Chalice were rampant everywhere, and the neighboring countries tied to the White Empire were fortunate if they didn¡¯t just pull each other¡¯s hair out.

    The power of the nobility was also a problem.

    It seemed as though the emperor had achieved centralization through power, but in reality, it was nothing more than the nobility banding together to oppose the absolute power of the Codex of Light sect. If Waltzemer hadn¡¯t been the emperor, it would have been impossible.

    In many ways, the emperor still needed to gather strength.

    But what if this crisis with the Dawn Army could actually be an opportunity?

    It was a tempting proposal for Waltzemer.

    ¡°However, it certainly won¡¯t be easy, will it? Justying out a sweet future is something anyone could do.¡±

    If what Isaac had proposed was easy, someone would have already done it.

    Waltzemer must have considered it too. However, the diplomatic rtions entangled with doctrines and faiths in this world were not easily resolved.

    Unless one was prepared in advance.

    Waltzemer looked at Isaac¡¯s face and felt assurance and confidence.

    Isaac had just mentioned the very thing Waltzemer most wanted to hear, and which was most necessary under the current circumstances.

    ¡°I will go to the Kingdom of Elil and negotiate.¡±

    A spark lit in Waltzemer¡¯s eyes.

    ¡°You? I didn¡¯t know you had a talent for diplomacy.¡±

    Isaac had a secret weapon ready for this moment.

    He slowly and carefully pulled out a dagger from his bosom.

    Despite the de appearing in front of him, Waltzemer showed no sign of tension.

    For an emperor armed with all sorts of blessings and miracles, a dagger was nothing more than a needle.

    However, if he had known the true nature of this dagger, even an emperor would have tensed.

    Waltzemer¡¯s demeanor suddenly surged like a storm. He had sensed the vicious history and blood from the dagger.

    ¡°It is the Rite of Division.¡±

    The very dagger that had split open the living god Elil¡¯s chest and extracted his heart.

    The extracted heart of Elil had be a sacred artifact known as the Red Chalice, and the knights who vowed to retrieve it became wandering Knights of the Chalice in search of it.

    ¡°The descendants of those who vowed now carry the Rite of Division to seek reconciliation. What better symbol could there be?¡±

    Dietrich, who had thought he understood the stakes, was speechless at this revtion.

    All Knights of the Chalice were on a noble journey to return lost sacred artifacts to the temples, so having one was not strange.

    But the ¡®Rite of Division¡¯ was an artifact beyond expectation. Very few Knights of the Chalice had ever reimed such a significant relic.

    Keeping the fact that he had been recognized as a Dreamer by the Council of Salt to himself would surely cause a stir, but he decided to keep that secret.

    The Council of Salt appeared neutral to the world, much like the Golden Idol guild. It was best kept as a secret weapon for truly necessary moments.

    ¡°A truly interesting character, Dietrich. As I¡¯ve heard.¡±

    Waltzemer muttered as if amused. Finally, Dietrich nodded his head in realization.

    ¡°I told you, Your Majesty. If you keep him by your side, he will achieve great things.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s no one better than him as an envoy to the Kingdom of Elil.¡±

    Waltzemer¡¯s eyes sparkled with curiosity as he looked at Isaac.

    ¡°Good, Knight of the Chalice. I can see that you are different from the mediocre masses. Now, onest question.¡±

    ¡°Speak, Your Majesty.¡±

    ¡°You are a Knight of the Codex of Light. However, it seems you aren¡¯t very loyal to the sect. Are you truly a dedicated Pdin of the Codex of Light, or are you a heretic here to sow discord?¡±

    ¡®Stay calm.¡¯

    In truth, the emperor¡¯s words were partly true.

    Isaac was neither a devout Pdin of the Codex of Light nor a heretic hoping to disrupt the sect. He was pushing the empire toward war for his own purposes.

    Yet, aside from that, Isaac¡¯s conviction was genuine.

    ¡°I believe that a god should only be responsible for the afterlife.¡±

    Isaac revealed his sincere belief.

    ¡°Therefore, let humans handle the matters of the human world.¡±

    ***

    Isaac¡¯s answer satisfied the emperor.

    Waltzemer invited Isaac to stay for dinner instead of sending him away immediately. The informal meal was boisterous, with Isolde, Dietrich, and the royal guards joining in.

    During dinner, rather than discussing politics or diplomacy, Waltzemer probed into Isaac¡¯s past and personal life. Isaac found this more ufortable, but managed to skirt around the issues by talking about his monastery life.

    ¡°I n to bestow a title of earl on you.¡±

    After the meal, Waltzemer suggested to Isaac. Although it was a decent proposal, Isaac¡¯s reaction was lukewarm.

    Waltzemerughed as if he knew everything.

    ¡°Of course, you might not like it. Bing Earl of Issacrea doesn¡¯t immediately grant you a wider realm, and you¡¯ll probably be called a Knight of the grail more often than an earl.¡±

    Moreover, the sect might suspect him of being more aligned with the nobility than with them. This wasn¡¯t a favorable perception for Isaac.

    ¡°But you can¡¯t refuse. It would be problematic if the title of the man marrying my niece was too low.¡±

    ¡°¡­As I said, Your Majesty, Isolde and I are¡­¡­.¡±

    ¡°And I n to appoint you as the ambassador to the Kingdom of Elil, and give you a major role in the uing Dawn Army operations. I still need to think about the exact position, but rest assured, you¡¯ll have plenty to do.¡±

    This was indeed good news.

    The emperor was truly considering sending Isaac as an ambassador to the Kingdom of Elil and entrusting him with significant diplomatic policies. Moreover, giving him partialmand meant that the major weakness Isaac could face while participating in the Dawn Army¡ªmanpower issues¡ªwould be resolved.

    Just participating in the emperor¡¯s strategy meetings would be a huge help for Isaac. Even if he didn¡¯t y a major role in those meetings, being present at the imperial leadership would prevent anyone from treating Isaac lightly.

    ¡®Participating in strategy nning at the imperial leadership is much better than joining as a mere frontlinemander.¡¯

    Especially considering the level of strategy and tactics among the NPCs in the game, it was even more crucial for him to intervene.

    While not ipetent individually, the influence and stance of the nobles and knight orders often led to nonsensical reasons for the disintegration of forces.

    Separately, Isaac realized the emperor¡¯s intent behind offering him a title of earl.

    ¡°You¡¯re a clever man, you understand what I¡¯m implying?¡±

    ¡°¡­Your Majesty.¡±

    ¡°Assigning you a major role means that you might have tomand and oversee the nobles. No matter that I appointed you, these nobles won¡¯t ept someone whosends and title are lesser than theirs.¡±

    Could an earl¡¯s title suffice?

    If what he said was true, even an earl¡¯s title might not be enough.

    To suddenly elevate a knight, who seemed no better than a rustic from the countryside, to a major military role, a background akin to that of the Duke Brant¡¯s family would be necessary.

    ¡°That¡¯s why you must marry my niece.¡±

    The title of earl was merely a step to acquiring the title of son-inw to the Duke Brant family. Isaac looked at Dietrich, speechless, but he was just quietly drinking his wine, probably already aware of these ns.

    Isaac reluctantly decided to involve his religious mission.

    ¡°¡­Your Majesty, as a holy grail Knight on a noble quest, whose life is always at risk¡­¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not like I¡¯m asking you to marry right away. Whatever your noble quest is, it will probably be over before the Dawn Army starts. You don¡¯t look like someone who would die easily, and a simple engagement would suffice.¡±

    Waltzemer said this and then chuckled incredulously.

    ¡°Besides, what¡¯scking in Isolde? It¡¯s a clear advantage for you. It would be hard to find a better partner than her. Unless I had a daughter, but I only have a son.¡±

    ¡°Indeed, marrying Miss Isolde would greatly benefit me. Then, Your Majesty, what do you see in me that makes you want to bring me into your fold?¡±

    ¡°Are you joking? You¡¯re the holy grail knight who retrieved the Rite of Division and defeated an angel. You¡¯re also the person who can secure the true throne of the White Empire for me. Wouldn¡¯t I be a fool to let such a rising saint slip away?¡±

    ¡°But¡­¡±

    ¡°Moreover, you are the new saint of the Codex of Light. If I am to ce you in a major military role, I need to trust youpletely, and that might involve mixing our blood.¡±

    Unable to find another excuse, Isaac quickly nced at Isolde.

    He hoped she would stand up and leave, but Isolde quietly looked down and remained silent.

    Just as he had predicted, Isolde was prepared to follow her family¡¯smands for a strategic marriage.

    She had received much from the Brant family¡ªwhether it be money, love, or education.

    She had no right to refuse a duty she was born into.

    As Isaac failed to respond, Waltzemer smirked and said,

    ¡°If I am to be pushed into the hell of the Dawn Army, shouldn¡¯t you at least step into the hell of marriage?¡±

    He wasn¡¯t wrong.

    ***

    ¡°Dietrich, he is far more interesting than I heard.¡±

    Waltzemer murmured as if he were truly entertained.

    ¡°If there is anyone beloved by the gods, it might just be him.¡±

    ¡°Didn¡¯t we push him too hard?¡±

    Alone now with Dietrich, Waltzemer spoke casually about the grail knight who had just left.

    ¡°Even before you came, I tried several times to persuade him, but he stubbornly refused. It¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve seen someone reject my offers so stubbornly.¡±

    In the face of the authority of the Duke Brant, most people would prostrate themselves.

    The Holy Grail Knight had shown humility, but tantly ignored Dietrich¡¯s direct proposals as if he were asked to run naked through the streets.

    ¡°But it didn¡¯t seem like he was uninterested?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s why I made the offer. Would I send my daughter to marry someone who doesn¡¯t love her?¡±

    Dietrich had married for strategic reasons.

    Freya was wise and kind, and he had fallen in love with her quickly, but there was no love at the time of their marriage.

    Dietrich had no regrets about this; his father and grandfather had married the same way.

    However, he wanted to give Isolde a chance. If she brought home a man who was clearly unsuitable, he would have dismissed him without hesitation, but fortunately, Isaac wasn¡¯t that kind of man.

    In many ways, Isaac was not a bad choice.

    But the impression that Isaac was stubbornly trying to reject Isolde was problematic.

    ¡°From what I¡¯ve gathered, he doesn¡¯t have another woman. He doesn¡¯t seem to have that kind of rtionship with Hesabel Gullmar either. Did he feel there was some uneptable w in my daughter?¡±

    ¡°No¡­ it¡¯s a problem with the Knight of the Chalice himself.¡±

    Waltzemer thought about Isaac again, murmuring to himself.

    His attitude, his tone of voice, and even his charisma that naturally drew even the emperor himself.

    Yet, there was a fundamental w in Isaac¡¯s character.

    ¡°To have the looks and abilities that could be loved by everyone, yet believe that he shouldn¡¯t be loved, how interesting is that?¡±

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read up to advance 20 chapters or support me, you can do it at/Akaza156

 Chapter 143:

    Chapter 143:

    The Emperor had rewarded Isaac with various gold and jewels as a reward for thwarting a plot and kidnapping rted to Isolde. Although he had already received a more than generous reward from Dietrich, Isaac did not refuse.

    Rather, he was not in a state of mind to refuse.

    ¡®Isolde Brant.¡¯

    Instead of returning directly to Rougeberg Castle, Isaac simply walked the streets.

    His stomach was churning. The fact that he had crafted the current situation with his own hands only made it worse.

    Isaac needed to restore the Holy Land. For that, the Dawn Army must rise, and he had to involve the Emperor. By participating in the Dawn Army, he would need to take on a significant military role, and for that, he needed a strong background.

    And the most prestigious and splendid background would require marrying Isolde.

    What kind of logic was that?

    He could find no way out.

    What was the Prophet of the Red Flesh suffering for, only to be digested by Isolde? Perhaps she too was crying tears of blood inside Isolde¡¯s stomach.

    If not, Isaac felt like gouging out his own eyes.

    ¡®You must be angry, having an unwanted woman by your side. But I¡¯ll try not to be a bother.¡¯

    Those were Isolde¡¯s words before he left.

    Isaac was also angry with Isolde¡¯s attitude.

    Isolde was neither deficient enough to make such remarks nor a person to be sold into marriage. On the contrary, she was a woman with more than enough merit.

    A woman everyone wanted, someone who would stand in a position of power with anyone she married.

    Yet ironically, she acted this way because of Isaac. Because he was pushing her away.

    That was what infuriated Isaac.

    ¡®Your reluctance is abnormal. You know that?¡¯

    The Mirror Handmaiden words were true.

    Isaac knew that Isolde was more than sufficient for him, even excessively so.

    However, Isaac could not ept her love.

    Who would marry a person who, when cut open, might have a monster jump out?

    What if they had children? What could emerge from them? Could he ever be honest with his spouse for a lifetime? Could he admit that he was a person who used others, killed, and fed as needed for his objectives?

    Even if everything went well and one day he loved someone enough to consider a lifetime together, what if suddenly a message popped up saying, ¡®Congrattions! You have won!¡¯ and he was returned to his original room?

    If all this was an illusion?

    All these thoughts terrified Isaac.

    He did not want to create a person he loved in this world.

    He did not want to feel truly grounded in this world.

    Isaac wanted to scream.

    [The Nameless Chaos watches you.]

    At some moment, Isaac realized that he had been standing still.

    And that someone was tightly holding his hand.

    Turning around, he saw Isolde gripping his hand painfully.

    It was already drizzling winter rain.

    She looked pale from running in the rain; one hand still clutched an unopened umbre.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t get to say this earlier, Isaac.¡±

    Isolde caught her breath, her words punctuated.

    ¡°I really like you. Isn¡¯t this how it usually starts?¡±

    ***

    ¡°Inquisitor, when¡­¡±

    ¡°We got off to the wrong start, didn¡¯t we?¡±

    Isaac thought he should cover her with the umbre, but she didn¡¯t give him the chance.

    ¡°Throw away the Red Chalice, the duchy, the emperor, all of it. This isn¡¯t how it should have started.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    Isaac struggled to find words to reply, but facing Isolde¡¯s unwavering eyes, he couldn¡¯t find any.

    Her eyes were filled with intense conviction.

    A face he hadn¡¯t seen when she was locked in a tower hoping for salvation.

    A face he hadn¡¯t seen when she was being pushed as a bargaining chip in front of the emperor.

    This was the real face of Isolde.

    ¡°Then let¡¯s start over from here!¡±

    A person willing to pull another from the dark rain with a bright light.

    ¡°I really like you! If it¡¯s alright with you, would you consider dating me?¡±

    Isolde¡¯s voice rang out clearly.

    Amid the pouring gaze, Isaac felt breathless. Fortunately, it seemed no one recognized Isolde or him. He was thankful it was a rainy winter street.

    Isaac knew this was her sincerity.

    Not just something said to push through a political marriage.

    He knew this without activating the Eye of Chaos. In fact, he had always known.

    ¡°I¡¯m not as good as you think, Isolde.¡±

    After a long silence, Isaac found his words.

    ¡°You¡¯re not seeing the real me, but an ideal version of what you want.¡±

    Isaac was not showing his true self, but performing as a false grail knight.

    Inside him, a monster hungry for blood writhed. Madmen dreaming of the end were conspiring to invade his mind. In fact, Isaac had considered harming her to survive. Isolde did not know this.

    But Isolde spoke unwaveringly.

    ¡°May I speak honestly?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°I fell for Isaac¡¯s face, not his inner self. So, my heart won¡¯t waver.¡±

    Isolde responded decisively without hesitation.

    Isaac briefly opened his mouth, waved his hand in the air, and his eyes darted around, but still, he could not find the words to say.

    He had hoped to hear such words at least once in his life, but he never thought it would be in this moment.

    Isaac tried to think of something else to say to console Isolde but gave up. It seemed irresponsible to suggest finding someone who could surpass a Nephilim in looks.

    And in a different context, he liked her response.

    He wasn¡¯t sure if she was serious, but if Isolde meant what she said, she might leave him when his looks faded, as Nephilims are not immune to aging. Or she might grow tired of him before that.

    It wouldn¡¯t matter to her how monstrous he was or how terrifying secrets he harbored. Then it was okay to keep ying the role of a fabricated Grail Knight.

    She liked the version of him that was made up.

    If he used the Eye of Chaos now, he could peer into her entire mind to see if her words were sincere or just meant tofort him.

    However, Isaac chose not to. Or rather, he didn¡¯t want to.

    ¡°Alright then¡­.¡±

    Isaac opened the umbre Isolde had brought. The sound of rain hitting the umbre was loud.

    He had thought there would be no one around on a rainy winter night, but surprisingly, there were a few people.

    A few elderly men were sharing drinks in ate-open bar, and a patrol guard walked by with the sound of military boots. A well-dressed man and woman were chatting under a roof before walking down an alley.

    Under the umbre, Isaac kissed Isolde¡¯s rain-dampened lips for the first time.

    Isolde stood quietly, holding the umbre and Isaac¡¯s hand. Even after they parted lips, she didn¡¯t say what they should do next or anything like that. She was just there.

    His mind was foggy. He felt like he should say something, but no words came to mind.

    It was a cold, lonely, damp, and dark night.

    Most nights are like that.

    But that night held something beautiful enough to make the heart flutter.

    So, Isaac felt that he might love nights for a while because of that.

    ***

    For now, the announcement of Isolde and Isaac¡¯s engagement was postponed.

    There was a lot to prepare, and there were opinions that it was not appropriate to reveal Isaac suddenly. The banquet inevitably fizzled out, but the nobles who had hoped for a surprise announcement were not disappointed.

    Rumors that Isaac was already in Rougeberg had spread enough. Thus, rumors of Isolde¡¯s return and their association spread together.

    Rumors that the son-inw of the Brant family was the Grail Knight, Isaac Issacrea.

    Although the truth of the matter was not yet confirmed, it had spread as a fact among the emperor-supporting nobles.

    And anticipating the potential repercussions, political calctions were hurried.

    ¡°When the appropriate timees, we might make it public, right?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s true. The problem is when that ¡®appropriate time¡¯ is.¡±

    The Royal Guard spoke, and Isaac grumbled in response.

    The Emperor stayed in that small mansion in Rougeberg during his stay, unable to go out because of the glowing deer antlers, but he constantly consulted and nned something with Dietrich. And he talked to Isaac every day.

    Naturally, Isaac also had many opportunities to talk with the royal guards in the garden.

    ¡°I¡¯m not in a hurry to announce it. I just hope the timing is right. The Codex of Light sect is already on edge with the news of my return, so it might be better to announce it when there¡¯s a situation that justifies the sect¡¯s presence.¡±

    Politics, politics, politics,it never ends.

    Everything had to be political, especially for someone ¡®delicate¡¯ like Isaac.

    Rene Lomerk, the royal guard, touched her cheek with a troubled expression. She was not very artictepared to her skill in swordsmanship, having focused solely on training her whole life.

    She made a headache gesture and said,

    ¡°Thinking too much is because your body is at ease, Knight. Shall we train with swords?¡±

    ¡°¡­Didn¡¯t I tell you how terrible my swordsmanship is?¡±

    One would think that the Imperial Royal Guards, devoted to protecting the royal family, would focus solely on their duties, but it turned out they were obsessed with self-training. Of course, they were skilled enough to take down even knightmanders, but whether their protection skills were exceptional was another question.

    ¡®Maybe it¡¯s because the Emperor himself is strong? If he protects himself and the royal guards eliminate threats, that might work.¡¯

    Moreover, Emperor Waltzemer had the ability to summon a named-ss divine beast, Haltaba,parable to an angel. Perhaps protection wasn¡¯t a concern at all.

    And the royal guards were indeed strong. Isaac could tell even without fighting. It would be difficult to defeat these monsters without using miracles.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±

    Another royal guard approached after hearing Isaac¡¯s mumbling.

    ¡°Chief Guard Bashul.¡±

    ¡°Ah, has Grail Knight arrived?¡±

    It was another Imperial Royal Guard dispatched here, Bashul Norton, but everyone called him Bashul. He seemed to be in his forties, with slender eyes and a somewhat ck appearance, but he actually held the position of chief guard, effectively the leader of the knight¡¯s action team.

    The Imperial Royal Guards were considered the strongest as they only tookmands from the Emperor and had no ranks among themselves.

    ¡°Bashul, it¡¯s just¡­¡±

    Rene ryed Isaac¡¯s concerns to Bashul.

    Bashul listened and answered without much thought.

    ¡°Rene is right. You¡¯re overthinking because your body is at ease. How about a duel?¡±

    ¡®What do I do with these sword-crazy fools?¡¯

    Isaac wondered if he had actually died and fallen into Elil¡¯s Colosseum. However, Bashul, not stopping at a joke, naturally threw a practice sword to Isaac.

    Isaac caught the sword instinctively.

    ¡°Come out, please. Grail Knight. A good sweat and all your worries will disappear.¡±

    Isaac did not ask how he was supposed to beat the chief of the Imperial Royal Guards. He knew they would say, ¡®Duelling is not about winning but about reflecting and improving oneself.¡¯

    ¡®To me, swordsmanship is a tool for victory, not a means for self-improvement.¡¯

    But looking at Bashul and Rene¡¯s faces, it seemed they were just dying to see the skills of the Grail Knight. Isaac sighed heavily but decided to go along with them.

    ¡®Maybe honing my sword skills will be useful before going to the Kingdom of Elil.¡¯

    Elil¡¯s swordsmen would be no less formidable than these folks.

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read up to advance 20 chapters or support me, you can do it at/Akaza156

 Chapter 144:

    Chapter 144:

    Isaac raised his sword.

    Though it was a practice sword, it was heavy enough to not feel much different from a real de. Rene naturally picked up a stone and threw it between them.

    The moment the stone hit the ground, it served as the signal.

    Both Isaac and Bashul moved at once.

    Crack.

    A momentary sonic boom that made the grass in the garden tremble swept past. Isaac and Bashul exchanged surprised looks.

    The two crossed swords, perfectly aligned, waited for the next move.

    Isaac quickly created distance as if bouncing back. Bashul did the same.

    ¡®What is this?¡¯

    Isaac felt a strong sense of incongruity but couldn¡¯t figure out its nature. However, Bashul seemed to have already recognized what it was, his expression hardened.

    Isaac had no choice but to sh swords again to understand.

    Isaac swung his sword from top to bottom.

    Naturally, Bashul parried it aiming for Isaac¡¯s wrist or head. However, Isaac, somehow anticipating this, struck down with such force that it could have broken a wrist or cracked a skull. But instead of blocking, Bashul slid closer, turning Isaac¡¯s swing into a hindrance. Yet, Isaac, undisturbed by Bashul¡¯s proximity, swung the pommel targeting his nose. Before he could fully exert his strength, Bashul¡¯s left hand stopped him.

    Click. Isaac¡¯s hand was blocked by Bashul¡¯s left, and as they brushed shoulders, Bashul pointed his sword at Isaac¡¯s neck.

    A suffocating silence followed. Isaac spoke,

    ¡°As expected of the chief knight of the Imperial Guard.¡±

    Isaac candidly epted his defeat, a slight smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.

    But Bashul looked at Isaac with a stoic expression and asked without moving the wooden sword away from Isaac¡¯s neck.

    ¡°Who taught you how to use a sword?¡±

    ¡°I was blessed with a mentor at the monastery where I sought refuge.¡±

    ¡°You met a noble person.¡±

    Bashul withdrew his sword from Isaac¡¯s neck and stepped back. Rene, who had been holding her breath, pped enthusiastically.

    ¡°You¡¯re apuding a mediocre duel?¡±

    ¡°No. It was short but intense. You managed to respond to the chief gurad¡¯s movements, something even difficult for me, a member of the Imperial Guard.¡±

    Bashul chuckled dryly and said,

    ¡°Ha, Rene. The Pdin is concealing his skills. Did you think he fought angels with just that level of skill? He was holding back, fearing he might hurt me.¡±

    ¡°Eh, the same goes for the chief guard¡­¡±

    Rene started to speak flippantly but then closed her mouth. Admitting that Bashul had been lenient would have dropped the Holy Grail Knight¡¯s pride to the floor.

    Isaac too knew Bashul hadn¡¯t given his all.

    ¡®It¡¯s unfair because I did give it my all.¡¯

    Of course, he hadn¡¯t used tentacles, miracles, advanced swordsmanship, his holy relics, or summoned beings, but it was a fact that he had been utterly defeated in a pure swordfight.

    He hadn¡¯t even thought of defeating the chief knight of the Imperial Guard, considered the strongest in the empire aside from the pdins.

    However, the duel had yielded more than just an oue.

    Bashul¡¯s eyes narrowed as he gazed at Isaac.

    ¡°What do you say, Holy Grail Knight? Shall we have a more serious duel this time?¡±

    A tense atmosphere was palpable. Isaac thought the next fight might be a matter of life and death. Just as he was about to respond,

    ¡°Me, me, me too! I want to try!¡±

    Rene excitedly grabbed Bashul¡¯s practice sword and twirled it around, targeting Isaac.

    ¡°Let¡¯s have a match, Holy Grail Knight! Show me how you defeated those angels!¡±

    Bashulughed helplessly but stepped back. Isaac had no choice but to ept.

    That day, Isaac was brutally defeated by Rene¡¯s hands. He hadn¡¯t used advanced swordsmanship, but even if he had, it was questionable whether he could have won.

    Yet, despite the bitter defeat, he had gained something. Not from Rene, but from Bashul.

    The swordsmanship Bashul used was very familiar to Isaac.

    Isaac had repeated the first move he used against Bashul thousands of times over many years.

    Bashul was using the Avnche swordsmanship.

    ***

    ¡®I only taught you the basics, but there should be someone who can recognize the basics of Avnche swordsmanship because they use the same techniques as me.¡¯

    In Ariet Monastery, when Isaac was still just an orphan there,

    Gabel had taught Isaac swordsmanship with just one admonition.

    ¡®Kill them as soon as you meet them.¡¯

    That was the price for teaching Isaac swordsmanship and a caution for his safety, for the other would surely do the same.

    And today, Isaac had met another who used the Avnche swordsmanship.

    ¡®¡­The problem is, this person happens to be the strongest swordsman in the Gerthonia Empire.¡¯

    Gabel had instructed to kill on sight, but Isaac couldn¡¯t. How could he possibly kill the chief Knight of the Imperial Guard on sight? Unless he used his tentacles, he didn¡¯t want to be a monster in the garden of the mansion just beyond the wall where the Emperor was.

    That would be sheer suicide.

    Although he was grateful to Gabel, he wasn¡¯t grateful enough to activelymit suicide.

    Luckily, Bashul was in the same situation.

    Gabel had said the opponent would try to kill Isaac if they knew he used Avnche swordsmanship, but he hadn¡¯t. Despite Bashul having the capability to do so.

    He couldn¡¯t possibly cut short the life of a rising Holy Grail Knight and prospective son-inw of the Brant family in front of His Majesty the Emperor.

    In the end, both were in an awkward position of being reluctant to kill.

    Still, Bashul¡¯s words had some truth.

    The duel had cleared Isaac¡¯splex thoughts, leaving him with one sole focus.

    ¡®How on earth do I kill the strongest knight in the empire?¡¯

    Certainly, there are many who are stronger than Bashul if only their powers are considered. Bashul is just a man, no matter how strong. Emperors favored by gods, Popes whomune with angels, leaders of Pdin orders wrapped in miracles¡­ They are definitely stronger than Bashul.

    But in terms of mere swordsmanship, it might be hard to find someone in the empire who surpasses Bashul.

    Thus, Isaac would have to fight with all his might, as if facing an angel.

    ***

    Swoooooosh¡­

    The sound of waves crashing on the beach was loud.

    The beach was desertedte at night. The sound of the waves and the small pebbles on the sand hid even the smallest footsteps. Therefore, Isaac was on high alert, waiting for Bashul to arrive.

    However, without any indication of his approach, Bashul slowly walked towards him from the direction of Rougeberg. Because he was spotted from a distance and walked leisurely without any rush, by the time he arrived, Isaac was slightly weary.

    Bashul stopped about twenty steps away¡ªa distance awkward for conversation but sufficient to keep them from feeling tense.

    Isaac was the first to speak.

    ¡°You came even though I didn¡¯t call for you?¡±

    ¡°If I had been alone, you would havee to me. Isn¡¯t this an invitation?¡±

    Swoosh.

    Bashul casually half-drew his sword, ready to strike at any moment.

    ¡°By the way, if you thought of seeking help from the daughter of the Goullmar family, I¡¯ve already sent her away.¡±

    A man without any loose ends.

    Isaac sighed, sensing Hesabel¡¯s presence from afar.

    ¡°Let¡¯s make one thing clear. You are using the Avnche Knight Order¡¯s sword techniques, aren¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°Test me. I¡¯ll check as well.¡±

    Drawing his sword and thrusting happened in a single breath. It was done so quietly and suddenly that not even the sound of the sword being drawn was heard.

    The twenty-step distance meant nothing to Bashul. Isaac gritted his teeth and dodged.

    Sparks flew, and the surface of the armor split.

    It was an attack meant to kill Isaac without hesitation.

    Bashul was slightly surprised that Isaac had dodged it. And he was even more shocked by the ferocity of Isaac¡¯s counterattack aimed at his face.

    Fluttering! Despite being in a precarious stance, Isaac managed to clip a few strands of Bashul¡¯s gray hair.

    Isaac immediately used the Isaac Swordsmanship: Eight Branches. The dry sand on the beach stirred violently as it surged towards Bashul.

    Bashul, startled by the ferocious power and the sticky sensation of the attack, managed to fend off one trajectory.

    But at that moment, a sonic boom erupted, and Isaac staggered back from the overwhelming shock.

    He couldn¡¯t hear anything. Given hispleteck of bnce, it seemed his semicircr canals were damaged.

    Bashul had countered the Eight Branches with the preliminary moves of Avnche swordsmanship. Noticing Isaac¡¯s loss of bnce, Bashul immediately charged forward. However, by then, Isaac had already regenerated his eardrums with monstrous regenerative abilities.

    The fierce exchange resumed.

    ¡°You¡¯re holding back! How did you ever defeat angels with just this level of skill? Did you use your pretty face as a weapon?¡±

    ¡°Do I look like I need to seduce someone like you to win?¡±

    Stung by Isaac¡¯s sarcasm, Bashul clenched his teeth.

    ¡°I can defeat you with just one sword!¡±

    Sand flew and the air was torn apart. In the silent moonlight, the footsteps and sword marks of the two men scattered chaotically across the beach.

    Bashul was not fighting at full strength. After all, he was facing a Holy Grail Knight who had contended with angels. Until he understood how Isaac had defeated an angel, he had to assume Isaac had a hidden ace. Showing his hand prematurely was not an option.

    Yet, the momentum was overwhelmingly in Bashul¡¯s favor. Only Isaac seemed to be getting hurt and gasping for breath.

    But Bashul felt an odd sense of unease.

    ¡®Is he getting faster?¡¯

    Bashul executed a diagonal stabbing motion. Earlier, Isaac had barely managed to deflect it, nearly breaking his wrist. But this time, he naturally twisted the de and dodged it.

    Bashul could finally be sure.

    ¡®Is he learning my sword technique right now?¡¯

    It was absurd, but Isaac¡¯s skills were improving in real-time. The Isaac who spared during the day and the Isaac now fighting for his life were onpletely different levels. With every new cut and every gasping breath, his skills improved.

    But he was only improving enough to keep himself alive, no more and no less.

    Yet, Isaac wasn¡¯t pulling out any secret techniques.

    Bashul suddenly felt a wave of fear at the terrifying rate of Isaac¡¯s improvement.

    Bang! Bashul¡¯s attacks became brutally aggressive.

    Isaac staggered back several steps in an instant. Suddenly, he heard the sound of sshing water. The waves had quietly risen and soaked his ankles.

    There was no more room to retreat.

    Bashul¡¯s sword glinted ominously.

    Crack!

    Their swords collided once again. Isaac nearly fell to his knees. An unbelievable pressure was transmitted through the sword¡ªnot just through the sword, but across his shoulders, head, spine, his entire body. It was a crushing force.

    ¡°Your master didn¡¯t teach you this move, did he?¡±

    Isaac realized this was one of the advanced sword techniques.

    Avnche, true to its name, it was a violent technique befitting the term. Isaac knew if he didn¡¯t kneel, his bones would shatter from the pressure.

    Whoosh. Just then, another wave soaked Isaac¡¯s ankles.

    And Isaac realized his opportunity had arrived.

    He gritted his teeth and performed a move.

    Isaac Swordsmanship: de Tear.

    Crash! Without any preliminary movement, the shing des began to vibrate violently. Suddenly, an explosive force surged from there.

    Isaac¡¯s sword aggressively tore through Bashul¡¯s, biting into it.

    ¡°What¡­?!¡±

    Bashul tried to react quickly, but his body tilted, losing bnce. Despite being on a t beach, Isaac seemed to be standing above him.

    Isaac was rising on the water, surfing the wave.

    ¡®Doctrine of the Wave?¡¯

    Bashul btedly recalled one of the lesser miracles of the Salt Council. He wanted toin that he hadn¡¯t agreed to fight using just a sword.

    But the momentum had already shifted to his opponent.

    The shattered sword scattered like sea foam.

    Bashul, who had intended to crush Isaac with his next move, found himself in the position to be crushed, and as his sword broke, Isaac¡¯s attack left him defenseless.

    Isaac drove his sword down towards Bashul¡¯s head.

    The Avnches-like pressure crushed Bashul.

    Crack.

    A chilling sound echoed.

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read up to advance 20 chapters or support me, you can do it at/Akaza156

 Chapter 145:

    Chapter 145:

    Isaac exhaled heavily.

    His sword was buried in the sand of the beach. He red at his ejected weapon, but that didn¡¯t cause it to return to his hand.

    It was Isaac who had seized the chance to turn the tables. Bashul¡¯s sword was broken, and he was defenselessly exposed before Isaac¡¯s de. Yet, the next moment was a blur, and he couldn¡¯t tell what had happened.

    All that was evident was a bite-like wound on Bashul¡¯s hand.

    ¡®Did he really deflect it with his bare hands?¡¯

    It was a sword technique developed to rip apart angels, and he had deflected it bare-handed¡ªwhat kind of monster was he?

    Bashul looked down at his hand and then spoke.

    ¡°So, I see how you caught an angel. You have a talent that other knightsck.¡±

    To Isaac, it sounded like a veiled way of calling him cowardly.

    ¡°Are you trying to say I¡¯m cowardly?¡±

    ¡°No. Cowardice is a trait all pdins might as well have. There¡¯s no need for manners or rules when you¡¯re judging heretics.¡±

    It was a conversation that defiedmon sense, but in this world, it was the truth.

    In the face of faith, all rules are ignored. Courtesy, honor, rules, none of these matter.

    Only true faith suffices.

    ¡°What I mean is this. Your master couldn¡¯t have taught you this.¡±

    Bashul stretched out his torn palm towards Isaac. At the same time, a faint blue glow sparked up like a me from his hand. Isaac watched him with suspicion.

    Facing Isaac¡¯s gaze, Bashul tilted his head as if puzzled.

    ¡°You mean you don¡¯t even know what you did?¡±

    ¡°What is it?¡±

    ¡°Sword energy. The Miracle seen by those chosen by Elil. Don¡¯t you know what it is?¡±

    Sword energy? Having yed as a follower of Elil before, Isaac certainly knew what it was.

    Many legends exist about Elil, most of which involve Elil slicing, dicing, or smashing someone.

    The Red Chalice seduces, the Codex of Light converts, and the World¡¯s Forge bestows precious treasures¡ªsuch legends exemplify the nature of their respective deities.

    And Elil favors the strong, often bestowing those with talents in powerful weapons or abilities with his blessings. Among these, those with extraordinary talents might hold the Miracle of ¡®Sword Energy,¡¯ capable of slicing anything effortlessly.

    In the game, selecting the Elil faith and reaching the highest levels granted this ability.

    When Sword Energy is activated, it doesn¡¯t wear down the sword, and if the opponent has no resistance to miracles, itpletely ignores their armor.

    However, at that stage in the game, since the yer¡¯s weapons, stats, and skills are at their peak, Sword Energy isn¡¯t exactly necessary¡ªusually, you¡¯re about to face the game¡¯s end anyway.

    But who wouldn¡¯t be fascinated by a lightsaber that slices through anything?

    Isaac was no exception.

    ¡®¡­ But I¡¯ve never heard of a lightsaber that gnaws like a chainsaw with tentacles and teeth.¡¯

    This was somewhat disappointing news for Isaac.

    However, Bashul¡¯s exnation had a w.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t Sword Energy something only followers of Elil can manifest?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s why you¡¯re special. How you did it I don¡¯t know, but other knights of the Codex of Light can¡¯t use Sword Energy. Unless¡­ you were always a pdin of Elil.¡±

    Isaac was startled to learn that the de tear he thought he had invented was actually Sword Energy. Yet, the simrities were undeniable.

    After all, it was an ability meant to tear opponents apart.

    ¡®Now that I think about it¡­¡¯

    When he fought Liberation Bishop Al Duard, he faced a Duhan from Elil. Even then, he had sensed a faint aura, which must have been an unconscious attempt to activate Sword Energy.

    If consciously manifested, it became de Rip.

    The question of ¡®how¡¯ was irrelevant.

    Isaac was a Nephilim. Using the miracles of gods as if they were his own was second nature to him. Moreover, in the faith of the Nameless Chaos, there are no standardized scriptures or doctrines. Isaac realized the issue wasn¡¯t solely with him.

    ¡°Wait, then you too¡­¡±

    Bashul was using Sword Energy. He nodded as if it were obvious.

    ¡°Yes. I am a follower of Elil.¡±

    Isaac was at a loss for words at Bashul¡¯s confident admission.

    A chief knight of the Imperial Guard of the Gerthonia Empire, supposed to be devoted to the Codex of Light, was a follower of Elil? Moreover, Bashul had previously been a knight of the Avnche Knight Order.

    He was technically a heretic that could be executed on the spot.

    The political ramifications for the Emperor could be immense.

    Isaac felt anger before confusion.

    ¡®If I had known earlier, I could have killed him without even fighting¡­¡¯

    He could have manipted situations such that the Emperor would dismiss him or the church would stab him in the back. But now, that wasn¡¯t possible.

    He shared the same vulnerability as Bashul.

    That¡¯s why Bashul could afford to be open about his use of Sword Energy.

    ¡°We both seem to have many secrets, Holy Knight. Shall we talk for a moment?¡±

    ***

    Isaac agreed to Bashul¡¯s proposal for a temporary truce.

    He was curious about how a follower of Elil had ended up as a knight for the Emperor, and he wanted to uncover secrets that Gabel had not revealed.

    As they walked along the beach, Bashul asked:

    ¡°Who taught you swordsmanship?¡±

    ¡°Gabel Krantz.¡±

    ¡°That mad dog¡­ is he still alive? No, of course. He would be the only one. Did he order you to kill anyone using Avnche Che swordsmanship on sight?¡±

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t an order, but a caution.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s the same thing.¡±

    Bashul crossed his arms and looked at Isaac intently.

    ¡°Regrettably, you can¡¯t kill me. And it seems I can¡¯t kill you either.¡±

    ¡°I haven¡¯t yed all my cards yet.¡±

    ¡°Neither have I. And the reason you haven¡¯t shown all your cards is that we both might survive, right? I feel the same way.¡±

    Isaac burst intoughter.

    It was true. Isaac had not resorted to using his tentacles to the end. He had restrained himself in case Bashul managed to escape after a desperate struggle. Bashul was indeed an adversary to be cautious of.

    And now that he knew Bashul was a follower of Elil, he couldn¡¯t recklessly engage him. After all, his opponent could also perform miracles.

    In retrospect, not revealing his tentacles was a prudent decision.

    Bashul turned his head to look at the crashing waves. Regret was evident in his eyes.

    ¡°Did you ever hear why Gabel ordered us to kill anyone using Avnche Knight Order techniques?¡±

    The Avnche Knight Order was annihted during a battle with the Immortal Order, and they became Death Knights, either by choice or force. As a result, the Avnche Order was branded as traitors, and Gabel had fled to live in the monastery.

    Gabel believed that the whole affair was a conspiracy orchestrated by someone high up in the Codex of Light.

    However, why he specifically ordered them to kill anyone using the same sword techniques was not something Isaac had heard. Only that the other person would try to kill Isaac as well. Indeed, there was some truth to that.

    ¡°I heard that the Avnche Knight Order was wiped out. And that it was believed to be an inside job, like what Kalsen Miller did.¡±

    Kalsen Miller had driven all his fellow knights to their deaths just before he defected. Gabel believed the same thing had happened to the Avnche Knight Order.

    Bashul nodded.

    ¡°What you know matches what I know. So Gabel himself is not the traitor, meaning the other survivor must be? So I¡¯m that traitor?¡±

    ¡°Is that so?¡±

    ¡°Exactly.¡±

    Isaac absentmindedly touched his palm, fearing his tentacles might burst out.

    With a nk expression, Bashul looked at Isaac and said,

    ¡°I led the Avnche Knight Order into a valley ambush. I watched as myrades were ughtered by the undead of the Immortal Order. Thinking back, Gabel was absent without leave and in confinement¡­ that¡¯s how he survived.¡±

    Should I kill him now? But there might be more to learn.

    ¡°Yes, Gabel was right.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    As Isaac struggled to suppress the squirming tentacles within him, Bashul continued calmly,

    ¡°I did it. I was following an angel¡¯s orders.¡±

    Isaac paused before asking,

    ¡°You were following an angel¡¯s orders?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°Which angel?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know. It was passed down through an inquisitor who apanied us. It was during the 12th Dawn Army, as usual, an oracle and blessings from an angel were received. The inquisitor didn¡¯t specify which angel. But it was an angel¡¯smand. Is there any reason to doubt?¡±

    No. If there¡¯s no conflict between God¡¯s instructions and an angel¡¯smands, thetter are absolute. They are chosen to act on behalf of God¡¯s will in heaven and on earth.

    But if Bashul¡¯s words were true, it wasn¡¯t just a matter of corruption within the church¡¯s upper echelons.

    It implied that an angel had fallen.

    Bashul continued,

    ¡°Only after hearing myrades¡¯ screams did I realize what I had done. That¡¯s why I ran away. I couldn¡¯t face those I had dragged into hell.¡±

    ***

    ¡®This is not good.¡¯

    Isaac thought he had heard something he shouldn¡¯t have. Bashul might be lying, but just knowing this information could endanger lives.

    Even if it was not a fallen angel but a directive from God, it was still problematic.

    Isaac decided to point out a w in Bashul¡¯s story.

    ¡°If what you say is true, why would you try to kill someone using Avnche sword techniques?¡±

    In Bashul¡¯s story, he was portrayed as someone who fled due to guilt over hisrades. But then, why would he want to kill someone using the same techniques as hisrades?

    Bashul tilted his head and looked at Isaac.

    ¡°Look, Isaac. I had been living under the belief that all myrades had turned into Death Knights. They probably want to kill me. Maybe they even agreed to be Death Knights for that reason. Then someone shows up using Avnche sword techniques. What would I think?¡±

    ¡°A spy for the Immortal Order?¡±

    ¡°Or another monster created by the Codex of Light that I didn¡¯t know about. I put my bets on thetter. You appeared out of nowhere as a Pdin.¡±

    ¡°I have no ties to the church.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not something a pdin usually says. Anyway, I¡¯m the same.¡±

    Bashul sighed and looked at Isaac, his gazeplicated.

    ¡°To think Gabel is still alive¡­ it¡¯s both reassuring and frightening.¡±

    ¡°If you still feel like repenting, I can arrange a meeting for you.¡±

    ¡°Well, no matter what excuses I make, it won¡¯t work. I can apologize, but I can¡¯t just offer up my neck.¡±

    Snap. Bashul stopped and faced Isaac.

    ¡°Why do you think I turned apostate and devoted myself to Elil? Why did I leave my knighthood to be an Imperial Guard?¡±

    Probably because if he had stayed with the Codex of Light, those who knew the ¡®forbidden secrets¡¯ he was aware of would have killed him. Isaac thought this but Bashul was implying more.

    ¡°My goal is to destroy the backstabbers in the Codex of Light. After I kill all those damned people, I¡¯ll ask them why myrades had to die, what schemes necessitated this chaos.¡±

    Bashul¡¯s eyes were cold as he stared at Isaac.

    ¡°If you still can¡¯t forgive me, feel free to try and kill me anytime, Isaac. But I won¡¯t just let myself be killed. When the timees, I¡¯ll go see Gabel myself.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡±

    Isaac was visibly pleased by this revtion.

    After making his deration, Bashul was startled by Isaac¡¯s eager expression.

    Realizing he might have spoken too hastily, Bashul felt the wound on his palm again.

    Thinking about Isaac¡¯s rapidly improving skills and his unscrupulous methods, it seemed he might have been too rash.

    ¡°¡­Let me rephrase. I¡¯d rather you didn¡¯t try to kill me if possible. After all, my goals align with Gabel¡¯s. Doesn¡¯t he also want to resolve the Church¡¯s grudges?¡±

    ¡°Are you asking for a double deal?¡±

    ¡°Then tell me what you want, Pdin. Apart from killing me.¡±

    With that, Isaac finally smiled.

    ¡°Give me the chance to kill you until I am dispatched as an ambassador to the Kingdom of Elil. In return, I¡¯ll use only my swordsmanship. If you survive until then, I¡¯ll leave your fate to Gabel.¡±

    Bashul pondered Isaac¡¯s words.

    It was a strange proposal. If it was just about swordsmanship, Bashul was superior. Typically, it¡¯s the other way around¡ªabsolute power offering a chance to grow stronger if they can survive.

    But then Bashul understood Isaac¡¯s intention.

    ¡°¡­You want to duel daily?¡±

    ¡°You risk your life, I¡¯ll barely not.¡±

    Isaac was soon to go to the Kingdom of Elil.

    He needed to improve his swordsmanship before then.

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read up to advance 20 chapters or support me, you can do it at/Akaza156

 Chapter 146:

    Chapter 146:

    Under Bashul¡¯s informal guidance, Isaac¡¯s skills improved rapidly.

    Isaac already possessed remarkable swordsmanship, but his techniques were more a collection of improvisations honed through realbat rather than any formal style. Gabel had only taught him the basics before sending him off, likely hoping he would grow on his own.

    Indeed, thanks to absorbing the monstrous talent of Kalsen, Isaac could ¡®devour¡¯ the sword techniques of every swordsman he encountered, enhancing his own skills. This allowed him to defeat pdins, undead, and even angels.

    Isaac¡¯s enemies were more often monsters than humans, which somewhat validated Gabel¡¯s approach.

    However, Bashul, a traditional swordsman, seemed unimpressed.

    nk, thud. After parrying Isaac¡¯s ferociously delivered strikes, Bashul spoke with a frown.

    ¡°Your intent to kill is too palpable. I understand you want to dispatch your enemies quickly, but you should try to temper it.¡±

    ¡°Given my profession, most of those I encounter¡­ I don¡¯t expect to see them again¡­¡±

    Perhaps because he lived by the rule that anyone who discovered his secret must be killed or brainwashed, his swordsmanship was asden with murderous intent as his tentacles. It was no wonder his Sword Energy manifested as a saw-like tearing force.

    ¡°Unrestrained murderous intent will only exhaust you and can harm both yourself and those around you. Your Sword Energy is as conspicuous as it is unique. You need to learn to control it.¡±

    Swoosh, whoosh, slice.

    Isaac and Bashul¡¯s des narrowly missed each other and then collided. Even amidst the savage de Rip Sword Energy that Isaac unleashed, Bashul¡¯s de remained calm.

    And unlike previous shes, which had shattered upon impact, his de remained still and tranquil, glowing faintly blue.

    Isaac¡¯s de vibrated violently and was pushed back. Eventually, unable to withstand the force, it was flung backwards. Seizing the moment his arm was raised, Bashul swiftly thrust his sword between Isaac¡¯s shoulder and neck.

    Isaac copsed to the ground. It was his twentiethplete defeat.

    Despite improving daily while facing Bashul, Isaac still couldn¡¯t see a clear path to victory using swordsmanship alone. Every time he thought he had caught up, Bashul moved a few steps ahead; just when Isaac felt he was getting close, Bashul would demonstrate an even more profound mastery.

    Yet, Bashul clicked his tongue while looking at Isaac.

    ¡°You¡¯re growing terrifyingly fast. Are you a monster?¡±

    ¡°¡­That¡¯s riching from someone who¡¯s taken down a few monsters himself.¡±

    ¡°Now I¡¯ve figured out all your habits and tricks,¡± Bashul said frankly. ¡°Honestly, you won¡¯t be able to defeat me unless you throw away everything you¡¯ve learned so far. Even if you were personally trained by Elil himself.¡±

    Unlearning everything he had gained so far was not a simple task.

    Isaac thought it absurd that Bashul could suggest such a thing with a straight face, given how hard he had worked to acquire his skills.

    Bashul raised a finger.

    ¡°Your problem is that you always try to win by trickery. Tricks can be your weaknesses if discovered, and I¡¯ve already figured out all of yours. So, none of your tricks will work on me anymore.¡±

    He raised a second finger.

    ¡°As I mentioned before, your murderous intent is too obvious. It makes your moves transparent. You try to cover this w with tricks, but anyone of a decent skill level won¡¯t be fooled more than once or twice. You need to control that murderous intent.¡±

    With a stern look, Bashul continued.

    ¡°A madman iling a sword might kill one or two people, but he¡¯s quickly subdued. A soldier who fights with controlled, emotionless precision can kill all day long. If you must kill, do it with dignity and poise like a civilized person.¡±

    Isaac understood what Bashul was saying. However, all these ws were essential for his survival in environments where he could not afford witnesses.

    His deceptiveness and bloodlust were instincts he couldn¡¯t afford to lose.

    Now, to discard them was not a simple matter. No matter how much he had climbed, his fundamental nature hadn¡¯t changed.

    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s not easy. If you were my subordinate, I¡¯d beat that stupidity out of you, but since you¡¯re a fellow warrior, I can¡¯t just manipte you with guilt or threats.¡±

    Isaac was taken aback by Bashul¡¯s harsh words.

    Was this his true nature, or had he reverted to his old battlefield mentality?

    Isaac felt a renewed urge to kill Bashul.

    ¡®I could kill him right now with a miracle¡­¡¯

    ¡°You¡¯re thinking of tricks again,¡± Bashul muttered incredulously. Isaac red at him.

    ¡°Stop it if it bothers you.¡±

    ¡°How can I? The Imperial Guard reacts instantly to any perceived threat.

    Remember when Rene interrupted our fight in the garden? She sensed our intent to kill and thought it better to intervene before anything serious happened.¡±

    That frivolousdy had such deep insights?

    After all, even a courtier in the Imperial Guard was among the empire¡¯s elite.

    ¡°Fine. I won¡¯t me the tricks anymore. But you should tone down the murderous intent before your dispatch as an envoy to Elil.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°It looks unseemly. It¡¯s very important in the Kingdom of Elil.¡±

    Isaac hoped it was a joke, but Bashul¡¯s face showed no sign of amusement.

    Isaac pondered how to mask his murderous intent or repackage it without changing it, feeling frustrated.

    ¡®Can¡¯t I change this habit of resorting to tricks first?¡¯

    ¡°And when it¡¯s time for you to die, make sure you do it alone. Your murderous intent might drag others into it.¡±

    Bashul¡¯s words made Isaac think of the tentacle monster.

    Isaac harbored a fierce desire to swallow the world rather than disappear into death. Perhaps he was already influenced by those tentacles.

    Bashul spoke up to this point and sheathed his sword. Isaac frowned at this action.

    ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going? The assassination attempt isn¡¯t over yet.¡±

    ¡°¡­It seems you¡¯ve forgotten my position. I¡¯m the chief knight of the Imperial Guard. I can¡¯t be away for long. His Majesty the Emperor cherishes you, so I only came out under the pretense of overseeing your swordsmanship training.¡±

    Isaac couldn¡¯t object when Bashul invoked the Emperor. Reluctantly, Isaac decided to let Bashul leave for today.

    ¡°And I doubt that my teaching you anymore will significantly improve your skills. You¡¯ve improved too quickly.¡±

    ¡°I still don¡¯t see any chance of beating you?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s only because I have fully figured out your habits. As long as you only fight with a sword, even if you be stronger than me, you won¡¯t be able to beat me unless you undergo a radical change.¡±

    Essentially, Bashul was saying that he had taught Isaac everything he could in just a few days. Isaac wondered if he really had be that strong, but there was no way to confirm it.

    After all, Bashul had always decisively defeated Isaac.

    ¡°And from tomorrow, those ¡®assassination attempts¡¯ will also be impossible.¡±

    ¡°Why? Got scared for your life?¡±

    ¡°No. His Majesty the Emperor is returning to the capital today.¡±

    ***

    It was only natural for the Imperial Guard to move with the Emperor.

    Isaac, who had finally met a worthy sparring partner, felt disappointed. He had wanted to solidify his swordsmanship skills before departing for the Kingdom of Elil, but it seemed he hadn¡¯t ovee his critical weakness yet.

    Isaac swung his sword alone a few times, still unable to gauge his level of skill for when he would be in Elil.

    ¡°Bashul, just how strong is he really?¡± Isaac wondered. It seemed like Bashul might have been a peer or of simr rank to Gabel in the past, but his skill appeared several times greater. Considering that Gabel had retired to a monastery, the difference was too great.

    Bashul was indeed a knight of the Imperial Guard, but he could be at the level of a high-rankingmander in the Pdin Order if he used sword energy.

    Even if miracles did not intervene, the difference between those who could perform them and those who could not was stark.

    Bashul was a top-tier swordsman in the continent by skill alone. However, if miracles were involved, he could be matched or even surpassed by somemanders of the Pdin Order.

    Isaac¡¯s strength varied significantly whether he used the tentacles or not.

    But Bashul was also a follower of Elil. If he actively used the miracles of Elil, he would be among the top ten in the Gerthonia Empire.

    ¡°Why isn¡¯t such a person a named character? What exactly happened?¡±

    ¡°Sir Pdin, swinging your sword like that alone can develop bad habits,¡± said another knight, Rene Lomerk, who approached Isaac. It seemed she had packed her things following Emperor Waltzemer¡¯s move, sporting proper armor and weaponry unlike when they first met.

    ¡°Bashul, the chief knight, has already pointed out my bad habits,¡± Isaac replied.

    ¡°My, Bashul did? He usually only gives praise.¡±

    ¡°He said he would have broken my stupid skull to remodel it if possible. Did he also use me of using my pretty face to manipte others?¡±

    ¡°Oh, my, oh my.¡±

    ¡°We seem to have many secrets.¡±

    ¡°Oh my, oh my, oh my.¡±

    Rene blushed and covered her mouth.

    Isaac felt satisfied that he had sessfully tarnished Bashul¡¯s reputation as a kind-hearted chief knight. If he couldn¡¯t win with his sword, he would win with his tongue. He hadn¡¯t lied, after all. Now, Bashul would be seen as a rude person who madements about appearances.

    However, in Rene¡¯s mind, entirely different rumors were forming, but Isaac had no way of knowing that.

    A modest but luxurious carriage made its way out of the mansion¡¯s back garden. Imperial Guards and some cavalrymen appeared to be part of the escort, forming an impressive procession.

    The only way an Emperor with notable horns could travel incognito was this.

    ¡°Looks like the Emperor didn¡¯t tell us why he visited secretly,¡± Isaac thought. Could it be that he just wanted a casual meeting with Duke Brant, his cousin?

    At the front, Bashul gestured to Rene, who climbed onto a horse prepared for her with a meaningful smile.

    ¡°It was a pleasure meeting you, Sir Pdin! Maybe next time we can meet with Lady Isolde!¡±

    Without much further ado, Bashul turned away. Isaac hadn¡¯t expected much more.

    Isolde also participated in the meeting, likely to avoid drawing too much attention if the entire ducal family appeared.

    The Emperor¡¯s movements were always discreet and guarded. Before moving the carriage, Waltzemer slightly opened the window and nodded to Isaac.

    ¡°I¡¯ll send the appointment soon. It won¡¯t take long.¡±

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    Isaac was relieved to hear this. Bncing between the Church and the Royal Court was critical for his survival and influence.

    As the back gate opened with a heavy sound, Isolde squinted at something in the alley across the street where the Emperor¡¯s carriage was passing by,an old man sitting in a spot not usually chosen for begging.

    ¡°Is there something odd?¡±

    ¡°No, it¡¯s just a feeling¡­ Isaac, something feels ominous?¡±

    Isolde disliked acting on vague suspicions, as that could easily lead to mistakes in her role as an inquisitor.

    But Isaac knew her ¡®feelings¡¯ were usually well-founded. She possessed the heart of the prophet of the Red Flesh, and the Red Grail Club specialized in assassination and conspiracy.

    The word ¡®assassination of the Emperor¡¯ shed through Isaac¡¯s mind.

    As the carriage sped up towards the alley, Isaac instinctively sprang forward to intervene.

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read up to advance 20 chapters or support me, you can do it at/Akaza156

 Chapter 147:

    Chapter 147:

    Suddenly, Isaac¡¯s charging figure provoked an immediate reaction from Rene.

    ¡°Stop right now!¡±

    She did not entertain thoughts such as ¡®Has the Pdin gone mad? Or is there some other motive?¡¯

    There was only one appropriate response for an imperial guard when someone charged at the royal carriage.

    Rene¡¯s sword shed brilliantly. It was an attack meant purely to kill or incapacitate, devoid of personal feelings.

    Isaac¡¯s left hand collided with Rene¡¯s sword, and with a loud crash, her sword was knocked upwards.

    She didn¡¯t lose her grip on the sword, but her defense waspletely breached, exposing her. In a real battle, she could have been killed instantly, but Isaac merely brushed past her.

    Shock and confusion filled Rene¡¯s eyes.

    Bashul was equally astonished.

    ¡®Did he just wield sword energy? He truly is insane.¡¯

    Despite his talent, showing such a skill in public was risky. Fortunately, it seemed no one else besides Rene and Bashul had seen this.

    The guarding knights btedly drew their swords.

    ¡°Assassin!¡±

    Isaac shouted before the knights could react.

    Only then did Bashul and Rene look in the direction Isaac was charging.

    A crouching old man in the alley was startled and looked up. Isaac recognized him immediately as one of the spies from the Red Chalice Club, which had recently been under surveince by Hesabel.

    ¡®Seemed harmless enough to ignore, but why?¡¯

    Boom. The drawn sword barely missed cutting the old man¡¯s neck, instead shattering the wall behind him into debris.

    The old man copsed backwards, his strength leaving him. It was an intentional near-miss to provoke a reaction, but he still seemed insignificant upon closer inspection.

    ¡®Just monitoring the Emperor? No, Isolde would have reacted more sharply to that.¡¯

    Then, Isaac saw something in the beggar¡¯s bowl ¨C not just coins but an eyeball, staring fixatedly at the Emperor¡¯s carriage.

    Someone was using this eye to watch the Emperor¡¯s party. What Isolde sensed was a miracle of the Red Chalice.

    Thump.

    Isaac¡¯s heart pounded violently, pain flickering throughout his body.

    An intense murderous intent.

    If he could feel this murderous intent, so could the imperial guards. Isaac found himself looking back at Bashul and Rene.

    They were looking up, not at the old man.

    The pale winter sky was tearing open, something revolting forcing its way out. A hideous chill of killing intent was spilling over Rougeberg.

    Quickly, Isaac crushed the eyeball underfoot, sttering more blood than seemed possible. The sky¡¯s tearing halted, but the monster was still squeezing itself through the gap.

    A horrendous roar shook Rougeberg, Isaac staggered under the oppressive force, bile rising in his throat. Yet, he somehow recognized the monster.

    ¡®A beast of Chaos? Why are they here?¡¯

    It was definitely one of the creatures of Chaos, though not fully visible yet.

    ¡®Targeting the Emperor?¡¯

    Someone was deliberately summoning the spawn of Chaos, but Isaac had no idea who else could be responsible.

    If the summoning seeded, not only the Emperor but all of Rougeberg would drown in blood.

    He had to stop the summoning before it was toote.

    ***

    As the horses started frothing and bucking, Bashul instead of evacuating the Emperor, cut the reins to stop the runaway carriage.

    ¡°Your Majesty!¡±

    Boom. Emperor Waltzemer burst out of the carriage, already sensing the anomaly and looking up.

    ¡°Looks like it¡¯s trying to emerge. Can we stop it?¡±

    ¡°I just destroyed the summoner¡¯s eye thanks to Sir Isaac, but without knowing where the summoner is, it¡¯s hard topletely stop it.¡±

    ¡°How much time do we have?¡±

    ¡°Less than five minutes.¡±

    In less than five minutes, the creature would bepletely free. Waltzemer growled again and untied the bandage covering his horns.

    As his glowing horns illuminated the surroundings, the maddened horses calmed down.

    Bashul spoke, his voice filled with concern.

    ¡°Your Majesty, this is an assassination attempt targeting you.¡±

    ¡°So, you suggest we flee? Imagine the Pope¡¯s joy hearing the Emperor fled from a monster that massacred his people.¡±

    ¡°In the radiance emitted from the Emperor¡¯s horns, mes began to grow fiercely. While this sight was familiar to the pce guards, the cavalrymen were startled and hastily retreated. Soon, a massive golden wolf,rger than three attached carriages, revealed itself in the alley.

    Its fur glowed as if it were on fire, and it had deer-like antlers simr to those of the Baltic elk. The wolf possessed eight eyes.

    The cavalrymen, who had witnessed the mythical creature known as the ¡®Haltaba¡¯ summoned by the Emperor, felt an inexplicable sense of calm. Beneath this light, they believed they would be safe and victorious, despitecking any concrete evidence.¡±

    After calming his troops with a miracle, Emperor Waltzemer assessed the situation.

    ¡°No matter how we handle it, Rougeberg is going to suffer greatly¡­¡±

    He could imagine how shocked Dietrich must be, watching him leave from afar. Waltzemer internally apologized, but there was nothing he could do.

    Gooey substances, whether monster bodily fluids or vomit, oozed out from the cracks in the sky, scattering over various parts of Rougeberg. Wherever these fluidsnded, screams erupted.

    A blob the size of a horse, emitting a foul stench, dropped near the Emperor. Long spider legs sprang out from it.

    Click, ck-ck, ck. The spider-like creature had too many legs and randomly arranged human features ¨C eyes, noses, and mouths ¨C all over its surface.

    The soldiers surrounded it and stabbed at it with their spears, but the spears easily sunk in and were sucked further inside. Caught off-guard by this unexpected gravitational pull, one soldier was impaled by eight spider legs.

    Bang! A loud noise and a horse¡¯s hooves were followed by a spear piercing through the spider. The rider was Isolde, wearing casual clothes and armed only with a spear. She held the creature in ce with the light emanating from the pit beast.

    ¡°It¡¯s a Polyfaceted Spider! Its body is a colony, so if it¡¯s not a miracle, you should attack by burning or crushing it!¡±

    Bashul was reminded anew that Isolde was an Inquisitor. She was knowledgeable about heretical miracles and doctrines, even if it was only from books.

    ¡°I¡¯ll handle things here; you go to the city center! The soldiers there will need help!¡±

    Isolde bit her lip and then kicked her horse into a gallop. Although various monsters were appearing from the monster¡¯s vomited fluids, none could approach the mes emitted by Haltaba.

    Bashul suddenly realized that Isaac was the first to notice this conspiracy. More than ever, the Holy Knight¡¯s power was needed.

    But Isaac was nowhere to be seen.

    ¡°Where is the Pdin?¡±

    ¡°He went that way!¡±

    A soldier pointed upward, toward a nearby high watchtower.

    ***

    Upon reaching the rooftop of the watchtower, Isaac looked up at the sky.

    Crushing the eye had some effect; the hole hadn¡¯t widened, but the summoning hadn¡¯t stopped either. Thergest monster hadn¡¯t emerged yet, but smaller ones that had slipped through the gaps were causing chaos throughout the city.

    The source of the summoning needed to be killed for the hole topletely close.

    ¡®If I were them, I¡¯d try to reopen the hole.¡¯

    Considering they had been monitoring the Emperor through an eyeball, and the summoning stopped when it was destroyed, it seemed vision was crucial. Therefore, the adversary would likely try to regain sight.

    Inevitably, they would have to expose themselves.

    ¡®Focus on the senses.¡¯

    Isaac stretched out his arm. His left arm began to split along the seams of his fingers, a transformation that had urred after he devoured the Drowned King.

    Now fully transformed, his arm branched into five tendrils from his shoulder, enveloping itself in colors from beyond to stay hidden. He did not stop there; he sprouted eyes, ears, and other sensory organs on the tendrils.

    Isaac had bizarre organs sprouting up that he couldn¡¯t identify, but he decided not to worry about it.

    ¡®Focus on the senses.¡¯

    Simr transformations were happening to Hesabel from afar. She, too, was avoiding the sun and focusing on the sensations conveyed by Isaac.

    Isaac had parasites scattered around Rougeberg that could link back to him¡ªrats, cats, pigeons, stray dogs, all paused in the streets, senses heightened.

    The monster was of the Chaos Brood.

    Although not under direct control, it was linked to Isaac. He tried to read its mind, but the thoughts were as distorted as water-soaked text. However, he could sense a slight direction.

    Isaac, the monster, and his spawn all felt the same pull.

    He pinpointed where these sensations intersected.

    [Come forth.]

    As Isaac opened his eyes sharply, the eyes on his tendrils did the same, focusing in one direction. Dozens of eyes looked toward a voice summoning the monster.

    In the expanded pupil of Isaac¡¯s eye, a man in a robe looking up at the sky was reflected on the terrace of a small inn.

    It was close.

    Isaac leapt down from the watchtower.

    [Come to me!]

    The voice calling the monster seemed to beckon Isaac too. Driven by this call, Isaac dashed toward the man. Just as the man noticed Isaac falling from the sky, a loud crash echoed.

    Crash!

    Isaac swung his tentacle arm to cushion the impact. The roof and terrace crumbled, throwing up choking dust.

    ¡°Got you, bastard.¡±

    Isaac, his hand restored, grabbed the man by the throat. The fingers, still partially serpent-like, squeezed with enough force to crush. The man, missing one eye, stared back at Isaac with dted pupils.

    ¡°You¡­¡±

    ¡°Look at me properly. Know that you won¡¯t die a gentle death.¡±

    Since he was going to kill him anyway, Isaac didn¡¯t mind revealing his tentacles. He immediately used the potent Eye of Chao on the man. Purple tentacles burrowed into the man¡¯s remaining eye. The dense dust and otherworldly colors concealed Isaac.

    Amidst tumultuous emotions, fragmented information flooded in.

    Isaac started with the most recent memories.

    ¡®This miracle works simrly to how the Immortal Order opens gates to the afterlife.¡¯

    Someone was exining the miracle to him.

    ¡®You can only open the gate; you cannot control whates out. It¡¯s safest to cast it from a distance or use a separate eye. But¡­¡¯

    The person exining pointed at him with a skeletal finger.

    ¡®The monsters will instinctively be drawn to you. If you don¡¯t run immediately after opening the gate, they will kill you.¡¯

    Crack! A sharp pain cut off Isaac¡¯s reading. He hastily pulled his head back; the tentacles retracted into his eye.

    ¡°Gah, ugh!¡±

    Isaac then saw a swarm of spiders and leeches attacking the man. These were born from the monster¡¯s fluids. They ignored Isaac and tore at the man¡¯s head.

    His torn cheeks made it seem like he was smiling.

    ¡®Damn it.¡¯

    The forcibly extracted memories swirled chaotically in Isaac¡¯s head. It would take time to sift through the useful information, but he was certain the Immortal Order was behind this.

    Isaac looked up at the sky.

    With the summoner dead, the summoning should stop. As expected, the hole in the sky had closed. However, the peculiar sensation in his chest hadn¡¯t faded.

    Ooooooh!

    A monster¡¯s roar sounded from somewhere beyond the buildings.

    It had already escaped the hole.

    [The Nameless Chaos watches you.]

    [The Nameless Chaos wishes for you to eliminate the ¡®apocalypse handler.¡¯]

    [The rewards of Chaos await you.]

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read up to advance 20 chapters or support me, you can do it at/Akaza156

 Chapter 148:

    Chapter 148:

    Gulping.

    The creaturended on an unfortunate house. Instead of copsing, the building flexibly absorbed the impact. With a bursting sound, the massive body spread in all directions.

    The first thing the residing family noticed was a stench that seemed to rise from the sewers.

    And that smell was theirst.

    The creature¡¯s body quickly seeped into the building, passing through like a ghost, leaving behind only stone and furniture. Any living being it passed over dissolved into part of it.

    Ooooooh!

    Only upon reaching the streets did the creature start to form a proper shape. Predominantly ck, it bore an indescribable eerie hue. Its form was somewhat like a quadruped bat, but its head was a misshapen mass, simr to a slug.

    It was known as the Endbringer.

    No one remembered who or how it got its name, but it was the apex predator among the creatures that scavenged the refuse from the bottom of Chaos.

    The voice that had been calling the Endbringer was now silent. However, the ce where the voice had originated still sent a disturbing sensation.

    Crash! A bright bolt of lightning raced down the street, incinerating the head of the Endbringer.

    The charred head vanished for a moment, then reformed into a new shape. Now, the Endbringer¡¯s focus shifted towards the new target that had attacked it.

    ¡°Doesn¡¯t the attack work?¡±

    ¡°It seems to be simr to a slime. It feels slightly less dense, though¡­¡±

    Bashul observed the monster from a distance. It was about the size of a four-story building, somewhere between liquid and gas in consistency. It had appeared denser and more solid in the sky, probably due to it contorting itself to escape through the hole. But seeing that it struggled, it seemed like it had just sent whatever part of it could escape.

    ¡°It might be weaker than its main body, but miracles should still work against it.¡±

    ¡°Hmm.¡±

    Waltzemer stroked Haltaba¡¯s nape. Haltaba, sparking lightning between its horns, roared mightily, sending a bolt twice as thick as before smashing into the Endbringer¡¯s body.

    Parts of the Endbringer vanished.

    However, these gaps filled back in as if water were filling a hole.

    The Endbringer, undting, twisted its body menacingly, turning its eerie eyes towards Haltaba. It harbored hostility not just towards its assants but towards all living beings.

    Whoosh. The Endbringer surged forward like the onset of night.

    ¡°Fall back!¡±

    The soldiers quickly retreated.

    They shuddered as they saw the grass and trees where the Endbringer passed dissolve cleanly away. Fortunately, the light emanating from Waltzemer¡¯s horns hindered its approach.

    Against assassins that were mere monsters or humans, the soldiers might stand a chance; but in a conflict involving mythical beings from the afterlife, there wasn¡¯t much they could do except prevent minor creatures and spiders from encroaching with the sacred mes they bore.

    Only the knights trained in miraculousbat skills were truly capable of fighting.

    ¡°Keep distracting it, Your Majesty. We will try to exploit its weakness.¡±

    ¡°Using the Emperor as bait?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s less noticeable than us, given all the sparkle.¡±

    Bashul and Rene split to either side to examine the Endbringer closely. Despite their training, they were reluctant to dive into its body.

    Bashul signaled Rene with hand signs when he spotted something.

    Within the strange hues of the Endbringer, there was an especially dark and solid-looking area that could be its organs, or in a grotesque sense, the devil¡¯s excrement.

    Rene also saw it and prepared to move.

    Haltaba¡¯s lightning red again. Crunch¡­ The subsequent lightning carved holes through the Endbringer, creating less dense areas.

    These gaps were daunting for ordinary people, but for Bashul and Rene, they were as wide as roads.

    Without a signal, both darted forward like arrows. The mere touch of the Endbringer¡¯s flesh was painfully searing, but not unbearable. Suddenly, an advanced sword technique known only to the Imperial Guard was activated.

    Even in a vast wastnd, if there¡¯s a needle, lightning will strike precisely there.

    A physically impossible contraction of space urred.

    Their swords had already pierced the Endbringer¡¯s internal organs before even Haltaba¡¯s lightning could miss them. The distorted space violently expanded, causing an explosive shockwave. The Endbringer¡¯s soft body burst outward.

    The Endbringernguidly slumped down.

    ***

    ¡°Cough, gasp!¡±

    Rtively inexperienced, Rene gasped for air painfully on her knees due to the bacsh of using the advanced knight swordsmanship.

    While Rene was catching her breath, Bashul, not yet certain it was over, did not rx his guard. As expected, the Endbringer began to twitch, attempting to pull itself back together. Bashul swiftly swung his sword, chopping up any discernible organs into small pieces.

    Following this, the Endbringer moved no more.

    Bashul wanted to keep watching but couldn¡¯t stay close; the mere touch of its skin was enough to melt flesh. Even its corpse was not safe to approach.

    ¡°Let¡¯s get out of here, Rene. The smell is atrocious¡­¡±

    Just then, Bashul¡¯s heightened senses detected a new threat right underfoot.

    A tentacle burst through the ground, lifting him into the air, but he swore and cut it off instantly.

    Crashing to the ground, he saw the Endbringer, already gathering its gaseous body back into a solid form.

    This time, however, it was smaller and more condensed.

    It retained its four-legged bat form, but now its face bore dozens of tentacles, resembling an octopus head.

    While Bashul was momentarily hindered by his wounded foot, Rene, having regained some strength, quickly grabbed his nape and started dragging him away. The Endbringer, seemingly unwilling to let go, shot out tentacles in pursuit.

    Even as he was dragged away, Bashul kept slicing at the tentacles.

    ¡®This is dangerous.¡¯

    He could feel that the creature was now smaller but significantly stronger and faster. Even in perfect condition, it was a monster not to be underestimated.

    Emperor Waltzemer realized the situation btedly and was about to call for support fire when a particrly thick and fierce tentacle shot out, targeting Bashul.

    Crack-crunch.

    Someone intervened in the next moment.

    ¡°Isaac?!¡±

    Isaac had wrapped the tentacle of the Apocalypse handler around his left arm and yanked it fiercely. A sound like muscles tearing apart echoed as Isaac ripped out the monster¡¯s tentacle.

    ¡°Rene, please take that old man away quickly!¡±

    ¡°Thank you! I will protect the love of the Holy Grail knight!¡±

    Isaac was about to dismiss the nonsense in confusion but decided to focus on the fight instead.

    The flesh of the Apocalypse handler shimmered in a strange hue after losing its tentacle. Isaac had suspected the unusual color but was certain only upon direct contact.

    ¡®It was indeed the color beyond.¡¯

    Isaac used the ability ¡®the color beyond¡¯ to either conceal his identity or disorient his opponents.

    The Apocalypse handler was a monster made of an unknown condensed material.

    Isaac had just realized that the ¡®color beyond¡¯ could act like a liquid or a solid depending on its concentration, but touching it revealed he could control it.

    Isaac had a dominant control over the ¡®color beyond¡¯ entwined in his left hand.

    The tentacle he had grabbed melted into Isaac¡¯s possession instantly upon contact. The monster had instinctively felt threatened and reacted.

    It growled fiercely at Isaac.

    For now, Isaac took out the Luadin Key with his right hand, but nned to fight with his left. He could easily overpower it using his arm covered in the ¡®color beyond¡¯, disguised as dirtied by the Apocalypse handler¡¯s tentacle.

    ¡®Do not resist.¡¯

    The Apocalypse handler might be stronger than Isaac if considered alone, but hierarchically, Isaac had an overwhelming advantage. The monster roared defiantly, as its face burst forth with more tentacles.

    Isaac blocked them with his left arm and swung his sword in a hurry.

    The tentacle ends were covered with bones, nails, and teeth of humans it had devoured. This was something he couldn¡¯t control with ¡®the color beyond¡¯.

    ¡°Looking stupid really is a waste of brains!¡±

    Snap, bang.

    Amidst the thrashing tentacles were not only human remnants but also those of beasts and parts of unidentifiable monsters that still wriggled. It felt like fighting undigested internal organs rather than mere tentacles, but they were ferociously alive.

    From afar, Bashul thought that without using high-level swordsmanship like he had, Isaac wouldn¡¯t be able to breach the Apocalypse handler. Yet, none of the high-level techniques Isaac knew suited this situation.

    In the next moment, the Apocalypse handler spewed out tentacles crazily. Hundreds of strands, each capable of easily tearing a person apart, poured down like heavy rain.

    And the ring on Isaac¡¯s right hand shattered into several fragments.

    It was a ring passed to him by Dietrich.

    [Broken Crystal Tombstone Fragment (S)]

    [In the Crystal Battlefield, ten thousand warriors fight in ten thousand ways, tasting victory ten thousand times and facing death as many. The tombstone mourns the warriors¡¯ deaths, fitting their bodies into wless motions, leading to either certain victory or death.]

    Isaac¡¯s world slowed down.

    At the same time, his mind raced at an extraordinary speed. His eyes wildly calcted every possible movement, the enemy¡¯s attack directions, probabilities of being hit, stride, and sword path.

    Thump. After considering hundreds of scenarios, Isaac finally took a step.

    The speed was suffocatingly slow.

    It was a bizarre world.

    In the original game, the Broken Crystal Tombstone Fragment slowed time and sped up the character, but this world was different. As Isaac took a breath and moved his foot, hundreds of possible oues shed through his mind.

    In his mental constructs, Isaac died hundreds of times and faced defeat as many times. But among thousands of scenarios, he found the one direction towards victory and took another step.

    There was no room for even a minor error.

    He would cut through any manageable tentacle and dodge any dodgeable attack.

    As Isaac¡¯s mind was about to burn out from the strain, the world began to flow normally again.

    Suddenly, the Luadin Key was embedded in the Apocalypse handler¡¯s head. A disgusting smell wafted through the sizzling heat.

    ***

    Before the chaos settled, Isaac carved through the Apocalypse handler¡¯s flesh and searched for something akin to essence.

    As expected, there was something like a heart inside the monster, capable of controlling its gaseous, liquid, and solid states. Though the heart was already charred, Isaac immediately devoured it through the tentacle.

    [¡®Apocalypse Predation¡¯ consumed.]

    [¡®Intestines of the Dead God¡¯ perk increases absorption efficiency.]

    [¡®Perfect gue Immunity¡¯ perk acquired.]

    [¡®Perfect Toxic Immunity¡¯ perk acquired.]

    ¡®Is this what they call impervious to all poisons?¡¯

    While Isaac¡¯s physical capabilities or miracles didn¡¯t increase, it was a satisfactory harvest nheless. Devouring through the tentacles meant no poison or germ could affect him, but Isaac couldn¡¯t afford to be careless about ingesting toxins himself.

    When he had fought the gue god Zihilrat, the gue resistance umted within his body came directly from Zihilrat himself, allowing him to withstand it. However, facing another gue, germ, or toxin handler could be unpredictable.

    [Nameless Chaos is satisfied with the newly devoured prey.]

    [Chaos rewards have been granted.]

    [¡®The color beyond¡¯ has been strengthened.]

    [¡®The color beyond¡¯ will now possess physical strength proportional to the faith used.]

    Isaac preferred these rewards much more.

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read up to advance 20 chapters or support me, you can do it at/Akaza156

 Chapter 149:

    Chapter 149:

    Episode 149: The Apocalypse Handler (4)

    ¡®Let¡¯s test and see.¡¯

    At that moment, a considerable amount of faith that the beast of chaos had harbored seeped into Isaac¡¯s body.

    Isaac manipted the flowing color in his hand to behave like a liquid. As the color started to coil around the flesh of the apocalypse handler, he hardened it back into a solid.

    Then, a few multifaceted spiders emerged from the debris of the apocalypse handler, scurrying into view. They aimed for Isaac¡¯s back and charged at him suddenly. However, sharp spikes sprouted from the pooled color around the corpse of the handler, impaling the spiders.

    Pffft-brrrrt! The colors that had punctured the spiders melted back into a liquid and dispersed into the air like gas.

    ¡®It¡¯s useful, but it needs a lot more divine power to make it harder or more refined.¡¯

    Nheless, it was a highly useful ability in various situations.

    One of the advantages of ¡®The Color Beyond¡¯ was that as long as it was dark enough, it was rtively inconspicuous.

    It would be handy when needed.

    ¡°Isaac!¡±

    Isaac quickly made ¡®The Color Beyond¡¯ disperse like a gas.

    Whether Bashul didn¡¯t notice the color or thought it was the remnants of the apocalypse handler, he didn¡¯t seem suspicious. However, he looked Isaac up and down as if dumbfounded.

    ¡°Sir Holy Grail Knight, are you alright?¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s¡­ Ah.¡±

    All the lifeforms that hade into contact with the apocalypse handler¡¯s body had either melted and been absorbed or suffered severe wounds. Bashul had variouscerations and burns. Particrly, a grave wound that had pierced his foot seemed to cause him to limp.

    ¡°It seems that the gas-like clump was actually a swarm of low-density bugs. They are hostile to nearby lifeforms, biting and swallowing anything thates close, but they seem to have lost their hostile instincts once their head died.¡±

    ¡°Ah¡­ I see.¡±

    While the makeshift logic circuits of the multifaceted spiders were inevitable, their existence was only a matter of time. Such beings couldn¡¯t survive long on their own.

    Isaac knew from experience that ¡®The Color Beyond¡¯ could inflict minor injuries. He had once surprised Delia Lyon in his own domain with it. However, he had thought it difficult to inflict any real damage, but the apocalypse handler was truly a monster of the afterlife.

    ***

    ¡°Is Your Majesty alright?¡±

    ¡°Yes, but¡­¡±

    Bashul turned around with a troubled expression. Rene was leaning against the carriage, gasping for air. When she coughed violently, blood soaked her armor.

    Isaac rushed over in shock.

    ¡°Weren¡¯t you alright before?¡±

    ¡°Yes, but something went wrong¡­ I¡¯ve gone to call a priest.¡±

    A soldier kept checking on Rene, and the Emperor brightened the burning light on his horn to shine on her. The purifying light was strong enough to burn away any ordinary curse, but Rene¡¯s condition showed no signs of improvement.

    Isaac hurriedly took out the Sacred Artifact of Healing.

    Waltzemer asked,

    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a relic that uses blood to heal wounds. It belongs to the Red Chalice, but the Codex of Light would forgive us for using it to save a noble knight!¡±

    Fortunately, no one objected. Isaac wrapped the Sacred Artifact around Rene¡¯s torso and cut his hand to let the blood flow. The artifact activated, turning a deeper shade of red, but Rene¡¯splexion did not improve.

    This meant that she was neither cursed nor internally injured.

    ¡°Has Lady Rene Lomerk shown any strange symptoms before?¡±

    ¡°Other than coughing violently when she used high-level swordsmanship against that monster¡­¡±

    Bashul¡¯s words made Isaac¡¯s face stiffen.

    Then, Rene coughed violently again, spewing blood with fragments of organs and ck legs wiggling within it.

    Everyone who saw this turned pale.

    Rene fumbled around her mouth as it twitched.

    ¡°This¡­¡±

    ck legs wriggled inside her mouth. She had inhaled the creature¡¯s fluids by ident while stabbing the apocalypse handler, messing up her breathing. The violent coughs had been caused by this from the start.

    Realizing her condition, Rene¡¯s eyes filled with horror. She hurriedly tried to remove her armor and grab a sword, but at that moment, Waltzemer raised his spear.

    ¡°Your Majesty!¡±

    Crack. Isaac tried to intervene, but Waltzemer¡¯s spear had already pierced Rene¡¯s chest. Her eyes shook violently then dimmed.

    mes rose from the tip of the spear, burning the creatures inside Rene, including the multifaceted spiders, and soon her body was consumed by fire.

    In an instant, only white bones and charred armor remained where Rene had been sitting.

    Waltzemer looked down at her remains and spoke.

    ¡°She died protecting her Emperor. Treat her with the highest honor.¡±

    Bashul bit his lip, then nodded.

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    Isaac also looked down at Rene¡¯s remains with a heavy heart.

    He wasn¡¯t resentful towards the Emperor for not seeking another way, but at thest moment, Rene had tried to cut open her own abdomen, a decision made in panic.

    The Emperor¡¯s spear had mercifully ended her suffering quickly.

    Yet Isaac couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that if he had revealed his power, he might have been able to save her. After all, those creatures were also of the chaos lineage. He might have been able to control them.

    ¡°Isaac.¡±

    At that moment, Waltzemer steadied him by the shoulder and helped him stand. As Isaac lifted his head, he saw people who had hidden inside their homes during the monster¡¯s sudden attack now emerging one by one.

    ¡°Stand tall and show them a confident face. These are the people you saved.¡±

    Isolde, who had been organizing the guards to control the chaos, appeared in view. They were all looking at the Emperor¡¯s horn glowing like the sun, an unmistakable symbol that made the citizens gasp and then kneel one by one.

    ¡°The Emperor has vanquished the monster,¡± someone murmured as if in a whisper. The whisper quickly spread like wildfire.

    ¡°The Emperor has saved us!¡±

    ¡°Long live the Emperor!¡±

    Soon, voices praising the Emperor burst forth continuously. Tears and sobbing filled the air as the people kneeling and bowing continued their cries of praise. It was as if a divine miracle had manifested to save them.

    Of course, the monster had initially targeted the Emperor, but that was irrelevant now.

    ¡°Listen!¡±

    But then the Emperor shouted loudly, dismissing any ns of a quiet exit. The soldiers also formed up to enhance the Emperor¡¯s aura.

    ¡°It was not I who saved you. It was this Holy Grail Knight, Isaac Issacrea!¡±

    Isaac turned to Waltzemer in surprise, but the Emperor gently nudged him to look forward.

    ¡°The Holy Grail Knight has aided me as well. These malevolent pagans have assaulted our brethren, yet we remain steadfast in our devotion to God! The Code of Light has revived the Grail Knight, who now stands as the embodiment of your divine will!¡±

    Isaac felt ufortable with the Emperor¡¯s overly gracious words. Moreover, knowing that the attackers were minions of chaos and that an agent of the Red Chalice had been involved made it worse. Many people, including Rene, had died right before his eyes.

    ¡°A toast and thanks to you, Isaac Issacrea.¡±

    As the people¡¯s attention turned towards him, a tremendous amount of faith began to pour in. It was a feeling of fullness in his chest, filled with praise, gratitude, and desperate hope for salvation.

    Isaac couldn¡¯t possibly reject this ¡®pressure.¡¯

    ¡°The Holy Grail Knight has returned to us!¡±

    As Waltzemer raised Isaac¡¯s hand, the people also shouted in unison.

    From afar, Isolde looked at Isaac with an unfamiliar expression.

    ¡°The Holy Grail Knight has returned!¡±

    ¡°Here is the Holy Grail Knight, Isaac!¡±

    It was a dizzying flood of adtion.

    ***

    ¡°Why did you do that?¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    The Emperor was preparing to leave again.

    He had not brought many guards for secrecy, and now that the assassins knew their location, they needed to move quickly. Dietrich had agreed to reinforce the escort, but the best option was to move quickly before rumors spread.

    ¡°Why did you tell the people that I saved them?¡±

    ¡°Did I lie?¡±

    ¡°¡­Without Your Majesty¡¯s light, there would have been more casualties. Without Haltaba¡¯s lightning, there would have been no gaps in the monster¡¯s defense, and without the knights Bashul and Rene, we wouldn¡¯t have been able to bring it down. I only struck the final blow.¡±

    Waltzemer burst outughing. Afterughing for a while inside the carriage, he casually murmured.

    ¡°You really aren¡¯t used to being loved, are you?¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°Nothing much. Just think about it. Who was the first to detect and react to the conspiracy?¡±

    ¡°It was me.¡±

    ¡°Who was the first to find and kill the summoner to stop the summoning?¡±

    ¡°¡­It was me.¡±

    ¡°Who secured the evidence that the Immortal Order was behind it?¡±

    Isaac didn¡¯t answer.

    Waltzemer didn¡¯t press further about who had dealt the final blow to the monster when even the royal guards had fallen. Instead, he patted Isaac on the shoulder.

    ¡°I understand it¡¯s overwhelming. It feels like hogging the glory while many are hurt and dead. But that¡¯s what heroes do; they sit alone on a throne built upon many corpses.¡±

    Isaac remembered Waltzemer was a war hero who had emerged victorious after numerous civil wars. Under his feety not only enemies but also manyrades and allies.

    Isaac, aspiring to rise within the Dawn Army, had a role model to follow.

    The Emperor gestured towards the still-cheering crowd around the carriage.

    The Emperor chuckled softly at Isaac¡¯s reluctant tone. ¡°If I were to step into the spotlight now, it would just look like an old man overreaching himself.¡±

    The spotlight should shine on only one person. Isaac was already aware of the Emperor¡¯s intentions, but he could not forget the image of Rene vomiting spiders.

    ¡°Ah, and among the possessions of the summoner you killed, I found this.¡±

    The Emperor pulled something from his pocket. It was a gruesomely distorted and crushed Ankh, though it still bore the form of the Codex of Light¡¯s symbol.

    ¡°This is¡­?¡±

    ¡°It appears the owner was originally a priest. We found tattoos of prayers on him and identified the monastery he belonged to. However, we haven¡¯t figured out the details yet.¡±

    A chill ran down Isaac¡¯s spine as he realized what the Emperor was implying. He whispered in a voice dripping with murderous intent,

    ¡°Right. There¡¯s a high probability that the Codex of Light sect is behind this conspiracy.¡±

    ¡°Why would the sect¡­¡±

    ¡°Why ask such a question? To them, my very existence is an annoyance. They disdain the idea of earthly power sharing in the celestial authority! But they can¡¯t openly do anything because of this horn.¡±

    Waltzemer scoffed as he continued, ¡°Or maybe they¡¯re just provoking me enough to anger me. They set up the Immortal Order as a scapegoat and say, ¡®Are you just going to stand there?¡¯¡±

    ¡°But did the Immortal Order really not intervene?¡±

    ¡°And both you and I, and Bashul too, know that there could be those within the sect colluding with the Immortal Order for some reason.¡±

    Isaac remained silent.

    Waltzemer had epted Bashul knowing that he was a follower of Ellil and held strong antagonism towards the sect.

    ¡°They killed Rene. It¡¯s not something I can reveal just yet, but I won¡¯t forget this incident. I will definitely break the necks of those traitors.¡±

    He turned to look Isaac squarely in the eye.

    ¡°I¡¯ll need your help to do it.¡±

    Isaac could sense that Waltzemer¡¯s ambitions were greater than he had thought. Perhaps his aspirations would not stop at being the emperor of the White Empire.

    And there was another historical figure who had aimed for greater power.

    The Tyrant Elil.

    Whether Waltzemer wanted to be another Elil was a question without an answer.

    But there was something else that troubled Isaac more than the Emperor¡¯s ambitions.

    ¡®How did the Emperor find the Ankh that I missed?¡¯

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read up to advance 20 chapters or support me, you can do it at/Akaza156

 Chapter 150:

    Chapter 150:

    The Emperor departed from Rougeberg amidst fervent cheers from his people.

    However, the star of the party, Isaac, remained in Rougeberg. And the news that further heated up the attendees had just been announced.

    It was the news of Isaac Issacrea¡¯s engagement to Isolde Brant.

    The engagement was announced only after the party had concluded, leaving the nobles in disbelief. However, upon hearing that the Emperor had visited Rougeberg, they nodded as if there was no helping it. Regardless of whether it made sense for Isaac to be a son-inw of the Brant family, the Emperor¡¯s endorsement was what mattered.

    In any case, the Emperor held the most powerful authority, so they had no choice but to acknowledge Isaac.

    ¡°What does it matter if those people don¡¯t ept it? I have already epted it.¡±

    ¡°That is the most important thing.¡±

    The engagement ceremony was a modest affair attended only by close rtives of the Brant family.

    After the ceremony, Isaac took a walk along the walls of Rougeberg with Isolde.

    He was utterly exhausted, but he couldn¡¯t refuse a request from an inebriated Isolde. It had been more challenging to deal with the myriad questions and curiosity at the party than to fight angels.

    ¡®Why does it feel harder than when I attended the party disguised as Isolde?¡¯

    Back then, he hadn¡¯t moved or spoken, just sitting still. But this time, he had sweated over the possibility of making a slip of the tongue. Though some perceptive people noticed that Isolde¡¯s face had changed, none pointed it out tantly.

    And without needing any pointing out, Isolde¡¯s beauty had noticeably enhanced. Her skin improved, and her hair shone with a subtle luster. Naturally beautiful, she now radiated charm effortlessly due to the aftermath of absorbing the Prophet of Red Flesh. Though Isolde herself wasn¡¯t too pleased about it.

    Nevertheless, this gave her an exotic appeal that made other men at the party sigh.

    The night view of Rougeberg stretched out below the city walls.

    It seemed that the turmoil from a few days ago had been settled. Fortunately, the monster had only appeared near the residential area where the Emperor had been. There had been seven deaths, including a whole family and Rene, which was rtively few given the monster¡¯s terror.

    ¡°Inquisitor, do you have something to say?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not an inquisitor anymore.¡±

    Isolde said, gazing steadily at Isaac. She had been honorably discharged from the Inquisition at Dietrich¡¯s insistence. There was nothing they could say about it, given what she had experienced there.

    But this also meant that Isolde could no longer use the miracles she had been granted as an inquisitor.

    Instead, she would now receive training as an heir alongside Dietrich.

    From a wandering inquisitor to an heir of the empire¡¯s second-ranking ducal family.

    Isaac hesitated for a long time before finally speaking.

    ¡°Miss Isolde, do you have something to say?¡±

    ¡°Isolde.¡±

    ¡°Isolde.¡±

    Isaac corrected himself reluctantly. It seemed like it would take a while to get used to, but he had no choice.

    Isolde tilted her head slightly and teased,

    ¡°Darling?¡±

    The difficulty level had just increased dramatically.

    ¡®Was Isolde always like this?¡¯

    She had always been straightforward, but it felt like the reins had been loosened since she quit being an inquisitor. Yet even Isolde, who had initiated the conversation, turned her head away, her face flushing with embarrassment at her own remark.

    ¡°¡­Forget it.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure what you mean.¡±

    ¡°Approved.¡±

    Isolde turned and leaned against the city wall, saying,

    ¡°My father said if you want to keep your surname, you can. If you want to change it, that¡¯s also fine.¡±

    Isaac didn¡¯t really have a family name to speak of, and he wasn¡¯t particrly attached to the surname Issacrea. Bing Isaac Brant might be more advantageous in terms of influence. However, Isaac decided to defer his answer.

    ¡°May I take some time to think about it?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not urgent.¡±

    This would be a significant issue only if they had children¡­ Her murmured thoughts went unheard by Isaac, swirling only in Isolde¡¯s mind.

    A cold wind swept past them, carrying the salty taste of the Northern Sea.

    Isaac waited for Isolde to continue. He thought there must be more to her summoning him for this conversation than just these topics.

    ¡°Hmm, I think I should tell you. You might be wondering why we rushed the engagement announcement.¡±

    ¡°Ah, yes. It did seem quite sudden.¡±

    He had expected that they would gauge the social atmosphere for two weeks to a month before finding the right moment to announce it. The official return of the Holy Grail Knight and the marriage into the Brant ducal family would be a significant event affecting religion, politics, and society. However, Dietrich had moved things along with unsettling haste.

    As a result, church dignitaries who hade to verify the return of the Holy Grail Knight had inadvertently be envoys congratting the engagement.

    ¡°It¡¯s because of this.¡±

    Isolde handed Isaac a document.

    It was hurriedly but clearly written, following all necessary protocols and procedures. Below it was the Emperor¡¯s seal.

    It was a document appointing Isaac as a special envoy to the kingdom of Elil.

    ¡°The Emperor wants you to go to the kingdom of Elil as soon as possible. Between the Dawn Army, growing tensions with the church, and this recent assassination attempt, he thinks it could lead to unnecessary misunderstandings.¡±

    ¡°Ah, I was actually thinking along those lines myself.¡±

    ¡°Anyway, my father thought we should have the engagement ceremony before leaving. That¡¯s why it was rushed.¡±

    Isaac was pleased at the thought of being able to leave for the Kingdom of Elil soon. He was eager to leave behind theplications of Rougeberg. Isolde¡¯s expression becameplicated at Isaac¡¯s happiness, but she quickly masked her feelings.

    Isaac soon realized his oversight. After all, he was Isolde¡¯s partner.

    Even though it was a marriage of convenience and necessity, Isaac needed to fulfill the role Isolde desired.

    He moved closer to Isolde. She flinched slightly at his sudden approach but didn¡¯t step back.

    Isaac gently pulled her into an embrace and kissed her forehead.

    ¡°I¡¯ll return as soon as possible.¡±

    ¡°¡­I¡¯ll wait.¡±

    Isolde looked intently at Isaac, then subtly adjusted his chin because it was slightly off.

    Only then did their positions align perfectly.

    ***

    With each step, a solid sound echoed off the stone.

    The stone altar, rigidly constructed without a single gap, appeared solemn, but it was smooth from the many people who had walked over it. These marks testified to the ce¡¯s history.

    The light leaking from the ceiling starkly outlined the symbols of the Codex of Light on the floor.

    This was the church within the walls of Rougeberg, where the members of the Brant family came to pray.

    Isaac had some matters to settle before leaving for the Kingdom of Elil.

    He approached the quietly whispering figures at the altar. As Isaac drew near, they turned towards him. Some faces were familiar, others were new.

    These were the priests dispatched by the church to verify the authenticity of the ¡®Resurrected Holy Grail Knight.¡¯

    Though they had ended up participating in the engagement ceremony and offering congrattions, the verification process still had to bepleted.

    ¡°Father Dote, Inquisitor Ilya, Bishop Juan Liard.¡±

    Juan awkwardly raised his hand in greeting but then hesitated due to the stern looks from others. Isaac noticed that among the priests there were cardinals, or figures of simr or higher rank, mixed in. They all wore the same clerical robes, making it difficult to distinguish who was who.

    Ilya, recently released from Dietrich¡¯s custody, was the first to approach.

    ¡°Who are you?¡±

    It wasn¡¯t truly a question of identity but more a procedural formality.

    Isaac kneeled on one knee in front of them, bowing his head. The soft light that filled the ce seemed to enhance the power of miracles, illuminating everything clearly.

    From this point on, Isaac could not lie.

    ¡°My name is Isaac Issacrea, and though I am unworthy, I im to be the Holy Grail Knight.¡±

    The priests whispered among themselves.

    Ilya spoke again.

    ¡°Bishop Juan testified that you drowned with the Drowned King at sea. We have verified that his statement is without deceit. Do you have anything that can confirm or prove you are the same ¡®Holy Grail Knight¡¯ we know?¡±

    Expecting this question, Isaac first drew the Luadin Key. The glowing key, a gift from Juan, was a symbol of his identity.

    Juan recognized the glowing symbol within the mes.

    ¡°This is indeed the Luadin Key I sanctioned.¡±

    ¡°A key is just a key.¡±

    Someone among the priests spoke up.

    ¡°We need a more definitive miracle to prove¡­¡±

    Isaac quietly manifested the Lighthouse of the Watcher. It was a precious miracle, used here merely to prove himself, but he had no better evidence. As the holy light that expelled heresy filled the room, the priests gasped in awe.

    In that brilliant halo, Isaac slowly stood up.

    Ilya decided there was no further need for doubt and spoke up.

    ¡°¡­Can you testify how you were able to return?¡±

    ¡°All records are in my statement.¡±

    Isaac had already discussed this with Ilya beforehand. He knew how the interrogation would proceed and what questions would be asked. Essentially, the primary interrogation had already taken ce during those discussions.

    Ilya, despite a slight difort that he chalked up to professional paranoia, dismissed it.

    This procedure was merely to convince the meticulous bishops.

    ¡°I met an angel of the Salt Council and explored the afterlife, witnessing epochs of sin and fear. Yes, I have testified truthfully. The documents I have provided to the priests contain these details.¡±

    The involvement of the Salt Council¡¯s angel might have been disconcerting, but since the Council was seen as non-threatening and neutral, it was not a major issue.

    Isaac added a bit of ir to his story.

    A priest addressed a specific part of his tale.

    ¡°It says here you met Kalsen Miller.¡±

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s correct.¡±

    The murmur among the priests grew louder. No cleric would remain unshaken by the mention of Kalsen Miller, the era¡¯s most powerful pdin and a potential saint known as the ¡®Sword of May.¡¯

    The questioning priest paused before continuing.

    ¡°Meeting Kalsen Miller in the afterlife implies he is deceased.¡±

    Officially, Kalsen was just missing. Neither in the ck Empire nor the White Empire had any trace of him been found. There were suspicions of his death, but no clear testimony or evidence had ever surfaced.

    ¡°Yes, he regrets his apostasy in hell and has entrusted his future to me.¡±

    Whether his belly was hell or not, entrusting his future was not a lie. The priests in the light discerning truth from falsehood detected a shade of grey in his words. However, that wasn¡¯t their main concern now.

    ¡°If Kalsen is indeed dead¡­¡±

    ¡°But if the Dawn Army¡­¡±

    Isaac wished to hear their whispers, but he couldn¡¯t risk any trickery in this sacred, miracle-filled ce. After a moment, they seemed to have consolidated their opinion.

    ¡°Holy Grail Knight, Isaac Issacrea.¡±

    Isaac smiled. They had now officially recognized his return.

    ¡°In honor of your return from death, we bestow upon you the title of ¡®Saint of Resurrection.¡¯¡±

    Isaac¡¯s head shot up. He hadn¡¯t expected such a profound title to be granted, especially one based on his reported death. And this title implied a significant responsibility ced on him by the church.

    ¡°Archangel ¡®Sword of May¡¯ will seek you out soon. Receive him and follow hismands to demonstrate that the Codex of light still prevails in thisnd.¡±

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read up to advance 20 chapters or support me, you can do it at/Akaza156

 Chapter 151:

    Chapter 151:

    ¡®Sword of May¡¯?

    Isaac thought of one of the archangels belonging to the Codex of Light.

    Was it referring to St. Arte, the first pdin?

    There are six archangels in the Codex of Light, starting with Ruatdin, the first angel and lighthouse keeper. Kalsen was predicted to be the seventh but was disqualified due to his apostasy; the fifth angel was St. Arte.

    St. Arte Bantz, who received the name ¡®Sword of May¡¯ upon bing an archangel, founded the first order of pdins, earning him the title of the first pdin.

    It was said that all pdin swordsmanship originated from St. Arte.

    There had been knights before who received miracles, but Arte was the first to systematically form a group and draw forth stronger miracles.

    But why ¡®Sword of May¡¯?

    The ¡®Sword of May,¡¯ as the name suggests, is an angel that appears on the battlefield in response to summons, not typically visiting to give revtions or missions. Isaac wondered if the ¡®Sword of May¡¯ wasing to judge him, but then they wouldn¡¯t have notified him like this.

    He would have to meet to understand the true intention.

    As Isaac remained silent for too long, a questioning voice came from a priest.

    ¡°Isaac?¡±

    ¡°¡­I will humbly ept and spread the Codex of light everywhere.¡±

    Isaac managed to respond, though his voice came out a bit strange, almost as if he was choked up by the fervor of receiving a divinemand. Initially worried about how the first meeting would go, fortunately, the priests did not seem overly suspicious of him.

    ¡®An angel¡­¡¯

    Meeting an angel was something Isaac had somewhat expected upon hearing about his appointment as a saint. Whether he could handle what was toe remained to be seen, but bing a sessful pdin required facing these challenges.

    Historically, angels had almost always recognized Isaac¡¯s true nature, regardless of his faith.

    ¡®Maybe if I can demonstrate my true intentions, they might ept me.¡¯

    It would have seemed utterly impossible before.

    However, after dealing with the Salt Council and the Red Chalice, Isaac began to think that maybe angels might have some flexibility. If he could gain an angel¡¯s recognition, his standing within the Codex of Light would solidify further.

    ***

    After a brief interrogation in a somewhat rxed atmosphere, the priests continued discussing among themselves. Bishop Juan approached Isaac before he left.

    ¡°Holy Grail Knight, no, Resurrected Saint.¡±

    Juan now addressed Isaac with reverence, not just because of his new title but because he had witnessed Isaac¡¯s true capabilities as a pdin in the North Sea. Since then, Juan had held deep respect for him.

    But reporting him dead had put Juan in an awkward position. Though the circumstances had turned out favorably, Isaac¡¯s feelings wereplex.

    He smiled at Juan.

    ¡°Please, speak freely, Bishop Juan. Am I not your disciple?¡±

    Juan¡¯s face lit up at Isaac¡¯s words.

    ¡°Ha, is that so? I appreciate even the gesture.¡±

    ¡®Told him to rx and he really did rx immediately.¡¯

    Isaac thought internally but showed nothing. It was clear that Juan was on his side. Even before the appointment as a saint, Juan had been favorable towards him. Despite being somewhat greedy, a bishop willing to use his resources for Isaac was valuable.

    ¡°And there are talks of him bing a cardinal,¡± he considered, ¡°An invaluable connection, indeed.¡±

    ¡°When I heard you had returned, I couldn¡¯t believe it. I saw the Drowned King swallow you and sink below the waves¡­ I looked but couldn¡¯t find you anywhere. I can¡¯t describe how I felt then.¡±

    ¡°Thank you for your concern.¡±

    ¡°Honestly, I doubted the news of your return. But at the same time, I thought, ¡®Of course!¡¯ That¡¯s why I insisted we check it out immediately, but those guys¡­¡±

    Juan grumbled, ncing at the other priests discussing in the background. Isaac could tell they were at least of cathedral dean or bishop level.

    From the way Juan muttered, it seemed he felt out of ce among the other bishops.

    Surely, Isaac¡¯s return had been politically damaging for Juan. He had reported a martyrdom and shown a miracle, and there was even talk of a cardinal position.

    ¡°But I vehemently defended you when they wanted to doubt you. As soon as I saw you at the engagement ceremony in Rougeberg, I knew! Who else but me could verify that you had returned?¡±

    Despite the political risks, Juan had acknowledged Isaac¡¯s return. Isaac thought that perhaps the priests¡¯ surprisingly lenient attitude was thanks to Juan.

    ¡°I thought it wouldn¡¯t be easy to gain eptance, especially because of the Dawn Army.¡±

    ¡°Eh? What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°Didn¡¯t my death provide justification for the Dawn Army? I was worried that my return might embarrass the church.¡±

    ¡°Ah, don¡¯t worry about that. Sure, the justification might have been diluted, but¡­ weren¡¯t there assassination attempts on the emperor by the Immortal Order recently? That¡¯s enough reason, and I hear the emperor is even considering actively participating in the Dawn Army.¡±

    That might exin the easy persuasion.

    Isaac recalled the emperor¡¯s suspicion that the Codex of Light sect was involved in the assassination attempt. It was too tant a clue, but a clue nheless.

    ¡°And the bishops sent a chest of gold coins each, asking what to call your sainthood! So I suggested the name ¡®Resurrected Saint¡¯! Ha ha!¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    Isaac felt dizzy realizing the grand title was actually worth a few chests of gold, and that Juan had coined it. Yet, knowing Juan¡¯s penchant for hoarding money like blood, the fact that he had spent so much for him was almost¡­ noble, in a way. He decided to view it as a sacrificial act.

    ¡®Oh, and about the Issacrea estate, don¡¯t worry. Although there were rumors about your death and subsequent discussions about inheritance, no one hasid im to it.¡¯

    ¡°That¡¯s unexpected.¡±

    Isaac had assumed that his steward, Kyle, or his neighbor, Lord Reinhart, would handle things, but it was surprising that there had been no greedy imants.

    Juan nodded, exining, ¡°That¡¯s right. There were widespread rumors that the Holy Grail Knight was cursed by an angel and had died. No one wanted to touch a cursed estate.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°And for now, the church holds partial ownership rights. I¡¯ve made it clear that no one should dare touch a monastery¡¯s estate, haha.¡±

    Isaac wondered if Juan had nned to take over the estate himself when he thought Isaac was dead, but decided not to dwell on it since it hadn¡¯t happened. He was relieved to hear that the Issacrea estate was safe.

    ¡°But Bishop Juan, do you know why the Sword of May is visiting me?¡±

    ¡°Hmm, well, I¡¯m not sure myself. As you know, I mainly work in the eastern diocese and handle administrative duties. I hold four positions concurrently, but it¡¯s usually the other bishops whomunicate directly with the angels.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re not interested in those matters?¡±

    If Juan had directmunications with angels and could share insider information, it would be incredibly beneficial. Unfortunately, Juan shook his head.

    ¡°Meeting angels directly is¡­ scary.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    A bishop admitting fear might have seemed odd, but Juan¡¯s expression was genuinely apprehensive.

    ¡°No joke. Angels tend to leave earthly matters to us and rarely intervene, so someone like me can hold a bishopric. But facing an angel directly is a terrifying thing.¡±

    Juan shuddered as he spoke.

    ¡°If an angel like the Sword of May or the Lighthouse Keeper decides they don¡¯t like what I¡¯m doing and says ¡®Get rid of that guy,¡¯ who could possibly say no?¡±

    Even those with deep faith and significant power were as mortal as anyone in the presence of an angel.

    For a person as ambitious and greedy as Juan, such encounters were even more frightening.

    Isaac wondered if it was just Juan who felt this way. Perhaps other bishops felt simrly afraid of angels?

    ¡°So there are specific people who usually meet with angels?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Juan said, ncing at a group of priests discussing in front of the altar.

    ¡°Them?¡±

    ¡°The Guardian¡¯s Council,¡± Juan revealed.

    ¡®The Guardian¡¯s Council¡­¡¯

    Isaac hadn¡¯t heard of this group before. However, he knew that even in real religious organizations, small groups could sometimes extend their influence and control the core of the institution. It was clear that several bishops were included in this council.

    ¡°It started as a study group open to all ranks to discuss doctrine equally, but it¡¯s gained significant influence over time. Even the Pope often seeks their counsel now.¡±

    ¡®This warrants further investigation.¡¯

    A small group thatmunicates with angels could very well be the power brokers within the church.

    ***

    Isaac knew the Sword of May would being for him, but he hadn¡¯t been told when, how, or in what form. Since angels aren¡¯t confined by location, Isaac just boarded a ship heading to the Kingdom of Elil.

    The cold wind tousled his hair. The North Sea¡¯s waves were rough, but the sailors from the Salt Council skillfully navigated them.

    ¡°It¡¯s an honor to serve you, Holy Grail Knight. Or should I call you Resurrected Saint now?¡±

    ¡°Just call me Holy Grail Knight, Eidan.¡±

    Eiden had developed a captain¡¯s presence in a short time. Though he still appeared somewhere between a schr and a merchant, he seemed quite at easemanding the sailors and enjoying the sea breeze.

    ¡°It looks like you¡¯ve gotten used to it.¡±

    ¡°Um, may I say something? You might not remember, but the experiences in the afterlife have changed me deeply.¡±

    ¡°Changed?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s like¡­ even though I don¡¯t consciously know it, I¡¯mfortable with the sea and the smell of salt, as if I¡¯ve been a sailor for decades. Recently, I got seasick as soon as I stepped onnd. It¡¯s as if someone else¡¯s life from the afterlife has seeped into mine.¡±

    Isaac recalled what Amunds had said in the afterlife.

    Conformity pressure. The closer he got to the powers of the afterlife, the more he would feel pressured to assimte into their will and objectives. Perhaps Eiden had been exposed to such pressure. Noticing Isaac¡¯s contemtion, Eiden smiled and said,

    ¡°I know what you¡¯re thinking, but it¡¯s not a bad feeling. I¡¯ve always been devoted to serving the caller and venerating the Salt Council, loving the sea and salt. I don¡¯t feel like I¡¯ve lost myself.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s good to hear.¡±

    Whether Eiden¡¯s changes were positive or negative was uncertain, but it was clear that he had be both a powerful priest and a capable captain.

    This was undoubtedly beneficial for Isaac.

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read up to advance 20 chapters or support me, you can do it at/Akaza156

 Chapter 152:

    Chapter 152:

    As the ship sailed towards the Kingdom of Elil, Isaac was often found at the stern practicing with his sword. The sailors, intrigued by the famous Knight of the Chalice honing his skills, would steal nces asionally. Even to their untrained eyes, something about Isaac¡¯s swordy seemed off.

    ¡°I was refining some sword techniques,¡± Isaac responded when questioned.

    ¡°It looked quite¡­ unique,¡± one of the sailors remarked.

    The movements Isaac executed were unusually slow and seemed inefficient. To the sailors, it was unclear exactly whom or what Isaac was preparing to fight.

    Isaac was actually developing a new advanced sword technique. In high-level swordsmanship, there are no inefficient movements, only inefficient techniques.

    ¡°Too much killing intent in the de,¡± he exined.

    ¡°Killing intent? Isn¡¯t that supposed to be a good thing?¡±

    ¡°For a soldier, maybe. But it¡¯s different for swordsmen above a certain level.¡±

    The spar with Bashul had greatly advanced his skills, but Isaac still hadn¡¯t ovee all the ws Bashul had pointed out.

    He wondered if he was creating barriers for himself by following such advice, but then he remembered that the real masters he knew¡ªlike Gebel, Baxter, and Bashul¡ªdidn¡¯t constantly overflow with killing intent. They only released it sharply when needed.

    The difference between Isaac and them was in proper training.

    Isaac had never formally learned advanced swordsmanship apart from basic techniques.

    ¡°Well-trained swordsmanship knows how to refine killing intent,¡± he concluded.

    Though confident he could defeat or even kill most of them if he didn¡¯t hold back, Isaac knew that wasn¡¯t the way to advance his sword skills. If his technique stagnated, he would end up revealing more of his monstrous side and killing more people.

    He could mimic other swordsmen¡¯s advanced techniques, but doing so strained his body. To properly use those techniques, he needed to fully assimte them into his style.

    Just as the prelude of the Avnche swordsmanship had evolved into the ¡°Eight Branches,¡± and the attempt to cut through sanctity had be the ¡°de Tear.¡±

    Isaac knew he needed to move to the next level.

    ¡°A sword not meant to kill¡­¡±

    First, subdue the opponent. Whether to kill was a decision forter.

    ¡°Eidan, could you stand at the end there for a moment?¡±

    Puzzled yetpliant, Eidan positioned himself opposite Isaac at the railing. However, as Isaac began to adopt a fighting stance, Eidan ducked, rmed.

    ¡°Wait, Isaac. You¡¯re not nning to test your advanced technique on me, are you?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s alright. The goal isn¡¯t to kill.¡±

    ¡°But that means you might if you slip up¡­¡±

    Then, Isaac began to move strangely. Eidan, frozen in ce, watched the sword. Though they were far apart, he couldn¡¯t predict when Isaac might charge.

    Suddenly, Eidan realized how slow Isaac¡¯s sword appeared. Each movement was so deliberate that Isaac seemed to sweat with effort.

    Eidan thought back to the Drowned King, how he had flung ships into the air with ease.

    Then, in a blink, Isaac stood before him.

    Thud. Isaac¡¯s sword plunged into the deck. Despite the brief motion, sweat dotted Isaac¡¯s forehead. Eidan looked around, confused. Nothing seemed to have been cut or broken.

    ¡°Hmm, I think I¡¯ve got a feel for it, but it¡¯s not ready forbat yet.¡±

    ¡°What did you just do?¡±

    ¡°Well, I like that you didn¡¯t even realize what was happening.¡±

    Isaac waved off and walked down from the stern. Eidan watched him go, feeling as if he¡¯d been enchanted.

    ¡®Was he moving very fast?¡¯

    As he looked around, Eidan finally noticed something odd. He wasn¡¯t near the railing where he had started, but right in front of where Isaac had been standing. Isaac hadn¡¯t moved at all.

    Realizing this, Eidan shivered.

    He might not know much about swords, but he understood that high-level techniques could rival miracles in effectiveness and were developed over decades or centuries.

    ¡®Knight of the Chalice, who are you really¡­¡¯

    A genius or a monster, Isaac was approaching the sacrednds of the knights.

    It felt as if a massive tidal wave was about to hit the Kingdom of Elil.

    ***

    Kingdom of Elil.

    And of legendary warriors and unyielding knights, the resting ce of emperors, and home to enchanted forests andkes,so went the tales in the Gerthonia Empire about Elil.

    It was said that honorable knights dueled there, and fairies and magic hid in its beautiful natural scenery. There were even legends of dragons that had refused to submit to the gods living secretly within Elil.

    However, when Isaac arrived at Aldeon, the capital of Elil, his only thought was,

    ¡®It¡¯s quaint.¡¯

    Aldeon was a modest port city, hardly what one would expect of a kingdom¡¯s capital.

    It was perhaps slightly better than Norden Harbor, where Isaac had briefly stayed; most of the ships were fishing vessels, with few merchant ships and almost no warships visible.

    Compared to Rougeberg, the bustling northern metropolis of the Empire, Aldeon felt like a slightly prosperous fishing vige. But Isaac quickly shook his head,

    ¡®I¡¯m a backwater country lord myself. What am I thinking, feeling superior after just a few days in Rougeberg¡­¡¯

    ¡°It¡¯s quaint, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    Eidan¡¯sment came just as Isaac was reflecting on his own snobbery.

    ¡°Honestly, yes,¡± Isaac admitted.

    ¡°It used to be that Aldeon was quite prosperous,¡± someone had mentioned. ¡°But as the civil war dragged on and trade with the empire was cut off, it seems to have declined.¡±

    Isaac nodded as he remembered the times he had yed as a follower of the Elil faith.

    The Kingdom of Elil had been in a state of civil war for nearly a century. Actually, even before that, the civil war had continued in various forms, ring up and then subsiding. The yer¡¯s goal was to end this civil war and join the expedition of the Dawn Army to retrieve the ¡®Red Chalice¡¯, the heart of Elil. In short, the mission was to kill and steal whatever came across, simple yet challenging.

    Eidan¡¯s ship docked at the port of Aldeon.

    Men began tozily gather around therge ship that had just arrived at the port; not a single one was without a sword at their waist, which made Isaac slightly suspicious, but they skillfully began to assist with docking the ship.

    ¡®Port workers, huh¡­ Even in a nation of knights, do workers carry swords?¡¯

    Isaac and Eidan disembarked as a man who looked like an office worker approached them.

    ¡°Who¡¯s the captain?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s me.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s the name of the ship?¡±

    ¡°¡®Shining Knight of the Holy Grail¡¯.¡±

    Despite all the pressure during the voyage, the name hadn¡¯t changed. Hearing it again made Isaac strongly desire to smack Eidan on the back of his head.

    Originally it was ¡®Glorious and Noble Journey of the Shining Knight of the Holy Grail¡¯, but other captains had warned Isaac he might get killed for such a name, so he had shortened it.

    The office worker¡¯s eyes lit up with curiosity at the mention of the knight.

    ¡°So the Knight of the Holy Grail has appeared across the sea. Seems to have be quite famous.¡±

    ¡°This is him right here.¡±

    Eidan proudly pointed to Isaac standing beside him, who tried to appear dignified¡ªat least confident. His features were easy to like but required a certain type of incident and setting tomand respect.

    ¡°Hmm?¡±

    The office worker scanned Isaac up and down. Isaac braced for questions or exmations, but instead, the worker just scribbled something down and bluntly informed him.

    ¡°Entry of armed personnel confirmed. Please wait for the customs officer to check for contraband and duties. It¡¯s just to prevent smuggling or illegal imports, so don¡¯t be rmed.¡±

    With that, the worker left, leaving Isaac feeling something was off. Eidan looked just as surprised.

    ¡°Hmm¡­ I wasn¡¯t expecting a weing crowd or diplomatic envoys for a state visit, but¡­¡±

    ¡°Indeed, this is strange. Even if it was a sudden visit, we came as envoys of His Majesty the Emperor, and we notified them in advance¡­ Not even one escort?¡±

    Isaac felt overwhelmed but knew he had to head to the Aldeon royal family controlling the Kingdom of Elil. From their reaction, it was unclear if they were being dismissive or simply indifferent, but it was not a pleasant sign.

    ¡°We should head to Aldeon Castle first. If we reach the castle, they can¡¯t ignore us.¡±

    That was when Isaac noticed a short woman swordsman approaching along the muddy harbor.

    Her sword looked quite refined, and her walking posture was well-bnced, suggesting she was a skilled swordsman.

    What particrly caught Isaac¡¯s eye was her wearing spotless white clothes in a harbor where filth was likely to ssh. It was either a perfect sense of bnce or sensitivity, but frankly, it was impressive.

    Suddenly, a passing cart sshed mud all over her.

    Isaac was at a loss for words seeing the now-dirty woman, but she approached him and Eidan as if nothing had happened.

    ¡°Are you Isaac Issacrea?¡±

    The woman, mud dripping from her face, asked. Isaac responded more sharply than intended.

    ¡°Yes¡­ but who might you be?¡±

    ¡°I was sent by the Codex of Light to apany you. I will guide you while you are in the Kingdom of Elil.¡±

    Isaac had a lot to say but luckily, Eidan spoke up first.

    ¡°This is the Knight of the Holy Grail. The Resurrected Saint, Lord of Issacrea, the one who defeated an angel, rted by blood to Duke Brant. Are you sure you know who he is?¡±

    After Eidan¡¯s lengthy introduction, the woman simply responded.

    ¡°My name is Yulihida.¡±

    Isaac stopped Eidan from saying more and handed the woman a handkerchief.

    ¡°I¡¯m Isaac Issacrea. I look forward to working with you.¡±

    Yulihida stared at the handkerchief, wiped her face roughly with it¡ªmore like smearing the mud across her face.

    Isaac thought she was a peculiar person to be his guide.

    ***

    Eidan stayed behind to look after the ship.

    Isaac and Yulihida headed towards Aldeon Castle, but since it was alreadyte evening, they decided to stay at an inn near the port. However, there were many issues with Yulihida, his supposed guide.

    ¡°A decent inn? I don¡¯t know.¡±

    ¡°¡­We¡¯ll look for one on the way to Aldeon Castle. Do you know the way?¡±

    ¡°Just go straight as you see.¡±

    ¡°Going straight will lead you into the sea. Never mind, I¡¯ll handle it. Just prepare some money. You were sent by the Church, so you should at least cover the cost of apanying me, right?¡±

    ¡°Money? I don¡¯t have any.¡±

    ¡°¡­How have you been staying here?¡±

    ¡°Usually at the church. Need something? I could bring it if needed.¡±

    ¡°Bring it? From the church?¡±

    ¡°Typically those guys carry something around.¡±

    Isaac quickly stopped Yulihida as she began moving toward some shady figures in the alley. Whether she was capable of robbing them or not, he didn¡¯t want his first day as an envoy in the Kingdom of Elil to involve mugging.

    ¡°I have some money stored with the Golden Idol Guild. There should be a branch here, so let¡¯s stay there.¡±

    Who on earth is this person?

    I couldn¡¯t discern the identity of the individual who hade to perform this task.

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read up to advance 20 chapters or support me, you can do it at/Akaza156

 Chapter 153:

    Chapter 153:

    The Golden Idol Guild is everywhere.

    Whether it¡¯s in the rattling Skeleton ck Empire or the vast Man Sahar ins where one could wander lost for a week, traders manage to find their way. Even in the Kingdom of Elil, where free trade with other countries is banned, the Golden Idol Guild had established roots, handling domestic trade within the kingdom.

    Naturally, the credit certificate Caitlin had prepared worked here as well. Despite the country¡¯s restrictions, the Golden Idol Guild had a way of permeating everywhere and facilitating exchange.

    Isaac, looking at Yulihida still covered in mud, suggested:

    ¡°Perhaps we should eat and get you cleaned up first.¡±

    For the first time, Yulihida strongly expressed her own preference.

    ¡°Eatinges first.¡±

    ¡°You have a strong opinion. Let¡¯s do that then.¡±

    The local branch of the Golden Idol Guild also operated as an amodation and a restaurant. This ce, which also served to entertain esteemed guests, was equipped with quite luxurious ingredients.

    As soon as the food was served, Yulihida began to gobble it up voraciously as if she hadn¡¯t eaten in days.

    Watching her, Isaac lost his appetite. Thanks to having consumed the Predation, he hadn¡¯t needed to eat for a while and merely observed her.

    ¡°Is it good?¡±

    ¡°Better than rats or fish.¡±

    ¡®Is that apliment or an insult?¡¯

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you bring any money?¡±

    ¡°I hate the jingle of coins in my pocket.¡±

    She said this while eyeing the credit badge Isaac had.

    ¡°That looks quite convenient. Is it an artifact that controls a merchant¡¯s spirit?¡±

    ¡°¡­No, it¡¯s just a badge that proves I have credit with the Golden Idol Guild. The branch head here records how much I spend, and that amount is billed to the headquarters. Then, they deduct it from the money I have deposited.¡±

    Yulihida stared at Isaac with her mouth agape.

    ¡°It¡¯s a curious artifact.¡±

    Isaac gave up on exining.

    In reality, even if you knew the principle behind it, this system was difficult to replicate unless you were part of the Golden Idol Guild due to potential for abuse and fraud.

    ¡°What have you been doing here?¡±

    ¡°Hmm. Mostly standing, sitting, or lying down.¡±

    It was tough to have a conversation with her. But since she was sent by the Church, Isaac was patient. Given that she moved around Elil with a sword so casually, she was probably not without skill. And it seemed she had been staying at a church of the Codex of Light, a ce likely frequented by troublemakers.

    ¡°Must have been many fights, right?¡±

    ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°Weren¡¯t there people causing trouble?¡±

    With her personality and way of speaking, it seemed like she could provoke even the calmest individuals. Yulihida looked straight at Isaac and asked:

    ¡°Isaac, do you fight over every dispute?¡±

    Isaac was at a loss for words. It seemed too sane a questioning from someone who had just contemted robbery over being broke. Was robbery okay, but fighting over a dispute not?

    ¡°If I fought every time there was a dispute, there wouldn¡¯t be anyone alive in Elil now. The lighthouse keeper wouldn¡¯t allow it.¡±

    Isaac thought the level of her bravado was insane and remained silent.

    ¡°So, I don¡¯t fight. I¡¯m not a murderer.¡±

    ¡°¡­I see.¡±

    Just then, a cat slinked by Isaac¡¯s feet, apparently belonging to the Golden Idol Guild branch. It reminded him of Murzik back at the monastery, and he was about to feed it when he noticed Yulihida.

    She had climbed onto her chair and was staring at the cat with wide eyes.

    ¡°Get rid of it.¡±

    ¡°What? You don¡¯t like cats?¡±

    ¡°Get¡­ rid of it.¡±

    Yulihida muttered in a dying voice. Seeing that she might cry, Isaac quickly picked up the cat and took it outside. He wondered who was supposed to be apanying whom as he watched her keep her eyes on the cat until it was out of sight.

    When Isaac returned, Yulihida was indifferently eating her food as if nothing had happened.

    ¡°Why are you afraid of cats?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s strange that you aren¡¯t afraid of ¡®them¡¯.¡±

    Yulihida refused to even discuss the cat further, let alone exin her fear.

    ***

    Isaac¡¯s first impression upon arriving in Aldeon was still vivid. It remained the same even during his visit to the Golden Idol Guild branch.

    What struck him as particrly provincial wasn¡¯t the buildings or monuments, but the people themselves.

    The image of Elil as a nd of chivalry¡¯ was far from reality.

    Loud yelling broke out in one corner of the restaurant:

    ¡°What? What did this traitorous bastard just say?¡±

    ¡°What? Are you also a piglet bred by the Aldeon swine?¡±

    People around started grumbling in agreement and stood up, while the restaurant staff skillfully began moving chairs around to manage the situation. Isaac simply watched the scene unfold.

    Elil was supposed to be thend of knights.

    In a nation founded by a supreme overlord, it was only natural for the strong to be revered. The problem, however,y in the psychological fact that everyone wanted to be seen as strong.

    This meant they were always seeking opportunities to prove their strength.

    ¡°The Aldeon royal family is the unique ruling house of Elil, and His Majesty Edelred is the great leader of the Elil people! But Georg and his damned followers are nothing but treacherous scum!¡±

    ¡°The usurper Aldeon? A worthy leader? General Swordmaster Georg is the rightful owner of the throne! All those piglets should be roasted!¡±

    As the bald man and the bearded man yelled at each other, jeers erupted from around them.

    ¡°Stop shouting and draw your swords!¡±

    ¡°A barking dog must be silenced!¡±

    Egged on by the surrounding taunts, the two men gritted their teeth and simultaneously drew their swords. Since everyone in the bar was armed, what started as a verbal altercation quickly escted into a sword fight.

    ng, ng, crunch, bang.

    This was Isaac¡¯s first time witnessing a duel in the Kingdom of Elil, and he watched with interest, although he soon grew disappointed. Maybe his expectations were too high, but the fight was underwhelming. Both men were more concerned with preserving their own lives than harming their opponent, resulting in a lot of noise but little action.

    ¡®Well, for a street brawl, it¡¯s not too bad. Is this the standard for Elil?¡¯

    During the scuffle, the bald man stumbled back into the chair where Yulihida was sitting. Seizing the moment, the bearded man swung his sword fiercely at the bald man¡¯s wrist.

    With a scream, the bald man dropped his sword. It seemed the bearded man had intended to slice off the wrist but only managed a shallow cut.

    ¡°Ha, hahaha! I win! Say ¡®Georg, that damn dog¡¯ now!¡±

    ¡°Ugh¡­ Georg, that damn dog!¡±

    ¡®He actually said it just because he was told to.¡¯

    Isaac¡¯s image of a chivalric nation was far from what he had witnessed.

    ¡®Wasn¡¯t the split between Elil and the Codex of Light originally due to thetter¡¯s use of dishonorable means in executing heretics?¡¯

    Elil had once revered the Codex of Light.

    At the same time, it valued honor and courage.

    Thus, even if the enemy were an ancient god, it was essential to confront them honorably in spreading the doctrine of the Codex.

    However, the Order of the Codex of Light disagreed. Barbaric ancient gods must be eradicated by any means necessary.

    This conflict led to the division in Elil. For the newly expanding Codex of Light, it was a disaster and a painful betrayal. It was then that the saying ¡°The most painful betrayals aremitted by the most faithful¡± came about.

    It was unclear whether this or the Order¡¯s rejection of a marriage between close kin yed a bigger role in the schism.

    Elil still revered the Codex of Light but despised the Order.

    Isaac thought this influence had passed down to the people as well.

    Honorable and courageous individuals.

    Yet now, it seemed like all notions of honor and bravery had vanished, leaving only a crude rule that ¡®only the strong set the rules¡¯.

    When ying games, it seemed like a simple system, but in reality, it was barbaric.

    The bald man nced furiously behind him, still clutching his wrist.

    Yulihida was oblivious, engrossed in her meal, but Isaac sensed an impending dispute.

    The bald man, upon realizing that the people he had bumped into appeared ¡®easy targets, a slight woman and a delicate-looking figure, male or female undetermined, kicked the chair.

    ¡°You lot! Interfering in a duel and then sitting down to eat like you did something great!¡±

    Isaac was baffled but noticed that they were the only ones who hadn¡¯t made way for the duel. The disappointed crowd was now looking at them, expecting a new show.

    ¡®Looks like his wrist isn¡¯t quite broken yet.¡¯

    Isaac thought if the bald man continued to cause trouble, he might have to make him crawl home like a worm.

    However, Yulihida didn¡¯t react to the bald man. She just kept her indifferent gaze. Isaac remembered what she had said earlier.

    ¡®Isaac, do you fight over every dispute?¡¯

    Reflecting on his initial readiness to fight, Isaac wondered how Yulihida would handle this ridiculous challenge.

    Would she intelligently avoid the fight?

    ¡°Isaac, clean this up.¡±

    ¡°¡­Didn¡¯t you say not to fight over every little provocation?¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s that got to do with anything? You¡¯re weak, so you fight to protect yourself. But if I get angry, the country of Elil might cease to exist.¡±

    Isaac wondered why her bravado always had to be so ludicrously grandiose.

    ¡®Wait, was her earlier question actually just a question, not a criticism of my readiness to fight?¡¯

    ¡°But I like the food here. I¡¯d rather not stir trouble.¡±

    ¡°The food is mediocre¡­ but it can¡¯t be helped.¡±

    Isaac sighed and stood up, resolving to practice restraint and opened his mouth calmly.

    ¡°Sir, let¡¯s not do this here. I¡¯ll buy you a drink¡­¡±

    ¡°What? Look at this slick-tongued guy with a sword!¡±

    Isaac couldn¡¯t understand how Yulihida had managed to resolve conflicts without drawing her sword in this country. The man showed no intention of calming down, only focused on picking on someone weaker to salvage his pride.

    So, Isaac decided to help the bald man pick up his pride off the floor, literally.

    ***

    Amotion broke out on the streets of Aldeon Harbor. As the noise escted, more people gathered¡ªdockworkers, guards, and bystanders.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±

    ¡°They say there¡¯s a duel in front of the Golden Idol Guild branch.¡±

    ¡°Why? Just some drunkards brawling with knives again?¡±

    ¡°No, one guy is fighting off twenty now. Even the king¡¯s knights have joined in!¡±

    The involvement of knights had drawn arger crowd. Duels were always exciting, but it was rare to see a skilled swordsman create such chaos.

    ¡®This will never end.¡¯

    Meanwhile, Isaac, feeling increasingly annoyed, looked around. People with broken limbsy scattered, but challengers kepting.

    When individuals in armor and cloaks appeared, Isaac hoped they might restore some order. But these knights were as enthusiastic as the drunks, even arranging who would fight next.

    ¡®Might need to scare them a bit.¡¯

    Isaac quietly began to unleash his influence as dusk fell.

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read up to advance 20 chapters or support me, you can do it at/Akaza156

 Chapter 154:

    Chapter 154:

    Excitement and chaos, darkness, and the light ofnterns distorted the streets making it hard to discern colors in the distance. There was no intention to use harsh measures. It was merely about pushing colors into the eyes or ears and giving them a quick shake.

    It was better than having limbs broken, although it might mean sleepless nights for a while.

    That was when Yulihida, who had been just watching the fight with his arms crossed, suddenly spoke up.

    ¡°Don¡¯t use your tricks, Isaac.¡±

    ¡®What?¡¯

    In the midst of themotion, Isaac turned towards the clearly audible voice. Yulihida was still watching him with an indifferent gaze. Wondering if she might have noticed the color beyond, Isaac decided to retract it for now.

    He could tell that Yulihida was sizing up his abilities.

    Whether this brawl was her intention or not was unclear.

    ¡°Alright! It¡¯s my turn now!¡±

    After having already taken down two knights, Isaac confidently snapped his fingers as a female knight appeared.

    She wore a green cloak adorned with a wild boar insignia, the symbol of the current King of Elil, Aldeon.

    ¡®The Aldeon Knights¡­ A royal order, then.¡¯

    Considering they hadn¡¯te out to greet a foreign envoy but were involved in a street fight showed the standards of this nation. Yet, inwardly, Isaac felt this was a good development.

    He was curious about the real level of a proper knight, not just street thugs.

    Isaac, though incredulous, faced her with his sword drawn. So far, there had been no need to kindle the mes of the Luatdin key.

    ¡°Come at me, arrogant foreigner! I¡¯ll carve a fancy scar on that pretty face!¡±

    The female knight, encouraged by herrades, smirked and immediately swung her sword. Isaac, seeing the visibly slow and lifeless sword, felt a slight disappointment. However, when the de met, it almost snapped his wrist.

    ¡®What kind of strength?¡¯

    It was an insane force that seemed impossible for her stature. Isaac quickly twisted his wrist to deflect the sword and collided with her using his shoulder.

    The female knight seemed surprised that Isaac had managed to handle her first strike. Her subsequent moves were full of openings.

    Isaac realized the nature of the Aldeon Knights¡¯ swordsmanship.

    ¡®They swing with the momentum to split a torso in two on the first strike, and thinkter? A crazy idea, but it might be useful.¡¯

    In fights among skilled swordsmen, the oue is often gauged before the start. If the skill levels are simr, the one who attacks first is at a disadvantage, especially if the first move is a powerful downward strike.

    Whether parried or dodged, the following move can be chosen at will.

    Isaac intended to counterattack after receiving the knight¡¯s sword.

    But the Aldeon knight used that to her advantage.

    Her first strike was powerful enough to break wrists and heads, removing ¡®parrying¡¯ or ¡®dodging¡¯ as options.

    However, Isaac managed to deflect the sword just in time.

    ¡®Really, what if my head had been split¡­ There was no murderous intent though.¡¯

    When Isaac did not move, the female knight quickly backed off amid jeers from herrades. Her face turned red, but she raised her sword again, this time with a serious expression.

    ¡°Try blocking this, handsome!¡±

    She swung down from above again. This time, Isaac struck up from below with all his might. The knightsughed at the apparent strength contest. The downward strike was naturally advantageous.

    ng! The moment the swords collided, Isaac felt even greater pressure than before¡ªa ridiculous strength that should not have been possible for her size.

    Even Isaac, armored in miracles, nearly had his knees buckle under the force.

    ¡®Advanced swordsmanship.¡¯

    The Aldeon Knights¡¯ advanced technique appeared simple. More strength, more weight.

    But simplicity was the essence the military should strive for.

    Isaac liked this style of swordsmanship, which was in some ways the exact opposite of his own. There might be something to learn from it.

    Of course, there was no reason for him to directly receive such a brutish charge.

    Naturally, Isaac let the sword slide off. The female knight anticipated this and tried to m into him with her shoulder, following the flow.

    The problem was, her sword did not move as expected.

    It stuck as if glued, or as if something was holding it and wouldn¡¯t let go. The female knight suddenly locked eyes with Isaac.

    And she felt a chilling, entwining force in his calm eyes.

    ¡®Swallowed¡­¡¯

    At that moment, Isaac¡¯s fist smashed into her jaw. As her posture was alreadypromised, her jaw was struck hard, causing her to stagger. Isaac thought she would surely fall, but the female knight, merely out of sheer willpower, roared and mmed her foot on the ground.

    ¡°Haah!¡±

    With veins bulging in her eyes, she red at Isaac.

    Isaac was astounded.

    ¡®As tough as she is strong¡­ A real wild boar?¡¯

    Isaac had seen the female knight fall unconscious. However, she had just shouted out of pure determination and woken up from unconsciousness. It was questionable if that was even possible with sheer willpower, but it suggested that the average level of an Elil knight might not be so low after all.

    And contrary to his initial disappointment, there might actually be true knights in this kingdom.

    ¡°Justice does not fall!¡±

    The female knight bellowed, swinging her two-handed sword. Though it seemed reckless, each strike had a tempest-like force behind it. Isaac could tell that her swordsmanship could break a tree with a single slice.

    ¡°As long as justice stands, it does not falter!¡±

    But Isaac had no intention of repeating this brute-force sh. His body twisted, tracing a strange curve.

    The female knight felt herself being dragged into a mysterious, chilling pull, as if sinking into quicksand. She struggled to remain standing.

    However, in the next moment, Isaac was already before her.

    The abyss yawned and pulled her in.

    The female knight made a final desperate swing. Isaac met her sword directly.

    Crack. Isaac¡¯s sword aura, like a saw tearing through, devoured and shattered her de instantly. As she watched the pieces scatter, Isaac¡¯s fist burst forward and struck her face.

    Bang. The female knight was flung up, her head mming into the ground. With a loud crash, she stretched out and then copsed.

    Silence fell over the street.

    ¡®Was that too much?¡¯

    However, since she was already unconscious, she wouldn¡¯t have felt any pain. Isaac was sure that she could withstand even this. The knights¡¯ silence was due to another reason.

    ¡°Wow! Wow! Reyna has fallen! Reyna Hilde has!¡±

    ¡°When was thest time this happened? Almost a year ago?¡±

    ¡°Damn, why did it have to be when I bet on her!¡±

    Amid the cheers and cries of despair, Isaac nkly turned his head. It seemed that no one else was eager to jump in. But, who knew? It was hard to find a sane person in this area.

    At that moment, Yulihida, who had been watching the fight, approached him. Remembering that she had been sizing him up, Isaac internally anticipated her reaction.

    ¡°Pathetic. But with a little tweaking, it might be useful.¡±

    It was the harshest criticism Isaac had received since he had been named.

    Yulihida walked nonchntly and stood opposite Isaac. In her hand was a low-quality sword left behind by the bald man who had been knocked out.

    ¡°Let¡¯s make a slight adjustment, Isaac.¡±

    ***

    The crowd cheered for the unexpected new challenger.

    This challenger was smaller and stockier than the knight Reyna who had just fallen, and she was not wearing proper armor. Moreover, she smelled as if she had been rolling in the sludge of a harbor.

    But her stance with the sword was correct.

    Isaac looked around and said.

    ¡°Here?¡±

    ¡°Why not?¡±

    ¡°What if I identally kill everyone here?¡±

    His tone was mocking, but it was doubtful she understood.

    ¡°Of course, if I really used my full power, this world would be doomed.¡±

    ¡°The stakes are getting higher.¡±

    ¡°But now that I have an idea of your level, I think I can match it. Go ahead.¡±

    Yulihida moved naturally without a signal.

    The speed wasn¡¯t too fast for Isaac to observe and respond. The swords shed exactly where he had anticipated.

    However, Isaac felt as if Yulihida had intentionally matched her movements to his sword.

    It was as if she was saying, this is just the beginning.

    And the real duel began.

    Yulihida¡¯s sword suddenly split into rapid attacks. Isaac recoiled in rm, shing at the iing strikes. But it felt like not even four arms would be enough.

    ¡®Advanced swordsmanship? No, this is¡­¡¯

    It was simply performing the stabbing motion quickly and repeatedly.

    Yulihida¡¯s scimitar,monly used by sailors, was not ideal for such quick stabbing actions. It wasn¡¯t her usual style of swordsmanship, nor was it her weapon of choice. She was just making do with what was avable.

    But her movements were so fast that they created afterimages.

    Fast enough that Isaac could barely fend them off.

    However, Yulihida showed no signs of rapid breathing or losing bnce.

    ¡®Could she speed up even more?¡¯

    Isaac felt a chill.

    Matching one¡¯s level exactly to the opponent¡¯s is harder than overpowering them.

    Yulihida was clearly looking down on him. The level of skill was iparable even to that of Bashul.

    ¡°Are you only going to defend, Isaac?¡±

    Thunk. Isaac swung his sword, ready to sustain minor injuries.

    Isaac¡¯s Swordsmanship: Hand of the Drowned.

    This was a move he had devised while creating new advanced sword techniques, inspired by the way the Drowned King used to whirl and pull with his tentacles. It was intended for scenarios where he needed to capture fleeing enemies or close gaps, but it was also effective against these fast, shallow stabs.

    A strange sound, like tearing the air, filled the area.

    It was a noise that had never urred during practice sessions before. Yulihida¡¯s sword trajectory warped following Isaac¡¯s sword.

    Yet, Yulihida¡¯s expression remained unchanged.

    She casually swung her sword horizontally. An incredible force shattered the Hand of the Drowned and broke free. Isaac felt absurdly frustrated as his advanced sword technique was easily broken.

    ¡°Why are you even doing this crap?¡±

    Isaac was at a loss for words. It was a technique he had tried to improve after being criticized for ¡®overwhelming murderous intent¡¯ during a spar with Bashul.

    ¡°Trying to suppress your killing intent? And you think you can solve that with advanced sword techniques? A pathetic attempt.¡±

    But Yulihida easily deciphered Isaac¡¯s intentions and thoughts with just a few swings of her sword.

    She scoffed and continued.

    ¡°Being too talented is also a curse. If you were a bit less gifted, you might have found the right path even if it was a roundabout one, but since you¡¯re smart, you resort to tricks.¡±

    Calling advanced sword techniques mere tricks?

    Isaac felt anger rising, but he was also intrigued to see Yulihida¡¯s true skills.

    ¡°Instead of trying to eliminate your weaknesses, you should focus on improving what you¡¯re good at.¡±

    Crack, crack. The sound of metal breaking echoed each time Yulihida¡¯s sword shed with Isaac¡¯s. Isaac¡¯s sword was the sacred Luadin Key, while Yulihida¡¯s was a rusty scimitar. The fact that it hadsted this long showed her exceptional skill in wielding it, but it was her sword that was chipping and bending.

    ¡°If the problem is that your killing intent makes your moves too obvious, then you should overwhelm your opponent with enough killing intent to cover the whole world.¡±

    Isaac gritted his teeth.

    Alright, then take this.

    Isaac gritted his teeth and used Isaac¡¯s Swordsmanship: Eight Branches against Yulihida. He didn¡¯t consider whether she could block it or not. To defeat this overpowering being, he thought he had to give his all.

    It was as if there was no next if this strike failed, just like the Aldeon knight had swung his sword.

    Isaac¡¯s sword involuntarily began to seep with sword energy.

    The paths carved fiercely into the za¡¯s stone ground flew towards the defenseless Yulihida.

    Suddenly, Isaac saw a strange illusion.

    His swinging sword¡¯s trajectory took the form of purple tentacles flying towards the opponent.

    At that moment, Isaac had be the embodiment of the Nameless Chaos.

    Tentacles that devour everything and destroy all were unleashed.

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read up to advance 20 chapters or support me, you can do it at/Akaza156

 Chapter 155:

    Chapter 155:

    **Boom!**

    A sword strike of destructive momentum flew towards Yulihida, as if to overturn the entire za.

    Amidst the horrific destruction that seemed more like demolition than an attack, Yulihida quietly sheathed her sword. Soon, tentacles brutally thrashed her.

    The loud sound resonated.

    Thud, thud, thud¡­ The sound of stones and dust scattering and falling rang out like a torrential rain.

    Breathing with difficulty, Isaac staggered with a refreshing sense of fatigue that he hadn¡¯t felt in a long time. He also felt slightly hungry. Fierce scars remained on the eight-way torn za¡¯s stone floor. He wondered if he had unconsciously released the tentacles, but it seemed like it was just a hallucination.

    Eight Branches several times during training with Bashul, it had never reached this extent.

    However, right in the middle of that destructive path, exactly avoiding the center, Yulihida stood unharmed.

    She had not a single scratch on her, except for the dust on her back. Only asionally, small pieces of rock hit her head and made her shiver slightly.

    ¡®It seems like the stones have hit her more than my sword.¡¯

    Yulihida tossed herpletely destroyed sword to the ground.

    The duel had ended. Facing an unexpectedly fierce fight, everyone in the za fell silent. Realizing it was no ce to interfere, the other fighters receded like the tide.

    Even the knights murmured something among themselves, realizing that Isaac was not just a peculiar foreigner, before disappearing.

    Yulihida trudged over to Isaac.

    ¡°You¡¯re almost good enough to catch up to my disciples.¡±

    A slight smile appeared on Yulihida¡¯s lips.

    At that moment, Isaac intuitively sensed Yulihida¡¯s identity.

    However, before he could fullyprehend it, fatigue overwhelmed him, and he closed his eyes as if to faint.

    ***

    Isaac was dreaming.

    It was not the usual nightmare he had, but a lucid dream where he was sorting out his thoughts by simply closing his eyes. Yet, he was so immersed that it blocked out all other sensations.

    Within the dream, Isaac revisited every fight he had ever fought.

    From the first moment he used tentacles to catch a rat, through various enemies, up to Yulihida.

    He repeated the duel with Yulihida the most.

    At that moment, Isaac definitely reached a certain state, glimpsed during fights with Al Duard and Bashul. He needed this time to review his battles and internalize them to understand what that state was.

    At some point, Kalsen Miller appeared.

    ¡°You¡¯re quite absorbed for someone meditating.¡±

    ¡°Haven¡¯t you reached nirvana yet?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m too burdened with grudges to achieve it. I¡¯m bored to death here. Try consuming something useful.¡±

    Kalsen¡¯s gaze then changed as he looked at Isaac with interest.

    ¡°You¡¯ve improved¡­ You¡¯re useful now. But it seems you¡¯re still refining yourself?¡±

    Isaac responded by imagining his own avatar appearing before Kalsen Miller like a game character. It was strange to see himself from a third-person perspective, but it was objectively a good view.

    Kalsen drew his sword with a smile. Despite being devoured and even losing his armor, he was fully armed.

    Kalsen was known as the strongest Pdin within the Codex of Light Order.

    What level would that be?

    Isaac thought it would be difficult to win at the moment, but he focused more on gauging his own level.

    As Isaac¡¯s sword contacted Kalsen¡¯s, he realized what Bashul and Yulihida had pointed out.

    ¡®¡­I expected it, but it really looks vicious.¡¯

    His imagined self used all means and emitted a threatening aura that clung to him.

    An inexperienced opponent might be intimidated by this presence alone.

    However, Kalsen, unphased, cleaved through Isaac¡¯s avatar¡¯s neck and torso. But Isaac started integrating new teachings into his moves.

    Regrettably for Bashul, Isaac felt no need to correct his w¡ªexcessive murderous intent.

    ¡®Instead of trying to remove weaknesses, strive to enhance your strengths.¡¯

    Yulihida had helped Isaac understand this by blocking and adjusting his sword path during their duel.

    This wasn¡¯t just about one sparring session.

    Isaac¡¯s skills had already reached a precarious peak, and Yulihida had just broken the dam.

    Isaac decided not to abandon his way.

    His essence as the embodiment of Nameless Chaos wasn¡¯t about restraint but about overwhelming murderous intent and Predation.

    He was different from others who had to restrain their powers for various reasons.

    Isaac had no reason to forsake his ferocity.

    His task was simple: to control the beast within.

    He knew this inner beast could be stronger than anything else, provided it didn¡¯t consume him first.

    Isaac wanted a war dog that could explode with power onmand, not a mere beast.

    As he ced a leash of order on his chaos, all his learned movements started to transform.

    His fighting style evolved with each move, incorporating techniques learned from Gabel and others, even his breathing and heart rate began to adapt.

    Isaac¡¯s swordy gradually changed, and Kalsen¡¯s movements became more erratic.

    ¡°This is¡­¡­¡±

    Suddenly, Isaac¡¯s sword emitted a dark smoke.

    Darkness surged to engulf Kalsen, while a brilliant halo appeared above him, a beacon of the guardians.

    The clear light, a symbol of order, shed with the twisted sword.

    Momentster, the darkness dispersed.

    Kalsen¡¯s sword was embedded in Isaac¡¯s heart, while Isaac¡¯s sword had nearly severed Kalsen¡¯s neck.

    Isaac¡¯s form faded as his sword disappeared, and Kalsen¡¯s wounds vanished without a trace. Though Kalsen seemed displeased with his injuries, he also appeared somewhat proud.

    ¡°This level of ability should prevent any untimely death.¡±

    This was perhaps the most graciouspliment from someone who had consumed him. However, Isaac didn¡¯t consider this a victory or an even match.

    It was all his imagination. In reality, he fought with an ideal body and skills in optimal conditions. Realbat would never be like that, and he couldn¡¯t be certain of Kalsen¡¯s true capabilities.

    Nevertheless, his skills had certainly progressed to the next level.

    As realization dawned, Isaac¡¯s consciousness began to surface. There was no longer a need to focus his mind. As his vision faded, Kalsen spoke to him.

    His lonely smile seemed somewhat mncholic.

    ¡°¡­don¡¯t trust the Sword of May too much.¡±

    ***

    Isaac opened his eyes. Instead of the unfamiliar ceiling, he saw Hesabel hanging there.

    She immediately jumped down upon his awakening.

    ¡°You¡¯re finally awake, Lord Isaac! I thought you had died from sleeping so deeply!¡±

    ¡°Oh, is that so? It seems the cargo has been unloaded?¡±

    Isaac had initially not nned to bring Hesabel along.

    The Kingdom of Elil and the Kingdom of Walraika were historically connected, and their rtionship was so bad that they had to kill each other upon meeting.

    Although Hesabel had renounced her faith and was now one of his followers, it was doubtful whether the followers of Elil would ept her. However, Isaac had decided to bring her because he needed someone familiar with the rituals of the Red Chalice Club when he returned the Rite Of Division.

    After all, the Rite Of Division was directly used by the dancer, and no one knew these rituals better than Hesabel.

    But as someone from the deep ind, Hesabel feared sailing itself and suffered greatly from seasickness. After much deliberation, the solution was to knock her out and pack her in a coffin with packing materials.

    ¡®Maybe the legend that vampires cannot cross the sea stemmed from this.¡¯

    ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to worry about me so much.¡±

    ¡°I bet all my assets, including my life, on your victory, Lord Isaac. If you died, everything would have gone to hell. Please be more careful with your life, thinking of it as mine.¡±

    ¡®Judging by the way she talks, she would¡¯ve been penniless somewhere if it weren¡¯t for me.¡¯

    While pondering the grim future of the Duck of Gullmar, Isaac casually brushed Hesabel aside and stood up.

    Beside him, as if it were the most natural thing, Yulihida was lying down, eating the french fries she had yesterday.

    ¡°Did you like that dish?¡±

    ¡°There is still some worth in preserving this world.¡±

    Was that so? When he had them yesterday, they seemed like just ordinary fries.

    Isaac reached to try one but recoiled as Yulihida smacked his hand away. She seemed to have noticed a change in his aura and scrutinized him.

    ¡°It seems you¡¯ve finally broken through the wall.¡±

    ¡°Thank you for your help.¡±

    Isaac was well aware that Yulihida had assisted him. It was a wall he should have broken through by himself, but her duel had shone a light as bright as a beacon.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be arrogant. In the past, all my students would at least reach that level as a matter of course. But these days, they are utterlycking. Either they appointpletely inadequate people as Pdins or they keep cats in monasteries¡­¡±

    Yulihida grumbled to herself. Isaac still didn¡¯t understand what was wrong with cats, but her words gave him a clear hint of her identity.

    ¡°If they were to receive the teachings of the Sword of May directly, perhaps they could also gain enlightenment. It¡¯s a great honor just to have you descend upon us.¡±

    Crunch. The sound of the french fries breaking was crisply audible. Hesabel jumped to the ceiling like a cat hit by water when she heard ¡®Sword of May.¡¯

    The sound of her head hitting the ceiling rang out loudly.

    Yulihida looked at Isaac emotionlessly.

    ¡°Not really?¡±

    ¡°¡­Is it not?¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    Sword of May.

    The teacher of all Pdins, the first Pdin. Saint Arte¡¯s real name is Yulihida Arte.

    Although he had recalled this setup btedly, Isaac sincerely wished she had tried harder to hide her identity if that was her intention.

    ¡®Maybe she didn¡¯t really want to hide it?¡¯

    Isaac held back his words as they reached the brink of his throat.

    ¡°Still, you were as impressive as one would expect from the originator of all Pdin sword techniques.¡±

    Clearly, Yulihida did not want to reveal that she was the Sword of May. Why an angel would conceal her identity and yet help him, a heretic and a follower of the Nephilim, refine his sword was beyond him. However, Isaac gratefully acknowledged her help while keeping his guard up.

    The words Kalsen had spoken before he awoke echoed in his ears.

    ¡®Don¡¯t trust the Sword of May too much.¡¯

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read up to advance 20 chapters or support me, you can do it at/Akaza156

 Chapter 156:

    Chapter 156:

    Kalsen¡¯s intentions were unclear, but Isaac had no intention of trusting the angel of the Codex of Light. In fact, he didn¡¯t fully trust anyone to begin with.

    He knew very well what he harbored within his body.

    ¡®The Sword of May must have a purpose for keeping me alive.¡¯

    For now, it seemed the Sword of May had no intention of killing him, so continuing a symbiotic rtionship was not out of the question. However, trying to gain some favor couldn¡¯t hurt.

    With a friendly expression, Isaac approached Yulihida and asked,

    ¡°Actually, I was supposed to receive a mission from the Sword of May, but no clear instructions havee yet. I¡¯m worried they might be having trouble finding me.¡±

    ¡°Having trouble finding you? Do you think I¡¯m an idiot?¡±

    ¡°You said it wasn¡¯t the Sword of May, didn¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    If he said no, then it was no.

    Isaac understood how Bishop Juan felt when heined about meeting an angel. When an angel relentlessly pressured like this, there was nothing a mere mortal could do¡­

    ¡°¡­Then, could you guess what kind of mission the Sword of May might assign me?¡±

    ¡°It seems there won¡¯t be any instructions for now.¡±

    ¡°Why is that?¡±

    ¡°Maybe because you¡¯re too insignificant to use right now? You¡¯ll find out soon enough, just be patient.¡±

    It was clear nothing was hidden.

    The Sword of May typically operated on the battlefield, ughtering other angels and soldiers. Acting, plotting, or disguising wasn¡¯t necessary there.

    Isaac worried if the Sword of May might act the same way elsewhere.

    ¡®I am not the Sword of May. But I can¡¯t stand those arrogant angels and Elil. I should use the angel¡¯s powers to decapitate them right away.¡¯

    It was a definite possibility.

    Moreover, Isaac was about to visit the royal family of Aldeon. He didn¡¯t want to imagine the Sword of May making a diplomatic blunder there.

    Whether the Sword of May would massacre at the royal court of Elil or getbeled as a public enemy of Elil was a dreadful future to consider.

    If that happened, his only recourse would be the cat.

    ¡°¡­Lord Yulihida, do you by any chance have business with the Aldeon royal family?¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°Then, may I take the lead in the discussions?¡±

    ¡°As you wish.¡±

    Isaac felt slightly relieved but was still unsure about his ownpetence.

    Anyway, from now on, the apostle of Nameless Chaos would travel to the stronghold of Elil in Aldeon Castle, apanied by an angel of the Codex of Light on his left and a maiden of the Red Chalice Club on his right. It was a perilous undertaking.

    ¡®¡­I didn¡¯t think it would be this difficult.¡¯

    ***

    As Isaac was about to leave, a knight with a swollen face, presumably from the Golden Idol branch, hurriedly approached him. Preparing to go to Aldeon Castle, Isaac thought they wereing to settle some old scores and rested his hand on his sword.

    But the knight who had been disfigured by Isaac the previous day bowed hastily and asked.

    ¡°Excuse me, are you the Holy Grail Knight?¡±

    ¡°¡­Yes, that¡¯s me.¡±

    Voices of discontent among the Aldeon knights could be heard. The knight, not knowing what to do, kept bowing deeply.

    ¡°I am sorry! I apologize for any rudeness! We were informed of your arrival, but there was no report and I camete! I only found out after checking with the harbormaster that the Holy Grail Knight had arrived!¡±

    ¡°State your name first.¡±

    ¡°Ah! I¡¯m Reyna Hilde, a senior knight of the Aldeon Knights!¡±

    Being a senior knight meant she was quite experienced. It seemed that their structure was simr to that of the Codex of Light, likely due to branching from the same religious tradition.

    Isaac listened to her exnation, baffled.

    The news of his diplomatic mission had already reached the Kingdom of Elil. They had nned to greet him, but his ship entered so quietly and unassumingly that they hadn¡¯t noticed its arrival.

    Considering the unpredictability at sea, a dy of a day or two was not unusual. Due to clerical negligence, the report was dyed¡­ and that¡¯s how they had encountered Isaac yesterday.

    ¡°How did you know it was me?¡±

    ¡°Your¡­ extraordinary appearance, as rumored¡­¡±

    ¡°The pretty one who vowed to carve a stylish scar?¡±

    The knights started kicking Reyna¡¯s back and shins as they argued.

    ¡°Stop spouting nonsense!¡±

    ¡°Keep your mouth shut when fighting!¡±

    Though an embarrassing sight for a senior knight, she seemed genuinely remorseful and continued to bow deeply.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I have nothing to say. And it¡¯s not just because of the looks. I¡¯m not sure if I saw it correctly, but¡­ perhaps you used sword energy, is that correct?¡±

    Isaac pondered whether to admit this or not.

    Sword energy is a miracle of Elil. Bashul, in order to hide that he was a follower of Elil, barely revealed and kept his sword energy hidden.

    If Isaac used sword energy, how would it be perceived in the Kingdom of Elil? As an ally? Or as a suspicious person stealing miracles?

    ¡®No, let¡¯s think simply.¡¯

    Isaac remembered once again that this was the Kingdom of Elil.

    Here, a strong and capable fighter is considered just.

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    Wow! An exmation erupted among the knights.

    Pride spread across Reyna¡¯s swollen face. Even they seemed unconcerned now with Isaac¡¯smanding tone.

    ¡°Of course! Everyone said you must be the Holy Grail Knight who had promised to visit after yesterday¡¯s fight! We couldn¡¯t believe it when we heard the rumors from across the sea, but it appears the Holy Grail Knight has already ascended to a transcendent realm!¡±

    ¡°Is that so?¡±

    ¡°The knights of the Codex of Light were thought to be all weaklings, but seeing the Holy Grail Knight, it truly feels like the root of Elil continues!¡±

    ¡°¡­That¡¯s an excessivepliment.¡±

    At the remark that ¡®the knights of the Codex of Light are weaklings¡¯, Isaac nced at Yulihida. As expected, her face twitched, and Isaac quickly decided to manage the situation.

    ¡°Even the Sword of the Archangel May must learn from the Holy Grail Knight¡­¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s stop here and leave now. We¡¯ve wasted too much time on the road.¡±

    As Isaac hurriedly spoke, the knights pped Reyna¡¯s buttocks and shins again. They grumbled that idle chatter dared to steal the Holy Grail Knight¡¯s time.

    Reyna whispered, ¡°Let¡¯s see during the sparringter,¡± and the bickering finally subsided.

    Isaac offered the horse they had brought to Yulihida first.

    ¡°Lady Yulihida, would you like to ride?¡±

    ¡°No. I will go ahead.¡±

    She did not forget to issue a senior¡¯s warning.

    ¡°Don¡¯t act cocky just because you¡¯ve received somepliments.¡±

    ¡°¡­Yes.¡±

    ***

    Protected by the knights of Aldeon, Isaac was able to go directly to Aldeon Castle. Since all the checkpoint procedures were skipped, the journey to the castle was very quick. Although there was no weing crowd, Isaac still found this astonishing.

    ¡®Feels like I¡¯m being treated better than expected.¡¯

    In fact, Isaac had anticipated being snubbed in the Kingdom of Elil due to the longstanding discord between Elil and the Codex of Light.

    It had been nearly a century since the two orders had a proper conversation. Even the Dawn Army had only sent volunteers on a civilian level; there had never been an official exchange between states or orders.

    So, Isaac had expected to be treated poorly when he first arrived at the port of Aldeon. He was more surprised than anything that a group of knights hade out to wee him enthusiastically.

    ¡®If they were this desperate for dialogue, they should have sent an envoy sooner¡­ It feels like they¡¯ve been waiting eagerly for an apology.¡¯

    Regardless, Isaac was weed and able to proceed to the castle.

    Despite the warm reception, Isaac¡¯s impression of the Kingdom of Elil barely changed.

    Aldeon Castle, perched on the edge of a cliff, blended naturally yet was distinctly outdated.

    In other words, it was rustic, worn, and backward.

    Moreover, the roads were muddy and unkempt, and impoverished peasants with gloomy faces watched the passing knights.

    ¡®Although I knew about it, experiencing it in reality is different from the game.¡¯

    The most prominent feature was the smell.

    The stench of horse dung and mud.

    It waste winter now; he couldn¡¯t imagine how bad the smell would be in spring or summer. If the capital, Aldeon, was like this, other regions would be worse.

    ¡®Never thought I¡¯d start missing the empire so soon.¡¯

    Thud, thud, thud¡­ Isaac and the knights of Aldeon crossed the drawbridge that spanned between cliffs and entered the city.

    Aldeon Castle was precariously perched atop a cliff. The only path avable was the drawbridge they had just crossed, a strategic location that was not only impressive but also advantageous for defense. However, Isaac had only one thought in mind.

    ¡®It¡¯s the perfect setting for a murder mystery.¡¯

    Just then, Isaac saw someone rushing out to the courtyard where he had arrived, a boy much younger than him, wearing a bulky cloak toorge for his small frame. He was trying to maintain some semnce of authority with a crown on his head, which looked better off not worn as it sat askew.

    It was Edelred Aldeon, the young king of the current Elil Kingdom.

    Upon seeing Isaac, he immediately smiled brightly.

    ¡°Holy Grail Knight! The returned Holy Grail Knight!¡±

    Isaac was confused by the term ¡®returned¡¯, but chose to take it positively for now.

    Since the origin of the Holy Grail Knight was in the Elil Kingdom, it made sense to describe the foreign Holy Grail Knight¡¯s entry into the Elil Kingdom as ¡®returning¡¯.

    Isaac dismounted and bowed politely.

    ¡°I am honored to meet Your Majesty, King Edelred Aldeon.¡±

    King Edelred¡¯s response was a beaming smile. He came down the steps to guide Isaac personally, grabbing his arm and pulling him along.

    ¡°Stand up! Come,e. I have so much to talk about. Was your journey here tiring? The ports are underdeveloped¡­¡±

    ¡°Your Majesty.¡±

    At that moment, a man with a pointed mustache beside them spoke to Edelred. His status was unclear, but in this country, knights, nobles, priests, and pdins often performed simr duties, making his specific role irrelevant. King Edelred red at the knight, but the knight, unflinching, continued.

    ¡°Sir Issacrea will be escorted by us. Please maintain your dignity. We will wait for you in the civil war quarters.¡±

    ¡®Actually, that¡¯s probably right.¡¯

    Caught in the middle, Isaac felt awkward, but if protocol was to be followed, the knight was correct. However, Edelred, pulling strongly on Isaac¡¯s arm, insisted,

    ¡°The Holy Grail Knight has crossed the seas to meet me! What¡¯s the excuse for those who messed up the report?¡±

    ¡°Your Majesty, the Holy Grail Knight did note to meet you personally, but as a representative from state to state¡­¡±

    ¡®Hesabel, create a distraction.¡¯

    Before the argument escted, Isaac signaled to Hesabel, who had ridden with him.

    Immediately, Hesabel¡¯s horse started causing amotion. As Hesabel screamed, the knights, flustered, ran to seize the horse¡¯s bridle. While their attention was diverted, Edelred half-dragged Isaac into the castle.

    Once they were alone, Isaac spoke up.

    ¡°We are alone now, Your Majesty.¡±

    Edelred looked around after hearing this. He still seemed excited, but tried to remain calm and held Isaac¡¯s hand tightly.

    ¡°I¡¯ve shown you an unseemly sight. Holy Grail Knight.¡±

    A king arguing with his subjects in front of a foreign envoy was indeed a disgraceful sight. However, Isaac knew that Edelred Aldeon was not just any child.

    He was a talent fit to be the king of Elil.

    ¡°I had no choice but to separate from those crazy thugs if we were to talk.¡±

    A fierce hater of knights.

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read up to advance 20 chapters or support me, you can do it at/Akaza156

 Chapter 157:

    Chapter 157:

    Edelred Aldeon

    He is the head of the family based in Aldeon, the capital of the kingdom of Elil, and also the king. His predecessor was also infamous as a tyrant, known for dying of hypertension due to excessive drinking and overeating. Tragically, dying from anything other than a sword in the kingdom of Elil was considered a long life.

    Fortunately, Edelred learned from this and became a vegetarian who didn¡¯t even drink alcohol, let alone eat meat. However, there was one extremely rare feature about this honorable knight in the Holy Land¡­ he utterly despised knights.

    ¡®It¡¯s not that hecks devotion to the Elil faith. He just loathes the macho men who only shout about justice, courage, and honor.¡¯

    Isaac reflected on the information he had about Edelred.

    Despite bing king at a young age due to his father¡¯s sudden death, Edelred was not a bad king, especially in Isaac¡¯s opinion.

    Edelred nervously chewed on his fingernails before asking,

    ¡°I heard from Emperor Waltzemer that a message woulde. Do you have the letter?¡±

    Isaac pulled out a letter sealed with the emperor¡¯s sigil.

    He hadn¡¯t opened it nor nned to, but Isaac roughly knew its contents. It was likely about Elil¡¯s participation in the Dawn Army and appointing Isaac as a plenipotentiary ambassador¡­

    The letter was brief, making it hard to convey secret information.

    Edelred read the letter quickly and sighed deeply.

    He paced back and forth as he gathered his thoughts and then said,

    ¡°So, Emperor Waltzemer has decided to participate in the Dawn Army? I heard that the empire is still not stable.¡±

    ¡°It seems he sees no choice but to join the Dawn Army expedition. Perhaps, he ns to wrest control from the church through it.¡±

    Isaac¡¯s words surprised Edelred slightly.

    Unlike the unified church and state of Elil, the Gerthonia Empire was known to be at odds with the Codex of Light, which wasmon knowledge even to Edelred. It was surprising to hear a Holy Grail Knight seemingly supporting the emperor. But, if he were not a supporter of the emperor, he would not have been appointed as an ambassador.

    Trusting the letter¡¯s content, Edelred nodded at Isaac.

    ¡°Well, being a holy body, it might be possible for him to take control from the Church¡­ But as you can see, our kingdom has many problems.¡±

    Isaac nodded cautiously.

    Elil was even less centralized than the Gerthonia Empire. There were numerous rebel groups and four major factions dividing the kingdom. Even if Edelred wanted to participate in the Dawn Army, it was impossible.

    The biggest issue was Edelred¡¯s youth.

    ¡°I need to persuade my vassals first, but as you see, even arranging a private meeting was difficult. Everyone treats me like a child on the brink of a cliff.¡±

    ¡°Your Majesty, it is loyalty.¡±

    Isaac spoke sincerely.

    Although the previous king was a tyrant known for brutal purges, he effectively removed any corrupt elements. This allowed Edelred to avoid betrayal from capable vassals, as any potential traitors had been eliminated during his father¡¯s reign.

    ¡°If that is true, then it is fortunate.¡±

    Edelred seemed to doubt whether Isaac¡¯s statement was out of consideration or apliment but epted it positively.

    ¡°The problem is with others, especially the Witch Hectali sisters and the traitor Georg. If I could subdue them, then perhaps¡­¡±

    Edelred muttered bitterly.

    ¡°Let¡¯s walk and talk. Honestly, there aren¡¯t many here I can confide in. But I feel I can open up to a Holy Grail Knight like you.¡±

    ***

    ¡°This country is insane.¡±

    As they walked through the garden, Edelredmented to Isaac.

    ¡°Everyone is obsessed with sword fights, personal training, arbitrary justice, courage worth a fly¡¯s life, and a shallow honor only they understand. Justice, courage, honor¡ªsure, those are fine words. But what happens when everyone takes up swords? Who will hold the plough, the chisel, the hammer?¡±

    His long-held anger seemed deeply rooted.

    It was unclear whether it was because of his father, the knights driving the kingdom into perpetual civil war, or his vassals who still saw him as ¡®a knight not knightly enough.¡¯

    ¡°Perhaps you¡¯ve seen unpleasant things on your way here.¡±

    ¡°I cannot say there were none, Your Majesty.¡±

    Isaac thought of the chaotic roads, ragged beggars, men obsessed with fighting, and even port workers wearing swords. It was understandable why Edelred was frustrated; without even a single understanding vassal, his outrage was justified.

    ¡°The country is in this state because everyone is obsessed with fighting. Indeed, the strong have a duty to protect the weak, as Elil said. But that¡¯s only applicable when there are strong enough individuals to hold the world in their hands!¡±

    The idea that the strong have a duty to protect the weak sounds right, but it implies a condescending view that makes a true partnership difficult. ¡®Duty to protect¡¯ can easily be confining rules, regtions, oppression, taxes, and penalties intended to ¡®protect the weak.¡¯

    Elil might have had romantic knights who adhered to chivalry in his time.

    But after about 700 years of distortion and misinterpretation, the current state of the Kingdom of Elil emerged.

    ¡°I haven¡¯t been to the Gerthonia Empire, but I¡¯ve heard of its culture and stories. Sure, it has its problems too. But it¡¯s not like here where even farmers and merchants need to carry swords, and all talents and resources are sucked into the military.¡±

    ¡°That is true, Your Majesty.¡±

    ¡°And it¡¯s not even that our military is strong. Why? Because they pour all their talents, lives, and resources into killing each other! No wonder the country is going mad.¡±

    The rules are set by the strong.

    In this country, only the strong or those striving to be strong are respected. Yet even a powerful warrior like Bashul would die if he starved. Therefore, one could argue that a farmer is stronger than Bashul, but in the Kingdom of Elil, this was not the epted view.

    To them, tilling the soil and herding cattle were tasks for the defeated. This mindset was why technological and cultural progress in Elilgged far behind that of the Gerthonia Empire. If there was any advancement in Elil, it was limited to swordsmanship and military tactics.

    ¡°Actually, I¡¯ve met the Emperor before.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve met Emperor Waltzemer?¡±

    Isaac asked in surprise, having never heard this information before.

    ¡°Yes, before I became king. My father and he discussed something, but my father refused. It was probably about the Dawn Army. We had a brief encounter and spoke momentarily. He was an impressive man¡­¡±

    Edelred murmured as if dreaming.

    Isaac thought it was a natural reaction. Any child who met a shining, horned emperor would surely be awestruck, as he would have been himself.

    ¡°During my conversation with the Emperor, I realized that this country is insane, and it¡¯s impossible to fix this madness without external intervention.¡±

    Isaac¡¯s face grew stern.

    Intervention by foreign powers, in this world, was not just a betrayal, it was akin to handing over the kingdom founded by Elil to the Codex of Light. usations of apostasy would not be unwarranted.

    ¡°Your Majesty, are you suggesting¡­¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t take it too seriously. It wasn¡¯t a serious consideration, just a realization that we need a jolt to self-reflect. But I couldn¡¯t do it alone.¡±

    Edelred said, looking back at Isaac.

    Isaac understood why Edelred was sharing such personal thoughts with him. Meeting Emperor Waltzemer was not only a pivotal moment of his youth but also a reason he began to despise knights.

    And since Isaac was sent by that very Emperor, Edelred¡¯splete trust in him was evident.

    Isaac looked at Edelred, who was about chest-high, with aplex expression. He knew too well the loneliness of feeling like the only sane person in a world with vastly different values.

    Edelred, interpreting Isaac¡¯s expression as perplexity, shook his head.

    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s a tough issue. I know you can¡¯t just follow my will blindly. You¡¯re here to ask for troops for the Dawn Army, not to burden yourself with these troublesome issues.¡±

    ¡°Not at all, Your Majesty.¡±

    Isaac responded calmly.

    Though Edelred spoke as ifmenting his own situation, all these concerns were closely tied to Isaac¡¯s mission. Moreover, the issues he pondered were ones Isaac had already faced and resolved.

    To normalize the kingdom and join the Dawn Army,these were prerequisites for witnessing the Elil faith¡¯s culmination.

    ¡°I am here to restore the kingdom to you, Your Majesty.¡±

    Edelred perked up.

    ¡°The kingdom? To me? How?¡±

    Isaac spoke of secrets well-guarded by Elil¡¯s upper echelon and reasons why the Aldeon royal family hadn¡¯t been properly recognized, leading to civil strife across the kingdom.

    ¡°Hasn¡¯t Elil been silent for a century?¡±

    Edelred¡¯s pupils dted sharply. Seeing his eyes flicker, Isaac thought he should learn to control his expressions better.

    ¡°¡­How?¡±

    In the Elil clergy, there isn¡¯t a clear distinction between priests and pdins because all wield swords.

    Those who have reached the transcendent level of a Swordmaster could converse with angels and receive oracles from Elil.

    However, allmunication from Elil had suddenly ceased over a century ago. Even the angels imed ignorance when asked. This unprecedented situation inevitably plunged the Kingdom of Elil into prolonged civil war.

    ¡°I will help you receive Elil¡¯s recognition, Your Majesty.¡±

    ***

    Aldeon Pce Hall.

    In front of the vacant throne, the vassals discussed the recently visited Holy Grail Knight with serious expressions.

    They disliked this foreign Holy Grail Knight. The fact that he was performing well in a tradition even they were losing was a blow to their pride.

    Moreover, they particrly despised Isaac¡¯s handsome appearance.

    A true warrior should be burly and scarred, not slim and pretty like Isaac.

    ¡°Are we sure he¡¯s the right Holy Grail Knight? He doesn¡¯t look the part.¡±

    ¡°Maybe those Codex of Light folks just made up a hero. How could such a hero suddenly appear without Elil¡¯s blood?¡±

    ¡°They must be trying to drag our blood into their futile Dawn Army.¡±

    ¡°Wasn¡¯t there someone in the Elil Knight Order who fought the Holy Grail Knight?¡±

    ¡°Reyna Hilde!¡±

    As the vassals were deeply engrossed in their discussion, they called Reyna, who was standing near the door. Normally, she would guard next to the throne, but her bruised face had relegated her to the corner.

    ¡°You fought the Holy Grail Knight? Was he that strong?¡±

    Reyna looked incredulously at the questioner.

    ¡°Can¡¯t you see my face?¡±

    ¡°¡­Well managed nose bridge. But was there nothing more impressive than that?¡±

    Reyna smiled wryly, touching her broken nose.

    ¡°He emitted sword energy. And I survived that encounter.¡±

    Amidst the vassals¡¯ mixed reactions of admiration and dismay, they murmured to each other.

    ¡°If that¡¯s true, then¡­¡±

    ¡°If it¡¯s about sword energy, there¡¯s nothing we can do.¡±

    ¡°It seems even the Codex of Light can be useful sometimes.¡±

    ¡°Those petty fellows haven¡¯t forgotten the roots of Emperor Elil after all.¡±

    ¡°He truly deserves to be called the Holy Grail Knight!¡±

    Meanwhile, Isaac was eavesdropping on their conversation through Hesabel. He felt a sense of absurdity as he witnessed how the hostile attitudes towards him were reversed by a single mention of ¡®sword energy¡¯. This was typical of Elil, a ce where its simplicity was both a strength and a w.

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read up to advance 20 chapters or support me, you can do it at/Akaza156

 Chapter 158:

    Chapter 158:

    ¡°Your Majesty, shall we enter now?¡±

    Edelred had finished preparing and came when the servant asked. Edelred nodded briefly.

    It was time to enter.

    Isaac noticed Edelred, standing by his side, visibly tensing. He was standing in front of his vassals, but from today on, Edelred¡¯s standing wouldpletely change.

    ¡°It starts now.¡±

    At Isaac¡¯s words, Edelred nced and nodded, then stepped forward.

    When Edelred appeared in the hall, all eyes were instantly on him. However, their gazes were more on Isaac than on the frequently seen Edelred.

    The whispering voices began to quiet down.

    Previously, there had been no time to properly scrutinize as they were dragged along, leaving only a superficial image, but not anymore.

    Isaac, who had deliberately set the mood, began to captivate the people instantly.

    If it were only about appearance and atmosphere, the steadfast knights of Elil would not be swayed. However, the aura of the ¡®Grail Knight,¡¯ the emperor¡¯s envoy, and Reyna¡¯s testimonies made it impossible for them to not feel overshadowed by the presence of the Nephilim.

    Yet, this ce was a knight¡¯s Holy Land, where losing one¡¯s pride meant death.

    p.

    Then, a heavily scarred burly man started pping. As people turned towards the sound of the apuse, others began pping too, soon filling the hall with apuse. Mixed within the apuse were weing voices and praises.

    Isaac could read their psychology.

    ¡°One way for proud people to deny they have been subdued is to side with the strong.¡±

    It¡¯s about elevating the opponent and packaging them as worthy of respect.

    Isaac thought these twisted thoughts to himself as he walked among the weing vassals. Of course, there were those who did not p, but none were noteworthy.

    Edelred, judging the atmosphere of the reception to be not bad, did not intervene.

    Soon, Edelred sat on the throne, and Isaac stood in front.

    ¡°Isaac Issacrea. Ruler of the Kingdom of Elil, King of the Northern Sea, Mentor of Knights, Guardian of Elion, from Winterfell to Saltine, His Majesty King Edelred Aldeon greets you¡­¡­.¡±

    Of course, these titles were not earned by Edelred himself but were traditionally bestowed upon the king of Elil. The Aldeon royal family was currently losing control not only of Winterkol but also of Saltain.

    Isaac formally responded with memorized praises,mendations, and greetings, and disyed the gifts from Emperor Waltzemer carried on the ¡®Shining Grail Knight¡¯. Despite theplicated situation in the Gerthonia Empire, it was still far more affluent than the Kingdom of Elil, enough to instantly captivate those in the hall.

    Edelred himself could not look away from the disyed treasures, despite having heard about them beforehand.

    A big gift implies two things: buying favor while also exerting pressure. It was an unspoken pressure to feel the difference in national power between the two countries.

    But a ¡®nation of knights¡¯ cannot be subdued by gold and treasures alone.

    ¡°However, such trivial gold and treasures surely won¡¯t impress the honorable knights. Therefore, His Majesty Edelred wishes to present the most precious gift sent by Emperor Waltzemer.¡±

    ¡°Bring it out.¡±

    Edelred, having already heard about it, swallowed nervously and watched Isaac intently.

    Isaac slowly pulled out thest treasure from his pocket.

    Compared to the treasures shown before, it was unimpressive and small, and even seemed modest in appearance. Most of those present didn¡¯t understand what Isaac had taken out, and only a few hesitantly guessed it might be.

    Isaac remembered thest time he had pulled out this dagger and spoke.

    ¡°The dagger that split King Elil¡¯s chest and extracted his heart, the Rite of Division.¡±

    An explosive murmur broke out. The knights looked like they might rush forward at any moment, but they barely restrained themselves. A few who had unconsciously stepped forward stopped as they sensed the frozen atmosphere of the hall.

    Isaac raised it high enough for everyone to see clearly and said,

    ¡°I will return this to Elil.¡±

    ***

    Isaac hadpletely taken the atmosphere of Aldeon Castle.

    The massive national power of the Gerthonia Empire shown through the gifts, the achievements built as a Grail Knight, and the sacred relic that many knights of the Kingdom of Elil had tried but failed to recover.

    No one could ignore the person who brought all these together.

    And Isaac¡¯s achievements were soon also recognized as Edelred¡¯s achievements.

    Though the process was what it was, no king before had ever achieved such a feat. Luck is also a form of skill.

    And Edelred was not one to let this opportunity pass by as merely luck.

    As the vassals hurried to pledge their loyalty again, Edelred acknowledged their loyalty and distributed the gifts appropriately. Pleased with their gifts, the vassals actively participated in the banquet, fostering camaraderie.

    It was a tiresome but necessary process.

    It was only the next day that Isaac could move on to the next n.

    Edelred, looking at the people gathered in the conference room, clicked his tongue.

    ¡°Is this all?¡±

    ¡°This is everyone who isn¡¯tid out from a hangover.¡±

    In the conference room were Edelred, Isaac, Hesabel, and a few knights. Among them was the scar-ridden man who had pped first the previous day. Isaac noted his identity with interest.

    ¡°General Mors Gideon¡­¡±

    He was the top military officer tasked with the defense of Aldeon. Despite his ferocious appearance and ominous-sounding name, which often brought him undue suspicion, he was a man of simple loyalty to the Aldeon royal family.

    The problem was that his loyalty and belief in Elil were excessively fervent.

    ¡°There¡¯s no need for those fools who just drink without understanding what¡¯s about to happen to stay.¡±

    Those gathered here were the ones who had sensed the changesing to the Kingdom of Elil right after Isaac presented the Rite of Division and had prepared ordingly. They were the keyholders of significant positions in Aldeon.

    Edelred¡¯s expression darkened.

    ¡°Has the information already leaked?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know. But with information this crucial, it¡¯s unlikely it hasn¡¯t leaked. You could have disclosed it more cautiously.¡±

    Mors muttered as if reproaching Isaac.

    Isaac didn¡¯t blink an eye. After all, it was information meant to be leaked.

    The Rite of Division was not just any relic in the Kingdom of Elil.

    There were several swords that Elil used, all called ¡®Holy Swords¡¯ and treated as royal treasures. However, many of these swords were lost or damaged in numerous civil wars as the royal family changed.

    Only three swords remained now. One was with Elil¡¯s undecaying corpse in the holy sanctuary of Elion, one in the treasury of the Aldeon royal family, and thest was the Rite of Division that Isaac had brought.

    This particr sword held greater sanctity as it was directly involved in Elil¡¯s death, potentially enough to break Elil¡¯s silence. In other words, it had the symbolic power to shake the power structures of the civil war-ridden Kingdom of Elil.

    The traitors would have to act; they couldn¡¯t just stand by.

    ¡°It was revealed to make them move.¡±

    At Isaac¡¯s words, everyone¡¯s attention in the room turned to him.

    ¡°General Georg of the traitors is currently upying the sanctuary of Elion. It¡¯s neither possible nor necessary to turn Elion into a battlefield or to smash our heads against its already fortified walls. We¡¯ll make Georg move when it still seems like we¡¯re unguarded. He¡¯ll be less prepared the sooner he has to act.¡±

    ¡°No¡­¡±

    People looked at Isaac in surprise. Isaac calmly continued.

    ¡°The Hectali sisters, the cannibal witches, need no mention. Those kind will do everything to disrupt if they believe the Kingdom of Elil could be reunified or Elil resurrected. Eventually, they¡¯lle out of the forest to snatch the Rite of Division. Hopefully, no one here ns to willingly fight inside the witches¡¯ forest.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    The people in the conference room were taken aback by how well Isaac knew about them and had nned considering all scenarios.

    Of course, to Isaac, this was all too obvious.

    ¡®I¡¯ve already seen the ending with Elil.¡¯

    ***

    ¡°But¡­¡±

    Of course, it could have been said, ¡®It would have been better if we had prepared a little more before proceeding¡¯ or ¡®A surprise attack could have been an option.¡¯ Just as someone seemed about to voice this typical counterargument,

    ¡°That will be done.¡±

    However, Mors Gideon cut off the potential rebuttal and spoke instead.

    ¡°It¡¯s not particrly pleasing to know that the Gerthonia Empire has such a clear view of our affairs, but since the Grail Knight seems well-prepared, let¡¯s trust and follow him.¡±

    Mors shot a look at the knight who was about to speak.

    ¡°The Grail Knight has brought a glorious miracle to thisnd, so he will surely bestow another miracle. I don¡¯t believe this miracle is just for the Grail Knight to turn thisnd into his grave.¡±

    Though it was a sardonic remark, Isaac just smirked.

    He knew that considering all scenarios, this method was currently the best to stabilize the Kingdom of Elil. He didn¡¯t have much time for preparations. Attacking the enemy¡¯s stronghold directly would be even crazier.

    His method in the Elil route had been to lure the enemies out and then methodically strike them down.

    Mors nodded as if trusting Isaac and turned his gaze to Edelred.

    ¡°As you said, Georg wille charging in madness. I¡¯ve already tripled the number of scouts and stationed additional troops at the borders.¡±

    Mors tapped the map ced in the middle of the conference room at several points, all adjacent to forested areas.

    ¡°The witches might also emerge from the forest. I¡¯ve instructed the vigers in the border areas to hang horseshoes on their doors, hoping that the witches¡¯ beasts still dislike iron.¡±

    The stability of the Kingdom of Elill, despite its precarious state, could be attributed to individuals like Morse. Edelred nodded and asked,

    ¡°Who do you think wille first?¡±

    ¡°The chances are high that it will be the Witch Sisters of Hectali. Georg is sane, so he¡¯ll likely mobilize the army. Naturally, he¡¯ll be slower than the witches who ride beasts barefoot, since those creatures need no supplies.¡±

    ¡°Very well.¡±

    Isaac nodded and studied the map. He pointed to a massive forest closest to Aldeon.

    ¡°The witches wille from this direction. Let¡¯s set up an encirclement here.¡±

    Morse tilted his head in confusion.

    ¡°How do you know that?¡±

    Isaac tapped his chest as if it were obvious.

    ¡°Because I¡¯ll be heading there.¡±

    ***

    A ck swift flew into a foggy swamp. Suddenly, a clumsy hand emerged from the fog and grasped the swift. Therge, bumpy hand that seemed capable of holding a human head brought the swift to its mouth.

    Two other Witch Sisters watched as the witch chewed on the swift. Soon, thergest witch chirped in a voice as beautiful as the crying of the swift,

    ¡°The dagger that removed the heart of the Tyrant King has arrived! Along with the knight of the Holy Grail!¡±

    At those words, the witches gasped and burst into raucousughter.

    Theirughter spread through forests, valleys, and swamps, stirring birds into flight and rabbits and foxes out of their burrows. The wind carried the swamp¡¯s fog through the woods, racing toward Aldeon.

    ¡°With that dagger, let¡¯s pluck out the heart of the Grail Knight!¡±

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read up to advance 20 chapters or support me, you can do it at/Akaza156

 Chapter 159:

    Chapter 159:

    The expedition to capture the traitors was methodically prepared. Initially, since Isaac was to be used as bait for a witch-hunt, the publicly announced purpose was disguised as a ¡®hunt for fostering camaraderie.¡¯ The true objective was kept secret from all but a few high-ranking leaders.

    However, the subtle tension, excessive preparations, and the naturally arising anxiety sparked rumors. It was rumored that this expedition was to capture the Witch Sisters Hectali and the traitorous General Georg. Isaac neither denied nor suppressed these rumors.

    Once the preparations for the ¡®hunt¡¯ wereplete, Isaac and his party set off for the forests near Aldeon.

    ¡°If the traitors fall for this as the Grail Knight suggested ande out, it won¡¯t be difficult, Your Majesty.¡±

    Mors tantly stared at Isaac as he spoke.

    ¡°These people here, those who follow Elil¡¯s will, are enough.¡±

    The favor shown to him seemed only tost until the apuse ended. Isaac ignored it, but Edelred was ufortable with the look.

    ¡°General Mors Gideon. Do you not favor the Grail Knight?¡±

    ¡°The Holy Grail Knight is a beautiful tradition of Elil, Your Majesty. It is impossible for this foreigner to im such a title and emte the honor and valor thates with it.¡±

    ¡°The Holy Grail Knight has brought the Rite of Division. There have been many Holy Grail Knights, but none who have reimed the Holy Sword. If you wish to nder, ask Elil for answers.¡±

    ¡®Asking Elil for answers¡¯ meant a divine trial bybat in the tradition of Elil.

    In the arena, Elil himself would show who was right. It was amon method of mediation and also a tool of oppression.

    Mors met Isaac¡¯s gaze with unflinching eyes.

    ¡®It seems he thinks my reputation is exaggerated.¡¯

    Being a general in the Kingdom of Elil impliedpetence. However, Isaac had neither the time nor the reason to engage in such petty disputes.

    ¡°I am not foolish enough to question freely in the Holy Land of Elil.¡±

    Thoughced with sarcasm, it was essentially a humble statement. Once Isaac showed humility, Mors did not provoke further. He wasn¡¯t foolish enough to persist in defiance of the king¡¯s will.

    ¡°Please tell us more about the Hectali Sisters and General Georg.¡±

    It was crucial for Isaac to verify whether his information matched reality. Although the overall settings might align, often the details did not due to discrepancies between game characteristics and practical feasibility.

    Mors began speaking about the primary adversaries.

    ¡°First, regarding the Hectali Sisters¡­ they are witches who have lived on thisnd long before Elil founded his kingdom, worshipped as deities using newborns as sacrifices to dominate this area.¡±

    ¡°Indeed.¡±

    ¡°After their defeat by Elil, they fled to the northern marshes but stillmand barbaric wildlife and persist there using disturbing magic and rituals.¡±

    ¡°What kind of magic do they use?¡±

    ¡°They summon grotesque monsters, cast illusions and auditory hallucinations, and curse people to vomit leeches or rats. The worst is a curse that transforms the body. Manyrades suffer from these afflictions.¡±

    Mors shuddered as he spoke.

    In the Kingdom of Elil, where honorablebat was valued, the existence of a witch using curses was both a disgrace and a source of anger.

    Isaac nodded; the information matched his knowledge.

    The identity of the Witch Sisters Hectali might indeed be that of ancient gods.

    Not the crudely resurrected kind by the Immortal Order but genuine deities of barbarism, worshiping animals, sorcery, and human sacrifice, surviving intact through the ages.

    In the Codex of Light dominated Gerthonia Empire, such deities had been nearly eradicated, with only a few seeking resurgence on the fringes.

    ¡®Real ancient gods, not just recycled ones, interesting¡­ They¡¯re not as powerful as angels, though.¡¯

    Isaac was satisfied the information on Hectali aligned with his own and moved on to inquire about Georg.

    ¡°What can you tell us about Georg?¡±

    ¡°Lianne Georg is one of the rare transcendents, a Swordmaster, in this country.¡±

    Mors grimaced slightly.

    ¡°As you might know, Swordmasters are those who transcend normal human bounds and can imbue miracles into objects within reach. For the Codex of Light, they are almost the equivalent ofbining a Grand Knight Commander and a Bishop.¡±

    ¡°I understand their stature now.¡±

    ¡°The previous Lord Georg, Vio Georg, was also a famed hero and Swordmaster. Lianne Georg has inherited his talents and prowess. Therefore, the Georg family is respected by many among the popce.¡±

    In a country like Elil where strength is revered, the existence of a transcendent like a Swordmaster naturally became an object of adoration. Especially so if the current king was perceived as weak.

    Isaac recalled a brawl in a tavern. If even in the capital, people openlypared the king with traitors, the situation in the provinces could be assumed to be more pronounced. The legitimacy of Edelred¡¯s lineage was shallow, merely over a century old, and traced back to usurpers, making their position inherently precarious.

    Moreover, Georg was now uwfully upying the sacred site of Elil¡¯s tomb at Elion. This was a profound infringement on legitimacy.

    ¡®Witches might fly and crawl, but Georg is a hundred times more dangerous.¡¯

    If Hectali represented the savage beasts of the provinces, Georg had the power to overturn the nation.

    ***

    Edelred¡¯s hunting expedition soon reached its destination, the Owl Forest.

    Low bushes thrived over the hillock, interspersed with tall trees. The gullies between the hills moistened their ankles. The terrain was difficult for horses, so the knights had to proceed on foot.

    ¡°Leave the horses in the nearby vige and lock the door with a bolt. Even if someone calls out, do not open it until the fog clears,¡± instructed Mors.

    While Mors was issuingmands, Isaac surveyed the surrounding terrain. A mist had already settled around the forest, a sign that the witches were present.

    ¡®They must really want this ritual of division.¡¯

    The Hectali Sisters harbored immense resentment towards Elil; having been brutally expelled from their home and deformed by their wounds, their grudge was understandable. Rumors had it that they had tempted a dancer to extract Elil¡¯s heart. Whether true or not, they certainly wouldn¡¯t wish well for Elil.

    Suddenly, Isaac noticed a crow staring intently at him from a signpost.

    Its red eyes were scary.

    Not just the signpost, rooftops, branches, and bushes around the vige flickered with red eyes.

    But they seemed not ready to act just yet.

    As the crow cawed again, hidden birds in the bushes took flight all at once, darkening the sky momentarily. The knights looked up in surprise.

    Isaac watched the ascending birds and pondered.

    ¡®Surveince¡­ or rather, an invitation? They clearly don¡¯t n toe out.¡¯

    Such tant exposure was surely meant to convey a message.

    If you are a knight who honors nobility, a Grail Knight chasing glory,e and catch us.

    A ludicrous provocation, but an invitation that couldn¡¯t be declined.

    ¡°We are being watched by the witch,¡± Edelred whispered anxiously. Though the birds had vanished, the sensation of being watched remained. Every rodent or bird that passed by had to be regarded as the witch¡¯s eyes. Isaac crossed his arms and replied,

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. If they¡¯ve increased their surveince, it means they¡¯re also tense. They probably won¡¯te out of the forest at all.¡±

    ¡°They won¡¯te out? Then¡­¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fine. We still have ways to catch them. If all else fails, we could even set the forest on fire.¡±

    It was a jest. Setting the forest aze would only make the witch flee, not capture her.

    ¡°Let¡¯s all rest for today. The expedition truly begins tomorrow.¡±

    ***

    The next day, Isaac set out for Owl Forest with his knights.

    Edelred was assigned to control the troops on the outskirts. He was not suited for directbat, and it was an opportunity for him to learn about overall troop management.

    In the Kingdom of Elil, a king¡¯s duties often require looking at the bigger picture rather than fighting with a sword.

    Isaac¡¯s group was small, consisting only of Hesabel and a couple of knights for sending messages; the rest began slowly forming a siege around the forest.

    Edelred wanted to assign more guards to Isaac, but Isaac refused.

    ¡°I am merely bait. If too many of Elil¡¯s valiant knights are seen, the witches might hide. Should I be in danger, please send reinforcements promptly, Your Majesty.¡±

    Edelred looked impressed. Sometimes, he seemed just a boy.

    ¡®In truth, it¡¯s easier to demonstrate my skills when not being watched.¡¯

    Ideally, Isaac would handle the situation without revealing his monstrous appendages, but given the formidable ancient deity they faced, that might not be possible. Having no witnesses was preferable. While not assigning any guards would seem suspicious, including just a couple was apromise.

    However, an uninvited figure had also joined them.

    ¡°When did you join us, Lady Yulihida?¡±

    Yulihida had casually embedded herself among the knights at some point, her arms loaded with dried jerky and hard bread.

    ¡°I found out I¡¯m part of your group.¡±

    ¡°No, I never said that¡­¡±

    Isaac was puzzled, but having an angel join the expedition might not be a bad thing. Of course, he was reluctant to unleash his sphemous tentacles, but she probably knew his true identity.

    Most angels recognized him on sight.

    ¡°So, what is my role?¡± she asked.

    ¡°Ask the Sword of May.¡±

    Was she still pretending not to know? Or had she not yet passed some unknown test?

    Isaac spected that Yulihida hadn¡¯t been given a mission because she hadn¡¯t surpassed some criteria.

    Otherwise, there wouldn¡¯t be any reason for her to follow them into battle.

    Isaac decided to ignore Yulihida and focus on the mission.

    Hesabel climbed the trees overhead, and knights including Reyna Hilde joined him. They had volunteered for this dangerous mission eagerly.

    ¡®Now, how should we capture a witch?¡¯

    Witches attack using summoned beasts or curses. It would be fortunate even to encounter one, as most exhaust their pursuers by mere evasion. They had survived for centuries by evading Elil¡¯s grasp.

    Thus, Isaac¡¯s initial goal wasn¡¯t to capture the witches but to frighten them into staying out of their stronghold. If they realized they were up against an overwhelming force, they would likely remain quietly within their forestir, as they had during Elil¡¯s reign.

    ¡®More than mere swordsmanship might be necessary here.¡¯

    Isaac asked Reyna a question.

    ¡°Have you ever been on a witch hunt before?¡±

    At Isaac¡¯s question, Reyna was horrified.

    ¡°Lord Isaac, be careful! They say that speaking of witches in the forest will make them appear!¡±

    ¡°¡­Why are we here, Reyna?¡±

    ¡°To catch the witches!¡±

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read up to advance 20 chapters or support me, you can do it at/Akaza156

 Chapter 160:

    Chapter 160:

    Atst, Reyna seemed to realize her mistake and quickly covered her mouth.

    She hurriedly added an answer.

    ¡°Oh, yes, you mean witch hunts. There have been a few! But rather than catching witches directly, it was more about destroying the summons they conjured or rescuing kidnapped children.¡±

    ¡°What was the witch¡¯s reaction during those times?¡±

    ¡°It usually starts with beasts observing us from a distance. Then, their numbers increase, and fog begins to envelop the area. When people start getting lost, it indicates that the witch¡¯s attacks have begun. What¡¯s terrifying is that all of this progresses so stealthily that it¡¯s hard to notice until it¡¯s fully upon us!¡±

    ¡°Stealthily, huh? Have you experienced it before?¡±

    ¡°Yes. But I won¡¯t fall for the same tricks again¡­¡­.¡±

    Reyna was about to boast when she noticed Isaac¡¯s gaze fixed elsewhere and looked around.

    Caw.

    A crow that they had seen outside the vige was perched on a branch, twisting its head to observe Isaac¡¯s group. Thud-thud. Soon after, a magpiended next to the crow, and shortly birds began to fill the branches one by one.

    ¡°Could it be the witch?!¡±

    ¡°Even in Port Aldeon, we never received such a haunting wee.¡±

    Not human, though.

    Isaac didn¡¯t refuse the invitation and strode forward. Reyna, though hesitantly, followed him. She had already drawn her sword, but she couldn¡¯t fight the birds in the trees. Yulihida was nowhere to be seen by then.

    Unbeknownst to them, fog was creeping into the forest. As the fog thickened, the number of glowing-eyed beasts hiding in the bushes also increased. Now, it wasn¡¯t just birds, but rats, foxes, squirrels, boars, and wolves that were closely watching Isaac¡¯s group.

    This was not mere surveince but an overt threat.

    However, Isaac felt a strange abundance.

    ¡®It reminds me of my time at the monastery.¡¯

    He reminisced about roaming the gloomy, deserted forests and freely preying on wild animals¡­ a truly satisfying scene. It felt like returning home, aforting feeling.

    Then, a particrlyrge goat appeared among the animals. Its rectangr pupils fixed on Isaac. Isaac licked his lips seeing therge goat.

    ¡°This is how it should be in the forest.¡±

    Maaa.

    As if responding to Isaac¡¯s muttering, a goat bleated long.

    The goat munched on some leaves then spoke.

    ¡°Bring the heart of the Holy Grail Knight.¡±

    [Nameless Chaos watches over you.]

    [Nameless Chaos desires you to y ¡®the Witch Hectali Sisters¡¯.]

    [Chaos¡¯s reward awaits you.]

    The wild animals started howling in unison.

    A chilling scene, but Isaac walked forward unfazed. Reyna was the only one panicking. A fox that tried to retreat messed up its timing.

    Isaac quickly grabbed the fox by the scruff of its neck. It¡¯s not easy for even a professional hunter to catch a wild animal barehanded, but for Isaac, it was as simple as picking up an object.

    ¡°Holy Grail Knight?!¡±

    ¡®Hmm, I shouldn¡¯t eat here.¡¯

    Isaac threw the fox amidst the birds. A ng sound spread as the birds took flight. The provoked wild animals began to move in unison. At the same time, Reyna began to chant a prayer.

    ¡°Lead us, Elil, at the forefront!¡±

    ¡°We march into the battlefield where You fight today!¡±

    Flurrrrr! Reyna¡¯s sword vibrated in response to her prayer. Simrly, two other knights who chanted the same prayer had their swords resonating. They quickly formed a formation and began ughtering the approaching animals.

    In the Kingdom of Elil, a knight is also a priest, a pdin.

    The miracles were limited but all were practical, aiding inbat.

    ¡®They won¡¯t die if left alone.¡¯

    Isaac watched the knights fight and walked ahead towards the direction where the goat had vanished.

    Reyna¡¯s anxious voice was heard.

    ¡°Holy Grail Knight?! Where are you going!¡±

    ¡°The witch came to catch me. I¡¯ll dly go into herir and slit her throat.¡±

    Isaac nced back and said.

    ¡°Go tell them that the Holy Grail Knight has charged in alone. It¡¯s time for Elil¡¯s army to move.¡±

    If there was any chance to do so.

    Isaac thought about what might be happening to Edelred¡¯s Knight Order and stopped himself mid-sentence.

    Isaac did not just spend thest night having fun.

    He caught wild animals roaming around the vige and infected them with the Parasite from Beyond. He didn¡¯t take full control to consume them; it was just enough to share their eyes and ears.

    The witches sent these animals to spy on Isaac, but essentially, he was just as aware of what they were seeing and hearing.

    Among these infected animals were some meant to surveil the army of Edelred.

    ¡®As expected, they are trying to disrupt the formation of the encirclement.¡¯

    The army was hindered by beasts summoned by the witches, forest obstacles, and swamp curses. Some of these summons were quite dangerous, but they were manageable without significant damage for the knights of Aldeon.

    ¡®They rushed here too quickly to prepare perfectly.¡¯

    If they had gone to the swamp where the witches¡¯ base was, there would have been much more dangerous monsters. But at such a distance, even the witches had to rely on local trees and animals.

    However, the real danger was the curse.

    Even now, the knights were unable to perform at their best because of the curse. Still, the situation was not disadvantageous for Edelred. As long as the witch did not show herself, they could quickly dismantle these minor disruptions.

    ¡®They must be nning to finish me off before that.¡¯

    The Rite of Division would be a relic worth desiring for the witches.

    ¡°Cackle cackle cackle!¡±

    A sudden gust of wind broughtughter with it. The leaves and grass of the forest trembled as if convulsing. The fallen leaves stood up all at once and rushed towards Isaac like a wave.

    Isaac quietly raised the mes of the Luadin Key.

    Crackle. The Luadin Key burned more fiercely, using the evil energy as fuel. The burning de split the wind around it.

    From within the disturbed leaves, arge goat appeared again. It stood on two legs as if it was natural, holding arge harvesting scythe between its hooves.

    ¡°You¡¯ve walked right into my mouth, Grail Knight!¡±

    ¡°How tender will the flesh of a Holy Grail Knight be?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll separate your head and show you how I y with your body!¡±

    The goat¡¯s head shook frantically as it spoke in three voices¡ªit was the voice of Witch Hectali.

    There was no need to distinguish who was who. Although they were called sisters, the three were beings split from one.

    Isaac smirked and flicked his chin towards the goat.

    ¡°Take a bite.¡±

    ***

    Maa!

    Laughing like bursting intoughter, the goat charged towards Isaac. With each step, it grewrger, and by the time it reached Isaac, it was nearly 4 meters tall. Using its size and weight, it swung therge scythe downwards.

    Bang! The scythe¡¯s massive action made it easy to dodge, but the heavy scythe split the ground like tofu. Without hesitation, it scraped the ground and swung the scythe again, cutting through the air with incredible slicing power.

    ¡®The Witch¡¯s Scythe¡­¡¯

    Innumerable resentments could be felt emanating from the scythe held by the goat-man. The resentments tried to cling stickily to Isaac, while mercilessly cutting through anything in its path.

    ¡®I knew it, but it¡¯s more brutal than expected.¡¯

    It was a cursed relic created directly by the witches through human sacrifices.

    With tremendous weight and power, and infused with resentments, the scythe was like a storm cutting through everything around it towards Isaac. Only the skill of a harvester was needed, no swordsmanship required.

    Even the Luadin Key seemed too much to sh directly with that scythe, so Isaac initially kept his distance. However, the weapons of the Hectali witches weren¡¯t limited to the goat-man.

    As Isaac only tried to evade, the witches grew impatient. They needed to quicklyplete the division ritual and capture the Grail Knight before the knights could intervene.

    Maa!

    The body of the goat-man suddenly started to swell.

    From the swollen area, another goat-man tore through the wound and emerged. Beside it, another tumor that was breeding goat-men started to swell.

    On the body of the goat-man, another goat-man grew, and on top of that, another goat-man, creating a fractal-like figure.

    Maaaaaaaa!!

    The massively swollen goat-man was now like a moving mountain. A headache-inducing loud cry shook the forest. The goat-man, with the strength and weight of hundreds, swept through the forest. Trees centuries old snapped like matchsticks.

    The resentments emitted from the hundreds of scythes pulled Isaac into a pitch-ck swamp in an instant. In the swamp, white hands of the witch weed him with open arms.

    Boom! The massive attack of the goat-man swept over the ce where Isaac had been in an instant.

    It was an attack that could neither be avoided nor blocked.

    ¡°Such a pathetic illusion.¡±

    However, Isaac instantly broke through the illusions of hundreds of goat-men and charged at ¡®the real one.¡¯ It didn¡¯t matter if it was an illusion or not;pared to the tentacle attacks of the Drowned King, this wasughably simple and slow.

    Isaac¡¯s Swordsmanship: Eight Branches activated, tearing the goat-men¡¯s false illusions to shreds. The breaking of the illusion curse made the goat-men extremely vulnerable.

    Seeing the dark energy rushing towards him to ughter him, the goat-man roared fiercely.

    Isaac felt a sinister energy surging towards him and instinctively stopped, shuddering. He didn¡¯t know what it was, but he could feel the presence of a powerful curse. A chilling sensation crawled up his spine.

    Laughter from the witches burst forth.

    ¡°Cackle cackle! Holy Grail Knight, let¡¯s see some tricks from you!¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s see how that noble mouth spews out leeches and rats¡­¡±

    But even after a while, as Isaac showed no particr reaction, the witches stopped speaking in confusion. They wondered if their curse had failed, but they had definitely hit him directly with a curse that spared no sacrifices.

    ¡°Burp.¡±

    Soon, a refreshing burp came from Isaac.

    [You have consumed the ¡®Rabid Rat¡¯.]

    [You have consumed the ¡®Swamp Leech¡¯.]

    [Your absorption efficiency has increased due to the ¡®Intestines of the Dead God¡¯ perk.]

    Although identifying the curse was initially troubling, the leeches and rats summoned inside him were digested before they could even reach his throat. It¡¯s possible that the ¡®Intestines of the Dead God¡¯ were truly part of Isaac¡¯s own intestines.

    Isaac, having unexpectedly feasted on animals filled with faith, muttered,

    ¡°I¡¯m receiving a wee banquet here that I never got in Aldeon. It seems you wee me more than the Kingdom of Elil, huh?¡±

    ¡°¡­¡­¡±

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read up to advance 20 chapters or support me, you can do it at/Akaza156

 Chapter 161:

    Chapter 161:

    The witches fell silent, freezing in ce.

    ¡°I apologize for ruining the atmosphere of the banquet with my rude manners, but now it¡¯s time to end this.¡±

    The final main dish is goat¡¯s head.

    Isaac decided that the goat-man was no longer a threat, and suddenly charged at him.

    The goat-man swung its scythe in convulsions.

    Crack. The Luadin Key collided with the scythe. The resentments embedded in the scythe screamed and clung to the me of the Luadin Key as if to extinguish it.

    But at that moment, Isaac infused sword energy into the Luadin Key.

    The mes of the Luadin Key surged like tentacles, rotating like a saw de, and began tearing and biting everything around it. Even the resentments could not escape being its prey.

    Crunch, crackle,

    The gruesome sound of a beast crunching bones raw echoed as the resentments shattered. Simultaneously, the scythe also began to crumble and shatter. The witches, having shed countless times with the knights of Elil, realized what Isaac had unleashed.

    ¡°Sword energy! Isn¡¯t he a pdin of the Codex of Light?¡±

    Their screams were meaningless, unheard by anyone. Isaac swiftly destroyed the scythe and swung his de. The goat-man¡¯s wrist was severed in an instant.

    Losing bnce, the goat-man staggered. Isaac immediately thrust his sword towards its chest.

    Crunch! The goat¡¯s chest was gruesomely prated. Centered around the wound, flesh and bone seemed to twist and crush inward. Instantly, the goat-man¡¯s form tilted into an asymmetric shape.

    ¡°Aaah! Aaaha haha, kahaha!¡±

    However, the Hectali witches, instead of panicking,ughed and manipted the goat-man to grab Isaac¡¯s arm fiercely. Despite the Luadin Key prating deeper, the creature paid no heed.

    ¡°Cackle cackle! Fool! This is just a temporary skin we are using!¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll now encase you inside and transport you! You might be half-dissolved by the time we arrive, but you¡¯ll be alive!¡±

    With the witches¡¯ mockingughter, the goat-man¡¯s abdomen was ripped vertically long. Inside, hundreds of teeth and tongues awaited to swallow Isaac.

    Then, theughter abruptly stopped.

    A witch screamed sharply.

    The goat-man, driven mad, began biting off its own arm and retreated from Isaac as if trying to escape. It didn¡¯t stop there but rolled over the fallen leaves, frantically scratching its severed arm and various parts of its body.

    It scratched so violently that flesh seemed about to fall off.

    ¡°Yikes, what? What was that?!¡±

    ¡°What! What is it!¡±

    ¡°We need to eat the Holy Grail Knight!¡±

    The bewildered witches¡¯ voices continued. Isaac smiled at the scene.

    The goat-man, or rather the Hectali witch hiding within, gasped for air and looked at Isaac. Unknown to her, at the moment she tried to consume him, something had burrowed into her body instead.

    It was the poison that Isaac had sent back through his blood.

    [Poison of a Rotten Angel (S) / Rare Angelic Corpse Poison. A potent poisonbining strong regenerative and holy properties, the aura of death, and curses. Especially effective against beings with holiness.]

    The poison, obtained from consuming the corpse of the Drowned King, was lethal to beings with any holiness. Hectali, being an ancient deity, possessed some form of holiness, which she had drawn from human sacrifices and fear-based worship, which became her strength.

    But now, that holiness had be a catalyst for the poison spread by Isaac.

    Hectali felt the holiness decaying from the severed arm¡¯s tip. Despite it being only a trace amount of blood, she felt an intense toxicity. She couldn¡¯t imagine what would happen if she consumed Isaac whole.

    But that wasn¡¯t the only problem.

    Toxins were familiar to her. But ¡®something¡¯ that tried to invade her body along with the poison was the issue. It was akin yet entirely foreign to her own essence.

    ¡°Ah¡­ So only one witch came as ¡®the real one¡¯, and the others supported with curses?¡±

    Isaac¡¯s cold voice snapped Hectali back to reality.

    Caught up in the fa?ade of being a Holy Grail Knight and her greed for the Rite of Division, she had ignored the true nature of Isaac, which now became evident to her. Although it was just a glimpse, something ominous and indescribable was swirling around his entire body.

    The sin created by the heavens and earth approached, whetting its appetite.

    ¡°Oh, don¡¯te! I¡¯ll kill you¡­¡±

    Isaac snatched her by the nape like a snake, but all he grabbed was arge piece of goat skin. In the distance, a naked old woman was frantically running through the leaves.

    ¡®Now I see how she¡¯s survived for so long.¡¯

    ***

    The true form of Hectali was revealed: a head adorned with a crown-like formation of thick vines, with only the lips of a young woman visible within the vine. Below that, the body of an old woman, wrinkled and ancient, suggested centuries of life.

    ¡°Hah, ah! Aaah!¡±

    Despite appearing to be an old woman of several hundred years, Hectali moved through the forest with surprising speed. However, no matter how fast she ran, it felt painfully slow because she could sense Isaac persistently following behind her.

    ¡®What? How is he following me? He shouldn¡¯t know this forest so well!¡¯

    Hectali had strategically ced wild animals along her escape route to monitor the paths, but she was unaware that Isaac¡¯s parasites were also hiding among them.

    Moreover, Hesabel, who was moving through the trees, was continuously monitoring and reporting Hectali¡¯s movements.

    Hectali clenched her teeth and moved the forest.

    The trees shifted and fog rose up. It was an illusion so potent that it could make a seasoned hunter lose their way. However, at a simple gesture from Isaac, colors burst forth from beyond.

    This new spectrum quickly cleared the fog and cut through the branches and vines that were in the way. As Isaac relentlessly pursued her without slowing down, the witch screamed again.

    ¡°Ah! What in the world is this? What is it?¡±

    Her horrible screams went unheeded as her sisters urged her to capture the Holy Grail Knight.

    But it was impossible. ¡®That one¡¯ was not something she could deal with.

    Suddenly, the forest cleared before her.

    The harsh winter of the Elil Kingdomy before her, and through the yellowed grass of the field, she could see dozens of Elil knights who had just driven off an attack by wild animals. Startled by Hectali¡¯s sudden appearance, they quickly recognized who she was.

    ¡°It¡¯s the witch!¡±

    The Elil knights began to form up, reciting prayers located somewhere between curses and hymns, preparing to confront the witch. Hectali burst outughing madly.

    She muttered with a ferocious smile.

    [Fine¡­ I¡¯ll just have to devour you lot!]

    Crunch, crack.

    Roots began to grow from beneath Hectali¡¯s vine-covered head, quickly enveloping her body and raising her up as a massive figure. The closest unlucky knight was entangled in the vines and absorbed into her body.

    ***

    ¡°The witch has appeared!¡±

    ¡°What?!¡±

    Mors, leading the left wing, hastened to focus his troops upon hearing that the witch had appeared. He had received reports from Reyna that the Holy Grail Knight was luring the witch inside the forest, but now she had unexpectedly shown up on the west side.

    ¡®Has the Holy Grail Knight been defeated?¡¯

    Mors felt conflicted but quickly led his knights towards where the witch was reported to have appeared. However, he was shocked upon arrival.

    ¡°A Root Giant? Hectali was a Root Giant?¡±

    The Root Giant was a cmitous entity known to appear in the frontier areas. It would suddenly appear in frontier viges, devour all the inhabitants, andpletely destroy the houses, leaving no trace behind and often turning the site into a swamp or a vast forest.

    The problem was the immense power of the Root Giant. Not even two knight orders had been able to defeat it. If one of the Hectali was indeed a Root Giant, it meant that the witches had been hiding their true strength all this time.

    As expected, the soldiers and knights forming the encirclement were overwhelmingly defeated by the Root Giant. Knights entangled in its vines dangled helplessly, their bodily fluids being absorbed.

    Moreover, the Root Giant was not only unleashing curses that caused knights to vomit rats from their mouths across the field.

    Edelred, who arrived at about the same time, watched the battlefield with a pale expression.

    ¡°Keep your distance! Shoot ming arrows!¡±

    One of themanders, panicking, issued an order. Mors quickly pped the back of themander¡¯s head and shouted.

    ¡°Are you mad? Start a fire in a dry field? You want us to burn along with the witch in His Majesty¡¯s presence?¡±

    ¡°But, General¡­ how do we capture that thing?¡±

    The idea of retreat never crossed their minds. Only Edelred hesitantly proposed a ¡°strategic regroup,¡± but Mors¡¯s eyes red with anger at the suggestion.

    ¡°Strategy is only relevant until the enemy appears before you! When the enemy is in front of you, there¡¯s only one thing to do!¡±

    Gritting his teeth, Mors drew his beloved axe and shouted as he charged forward on his horse.

    ¡°For Elil! I go to the battlefield you lead us to!¡±

    Ultimately, it would be Elil who decided the oue of the battle. Soon, the knights apanying Mors also rushed forward.

    Thudding of heavy horse hooves filled the air like drumbeats of war, revitalizing the panicked knights. Instinctively, they followed Mors, who was leading the charge.

    ¡°Ah, Elil! To your side Ie!¡±

    ¡°Elil! Elil! Elil!¡±

    A knight with a broken arm charged at the Root Giant, and another who had been spewing rats now bit them off and grasped his sword. Even those hanging and being drained by the Giant began to bite at its roots in desperation.

    Crack, bang! Each swing of the Giant¡¯s limbs sent several knights flying with broken limbs. But as long as their necks weren¡¯t broken, they got up and charged again. If not with swords, then with teeth, or even their heads.

    ¡°Where¡¯s the weak spot, General Mors!¡±

    ¡°This beast has a head! Cut off its head!¡±

    ¡°But it¡¯s too tall, General!¡±

    ¡°Start from the ankles! Cut your way up to the head!¡±

    [These crazy bastards¡­!]

    Hectali was shocked by the sudden resurgence of the Elil knights, who she had been dominating just moments ago. Battles with Elil knights were always like this; they might seem mad and close to defeat, but when on the brink of death, they would turn into berserk warriors.

    The disturbing part was that miracles seemed to apany them in this state.

    The battlefield¡¯s miracle enveloped the Elil knights.

    It was a hymn called forth not by prayer, but by blood and battle. As long as the miracle¡¯s blessing was upon them, they felt neither fear nor pain, only the resolve to y their enemies and superhuman strength.

    ¡®This won¡¯t do.¡¯

    Hectali had initially nned to eat a few knights and then escape westward. However, she found no way to ovee the knights in their current state, and with the Holy Grail Knight possibly in pursuit, she couldn¡¯t keep fighting.

    [Let go!]

    As the knights entered a frenzied state, gaps appeared in their formation. Hectali forcefully shook off the knights clinging to her and ran towards an opening. She thought she might escape by transforming into a deer or moose once she was far enough away.

    ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going?!¡±

    At that moment, Mors roared and swung his axe. The one he faced had no time to dodge. Mors¡¯s axe, executed with advanced swordsmanship, sliced through Hectali¡¯s hand and embedded itself in her side. Hectali screamed irritably and grabbed Mors¡¯s head.

    She felt she would only be satisfied if she crushed his head, even as she was dying.

    Just then, thest entity she should ever face appeared.

    [Holy Grail Knight!!]

    Hectali swung Mors¡¯s body trying to crush the Holy Grail Knight along with it. However, Isaac calmly exhaled, thinking of the maneuvers necessary for this moment.

    He remembered a trick Bashul had shown on the beach.

    Drawing his sword while running and stabbing in one breath.

    Distance and time didn¡¯t matter.

    A crystal battlefield monument shone brightly, enhancing Isaac¡¯s movements with its light.

    Isaded, ripping through Hectali¡¯s neck.

    Silence hung over the field.

    Whooooosh! A sudden gust then broke branches off the Root Giant and knocked down knights. The dry grass of the ins bent sideways in the fierce wind.

    For a while, the rising dust was so thick that knights could hardly see.

    Thud.

    And then, finally, the sound of the Root Giant, beheaded, copsing to the ground was heard.

    The sound of a centuries-old great tree falling.

    [Nameless Chaos watches over you.]

    [Objective: ¡®Witch Hectali Sisters (1/3)¡¯ eliminated.]

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read up to advance 20 chapters or support me, you can do it at/Akaza156

 Chapter 162:

    Chapter 162:

    Along with a notification sound, Isaac let out a breath he had been holding back.

    His fingertips tingled. It wasn¡¯t surprising considering he had just torn off Hectali¡¯s head at incredible speed. However, his hand quickly returned to normal, surrounded by a sinister fluctuating energy that he had blocked with sword energy in a manner simr to what Bashul had shown.

    ¡®I was supposed to use my sword¡­¡¯

    He had drawn his sword first, but his hand had moved faster. Instinctively, he realized he could perform advanced swordsmanship more easily with his hands than with his sword.

    The technique was inspired by Bashul¡¯s sword drawing move, but what Isaac aplished was entirely different.

    If Bashul¡¯s strike was like lightninging down, Isaac¡¯s was more like the touch of a predator hunting its prey.

    It was a surprise attack that the opponent didn¡¯t seeing. Isaac had simply be a massive tentacle that serenely scooped up Hectali¡¯s head.

    The action was so fluid and straightforward that even Isaac himself was momentarily taken aback. However, to those around him, it was a bewildering and iprehensible sight.

    ¡®Was the insight I gained that time¡­ this profound?¡¯

    Isaac¡¯s swordsmanship wasn¡¯t originally at this level. However, something had distinctly changed after his awakening during the duel with Yulihida.

    This move was also based on Bashul¡¯s technique but modified from the ¡®Hand of the Drowned¡¯ technique he had developed on the ship. It was an instant fusion created out of immediate necessity.

    ¡®But can this even be called swordsmanship?¡¯

    Martial arts often include movements inspired by animals or natural phenomena, and the Avnche Knight Order had developed their swordsmanship based on avnches; perhaps this wasn¡¯t so different.

    ¡®But this feels less like imitating something and more like bing something.¡¯

    Isaac couldn¡¯t quite exin it himself.

    After his awakening, he felt as though he had essed a different realm of existence.

    ¡°Holy Grail Knight.¡±

    At someone¡¯s call, Isaac turned around.

    Numerous eyes were fixed on him. All the knights and soldiers in the field were staring at him with a mix of astonishment and shock after he had appeared and ripped off the head of the witch they were all struggling to subdue.

    Isaac understood their shock, but he also sensed another emotion in their gazes.

    Awe.

    Beyond respect and affection, it was the emotion humans feel when they witness a supremely powerful being. Leading them was Mors Gideon.

    With blood streaming down his head from where he almost had his skull crushed, Mors approached Isaac.

    Naturally, he took off his battered helmet and knelt on one knee before Isaac.

    ¡°You truly are a Holy Grail Knight, even from a farnd, carrying forth the will of Elil.¡±

    Starting with Mors, other knights also removed their helmets and began to kneel. Edelred approached the ufortable Isaac. It was a scene that could be misinterpreted in front of the king, as if someone else was receiving loyalty in his presence.

    ¡°Your Majesty, this is¡­¡±

    ¡°Nothing more than a knight being respected as he deserves. Holy Grail Knight.¡±

    Edelred removed his helmet and ced it before Isaac, bowing his head.

    ¡°Today you saved my knights. ept my respect as well.¡±

    ***

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much about today¡¯s events. Those knight zealots think it¡¯s only right to kneel before a strong one, disregarding any oaths of loyalty to the king.¡±

    On the ride back to the vige after the initial defeat of Hectali, Edelred advised Isaac. For a moment, Isaac wondered if this was a check on him, but as a foreigner from the Gertonia Empire, he posed no political threat. Instead, he realized that Edelred was disconcerted by the knights¡¯ behavior.

    ¡°Half of those under Lianne Georg¡¯smand were generals and knights who she bent to her will by her hand. Just 3 or 4 years ago, they were loyal to our father. ¡®You defeated me, I acknowledge it! I will serve you!¡¯ It¡¯s absurd.¡±

    It could be seen as ack of principles or an insane devotion to strength. This tradition had always led to political instability and internal conflicts within the Kingdom of Elil.

    It was natural for King Edelred to despise the knights.

    ¡°But you didn¡¯t have to do that, Your Majesty.¡±

    ¡°If I had stood there stiffly alone, can you imagine what the knights would have said behind me? They would have criticized me for being a stiff novice. It¡¯s better to act boldly; these guys prefer that.¡±

    Though a hater of knighthood, born in and of knights, Edelred wasn¡¯t devoid of political acumen. He coughed awkwardly after ncing at Isaac.

    With a sigh, Isaac said, ¡°I hope there¡¯s no misunderstanding. Watching you in action¡­ it unexpectedly made my heart race. It seems the blood of Elil truly runs through me. It¡¯s just that my status prevented me from kneeling, but my respect was genuine.¡±

    ¡°Even if I hadn¡¯t appeared, the knights of Elil would have captured the witch.¡±

    This wasn¡¯t just talk. Isaac had been watching the fight from afar. Histe arrival was because he was preemptively guarding the path he expected the witch to escape through, intending to ambush her. However, Hectali got entangled in a fight with the Elil knights, which dyed his arrival.

    But he could still monitor the fight through his parasites. Initially staggered by the curse and the colossal Root Giant, the Elil knights eventually rallied and charged at Hectali, nearly subduing her. Had Isaac not appeared, either Mors or another knight would have likely decapitated her.

    The conflicts between the Hectali sisters and the Kingdom of Elil had always been this way. Hectali would create disturbances on the forest¡¯s edge and flee when confronted by knights; the knightly order had never been defeated. This made Isaac feel as though he had unnecessarily stolen the spotlight.

    ¡°If that had happened, many more knights might have died. General Gideon could have been killed. But the knights¡¯ respect for you isn¡¯t just because you decapitated Hectali.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not because I beheaded Hectali?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s just a secondary achievement. The knights respected a worthy strong opponent. You proved your strength, and they simply acknowledged that.¡±

    What mattered wasn¡¯t who had beheaded Hectali, but how it was done. And in doing so, Isaac demonstrated overwhelming strength¡ªenough to earn the knights¡¯ respect.

    Yet, Isaac felt a certain reluctance towards this admiration.

    ¡°It¡¯s not bad, but it feels like I¡¯m deceiving naive people.¡±

    Honestly, from a moral standpoint, he wasn¡¯t much different from Hectali. Her frenzied attempt to flee during their fight was out of fear of being devoured.

    But what could he do? There was no reason to reject their admiration if they insisted.

    ¡°The witch hunt isn¡¯t over yet. We¡¯ve only captured one of the Hectali sisters so far.¡±

    The Hectali sisters had survived till now not just because of their curses and summoning skills but due to their twisted vitality. Even if two of the three were killed, the remaining one could resurrect the others, making them whole again.

    Of course, it wasn¡¯t easy; they could lie dormant for as short as six months or as long as three years, but they would inevitably resurrect.

    Edelred looked troubled.

    ¡°However, we only came after one of the Hectali sisters, not all three. It would have been better if all three were here, but they aren¡¯t foolish enough for that.¡±

    Venturing into the witches¡¯ forest wasn¡¯t an option either. The area was dangerous even without the witches, teeming with venomous insects and wild beasts.

    Isaac was about to share his thoughts when suddenly, Hectali¡¯s severed head opened its mouth wide, and a viper sprung out, biting his wrist.

    It all happened in an instant. Edelred, shocked, quickly drew his sword and shed the viper¡¯s body.

    Isaac stumbled and fell off his horse. The head of Hectali, freed from his grasp, cackled maniacally and shouted.

    ¡°Foolish! Foolish, Holy Grail Knight, you will die because of that pride! Where an angel¡¯s blood is spilled, a curse remains! Do you think the witches would let their grudge go? Wherever the Holy Grail Knight¡¯s blood is spilled, gue and drought will follow!¡±

    ¡°That witch!¡±

    Crack! Mors, who had rushed over after hearing themotion, stomped on Hectali¡¯s head, crushing itpletely. The witch¡¯sughter stopped only when her head was smashed to dust.

    ¡°Isaac!¡±

    Edelred hurriedly approached to check on him, but Isaac reflexively swatted his hand away. Edelred felt a curse so powerful it made his hand throb; touching it further might have caused severe, rotting pain.

    The witches¡¯ threat that gue and drought would follow wherever Isaac¡¯s blood was spilled wasn¡¯t just an insult. The curse they had desperately cast was consuming Isaac.

    Yet, the expression on Isaac¡¯s face, who had received the powerful curse, was inexplicably serene,except for the feathers that seemed to be sprouting around his face.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine, Your Majesty.¡±

    ¡°But¡­¡±

    ¡°Rather, please arrange an empty house nearby. My subordinate has already prepared for this curse.¡±

    Everything was unfolding exactly as Isaac had anticipated.

    In the northwestern region of the Kingdom of Elil.

    Herey a forest untamed by time, marked by rugged mountains, harsh climate, and the raw power of the wilderness. Despite being repeatedly cut down and burned across the ages during Elil¡¯s reign, it quickly regrew due to fast-growing nts, the stench of decaying swamps, and the ever-present thick fog that made visibility nearly impossible. This forest, imprable even to sunlight, was held in awe and fear by the locals.

    They called it the Witch¡¯s Forest.

    Now, the Witch¡¯s Forest was shaking with unrest.

    The swamp spewed foul-smelling bubbles, birds screamed as they flew erratically, and leaves convulsed as if in agony, all in rhythm to the hummed incantationsing from the house of the witch Hectali.

    ¡°What is the Holy Grail Knight made of?¡±

    ¡°Dead rats, severed centipedes, and crow¡¯s heads!¡±

    ¡°What does the Holy Grail Knight feed on?¡±

    ¡°Ashes, rotten fish, and his own excrement!¡±

    The Hectali sisters danced around, continuously throwing cursed catalysts into a bubbling cauldron. The ingredients were the stuff of nightmares. The smoke billowing from the pot drifted southeast, heading in Isaac¡¯s direction, carrying a powerful curse of physical transformation.

    Throughout their many ordeals of death, the sisters never overlooked the demise of one of their own. Previously, they had killed through gues or famine as a form of revenge, but they realized that those were too merciful ways to die.

    The Hectali sisters wanted their victims to suffer over an extended period. Thus, they chose this curse of physical transformation.

    As the cursepleted, Isaac would transform into the grotesque form they desired, living on the bizarre diet they had chosen for him.

    ¡°What will the Holy Grail Knight say?¡±

    ¡°He will fart through his mouth and speak through his¡­¡±

    One of the sisters suddenly stopped dancing and gasped for air, her siblings paused to assess her condition.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Why do you stop?¡±

    She was drenched in sweat, amon sign among the sisters that the curse was particrly challenging. While it was true that the stronger the victim¡¯s faith, the harder the curse hit, this level of difficulty was unprecedented.

    ¡°No, it¡¯s just really tough¡­¡±

    [Nameless Chaos watches over you.]

    As Hectali gasped for air, a bizarre and terrifying scene shed before her eyes, a sight not even the denizens of the Witch¡¯s Forest had seen before. The moment she saw the writhing, tumultuous scene, her mind slipped away.

    Crack.

    Hectali¡¯s neck twisted at an unnatural angle.

    ¡°Sister?¡±

    The concerned Hectali asked, puzzled. She couldn¡¯t see her sister¡¯s face because of the twisted neck. Hectali touched her sister¡¯s shoulder, and at that moment, her sister turned her head.

    From her sister¡¯s eyes, mouth, ears, and nose, countless tentacles writhed out like fingers. Soon, her skull couldn¡¯t withstand the pressure and burst open, filling the room with tentacles.

    What was once her ¡®sister¡¯ quickly enveloped Hectali.

    Hectali screamed.

    But screams were all toomon in the Witch¡¯s Forest.

    [Objective: ¡®Witch Hectali Sisters (3/3)¡¯ eliminated.]

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read up to advance 20 chapters or support me, you can do it at/Akaza156

 Chapter 163.1

    Chapter 163.1

    Isaac settled down in a warehouse of a nearby residence to begin the ritual.

    Due to the risk of the witch¡¯s curse spreading, all knights except for Hesabel were strictly forbidden from approaching.

    Naturally, the knights of Elil, like other order¡¯s priests or pdins, insisted that they could join in offering protective prayers for him. However, when Isaac sternly warned them, theyplied without any objections.

    ¡°It¡¯s convenient to worship the strong at times like this.¡±

    The real reason he had dismissed the knights was that he couldn¡¯t predict how ominous the ritual might appear. While preparing for the ritual, Hesabel sneaked a look at Isaac and asked.

    ¡°Are you okay with the physical transformations?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fine. Just some feathers growing and itchy nails.¡±

    ¡°Is that really all?¡±

    Hesabel asked incredulously, but Isaac sharply told her to focus on the ritual instead.

    Indeed, the witches¡¯ curse hadn¡¯t deeply eroded Isaac.

    It might be due to the numerous holy relics he carried, but other reasons were easily conceivable.

    [The Nameless Chaos watches over you.]

    The Nameless Chaos did not wish for its agent to be ¡®harmed.¡¯

    Even from that simple notification, a sense of displeasure could be felt. Thanks to this, the curse¡¯s effect was minimal.

    ¡°I could probably endure the curse all day with just a bit of itchiness.¡±

    However, the rat tail that had grown on his buttock was itchy, a transformation he had not mentioned to Hesabel.

    After a while, Hesabel stood up, apparently ready. Isaac saw the altar she had hastily made with blood and asked.

    ¡°Is it already finished?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Normally, we would need sacrifices or assisting priests¡­ but with the ¡®Rite of Division¡¯ and the ¡®Book of the Nameless Worm,¡¯ we can skip most of it.¡±

    The Rite of Division was an EX-grade ritual relic of Elil and the Red Chalice, and although iplete, the Book of the Nameless Worm was an EX+ grade relic rted to the founding of the order.

    With such excellent tools, mundane sacrifices and procedures were unnecessary.

    ¡°Let¡¯s begin then.¡±

    The ritual Isaac performed was not particrly grand.

    It was merely a ¡®counter-curse¡¯ ritual. Although curses are powerful, theye with great risks, especially against those well-versed in curses and rituals. This counter-curse, or reversal ritual, was one of the most powerful and efficient defenses against curses.

    ¡°Interestingly, there are rituals like the flesh-casting and the curse-lifting ceremonies in shamanism¡­¡±

    Even a certain young wizard with a lightning scar had managed to reflect a curse back at a noseless bald wizard.

    As long as curses exist, such rituals will likely be found in any religion.

    The witches had thought Isaac to be just a brute Holy Grail Knight and acted recklessly.

    It was a deliberate move. After all, Isaac had captured the witch merely by wielding his sword. If he had revealed his tentacles, perhaps the Hectali would have reconsidered.

    During the game, Isaac had used such counter-curse rituals to defeat witches.

    In the game, there were no ¡®Rite of Division¡¯ or ¡®Book of the Nameless Worm,¡¯ so gathering materials was tough, but nothing was better for dispatching tricky witches in one go.

    As Isaac sat at the center of the altar, Hesabel began reciting a prayer and traced the Rite of Division onto the Book of the Nameless Worm. Simultaneously, the book muttered something, and new inscriptions began to appear.

    Isaac realized that these inscriptions were part of a new ritual of the Nameless Chaos cult.

    And the inscriptions seemed to seep into Isaac¡¯s vision as if being absorbed.

    [¡­And so, Saint Isaac captured the witch¡¯s curse and flung it back, turning that twisted curse into the very form that Saint Isaac loathed and despised the most¡­]

    ***

    Creak, creak.

    Isaac observed the blurry scene unfolding before him. Dozens of figures spread out like a prism were visible. Realizing that he was seeing the world through dozens of eyes, Isaac began to close them one by one.

    Only then could he properly see what the Hectali were doing.

    ¡®Oh, it¡¯s been devoured.¡¯

    The curse Isaac had reflected had transformed the Hectali¡¯ body. Their heads disappeared, and colorful tentacle bundles burst forth, waving like bouquets as they chewed up what used to be their sister.

    This alone showed how powerful the curse inflicted by the Hectali had been. If Isaac had been alone in performing the ritual, it wouldn¡¯t have been so potent.

    Their oversight had backfired.

    ¡®Wait, stop eating.¡¯

    Isaac didn¡¯t care what the Hectali ate, but sharing sensations in this state was troubling.

    Isaac then assessed the condition of the Hectali.

    The Hectali that Isaac had personally captured resembled an old crone, while another one, half-devoured, had the appearance of a stout middle-aged woman. The Hectali under Isaac¡¯s control looked like a young woman, excluding her head.

    The tentacles recing their heads, possibly influenced by their witchcraft connected to nature, appeared like bizarre flowers not of this world.

    They looked like bloody bouquets, horrific yet strangely beautiful.

    ¡°Was it their method to rejuvenate by first using up the old bodies? That must be why they sent the older Hectali on expeditions.¡±

    Nevertheless, Isaac had nowpletely transformed the Hectali into his own subordinate. He eradicated any divine remnants in her body and eliminated any potential for resistance, just as he had done with Zihilrat.

    This marked the end of all the Hectali sisters.

    ¡°This could be useful.¡±

    Zihilrat was a useful subordinate for espionage and disguise, and Hesabel for ritual assistance and assassination. Hectali could be entrusted with the magical realms that were still Isaac¡¯s weak point.

    ¡°However, it might be better for Hectali to remain a figure of terror rather than disappearpletely.¡±

    Isaac decided not to inform Edelred that he hadpletely eradicated Hectali. It would suffice to say that he had suppressed the curse and defeated the witches. Hectali would still remain a feared entity on the borders of Elil. This would allow Isaac to use her as a card in his game whenever needed.

    ¡°But, there will no longer be human sacrifices or missing viges being attacked.¡±

    Eventually, the tales of the witches would turn from fact to myth and legend, and that would truly be when Hectali would meet her end.

    Until then, Isaac would keep her as a card to check against the kingdom of Elil.

    Isaac then issued his firstmand to Hectali.

    ¡°Send the subordinates back to the forest. And¡­¡±

 Chapter 163.2

    Chapter 163.2

    ¡°Isaac!¡±

    As soon as Isaac appeared, knights crowded around him. Edelred was at the forefront.

    ¡°Are you alright? The curse¡­¡±

    Edelred quickly checked Isaac¡¯s condition. There were no longer any signs of physical mutation, as Isaac had already defeated the curse.

    ¡°The curse has been defeated. The witches will no longer harm me.¡±

    Admiration spilled from among the knights. Many knights had been killed or crippled due to the witch¡¯s curse. While dying on the battlefield was considered honorable, being crippled or living a miserable life due to a curse was a horror for them.

    Most knights, feeling humiliated even in receiving sympathy in the kingdom of Elil, chose to end their own lives or had friends assist them.

    Relieved, Edelred exhaled.

    ¡°That¡¯s good. Then there¡¯s no need for drawing lots.¡±

    ¡°Drawing lots?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s rare to get a chance to take the life of a Swordmaster.¡±

    Isaac was about to smile at the joke, but seeing the serious faces of the knights behind, he felt uneasy.

    Of course, it was better to die than live a grotesque life due to a curse, but he still wanted to live. There might be a chance to break the curse if he lived long enough.

    But he remembered that obtaining such an ¡®opportunity to ease arade¡¯s pain¡¯ was also considered an honor among the Elil knights, especially if it involved a Holy Grail Knight.

    ¡°If ever such a timees, please seek my consent.¡±

    ¡°Uh, if you can still speak, definitely¡­¡±

    ¡°No, even if I can¡¯t speak, I will make it clear through my actions, so please¡­¡±

    Suddenly, a vast flock of crows burst into flight from the nearby fields. The knights, sensing an attack from the witches, quickly drew their swords to protect Isaac. However, the crows circled overhead instead of attacking.

    Then they began to shout in unison.

    ¡°Holy Grail Knight! Holy Grail Knight! The witches may forget kindness but never forget a grudge!¡±

    Enraged, Mors shouted back.

    ¡°Defeated fools talk too much! Go back to your stinking dens!¡±

    The crows cawed mockingly in response. Several archers fired arrows, but there were too many crows.

    ¡°How amusing, how amusing! Do you truly think you have won?¡±

    ¡°Elil¡¯s thugs, without the Holy Grail Knight, you would be nothing¡­¡±

    Then Isaac murmured quietly enough for only those nearby to hear.

    ¡°Enough, leave.¡±

    At his calmmand, the crows dispersed in an instant.

    But the voice of the witch continued to echo.

    ¡°We are banished in defeat by the Holy Grail Knight¡¯s light and glory!¡±

    ¡°But we will return and challenge again¡­ Aaagh!¡±

    The crows¡¯ voices faded into the distance.

    ¡®I should have scripted their lines better.¡¯

    This warning was part of Isaac¡¯s script. Hisstmand to Hectali was to send the controlled creatures back

    to the forest while also directing strong criticisms towards him.

    It was designed to show the knights of Elil that Hectali had been defeated and to firmly imprint Isaac¡¯s presence in the kingdom.

    However, Hectali¡¯s script was overly theatrical. Isaac¡¯s face flushed with the exaggerated tone, but fortunately, the knights were too outraged to notice his expression.

    ¡°Damn witches, stuck in that swamp unable to move! Holy Grail Knight, don¡¯t mind them. We will definitely finish them off someday.¡±

    ¡°No need to worry, General Mors. Even if they regain their strength and return, by then, the gap between us will be too vast for them to reach.¡±

    Isaac¡¯s response impressed all the knights. Hismitment to continue improving despite already achieving great power was inspiring.

    Yet Isaac was thinking about something else.

    ¡®It¡¯s about time for the Nameless Chaos to grant a reward.¡¯

    ***

    [The Nameless Chaos watches over you.]

    [¡®Eye of Chaos¡¯ is enhanced.]

    [¡®Eye of Chaos¡¯ can now inflict confusion/fear/madness on opponents at your choice.]

    The reward for defeating Hectali was the enhancement of the ¡®Eye of Chaos.¡¯ It was useful in nonbat situations but had been somewhatcking in battle; this upgrade addressed that w.

    ¡®A decent debuff skill.¡¯

    However, using it ¡®powerfully¡¯ might cause tentacles to burst from his eyes. As long as he was cautious, it could be incredibly useful, especially since Isaac was about to meet one of the few Swordmasters in the kingdom of Elil.

    ¡®I¡¯ll need to figure out just how much to use it.¡¯

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read up to advance 20 chapters or support me, you can do it at/Akaza156

 Chapter 164.1

    Chapter 164.1

    Despite being cursed with ominous portents, it was true that he had embarrassed and driven out the witch who had long been a thorn in the side of the frontier. It was certain that the witch would not appear for at least three years.

    The knights had nned to celebrate this victory with a grand banquet, but Isaac sternly refused.

    ¡°It¡¯s not aplete victory, just an expulsion. Haven¡¯t the Elil knights achieved this much before? It¡¯s shameful to celebrate such a victory; it could make uscent in the face of real enemies.¡±

    Isaac¡¯s response not only shamed the Elil knights but also once again praised the nobility of the Holy Grail Knights. However, he allowed a modest gathering for drinking to mourn andfort those who had fallen during the battle.

    As small gatherings took ce here and there, vigers brought food and drinks everywhere. Isaac, watching these scenes, was approached by the vige chief.

    ¡°Holy Grail Knight, thank you so much. I don¡¯t know how to express my gratitude¡­ It would be nice if we had something to give you, but this is a poor vige.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it.¡±

    Isaac¡¯s response wasn¡¯t for des. He genuinely disliked hosting banquets. He might have epted for the sake of Aldeon Castle¡¯s dignity, but this was a poor vige. A grand banquet here would ruin the vige¡¯s reserves.

    The chief was thus grateful to Isaac. For him, surviving until the harvest was more crucial than catching the witch.

    The chief repeatedly thanked Isaac, holding his hand tightly.

    ¡®It¡¯s no wonder the frontier folks fall for ancient gods or witches.¡¯

    The exploitation of peasants and serfs in the Gerthonia Empire was significant, but Elil was even more primitive. Despite eating the wheat they farmed, there was a tendency to scorn farming.

    In contrast, those serving Hectali in the frontier could safely obtain animals or forest products by offering newborns or hosting bizarre feasts. They could even asionally grant wishes, albeit capriciously (usually gues spread by witches).

    But what could one pray to Elil?

    Should one seize what they desire with their own hands, as the godless say?

    ¡®It¡¯s no wonder Edelred despised knightly faith.¡¯

    When ying the game, Isaac liked the Elil faith.

    It was nice to be powerful easily, and he liked its simple and hearty approach.

    But in reality, Elil faith was merely a martial cult for the elite. Having a strong military might feel impressive and reliable, but they only consumed resources without producing any.

    The Codex of Light was better. They might be hypocritical, but at least they looked out for the group.

    ¡°By the way, if you go to the forest, you¡¯ll find several dead animals. You can use them for food since they are safe to eat.¡±

    ¡°Really? But, the knights said we shouldn¡¯t touch them since they might be infected by the witch¡¯s gue¡­¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve checked them myself.¡±

    Hectali had sorted out the healthy ones. The infected ones had been sent deep into the caves to rot, so there would be no spread of disease. The chief could believe anything the Grail Knight said, even if it meant the sun rising from the west, and once again thanked him repeatedly before leaving.

    ¡°Grail Knight! I was just looking for you.¡±

    Just then, as if on cue, Edelred appeared. He seemed slightly flushed from the drinking, though not drunk.

    ¡°I know you don¡¯t like noisy environments, so I arranged a quiet ce for you. If it¡¯s alright, I¡¯ll show you there.¡±

    ¡°Thank you. But before we go in, I¡¯d like to take a walk.¡±

    Caught off guard by the sudden request for conversation, Edelred nodded.

    ¡°Alright. I actually have something to discuss as well.¡±

    ***

    ¡°I would like you to tell me about Lianne Georg.¡±

    Isaac inquired about his next opponent, Lianne Georg. The knights¡¯ opinions about her were prized. She was revered as a deserving Swordmaster but also despised as a traitor.

    Isaac knew a bit about her from the game, how strong she was and what abilities she had,but he wanted to ¡®understand¡¯ the history and rtions of his adversaries.

    ¡®Edelred might provide a more neutral perspective.¡¯

    As the wind blew, the grass on the ins swayed gently. Edelred, slightly dazed by the alcohol, stared at the ins and walked slowly.

    ¡°Lianne Georg¡­ Let me start with the Georg family. It¡¯s a renowned warrior family. Her father, Vio Georg, was also a Swordmaster, and so was her great-grandfather. They im that their ancestors came over the sea with Elil, but who really knows the truth.¡±

    ¡®Indeed, all prominent families in the Elil Kingdom im their ancestors arrived with Elil¡­ If this were Greece, they¡¯d im to have mixed blood with the gods.¡¯

    But being a living embodiment of an angel like Elil and mixing their blood meant their descendants were Nephilim, considered sinful. So, if it were true, they had to hide it. The best they could do was im they wererades of Elil.

    ¡°However, it¡¯s true that the Georg family is old. Their swordsmanship has a long history; maybe Elil really did consider themrades. They also have many connections due to their long history.¡±

    A skilled swordsman living a long life meant having many friends and enemies, likely more enemies.

    Isaac felt he understood why the Georg family received so much respect yet never became royalty.

    ¡°Many people respect Lianne Georg. But there are just as many who despise the Georg family. During the Saltain massacre alone, oh, those fishermen¡­ Although it wasmanded by the former king, it was madness. Bio Georg received a curse and died because of that event.¡±

    ¡°That sounds important. Could you tell me more about that?¡±

    ¡°Hmm.¡±

    Edelred coughed and continued with a somber expression.

    ¡°The Georg family was originally a major contributor to our house, the Aldeon family, bing kings. Although the kingship of the Elil Kingdom was held by Aldeon, the noble task of guarding the Holy Land was entrusted to the Georg family. Consequently, they relinquished some of their autonomy and power due to their role as the Guardians of the Holy Land.¡±

    Since its establishment, the Elil Kingdom had seen its dynasties change several times under the principle that the strong possess everything. Even the current Aldeon dynasty was once considered nothing more than usurpers.

    On the other hand, the Holy Land Elion, where the remains of Elil were entombed, had been venerated for hundreds of years. The Georg family had long been tasked with protecting thisnd, effectively holding a kingdom within a kingdom due to the autonomy and power they were granted.

    ¡°However, it seems my father, thete King Alfred, did not approve. Well, he was a man who, consumed by suspicion and madness, killed friends and rtives alike. How must the Georg family have appeared in his eyes?¡±

    Edelred, whether due to drunkenness or pretending to be drunk to speak his mind, hurled insults about his father.

    ¡°¡­So did he try to purge the Georg family too?¡±

    ¡°No. The former king was mad, but not stupid. Attacking a deeply established founding family like the Georg without cause would have unsettled the other nobles too much.

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read up to advance 20 chapters or support me, you can do it at/Akaza156

 Chapter 164.2

    Chapter 164.2

    Edelred sighed deeply and muttered,

    ¡°So, he decided to smear the name of the Georg family.¡±

    Suddenly, Edelred turned his head towards the west where the moon was setting. There was a forest there, notorious for witch-hunting during the day, but he was looking far beyond it, at an ind touched by the sea breeze.

    ¡°There¡¯s an ind called Saltain. It¡¯s heavily popted by followers of the Salt Council. When they were expelled from the desert, many travelled long distances to settle there. Apparently, there were even people who lived there before Elil. The former king thought this made a good excuse.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°The Count of Saltain, although hosting many followers of the Salt Council, was a loyal devotee of Elil. He was appalled when the order for a ¡®heretic purge¡¯ came, and he desperately defended them.¡±

    These were tax-paying citizens who supported most of the ind¡¯s economy. Even Elil¡¯s maind benefitted from the seafood and goods they provided. It was foolish to expel them. Moreover, persecuting such minorities under the guise of heresy was sinful¡­

    ¡°Of course, the former king wouldn¡¯t listen. He viewed the Count¡¯s defense as ¡®treason¡¯ and ordered Vio Georg to carry out the purge. Things might not have reached such a dire state had Vio ignored the order. But Vio was a knight. And the head of the Aldeon family was a knight-king.¡±

    Edelred gritted his teeth as he continued,

    ¡°And Vio Georg executed his duties exceedingly well. Saltain burned, over 500 ships were destroyed, and hundreds of its citizens were ughtered, even those who were not followers but merely tried to protect or hide them. But the hell didn¡¯t end there.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean it didn¡¯t end?¡±

    ¡°The Count of Saltain surrendered toote. The former king then banned boat building and imposed a blockade on Saltain, which Vio Georg enforced. Saltain might have vast territories, but most of itsnd is rocky and barren due to the saline winds. And now, fishing was also banned.¡±

    Edelred murmured ominously,

    ¡°A purge? No, the massacre began only then.¡±

    During the three-year blockade, at least tens of thousands of residents died from starvation or indirectly rted causes. This horrific news remained unknown to the Elil Kingdom until the blockade was lifted and Vio Georg returned to his domain.

    And immediately, condemnation rained down on the Georg family. usations flew that Vio Georg, driven by arrogance and madness as the Guardian of the Holy Land, hadmitted these atrocities.

    Indeed, these rumors were spread by the Aldeon family, and other houses and territories with grievances simr to those of Saltain also supported these ims. Envy and jealousy were also mixed in.

    Vio Georg waster found dead, starved atop a seaside cliff. After a long period of wandering and asceticism, his eldest daughter, Lianne Georg, was endorsed by the n to take over the domain.

    ¡°Atst, the former king drew his sword. ¡®The Georg family no longer deserves to be the Guardians of the Holy Land; now the king of Elil will also be its guardian,¡¯¡± he dered.

    But Lianne refused.

    Instead, she gathered loyal knights, supportive friends, and new allies to dere war on Aldeon. Meanwhile, the Count of Saltain, spitting blood, proimed independence from the Elil Kingdom, and the witch sisters of Hectali began to stir, foreseeing the kingdom¡¯s fragmentation.

    ¡°The very division the former king had sought to avoid came about in an even more dreadful form. At least four factions, potentially more if you look deeper. This country is now nothing more than a patchwork held together by the so-called faith of Elil.¡±

    ***

    An awful civil war erupted in the Elil Kingdom, but it subsided into a lull four years ago when the tyrant King Alfred Aldeon died from hypertension.

    Edelred¡¯s coronation brought some semnce of peace to the kingdom, though it was considered unstable due to his perceived weaknesspared to his father. However, Isaac knew this was not weakness but a distaste for the system that was leading Elil to ruin.

    Edelred turned to Isaac with moist eyes and muttered,

    ¡°Do you understand now what I wanted to say? Today, you¡¯ve done something great. You¡¯ve done what the country couldn¡¯t, and you¡¯ve signaled theing changes. Just as I dreamed.¡±

    ¡°Your Majesty.¡±

    ¡°You are finally the hope I found. The knights might respect you more than me, but it doesn¡¯t matter if you are the one to bring change to this country. But if you leave me, I don¡¯t know what I¡¯ll do with this torn country.¡±

    Edelred wanted to change the system that had been meticulously crafted by followers of Elil over centuries, a daunting task, especially amidst the aggressive des surrounding him.

    Being simply the king would be easy if it meant bing the strongest in the country.

    But Edelred wanted to destroy the system itself.

    A much harder path.

    Isaac sensed the irony in this. It was like seeing a kindred spirit.

    Edelred was essentially a one-eyed man thrown into a world of the blind. The dissonance Isaac felt as a modern person dropped into another world was not much different from what Edelred experienced.

    However, Isaac could only offer him a sorrowful response.

    ¡°Be the king of the knights, Your Majesty.¡±

    To destroy what you hate, you must be what you hate.

    That was what Isaac had learned while contending with this irrational world.

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read up to advance 20 chapters or support me, you can do it at/Akaza156

 Chapter 165.1

    Chapter 165.1

    ¡°¡­What do you mean? Are you saying I should be a Swordmaster like Lianne?¡±

    ¡°If that¡¯s possible, you should indeed aim for that. However, that¡¯s just part of the process,¡± Isaac didn¡¯t add that if necessary, one must also walk the path the former king had trodden because it might be too painful for Edelred to hear.

    However, Isaac¡¯s words carried a cruel underlying meaning as harsh as the Saltain massacre.

    ¡°But that¡¯s¡­¡±

    Edelred tried to argue, but Isaac immediately interrupted him.

    ¡°Establish a strong absolute monarchy and centralize the government. Create a royal power so strong that no one but the king and his personal guards would need to carry swords. Actually, degrade and dismantle the knights so thoroughly that no one even thinks there¡¯s a need for them.¡±

    To destroy the system set up by Elil, one must be Elil. That was the only way to break it down.

    ¡°You need to be Elil to destroy what Elil created. That¡¯s where all change begins.¡±

    Isaac¡¯s words resonated strangely with Edelred.

    He hesitated for a long time after hearing them. Isaac¡¯s proposal sounded usible, but it was something many previous regimes in the Elil Kingdom had failed to achieve.

    The emergence of a Knight King who would cause the downfall of the knightly ss.

    In reality, a strong king relies on the military power of strong knights, so undermining his own base would be akin to sabotaging himself. However, Isaac knew that it was possible to change the system itself.

    ¡°Military leaders and knightly orders can be toppled by a strong central government and a standing army. While the knights of Elil are a formidable force¡­ it¡¯s better to integrate them into the army than to idolize them as heroes.¡±

    Thew and administration should be the only reasons to wield a sword. Isaac believed this wouldn¡¯t contradict Elil¡¯s doctrines, but it would inevitably weaken the presence of knights.

    This would ultimately lead to a reduction in the influence of the Elil faith.

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t really matter, does it?¡±

    Isaac didn¡¯t believe in the Elil faith. The knights might be needed during the Dawn Army¡¯s campaign, but once it ends, that group needs to be phased out. It was necessary to show them that farmers, carpenters, fishermen, and bureaucrats are as important as swords.

    Either live in perpetual war, or enjoy peace instituted by the state.

    Between the two, it would be better to discard the romanticized notion of sword-bearing and choose thetter.

    ***

    It¡¯s unlikely that Edelred immediately grasped Isaac¡¯s point.

    Even the Gerthonia Empire has only just begun to attempt centralization under Emperor Waltzemer. The Elil Kingdom had never seeded due to constant shifts in power among the warlords.

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure I understand all of what you¡¯re saying, Holy Grail Knight. But I do understand that bing a strong king is necessary to bring about change,¡± Edelred said with a bitter smile. It wasn¡¯t as if he didn¡¯t know that already.

    Who wouldn¡¯t know that in Elil Kingdom, thew of the strongest prevails?

    If Edelred dislikes knights, then bing the strongest among them is an option.

    Of course, Isaac meant something more systemic, but such a process was necessary regardless.

    ¡°So, what should I do?¡±

    ¡°First, you need to reorganize the national institutions and secure finances. This is the foundation of all changes.¡±

    This would sound like an irresponsible statement if it ended there.

    But Isaac had a solution.

    ¡°We need to resume trade with the Gerthonia Empire. I have connections with the Golden Idol Guild. I¡¯m trusted enough to vouch for them.¡±

    ¡°Resuming trade. Good, that¡¯s what I want too. There might be some who dislike this idea, but¡­ hmm. That might change depending on how the war with the Georg family unfolds. I¡¯ll trust you on this, Holy Knight.¡±

    Edelred then frowned.

    ¡°But the former king did a lot of damage to the followers of the Salt Council. There¡¯s no small amount of resentment towards our kingdom. Would they agree to trade?¡±

    Elil Kingdom, an ind nation, depends on maritime trade, which is critical especially since the Salt Council controls most of the sailors.

    However, Isaac smiled as if he had been waiting for this question.

    ¡°I will try to mediate a reconciliation. I have deep connections with the leaders of the Salt Council. If you show enough sincerity, Edelred Your Majesty, the Salt Council will likely agree to cooperate.¡±

    Edelred looked at Isaac with admiration.

    Isaac, who seemed to have an answer for every problem as if he had prepared in advance, appeared almost like a savior to him. After all, wasn¡¯t Isaac solving all these problems?

    Indeed, he had prepared in advance.

    ¡°It might be good to refer to Gerthoniaws for institutional reform. This could be facilitated through improved rtions with Emperor Waltzemer. Thews brought by Elil to this country are 700 years old and need updating.¡±

    Isaac would have liked to bring in the regtions he created in the Isacrea domain, but that would be too radical a change.

    Isaac thought that even just eliminating barbaric duel trials would be a significant achievement.

    ¡°Securing finances and improving institutions. Good. What¡¯s next?¡±

    ¡°Build up a standing army. Although maintaining an army is expensive, it¡¯s necessary to prevent being manipted by a few knights.¡±

    The reason why kings are often unstable is because they need to borrow private troops from the nobles whenever needed. Even Emperor Waltzemer hasn¡¯tpletely solved this problem.

    But it was worse in the Elil Kingdom. A few knights monopolized military power, and peasants were conscripted as needed, who were virtually helpless against knights.

    Thus, wars were dominated by knights.

    However, if a trained standing army always apanied the king, it would provide a counterbnce to the knights. Ultimately, knights would just be one of many roles within the army. The advantage of the Elil Kingdom was that it had skilled officers and sword instructors in abundance.

    ¡°A standing army¡­ definitely a costly affair. It will be tough, but I¡¯ll consider it. What¡¯s next?¡±

    ¡°Self-improvement, Your Majesty. You need to be much stronger than you are now.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±

    The ideas of institutional reform, securing finances, establishing a standing army, and improving diplomatic rtions were all vague and broad concepts. Properly realizing them would be impossible in a short period; it would take at least three years, and possibly many decades.

    To aplish all this, Edelred needed to be stronger, stronger than he currently was.

    ¡°¡­I understand what you mean. But, well, to be honest,¡± Edelred said, almost embarrassed.

    ¡°I have never actually killed anyone.¡±

    Isaac estimated Edelred¡¯s age, he was significantly younger than himself, perhaps between 14 and 16 years old. In the modern day, he would just be a middle school student. The fact that such a young boy was embarrassed about never having killed illustrated the insane pressures of the world he lived in.

    ¡°There¡¯s no need to feel ashamed. I know a Swordmaster who says that you should never wield a sword with the intention to kill.¡±

    ¡°There was a Swordmaster who said that? But a Swordmaster would have killed at least hundreds.¡±

    ¡°He was a bit entric. Anyway, I¡¯m not sure if Your Highness will ever need to kill anyone. But you should still train to defend yourself.¡±

    As far as Isaac knew, thete King Alfred Aldeon had been a Swordmaster. Naturally, Edelred had inherited some of that talent.

    Isaac recalled how Edelred was depicted in the game.

    ¡®He was much more haggard and wounded.¡¯

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read up to advance 20 chapters or support me, you can do it at/Akaza156

 Chapter 165.2

    Chapter 165.2

    Despite all the hardships he was currently facing, Edelred would survive. As a powerful king suitable for the Elil Kingdom and a hater of knights, he would tread the path of civil wars marked by bloodshed, following in the former king¡¯s footsteps.

    Eventually reaching the level of a Swordmaster.

    ¡®He would get stronger on his own, but¡­¡¯

    Isaac decided to give his future a little nudge. Since he had the talent, it wouldn¡¯t hurt for Isaac to show off a little by helping him.

    ¡°I will teach you some swordsmanship, Your Highness.¡±

    Edelred looked at Isaac with wide eyes.

    ¡°Swordsmanship from a Holy Grail Knight? I heard that such skills are not taught lightly.¡±

    ¡°Some entric old man I knew said something simr. But I¡¯m not so petty.¡±

    ¡°The same person as that Swordmaster?¡±

    ¡°Not the same, but they were in the same knightly order. They were constantly at each other¡¯s throats.¡±

    ¡°What strange people¡­¡±

    Edelred was puzzled, but Isaac stood in front of him, drew his sword, and moved slowly.

    Edelred mimicked his movements, swinging his sword. Having grown up with a violent father, King Alfred, Edelred had naturally practiced swordsmanship for a long time. He already had well-developed basic skills and strength.

    ¡°This move I call the ¡®Eight Branches.¡¯ It¡¯s like sharp fingers seizing an enemy¡­¡±

    Although Isaac had never taught swordsmanship to anyone before, he painstakingly taught Edelred. Edelred awkwardly mimicked the movements.

    It was different from the swordsmanship he was used to, but the opportunity to learn from a Swordmaster was rare.

    Soon, Edelred was focused, sweating as he swung his sword.

    ¡°Isaac!¡±

    After a while, Edelred eximed in surprise. Isaac approached, and they could see the field on one side looking savagely torn up, as if by ws, not a clean cut as a sword would make.

    Isaac felt a sense of awe; Edelred had started to mimic the ¡®spirit¡¯ of the movements even though he had just been shown them.

    ¡®Did Gebel feel this way when he saw me?¡¯

    Of course, Edelred was already well-trained. Perhaps as the king and a devotee of Elil, he was receiving a ¡®buff¡¯ to his swordsmanship skills.

    In truth, if those who had indirectly taught Isaac swordsmanship like Gabel or Bashul could see this, they would be astounded. To their eyes, Isaac was a once-in-a-millennium genius.

    Comparing him to Edelred would be misleading.

    But what was certain was that another person was about to be born who would wield Isaac¡¯s unique sword techniques.

    ¡°Excellent. Let¡¯s continue.¡±

    ¡°Ah, okay. Oh, but¡­¡±

    Edelred hesitated, then spoke cautiously.

    ¡°I called you Isaac by mistake earlier, which was rude. I apologize. But I¡¯m a bit reluctant to keep calling you ¡®Holy Grail Knight¡¯ after receiving such teachings¡­¡±

    Isaac waited to see what Edelred would say next. After looking around hesitantly, Edelred finally spoke up.

    ¡°May I call you ¡®Master¡¯?¡±

    ¡°¡­If there¡¯s no one else around, you may do so.¡±

    With permission, Edelred happily focused again on swinging his sword. Having someone to guide and teach him what to do was enough to thrill Edelred, who had until now only watched

    powerlessly.

    Isaac could understand his feelings; he had felt simr when he first met Gebel at the monastery and began training under him.

    However, Isaac also felt pity seeing Edelred start to harbor hopes.

    ¡®Edelred, you will inevitably be the knight and king you despise.¡¯

    To destroy what you hate, you must be what you hate.

    And he was to fall with those he despised, letting future generations enjoy the peace.

    But that¡¯s how change is.

    Isaac thus nted a seed of chaos in the Elil Kingdom.

    ***

    ¡°Pant, pant¡­¡±

    Having learned swordsmanship from Isaac, Edelred swung his sword until he was utterly exhausted. It waste at night, almost dawn, so Isaac thought it was time to send him in. Edelred had not progressed beyond showing a chaotic vigor, but his growth had already exceeded expectations.

    ¡°Pant, I guess it¡¯s because I haven¡¯t moved like this in a while, but I¡¯m feeling quite hungry.¡±

    Edelred muttered as he wiped his sweat.

    Isaac felt a twinge but didn¡¯t show it.

    ¡°That¡¯s because you moved suddenly.¡±

    Just then, Isaac turned his head.

    ¡®Western ridge, beside the birch tree, three in ck clothes. Likely Elil knights.¡¯

    A sense of warning from Hesabel suddenly reached him. Isaac could also observe the others through Hesabel¡¯s eyes. There were no identifying marks, but they were not Aldeon knights, and their hiding was too clumsy to be human hunters.

    ¡°Let¡¯s call it a day and rest. Tomorrow we have a long journey back to the Aldeon royal castle.¡±

    ¡°Ah, okay. Oh, I mean, yes, Master.¡±

    Edelred said it and looked pleased with himself. Isaac almost absentmindedly patted his head but stopped just in time. Patting the king¡¯s head would be madness.

    ¡®Hesabel, keep an eye on Edelred. I¡¯ll handle those guys.¡¯

    ¡®Roger.¡¯

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read up to advance 20 chapters or support me, you can do it at/Akaza156

 Chapter 166.1

    Chapter 166.1

    Isaac does not enjoy pursuits.

    It disrupts the fullness he painstakingly maintains. In the past, he used to energetically run around and exert himself, but he learned to restrain himself upon realizing that all these activities were factors that depleted his fullness.

    He felt it was a waste to spend his fullness on such insignificant foes.

    However, without exerting some force, the enemies wouldn¡¯t be intimidated, so he had to find a moderate level.

    Smoothly, color beyond spread wide under Isaac¡¯s feet. Noiselessly and without a trace, the color beyond began to settle like fog over the vast field.

    Isaac walked towards the hiding knights, trudging rather than running.

    And just in case they missed spotting him, he even waved his hand.

    ¡°Hey!¡±

    The knights on watch stirred visibly. They thought they were well-hidden, butpared to the human hunters of the Red Chalice, they might as well have been walking around naked in broad daylight.

    Stealth was apparently not a knightly virtue.

    The knights stayed silent, thinking that Isaac was merely testing them. Meanwhile, Isaac walked straight towards them. Eventually, realizing they had been discovered, four knights slowly rose from behind the hill.

    ¡°What a lovely night for a moon. Were you perhaps on a double date?¡±

    ¡°¡­Is it really Sir Isaac Issacrea?¡±

    ¡°If it is?¡±

    The knights whispered among themselves, exchanging looks. Isaac soon figured out who they were.

    ¡°Are you knights under General Georg?¡±

    The knights remained silent. However, deciding that hiding was pointless, they tensed up and one by one drew their swords. Isaac, seeing the glint of their swords in the moonlight, muttered.

    ¡°I just heard a depressing story about the Georg family, so I¡¯ll let it slide that you¡¯ve drawn your swords. If you put them away now, we can continue as amicably as before.¡±

    But no knight of Elil would bow under pressure without testing the strength of their opponent.

    ¡°Let¡¯s see the skills of a crusading knight from across the sea!¡±

    One of the Georg knights charged at Isaac, shing down with his sword. Having already experienced the spicy taste of Aldeon knights, Isaac didn¡¯t make the foolish mistake of shing des directly. Instead, he focused his energy on the colors of the beyond that he had spread on the ground, catching the Georg knight by the ankle.

    ¡°Ah, urgh!¡±

    As the Georg knight stumbled, Isaac kicked him squarely in the groin. The knight, making a peculiar noise, staggered and fell. It hadn¡¯t been Isaac¡¯s intention to exploit such an opportunity, but the exposed vulnerability was too enticing to ignore.

    Thankfully, the sight of their senior knight falling so quickly seemed to have made an impression on the others.

    Two of the remaining three knights charged at him with a shout, while the third turned and started to run towards some horses tied down below the hill.

    ¡°So the juniors run while the seniors sacrifice themselves?¡±

    ¡°Draw your sword, Holy Grail knight!¡±

    Out of respect, Isaac drew his sword.

    ¡®Time to assess their skills.¡¯

    The sword shone brightly as it swung through the air, making a sharp sound.

    ***

    Despite the Georg knight¡¯s best efforts, his strikes were easily parried by Isaac, who seemed surprised by their ability. However, he quickly continued with another move, attacking Isaac.

    Isaac evaluated their skills.

    ¡®Certainly, this is different from Aldeon swordsmanship. More powerful, perhaps a bit more flexible?¡¯

    In other words, it was versatile. The two knights worked seamlessly together, alternating attacks and defenses fluidly against Isaac, unlike the Aldeon style which focused on striking a lethal blow, this style seemed specialized in destabilizing the opponent¡¯s bnce.

    ¡®It does remind me of Lianne Georg¡¯s swordy.¡¯

    Isaac had learned the hard way what it was like to face unfamiliar swordy when he first entered Aldeon, so he had prepared beforehand this time.

    In the game, Lianne uses her sacred sword¡¯s power for magnificent swordy that overwhelms her enemies. The swordy of these knights, ifbined with the power of a sacred sword, might approximate hers.

    Suddenly, one of the Georg knights grabbed Isaac¡¯s sword de. The deep part of the de, designed for bnce and not sharp, was clutched under his arm. The knight then executed a martial move, lifting Isaac off his feet.

    Isaac was honestly impressed.

    It was a risky move that could have cost him his shoulder, but it was executed wlessly.

    ¡®I¡¯ve heard of sword wrestling, but it¡¯s my first time being on the receiving end.¡¯

    None of the opponents Isaac had faced before had dared such a perilous maneuver.

    As Isaac lost his bnce, another knight swung his sword. Had it been anyone but Isaac, they would have been struck down. But Isaac was merely assessing the Georg knights¡¯ level and swordsmanship.

    Crack, bang!

    In an instant, with a loud noise, both knights were knocked down.

    They looked bewildered as they stumbled and then sat down, feeling the dyed pain. They couldn¡¯t even understand how they had been injured. It was a momentarypse, but it felt as though Isaac had somehow lifted them in mid-air and thrown them down. Their armor was badly dented.

    ¡°He¡¯s bleeding out. He got shed under the arm, so there will be a lot of blood. Stop the bleeding.¡±

    Isaac pointed at the knight who had held his de. Despite wearing armor, the knight had severely cut his fingers and underarm. Holding the de so tightly made it impossible not to get injured. The knight gritted his teeth, trying to grasp his sword, only to realize it was shattered.

    Isaac knew well how to silence defiant knights of Elil.

    He quietly emanated a sword aura from his de.

    Tick, tock. The surrounding grass was shed merely by being near the aura.

    ¡°Sword aura¡­¡­¡±

    The Georg knight gasped for breath and gave up resisting. He finally realized that Isaac had been ying with him all along. Had Isaac exerted his sword aura from the start, they would have been shredded to pieces.

    ¡°Get him treated.¡±

    At Isaac¡¯smand, the knight hesitantly crawled over to stop hisrade¡¯s bleeding. He seemed to have broken a rib himself, but right now, his bleedingrade was more important.

    As he tightly grasped the wounded area of hispanion and began to recite a prayer, the blood quickly stopped flowing. To be able to perform such a miracle, he had to be a knight of considerable rank among the Elil knights.

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read up to advance 20 chapters or support me, you can do it at/Akaza156

 Chapter 166.2

    Chapter 166.2

    He was curious how Isaac, a follower of the Codex of Light, could wield such a sword aura, but he dared not ask.

    At that moment, Isaac muttered looking somewhere in the distance.

    ¡°Such impressive folks.¡±

    ¡°AAAAHHHHH!!¡±

    Thud thud thud! The junior knight who had fled earlier had now returned on horseback, charging at Isaac. It must have been their mission to survive and report back, but it was their duty as followers of Elil that overwhelmed them.

    ¡°Stand down, Holy Grail knight¡­!¡±

    Isaac neither wanted to confront the charging horse nor avoid it.

    He simply blinked for a moment and then activated the Eyes of Chaos.

    His eyes started to swirl with a faint violet hue, quickly capturing the knight¡¯s vision, thoughts, and instincts. No strong suggestion was needed.

    The skill with which he had quickly downed the senior knights and the rising sword aura.

    The junior knight was already terrified, and the fear of the rider easily transmitted to the horse.

    Heeheeheehee!

    The horse bucked wildly, throwing the knight to the ground. With a loud crash, the knight moaned and couldn¡¯t move.

    Isaac kicked the fallen knight over with his foot and said,

    ¡°Seems like you all prefer talking while lying down? Let¡¯s have a chat then.¡±

    ***

    ¡°¡­We are the Elion Knights, loyal to General Lianne Georg.¡±

    If there are Aldeon Knights in the capital Aldeon, then there are Elion Knights in the Holy Land Elion.

    Despite sounding mundane, the Aldeon Knights are known as the White Lion Knights, and the Elion Knights are known as the ck Hawk Knights.

    However, they aremonly referred to by their regional names simply for ease of remembrance.

    ¡°Yeah. What¡¯s your name?¡±

    Isaac asked the knight who had first charged but was knocked down by a groin kick. He was the highest-ranking and rtively in better condition than the others. The knight hesitated for a moment before responding reluctantly,

    ¡°Hurk. Hurk Felt.¡±

    ¡°My dear friend Hurk. What message did youe here to deliver to King Edelred?¡±

    ¡°Not to King Edelred¡­ We came to observe you. Holy Grail Knight, Isaac Issacrea.¡±

    Hurk surprisingly gave a straightforward answer.

    ¡°Me? I¡¯m just a foreigner. Why would the Georg family have any reason to antagonize me?¡±

    While Isaac had indeed nned to suppress the Georg family to assist Edelred, he argued otherwise for now. Of course, having the ritual of division threatened the Georg family¡¯s position since no mere guardian of the Holy Land could refuse Edelred¡¯s offer to return the relic.

    However, Hurk revealed an unexpected piece of information.

    ¡°You must be here to deliver a message from Emperor Waltzemer. To start raising the Dawn Army and request troops and supplies. But in thend of Elil, there are neither hands to spare nor swords to hand over, nor hearts to support. Holy Grail Knight.¡±

    ¡°Dawn Army?¡±

    Isaac¡¯s reasons foring all the way to the Elil Kingdom were indeed as Hurk mentioned.

    Borrowing the formidable military strength of Elil.

    Considering the average level of knights Isaac encountered in Elil, they far exceeded those from the Gerthonia Empire.

    It would be desirable for any emperor, given that the entire nation was obsessed with warfare.

    ¡°We have decided not to sacrifice ourselves for a meaningless foreign war. Although we despise the Aldeon scum as well, intervening in affairs across the sea is also out of the question.¡±

    Ptui. Hurk spat on the ground as he spoke.

    Isaac felt perplexed by his reaction.

    ¡®This could be problematic.¡¯

    His worry was that there was no unified force within the Elil Kingdom. Even if they cooperated with Edelred, without a solid backing, it would be difficult to receive proper military support. That was why he had intended to conquer Georg, but he hadn¡¯t expected them to think like this.

    ¡®¡­The Elil knights are refusing to fight?¡¯

    More than anything, this was shocking news to Isaac.

    Elil knights did not shy away frombat. They had not been involved in the Dawn Army because the Codex of Light sect had provoked their pride, and they had been too busy fighting among themselves as the civil war intensified.

    But if the cause and conditions were justified, he believed they would willingly sacrifice themselves in this holy war.

    That was typical of Elil and its followers, especially the conservative guardians of the Holy Land of Elion.

    ¡®There¡¯s something off here.¡¯

    Isaac considered this reaction to be not normal.

    ¡°Alright, I understand. So you intended to kill and bury me quietly, making it seem as if I was never here?¡±

    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±

    Hurk did not respond. His silence was admission enough that killing Isaac had been one of their options.

    Isaac expanded his thoughts.

    Reyna Hilde had misinformed him about his arrival date, and Edelred had not even received a report.

    Initially, he thought it was just poor administration, but knowing that the Georg faction thought this way made him reconsider.

    ¡®Not just Georg, but many knights in Elil might think this way.¡¯

    Isaac thought even broader.

    ¡®Perhaps someone in Elil, or an angel of Elil, doesn¡¯t want to meddle in the affairs of the Gerthonia Empire?¡¯

    Focusing his thoughts, Isaac deemed it premature to conclude right now. He looked over the sitting Elion knights and gestured to the youngest who had fallen from the horse.

    ¡°You, the youngest, go home.¡±

    ¡°What? Wh, why¡­?¡±

    ¡°The rest are hostages. You go and tell Georg my message.¡±

    He looked anxiously at the other senior knights. Including Hurk, the knights had solemn expressions, but they knew that Isaac was showing mercy. At least one must return to ry what had happened here and the circumstances.

    ¡°¡­What message are you speaking of?¡±

    Isaac quietly organized his thoughts before speaking.

    ¡°It¡¯s time for Elil to break its silence.¡±

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read up to advance 20 chapters or support me, you can do it at/Akaza156

 Chapter 167.1

    Chapter 167.1

    Bang. After finishing the interrogation of the prisoners, Mors closed the prison door behind him.

    The prisoners captured by Isaac were immediately incarcerated in the dungeons of Aldeon.

    Though traitors could have faced torture or execution, being prisoners captured by a Holy Grail Knight, they were merely isted. This restraint also limited Mors¡¯s ability to interrogate them harshly.

    Indeed, he didn¡¯t need to.

    The captive knights had answered all of Mors¡¯s questions without hesitation.

    ¡°Is the interrogationplete?¡±

    In the waiting room, Edelred and Isaac were present. Mors greeted Isaac immediately, his demeanor respectful. General Mors Gideon, once filled with mistrust and suspicion towards Isaac, had changed his attitude after witnessing his valor firsthand.

    His arrogance stemmed from his devotion and faith as a follower of Elil, so it was not something to me him for.

    All believers have some exclusivity towards other religions.

    Moreover, by the standards of Elil¡¯s faith, Isaac was a remarkably strong warrior who deserved respect.

    ¡°As you said, Holy Grail Knight. It doesn¡¯t seem like Lianne Georg will suddenly emerge with an army.¡±

    Isaac nodded.

    He had thought that Lianne would immediately lead an army to ambush them once the Rite of Division was exposed. The witch hunt for Hekate had provided the perfect opportunity.

    While the expedition was meant to capture Hekate, it also served as bait to lure in Lianne.

    As expected, Georg¡¯s knights had fallen for it, but they were not there to attack Edelred and Isaac. They were merely observing and gathering intelligence.

    This meant that the Georg rebels were still not making any moves in the Holy Land of Elion.

    ¡°The scouts report simrly. The movements of the Georg rebels have actually decreased,¡± Edelredmented with a dark expression.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it a problem if Georg doesn¡¯te out?¡±

    ¡°It would be preferable, but staying put is the worst option for Lianne Georg.¡±

    ¡°Worst? Why?¡±

    Isaac pulled out the Rite of Division from his pocket as he spoke.

    ¡°General Mors, how significant is the Rite of Division to the followers of Elil?¡±

    Mors¡¯s face stiffened as he could not take his eyes off the Rite of Division and finally spoke,

    ¡°Thest sacred sword of the supreme king Elil, the final punctuation of a god¡¯s demise, a symbol of division, betrayal, and remorse.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re quite the poet.¡±

    ¡°¡­It¡¯s just amon description. The golden era of the Elil Kingdom ended with Elil¡¯s death. It also symbolizes the betrayal and sorrow suffered by the tyrant.¡±

    Isaac put the Rite of Division back into his pocket.

    Mors¡¯s expression turned somber.

    For a devout follower like him, having such a relic in the hands of a foreigner was painful, but since the relic was to be returned by a Holy Grail Knight, he could not intervene.

    ¡°Lianne Georg is preventing the Rite of Division from returning to Elil¡¯s embrace. The very Georg family known as the ¡®Guardians of the Holy Land.¡¯ This could cause discord not only among the nobles of this country but also within the Georg rebel ranks.¡±

    The best Lianne could do was to bring a smallmando force to attack Isaac and snatch the Rite of Division. She would solve the problem by returning it herself. However, instead, she fortified her position in Elion, preparing for a siege as if she knew Isaac would attack.

    ¡°If Georg doesn¡¯te out, then we use the return of the Rite of Division as a pretext to summon the lords. I think anyone who ims to be a follower of Elil couldn¡¯t just stand by.¡±

    This was nearly heretical. Refusing to return the Rite of Division, not cooperating in its return, all of it.

    It might take more time than anticipated, but if this unifies the Elil Kingdom, that¡¯s even better. It would reduce the time needed to gather forces.

    Edelred cautiously asked after Isaac¡¯s suggestion,

    ¡°What if Lianne Georg says, ¡®Let the Holy Grail Knighte alone to return it¡¯?¡±

    It was a usible scenario. She might not obstruct the relic¡¯s return if only the Holy Grail Knightes alone. But Georg had already provided a pretext for that.

    ¡°I¡¯ve already been attacked by Georg¡¯s knights. How can I ensure my safety in Elion, especially with prisoners here? It wouldn¡¯t be proper to say that if they had any decency.¡±

    Although it was more about him capturing them than being attacked, it was true they would have targeted Isaac and the Rite of Division if given a chance. Isaac had many reasons not to risk his life by going to the Holy Land alone. If a conflict did escte, Lianne might request a duel under pressure. That could settle everything with one fight.

    Isaac preferred that scenario.

    This time, unlike what he did in the Hendrock estate, Isaac couldn¡¯t choose to sneak in alone and kill everyone; there would be hundreds,

    even thousands of witnesses, and this was not just any ce¡ªit was the Holy Land Elion.

    Lianne was not the problem. An angel of Elil might appear and crush Isaac¡¯s head.

    ¡°But¡­¡±

    ¡°Is there something bothering you?¡±

    ¡°Then we would have to wage a full-scale war in the Holy Land of Elion, right? To be frank, the opponent is a Swordmaster and the strongest knightly order in the Elil Kingdom. The entire Holy Land would be soaked in blood. Whether it¡¯s them or us, a massacre would ur.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t want that either, Your Majesty.¡±

    This campaign would be Edelred¡¯s first as king and a test of his leadership. While the blood of enemies was secondary, the blood of his own people was not something desirable.

    However, he couldn¡¯t afford to be overly cautious.

    The enemy was provoking a siege, and there was no room for negotiation. As time went on, they would all be drenched in blood.

    Edelred¡¯s lips were tightly sealed as he pondered deeply.

    Isaac did not intervene. Whatever decision was made, Edelred had to carry its consequences.

    Such anguish and despair were also necessary virtues for a king.

    ***

    Edelred¡¯s call to arms was issued throughout the Elil Kingdom.

    From the northernmost Wintercall to Saltain beyond the sea, even to the rebel-held Holy Land of Elion, messengers were sent.

    This was the first call to arms since his coronation.

    Edelred had not demanded a loyalty oath immediately after his ession, because demanding loyalty in a divided nation would have forced everyone to show their cards.

    The Elil Kingdom was split into four: the southern royal family of Aldeon, the Georg rebel forces in the Holy Land of Elion, the barbaric and uncharted Witch¡¯s Forest, and the ind of Saltain across the sea.

    The Witch¡¯s Forest could now be ignored as a force, but most nobles remained nonmittal due tock of power or due to regional and personal ties. Demanding a loyalty oath might have revealed a weaker support for the Aldeon royal family than expected, which would have been disadvantageous.

    Therefore, Edelred had pragmatically opted to collect taxes without demanding loyalty oaths. This strategy allowed the Aldeon royal family to be nominally recognized as the rulers of the Elil Kingdom.

    It was time to see where Edelred truly stood.

    ng! Thud, tatak!

    Edelred¡¯s sword flew out of his hand and stuck in the ground after shing with Isaac¡¯s.

    Edelred sighed deeply and retrieved his sword.

    While waiting for the summoned nobles, Edelred practiced swordy with Isaac almost daily. Although he despised sword fighting, his respect for the Holy Grail Knight and his zeal for reform helped him focus.

    But today was different.

    ¡°Your sword is wandering. Shall we call it a day?¡±

    ¡°No, no. My mind was elsewhere, Teacher. I can continue.¡±

    But Isaac sheathed his sword.

    ¡°You might end up hurting yourself. Especially since my swordsmanship is particrly deadly; a mistake could be fatal.¡±

    ¡°However¡­¡±

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read up to advance 20 chapters or support me, you can do it at/Akaza156

 Chapter 167.2

    Chapter 167.2

    ¡°Don¡¯t be anxious. Your skills are improving remarkably fast. If you continue training like this, you might soon be able to use advanced swordsmanship techniques.¡±

    A flush of excitement colored Edelred¡¯s face. His foundation was solid, and with added effort and focus, he was rapidly absorbing the sword skills.

    Isaac, honestly, had his reservations about teaching his young king his own chaotic style of swordsmanship, which was a mix of practicality and tricks, but he did it out of personal ambition.

    ¡®Admittedly, my techniques are somewhat infamous, but if it¡¯s the swordsmanship of the King of Elil¡¯s knights, who would dare criticize it?¡¯

    Encouraged by Isaac¡¯s words, Edelred sheathed his sword.

    ¡°Are you nervous because of the summoning order?¡±

    ¡°¡­Honestly, yes. When the previous king was alive, almost everyone came. I even heard that at his coronation, the angel Nimloth came and ced the crown on his head.¡±

    Nimloth, named ¡®Lady of the Lake¡¯ within the Elil faith, was akin to a Valkyrie who led knights into battle and guided the deceased to the afterlife.

    It wasn¡¯t odd for the previous king, despite his tyranny, to be acknowledged by an angel since, in the Elil Kingdom, the king is as pivotal as a pope.

    ¡®But it seems he doesn¡¯t wield absolute power like the Codex of Light.¡¯

    ¡°But my coronation was simple, and everyone knows I¡¯m just a naive young kid. Plus, I¡¯ve never even met an angel.¡±

    ¡°Angels aren¡¯t that special, anyway.¡±

    Isaac spoke without thinking and immediately regretted it; such a statement could be construed as sphemous.

    He was about to correct himself when Edelred¡¯s eyes sparkled with curiosity.

    ¡°Angels! Speaking of which, I heard that you defeated the Prophet of the Red Flesh and faced the Drowned King. Is that true? Did you obtain the Rite of Division after defeating the Prophet of the Red Flesh?¡±

    ¡°Well, that is true. Though I acquired the Rite of Division before that¡­¡±

    Tales of ¡®who is the strongest¡¯ are universally thrilling for young men regardless of era or culture.

    For Edelred, who typically despised knights, this seemed to be an intriguing topic.

    Isaac wanted to exin that battles between angels often involveplex theological and elemental matchups, which are also influenced by divine will, but he decided againstplicating the conversation.

    ¡°It seems that the angels of Elil are the strongest. Even excluding mages like Calurien and Nimloth, the other archangels are not specifically warriors, right?¡±

    Ultimately, Isaac gave an answer that would most please Edelred, who eagerly responded.

    ¡°You seem to know a lot about Elil¡¯s angels! But doesn¡¯t the Codex of Light have an angel called the ¡®Sword of May¡¯? I heard she was a highly regarded knight who became an angel. Could she stand against Elil¡¯s angels?¡±

    Isaac was taken aback by the sudden mention but managed to respond.

    ¡°That might be possible. However, she is renowned not so much as a knight but as a master of swordsmanship. All the techniques of the Codex of Light Pdin Order are derived from her teachings. Isn¡¯t the Elion Knight the most famous among Elil¡¯s angels?¡±

    ¡°Elil is said to master ten thousand arms in ten thousand ways. The Sword of May sounds simr. It¡¯s often harder to be an outstanding teacher than a great swordsman.¡±

    Somehow, the conversation evolved into Isaac seemingly supporting Elil¡¯s angels, while Edelred seemed to champion the angels of the Codex of Light, but even Isaac, who had yed the game, found it hard to predict who would win.

    Truthfully, at a certain level, angels are less like powerful beings and more like natural phenomena.

    Is the Sword of May stronger, or is the Elion Knight stronger? Such battles are essentially like asking whether a volcanic eruption is stronger than a typhoon.

    The Sword of May is known for his swordsmanship, and the Prophet of the Red Flesh is weaker inbat. But what if the Prophet schemes against the Sword of May?

    Perhaps the Sword of May would unwittingly find a cat on his bed ready to strike.

    Ultimately, each excels in their own domain.

    ¡®Wow, I got carried away there.¡¯

    But Isaac understood why Edelred was excited.

    It was a popr topic among the yers of Nameless Chaos, though angels fighting each other like in a grand war such as the Dawn Army was rare.

    ¡®Well, if it happens, better to watch from a distance¡­ I¡¯d prefer not to get involved.¡¯

    Considering the fight with the Drowned King was a life-risking battle, he preferred to avoid such conflicts. Isaac then remembered something he had been too busy to think about.

    ¡®By the way, what exactly does the Sword of May want from me that she¡¯s still keeping silent?¡¯

    ***

    As the date of the summons approached, Aldeon buzzed with nobles and knights from across the Elil Kingdom. For safety reasons, nobles did not travel alone, filling up all avable amodations in Aldeon and even requiring camps outside the city.

    ¡°You need to be wary of security issues, Your Majesty. This is exactly the kind of time when assassins and spies can infiltrate.¡±

    On the fateful day in the royal hall, Isaac recalled an incident where Emperor Waltzemer nearly got assassinated.

    However, Isaac¡¯s mention of assassination puzzled Edelred and Mors.

    ¡°Assassination? Who are you talking about?¡±

    ¡°Georg¡­ no.¡±

    Isaac realized he was thinking too much in terms of Gerthonia strategies. Knights of the Elil Kingdom might lead armies to ambush, but they wouldn¡¯t n assassinations.

    Assassinations were too ¡®Red Chalice¡¯-like.

    Even the rebels were too honorable to consider assassination.

    Isaac understood why, despite their strength, they still hadn¡¯t managed to retrieve the Red Chalice.

    If it had been Gerthonia, they would¡¯ve long since sent a small elite force to assassinate the highmand and seize the Chalice.

    ¡®Wachia would have tried it a thousand times by now.¡¯

    Whoo©¤

    Just then, as the long horn sounded and the doors opened, nobles began to enter.

    Although they were all well-dressed, theck of uniformity made it look somewhat disorganized. To Isaac, who had seen noble gatherings in Rougeberg, this looked more like a meeting of bandit chiefs than nobles.

    Edelred was pleased to see more nobles than expected.

    Most of the nobles he remembered from his childhood were there.

    Isaac asked Mors, ¡°Is this a good turnout?¡±

    ¡°Excluding the Georg faction, it seems almost everyone has been summoned.¡±

    It was a sessful gathering. Isaac felt proud that the Rite of Division had worked its magic, as he had heard some nobles had distanced themselves due to incidents in Saltain.

    The nobles quietly murmured to each other as they noticed Isaac standing next to Edelred.

    Suddenly, the atmosphere among the nobles at the end of the hall changed.

    The whispering died down as an awkward, guilt-ridden silence spread. Isaac saw Edelred and Mors¡¯s expressions harden too.

    Isaac¡¯s eyes followed their gaze.

    Squeak, squeak.

    Amidst the silence, the distinct sound of something heavy being dragged was heard.

    A gaunt old woman with deeply sunken eyes under a scorched seal skin cloak that dragged on the floor approached silently.

    In her hand, she dragged arge sack big enough to fit a person.

    Indeed, Isaac realized that there really was someone inside that sack.

    Before he could act, Edelred stood up and spoke.

    ¡°Lady Rosalind Saltain, wee after such a long journey.¡±

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read up to advance 20 chapters or support me, you can do it at/Akaza156

 Chapter 168.1

    Chapter 168.1

    Edelred¡¯s voice was rough and awkward as if rusted.

    He struggled not to let his voice tremble, but the shaking of his clenched fists was unavoidable. Isaac quickly whispered to Mors.

    ¡°Was someone from Saltain supposed toe too?¡±

    ¡°We did send a messenger, but there was no reply. We assumed they would ignore the summons¡­¡±

    The person who arrived wasn¡¯t just anyone; it was someone from Saltain, known to harbor a deep grudge against the royal family of Aldeon.

    Yet here she was, without any guards, just her and arge sack, having made her way to this ce. Isaac thought that normally someone like her would be stopped at the main gate, but it would have been difficult to outright deny entry to a distinguished guest.

    Lady Rosalind Saltain stared silently at Edelred for a moment before bowing exaggeratedly and saying,

    ¡°Glory and victory to the Kingdom of Elil! It¡¯s been a long time, Your Majesty. I¡¯m not sure if you remember me.¡±

    ¡°¡­How could I forget you, madam? I¡¯ve always been concerned about your health. Frankly, your visit is unexpected, but that makes it all the more wee. How is Count Theobald Saltain?¡±

    Rosalind smiled weakly, but her sunken eyes betrayed a chilling hatred.

    ¡°My husband wanted very much toe after receiving your invitation. But his illness had advanced too far, making it difficult for him to travel.¡±

    ¡°That is unfortunate. But I am d that you could grace us with your presence. We will make sure that you arefortable during your stay¡­¡±

    ¡°However, as a subject, how could I refuse Your Majesty¡¯s summons? He insisted oning to speak to you directly and stubbornly took to the sea.¡±

    Isaac felt a premonition of doom.

    Rosalind then violently tore open the sack she had brought with her. Instantly, a foul stench filled the hall, causing the nobles to recoil.

    ¡°That¡¯s how he arrived.¡±

    Inside the sack was the partially dposed body of Count Theobald Saltain.

    The hardened body, apparently left unattended on a ship, was caked with white salt. However, one greyish eye still bulged open. It was hard to believe this was a dead man given his expression.

    Rosalind stood the corpse up and started dragging it toward Edelred. As the ghastly grey eyes faced him, Edelred gasped.

    Her smile deepened.

    ¡°Here, Your Majesty. This is the body of my husband, whom your father greatly desired! Even in death, he wishes to serve you. The 80,000 of your citizens who starved to death in Saltain also expect this of you.¡±

    Crack, crack.

    The sound of the salt-hardened body being dragged was eerie. Overwhelmed by Rosalind¡¯s insane determination, everyone stood frozen.

    ¡°Come, Your Majesty, hurry!¡±

    Edelred instinctively stepped back, but someone supported him from behind.

    It was Isaac.

    ¡®Showing weakness now would be the end.¡¯

    It was not a child¡¯s ce to handle such matters. But Edelred knew he had to face the legacy of the previous king head-on now that he was king.

    It was insulting to only treat him as a child.

    Isaac could push him, but he couldn¡¯t make decisions for him.

    Finally, unable to stand it, Mors shouted.

    ¡°Remove that witch immediately!¡±

    At hismand, Aldeon knights rushed forward.

    At that moment, Edelred¡¯s voice boomed out.

    ¡°Stand down!¡±

    The knights immediately halted.

    Edelred steadied his breathing and walked forward. His hands were still shaking, but his steps did not falter. Rosalind stopped and watched as Edelred approached.

    His eyes intensely focused on the dead Count¡¯s body; Edelred saw tens of thousands of ghosts in those grey eyes, ready to leap out and tear into his flesh.

    But Edelred bravely offered his neck and shoulders to their fangs.

    ¡°You have traveled far, Count. Aldeon wees you.¡±

    Isaac admired Edelred¡¯s courage more than he expected, but as Edelred embraced the Count¡¯s corpse, sighs and murmurs of disapproval arose from various quarters.

    Isaac did not miss the mixed expressions of the nobility.

    He had already instructed Hesabel about this.

    ¡°I regret we couldn¡¯t speak earlier. Your advice would have been invaluable now more than ever. I hope you find peace.¡±

    Lady Rosalind watched Edelred intently.

    She was unarmed, a fact they all knew, but if looks could kill, Rosalind¡¯s might have done the job.

    However, as Edelred did not avert his gaze, she gradually subdued her show of emotions.

    ¡°¡­Thank you for weing me with open arms, Your Majesty.¡±

    Her face showed nothing but exhaustion, but Isaac suspected that her murderous intent hadn¡¯tpletely vanished, just taken a more concentrated, quieter form.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but may this old woman retire now? I rushed here in response to your call, but at my age, it¡¯s hard to keep up with such fervor.¡±

    ¡°Of course. We are already grateful that you came this far.¡±

    Edelred soothed her and directed the knights to take care of Count Saltain¡¯s body. They cautiously ced the body back into the sack.

    As Rosalind watched them like a corpse sunken at the sea, she finally left the scene.

    ***

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read up to advance 20 chapters or support me, you can do it at/Akaza156

 Chapter 168.2

    Chapter 168.2

    Although the beginning was dramatic, except for the nobles who had joined the Georg rebels, nearly all had responded to the summons.

    The nobility outwardly showed no significant resentment or tightrope-walking behavior against King Edelred,plying with his authority. This was a sess beyond expectations given the tense preparations. If all the nobles of Aldeon united, even crushing the Georg rebels could be possible.

    However, Isaac did not consider this entirely good news.

    ¡°What kind of person is Lady Rosalind?¡± he asked Mors during a banquet meant to lighten the atmosphere. Mors, who had been tearing into a leg ofmb, put down his meat with a tasteless expression, as if reminded of the corpse from earlier.

    ¡°She¡¯s hardly a modestdy. Think of her as somewhere between Elil and the Council of Salt. Before marrying Count Saltain of Saltain, she was rumored to be a pirate terrorizing the kingdom¡¯s western regions.¡±

    ¡°Pirate¡­¡±

    ¡°Well, she ims she was a ¡®righteous ouw,¡¯ but it¡¯s true she formed an armed group and attacked the armies of the king and nobility on her own initiative.¡±

    ¡°So Count Saltain allied with a pirate, or rather, a maritime warlord, for peacekeeping?¡±

    ¡°No, it¡¯s not like that. Count Saltain, then a mere heir, fell head over heels for her. I heard he even risked his life several times following her around for three years, even engaging in looting as part of her crew.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°Hmm, but honestly, these are just stories I¡¯ve heard indirectly. But seeing her today, bringing her husband¡¯s corpse like that to the court, makes me believe those tales might be true.¡±

    Isaac didn¡¯t know much about Rosalind; she was hardly mentioned in the game.

    The Saltain territory wasn¡¯t well-covered in the game either. Given her age, Rosalind didn¡¯t seem like she would pose a significant threat.

    ¡®But her influence can¡¯t be ignored.¡¯

    Saltain Ind was considered one of the four major factions splitting Elil¡¯s kingdom due to its extensivend and naval power, despite the massacres it had suffered. The Council of Salt might back them, but they could still influence the coastal and riverside nobility.

    ¡°It seems Lady Rosalind wanted to disrupt this assembly.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s likely. Just her appearance here has shocked everyone. It¡¯s good that His Majesty handled it maturely.¡±

    Had it been King Alfred, he might have reacted by cutting Rosalind¡¯s throat or beating her and dragging her out. However, if Edelred had responded that way, it could have instantly fostered resentment among the nobility.

    ¡®Many nobles are sympathetic about the massacres in Saltain.¡¯

    Not just out of pity but because they feared it could happen to them too.

    Rosalind came prepared to incite and exploit such sentiments. Isaac clearly remembered those nobles who seemed particrly disappointed.

    They had either been coerced or hoped to see Edelred¡¯s authority undermined.

    ¡®National unity isn¡¯t achieved overnight¡­¡¯

    King Alfred had left Edelred a secure legacy, but also many enemies outside the fence. Now, maintaining that legacy was entirely up to Edelred.

    ***

    As the banquet atmosphere warmed up, knights began tapping their scabbards on the floor. King Edelred stood up from the dining tform.

    He addressed the quiet hall.

    ¡°Thank you to everyone who has traveled from far to respond to the king¡¯s call.¡±

    Clunk, clunk, clunk! The nobles responded by tapping their beer steins on the table.

    ¡°There are many things you may be curious about or want to hear, but I will skip the trivialities and get to the point. I intend to reim the Holy Land of Elion.¡±

    The hall fell silent. This was not an unexpected statement; losing the Holy Land was a disgrace for the head of the Elil church. Moreover, leaving the rebels unchecked would perpetuate treason throughout the kingdom.

    ¡°Of course, the Georg family is there. But here, I have my knights, my army, and all of you. During this campaign, you are not just my subjects but also my friends, my teachers, myrades.¡±

    Clunk, clunk, clunk, clunk! The sounds of beer steins became louder, and beer overflowed the tables. For the nobles who remembered the tyranny and mismanagement of the previous king, Edelred¡¯s approach was appealing.

    ¡°And most importantly, we have a sacred artifact that must be returned to our god, the eternal champion of the battlefield, Elil.¡±

    Edelred took out the Rite of Division, which he had borrowed from Isaac.

    As soon as the Rite of Division was in Edelred¡¯s hands, it hummed loudly, sensing the holy power of Elil¡¯s faith in him. The ominous red patterns imbued with Elil¡¯s blood shone eerily.

    ¡°This dagger split Elil¡¯s heart, Garagaldia. The infidels called it the Rite of Division, meaning

    a ¡®divisive wedding.¡¯¡±

    The nobles couldn¡¯t take their eyes off it. Their faith seemed to resonate spontaneously with the Rite of Division, stirring their emotions.

    ¡°That vile entity chose betrayal despite receiving the king¡¯s favor and fled with his heart! Thus, we could only watch as our god left our side!¡±

    Bang, bang, bang, bang! The clinking of steins grew louder.

    ¡°After a long time, the return of Garagaldia to our hands signifies that it is time for our god to return! Garagaldia is just the beginning! We will reim all holynds and holy swords, and bring back the Holy Grail toplete the return of Elil!¡±

    Bang, bang, bang! The response from the nobles was nearly fric.

    No knight raised without hearing legends of Elil¡¯s ascension and resurrection. Supporting this speech was akin to proving one¡¯s patriotism; to do otherwise would be nearly treasonous.

    Then Edelred pointed to Isaac and shouted.

    ¡°The greatest Holy Grail Knight since the Ashen Knight will aid our journey!¡±

    ¡°Holy Grail Knight! Holy Grail Knight!¡±

    Isaac, caught off-guard by the sudden reference, nevertheless raised his ss. The nobles, initially puzzled, joined in as the Aldeon knights cheered. Edelred dered loudly.

    ¡°We must return to the Holy Land!¡±

    ¡°To the Holy Land!¡±

    The nobles shouted in unison.

    ¡®Well yed.¡¯

    Isaac was quietly impressed. Edelred had skillfully woven an allegory about Lianne Georg into his speech. While the history between Elil and the Muses was true, he had directed the hatred for the Muses towards Lianne, despite various justifiable reasons for the Georg family¡¯s actions.

    It was remarkable that Edelred, despite his youth, was using such cunning tactics for agitation.

    Isaac couldn¡¯t help but smile bitterly.

    ¡®It seems he has decided to ept it after all that deliberation.¡¯

    With this, Edelred took a step closer to bing a true king.

    Isaac felt somewhat regretful about it.

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read up to advance 20 chapters or support me, you can do it at/Akaza156

 Chapter 169.1

    Chapter 169.1

    As the excitement of the speech subsided, the hall was filled with the thrill of war.

    Of course, there was still some anxiety about having to face ¡®that¡¯ Georg¡¯s army. However, the ¡®minority¡¯ knights who were not knights in Ellel had no choice but to watch the situation unfold silently in the corner, unable to speak.

    Especially if it was a royal court filled with nobles of knightly origin.

    Regardless, the meeting soon began, driven by the loud voices of those favoring aggression.

    More bandit chief than knight, these individuals took control of the meeting not with elegant opening remarks but with their booming voices alone.

    ¡°Of course we should take the lead!¡±

    Thud. Arge nobleman stood up abruptly during an argument and shouted, causing all eyes to turn toward him. His face reddened as he continued loudly after a heated exchange with other nobles.

    ¡°If our Galverd Knights aren¡¯t at the forefront crushing the enemy, who else will do it? Certainly not the armored knights of your domains!¡±

    ¡°Those slow pigs will be like children against Georg¡¯s knights, you fool! The traitorous Georgs will knock down your swine like twisting a child¡¯s wrist!¡±

    The retort came from a one-eyed noblewoman involved in the argument.

    Isaac decided to nickname the participants based on their features as ¡®the bulky one¡¯ and ¡®the one-eyed¡¯.

    ¡°The vanguard should be our Hillsner Knights! Our knights can disperse the enemy forces with their swift guerri tactics! You others should follow and clean up!¡±

    A mustachioed nobleman joined in angrily from a distance.

    ¡°What nonsense! Are you ignoring our Carvanah heavy infantry who can hold the line like a wall of iron?¡±

    Isaac gave him the nickname ¡®mustache,¡¯ but soon gave up onbeling as everyone morously imed their knights were best suited for the vanguard.

    If this had been the Gerthonia Empire, only a few obsessed with glory would vie for the vanguard; most would be thinking about how to avoid fighting and return to their domains. However, in the Kingdom of Elil, everyone wanted to be a leader, which was headache-inducing.

    ¡°Everyone looks brave,¡± Edelredmented as the nobles quieted down at his intervention.

    ¡®Bulky¡¯ quickly pleaded with Edelred.

    ¡°Your Majesty, please let our knights lead the vanguard!¡±

    ¡°The Galverd Knights are indeed worthy of the vanguard.¡±

    As ¡®bulky¡¯ smiled triumphantly, Edelred added,

    ¡°However, the opposing side might have Lianne leading their vanguard. Does your knight order have a Swordmaster to counter hers?¡±

    ¡®Bulky¡¯ quieted down, clearly having forgotten about facing Lianne. The desire for glory had outweighed his fear.

    ¡°I will face her! I will bring you Lianne¡¯s head!¡±

    ¡°Your bravery is admirable, but I prefer not to endorse recklessness. We need a force capable of confronting Lianne in the vanguard.¡±

    The room fell silent at the challenging condition.

    Swordmasters, rare and usually independent, were often not tied to any house but wandered seeking challenges.

    Currently, Lianne Georg was the only known affiliated Swordmaster.

    ¡°If none are avable, I would like to rmend someone.¡±

    Edelred stood up and pointed at Isaac.

    ¡°Isaac Issacrea of the Holy Grail Knights, he too is a Swordmaster.¡±

    ¡°No way!¡±

    Shock spread among the nobles. Isaac, known to belong to the Codex of Light, worried about the repercussions of his swordsmanship bing widely known.

    He needed to prove his divine blessing from Elil to justify his actions in this campaign, as the Codex of Light was unlikely to be aware of his deeds across the sea.

    Then ¡®one-eyed¡¯ protested loudly.

    ¡°A heretic leading the crusade to reim the Holy Land! Uneptable!¡±

    Despite open defiance of the king¡¯smand, this was typical in the Kingdom of Elil. If something was not epted, it often had to be enforced through conflict.

    To fulfill Edelred¡¯s goal, Isaac had to quiet ¡®one-eyed.¡¯

    Approaching her with an object intended for such disputes, ¡®one-eyed¡¯ flinched but met his gaze fiercely.

    Thud. Isaac set arge, cloth-wrapped object before her.

    ¡°What is this?¡±

    ¡°A substitute standard for the vanguard.¡±

    Skeptically, ¡®one-eyed¡¯ cut the cloth with a dagger, revealing its contents.

    Gasps of shock and awe filled the room.

    ¡°It¡¯s the head of the Witch Hectali. I severed it myself recently.¡±

    Despite being disfigured from being trampled, the head¡¯s shocking appearance¡ªa mix of wood and an old woman¡¯s features¡ªsilenced ¡®one-eyed¡¯.

    Capturing the Witch Hectali was known to be a formidable task.

    ¡°Not only that, but I have also banished the Prophet of the Red Flesh and in the Drowned King. I¡¯m curious if there¡¯s anyone better than me to face Lianne.¡±

    ¡°But¡­¡±

    There it was, the inevitable ¡®but.¡¯

    Isaac knew that mere words wouldn¡¯t convince these stubborn nobles. However, he had a much simpler and more effective method of persuasion at his disposal.

    Sometimes, it was necessary for Isaac to stoop to the level of his adversaries to persuade them effectively.

    ¡°If you really don¡¯t like it, then let¡¯s leave the decision to Elil,¡± he suggested, meaning if they hadints, they shoulde forward and fight it out.

    Isaac was aware of how his achievements had been exaggerated and widely known across the seas.

    Thus, he thought the debate would be resolved with the striking disy of the witch¡¯s head and the added charisma of a Nephilim.

    However, as soon as Isaac finished speaking, nobles sprang from their seats around the hall.

    ¡°Dever¡¯s son, Horn Galverd! I challenge the Holy Grail Knight!¡±

    ¡°Carvanah heavy infantrymander Dalton, I seek to learn from the renowned Holy Grail Knight¡­¡±

    ¡®Damn.¡¯

    Isaac had underestimated the fanaticism of the followers of Elil, even though he had been challenged to duels from his very first night at the port of Aldeon.

    These nobles weren¡¯t underestimating Isaac¡¯s skills; rather, they realized the immense honor it would be to cross swords with him.

    Isaac realized he was in for a tiring day.

    ***

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read up to advance 20 chapters or support me, you can do it at/Akaza156

 Chapter 169.2

    Chapter 169.2

    ¡°The vanguard has been entrusted to me. His Majesty has also agreed to take suprememand,¡± Isaac reported.

    ¡°You¡¯ve had a hard time, Holy Grail Knight. The most crucial task has been entrusted to you,¡± a noble acknowledged.

    ¡°It¡¯s a necessary experience for me too,¡± Isaac replied.

    Unifyingmand was indeed a critical condition in this civil war.

    Comparing King Edelred¡¯s and Georg¡¯s forces, while Edelred¡¯s assembled knights outnumbered their opponents, Georg¡¯s troops were superior in quality and morale. Without unifiedmand, Edelred¡¯s forces were likely to crumble instantly inbat.

    ¡®If gainingmand through duels is what it takes, it¡¯s a small price to pay.¡¯

    In the Gerthonia Empire, achieving such unity would have been much harder, requiring negotiations, threats, bribes, and more, just to fight under amon banner.

    In this regard, Elil¡¯s straightforwardness was a relief.

    However, not all conflicts had been resolved.

    ¡°There are nobles who neither joined the duel nor actively participated in the meetings,¡± Isaac noted.

    Edelred nodded. ¡°I know who they are. They¡¯re mostly nobles from Saltain or the coastal areas, some indebted to the Count of Saltain. And believe it or not, there¡¯s a faction here that supports maintaining the status quo.¡±

    These were ¡®Status Quo Supporters¡¯. Some nobles preferred that the Kingdom of Elil remain divided, neither siding with the Aldeon royal family nor the Georg warlords, since both parties left them to their own devices as long as they paid their taxes.

    This allowed these nobles to wield greater power within their domains than ever before; effectively, the kingdom was split into hundreds of mini-states.

    ¡°And generally, they align with Count Saltain¡¯s faction. Theo Saltain dered independence instead of revenge during his lifetime.¡±

    He didn¡¯t renounce the faith of Elil but dered that he would not ept royal authority.

    Isaac estimated that these nobles constituted about a third of the aristocracy,a significant but quiet faction, likely still haunted by the massacre at Saltain.

    They merely hoped the war would not end in anyone¡¯s victory, favoring the status quo.

    Isaac reconsidered the power dynamics.

    King¡¯s faction: Aldeon.

    Rebel¡¯s faction: Georg.

    Neutral faction: Saltain.

    With Saltain at the western end and Georg¡¯s stronghold, the Holy Land of Elion, to the east, abandoning Saltain could mean a stab in the back. Moreover, given Lady Rosalind¡¯s actions, they were unlikely to stay quiet.

    Yet, all these queries intensified when Rosalind visited Aldeon.

    If she truly wanted to maintain the status quo, a show of force in Saltain would have been better fighting on two fronts is foolish for any kingdom.

    Isaac tapped a column thoughtfully.

    ¡°Why would Theo Saltain respond to the summons?¡±

    ¡°Hmm, I don¡¯t know either. No one thought he woulde¡­¡±

    ¡°Why did Lady Rosalinde here to expose her hatred?¡±

    Was it just to sabotage the unification? To reveal the Aldeon family¡¯s dark secrets in front of the nobles? To show the victims of Saltain and alert the aristocracy?

    All were possible. Rosalind was literally risking her life with these actions.

    But Isaac felt there was a more significant reason.

    While Rosalind might be motivated by personal reasons, other factions didn¡¯t actively oppose the Aldeon royal family; unlike the inds across the sea, they were on the maind and could directly confront the royal power.

    This meant Rosalind had something more than just ¡®returning a sacred relic¡¯ to shatter Aldeon¡¯s unification efforts.

    They were waiting for the moment to reveal it.

    ¡®It¡¯s a headache.¡¯

    Just figuring out how to deal with Georg and keeping an eye on Saltain was troubling enough. He hadn¡¯t even considered the possibility of Saltain coborating with Georg to double-cross Aldeon, it seemed unlikely.

    His real concern was ¡®deliberate ipetence¡¯.

    Even agreeing to attack together, a sudden break in the ranks or a retreat could devastate Aldeon¡¯s forces, a passive form of rebellion was very likely.

    So, Isaac brought up a contingency n.

    ¡°Will you bring out Kaldbruch?¡±

    Edelred looked at him, surprised.

    ¡°The holy sword Kaldbruch? Yes, of course, we must take it.¡±

    Kaldbruch, one of the three remaining swords once wielded by Elil and kept in the royal treasury, was somewhat neglected but protected by its own curse, unbearable pain to any unworthy holder.

    It was one reason no one underestimated the kingless Aldeon royal family.

    ¡°While I trust the Holy Grail Knight, we can¡¯t rely on him alone. And Lianne will bring her holy sword Lumiarde. We must do our best, even if Kaldbruch is not suited for such a battlefield¡­¡±

    Edelred pondered the meaning etched in the names of the holy swords, Justice for Kaldbruch, Honor for Lumiarde.

    A sh of holy swords. If this were a game, it would be thrilling, but it was a tragedy born from a civil war.

    ¡®Even with Kaldbruch, I¡¯m not sure if Edelred can match Lianne. It looks like I¡¯ll have to face her¡­¡¯

    Holy swords not only had unique powers but also served as powerful catalysts for certain rituals. Kaldbruch could temporarily invoke an angelic presence in its wielder.

    Not a sentient archangel, but a mechanical cherub¡ªyet an angel nheless.

    The extent to which one could harness this power could turn a mere warrior into a divine force. However, unless one was a fitting sovereign, most would perish before reaching that pinnacle.

    But that was no small burden even for a king.

    ¡®It was the power to crush bones and organs under enhanced muscr strength, probably.¡¯

    At least with that power, there was little risk of Edelred being suddenly assassinated on the battlefield or having the sword stolen, unless by Lianne herself.

    Isaac decided to put aside his worries about Aldeon¡¯s weakest link and moved on to the next concern.

    ¡®I need to meet Lady Rosalind.¡¯

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read up to advance 20 chapters or support me, you can do it at/Akaza156

 Chapter 170.1

    Chapter 170.1

    ¡°What conspiracy are you plotting?¡±

    ¡°¡­Wee, Holy Grail Knight.¡±

    Rosalind, who was hosting a guest in the middle of the night, looked at Isaac with a bemused expression. Despite her gaunt appearance, she had regained some of herdylike dignity. Of course, scars that hinted at her past still marked her hands and face.

    ¡°I apologize for visiting sote at night. However, I had many questions and couldn¡¯t help myself.¡±

    ¡°A conspiracy? While the other nobles y at war, I have been sleeping like azy cat.¡±

    Rosalind muttered with a twisted smile, the scar on her lip warping strangely.

    ¡°But that¡¯s why I can¡¯t sleep. Would you mind keeping an old womanpany?¡±

    Rosalind opened the door wider. Isaac epted her invitation.

    Sitting at the table by the window, Rosalind brought over some herbal tea she had already brewed. Having consumed the End-Eater and gained immunity to all poisons, Isaac didn¡¯t suspect a thing. If there had been poison, it would have revealed Rosalind¡¯s intentions.

    ¡°I¡¯ve heard about you at the Salt Council.¡±

    Rosalind said with a soft smile, apparently having deep connections with the Salt Council as well.

    ¡°The sailors seem to like you. It¡¯s rare for crude sea dogs to not only respect but also like a Knight of the Codex of Light. Probably because they face many hardships.¡±

    ¡°It was just a coincidence that our paths crossed.¡±

    ¡°I wonder if we could have such a coincidence.¡±

    Rosalind leaned forward, peering at Isaac with sunken eyes.

    ¡°You promised salvation to the Salt Council, I heard. Could you bring me salvation as well?¡±

    ¡®¡­Salvation?¡¯

    Her eyes, having seemingly hit rock bottom in despair, showed no sign of hope, just filled with lethal venom.

    The venom in her gaze had congealed, turning her eyes a dark, venomous ck.

    Isaac hesitated for a moment but then looked into her eyes, his own eyes tinged with a subtle purple hue, though Rosalind did not notice it in the dim light.

    He couldn¡¯t see her deepest thoughts, but he could read her surface thoughts.

    ¡®Swordmaster.¡¯

    The word flickered through his mind, and Isaac¡¯s eyes sparkled.

    Rosalind was thinking about a Swordmaster staying in Aldeon.

    ¡®Which Swordmasters are currently active?¡¯

    Bing a Swordmaster required a mix of luck, talent, blessings, and effort. Naturally, many were not of sound mind. Most preferred bing stronger over affiliating with any ce, hence why not many Swordmasters were publicly known.

    ¡®Leaving out Lianne Georg, Vascv Norton is in the Empire, and Red Sword Lua is imprisoned in Gehenna¡­¡¯

    Isaac could only think of one remaining Swordmaster. A character unpredictable in the game, powerful but mysterious in his appearances.

    ¡°Swordmaster Cedric. Is he here?¡±

    ***

    Rosalind looked startled for a moment before narrowing her eyes at Isaac.

    ¡°Did you read my mind? This is why I despise the practitioners of the Codex of Light!¡±

    The powers of the Codex of Light were known for light and heat but also for seeking knowledge and wisdom, much like how Elil pursued courage and honor.

    Like amp illuminating someone¡¯s dark thoughts, the miracle of mind reading existed.

    Of course, it couldn¡¯t be used carelessly, and there was significant resistance to this miracle from other faiths. Even among fellow believers of the Codex of Light, it was forbidden except in interrogations of heretics.

    If such miracles weremon, Isaac would have had a hard time moving freely.

    Rosalind¡¯s statement was urate, but Isaac firmly lied.

    ¡°Did it seem to you that I used a miracle?¡±

    Rosalind closed her mouth. A miracle always manifests its effects.

    In the case of the Codex of Light, the more powerful the miracle, the brighter the light it produced. To the victim, it would feel like their brain was being illuminated with amp.

    ¡°There¡¯s no need to read minds. I already knew Cedric was hired by Saltain. I just wanted to check if he was guarding Saltain as heard or if he was here.¡±

    Of course, Isaac hadn¡¯t actually learned Cedric was hired. But he stated it as if the Codex of Light knew all, a useful misconception in this situation.

    After a brutal massacre, Saltain had concluded that they too needed a Swordmaster. However, a Swordmaster could only emerge from abination of divine blessing, personal effort, and luck, not something that could be forcibly trained.

    Instead, they hired wandering Swordmasters.

    One of the few, the capricious ¡®Cedric¡¯.

    He was in Aldeon.

    ¡°Surely you¡¯re not nning to assassinate King Edelred. Cedric wouldn¡¯t ept such a task anyway.¡±

    Rosalind looked incredulously at Isaac as he quickly changed the subject.

    If anyone dared suggest assassination to a Swordmaster, Rosalind would have been the first victim.

    ¡°I merely asked Cedric for protection. How could I visit the royal family of Aldeon unguarded? Who knows what might happen?¡±

    ¡°King Edelred is not that kind of person.¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re all the same.¡±

    Rosalind spat on the floor, muttering to herself.

    ¡°He¡¯s still a child, and that¡¯s why he¡¯s innocent for now. But once he grows up, he¡¯ll likely indulge in cruelty not unlike his father. After all, even a hundred years ago, this royal family was founded by those who murdered their predecessors and seized the throne. Where do you think their blood-soaked hands will go next?¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t the history of Elil itself built on a structure where blood washes blood, and the victor takes all?¡±

    At Isaac¡¯s response, Rosalind fell silent and stared intently at him.

    ¡°Are you saying my faith is misguided?¡±

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read more than 20 advance chapters or support me, you can do it at /Akaza156

 Chapter 170.2

    Chapter 170.2

    ¡°Isn¡¯t there blood on Lady Rosalind¡¯s own hands as well? It¡¯s natural to harbor resentment seeing your people die horribly, but isn¡¯t it unjust to me a child who has never stained his hands with blood?¡±

    ¡°A child? Ha! The moment he wears the crown, he is not a person but a concept of a king. He represents the state and inherits all the wealth and power amassed through the evil deeds of his predecessors. Is it a vile tradition of the Codex of Light to separate the good from the bad?¡±

    ¡°Then the previous king should have exterminated the seed of Saltain.¡±

    Rosalind¡¯s expression froze, and her anger erupted momentster.

    Bang. The impact of her mming the table caused the teacup to spill.

    ¡°What did you say!¡±

    ¡°If all sins are eternally inherited, then we should just eradicate the beings to be med. It¡¯s because King Alfred was too lenient that Edelred has to pay the price now.¡±

    ¡°How dare you¡­¡±

    ¡°Are you angry? Good. Lady Rosalind. How about this? Let¡¯s kill King Edelred. And let¡¯s wipe out his lineage too.¡±

    Rosalind red at Isaac with bloodshot eyes, her rage bubbling at the suggestion, but she was a foreigner and a heretic to Isaac; she hadn¡¯t sworn loyalty to Edelred.

    ¡°Then we should rightfully make some innocent child the king. Wait, that might upset others. Maybe some people like Edelred, and we shouldn¡¯t forget the Georg family. Let¡¯s kill them all off too. Thest one standing gets all of Elil¡¯s favor.¡±

    What would be left for Rosalind at the end?

    A terrified young king, more hatred, and more enemies.

    Just like King Alfred before her.

    ¡°The sacred sword of the Elil kings, Kaldbruch, means ¡®justice¡¯, you know. Is this the justice you seek, Lady Rosalind?¡±

    While Isaac didn¡¯t think Edelred was entirely meless and understood where Rosalind wasing from, ,inheriting the throne means inheriting its burdens too ¨C how should justice be served? Killing Edelred wouldn¡¯t help anyone, nor would telling the victims to ¡®forget and forgive¡¯ be responsible.

    Ultimately, there was no easy answer.

    Thus, Isaac was selfishly pushing for reconciliation for his own benefits.

    Rosalind caught her breath, her eyes still red from rage, but soon she controlled her breathing and regained herposure as if she had never been angry.

    ¡°If I were ten years younger, I would challenge you to a duel, but it¡¯s clear I would lose now.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s fortunate.¡±

    Rosalind refilled the overturned teacup with tea.

    ¡°Holy Grail Knight, you misunderstand something.¡±

    ¡°A misunderstanding?¡±

    Rosalind nodded.

    ¡°What I want is not revenge.¡±

    ¡°Then what is it you seek?¡±

    ¡°Salvation.¡±

    Salvation? It was the same word she had used earlier.

    ¡°Salvation from what?¡±

    There must be a tormentor for one to seek salvation from it. From what was Rosalind seeking salvation?

    An unjust world? The constant fear of attack?

    The desire for revenge she couldn¡¯t fulfill due to her own weakness?

    However, Rosalind did not exin.

    She merely tilted her teacup with a bitter smile.

    ***

    ¡°Cedric?¡±

    ¡°Yes, be careful. He¡¯s a Swordmaster.¡±

    Isaac requested Hesabel to investigate Cedric. It would be faster if he moved personally, but as a conspicuous Holy Grail Knight wandering around Aldeon looking for another Swordmaster, it could lead to misunderstandings.

    Well, it was pretty clear what kind of misunderstandings.

    Hesabel looked at Isaac suspiciously.

    ¡°You want me to look for a Swordmaster in the Kingdom of Elil? Do you know what kind of uproar it would cause if they find out I carry the blood of the Red Chalice?¡±

    A Swordmaster was also a powerful priest of Elil.

    Hesabel was worried about being ¡®justified¡¯ by such a powerful priest-warrior. But Isaac sighed and said,

    ¡°I¡¯m not sending you to fight, just to gather information. And¡­¡±

    Isaac looked her over.

    ¡°Hesabel, do you remember why you decided to follow me?¡±

    ¡°To win?¡±

    ¡°Yes, to win. You might not realize it, but as I grow stronger and absorb more faith, you are also bing stronger. Even if you face a Swordmaster, it won¡¯t be aplete disaster.¡±

    Hesabel had felt it when they faced the End-Eater. Her aura had significantly strengthenedpared to before. As Isaac grew, so did his followers.

    Hesabel¡¯s eyes sparkled.

    ¡°So, you¡¯re saying I might even beat a Swordmaster?¡±

    ¡°No, I mean you won¡¯t die screaming at least.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    Isaac praised her but didn¡¯t nt false hopes.

    Still, that was something. Swordmasters were among the strongest beings in the Elil faith, second only to angels. Just being able to escape alive was a sign of strength.

    Hesabel couldn¡¯t fully utilize her power in public like Isaac could. Even if she could win, fleeing was often the better option.

    Though Hesabel held a significant position, it was still not enough.

    ¡°If it seems too dangerous, use my name to buy yourself some time. What¡¯s important is finding out about Cedric¡¯s whereabouts. I don¡¯t think he would, but if he challenges Edelred to a duel or ¡®identally¡¯ kills him, that would be problematic.¡±

    ¡°Got it.¡±

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read more than 20 advance chapters or support me, you can do it at /Akaza156

 Chapter 171.1

    Chapter 171.1

    Hesabel had answered decisively, but the actual task of searching for Cedric seemed daunting. The followers of Elil, who donned deep hoods over their heads, did not trust suspicious individuals, especially when the person in question was looking for a respected swordsman and priest known as a Swordmaster.

    However, Hesabel was a beauty blessed by the Red Chalice.

    Sadly, almost no one suspected the mysterious beauty who appeared in the mist at midnight.

    ¡®After all, Elil preached justice, honor, and courage, but in the end, he was utterly enchanted by a beauty and even had his heart plucked out, didn¡¯t he?¡¯

    Though it was a faith renounced, Hesabel felt a strange sense of superiority seeing peoplepletely fall for her charm.

    ¡®But really, to deceive and seduce, it should be big fish, not these small fries. It has to be someone who can deceive the world, like Lord Isaac¡­¡¯

    With these thoughts, Hesabel lured a waitress at a tavern near the harbor. Just by slightly lifting her hood and giving a sly smile, the waitress was quickly charmed. As Isaac himself had proven, an inhuman charisma score could mesmerize people regardless of gender.

    And so, Hesabel finally obtained some useful information.

    ¡°Cedric, the Swordmaster?¡±

    ¡°Yes. An elder I serve owes him a favor.¡±

    The waitress handed over her hand as Hesabel offered to trim her nails, though it was more about gently massaging her fingers and stroking her nails than actual trimming. The waitress knew it was just a pretext.

    ¡°You mean the man who came in with a Saltain ship recently?¡±

    ¡°Eh? Ah, yes, that must be him.¡±

    ¡°Yes. Saltain ships are rare here, so I remember seeing one. He disembarked with ady.¡±

    Naturally, Hesabel had first sought the sailors who came with the Saltain ship. However, the sailors had left Aldeon immediately after unloading their cargo, as if they had no intention of returning. It was suspicious, but finding Cedric was the priority.

    ¡°You recognized Cedric right away? He must be handsome.¡±

    ¡°Ah, he oftenes to this tavern. He secretly asked me if I wanted to be his lover, iming he¡¯s Swordmaster Cedric. But since he asked other friends the same thing, I refused. I¡¯m not even sure if he¡¯s really a Swordmaster.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°Still, I find you more to my taste than him¡­¡±

    ¡°Roel! What are you doing?¡±

    At that moment, someone called out from behind. Hesabel instinctively turned around, feeling as if her back was being stabbed.

    It wasn¡¯t a mistake. As Hesabel turned, she vividly imagined herself being stabbed in the back.

    ¡°Must be a friend of yours? It¡¯s rare to make friends here.¡±

    ¡°Hello, Mr. Cedric.¡±

    Unaware of the looming threat, the waitress grimaced and stood up. Her hands hesitated briefly, but the desire to leave seemed greater.

    ¡°Keep it a secret that I¡¯m Cedric.¡±

    ¡°Nobody around here doesn¡¯t know Mr. Cedric.¡±

    The waitress hurriedly whispered to Hesabel before backing away.

    ¡°He¡¯s just arrived. I¡¯ll see you after you¡¯re done talking. Make sure you do.¡±

    ¡°Uh, okay.¡±

    Hesabel awkwardly smiled in response. After the waitress left, Cedric casually approached Hesabel, and she internally cursed Isaac in ways she could never express aloud.

    What did they mean by escaping a violent death? Right now, Cedric could have killed Hesabel multiple times.

    Thud. Cedric sat next to Hesabel, naturally putting his arm around her shoulders.

    ¡°A rare friend here. Why might I be looking for you?¡±

    ***

    Hesabel forced a smile and turned her head.

    The man had long hair down to his shoulders, and was unexpectedly handsome for a Swordmaster. She had imagined a muscle-bound madman with fiery eyes obsessed with swordy, but his appearance was quite normal.

    As Hesabel met Cedric¡¯s eyes, the killing intent surrounding her melted away like snow.

    Cedric quickly removed his hand from her shoulder.

    ¡°Oh, um, ahem. My apologies, miss. I was rude.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    Hesabel wondered if Cedric was mocking her, but as a follower of the Red Chalice, adept in seduction and deceit, she realized he was genuinely nervous.

    Then, her instincts kicked in.

    ¡°So, you¡¯re the Swordmaster Cedric I¡¯ve heard so much about.¡±

    ¡°Uh-hmm, recognized immediately. My fame has spread to Wachia?¡±

    ¡°Of course.¡±

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read more than 20 advance chapters or support me, you can do it at /Akaza156

 Chapter 171.2

    Chapter 171.2

    Naturally, Hesabel had first heard Cedric¡¯s name from Isaac.

    ¡°How did you know I was from Wachia?¡±

    ¡°I knew someone has been looking for me. I thought a human hunter from Wachia was after me, so I observed quietly. It seems you finally approached me to warn you. Had I known you were such a beauty, I would have spoken sooner.¡±

    Cedric coughed awkwardly and took a sip of water.

    ¡°It¡¯s the ss I was using.¡±

    ¡°Choke.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s alright. Drink it.¡±

    Hesabel rxed her body, leaning casually on the table while watching Cedric. It was a simple gesture of flirtation, but Cedric, uncharacteristically for a rogue, showed signs of tension.

    Hesabel could tell that although he acted like a rogue, he was actually clumsy with women and had never experienced this type of ¡®seduction¡¯,different from the rugged women of Elil.¡°What brings you to Aldeon, Mr. Cedric?¡±

    Isaac had said that finding Cedric¡¯s whereabouts was enough, but now that it hade to this, she decided to extract as much information as possible. Fortunately, Cedric seemed like an easy target.

    ¡°Me? I just came as my employermanded.¡±

    ¡°Your employer, you mean Lady Rosalind?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Originally, it was Theobald Saltain from the bordends¡­ but since he died on the way here, the employer has changed.¡±

    Cedric answered straightforwardly. It seemed like information that everyone who needed to know already knew.

    ¡°Then shouldn¡¯t you be protecting Lady Rosalind? Why are you here?¡±

    ¡°Well¡­¡±

    Cedric began to reply but suddenly stood up and red at Hesabel.

    ¡°Don¡¯t try to seduce me, you¡­dy!¡±

    Unable to utter an insult, a bizarre title came out instead, leaving Hesabel with a look of disbelief. What she had done so far wasn¡¯t even seduction.

    She was just easing the mood and asking questions casually.

    ¡°Are you trying to seduce me to extract information? Sorry, but I¡¯m not that easy to fool!¡±

    The people around turned to look at Cedric when he raised his voice, but soon turned away. Only the waitress hurried over upon hearing themotion.

    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡±

    ¡°This¡­dy here tried to seduce me.¡±

    The waitress gave Cedric a disbelieving look.

    ¡°But Mr. Cedric, you do that to us every day.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s different! Thisdy here is¡­¡±

    Cedric fumbled for words, his eyes darting around.

    The waitress nced at Hesabel, who looked the same as before, tightly wrapped and unchanged in expression or demeanor. Compared to the flirty behavior she had shown earlier, Hesabel was really doing ¡®nothing¡¯ now.

    With a sigh, the waitress grabbed Cedric¡¯s shoulder and pushed him down. He weakly sat back down.

    ¡°Stop making a scene and be quiet. Sister, if he does this again, tell me. I¡¯ll kick him out right away.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, thanks.¡±

    After the waitress left, Cedric tapped the table in a dejected manner. After a long silence, Hesabel spoke up.

    ¡°You are Swordmaster Cedric, right?¡±

    ¡°¡­Yes.¡±

    ¡°I was certain until a moment ago, now I¡¯m having doubts.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m just a bit weak around women. I have six older sisters, you see.¡±

    Cedric red at Hesabel.

    ¡°What are your intentions in seducing me?¡±

    ¡°If I had decided to seduce you, you would have fallen without even realizing.¡±

    She knew over a hundred ways to seduce such an easy target.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re trying to do, but it¡¯s best not to fall too easily. This is the kingdom of Elil, not a ce for vampires to lurk.¡±

    ¡°And it¡¯s a ce where the most just and brave knight wins the beauty. Perhaps I came to take a fine knight from the kingdom of Elil?¡±

    Hesabel said, slightly tipping her hood back and brushing her hair behind her ear. Cedric, momentarily lost for words, stared at her, speechless.

    If she had intended to assassinate him, she would have lured him to a room by now and stabbed him in the neck, but Isaac had given no such orders.

    ¡°So, are you not thinking of confiding your secrets to me?¡±

    However, Hesabel did not forget her role as an information gatherer. As she leaned forward on the table, looking up at Cedric, his agitation became more apparent.

    ¡°I dislike men with many secrets.¡±

    With that, Cedric seemedpletely won over.

    He soon began to speak as if he had made a decision.

    ¡°Are there many beauties like you in Wachia?¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    A contemptuous expression flickered across Hesabel¡¯s face, much like the waitress¡¯s.

    ***

    ¡°Lady Rosalind¡¯s protection? Is that all?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Specifically, she said she was helping to find justice. I even asked if she was targeting King Edelred, but she said no.¡±

    Isaac was speechless with the information Hesabel had gathered. Finding Cedric¡¯s location was already a major achievement, but to have met and interrogated him directly was beyond expectations. Of course, there was a chance Cedric was lying, but it seemed unlikely at the moment.

    At least the possibility of Cedric directly attacking Edelred was now dismissed.

    ¡°Remarkable. Well done, Hesabel. It was good to leave this to you.¡±

    Praised by Isaac, Hesabel¡¯s pride swelled even more. With her self-esteem fully boosted, she spoke confidently.

    ¡°Maybe if I seduce him a little more, I could find out more detailed information. Should I try?¡±

    ¡°No, let¡¯s not. From what I¡¯ve heard, it seems riskier than I thought. Foolish he may be, but a Swordmaster is still a Swordmaster.¡±

    In fact, when Hesabel had sent a strong request for rescue after encountering Cedric, Isaac was already on his way. However, he received a message that he needn¡¯te soon after.

    Fortunately, things had worked out, but he remembered how tense the situation had been.

    Hesabel could have been killed without a chance to resist.

    ¡®Rosalind¡¯s search for salvation, and the justice Cedric would bring her¡­¡¯

    The most intuitive metaphor was a duel. It was the mostmon way to resolve conflicts in the kingdom of Elil. But even if Rosalind had been a skilled pirate in her youth, she was too old now.

    And it wasn¡¯t fitting for Cedric to challenge Edelred directly. He would have to defeat countless knights protecting Edelred first. Even if he seeded, considering the immense enmity he would earn, no amount of money would make it a worthwhile deal.

    ¡®Salvation, and justice¡­¡¯

    Isaac repeated this to himself and suddenly had an epiphany.

    He abruptly stood up.

    ¡®The Holy Sword Kaldbruch.¡¯

    The name Kaldbruch means ¡®justice.¡¯

    ¡°Find King Edelred. Immediately.¡±

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read more than 20 advance chapters or support me, you can do it at /Akaza156

 Chapter 172.1

    Chapter 172.1

    Bang! Bang! Bang! King Edelred, who had arrived unexpectedly in the middle of the night, greeted Isaac with a bewildered expression.

    ¡°Master? What brings you here¡­¡±

    ¡°The Holy Sword Kaldbruch. Where is Kaldbruch?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s in the royal treasury underground¡­¡±

    ¡°Lady Rosalind ns to steal Kaldbruch!¡±

    At those words, Edelred¡¯s expression snapped to alertness. He realized that action was needed before logic, grabbing a sword and starting to run with Isaac. The Aldeon knights who were on guard duty hurriedly followed.

    As they rushed, Edelred asked,

    ¡°That, Holy Grail Knight, you said Lady Rosalind intends to steal Kaldbruch? But how could that old woman manage?¡±

    While Kaldbruch, the holy sword, was somewhat negligently stored, it wasn¡¯t without guards, locks, or traps. The treasury was always under guard.It wasn¡¯t a ce an old woman could breach alone.

    ¡°Swordmaster Cedric is aiding Lady Rosalind!¡±

    ¡°Cedric? But, why would Lady Rosalind want Kaldbruch?¡±

    The reason Kaldbruch was stored carelessly was that even if someone possessed the power of an angel, surviving with it was difficult. While a Swordmaster might withstand it to some extent, old Rosalind wouldn¡¯tst a moment.

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure, but we must secure Kaldbruch first¡­¡±

    Isaac stopped. Two knightsy unconscious in front of the basement door leading to the treasury. They weren¡¯t dead but had lost consciousness.

    Rosalind and Cedric had just passed through.

    ¡®How? Ah, damn it. It¡¯s because of Hesabel.¡¯

    It was good that Hesabel had discovered his intentions. However, Cedric wasn¡¯t just weak around women; he wasn¡¯t foolish either. Realizing that his slip could affect their ns, he had immediately put their ns into action with Rosalind.

    It was a sudden execution of what might have been nned for dayster. Whether it was good or bad luck, it was hard to tell.

    ¡°Has Cedric already broken into the treasury?¡±

    ¡°It seems so. Your Majesty, it might be best if you stay here.¡±

    Isaac considered the possibility that Rosalind might have already obtained Kaldbruch. Bringing Edelred, who bore grudges against the royal family and might gain the power of an angel, seemed foolish. It was akin to delivering the target to them.

    Edelred, understanding his implication, hesitated but decided firmly to proceed.

    ¡°No, I will go.¡±

    ¡°Your Majesty¡­¡±

    ¡°Kaldbruch is a symbol of the royal family. Who else but me should retrieve it? I already owe much to the Holy Grail Knight. Let us not owe more honor to you.¡±

    It was a matter of royal pride. Isaac had no choice but to ept. But he couldn¡¯t help making one request.

    ¡°Very well. But whatever happens inside, please remain silent. I will do whatever it takes¡­ to protect you.¡±

    Isaac instructed the other knights not to follow and to block the approach.

    There might be a need to unleash his tentacles in the worst case.

    If Rosalind, consumed by vengeance, started wielding Kaldbruch, protecting even Edelred alone would be challenging.

    Especially if he had to contend with Cedric as well.

    ¡®Hesabel, protect Edelred. We don¡¯t know what will happen inside.¡¯

    ¡®Yes.¡¯

    Isaac stepped into the vast treasury of the kingdom of Elil.

    ***

    How powerful is a Swordmaster?

    While it¡¯s hard to define strength precisely, Isaac viewed a Swordmaster as a transcendent being, somewhere between humans and angels. It¡¯s not a position one can achieve merely through effort. Most Swordmasters reach this state at a young age.

    Lianne is in her early twenties, and Cedric is at most in his thirties. Edelred, who might be a Swordmaster in the future, reached this stage before turning twenty in the game.

    This insane talent doesn¡¯t appearmonly outside the followers of Elil. It seems to manifest easily only among them.

    Talent, blessing, effort, and luckbined create such beings.

    So, how many people would it take to stop a Swordmaster?

    The answer is ¡®they cannot be stopped.¡¯

    It¡¯s no coincidence that Swordmasters are called transcendent beings. Without knights trained in advanced swordsmanship or borrowing divine power, it¡¯s impossible to stop them.

    ¡°Although I expected it, this is disastrous.¡±

    Edelred groaned as he looked at the soldiers copsed in the corridor. They had been taken down without even drawing their weapons. Even the soldiers on night duty in the break room, over eight of them, were downed without resistance.

    No one was dead, but they were so unconscious that shaking them wouldn¡¯t wake them. It must have been Cedric¡¯s unique technique.

    Considering that this was the heart of the royal castle, even at night, the situation was grave. If Cedric had decided to take Edelred¡¯s head instead, who knows what might have happened.

    ¡°Did I not warn you that our guard system wasx?¡±

    The kingdom of Elil is too weak against assassination and espionage. Whether it¡¯s overconfidence in their own skills or trust in the enemy¡¯s honor, Isaac saw it as a critical issue that needed revision.

    ¡°For many years, no Swordmaster has ever infiltrated like this. But we have seals and traps prepared for such an invasion¡­¡±

    Perhaps they thought, ¡®Why would a world-renowned Swordmastermit assassination?¡¯ In Elil, it was almostmon sense.

    However, Edelred soon found a unicorn steel statue shattered into pieces. Positioned next to a massive steel door, this statue, animated to charge at unauthorized intruders, was sliced as if cut by paper.

    Isaac examined the scene of the battle and spoke.

    ¡°It seems he was dyed here a bit. He struggles a bit with this type.¡±

    ¡°But not enough to stop a Swordmaster.¡±

    Isaac reflected on Cedric¡¯s capabilities and fighting style.

    Cedric employs swift and sharp rapid sword techniques.

    In the game, perhaps, but how would one counter such rapid sword techniques in reality?

    Isaac considered whether he could overpower Cedric but knew that without using his tentacles, victory was uncertain. After all, he had never defeated a swordsman of such caliber before.

    ¡®To defeat a Swordmaster means reaching the pinnacle of swordsmanship¡­¡¯

    Isaac and Edelred continued forward. The underground held vast treasuries, formed into multiple rooms.

    It was said that in the era of the Supreme King Elil, these spaces were filled to the brim with treasures and relics. Now, only empty spaces dusted with neglect remained. What once boasted of the tyrant¡¯s wealth now marked the poverty of the Kingdom of Elil.

    ¡°Over there¡­¡±

    Edelred pointed at something in the distance. Before he could even speak, Isaac, already tense, stiffened further.

    In the center of thest treasury, the Holy Sword Kaldbruch was embedded.

    And already in front of it stood Swordmaster Cedric and Lady Rosalind.

    ***

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read more than 20 advance chapters or support me, you can do it at /Akaza156

 Chapter 172.2

    Chapter 172.2

    Isaac assessed the situation. Fortunately, Rosalind had not yet touched Kaldbruch. However, she was close enough to grasp it whenever she decided.

    ¡°Lady Rosalind, do not make an irreversible mistake.¡±

    Rosalind looked contemtively at Isaac.

    Isaac also sent a warning to Cedric.

    ¡°Sir Cedric, do not act rashly either.¡±

    At this, Cedric looked at Isaac with interest.

    ¡°The famed Holy Grail Knight. Unfortunately, only my employer has the right tomand me.¡±

    ¡°If you touch Kaldbruch, your employer will die immediately. Can you handle the aftermath?¡±

    However, Cedric onlyughed at this. He nced at Rosalind and said,¡°Well, you needn¡¯t worry about that. I¡¯m aware that wielding Kaldbruch recklessly shortens one¡¯s life. If Lady Rosalind hade here intending to use it to kill everyone in the castle, I would not have assisted her.¡±

    ¡°Then you won¡¯t touch Kaldbruch?¡±

    Why else would they havee all this way? Isaac immediately stepped in front of Edelred as he thought this.

    Cedric had already drawn his sword. It wouldn¡¯t be strange for a Swordmaster of his level to start a fight immediately.

    Was the goal to lure Edelred here? To kill the king without any distractions?

    But Cedric showed no signs of such intentions.

    ¡®No, if assassination were the goal, they would have lured Edelred here. But this situation unfolded abruptly because of Hesabel¡¯s encounter with Cedric.¡¯

    Then Cedric¡¯s gaze shifted towards Edelred.

    As Isaac stepped forward, Hesabel also appeared.

    Upon seeing Hesabel, Cedric startled and looked furious.

    ¡°You!¡±

    Hesabel, calm, drew a dagger.

    Seeing this, Cedric grew even more enraged.

    ¡°Think you can seduce me now? I am an honorable Swordmaster of Elil! I will not bow to such trivial seductions!¡±

    Isaac lost words for a moment, then nced at Hesabel, who also looked incredulous.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything,¡± she whispered quickly to Isaac.

    ¡°I know. They must be out of their minds.¡±

    ¡°Be quiet,dy! Even if you whisper sweetly in the dim shadows, it won¡¯t break me!¡±

    Hesabel cautiously tried Cedric.

    ¡°Sir Cedric, can we put down our swords and talk? It¡¯s too frightening to converse in the presence of a Swordmaster¡¯s de¡­¡±

    ¡°Just this once!¡±

    Cedric, while posturing threateningly at Hesabel, was about to sheathe his sword when Rosalind kicked him in the shin, making him pause. Cedric was outraged at being manipted again, but he missed the chance to express his anger.

    Edelred stepped forward.

    ¡°Lady Rosalind.¡±

    Edelred spread his arms wide, showing he was unarmed¡ªthough he still wore a sword at his waist. To approach a Swordmaster with bare hands was akin to offering up his neck.

    ¡°Wait.¡±

    Both Isaac and Cedric stopped Edelred.

    The tension was palpable. One wrong step from Edelred could ignite a battle.

    Neither Isaac nor Cedric wanted a fight at that moment.

    Edelred stopped at a safe distance and appealed to Rosalind.

    ¡°Lady. I understand the deep turmoil you¡¯ve endureding to Aldeon. That¡¯s why I was prepared to wee you with bread and wine, ready to respond to your resolve.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°I won¡¯t say you¡¯ve betrayed my trust. But please, turn back now. Let¡¯s find a way to reconcile under the sun and wind. This damp, dark dungeon is no ce for reconciliation.¡±

    ¡°King.¡±

    Rosalind stood obliquely, looking at Edelred. Her face bore more weariness than hatred, more ennui than fatigue.

    Hate turned to tedium from too long a stewing.

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t I who decided toe to Aldeon, but my husband. He should be the one to hear your praises.¡±

    ¡°Are you speaking of Count Theobald Saltain?¡±

    ¡°Yes. My husband, Theo, wanted to reconcile with the royal family.¡±

    Perhaps the current king could listen to apologies for past tragedies and reconcile. Perhaps they could clear the chronic grudges and errors and find peace again.

    ¡°But my husband died on the sea voyage. He was always in poor health, and the sea journey is no small ordeal.¡±

    Rosalind murmured into the darkness, her gaze fixed on the void, yet not empty. She was looking at her husband, who had desperately wanted to be here.

    ¡°Why are you sote, king?¡±

    ¡°Lady¡­¡±

    ¡°Had it been a year, or even a month earlier, my husband might have received your apology. But it didn¡¯t happen. He died waiting to reach Aldeon, beaten by the waves, before any reconciliation could ur.¡±

    Rosalind¡¯s eyes shed.

    The long-stewing tedium bubbled into hate again.

    ¡°And so¡­ the right to avenge that my husband held, I inherit. Now I have the right to be rightfully angry and to seek revenge. But I am not as noble as my husband. I wanted to kill you all.¡±

    Her body moved significantly. Isaac impulsively drew the Luadin Key but paused as Rosalind¡¯s hand hovered near Kaldbruch.

    Rosalind¡¯s gaze pierced Isaac.

    ¡°Holy Grail Knight! You asked me what kind of salvation I sought?¡±

    ¡°¡­Yes.¡±

    ¡°I seek salvation from myself.¡±

    Isaac heard Rosalind¡¯s voice, as if spitting blood.

    The deep red in Rosalind¡¯s eyes, strained with bursting veins, directed at Isaac and Edelred, beyond this treasury, out to the world.

    ¡°Now, grant me the salvation that frees me from my own rage and hatred.¡±

    Rosalind turned to look at Cedric. Then, the twoid their hands on Kaldbruch. Isaac, about to leap forward, realized something odd about their hand positions.

    It wasn¡¯t the stance to grip and swing a sword.

    Isaac btedly recalled another use for Kaldbruch.

    A great relic is also a great ceremonial tool.

    And a Swordmaster is not only an excellent swordsman but also a proficient priest.

    Together, they began to chant.

    ¡°[Elil! Sing of your rage.]¡±

    ¡°[Show us your justice on thisnd!]¡±

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read more than 20 advance chapters or support me, you can do it at /Akaza156

 Chapter 173.1

    Chapter 173.1

    ¡°No¡­!¡±

    As the chanting began, Edelred tried to rush forward, but Hesabel held him back. The underground treasury began to shake violently.

    Boom! The severe quake made it hard to even stand. The Holy Sword Kaldbruch, embedded in the ground, started to rise. Just the vibrations of Kaldbruch being drawn out were enough to shake the entire castle.

    Isaac didn¡¯t hesitate any longer and swung his sword. However, his de futilely sliced through the air where Cedric was supposed to be, as if there was nothing there.

    Once the ritual had begun, this ce ceased to be a normal space. It had be a domain for ¡®judgment.¡¯ Isaac, Hesabel, and Cedric had instantly be mere spectators, unable to intervene.

    ¡°What sort of ritual have you conducted?¡±

    Only the inexperienced Edelred sat down in confusion.

    Isaac gritted his teeth and whispered,

    ¡°It¡¯s a ritual of judgment.¡±¡°A ritual of judgment?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a plea for justice to the gods. When people suffer unbearable grief and injustice that earthly powers cannot resolve, they appeal to the gods.¡±

    Isaac red at Cedric and murmured,

    ¡°Lady Rosalind needed a skilled priest, not just a fine swordsman.¡±

    When human rules and judgments can¡¯t achieve justice,

    When people want to appeal to an almighty being, risking their lives,

    That¡¯s when they seek divine intervention for justice.

    That was exactly the ritual unfolding before their eyes.

    Such rituals exist in all nine faiths. Swearing in the name of the gods is a simplified version of this judgment ritual.

    Simple rituals might bring misfortune, illness, or at worst, condemnation to hell after death. But the ritual Rosalind was conducting was far more solemn and serious.

    The current ritual seemed to be requesting direct intervention from a god or angel.

    ¡°It¡¯s like a soldier, instead of going to his immediate superior, files aint directly to the Ministry of Defense¡­ No, damn it. What am I thinking?¡±

    Though it was a ridiculousparison, Isaac could think of no better analogy.

    Thump, thud, thud¡­

    A breeze started to blow from somewhere.

    It brought the fresh scent of a forest and gentle wind, inconceivable deep underground, and leaves began to scatter throughout the treasury.

    Isaac felt a familiar presence where Kaldbruch had been.

    It was the essence of Urbanus.

    Under the domain of Elil, where eternal war and glory were pursued in the Crystal Battlefield. Isaac¡¯s crystal ring worn on his finger vibrated as if resonating with the battlefield¡¯s fervor.

    Amidst the swirling leaves, a knight in green armor appeared, towering at nearly 3 meters tall, wielding the double-handed sword Kaldbruch as if it were a one-handed weapon.

    His green armor was intricately etched with patterns like ancient tree trunks. Behind him, a cape made of falling leaves that seemed to have burst forth and then settled covered the ground. The leaves undted as if breathing, and with each movement, a forest wind swept through.

    An angel had arrived.

    The real battle angel, who ughtered enemies alongside Elil on the battlefield.

    ***

    Rosalind no longer wanted to be swayed by anger.

    She didn¡¯t want to defy her husband¡¯s will.

    Yet, at the same time, she wasn¡¯t generous enough to forgive Edelred, nor did she feel she had the strength to execute her revenge, leading her to despair.

    Uncontroble anger,passion for her husband, an unresolved grudge, hatred for a world where justice was not served, despair over her own weaknesses¡­ Rosalind was consumed by these relentless emotions.

    She longed to be freed from these feelings.

    Literally, she sought salvation.

    Salvation from herself.

    Thus, instead of enduring herplex and contradictory torments, she chose to delegate the judgment to an ¡®objective and absolute¡¯ entity.

    It was a conclusion reached in utter despair.

    But it wasn¡¯t a wise decision.

    ¡®It¡¯s madness.¡¯

    Isaac muttered as he looked at the green knight.

    The ritual of judgment isn¡¯t omnipotent. If people called upon the gods to kill someone every time they felt slighted, humanity would soon be extinct. If the ritual of judgment was performed for insufficient reasons, the petitioner would be the one to burn in hell immediately.

    Even if the plea was epted due to sufficient grievances, the verdict might be based on the standards of unknowable angels and gods, not on ¡®justice¡¯ but on religious order or a grand n beyond mortalprehension. Even if it felt unfair to the petitioner, there was nothing they could do.

    A judgment decided in the ritual was absolute to the followers of that faith.

    Whoosh.

    Isaac barely caught his breath as the wind surged.

    The overwhelming presence of the angel was so intense that even Isaac, who had faced angels several times, found it hard to withstand. Needless to say, it was even more unbearable for an ordinary person like Edelred.

    Edelred sat downpletely, staring nkly at the Green Knight.

    The Green Knight slowly turned his head to look at Rosalind and then at Edelred, paying no attention to Isaac, Hesabel, or Cedric.

    ¡°Indeed, a Basic Angel,¡± Rosalind thought.

    She had invoked the angel possessing the Holy Sword Kaldbruch to plead for justice.

    A Basic Angel (???) is a being created by the gods purely for a specific function. Unlike the Archangels, who possess emotions and can even betray, Basic Angels are like divine mechanical beings, moving exactly ording to their role. They are entirely created by divine power, which is not without its burdens, but since they are made to fit their function perfectly, it¡¯s hard to gauge their strength.

    However, the power that is said to be bestowed when wielding Kaldbruch did not seem to make this angel any less formidable.

    ¡°O Angel,¡± Rosalind began, barely oveing the pressure.

    At that moment, the Green Knight raised a finger, and Rosalind felt as if her breath was being suffocated, forcing her into silence.

    The Green Knight slowly bent down to look at Rosalind.

    ¡°I have already heard the petitioner¡¯s plea.¡±

    His voice was like rustling leaves, as if not just his wings but even his armored body was made of leaves. Rosalind red at the Green Knight with bloodshot eyes.

    ¡°I have one question. Are you aware that the object of your petition is the king of Elil?¡±

    Isaac wanted to intervene, but in this space created only for the purpose of judgment, there was nothing he could do.

    [The Nameless Chaos watches over you.]

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read more than 20 advance chapters or support me, you can do it at /Akaza156

 Chapter 173.2

    Chapter 173.2

    At that moment, Isaac thought of the Nameless Chaos.

    Chaos that breaks all order and seeps through.

    Isaac began to exert force in his left hand.

    Tentacles slowly started to emerge, piercing through his palm.

    As Isaac struggled to break his bonds, the Green Knight continued the judgment.

    ¡°Yes, I am aware,¡± Rosalind managed to answer when finally allowed to speak.

    ¡°Do you know that the king of Elil is granted the use of my power as the foremost disciple of Elil?¡±

    ¡°Would that make my grievance unjustified?¡±

    Rosalind shot back at the angel with blood running from her bitten lip.¡°If that is a problem, then kill me right here. Throw me to the dogs on the battlefield overseen by Elil. Even if trampled by warhorses, I will not cease to bark.¡±

    Whether it was a seventy-year-old man, blind, or armless, it didn¡¯t matter. Followers of Elil are warriors both before death and beyond.

    Rosalind had no intention of giving up. She was a disciple of Elil.

    That was both the beginning and the end of all tragedy.

    At Rosalind¡¯s words, the Green Knight remained silent for a moment before speaking.

    ¡°You are a warrior.¡±

    The Green Knight turned his head to look at Edelred.

    ¡°I do not favor petitioners. They remind me of whining children who run to their gods to tattle instead of oveing their own problems.¡±

    Suddenly, he was holding Kaldbruch.

    ¡°However, I acknowledge you as a warrior and will ept your petition.¡±

    This meant he recognized her as a petitioner at the very least. Rosalind barely breathed a sigh of relief, wiping away the cold sweat. The Green Knight then approached Edelred.

    ¡®This is not good.¡¯

    Frankly, Edelred was far from a model disciple of Elil.

    He was neither exceptionally strong nor pursued courage and honor. He rather despised those knights who were bound by such things and did foolish acts. Regardless of the petition, he could still be an eyesore to the angel.

    The Green Knight stood before Edelred, looking down at him.

    ¡°Rise, O king. Though you are the used, you are the king of Elil.¡±

    The words of the Green Knight were more amand than a request, and more a natural expectation than amand. Edelred staggered to his feet. The Green Knight peered at Edelred, the rustling leaves inside his helmet shifting.

    Isaac, as if omitting Rosalind¡¯s petition, knew that the Green Knight was scrutinizing everything about Edelred. The tentacles were constantly eroding the space of judgment but were not fast enough.

    Isaac¡¯s eyes shed as he looked elsewhere.

    Once the judgment ceremony had begun, it was maintained by the power of the angel. However, if he could disrupt the priest, at least he could attract the angel¡¯s attention.

    Bang. Isaac immediately charged at Cedric. True to his title as a swordmaster, Cedric quickly recognized Isaac¡¯s hostile intent and responded promptly.

    ¡°Stop!¡±

    With a whirring sound too sharp to be just the swing of a sword, Cedric¡¯s de narrowly missed Isaac.

    What he had drawn was a slender rapier.

    Cedric, with an angry face, shot back at Isaac.

    ¡°This is a sacred trial! There¡¯s no ce for heresy here!¡±

    ¡°Yes, I am a heretic here.¡±

    Isaac growled.

    That was hardly news.

    He was a heretic not only here but everywhere. Unwee everywhere, he had no need to adhere to any rules.

    ¡°If you stand in my way, I¡¯ll kill you too.¡±

    ***

    As Isaac had feared, the judgment did not take long.

    The Green Knight rustled as he continued to scrutinize Edelred.

    ¡°O aggrieved one, used of the sins of a former king unjustly. Elil does not acknowledge the inheritance of a parent¡¯s sins to their child. However, the position of king represents not just a personal parent-child rtionship but all citizens and knights. You cannot escape responsibility.¡±

    The Green Knight turned slowly back to Rosalind.

    ¡°The king must be responsible for the petitioner¡¯s plea. However, the petitioner must also bear responsibility for driving an innocent child to death.¡±

    Thud. The Green Knight struck Kaldbruch against the floor as he dered.

    ¡°Both shall die honorably through execution. This is the decision of Elil¡¯s representative.¡±

    An odd emotion, whether hope or despair, surged across Rosalind¡¯s face. It wasn¡¯t an emotion born from the fear of losing life. It was rather a feeling of being freed from all of this.

    Whatever the oue.

    She intended to ept it with a choked voice.

    ¡°No, that¡¯s not it.¡±

    Then, Edelred spoke, sobbing.

    ¡°The faults of the subjects are the king¡¯sck of virtue. Why do you seek to pass the responsibility that the king should bear to the subjects as well? This is not the will of Elil.¡±

    Edelred staggered, then knelt and copsed in front of the Green Knight again.

    ¡°Please end this tragedy with one responsibility. I am prepared.¡±

    It wasn¡¯t mere lip service. The Green Knight had seen through everything about Edelred, his unbing attitude and disrespectful heart as a disciple of Elil.

    Yet Edelred spoke sincerely.

    Edelred¡¯s words caused the Green Knight to slowly bend down.

    ¡°The world is not so soft, O king.¡±

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read more than 20 advance chapters or support me, you can do it at /Akaza156

 Chapter 174.1

    Chapter 174.1

    Crrrreeeek.

    Cedric¡¯s rapier lightly scraped the stone floor, sparking and leaving a mark. A sneer spread across his face.

    ¡°Yes, I was curious about the prowess of the renowned Holy Grail Knight.¡±

    Isaac didn¡¯t respond; instead, he immediately employed the technique *Eight Branches*.

    The figure of a beast with eight tentacles appeared, seeming to crash through both the floor and the ceiling as it charged. Cedric flinched at the terrifying momentum but quickly swung his rapier.

    ¡°Flowers scattered amidst ten thousand des.¡±

    With a whoosh, Cedric¡¯s rapier sprouted des in all directions. The sword attacks that Isaac aimed to envelop Cedric were shattered by the thousands of des that erupted around him.

    Crrrrunch, bang! Cedric¡¯s swords also suffered a massive collision with the Eight Branches. It resembled a beast attempting to swallow a porcupine. Isaac recognized this as one of Cedric¡¯s advanced sword techniques.

    Advanced sword techniques create phenomena that defy physicalws.When sword energy is added, the swordsman¡¯s will is projected forcefully into the world, making the sword strikes visibly manifest. In Isaac¡¯s case, it was a somewhat sinister and shadowy form.

    The porcupine-like des Cedric had shown earlier were also likely of the same ss of technique.

    In the game, this might have been considered merely a buff that ignores defense, but its actual manifestation was much more than that.

    Sword energy is a swordsman¡¯s will forcibly projected onto the world. If the world were a canvas and the sword a brush, advanced sword techniques would be the style of painting, and sword energy the paint.

    But the most crucial aspect is ¡®what is being painted.¡¯

    To cut, carve, break, and slice the world to create something.

    To Isaac, the world seemed like a giant canvas. In his newly acquired perspective, he began to question the facts he had previously epted without much thought.

    ¡®Could it be that sword energy is not merely a next-level sword technique, but not a miracle of Elil?¡¯

    Only swordmasters among Elil¡¯s disciples were thought to wield sword energy, which was considered a miracle of Elil. But how could Isaac, not a disciple of Elil, use sword energy?

    However, the situation was too urgent for such revtions.

    Cedric also looked quite surprised.

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you a Holy Grail Knight of the Codex of Light? Using sword energy¡­¡±

    From Isaac¡¯s sword, a sinister flow of sword energy surged, capable of tearing and crushing everything around it, even breaking nearby stone pieces.

    Normally, Isaac might have taunted or provoked his opponent, but showing such nonchnce against the figure before him would have been foolish.

    Without hesitation, Isaac continued his sword attacks. As Isaac advanced, Cedric maintained distance and swung his rapier.

    Despite the considerable distance between them, invisible sword strikes viciously grazed by Isaac.

    ¡®He¡¯s sending out sword energy.¡¯

    It was an expected move.

    In the game, Cedric handled a shy and swift rapier technique. His movements were so fast that catching up was difficult, and he could even shoot sword energy from a distance¡ªa virtually unfair ability for a swordsman that overwhelmed yers.

    You might think getting close would solve the problem, but that would mean falling into a trap.

    ¡®Closebat is much stronger.¡¯

    It was a resolve made in anticipation of facing a swordmaster.

    However, Isaac hadn¡¯t nned this, but in fact, his and Cedric¡¯s swordsmanship had a unteralpatibility.

    As Cedric sent out sword energy towards Isaac, he sensed an unexpected anomaly.

    ¡®What is this?¡¯

    Creating distance andunching controlling attacks didn¡¯t mean he couldpletely avoid them. In the heat of the chase, inevitable shes urred. Each time, Isaac closed the gap bizarrely quickly and attacked him.

    Each time Isaac¡¯s sword shed or dodged, Cedric experienced a strange sensation of heaviness throughout his body.

    ¡®A curse? No, it feels like being entangled¡­¡¯

    Isaac¡¯s sword energy seemed sticky and clingy.

    Cedric realized he was getting entangled in Isaac¡¯s sword energy without knowing it. His sword movements became slower and heavier, and the more he tried to escape, the more entangled he became. This subtle encroachment was hard to detect unless one was a swordmaster.

    ¡°Grr¡­¡±

    At a critical moment, Cedric shed swords with Isaac.

    He tried to deflect and find an opening, but as Isaac twisted his sword, it seemed as though Cedric¡¯s rapier was stuck to Isaac¡¯s sword, almost slipping from his grasp. He barely held onto the rapier but exposed a vulnerability to Isaac.

    ¡°Fleeting petals!¡±

    Just as Isaac aimed a strike at his shoulder, Cedric disappeared.

    Thump. Instead, Isaac¡¯s jaw turned, wounding him.

    Cedric reappeared about ten steps away, sweat dripping from his forehead. A slight cut on

    his shoulder looked as if something had bitten into it.

    In a split second, as Cedric escaped using advanced sword technique, he aimed for Isaac¡¯s neck. However, Isaac narrowly dodged, slicing Cedric¡¯s shoulder.

    Cedric was incredulous. He was confident in his speed. He was adept at hiding his presence or mixing finesse into his attacks.

    But Isaac was countering his moves and pushing him back.

    ¡®It wasn¡¯t this fast at the beginning, was it?¡¯

    It was true. But now, Isaac was definitely fast enough to respond to Cedric¡¯s movements.

    Cedric shuddered for a moment.

    ¡®Could it be he¡¯s stealing my sword techniques during the fight?¡¯

    ***

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read more than 20 advance chapters or support me, you can do it at /Akaza156

 Chapter 175.1

    Chapter 175.1

    The moment Isaac faced the angel, he abandoned any thought of holding back.

    Even angels do not underestimate their own kind.

    Survival required his utmost effort from beginning to end.

    The Colors Beyond, pulsating like a river, quickly enveloped Isaac and the Green Knight. The Green Knight felt the aura of the colors surrounding him and ignited a fiery gaze within his helmet.

    ¡°You creature of chaos! How dare you reveal yourself before me!¡±

    ¡®¡­That¡¯s somewhat a pleasant reaction.¡¯

    The angels Isaac had encountered so far had either tolerated him or even attempted to ally with him, unlike this clich¨¦d and rigid response from the Green Knight, which was almost wee.

    It might be a characteristic of Elil, but an enemy is an enemy.

    To kill the opponent and to survive oneself.Isaac liked the simplicity of that.

    Rrrrrrr!

    The Colors Beyond summoned by Isaac enveloped the surroundings like mist and surged towards the Green Knight like a giant serpent. However, the physical force within the colors was insufficient to even scratch the Green Knight¡¯s armor. Even the illusions and hallucinations whispered by the colors failed to affect the angel.

    ¡°Stop your trivial tricks!¡±

    With just a roar from the Green Knight, a huge hole was sted through the mist of colors. Isaac leapt through that gap. His goal was to obscure the angel¡¯s vision, even if only slightly.

    Crack, crash! The Eight Branches of his sword techniques ferociously tore at the Green Knight.

    The leaves of his wings fluttered wildly, scattering in all directions as Isaac¡¯s sword energy roared viciously.

    However, the moment the Green Knight swung Kaldbruch horizontally, the ¡®Eight Branches¡¯ created by Isaac¡¯s sword energy were shredded into pieces.

    Isaac was thrown back a great distance by the shockwave.

    ¡®Insane.¡¯

    He had braced himself, but the overwhelming power was still daunting. Fortunately, he managed to inflict a wound on the Green Knight¡¯s armor. The energy embedded in his sword energy could injure even an angelic being of Urbansus.

    But no matter how much Isaac¡¯s swordsmanship had improved, defeating an angel of Elil with swordsmanship alone was a tall order.

    ¡®He¡¯s summoned here. Sending him back should suffice.¡¯

    Cedric was knocked out, and the Green Knight, a mere Basic Angel, only utilized the power imbued in Kaldbruch. His purpose was strictly to protect and serve the user of the Holy Sword. He wouldn¡¯t engage in a fight to the extent of damaging the Holy Sword, so if pushed to a crisis, he would revert to his basic function.

    ¡®If I can just hold out until then.¡¯

    But the Green Knight wasn¡¯t simply waiting around while Isaac pondered his next move. Without any warning, the Green Knight swung Kaldbruch.

    A gust of wind surged. In that instant, Isaac felt hostility from all directions.

    Everything seemed imbued with a murderous intent towards him.

    The suffocating murderous intent was not a point or a line, but a sea. Isaac was already drowning in it. Simultaneously, the swirling winds and leaves began to batter him.

    ¡°Cough¡­!¡±

    Even a mere leaf carried enough lethal intent and sword energy to kill Isaac. Without his armor, he would have been minced within seconds. Within this overwhelming sensation, Isaac activated a Crystal Tombstone Fragment.

    With one wrong step potentially fatal, Isaac mimicked a series of movements. There was no time to practice or refine, nor did he understand the philosophy or aesthetics behind them, but with the power of the crystal ring, he perfectly replicated the movements.

    Sometimes, an imitation surpasses the original.

    Crack. The Colors Beyond powerfully contracted around Isaac¡¯s body and then exploded outwards.

    Blurb-blurb-blur. The Green Knight quickly brought down Kaldbruch, blocking the storm of sword energy.

    The Colors Beyond around Isaac bristled like a thousand spikes of a porcupine, instantly imitating Cedric¡¯s advanced sword technique. His sword energy punctured everything around imbued with malice, causing the winds to halt and the leaves to scatter to the ground, shattered.

    ¡®Damn.¡¯

    The colors copsed again into a liquid before rising as mist. Isaac looked down at his trembling hand. Imitating the shell of someone else¡¯s advanced sword technique without fully integrating it into his own was still a strain for him. Only with the aid of the Colors was he able to use it sessfully.

    Isaac¡¯s eyes shed. The Green Knight, sensing Isaac was about to act, saw him charging forward honestly once more.

    The Green Knight had already gauged Isaac¡¯s level. His aplishments were impressive but not on par with himself, an angel. Yet, he did not let his guard down; beings of chaos always revealed the unexpected.

    Thus, when tentacles burst forth from the scattered colors like vines reaching up, he was not surprised. The tentacles grasped and pulled at the

    Green Knight, trying to tear him apart.

    But the moment the Green Knight fluttered his leafy wings and swung his sword, the tentacles exploded.

    ¡°How dare you insolently oppose an angel of Elil!¡±

    ¡°The insolent one is you.¡±

    Isaac gritted his teeth and swung the Luadin Key amid the bursting and severing tentacles.

    ¡°I am an Agent of Chaos!¡±

    However, the Green Knight had already severed all the tentacles that tried to bind him. He sneered at Isaac¡¯s arrogance as he brought down Kaldbruch, aiming to cleave Isaac¡¯s head. The Luadin Key was a powerful relic, but it couldn¡¯t match Kaldbruch.

    A force capable of splitting both the Luadin Key and Isaac in half surged forward.

    Boom! The de of Kaldbruch cleaved through Isaac¡¯s left arm.

    ¡°¡­!¡±

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read more than 20 advance chapters or support me, you can do it at /Akaza156

 Chapter 175.2

    Chapter 175.2

    The Green Knight could notprehend what happened next. Isaac had extended his left arm like a shield toward the descending Kaldbruch. A sword meant to bifurcate his torso and head should not have been stopped by mere flesh.

    Isaac¡¯s arm split.

    No, it opened its maw.

    Crack. Isaac¡¯s left arm split open, and the tentacles that burst out engulfed Kaldbruch. The Green Knight was shocked by the horrifying sight.

    Isaac didn¡¯t miss that brief moment of vulnerability. He thrust the Luadin Key, held in his right hand, into the gap between the Green Knight¡¯s neck and chestte.

    Fsssshh¡­ The sound of slicing through dry leaves filled the air. The Green Knight essentiallycked a physical body. But the Luadin Key had another function.

    ¡°Better watch out for fire.¡±

    Whoosh! mes burst from the Luadin Key, igniting the dried leaves inside the Green Knight¡¯s armor.

    Ordinary fire couldn¡¯t harm the Green Knight.

    But the mes from the Luadin Key were different.

    It was the me that projected the heat of Urbansus. Even amidst the beasts of Chaos filling all around, it was a powerful heat that could block and fend off attacks. A mere fraction of it was enough to set the Green Knight aze.

    ¡°¡­¡­¡±

    The Green Knight, unable to feel pain, did not scream. However, he could sense his defeat. The mes of the Luadin Key, and the tentacles wrapped around the Holy Sword Kaldbruch, were delivering relentless spiritual blows to him.

    Most lethal of all was the Holy Sword Kaldbruch. Its function was to protect Kaldbruch, and even now, it was continuously expending energy to prevent Kaldbruch from breaking or getting damaged, including the power that allowed it to have a physical presence in reality.

    *Thunk, thud, thud.*

    The armor of the Green Knight began to fall and crumble to the ground. Inside the burning helmet, he whispered to Isaac amidst flickering mes.

    ¡°As a warrior.¡±

    ***

    As soon as the Green Knight vanished, Isaac barely managed to sigh and slump down. Targeting the sword rather than the angelic being himself had worked, but it had taken a heavy toll.

    A wave of intense hunger and pain surged through him. He wanted to hurry and send back ¡°The Color Beyond¡± and check on Edelred¡¯s condition, but he was unable at the moment.

    *Crunch, crackle¡­* Isaac painfully watched as his left hand reverted back to its original form. Blocking the Green Knight¡¯s strike with his left hand had been a gamble, a mad act. Even with the strength of the tentacles, it was uncertain whether they could withstand an angel¡¯s attack.

    ¡°But I won.¡±

    He had used the tentacles, but still, it was a 1:1 victory against abat angel. This was a fair fight under normal conditions, unlike encounters with prophets of red flesh or kings of the drowned.

    Isaac now realized just how strong he had be.

    The cost, however, was great.

    His left arm was torn to tatters. If the tentacles disappeared now, he would immediately lose consciousness from the bleeding.

    Isaac first wrapped his arm with a bandage from the Holy Land. He didn¡¯t immediately send back the tentacles. It seemed better to maintain this state until he recovered.

    ¡°To go through all this and gain nothing.¡±

    Isaacmented as he looked at the Holy Sword Kaldbruch scattered on the floor. Kaldbruch was a symbol of the royal family, so he couldn¡¯t take it himself.

    Then Isaac noticed crystal fragments scattered on the ground.

    These were traces of Urbansus that angels of the Elil faith and divine beasts often left behind. His eyes sparkled as he quickly gathered them. This amount had a valueparable to that of other angels.

    ¡°This could be useful.¡±

    The crystal ring had barely been used a few times and was already fading. At most, he might use it only once or twice more. But with these broken crystal tombstone fragments, he could replenish its uses or even create more useful items.

    ¡°Speaking of which, Edelred¡­¡±

    Isaac gathered the crystal fragments and scattered the colors. Although he had been careful to keep Edelred out of the fight, the battle was so fierce that he hardly had the capacity to pay more attention. He could only hope that Edelred was not unlucky.

    ¡°Damn.¡±

    Isaac looked around at thendscape and felt despondent.

    The ancient treasure vault swept up in the battle between the angel and the Holy Grail Knight was already in ruins.

    ***

    Rosalind was the first to regain consciousness.

    Amidst agonizing pain and amidst pungent dust, she opened her eyes and found Edelred underneath her. It wasn¡¯t her intention to protect him; it just happened when she sought something to rely on in that bizarre darkness.

    As a result, Rosalind ended up shielding Edelred amidst the copsing underground debris.

    She stared nkly at Edelred.

    A defenseless and frail being in her arms.

    Even though he was a king of Elil, a single knife strike could end the cursed seed of the Aldeon family. Edelred had no children yet.

    Like entranced, Rosalind drew a dagger from within her embrace.

    Just one knife strike.

    The de of the dagger was as sharp as Kaldbruch.

    The dagger seemed to speak.

    If you wish to im justice, appeal not to God but seize it with your own hands¡­ or else give up forever here and now.

    *Theobald.*

    Rosalind whispered silently inside.

    *What should I do?*

    She knew what her deceased husband would say. She slowly set the dagger back down.

    Rosalind could have killed Edelred then. But she chose to forgive.

    In that moment, she felt something knotted deep inside her melt away.

    It felt better than she had anticipated.

    Rosalind tried to wake Edelred, but he did not stir. She had no choice but to pick him up. He was almost a grown child, and carrying a faint, dust-covered young man with her weakened body was nearly torture.

    Struggling, Rosalind managed to sling one of Edelred¡¯s arms over her shoulder.

    ¡°Madam, are you alright?¡±

    Only then did Rosalind lift her head to the voice above.

    Isaac was looking down at them with a bewildered expression, like sunlight finally encountered after wandering in caves for a long time.

    Rosalind felt like crying.

    ¡°Don¡¯t just watch,e down and help.¡±

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read more than 20 advance chapters or support me, you can do it at /Akaza156

 Chapter 176.1

    Chapter 176.1

    The treasury was a mess, but it was quickly sorted out as Mors brought soldiers down from the surface. Isaac had ordered them not to approach, but with the king descending too, they couldn¡¯t just stand by when an earthquake struck.

    Fortunately, they arrived after the situation had ended, and saw nothing.

    ¡®If only Edelred and Rosalind keep their mouths shut.¡¯

    Isaac reflected on his fight. The decisive battle with the green knight was wrapped in hues, likely unseen, but what bothered him was transforming his hand to shatter the space for judgment.

    Both seemed out of their minds, but one could never be sure.

    And there was another person who posed a problem.

    ¡°Have you found Sir Cedric?¡±

    ¡°No¡­¡±

    Hesabel responded in a disheartened tone. After the battle, Hesabel had tried topletely subdue him, but lost track of him as the ceiling copsed during Isaac and the green knight¡¯s fight. Isaac hadn¡¯t been concerned, thinking it would be difficult for Hesabel to overpower Cedric unless he killed him.

    ¡°Instead, there was writing left in blood on the floor.¡±

    ¡°Writing?¡±

    Isaac looked where Hesabel pointed. The words written in spilled blood seemed like a grim warning.

    ¡°¡®See you again?¡¯¡±

    ¡°Does it mean he seeks revenge?¡±

    Isaac thought it likely, but considering Cedric¡¯s attitude, there was a chance it might be directed at Hesabel instead.

    It was an unnecessary thought, but Isaac decided to find a way to tame this swordmaster when they met again.

    Excluding those already affiliated or deranged, Cedric was the only free swordmaster worth keeping. There would be no need for more swordmasters on the ind of Saltain.

    Isaac watched as Edelred and Rosalind were carried out.

    ***

    ¡°I intend to grant autonomy to Saltain.¡±

    Edelred spoke to his courtiers from his bed. The nobles, including Mors, stirred, but Isaac remained silent.

    It was the speech he had anticipated. In fact, it was his suggestion.

    Saltain and the Kingdom of Elil shared the samenguage and faith, but being a remote rocky ind, it naturally developed a distinct culture and history. Especially after the massacre a few years ago, a straightforward merger was not feasible.

    Thus, Isaac proposed a form of peace never seen before in the Kingdom of Elil.

    ¡°Your Majesty, granting autonomy to Saltain might send the wrong message to the rebels¡­¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s why I intend to grant it to them as well.¡±

    Edelred scanned his courtiers as he continued.

    ¡°From now on, the Kingdom of Elil will be a confederation.¡±

    The Elil Confederation.

    Although it sounded contrary to Isaac¡¯s suggestions of strong royal authority, controlling the military and religious sectors would suffice for integration. It wasn¡¯t ideal, but maintaining the Elil faith while forging peace was the only viable solution.

    The king of Elil would be recognized as the agent of Elil, and knights would be loyal only to the king. Autonomous regions would preserve their own cultures and systems.

    However, this system was not without ws.

    In the Kingdom of Elil, nobles were likely to be ¡®the strongest knights¡¯ in their areas. Under circumstances where knights and nobles could not be distinctly separated, this system also meant ¡®all nobles must be unconditionally loyal to the king.¡¯

    Naturally, nobles would be displeased.

    It contravened the foundational Elil belief that ¡®the strong decide everything.¡¯ If the king failed to maintain charisma, the entire structure would instantly copse, leading to another war.

    Thus, Isaac proposed the Confederation as a bait, essentially changing the logic from ¡®the strong decide everything¡¯ to ¡®the king decides everything.¡¯ The king had to be the absolute ruler, the dictator, the prophet of God, and the state itself. Meanwhile, the nobles in the confederation would suckle on the sweet honey of absolute royal power while maintaining their autonomy.

    This could be seen as the birth of a nation-state system ranging from medieval absolute monarchy to fascism.

    For Isaac, a modern person, it was not a beautiful country. However, it was the best solution fitting the level of Elil believers.

    But there is no perfect paradise anywhere.

    Choosing ¡®the best method right now¡¯ was Isaac¡¯s proposed approach.

    ¡®In a world ruled by angels and gods, democracy is nothing but nonsense that belongs in the Salt Council¡­¡¯

    Edelred¡¯s words had a significant impact on the nobles. Unlike Elil¡¯s logic where the strong possess everything, his words seemed weak. However, the nobles felt relief on one side of their reason.

    ¡®Is the kingdom¡¯s civil war finally ending?¡¯

    They were as exhausted by the prolonged civil war and conflict as anyone. They couldn¡¯t keep ying a game of subtleties forever. Civil war not only endangered lives but also hindered overall exchange, growth, and development.

    Then Mors spoke up.

    ¡°Your Majesty, does this mean you¡¯ll also stop the war with Georg?¡±

    Lianne stood out among other rebels and separatists. She was strong enough to threaten Aldeon¡¯s position and had significant popr support. She was in a position potent enough to aim for the throne of Elil, and there was a high chance she would not ept the proposal.

    ¡°We have to make the proposal first. But if I need to show the dignity of a king, I will not hesitate.¡±

    The nobles were relieved by Edelred¡¯s straightforward words.

    ¡®It seems we cannot avoid a civil war with Georg after all¡­¡¯

    Isaac thought bitterly.

    Edelred would need to reim the Holy Land of Elion to be recognized as the respected ¡®Agent of Elil.¡¯ While Aldeon could be the center of politics and economy, the stature of Elion was entirely different.

    Above all, there was a need to receive the oracles that had been interrupted for over a hundred years.

    Edelred needed to be the master of the Holy Land. To achieve this, the Georg family would have to relinquish their role as guardians of the Holy Land. A civil war was inevitable. Fortunately, it was somewhat relieving that Rosalind Saltain had chosen a cooperation-like neutrality.

    Whatever emotional change she had undergone underground, Rosalind no longer seemed to bear any hostility towards Edelred. The visage of the old woman who had let everything go now appeared like that of an ordinary noblewoman.

    Edelred himself seemed to have undergone a significant transformation underground. Now, he disyed a distinct dignity, as if he had evolved from a boy to a king. The near-death experience, witnessing an angel at close quarters, and experiences ofpassion and forgiveness had transformed him.

    ¡®Now, he does resemble the King of Elil a bit.¡¯

    ¡°I¡¯ll exin the detailster.¡±

    Edelred said, sitting up in bed and looking at Isaac.

    ¡°Holy Grail Knight, please stay a while longer. I have something to discuss.¡±

    ***

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read more than 25 advance chapters or support me, you can do it at /Akaza156

 Chapter 176.2

    Chapter 176.2

    ¡°What about pursuing a marriage alliance with Lianne Georg?¡±

    Isaac was momentarily taken aback.

    ¡°¡­I am already married, Your Majesty. Well, the ceremony hasn¡¯t happened yet, but¡­¡±

    ¡°No, no. I omitted the subject. What if I married Lianne?¡±

    Isaac felt relieved, but his mind reeled in another direction.

    Marriage? The king and a rebel?

    Then he recalled Edelred¡¯s speech at a past banquet.

    ¡°¡­When you talked about the Supreme King and the dancer in your speech, did you think you were Elil himself?¡±

    Such an unexpected marriage event.

    Of course, marriage is a symbol of dramatic reconciliation and a way for two powerful houses to bind together. But in this situation, a marriage with Lianne Georg?

    Isaac suspected that Edelred, overwhelmed by his hatred for knights, had chosen the most war-distant option avable.

    ¡°There¡¯s nothing further up to consider. I¡¯ve based this on a very recent event.¡±

    ¡°Based on a recent event?¡±

    ¡°Mrs. Rosalind. I¡¯ve taken her as a reference.¡±

    Isaac kept his mouth shut, then remembered the dramatic episode about her marital rtionship he had heard from Mors. Rosalind, formerly a pirate or rather, a maritime ouw, who had naturally targeted the ind of Saltain as well.

    From the perspective of the Margrave of Saltain, the pirates were enemies. However, his son, Theobald Saltain, had enticed the pirate leader Rosalind to be his wife, which was indeed a dramatic event.

    ¡°¡­So you intend to be a Theobald Saltain of this era?¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it a good symbol that peace can be achieved without killing the enemy?¡±

    Edelred, looking weary, rubbed his forehead.

    ¡°We¡¯ve been killing and trying to kill each other for 700 years. Especially during the reign of the previous king, we did that a lot and very well. But was it sessful? All I see is ruins.¡±

    Isaac also rubbed his forehead.

    It was a valid point. Unlike Edelred¡¯s fears, Isaac genuinely believed he could make it work. Of course, it would be bloody, and many would die.

    But the only way Isaac knew was that.

    So he couldn¡¯t help but be shaken by Edelred¡¯s words.

    ¡®What if it seeds?¡¯

    The reason for the inevitable civil war was because Edelred had to be the master of the Holy Land. However, if the two families merged, the reason for civil war would disappear. What remained was how lenient Lianne would be, and Isaac decided to leave that to Edelred.

    Thinking this, he felt a flicker of hope.

    Anyway, Isaac needed many knights from the Kingdom of Elil. If the civil war urred and he lost the knights of the powerful Georg faction, more people from the Dawn Army would die.

    Edelred¡¯s choice was also the best option for Isaac.

    ¡°And actually¡­ it¡¯s not so sudden. Lianne Georg and I were previously betrothed.¡±

    ¡°What¡­?! Damn. Yes, that might be possible.¡±

    As always, Nameless Chaos isn¡¯t a game that exins settings in detail. yers can only guess based on the vor text scattered throughout the game.

    It¡¯s not surprising for the strongest faction in the kingdom and the royal family to be interrted by blood. Especially since Lianne, being the eldest daughter of the Georg family and a talented swordmaster, incorporating her into the royal family was the best strategy.

    The problem was that the child betrotheds were now a rebel and a king.

    ¡°Of course, it was a story that came up when I was a baby. The moment Vio Georg died and Lianne unterally dered her session without any oath of loyalty, the engagement was broken. But to be precise, I never officially heard a deration of dissolution.¡±

    Isaac suddenly grew suspicious.

    ¡°Do you have personal feelings for Lianne Georg?¡±

    ¡°Why would I? She¡¯s five years older than me. I¡¯ve seen her face a few times, but she seems more like an elder sister than a lover. When I was young, she even broke my teeth and arms under the pretext of sword training.¡±

    Edelred murmured as if his teeth were chattering.

    Isaac could tell that Edelred hadn¡¯t chosen this option just because he hated seeing blood. He had reached this conclusion after much agony.

    A way to achieve peace without fighting.

    ¡®Could it work?¡¯

    In the game, the two are enemies. Moreover, the protagonist can choose one of them to make a king. Bing king is a one-sided affair. There is no route for marriage.

    For Lianne, the Aldeon royal family is the enemy of her father, and for Edelred, the Georg faction is a threatening rebel. One of them had to bepletely defeated.

    ¡°What then was the meaning of the speech you made earlier and this meeting?¡±

    ¡°I never once said I would crush Georg.¡±

    Isaac was shocked again.

    ¡°Had you been thinking about this from then? It wasn¡¯t a sudden idea after all.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s one of the ideas that came to mind while I was contemting how to end this civil war. I shelved it thinking it wasn¡¯t feasible, but after going through such an event, I thought, why not? Who would have thought reconciliation with Saltain was possible?¡±

    Edelred smiled sheepishly and continued.

    ¡°And what I said then was actually with the Dawn Army in mind. You wouldn¡¯t be helping me for free, after all.¡±

    To reim the Holy Land, the Holy Sword, and the Holy Grail, and aplish the return of Elil.

    Edelred had dered that.

    It wasn¡¯t just fancy rhetoric spoken lightly; he really intended to achieve it. The return of Elil was indeed the ultimate victory condition for the Elil faith route, but Isaac was surprised that Edelred sincerely thought so.

    ¡°The nobles must be thinking we¡¯ll go to war with Lianne.¡±

    ¡°I just boosted morale for unity. If I actually ordered them to fight the Georg rebels, they wouldn¡¯t be keen either. Isn¡¯t life precious to everyone?¡±

    In such statements alone, it was clear that Edelred did not fully understand the Elil knights. When caught up in the excitement of war, the Elil knights would rush headlong at the enemy, even if it were an angel.

    In the battlefield, it¡¯s the Elil knights who kill the most and die the most.

    After much contemtion, Isaac spoke.

    ¡°You¡¯re taking a difficult path.¡±

    ¡°It might be impossible, but extending a hand first isn¡¯t entirely bad¡­¡±

    ¡°No, it¡¯s difficult, but it might be possible.¡±

    ¡°Possible?¡±

    Isaac nodded.

    Of course, his n wasn¡¯t to somehow create a cozy atmosphere and let romance bloom between them.

    His envisioned method was the exact opposite. Harsh and bloody tension.

    ¡°This marriage isn¡¯t just about the two of them. I don¡¯t know about Lianne¡¯s intentions yet, but it¡¯s not something that can happen just because the two of them want it.¡±

    For this marriage to seed, the entire kingdom had to agree.

    It wasn¡¯t something a few people¡¯s resolve could aplish.

    ¡°We¡¯ll still need a war.¡±

    Blood and violence forge love.

    Affection often sprouts most firmly amidst tension and disdain.

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read more than 25 advance chapters or support me, you can do it at /Akaza156

 Chapter 177:

    Chapter 177:

    As the witch hunt led by Hectali came to an end, stability returned to the frontier, and when Saltain dered support for Aldeon, support for the monarchy was stronger than ever.

    People could smell blood and iron in the air.

    It was clear what it meant that three of the four factions dividing the Kingdom of Elil had sumbed to one force.

    What remained was just one: the rebel forces led by the guardian of the holynd, Elion, under Georg.

    Everyone knew that war was approaching.

    At the heart of it was the Holy Grail Knight.

    Some nobles praised and adored the Holy Grail Knight, while others still doubted him. There were many reasons, but notably, a foreigner and a heretic could not be trusted.

    Especially the knights who felt their honor and achievements had been usurped by this sudden outsider were unable to hide their jealousy.

    And the Holy Grail Knight, attracting both jealousy and admiration from the knights of the Kingdom of Elil, was troubled by unfamiliar diplomatic matters.

    ¡°I¡¯m really bad at this.¡±

    Isaac himself could only advance rtionships with the help of an angel, a duke, and even the emperor. Without such pressure, Isaac might have fled long ago.

    His own strategies for romance? That wasughable.

    ¡°If it were just about seducing Lianne, I could rely on my looks and make a move.¡±

    But that would not only lose him the face to see Isolde but also furtherplicate the situation.

    ¡°If Edelred had been a Nephilim, things would have been easier,¡± Isaac concluded, having exhausted all possible considerations while sitting there.

    ¡°Let¡¯s make the preparations we can. It¡¯s not like I can do much in this situation.¡±

    Isaac had Edelred send a messenger to propose ¡®peace negotiations¡¯ to Lianne.

    After all, they needed to meet ¨C whether it would lead to eye contact or history.

    Meanwhile, other knights rejoiced that ¡®the king has finally prepared to subdue Georg.¡¯ In the Kingdom of Elil, ¡®peace negotiations¡¯ usually meant ¡®surrender negotiations¡¯ diplomatically put, and often a pretext for dering war.

    Only Isaac and Edelred knew there was a hint of matchmaking in it.

    ¡°Sir Isacreya!¡±

    As Isaac was organizing his thoughts, walking around a garden that doubled as a training ground, General Mors approached him loudly, followed by mud-soaked Aldeon knights and soldiers staggering behind him.

    ¡°Were you in training?¡±

    ¡°Ah, it was rugged terrain training. Commander Delfric Hilde said the area around Elion is damp, and with winter ending, it would be wise to prepare for spring rains and melting mud.¡±

    ¡°Delfric Hilde?¡±

    ¡°Yes, the Aldeon Knight Commander. He was preemptively dispatched when the schism ceremony was exposed, taking charge of the boundaries of Georg¡¯s territory. He¡¯s returned now to prepare for war.¡±

    Isaac turned as a mud-covered knight resembling the others raised his hand and thumped his chest.

    ¡°Delfric Hilde! Holy Grail Knight! I¡¯ve heard my sister has been in your debt!¡±

    ¡°Your sister? Ah, you¡¯re Reyna Hilde¡¯s brother.¡±

    ¡°Correct!¡±

    Reyna Hilde, who had confronted Isaac upon his arrival in the Kingdom of Elil, had left a deep impression on him in many ways. Her brother was also a knight, and apparently, themander of the Aldeon Knight Order.

    ¡°The fact that both siblings are such excellent knights must make your father proud.¡±

    ¡°Thank you just for saying so!¡±

    Seeing knights from low ranks to themander training in mud, the future of the Aldeon Knight Order seemed bright. However, this sight also made Isaac uneasy.

    ¡°Seeing you prepare for spring battles, it seems you expect war soon?¡±

    ¡°Eh? Since Edelred his Highness sent the messenger, wouldn¡¯t that be the case?¡±

    Assuming the peace negotiations would naturally fail showed he was truly a believer in the Elil faith.

    Isaac didn¡¯t have a positive forecast either, but he believed that if a peaceful solution was possible, even if it took some time, that was the best approach. This sudden military movement andbat preparation wouldn¡¯t likely send a positive signal to Georg¡¯s forces.

    Drip, drip, drip¡­

    Just then, a few raindrops began to fall. It seemed the spring rains Mors mentioned were approaching.

    ¡°The messenger has arrived!¡±

    Just at that moment, an ominous shout was heard.

    ***

    Upon hearing that the messenger had arrived, Edelred rushed over.

    Normally, a king would sit regally on his throne and listen to the messenger¡¯s report, but this time that wasn¡¯t possible.

    Because what returned wasn¡¯t the messenger, but only the messenger¡¯s horse.

    The horse, appearing extremely agitated, had stormed into the Aldeon parade ground before being subdued.

    Seeing its bloodshot eyes and foaming mouth, it seemed it had been drugged.

    While checking on the horse¡¯s condition, the knights guarding the city gate hurriedly reported.

    ¡°ording to reports, a few cavalry appeared near Aldeon, released the horse, and it charged straight for the city gate. Since it carried the g signifying it as a messenger¡¯s horse, we couldn¡¯t kill it to stop it.¡±

    Breaching the city gate was a grievous crime, but if it was a horse sent as a messenger, the knights faced a dilemma. Especially with war looming, if the royal crest on the horse were to be torn, the omen could be dire.

    Even Mors hesitated to reprimand them, but Edelred said,

    ¡°Well done. But next time, focus all efforts on stopping it immediately. Unauthorized entry into the city must be stopped, regardless of the reason.¡±

    ¡°Yes, we¡¯ll be careful!¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s something in the bag!¡±

    The knight who had been searching the horse shouted, and Edelred and Isaac approached with grim expressions. The return of the horse without its messenger was clearly not a positive sign. As they got closer to the horse, another negative signal rang out: a pungent smell of blood wafted through the air.

    As the knight cut open the bag¡¯s lock with his knife, he recoiled with a grimace.

    Simultaneously, a severed head fell out from the wide-open bag¡ªit was the head of the knight Edelred had sent as the messenger. Pinned to the ear with a nail was Edelred¡¯s letter, the seal unbroken.

    Silence filled the parade ground.

    Everyone understood the message: the king¡¯s messenger had been killed and the letter sent back unopened, tied around his severed head. Even in the blood-stained history of the Kingdom of Elil, this was a rare and atrocious act.

    ¡°To murder a messenger!¡±

    Mors could not contain his rage any longer, and his outcry ignited a chain reaction of curses and angry shouts from soldiers and knights alike.

    Killing a messenger was a clear message that there was no interest in dialogue.

    Typically, the Kingdom of Elil rarely resolved problems through discussion, but this act dered there would be no surrender orpromise. It meant that one side must be annihted.

    Certainly, Georg¡¯s forces would not have sent this message thinking they would be the ones annihted.

    ¡°Those bastards from Georg! How dare they!¡±

    ¡°The blood of Georg¡¯s dogs must be spilled in Elion!¡±

    The atmosphere boiled over with enraged voices erupting from all around.

    It was toote for Isaac or Edelred to calm the situation.

    The murder of the messenger carried significant meaning. Even Edelred¡¯s eyes showed a mix of anger and disappointment. The greater the hope, the greater the disappointment.

    ¡°Your Majesty! Dere a holy war! A crusade to purify the holy site of Elion from the traitors!¡±

    In a fervent outburst, Reyna Hilde drew her sword and mmed it into the ground, a reckless act before the king, but it was their way of making a plea. If not heeded, it might as well be a call to take their own lives.

    Following her lead, several other knights did the same. Only Delfric and Mors, aware of their rank, remained still, showing no intention of intervening.

    Edelred looked back at Isaac. But even Isaac saw no way to handle the situation further here. If he, a foreigner, talked of peace in front of these enraged knights, it might lead to immediate violence.

    With a mix of sadness, disappointment, anger, and fear, Edelred drew Reyna¡¯s sword from the ground.

    He raised the sword high and dered.

    ¡°I proim a crusade to reim the holy site of Elion.¡±

    A thunderous roar erupted. Isaac had to step in front of Edelred to shield him from the rampaging crowd.

    At that moment, Isaac felt Edelred clutch his cloak tightly. His hands were trembling.

    ¡°War! It is war!¡±

    ¡°Kill all these traitors and take back the holy site!¡±

    Everyone cheered for the uing war.

    Laughing and shouting, they rushed towards war.

    Sacrificing precious blood for a handful of dirt-soiled honor.

    ***

    ¡°Something¡¯s not right.¡±

    The excitement of war that started in Aldeon Castle soon engulfed the entire city. Even those who were indifferent to the war were stirred up by the news of the messenger¡¯s murder, and even the rational ones remarked, ¡°Dramatic though it is, it¡¯s just what was expected.¡±

    Isaac was uneasy about this atmosphere.

    ¡°I heard Lianne Georg was conservative but honorable. I never heard she would go to such extremes as to kill a messenger.¡±

    Edelred walked down the corridor in silence, listening to Isaac¡¯s thoughts.

    ¡°Perhaps someone intercepted the messenger en route. Not Georg¡¯s forces, but another faction¡­¡±

    ¡°The knights who escorted the messenger to the holy site of Elion said they made it inside the castle.¡±

    ¡°Then there¡¯s only one conclusion. Lianne is not fully in control of Georg¡¯s forces.¡±

    Just as there are doves and hawks in Aldeon, there would naturally be such factions within Georg¡¯s forces. It was highly likely that particrly hard-line knights had carried out this act.

    Isaac recalled the Georg knights he had scouted during Hectali¡¯s witch hunt.

    ¡®If it meant preventing the Dawn Army¡¯s intervention, they said they would even risk killing me¡­¡¯

    Murdering the emperor¡¯s messenger, the son-inw of the Duke of Brant, the Resurrected Saint, the Holy Grail Knight, would certainly prevent the Dawn Army¡¯s intervention. It would immediately sour rtions between the two nations. Though their attempt to kill Isaac had failed, and killing Edelred seemed unlikely.

    But killing a messenger was rtively easy. Just initiating it and pushing towards a war atmosphere would achieve their immediate objectives.

    ¡®Avoiding an expedition by stirring a civil war? It seems mad no matter how I think about it.¡¯

    There was definitely more to this incident. Isaac suddenly thought of a future event in the Kingdom of Elil, a bad ending route where the kingdom falls if the yer makes the wrong choices.

    ¡®But it¡¯s too early for that to happen¡­ No, predictions are useless now. Everything I know has changed.¡¯

    With no Kalsen and several angels gone, Isaac made a tough decision.

    ¡°I¡¯ll interrogate the knights we captured more thoroughly. Maybe we can learn something more.¡±

    He was ready to use the Eye of Chaos on one or two of them if necessary, even killing all three hostages if needed.

    Edelred suddenly stopped and turned to Isaac.

    ¡°Do it if necessary. Holy Grail Knight.¡±

    Edelred¡¯s eyes looked hollow as he spoke.

    ¡°But can we stop the war now?¡±

    ¡°War is always inevitable, Your Majesty.¡±

    Isaac replied as if stating the obvious.

    To Isaac, this world was a game. The genre of this game was high-freedom ¡®action¡¯. Naturally, the world was full of wars.

    The rules of this world are written by gods, and humans are just toys for angels.

    Human will or beliefs mean nothing before fate.

    Until they rebel against fate.

    ¡°But we need to know who initiates the war. We need to know why these people must die, why we must kill.¡±

    A glimmer of light returned to Edelred¡¯s eyes at Isaac¡¯s words.

    Edelred clenched his fist and whispered.

    ¡°Thank you, teacher. You teach me once again.¡±

    With renewed determination, Edelred stared into the distance toward the direction of the holynd of Elion.

    ¡°War may be inevitable, but the oue won¡¯t be as they wish.¡±

 Chapter 178:

    Chapter 178:

    The woman was adrift.

    More precisely, she was conducting a never-ending funeral. Her small boat was loaded with dry wood, from which the scent of slowly evaporating oil wafted. Lying on the wood, ready to ignite at the slightest spark, the woman stared endlessly into the cloudy sky.

    Drip, drop.

    Raindrops fell on her cheek. Slowly, she sat up, caressing her face. Staring nkly at theke, she noticed the countless ripples forming on the surface and realized her ritual had ended fruitlessly.

    ¡°It must be the start of the spring rains. Another failure.¡±

    Now soaked, the boat would no longer catch fire. The woman began to row with abandoned oars. Her slender yet long arms propelled the boat swiftly across the water.

    She had been drifting on theke for over a week, but it took less than half a day to reach thekeshore.

    Upon reaching thekeshore, a group of people were already waiting. As the woman stepped off the boat onto theke, the surface of the water froze with a crack under her feet.

    Walking on the frozen surface, she stepped ontond. Knights quickly approached to pull the boat ashore and handed her water and a warm towel.¡°Lady Lianne.¡±

    As Lianne wiped her face, a man with a short beard and a rugged granite-like demeanor greeted her respectfully.

    ¡°Uncle, why have youe all this way to meet me?¡±

    ¡°As I¡¯ve told you before, you can simply call me Villon.¡±

    Lianne nodded silently. Although he was her father¡¯s brother, she had barely seen Villon before she became the head of the Georg family. Like most of the scattered Georg n, he hade together only upon hearing grave news.

    Villon, a veteran who had even participated in the 12th Dawn Army campaign across the seas, had returned after wandering and gaining extensive experience following the death of his brother, Vio Georg.

    Villon had managed to calm various opinions within the n and treated Lianne respectfully as the head of the family. Her status as a Swordmaster contributed to this respect, as well as a shared desire for vengeance against the Aldeon royal family.

    Villon looked at Lianne then turned his gaze to the boat loaded with wood.

    ¡°It seems this ritual has failed as well.¡±

    ¡°Yes. The Grail Knight said it was time for Elil to break their silence, but I heard nothing special.¡±

    ¡°That foreign heretic knows nothing. Just spouting whateveres to mind.¡±

    Over the past week, Lianne had been conducting rituals to petition Elil for an oracle. She performed a false funeral on the boat, fasting and not sleeping, drifting around the sacredke of Elion, mimicking death toe as close as possible to the afterlife.

    This was among the most arduous rituals she could perform, short of actual sacrifice.

    Normally, a Swordmaster of her caliber wouldn¡¯t need such an intense ritual to receive Elil¡¯s oracle, but Elil had been silent for over 100 years. It seemed unlikely that the silence would be broken anytime soon.

    Elil had not responded this time either.

    ¡°Did the angels say nothing?¡±

    ¡°The Lady of the Lake and the wizard Calurien came. They talked about the Aldeon King finding the Rite of Division, but both just advised to carry on and return.¡±

    Lianne had expected Elil or the angels to react differently upon finding the Rite of Division. However, like many rituals before, this one also ended without significant insight.

    Lianne continued, as if suddenly remembering something.

    ¡°By the way, Calurien also mentioned that since the sacred site of Elion is threatened, we should guard it well. We¡¯re already doing that, but could there be another sign?¡±

    At her words, a murmur spread among the knights. Villon¡¯s stern face wavered slightly. Lianne sensed from the spreading atmosphere that something else had happened.

    ¡°It seems something has urred while I was performing the ritual.¡±

    ¡°The usurper Aldeon sent a messenger proposing peace negotiations.¡±

    Lianne paused before speaking.

    ¡°And?¡±

    ¡°Aldeon has united all the nobles of the Elil Kingdom, even subdued Soltain¡¯s widow with the help of foreign heretics! Now only we remain, and they propose peace in such times. What could their intent be?¡±

    ¡°So, you didn¡¯t even talk and drove them away?¡±

    ¡°We cut off the messenger¡¯s head. There¡¯s no need to sully our eyes with such obvious insults.¡±

    Lianne fell silent again.

    ¡°You cut off the messenger¡¯s head?¡±

    She understood what that meant. There would be no talks or negotiations between the two forces now.

    While she wasn¡¯t opposed to fighting if necessary, showing mercy was also a knight¡¯s virtue.

    Villon had cut off even that path.

    ¡°And I am the head of the Georg family, am I not? Since when have you been handling diplomacy on your own, uncle?¡±

    ¡°You were conducting the ritual, so we held a n meeting and made a decision.¡±

    It was a decision not only by Villon but also by the elder members of the Georg n.

    Having said so much, Lianne was at a loss for words. Respecting the elders and venerating the traditions of knighthood, she couldn¡¯t withstand the pressure from her kin.

    But while she was risking her life on theke for a peaceful resolution, these so-called adults were busy beheading messengers. The urge to reprimand them was boiling inside her.

    Then Villon tried to persuade her.

    ¡°Think about it, Lady Lianne. Why would the archangel Calurien specifically warn to guard the sacred site of Elion if not for the threat posed by Aldeon¡¯s forces?¡±

    The mention of the angel caught Lianne off guard. For her, respecting the n elders¡¯ decisions was essential, but the words of an angel were like a divinemand to be executed.

    ¡°The fight is inevitable. If we pretend to entertain peace and our conscripts, whose spirits are not battle-hardened, be disturbed, it could put us in a difficult position. Perhaps they anticipated this and thus mentioned peace negotiations.¡±

    Villon murmured with eyes aze with vengeance.

    ¡°Under Elil¡¯s blessing, it is time for our n to reim the honor we lost.¡±

    Lianne was no fool.

    Villon was well aware that his cruel acts were driven by a desire for vengeance over his brother¡¯s death. He was merely dressing up his petty revenge in the guise of an angel¡¯smand he had just heard.

    However, Lianne had no argument to counter his words.

    As Villon said, the only threat to the holynd of Elion was Aldeon, who had gathered an army and threatened to return the division ritual immediately.

    ¡°Understood. But don¡¯t do this again. I will make the decisions involving bloodshed.¡±

    ¡°I will be cautious.¡±

    Lianne smelled the blood in the air.

    It seemed as if the silent Elil was right beside her.

    ¡®Ah¡­ Father said to avoid a civil war as much as possible.¡¯

    While Elil remained silent and the angels merely observed, their followers craved each other¡¯s blood.

    Her task in the midst of this was notplicated.

    To kill as many enemies as possible.

    Faithful to Elil, she had decided not to shy away from a war that had already begun.

    ***

    ¡°Your Majesty!¡±

    News suddenly reached Edelred, who was preparing for an expedition. The forces of Georg, who had been in hiding in the holynd of Elion, were suddenly attacking various locations in the kingdom of Elil.

    ¡°What? Why now?¡±

    ¡°The knights, in units of dozens to hundreds, are dividing and attacking the kingdom. The Aldeon knights stationed at the border tried to retaliate quickly, but the enemy escaped too swiftly.¡±

    The news troubled the nobles, especially those who had left their estates toe here. Those closer to the holynd of Elion were more disturbed, and when the messenger reported that Georg¡¯s forces had broken through the border estates and reached the central regions, the nobles were even more panicked.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Your Majesty, we need to soothe our own estates first before we can send aid.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s nothing I can say, Your Majesty, we will soon¡­ as soon as we manage our situation.¡±

    With a helpless expression, the nobles sought understanding and left Aldeon. Even those nobles near the affected areas, though not yet attacked, could not afford to stay.

    Even the most loyal knights could not stand by while their families, rtives, and vigers were under attack. Edelred knew he couldn¡¯t keep them forcibly, so he had to let them go.

    Of course, by the time they returned, Georg¡¯s knights might have already withdrawn or broken through. Isaac realized that Georg¡¯s forces had used their brains well.

    ¡®It seems they¡¯re using a tactic simr to a blitzkrieg. I thought they would definitely decide the battle at the fortress of Elion.¡¯

    They neither upied nor devastated the estates. They simply attacked the soldiers stationed there, set fire to the mansions, and lightly plundered.

    But that was enough to deliver a blow to Isaac and Edelred.

    Georg¡¯s forces, with just a few knights, had sessfully scattered a significant number of the nobles gathered in Aldeon. It seemed they had inducedcency for this moment.

    ¡°¡­We had the advantage in numbers, but with this attack, a third is gone.¡±

    Edelred muttered as he considered the loss of knights and soldiers. With such a sudden change in numbers, strategies, logistics, andmand structures needed to be reorganized. Although they still had more soldiers and knights than Georg¡¯s forces, it was difficult to im an advantage in quality.

    ¡°Still, if this many knights have left, Elion will be empty. Perhaps we should move the army to attack Elion now?¡±

    ¡°Sorry, Your Majesty. The spring rains have already started around Elion. Even if we move quickly, we won¡¯t be faster than the returning cavalry of Georg¡¯s forces.¡±

    Morse grumbled.

    ¡°Besides, there¡¯s no report of having spotted the rebel leader Lianne. It¡¯s likely she¡¯s still in the Elion fortress, and attacking it would take a long time, and if we dy, we could be surrounded by Georg¡¯s forces returning from their raid.¡±

    ¡°What about breaking them into pieces?¡±

    ¡°That seems best for now. They¡¯re moving so quickly that logistics can¡¯t be easy. Plus, it¡¯s spring.¡±

    During spring, the stored food from winter runs out, so there¡¯s not much to plunder. Morse pointed this out as he indicated several ces on the map.

    ¡°First, we should hunt down the Georg knights scattered throughout the kingdom. It¡¯s foolish of them to disperse their forces like this.¡±

    Of course, no one in the room actually thought Lianne was being foolish. It was just bluster to ease their irritation. They still didn¡¯t fully understand Lianne¡¯s tactics.

    But Isaac didn¡¯t want to be dragged around by fleeing rats.

    ¡°It¡¯s better we head to Elion.¡±

    As Isaac spoke, all the knights in the room looked at him.

    ¡°Sir Holy Grail Knight, but if we do, there¡¯s a chance we¡¯ll be surrounded¡­¡±

    ¡°That means the enemies are rushing after us, chasing us. It¡¯s better they tire themselves out chasing us than we tire chasing them. And if we end up surrounded, that¡¯s when the knights of the kingdom of Elil should rise.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean¡­ Ah! Are you referring to the knights who returned to their estates?¡±

    Even if Aldeon¡¯s forces were surrounded by Lianne and Georg¡¯s forces at the Elion fortress, it wasn¡¯t the end. Knights, angry about their estates being attacked, would be grinding their teeth and chasing Georg¡¯s cavalry.

    If they¡¯re hit and stay still, they¡¯re not knights of Elil.

    ¡°Then it¡¯ll be Georg¡¯s forces that are surrounded, not us. Being dragged along by the enemy¡¯s tactics is exactly what Georg¡¯s forces want.¡±

    It was like being caught in a sandwich.

    Isaac¡¯s words convinced all the knights in the room. However, they still had reservations.

    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t our ranks be vulnerable if Lianne Georg attacks us?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll handle it.¡±

    Isaac calmly responded.

    Having fought with Cedric had been a proper vination for Isaac. Although he had performed unexpectedly well, if Lianne wasn¡¯t significantly stronger than Cedric, he was confident he could hold his own.

    At least, he could endure without major damage.

    Moreover, Isaac had set in motion ns around the holynd of Elion. Although he couldn¡¯t tell Edelred and the other knights of Elil yet, when the time came, it would be enough to shake Georg¡¯s forces.

    Isaac moved a boar-shaped piece on the map closer to Elion.

    Right in front of it was a wolf-shaped piece.

    ¡°The best way to minimize damage is to take Elion as quickly as possible. It would be even better if Lianne shows up. The enemy relies solely on Lianne¡¯s charisma; if we capture her, all battles will be decided.¡±

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read more than 25 advance chapters or support me, you can do it at /Akaza156

 Chapter 179:

    Chapter 179:

    As soon as the Aldeon Army moved towards the Holy Land of Elion, news arrived as expected that Georg¡¯s cavalry was returning from various locations. Mors and Delfric Hilde heard the report from a messenger on the way to Elion.

    ¡°We¡¯ve already achieved our goal of breaking their unity and instilling unease, so there¡¯s nothing to regret now.¡±

    ¡°It seems it will now be a race between Georg¡¯s army and ours!¡±

    Delfricmented as he watched the long procession of knights. Because of the urgency, it was decided that the vanguard, concentrated with elite knights, would move swiftly, followed closely by the main force responsible for supplies and manpower. The vanguard was led by Mors Gideon, who had been entrusted with overallmand by Edelred, along with Delfric Hilde, the captain of the Knights of Aldeon.

    The main force, though called such, did not differ significantly in the number of troops. The main force had the overallmander, Edelred, and more supplies and manpower, but in terms of the number of knights, the vanguard was stronger.

    Mors anticipated the movements of Georg¡¯s army.

    ¡°A race¡­ Georg¡¯s cavalry won¡¯t simply return to Elion Fortress. They will likely attempt to disrupt our vanguard¡¯s path orunch surprise attacks. Tell the knights to be wary of ambushes and to increase their nk guards.¡±

    While assassination was despised in the faith of Elil, tactics like ambushes or surprise attacks were considered ¡®clever¡¯. Engaging arger force with fewer troops was seen as ¡®brave¡¯. For the same reason, it was unheard of for arge force to ambush a smaller one.

    ¡°Hmm, it would have been better if His Majesty Edelred and the Holy Grail Knight had been with us from the start,¡± Delfric mused, recalling Edelred who had drawn the Holy Sword Kaldbruch. Delfric was loyal to Edelred, but his perception of him wasn¡¯t much different from others.He simply thought of him as a crowned child.

    However, Delfric couldn¡¯t help but be surprised at Edelred¡¯s achievements after seeing him being trained in swordsmanship by Isaac. Despite his young age, he had already reached the level of a squire in the Knights of Aldeon.

    Considering his peers were typically cleaning stables or managing knights¡¯ equipment, Edelred¡¯s rapid development was rming.

    Mors shook his head at Delfric¡¯sment.

    ¡°His Majesty taking directmand is risky enough.¡±

    ¡°But¡­¡±

    ¡°If His Majesty were to stand at the vanguard, it would indeed be glorious, but it would also blur the lines ofmand. And it would look bad if I were to suppress him. It¡¯s different from the witch hunts. The Holy Grail Knight was our advocate.¡±

    Mors was a war strategist, and the Hilde siblings werebat experts.

    Isaac had deliberately kept Edelred with the main force because, in his modern view, the presence of a king on the battlefield was just a morale-boosting totem.

    Moreover, emotions naturally intensify in the midst of battle. While dealing with the world with tender emotions wasn¡¯t advisable, considering reconciliation with Georg, cing the young king at the front line wasn¡¯t wise.

    Of course, Mors thought of this as merely Isaac¡¯s deep consideration.

    ¡°Ah, then it can¡¯t be helped. It would have been nice if the Holy Grail Knight were with us, though.¡±

    Honestly, Isaac was the only one within the Aldeon Army who could face Swordmaster Lianne alone. It would have been better for Isaac to be at the vanguard. He had even fought numerous duels with nobles iming he should lead the vanguard.

    ¡°Are you worried that the main force might be attacked?¡±

    The main force was short on knights but rich in supplies. Plus, it was the heart of the Aldeon Army with King Edelred present. Given the force¡¯s strength versus potential honors, Delfric¡¯s concern was natural.

    However, Mors shook his head again.

    ¡°Georg¡¯s army wouldn¡¯t be so foolish. They are low on supplies and reinforcements. If they get bogged down attacking our main force, we will besiege the fortress first, and they will end up isted and copse.¡±

    Moreover, knights furious about their territories being attacked were hot on their trail. The entire main force would have to be destroyed along with Edelred for such a disaster to ur, but that would just be considered the will of Elil.

    Attacking the main force was nothing but a gamble. Mors didn¡¯t think Georg¡¯s army, despite their daring, would be foolish enough to sacrifice so many knights.

    Just then, a horse rushed from the rear.

    ¡°General Mors!¡±

    Upon spotting the urgent arrival of the messenger, Mors paused.

    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡±

    ¡°His Majesty Edelred¡¯s main force has been attacked!¡±

    ¡°What! What¡¯s the damage?¡±

    ¡°Aplete victory! The battle started with Sir Isaac ying the enemy cavalry leader, and the main force ambushed, decimating half of the enemy cavalry!¡±

    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±

    ***

    Having previously thrived as a hunter of men, Hesabel was well-suited to serve as a scout.

    Assassinations aside, she was naturally suited to be a scout, not only due to her outstanding stealth abilities but also because she could ¡°source food locally¡± wherever she was. This,bined with her enhanced activity and vision at night, made her a born scout.

    Since yesterday, however, she had been noticing unusual movements.

    ¡°It¡¯s Sir Georg. Lord Isaac.¡±

    Hesabel sent her intent while gazing down from a tree branch at the knight below her. The knights of Georg had begun to loiter around the main force of the Aldeon army. It wasn¡¯t strange to see a few knights; after all, Georg¡¯s forces would deploy scouts as well.

    As time passed, however, their numbers had increased to the point where they couldunch a significant ambush on the main force.

    ¡°How many?¡±

    ¡°Looks to be around 250 to 300,¡± she replied.

    The Aldeon army had estimated about 600 cavalrymen through their reports. These knights had demonstrated an ability to disperse and then regroup in a manner that seemed almost impossible in this era. That about 300 of them had gathered near the main force indicated a nned operation.

    The knights, positioned in the forest atop a hill, maintained such stealth that not even the clinking of armor or a cough could be heard. Even the horses were careful in their steps, showcasing the strict discipline and skill of the troops.

    None, however, had noticed Hesabel¡¯s presence.

    ¡°Is there a leader? Should I just pin a pretty dart in his head?¡±

    Hesabel watched a man wearing a ck wolf-skin cloak at the front line, her crossbow already aimed at the back of his head. But Isaac quicklymunicated his disapproval.

    ¡°Actions like assassinations would only bring me to Edelred. Leave it. The attack will fail anyway.¡±

    Hesabel still struggled to understand Elil¡¯s methods.

    Wouldn¡¯t killing just one person prevent the deaths of many more?

    Yet, Isaac¡¯s words were invariably correct.

    As they spoke, the main force of the Aldeon army had entered a valley between hills. The leader in the wolf-skin cloak raised his hand, and the ambushing knights prepared to attack.

    Just then, someone burst out from the Aldeon side. Recognizing the figure as the Holy Grail Knight due to their attire, the knights of Georg were taken aback.

    The confusion of realizing their ambush had been discovered, the hesitation of whether to retreat, and the simultaneous awe and shock at a lone enemy charging them swirled through their ranks.

    The confusion dyed the cavalry captain¡¯smands.

    ¡°Captain! Your orders!¡±

    At his lieutenant¡¯s urgent voice, the captain quickly gestured.

    ¡°Everyone, cha¡­!¡±

    His words halted as his eyes met Isaac¡¯s, capturing a chilling fear. Themand was neverpleted, and the knights faltered again.

    Thud, thud, thud, boom!

    Before he could finish, Isaac, with unbelievable speed, had already charged into the forest, striking precisely where the captain was. The captain tried to defend himself with his sword, but the moment their weapons shed, he knew he was doomed.

    Isaac, never one to becent, had already split the captain¡¯s sword, armor, and torso with a burst of sword energy. The scattering of blood and armor pieces instilled terror among the knights.

    In a disorganized and chaotic response, other knights thrust their spears, but their aim was off, and Isaac, slipping away with graceful evasions, cut down a few more before darting sideways.

    ¡°Capture him!¡±

    In the confusion of losing their captain, the knights were still mindful of the value of capturing the Holy Grail Knight. They hurriedly chased after Isaac, rushing out of the forest.

    However, awaiting them outside was the Aldeon main force, which had surged up the hill while Isaac had diverted their attention.

    Realizing toote that they were the ones actually ensnared by Isaac¡¯s grand shadow, a ruthless volley of arrows struck them.

    ***

    Isaac stroked the mane of his Phantom Steed, which, despite its rough appearance resembling a bundle of aberrant nerves, now looked quite like a respectable red-haired horse. The convenience of being able to summon a horse at any time and ce was undeniable, though its ferocity was still formidable enough to make public appearances awkward.

    This was the first time he had called upon it since the fight with Al Durad, and it had once again proved its worth.

    Isaac watched as his troops gathered the spoils from the scattered cavalrymen.

    Those cavalrymen who were still breathing had their throats swiftly cut. The quality of the Georg army¡¯s equipment was high, even if their formation had been lost. A breastte or a glove collected from the fallen might save a life.

    ¡°Did we kill about 200?¡±

    Isaac looked at the growing pile of bodies, pondering. He had personally in no more than ten, but an army is a systematic and efficient killing machine. After he had struck down the cavalry captain and seized the initiative, about 200 knights had been killed by soldiers who were hardly equipped with proper gear or skills.

    Meanwhile, the casualties on their own side were limited to 31 dead and about 90 seriously injured. Considering most were just poorly equipped conscripts, it was an unbelievable oue, so much so that Edelred had ordered a recount.

    But even this sess was troubling to Isaac.

    ¡°The damage was worse than expected.¡±

    When the first volley had been fired, Isaac had expected the Georg knights to retreat immediately. A discovered ambush is worse than no ambush at all.

    Yet, they had not fled but fought back.

    One might attribute their stubbornness to their faith in Elil, but even Elil would not advocate foolish battles. This attack was clearly unwise.

    ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°Holy Grail Knight, what should we do with the bodies?¡±

    A centurion interrupted Isaac¡¯s thoughts with a question about the corpses. Isaac was about to dismiss it with a casual order when he realized the peculiarity of the question.

    ¡°What¡¯s usually done in the Kingdom of Elil?¡±

    ¡°They usually bury them. But since you¡¯re from the Codex of Light, I thought you might prefer cremation.¡±

    Cremation was a tradition among the mad undead-hating cult of the Immortal Order, opposed to the Codex of Light. Most citizens of the Kingdom of Elil buried their dead.

    Though some noble remnants of Elil¡¯s past as followers of the Codex of Light favored cremation, sending bodies adrift on ming boats, this was seen as a waste of precious wood by themon folk.

    ¡°Let¡¯s do it the way of the Kingdom of Elil here.¡±

    Although he preferred cremation, the onset of the rainy season in Elil made the environment too damp and humid. Cremating the bodies now would be a waste of resources and time. It was better to bury them, leaving only a small guard.

    The centurion nodded repeatedly before withdrawing. As he left, Edelred approached on horseback.

    Before Edelred could speak, Isaac preempted him.

    ¡°The soldiers think this is more my victory than Elil¡¯s.¡±

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read more than 25 advance chapters or support me, you can do it at /Akaza156

 Chapter 180:

    Chapter 180:

    Episode 180: The Demon in the Mist (2)

    While it might not have been intentional, the treatment of the defeated is determined by the victor. The tone of the captain¡¯s question implicitly assumed Isaac¡¯s victory in this battle.

    ¡°If it weren¡¯t for a Holy Grail Knight, such a victory would have been impossible. Wasn¡¯t it a Holy Grail Knight who anticipated the ambush?¡±

    ¡°That may be so, but alone it would have been impossible.¡±

    While the Swordmaster is powerful, and regr soldiers can¡¯t match him, he is not invincible. If ten knights skilled in superior swordsmanship attacked him, he would be hard-pressed. If morale did not break and tactics like the wheel or column formation were executed well, the danger would have been on Isaac¡¯s side.

    Isaac actually thought that the true practical use of a Swordmaster was more for assassination than for battle. His highly trained senses made it easy to evade enemies, and his unmatched physical abilities made him nearly impossible to counter unless by another Swordmaster.

    Perhaps the reason Elil banned assassinations as cowardly was to prevent a rampage by the Swordmasters.

    Edelred asked with a puzzled look, ¡°Does victory weigh on you?¡±

    ¡°No, it¡¯s the battle itself that I find distasteful.¡±Edelred looked even more puzzled.

    Mors had judged that there was almost no chance the main force would be attacked, a sentiment Isaac shared. While a surprise attack might happen, he did not expect an attack that would use almost half of the cavalry.

    If Isaac had been alone when attacked, he wouldn¡¯t have hesitated. However, this was the main force of 30,000 men. If Georg¡¯s army wasn¡¯t foolish, there must be a reason for such a bold gamble.

    ¡°This is not good.¡±

    If Isaac¡¯s concerns were true, the closer Aldeon¡¯s army got to the holy site of Elion, the more the existence of the Kingdom of Elil itself was in jeopardy.

    Suddenly, Isaac stood up and moved, followed by Edelred.

    ¡°Where are you going?¡±

    ¡°Ah, there are things I need to check.¡±

    Isaac went to look for the captain who had earlier inquired about handling the bodies. He checked the condition of the bodies to be buried and gave instructions to the captain that were iprehensible to him.

    The captain confirmed the order several times, but Isaac repeated it.

    This seemingly trivial instruction would reveal the answer.

    ***

    With Isaac¡¯s efforts leading to a significant reduction in Georg¡¯s cavalry forces, the enemies changed their strategy. As expected, they chose a route that joined up with Elil Castle, advancing ahead of the vanguard.

    The vanguard advanced triumphantly but couldn¡¯t maintain their spirit forever.

    ¡°¡­They filled up the wells and burned the food stores?¡±

    ¡°Yes. It seems like the residents had already been evacuated.¡±

    Mors, leading the vanguard, faced an empty vige that had been intended for resupply, and asked bewilderedly before looking around. The vanguard¡¯s goal had been to reach Elion Castle before Georg¡¯s cavalry, so they only had preserved food with them. They had nned to procure or requisition the needed supplies within Georg¡¯s territories, but the first vige was already in ruins.

    ¡°Did Georg¡¯s cavalry do this? Are they already ahead of us?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure. From the traces, it looks like it happened at least two days ago. It¡¯s unlikely that Georg¡¯s cavalry is two days ahead of us¡­¡±

    ¡°It must have been cleaned up by Lianne outside the fortress.¡±

    Mors gritted his teeth. But there was nothing he could do. He moved the troops again while dispatching scouts. The reports confirmed that nearby viges were also devastated. Viges further away were safe, but reaching them would require a significant detour, negating the point of rushing the vanguard forward.

    ¡°No, burning the vige and blocking the wells. Has Lianne gone mad? Is this your first day at war?¡±

    Mors erupted in anger upon encountering an empty vige for the third time. Employing scorched earth tactics against enemies traveling long distances was amon strategy. But neither was this the start of the war, nor their first campaign towards Elion.

    Had they burned viges and blocked wells each time, there would be no viges left in the Kingdom of Elil by now. Even changing upiers had typically turned a blind eye to cooperating civilians as a disy of ¡®the generosity of a knight¡¯.

    Now, however, Georg¡¯s actions seemed reckless, as if this war was theirst.

    ¡°Delfric!¡±

    As Delfric and Reyna emerged from a ruined house covered in ash and mud, Mors stopped them. The condition of the two knights, caked in ash and mud, seemed to reflect the dire situation of Aldeon¡¯s forces.

    ¡°What¡¯s the supply situation?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s tight. We still have water because of the rain, but we¡¯re running low on food.¡±

    ¡°That scarce?¡±

    ¡°Well, if General Mors could make Georg¡¯s forces surrender in

    two days, it wouldn¡¯t be a problem¡­¡±

    Usually, sieges, unless concluded swiftly, couldst from six months to several years. Mors, who hadn¡¯t even considered fighting for more than a month, realized his vanguard strategy had failed.

    Mors, rather than stubbornly sticking to a foolish strategy and wasting his troops, chose to admit his mistake and beg for forgiveness. It was a tactic that had allowed him to survive even during the tyrannical reign of the previous king.

    ¡°Your Majesty Edelred, I apologize for the failure of the operation due to my inadequacies. I will immediately resign mymission asmander-in-chief and serve as a regr soldier to atone for my sins.¡±

    The next day, Edelred greeted Mors, who had returned with the vanguard, with a wry smile. Of course, no one truly epted Mors¡¯s apology.

    Initially, the primary objective of the vanguard was to draw in Georg¡¯s raiding cavalry from the territory, which they had sessfully aplished. The secondary objective was to quickly form a siege around Elion Castle, but this had failed due to theck of supplies. No one had anticipated that Georg¡¯s forces would take such extreme measures. Mors had made a wise decision.

    ¡°Stand up, General Mors. If not you, whom else would I trust with my forces?¡±

    ¡°I am deeply grateful for your immense grace.¡±

    After this disy of theater, they discussed countermeasures. Delfric viewed the situation as more serious than expected.

    ¡°There were no bodies in the ruins. Usually, when a vige is burned, you¡¯d expect some residents to resist or express anger, but even though they left in a hurry after setting the fire, no bodies were found. This means the residents are cooperating well.¡±

    Edelred immediately understood the implication.

    ¡°Then there might be more soldiers in Elion Castle than expected.¡±

    ¡°Though they are conscripts, the numerical superiority was slightly in our favor until now, which is a bit precarious.¡±

    It was uncertain if the scattered nobles would rejoin, but the situation looked grim if the residents within Georg¡¯s territory were indeed coborating. Even if Aldeon¡¯s forces won, there could be stories of massacres like those at Saltain.

    Reyna, representing the other soldiers and knights at the meeting, added her concerns.

    ¡°The extended rain is also a problem. We¡¯re not dealing with an epidemic yet, but it¡¯s only a matter of time since we can¡¯t properly wash and dry. Above all, the rain and fog are making everyone on edge.¡±

    ¡°On edge?¡±

    ¡°Yes. There have been sightings of Georg¡¯s wolves lurking about in the fog.¡±

    Not attacking but merely showing themselves was meant to unsettle Aldeon¡¯s forces. Having suffered significant losses in an earlier attack on the main force, they had shifted to a strategy of gradually wearing down the enemy. For Aldeon¡¯s forces, who were an expeditionary forcepounded by the rainy season, it was quite an effective tactic.

    Reyna burst out,

    ¡°How can they block the front when they say they¡¯ll return the relic? Who supports this? Those Georg wolves act all high and mighty like they¡¯re the foremost devotees, it¡¯s truly disgusting!¡±

    The others responded with bitterughter.

    No one was fooled; returning the relic was just a pretext. The real goal was to suppress traitors.

    The moment the envoy¡¯s head was returned, the issue of returning the relic lost its relevance.

    ¡°Rushing seems to be the only clear solution we have.¡±

    Mors muttered, furrowing his brow. Considering how aggressively Georg¡¯s cavalry had initially sallied forth, stirring up the Kingdom of Elil, it now seemed it was a strategy to draw in Aldeon¡¯s forces. Mors had to admit that whoever wasmanding Georg¡¯s forces was a step ahead of him.

    Then Isaac spoke up.

    ¡°War is not a puzzle game.¡±

    All eyes turned to Isaac.

    Isaac decided it was time to apply a long-held theory to Aldeon¡¯s forces.

    ¡°There¡¯s no need to struggle to solve the problems the enemies present. We should be the problem for them.¡±

    ***

    The intermittent spring rain pattered on the dense leaves of Georg¡¯s lush forests. While not heavy, the drizzle that fell morning and evening was enough to fray the nerves of the soldiers, affecting both Aldeon and Georg¡¯s forces alike.

    ¡°The boars areing. Hurry up!¡±

    A knight of Georg¡¯s forces had the soldiers fell another tree to block the path. It was the twentieth tree. Now, rolling it down the hill would block the route, forcing Aldeon¡¯s supply wagons to either dy significantly or take a detour.

    Of course, the alternative route was already flooded due to diverted river water.

    ¡°Damn, I could go for a warm bowl of soup.¡±

    The Georg knight lifted his visor and rubbed his face irritably, having been unable to change out of his soaked underclothes for three days. The onlyfort for him was that they would soon return to Elion Castle for a warm bed and fire. In contrast, Aldeon¡¯s ¡®pigs¡¯ would continue to shiver in the rain.

    Maximizing that effect would require drawing out the dy as long as possible.

    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s drop these trees¡­¡±

    As the Georg knight began to give the order, he stopped upon spotting someone walking up from the hill below. Assuming it was a soldier lost in the fog, he approached angrily.

    ¡°If you don¡¯t want to get crushed by a tree, get lost now!¡±

    ¡°Ah, yes. Sorry.¡±

    The soldier awkwardly stepped aside. The Georg knight was about to dismiss it when he suddenly noticed more activity around him. More figures were emerging from the mist. A chill ran down the knight¡¯s spine as he hastily drew his sword.

    ¡°It¡¯s an ambush!¡±

    ¡°Oh, caught on quick, did you?¡±

    The soldier who had sheepishly stepped aside suddenly charged up the hill. The Georg knight was shocked by his speed and drew his sword in defense.

    A foolish move.

    Bang! Delfric Hilde¡¯s sword smashed through the Georg knight¡¯s sword, helmet, and skull in one swift motion, burying deep into his chest. It was a demonstration of Aldeon swordsmanship, meant to split an enemy in two.

    Another Georg knight screamed.

    ¡°Aldeon swine!¡±

    ¡°Georg dogs!¡±

    Reyna countered just as fiercely, shing down with her sword. The knight fell face-first into the mud. The surprise attack was highly effective. In the fog and rain, unable to tell knight from soldier, Georg¡¯s knights couldn¡¯t properly defend against the powerful strikes of Aldeon¡¯s knights.

    After dealing with the knights, the soldiers quickly surrendered. Conscripts with little interest in risking their lives for ¡®high lords¡¯ were few. Delfric promptly epted their surrender and sent them to the rear.

    Simr events unfolded throughout Georg¡¯s territory.

    Isaac had decided against concentrating his troops for a march, instead dispersing them widely like a across the front. This was a different approach from previous battles, which focused on massing forces for powerful, sweeping movements. The mist and rain that had been a hindrance now adequately concealed them, allowing them to exploit the vulnerabilities in Georg¡¯s forces.

    With numerical superiority significantly reduced, Georg¡¯s forces could no longer leverage the advantage of ¡®their ownnd.¡¯

    Although well-organized Georg¡¯s forces asionally probed the thinned ranks of Aldeon¡¯s troops, they too encountered unexpected problems. Specifically, they couldn¡¯t tell if the soldiers emerging from the fog were newly conscripted peasants or monstrous pdins who hade across the sea to ughter angels.

    A few raids on seemingly weak soldiers resulting in the annihtion of Georg¡¯s knights started bizarre rumors within their ranks.

    Rumors that a demon lurked in the mist.

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read more than 25 advance chapters or support me, you can do it at /Akaza156

 Chapter 181:

    Chapter 181:

    ¡°Run! Keep running!¡±

    ¡°If we cross the hill, we can shake it off!¡±

    ¡°Damn it, what on earth is that¡­?¡±

    Three Georg knights were running, panting heavily. It was a rare day when the rain had stopped, but the sky was still gray, and the mist clung to their bodies as if they were underwater. Inhaling the air that felt like they might drown, the knights ran and sometimes crawled, struggling to shake off the monster chasing them.

    Since the Aldeon army started spreading its forces, the Georg knights had been taken aback by this tactic, but soon adapted. They realized that if they stuck together and attacked, they could defeat their enemies one by one.

    Gathering forces in one ce was a fundamental tactic. The Georg knightsughed at the stupidity of the Aldeon army and regrouped tounch their attack.

    At first, they enjoyed some sess by annihting small enemy squads. But as they repeated the attacks, they began to notice something strange when their casualties increased more than expected. At the same time, strange rumors began to spread from the mouths of surviving knights.

    A devil appeared in the misty rain.

    ¡°Wait, Hilton, where¡¯s Hilton?¡±¡°He got caught and killed! Just keep running!¡±

    Theyughed at the rumor, thinking it was a fabricated story by a knight ashamed of his defeat, but as their ranks thinned, the rumor grew. More and more knights who went on surprise attacks didn¡¯t return, and the remaining Georg knights could only look at the misty forest with fearful eyes.

    The Aldeon army was scattered as thin as the mist. In contrast, they were a well-forged sword, surely capable of cutting through like paper, yet they couldn¡¯t bring themselves to charge into the mist.

    With morale plummeting, the Georg knights had no choice but to abandon all restraint and return to the fortress of Elion.

    If the enemy was a visible giant, they would grit their teeth and fight to the death.

    But they couldn¡¯t fight against mist or ghosts.

    ¡°Just a bit more¡­¡±

    However, some knights couldn¡¯t tolerate fleeing from mere mist. Those who had never encountered a devil intended to score onest feat before retreating, targeting a lone knight wandering through the mist.

    And then, they encountered the devil.

    ¡°We made it! We survived! Here, we should be¡­¡±

    The knight caught his breath and looked back. But behind him was nothing but pure white mist, like a nk canvas. Therades who had been panting and running with him were nowhere to be seen. The knight realized the mist had silently swallowed hisrades one by one.

    And now, it was his turn.

    Footsteps. A slow silhouette appeared beyond the mist. It was the knight, looking as calm as when he was first encountered.

    ¡°They said we could survive if we got here, but there¡¯s nothing, is there?¡±

    ***

    The Georg knight gripped his sword spasmodically and swung it. It was more like a cornered rat going mad than a resolve to fight.

    However, the action brought him a slight sense of peace.

    Though done unconsciously, upon resolving to fight to the death, he invoked a miracle of Elil.

    Isaac looked at the knight and spoke.

    ¡°I have good news and bad news.¡±

    ¡°G-good news?¡±

    At Isaac¡¯s sudden words, the knight steadied his breathing. He seemed more surprised that Isaac was someone he couldmunicate with, rather than the content of what Isaac had said. Upon realizing that Isaac was a rational being, his fear subsided, and he btedly recognized that his opponent was the Holy Grail Knight.

    ¡°You¡¯re the Holy Grail Knight, not a demon. What do you mean?¡± the knight asked.

    ¡°Which one would you like to hear first?¡± Isaac asked.

    The Georg knight hesitated before speaking. ¡°The bad news first.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re about to die,¡± Isaac stated.

    The Georg knight closed his eyes tightly.

    ¡°¡­ And the good news?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ll die quickly.¡±

    With a swift movement, Isaac¡¯s sword pierced the knight¡¯s neck. The Georg knight stared at Isaac with wide eyes before slowly copsing.

    Isaac felt a tinge of guilt for taunting the knight at his life¡¯s end, but it was a necessary process.

    ¡®Elil¡­¡¯

    Elil knights, when driven to a do-or-die state, exhibit miraculous strength. There have been several instances in history where an Elil knight, lost in the chaos of battle, achieved impossible feats.

    The knight just now had also briefly entered that state.

    The so-called ¡°do-or-die resistance¡± could be easily broken by either making the situation appear unnecessary for Elil¡¯s miracle or causing the knight to voluntarily give up the fight.

    Before leaving the knight¡¯s corpse, Isaac resumed his previous task. He had performed this task every time a corpse was left behind. Just as he was about to bend down, he sensed someone and looked up. Someone was watching him from beyond the mist.

    Isaac recalled that the knights he was chasing had been saying, ¡°If we get there, we¡¯ll survive.¡±

    Even though they hadn¡¯t survived and there was nothing there, Isaac instinctively realized where they had ced their hopes.

    ¡®The silhouette looks like a female knight.¡¯

    Both moved simultaneously after assessing each other¡¯s positions. Isaac intended to lunge forward but instinctively twisted his neck. A sharp sound of air being torn passed right beside his neck. Having narrowly avoided being pierced, Isaac pushed into his opponent¡¯s range.

    The opponent seemed as surprised as Isaac but immediately stepped back and kicked up her knee. Isaac blocked the kick with his elbow and stabbed toward the opponent¡¯s abdomen. The distance was right for a piercing blow, but the female knight trapped the sword between her armpit, attempting to disarm Isaac.

    Pain seared Isaac¡¯s palm.

    With her rtively free hands, the female knight pped Isaac¡¯s face. However, Isaac pushed back, throwing her off bnce. She staggered backward for several steps.

    Isaac was already using sword energy, but the opponent also used sword energy, so he couldn¡¯tnd a hit. By then, Isaac realized who his opponent was.

    Isaac activated the heat of the Luadin Key, thinking that burning his body would force her to let go.

    However, the heat wasn¡¯t as strong as Isaac expected.

    He btedly remembered the opponent¡¯s ability.

    ¡°Ugh!¡±

    As if countering the heat of the Luadin Key, Isaac felt a chilling pain in his lungs.

    Bang. Both realized that further fighting would only lead to self-destruction and separated simultaneously. The female knight felt her charred and crushed armor¡¯s side and red at Isaac, while Isaac touched his bruised face, coughing.

    ¡°Ugh, cough, cough¡­ You¡¯re not an easy opponent, Lianne Georg.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re quite remarkable in several ways, Holy Grail Knight.¡±

    Lianne Georg, the general of the Georg rebels and one of Elil Kingdom¡¯s swordmasters, looked at Isaac with cold eyes.

    She seemed to be prodding at the wound in her side, which still stung, but it didn¡¯t seem to be a significant injury. In contrast, Isaac thought the current weather and environment favored Lianne too much.

    ¡®Lianne¡¯s ability was a shy and unconventional swordsmanship based on cold¡­¡¯

    The sword she wielded was likely Lumiarde, one of Elil¡¯s holy swords. The cold emitted from Lumiarde, disyed through her swordsmanship, was both brilliant and savage.

    A swordmaster with already excellent swordsmanship wielding a holy sword that could unleash miracles without limit was a difficult opponent.

    Especially in such dense fog, if Lianne swung Lumiarde, her opponent would be fighting while feeling like their lungs were about to burst from pain.

    Swish, thunk! At that moment, Lianne deflected an arrow that flew through the mist without even looking. The arrow continued in the same direction, flying back to where it hade from.

    An irritated curse from Hesabel came from beyond the mist.

    As Isaac considered a second round, Lianne spoke.

    ¡°Excuse me, Holy Grail Knight.¡±

    ¡°¡­Yes?¡±

    ¡°You look tired, and so do I. How about we pretend we didn¡¯t see each other and move on? If we fight here now, one of us has to die before the other can go back,¡± Lianne Georg suggested.

    Isaac was momentarily taken aback by her words. Was this reallying from the ruthless rebel leader and enemy general? Isaac needed to capture Lianne to end the war, and Lianne also needed to capture Isaac, Aldeon¡¯s only swordmaster, to gain the upper hand.

    However, she seemed more concerned with immediate fatigue than anything else.

    ¡°I just killed five of your knights,¡± Isaac pointed out.

    ¡°That¡¯s fewer than the number of your people I killed today. Not that I¡¯m suggesting wepete, but that¡¯s how war is. Fortunately, there are no witnesses, so if we agree, this negotiation will be easy,¡± Lianne responded calmly, without any emotional inflection.

    She brushed her wet hair back and continued speaking.

    ¡°I have plenty of honor, and I¡¯m reasonably confident in my skills. The elders want me to avenge my father, so I¡¯m doing it, but that has nothing to do with you, Holy Grail Knight. Let¡¯s meet againter at a more important time.¡±

    Isaac almost nodded instinctively but managed to restrain himself.

    Is this how someone avenges their father? Are all the young people these days so indifferent?

    ¡°What if I refuse?¡±

    ¡°If you refuse¡­ Elil¡¯s knights don¡¯t shy away from battles.¡±

    Lianne raised Lumiarde nonchntly.

    Thud, thud, thud. The sound of air freezing and cracking filled the air. The invisible force around her sword froze the mist and spread outward. The cold was so intense that without protection, one¡¯s flesh would be torn away.

    Isaac thought for a moment and nodded.

    ¡°Let¡¯s do that. The environment isn¡¯t in my favor.¡±

    ¡°Right? I thought you¡¯d be reasonable, not being a follower of Elil.¡±

    ¡°What about the bodies? There are more down the hill. Will you clean them up?¡±

    ¡°Hmm. Just tidy them up enough to show respect. We seem to have lost this area. Oh, if it¡¯s okay, I¡¯d like to retreat all our soldiers to the fortress. Could you slow your advance a bit?¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t promise, but I¡¯ll suggest it. Fighting in this mist isn¡¯t easy on the nerves.¡±

    ¡°Thank you¡­ See you next time. Goodbye.¡±

    Lianne waved her hand and disappeared into the mist.

    Isaac watched the spot where she vanished, feeling entranced, and then immediately turned and started running. He needed to inform Mors that the Georg army was nning a full retreat, and they shouldunch a general offensive to exploit the opportunity.

    ***

    Unfortunately for Isaac, Lianne didn¡¯t trust her agreement with an infidel at all.

    As the Aldeon army began moving to pursue the retreating Georg forces, they encountered traps and ambushed enemies. Eventually, Mors switched to cautious scouting and searching.

    Isaac ground his teeth but also admired the fact that even the straightforward-seeming conversation with him had been part of her strategy. Then, he was impressed again when reports came in that not a single Georg soldier was seen across the entire frontline within a day.

    ¡®Would the oue have been different if I¡¯d used the Touch of Chaos?¡¯

    He wondered, but unless he looked with full strength to the point of unleashing tentacles, the oue wouldn¡¯t have changed much.

    It was impossible to read a swordmaster¡¯s mind easily, and Lianne would have been wary, thinking Isaac, a follower of the Codex of Light, had no honor or trust.

    Mors was taken aback by the Georg army¡¯s genuine retreat and quickly mobilized the troops.

    Three dayster, the Aldeon army reached the fortress of Elion without encountering any resistance.

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read more than 25 advance chapters or support me, you can do it at /Akaza156

 Chapter 182:

    Chapter 182:

    ¡°It¡¯s quiet.¡±

    Edelred mumbled as he, alongside Isaac, stared at the Elion fortress, standing at the edge of theke. The white surface of the castle, which jutted out from theke, was covered with moss and vines. The ancient castle, shrouded in mist in the middle of theke, looked mysterious in itself, but it was nothingpared to whaty beyond theke.

    ¡°Is that ind over there the Holy Land of Elion?¡±

    Beyond the faint mist, a spiked wall-like ind was visible.

    Edelred nodded at Isaac¡¯s question.

    ¡°Yes, it is. It¡¯s where Elil¡¯s body isid to rest. Theke is open to everyone, but the ind itself can only be entered by those who possess a Holy Sword.¡±

    ¡°Can¡¯t we just take a boat there?¡±

    ¡°No, it¡¯s the same. If you don¡¯t enter through the designated gate, you¡¯ll either get lost in the mist or get stranded on a reef. The Holy Land isn¡¯t managed that poorly.¡±

    Although Edelred possessed a Holy Sword and was the king of Elil, he had never set foot in the Holy Land. The Georg family, who were the protectors of the Holy Land and traitors, had denied his entry. They even refused to return one of the Holy Swords, the ¡®Rite of Division¡¯.To unify the kingdom, he needed to receive Elil¡¯s oracle and gain recognition. If they blocked him, he would either break in or continue the civil war forever.

    ¡°The Elion fortress is merely a foothold to reach the Holy Land. I¡¯ve heard that there¡¯s a hidden bridge under the water connecting the fortress to the Holy Land, so official entrants cross that bridge.¡±

    Isaac nodded. He knew it was true because he had crossed that bridge in the game.

    ¡°Well, crossing the bridge will have to wait until after we capture that fortress.¡±

    Behind them, camps were being set up to besiege the Elion fortress, while preparations for a defensive battle were in full swing on top of the fortress.

    They stood at a distance where the arrows fired from the fortress would barely miss them. Mors had worried they were too close, but they needed to be this close to observe Georg¡¯s troops¡¯ reactions. However, there hadn¡¯t been any notable reaction yet.

    Isaac was counting the moving silhouettes, trying to estimate the number of troops. Though he couldn¡¯t pinpoint an exact number, Mors reported that it seemed like there were more troops than expected. Given the destroyed viges, this was somewhat anticipated. The key was how many knights were inside that fortress.

    The most formidable force of the Georg warlords was the Elion Knight Order. So far, the ones who had been rampaging through Elil Kingdom were the knights and cavalry of the Georg family, but there had been no encounters with any Elion knights, except for the hostages Isaac had previously encountered.

    Given that the Knight Order was personally raised and taught by Lianne, they were likely the most threatening force within Georg¡¯s army.

    ¡°Do you think the cavalry has joined?¡±

    ¡°Well, it¡¯s a bit ambiguous. ording to Delfric, themander of the knights, it seems they didn¡¯t join the fortress.¡±

    ¡°Really? I thought they moved faster than us.¡±

    ¡°ording to the scouts, some cavalrymen were spotted on the western outskirts. At that position, it¡¯s clear they purposely avoided joining.¡±

    The Georg cavalry, which had been harassing Elil Kingdom, suffered significant damage when they ambushed the main Aldeon army while returning. Afterward, they shifted their strategy to undermine morale with constant harassment, but even that was thwarted by scatter tactics.

    Since then, the cavalry hadn¡¯t been seen until the Aldeon army arrived at the Elion fortress, leading them to believe they had joined with Lianne, but they were found on the outskirts.

    Edelred and his advisors tried to understand the Georg cavalry¡¯s thoughts.

    ¡°General Mors thinks they¡¯re nning to attack us while we¡¯re engaged in a siege.¡±

    The fortress would serve as an anvil, and the cavalry as a hammer. It was a conventional and straightforward strategy. In fact, it was hard to think of any other strategy. However, Mors couldn¡¯t strongly advocate for this idea for a reason.

    ¡°The Georg cavalry isn¡¯t well-supplied. The viges that could serve as supply bases have already been burned by Georg¡¯s forces, and if they move too far, they won¡¯t be able to act as a hammer when needed.¡±

    ¡°Exactly. General Mors pointed that out too. They might just be trying to annoy us.¡±

    If the Georg cavalry weren¡¯t worried about supplies, they would be well-positioned to pin down the Aldeon army from both sides with the fortress and cavalry. However, given the damage they had already suffered from Isaac, it was questionable whether they couldunch a proper surprise attack again. If they failed, they would be annihted without the protection of the walls.

    ¡®It would be better if the nobles who went back to their territories arrived on time¡­ but they¡¯rete, it can¡¯t be helped.¡¯

    It was only natural for the nobles, who had neither a rallying point nor motivation, to bete. The nobles aligned with the Saltain faction might not want to waste their knights in a useless civil war. They already had a convenient excuse that theirnds were attacked.

    ¡°Well, there¡¯s no need to solve the enemy¡¯s problems. I think they have plenty of issues themselves.¡±

    Isaac¡¯s gaze turned toward the Elion fortress. Just then, the gate opened, and someone came out.

    ¡°Let¡¯s proceed ording to n for now.¡±

    ***

    An army consumes a lot of manpower, equipment, and resources, so why maintain it?

    The answer is ¡°because it¡¯s cheaper.¡±

    Isaac recalled the Persian army that invaded Greece and China¡¯s million-strong army. In medieval societies, feeding and maintaining such an army was no small feat, and often, they were merely bloated numbers to make up the headcount.

    The real purpose of an army is ¡°performance.¡±

    It¡¯s to show that they have arge poption and the national power to feed so many people.

    In reality, the Persian army fought few actual battles while conquering vast territories. Just the sight of their massive numbers marching in front of enemy castles was often enough.

    It¡¯s a cheap way to wage war.

    Eventually, Isaac believed that the military must grow in proportion to the national power¡­

    ¡®The issue is that the Kingdom of Elil is closer to Sparta rather than the Middle Eastern countries conquered by Persia.¡¯

    Being a country of war enthusiasts, Elil¡¯s military was both exceptional in quality and size. However, the purpose was not vastly different: to pressurize and intimidate the enemy.

    The dry reeds by thekeside rustled eerily. The movement of the reeds revealed the flow of the wind. And along with the wind came the female knight, Lianne Georg, who Isaac had seen before, approaching on horseback with another knight.

    When they got close enough for Isaac to speak in a suitable tone, he raised his hand. Having faced Lianne before, he knew there was a chance they wouldn¡¯t be able to stop her if she charged at Edelred.

    The man apanying Lianne, however, looked quite dissatisfied at the distance.

    ¡°Can you even hear me from this distance, Holy Grail Knight?¡±

    ¡°You have a strong voice, as expected from a follower of Elil. Who are you?¡±

    Lianne responded to Isaac¡¯s question.

    ¡°This is my uncle, Villon Georg, Holy Grail Knight. Since we¡¯ve met before, you probably know who I am?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s been a while, Lianne Georg.¡±

    Edelred answered instead of Isaac, nervously. Lianne¡¯s gaze shifted from Isaac to Edelred. She responded with a tired smile.

    ¡°It¡¯s been a while, Edel. You¡¯ve grown taller.¡±

    ¡°I¡­¡±

    ¡°Edelred, King of Aldeon. This is a formal meeting, so I request that you show respect.¡±

    Before Edelred could answer, Isaac interrupted, sensing his voice faltering. The mist was thick, and theke was quiet, an environment that amplified voices. Given the distance, they had to speak loudly, which meant the knights on both sides could hear.

    Villon bristled at Isaac¡¯s words.

    ¡°The usurping Aldeon family¡­¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s correct, Uncle. Since Kaldbruch acknowledged him, a king is a king, right? I apologize for my rudeness in my excitement. Your Majesty Edelred, please forgive me.¡±

    Lianne bowed her head and apologized. Edelred nodded without speaking, unable to find his voice. Villon seemed to want to say something, but perhaps not wanting to scold his niece in front of their enemies, he kept silent.

    Lianne scanned the Aldeon army.

    gs of noble families from all over the Kingdom of Elil were fluttering. Though gs of the noble families supporting the Georg family were also hanging in the Elion stronghold, they were far fewer in number.

    ¡°I¡¯m proud that you¡¯ve managed to unify this much, Your Majesty. Honestly, considering your disposition, I thought it would be difficult.¡±

    ¡°¡­One crucial g is still missing.¡±

    At the hint of reconciliation, Lianne tilted her head.

    ¡°If it¡¯s about that, I believe we¡¯ve already sent you our response.¡±

    Recalling the murder of the messenger, Edelred flinched. Lianne continued calmly.

    ¡°Innocent Majesty, I understand what you intend bying here, but let me teach you something from someone you once called sister.¡±

    Tap, tap.

    Lianne suddenly urged her horse forward, approaching slowly. Instead of trying to stop her with words, Isaac drew his sword. Simultaneously, Villon raised his hand, shouting, and the Aldeon army responded with cheers and the sh of weapons. From the Elion stronghold, arrows were loaded, and taut bowstrings screamed.

    Isaac set a mental boundary, ready to attack if Lianne crossed it. But Lianne stopped precisely at that boundary.

    Edelred, frozen, locked eyes with Lianne.

    ¡°You see now.¡±

    Lianne smiled faintly, speaking in a quieter voice, as they were closer.

    ¡°This war isn¡¯t something that can end with us saying, ¡®Yes, let¡¯s reconcile.¡¯ I regret my father¡¯s death, but ultimately, it was his chosen mistake and consequence. However, the elders of our n don¡¯t see it that way.¡±

    She turned to look at Villon.

    ¡°The elders believe that because of the Aldeon royal family, my father lost his honor, which was more important than life, and that to reim it, the royal family must be brought down.¡±

    She shook her head, exasperated at the countless advice and criticisms she faced.

    ¡°But it was my father who took on the mission that lost him his honor. The root of it goes back to the Georg family pledging allegiance to the Aldeon family as kings a hundred years ago, and further back to the Elil era, which established the tradition of venerating the strong¡­¡±

    Lianne sighed deeply.

    ¡°¡­The past has umted and now presses upon us, Your Majesty. We didn¡¯t appear out of nowhere but havee here from the forefront of the past.¡±

    Isaac thought of Urbansus at her words.

    Her words urately pinpointed the principle of Urbansus.

    All living humans are influenced by Urbansus. The dead, past eras push and press the present. Lianne and Edelred were being pressured at the forefront. One day, they too would be absorbed and stained by the past.

    Lianne had epted that pressure quietly, while Edelred was simply less affected.

    ¡°So go back and prepare for war, Your Majesty. The elders already believe we¡¯ve lost too much honor because of you. Until we reim it, the Georg army will neither reconcile nor surrender.¡±

    Lianne smiled broadly before turning her horse and heading back to the stronghold. Isaac sighed and sheathed his sword. He looked again at the Aldeon army surrounding the Elion stronghold.

    The greatest utility of an armyes from intimidating the enemy. To win without fighting. But Lianne had firmly dered that this intimidation wouldn¡¯t work.

    That left only one option.

    To pile more bodies on top of the already umted corpses.

    Until the present generation drowned and pickled in the blood.

    Be it honor or justice, only those who stand atop the corpses will seize it.

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read more than 25 advance chapters or support me, you can do it at /Akaza156

 Chapter 183:

    Chapter 183:

    Since the final negotiations had ended in failure, only war remained.

    No one had expected the negotiations to seed, and as it was considered mere formality, no one was disappointed. Except for Edelred, of course.

    However, a king responsible for leading a war could not afford to be downhearted.

    ¡°Let¡¯s try to end the war as quickly as possible.¡±

    Edelred¡¯s words were not empty; they aimed to find a way to minimize the damage on both sides. The idea of a quick decisive battle was also what Georg¡¯s rebels wanted, even if they anticipated a different oue.

    However, a siege was the worst for a quick decisive battle. Usually, the attacking force needed three times more troops than the defending force. Themon approach was to pile up a mountain of corpses to conquer the defenses.

    Luckily, the followers of Elil had their own traditional and rational method of attack.

    ¡°A duel?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right.¡±Mors proposed a siege method involving a ¡°duel.¡±

    Each army would send out a representative each day topete. The loser would bear shame and wounds, while the winner would im glory and honor. This method was ideal for demoralizing the enemy while eliminating skilled opponents. In fact, if great swordsmen faced off in these duels, the oue alone could decide the victor.

    ¡°It makes sense, given it¡¯s the Kingdom of Elil.¡±

    To anyone who wasn¡¯t a follower of Elil, the idea would sound insane, but this was the Kingdom of Elil. Refusing or disregarding a duel would break the soldiers¡¯ morale. The duels would be epted, but there was an important condition attached to this strategy.

    The allied forces had to win.

    ¡°Hmm. I¡¯ve heard that the average skill level of the knights in Georg¡¯s army is higher. Do we have enough knights to secure victories?¡±

    ¡°Frankly, no, we do not.¡±

    Isaac was relieved that even though Mors often made odd statements, he didn¡¯t have unrealistic expectations of their army. A general who valued his troops was a good general.

    However, Hilde¡¯s siblings were visibly hurt by this cold assessment, especially Reyna.

    ¡°That¡¯s quite an insult, General Mors! As the senior knight representative, I can¡¯t ept that! I¡¯ll go out as the representative today!¡±

    ¡°Sit down, Reyna. You can¡¯t.¡±

    Mors¡¯ words only further bruised her pride. As Reyna was about to transform into a boar with hair, Mors made a surprising statement.

    ¡°This duel must be won. But it should not be won fairly, and it would be even better to use dirty tricks. Then, we should humiliate the opponent and make them feel ashamed. Can you do that?¡±

    Reyna was stunned.

    Win at all costs? Setting aside the issue of whether it was possible or not, Reyna believed she could win. But the rest? How could she use dirty means against a fair opponent and humiliate them? Even if she managed to win by foul y, she would be obligated to praise her opponent¡¯s courage and sincerity.

    At that moment, Isaac spoke up.

    ¡°It means I should go.¡±

    Mors nodded.

    Elil¡¯s knights couldn¡¯t do it because it was a noble duel. But Isaac could, because he was a follower of the Codex of Light, willing to win by any means, even through foul y.

    Isaac decided to exin further for the knights who still didn¡¯t understand.

    ¡°By using dirty methods and humiliating the opponent, the enemy will not be demoralized but will be angry. If this happens repeatedly, they¡¯ll mor toe out and engage in openbat instead of staying in the fortress. Unless theirmander is a fool, there¡¯s no reason to abandon the fortress and sh with the enemy¡­ but this is the Kingdom of Elil.¡±

    Here, pride was everything, and people died because of it. Only Isaac could set aside his pride and fight in this country.

    Moreover, Aldeon¡¯s knights couldn¡¯t do it, nor should they. Dirty fighting not only demoralized the enemy but also impacted the morale of the allied forces. However, Isaac was a foreigner and a heretic. It was a convenient excuse to avoid shaming the Aldeon army.

    Isaac was amazed that Mors hade up with this strategy. It required a level of objectivity that only came with recognizing that Elil¡¯s followers were obsessed with honor.

    ¡°It seems to contain some prejudicial views about those with different beliefs.¡±

    Isaac protested slightly.

    Are all Elil¡¯s followers noble and honorable while the Codex of Light¡¯s followers are sneaky and pragmatic? Isaac wasn¡¯t even a true follower of the Codex of Light.

    This strategy would eventually tarnish Isaac¡¯s reputation.

    Mors looked at Isaac and asked, ¡°Can you do it?¡±

    ¡°Of course I can.¡±

    And Isaac was pragmatic enough to be willing to be dirty if necessary. It was better for him to be criticized than to see precious troops die against the fortress walls.

    However, Isaac knew a more practical solution.

    ¡°But I think there¡¯s someone better suited for this than me.¡±

    ***

    Isaac watched the great warrior standing before the Elion citadel.

    Through a mix of nomination, threats, and pleas, Isaac had managed to enlist someone for the task. The great warrior, stepping forward, kept adjusting the cumbersome armor, but did not remove it, thanks to Isaac¡¯s threats and pleas.

    The great warrior neither shouted nor provoked at the front of Elion citadel, but everyone knew what he meant. It was a ritual often conducted before major battles.

    Despite approaching to the range of arrows, there was no call to provoke or attack the great warrior. Isaac wasn¡¯t worried; such an act would be dishonorable.

    Georg¡¯s knights soon realized that the great warrior was challenging them to a duel and grew tense.

    Feeling the eyes of everyone on him, the great warrior cleared his throat. As Isaac had half-pleaded, half-threatened, it was time to ¡°earn his keep.¡±

    ¡°Wolves of Georg! What are you doing holed up in thatir? Perhaps you¡¯re too busy fornicating amongst yourselves?¡±

    A resounding female voice sent ripples through the defenders of Elion citadel. The provocation was absurd and unmatched by the voice. The unexpected taunt stunned the soldiers, who then erupted in an uproar. But the great warrior nonchntly hurled insults and slights at them.

    Amid the numerous curses and noise, the great warrior¡¯s voice, though singr, resonated clearly with everyone.

    ¡°What is this Georg n? By the way, I hear they are an inbred family who don¡¯t shy away from incest to maintain their bloodline. Is that true? Who¡¯s Lianne Georg¡¯s mate?¡±

    ¡°You pig! Open the gates!¡±

    The provocation worked surprisingly easily. There wasn¡¯t even a hint of anyone trying to stop it beyond the fortress walls. Soon, the gates opened, and an armored knight leaped out like a cannonball.

    Seeing this, Isaac thought, ¡°If the Elil folks weren¡¯t on an ind, they would have been extinct long ago.¡±

    The thundering hooves rapidly approached the great warrior, and the knight, suppressing his anger, shouted, ¡°I am Beowulf Georg, a Guardian of the Holy Land, son of Villon Georg, Troll yer, Banner Collector! Who are you?¡±

    Isaac felt a sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu at the long title.

    At times, a single word could convey more meaning and impact than borate rhetoric, sending chills down one¡¯s spine.

    ¡°Well, I am Yulihida.¡±

    ¡°Yulihida? I¡¯ve never heard of that name¡­¡±

    The knight, who introduced himself as Beowulf, looked at her, puzzled.

    Suddenly, Yulihida spurred her horse forward. Beowulf, rmed, raised his sword, but was met not by Yulihida¡¯s de, but by the massive hoof of her warhorse.

    With a crash, the horse threw Beowulf to the ground and trampled him. Blood flowed from his crushed helmet. The startled horse bolted, dragging Beowulf by the foot caught in the stirrup. But it didn¡¯t break through the encirclement, only circling the muddy ground before the citadel. All the while, Beowulf was helplessly dragged along.

    Without drawing her sword, Yulihida had trampled her opponent. She then turned to face Elion citadel and, as if annoyed, threw her helmet to the ground.

    ¡°Next time, let the personing out at least draw their sword. From now on, for each person I defeat, I¡¯ll remove one piece of armor. I hope I won¡¯t end up fighting naked.¡±

    ***

    Half a day earlier.

    ¡°A duel? Why should I do something like that?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve heard you have an assignment from the Sword of May. Perhaps you could help a little along the way?¡±

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s true. But why should that matter to me? I¡¯m not the Sword of May, so it doesn¡¯t concern me.¡±

    ¡°¡­I suppose that¡¯s true. But you¡¯re currently consuming Aldeon¡¯s provisions, aren¡¯t you? I¡¯m a follower of the Codex of Light, so I can excuse you for receiving charity from me, but is it right to consume Elil¡¯s provisions withoutpensation?¡±

    Yulihida looked at Isaac while chewing on a soggy biscuit, contemting whether his argument was reasonable.

    Of course, the angelic Sword of May could unterally demand things from her followers. But for the followers of Elil? They had no reason to take care of her or donate to her.

    So Yulihida dered, ¡°In that case, I¡¯ve rightfully plundered this from the followers of Elil.¡±

    ¡°¡­Instead of plundering, how about you just pay for your meals? Do you know about the concept ofpensation? Like, money?¡±

    ¡°Of course, I know about money. I don¡¯t have any, but I bet that noble over there does. Should I fetch it?¡±

    Before Yulihida could knock out the passing noble and steal his purse, Isaac quickly interjected, ¡°Instead, how about paying through a duel? You can knock down and humiliate the followers of Elil who betrayed the Codex of Light, and also repay your debt.¡±

    In fact, the only reason Yulihida, a civilian, could freely enter the military camp and consume provisions was because of her status as ¡°Isaac¡¯spanion.¡± No one doubted her identity, but if they knew the truth, they¡¯d be appalled.

    So Isaac¡¯s argument about paying for her meals seemed somewhat reasonable.

    ¡°It¡¯s ridiculous to ask an angel to defeat mere knights, but¡­¡±

    The Sword of May could destroy that fortress and ensure that nothing above the waists of those inside remained. But Isaac didn¡¯t want to go that far.

    If they did, surely, without exception, an angel would also appear on Elil¡¯s side. And then a simr cmity would befall Aldeon¡¯s army.

    This was why, except for great wars, angels rarely intervened in earthly disputes. Especially in civil wars, where there was no guarantee an angel would side with them.

    What Isaac needed was Yulihida¡¯s ¡°moderate skill¡± and anonymity. No one knew who Yulihida was, so she was perfect for being thrown into a fight devoid of honor or pride. It would be great if Yulihida defeated Lianne, but by then, the angels of Elil would likely notice their best knight being humiliated.

    Yulihida sipped the poor-quality wine and chewed on grilled salmon the cook caught that day. After filling her stomach, she seemed to contemte for a moment before speaking.

    ¡°I get it. You¡¯re ufortable being loved but also don¡¯t want to be hated, right?¡±

    ¡°Excuse me?¡±

    ¡°Fine, I understand. Your mission isn¡¯t far off, so I¡¯ll consider this as prepayment. Dealings with other faiths should be fair.¡±

    Yulihida said, looking at the Holy Land Elion reflecting across theke.

    ***

    Yulihida had now defeated her fifth knight. A piece of armor fell to the ground. She was now wearing only a quilted garment under her armor. While it was clear she intended to humiliate Georg¡¯s army with her actions, one might wonder if it was just an excuse because the armor was ufortable.

    ¡°She won¡¯t really fight naked, will she?¡±

    Isaac thought. He intended to stop her before she truly fought naked, but he figured that Georg¡¯s army would either rush out or refuse the duel before that happened.

    If they rushed out, it was as nned; if they refused, their morale would plummet.

    While the Georg soldiers were retrieving the fallen knight, the gate opened, and another knight emerged. Though wearing a helmet, Isaac recognized who it was from the familiar armor.

    ¡°Lianne?¡±

    Themander joining the duel? Yulihida adjusted her grip on the sword.

    It would be great if Yulihida defeated Lianne, but the angels of Elil would likely notice what was happening to their top knight.

    Just as Isaac was about to call Yulihida back, an unexpected sound echoed through the mist.

    It was the sound of a cat meowing.

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read more than 25 advance chapters or support me, you can do it at /Akaza156

 Chapter 185:

    Chapter 185:

    Lianne was not considering reconciliation at all.

    Isaac was certain of that much. If she were considering reconciliation, she could not have acted this way.

    If both sides continue to fiercely sh until they are utterly exhausted, only then might they discuss reconciliation. They were wearing down each other¡¯s anger by colliding with one another.

    This has been the way the Kingdom of Elil has preserved its form without falling, even amidst incessant strife, a frequent urrence in the history of Earth as well.

    Lianne was merely following that tradition.

    ¡®In that sense, Edelred, who wants to achieve peace without sacrifice, is the exception.¡¯

    And judging by the current flow, it was likely going to turn out as Lianne intended. Both Lianne and Edelred wanted peace, but breaking away from centuries of tradition and the pressures from their predecessors and society was not an easy task. On the contrary, Lady Rosalind¡¯s forgiveness and reconciliation seemed almost like a divine miracle.

    ¡°What do you think, Master? Will this war end only after thousands of our people have been sacrificed?¡±

    Edelred spoke with a tone of regret.Isaac understood his sentiment, but he was worried about an even grimmer future. In fact, he thought it would be a great fortune if things unfolded as Lianne envisioned.

    Though much blood would be shed, neither side was nning to annihte the otherpletely.

    Unlike during the Saltain era, the Georg family was merely trying to regain their lost honor, and the Aldeon royal family aimed to solidify their rule, so there was room forpromise.

    ¡°If you¡¯re asking for my opinion.¡±

    Isaac began lightly before speaking up.

    ¡°There¡¯s a possibility that the situation could worsen much more than expected.¡±

    ¡°Worsen? Could there be a worse situation than both sides being utterly drained and dying?¡±

    ¡°Your Majesty, you consider the end to be marked by reconciliation. But you¡¯ve overlooked something. There¡¯s a chance that even after this war, we could remain the worst of enemies. Because of the Dawn Army.¡±

    ¡°The Dawn Army¡­¡±

    Edelred murmured with a sigh.

    Among the nobility cooperating with the Georg family, there were those hesitant to join the Dawn Army. Isaac suspected this istionism was the doing of an angel. And, unknown to others but known to Isaac, this angel was also preventing a prophecy from Elil.

    Isaac¡¯s goal was to travel to the Holy Land of Elion to conduct a ritual and meet with Elil himself. It was a risky endeavor, but worthwhile.

    He could not press Edelred about the Dawn Army¡¯s involvement until he resolved the scenario with the Elil cult. Even if the followers of Elil enjoyed quarrels, the Dawn Army represented a foreign, unfamiliar battle between heretics across the sea.

    ¡°¡­I¡¯ve heard that there are those who hesitate to join the Dawn Army. Some of my own subjects are skeptical too.¡±

    Edelred spoke and then as if remembering something, muttered.

    ¡°Oh, right. What if they dere their refusal to participate¡­ no, that¡¯s not right. I misspoke.¡±

    Edelred checked Isaac¡¯s reaction, heavily reliant on him but momentarily forgetting Isaac was ultimately a delegate dispatched under themand of the Gerthonia Empire¡¯s emperor, a follower of the Codex of Light from across the sea. And Isaac had one goal.

    To help Edelred restore his authority and lead the participation of the Dawn Army.

    If Edelred dered a refusal to participate in the Dawn Army, Isaac would have no reason to struggle here.

    Isaac noticed his thought and gave a wry smile.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much about that. We don¡¯t need to follow Lianne¡¯s thinking at all.¡±

    ¡°Ah, right? As expected of you, Master.¡±

    Receiving Elil¡¯s prophecy would resolve both the recognition of Edelred¡¯s kingship and the decision of the Dawn Army¡¯s involvement. It seemed an issue Elil would have no reason to refuse, so reaching the Holy Land of Elion seemed not too difficult.

    But Isaac had another worry.

    ¡°In fact, there¡¯s another problem. There might be another force involved in this war. I¡¯ve been collecting evidence since the battle with the Georg army began, and it seems increasingly likely.¡±

    ¡°Another force? Who are you speaking of?¡±

    ¡°The real threat in this war might be lurking behind the Georg army.¡±

    Isaac deliberately spoke in circles. It was also Edelred¡¯s duty to ponder this. As a king, he needed to broaden his perspective beyond domestic matters.

    Isaac turned his gaze across theke towards the Holy Land of Elion.

    ¡°The Holy Land of Elion is still under threat. We need to reim it quickly.¡±

    ***

    As Isaac anticipated, the atmosphere inside the Elion fortress was no different.

    Returning from a fiery battle, the knights of the Georg army boasted about their exploits, loudly discussing the recent fight. The insults they had received from Yulihida at the start of the battle seemedpletely forgotten.

    ¡°Did you see those Aldeon fools, fleeing in panic? If they came all this way to run, why bother!¡±

    ¡°Haha! I thought they were city slickers, but they¡¯ve got some strength! Now I see why we were told not to arm wrestle with Aldeon knights!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s been years since we¡¯ve had such an intense battle. Almost five years, wasn¡¯t it? It felt good to experience such a thrilling fight again!¡±

    The voices filled the fortress, creating an atmosphere akin to a festival. Indeed, for many knights gathered here, war was a sort of festival. While strategies like ambushes and nking were enjoyable, the followers of Elil truly reveled inrge-scale engagements.

    This time, due to the siege, they hadn¡¯t expected a fiery rotation, but thanks to Lianne¡¯s unexpected order, they were able to engage in a vigorous sh.

    However, even amidst this festive atmosphere, there was a space where the air was heavy with stagnation.

    It was the intensive care ward, unconsciously or consciously ignored by the knights.

    This ce gathered those who had fought the fiercest battles, yet they couldn¡¯t boast about their great deeds or the strong enemies they had faced. Most patients were in a state too critical to be healed, even by the miracles of Elil.

    Most of the patients lying on the floor were soldiers. The knights either died quickly on the most violent battlefields or chose to end their lives with the help ofrades rather than lying in the intensive care ward. However, the conscripted soldiers wanted to survive by any means possible.

    In the ward filled with groans and weeping, only a few priests hurried about, consecrating, healing, or performing rites for the dead.

    Villon Georg sat quietly, holding the hand of a knight. This knight, almost the only one among beds filled with soldiers, had suffered a crushing injury to his jaw. Though he was still alive, it seemed unlikely he would survive the day.

    ¡°That¡¯s why I told you not to rush in recklessly.¡±

    Villon muttered quietly to his son, Beowul Georg. Beowulf mumbled something in response, but it was only a bubbling sound mixed with blood and phlegm.

    Villon did not me the one who had inflicted such wounds on his son. Anything could happen on the battlefield, and whatever happened was considered the will of Elil, whether one was struck from behind, fought outnumbered, or tripped over a corpse.

    Having survived simr fates numerous times and having killed many enemies himself, Villon found it ridiculous to me his adversaries.

    If there was anything regrettable, it was that his son had not been killed outright but left alive to suffer. Normally,rades or friends would end his life, but Villon had brought him to the intensive care ward.

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you still afraid of death?¡±

    Villon asked, tightly holding Beowulf¡¯s hand. Beowulf quietly shed tears in response. The tears, mixing with the blood on his cheeks, streaked down increasingly red.

    Villon had seen this sight countless times before. Young knights who boasted fearlessness towards death, only to be terrified when faced with Elil¡¯s battlefield.

    Both dying knights felt shame, and theirrades felt embarrassed. Thus, ending their lives early was both a kindness and an act of bravery.

    His son too had always cried out about dying a glorious warrior, but only now could Villon see his true feelings. Beowulf wanted to live. He desired to enjoy glory on this earth, not just in the afterlife.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, my son.¡±

    Villon leaned in, forehead to forehead with Beowul. A momentter, a priest who had been checking on the patients approached Villon.

    ¡°Shall I proceed with the rites?¡±

    ¡°Please.¡±

    The priest moved next to Beowulf, scattering holy oil and waving incense around. After the rite, most of the dead soldiers would be buried, and the offspring of high-ranking nobles would be cremated.

    But Beowulf would belong to neither category.

    Villon thought grimly about the battlefield where he would reim his honor.

    ***

    Simr battles repeated several times thereafter.

    Aldeon army¡¯s provocations and duels, Georg army¡¯s taunts and fights. They exchanged blows like actors in a rehearsed y, spilling blood and fueling their fighting spirit.

    Isaac realized that these battles were intricately orchestrated by Lianne.

    In fact, since the Georg army, as defenders, had almost unterally advantageous positions, the fact that both sides were bleeding was a concession from Lianne. Was it a loss for the Georg army? Not really. Most of the battles ended in a clear victory for the Georg army, and their morale was higher since they could retreat to the fortress after the fight.

    ¡®Georg¡¯s resentment was stronger from the start. This could be a n to satisfy their n¡¯s pride and wear down their anger.¡¯

    Isaac thought as he analyzed the battle. Though he was displeased with being drawn into Lianne¡¯s schemes, if this was the ¡®traditional¡¯ method of conflict resolution in the Kingdom of Elil, it had to be tolerated.

    ¡®If it were only Elil¡¯s kingdom¡¯s fight, that would be one thing¡­¡¯

    The problem was that this fight wasn¡¯t just among knights.

    The unification of Elil under the Aldeon royal family meant the participation of the Dawn Army, and the Dawn Army¡¯s involvement meant that the Kingdom of Elil would break its istion and be entangled with other faiths and interests. Just as Emperor Waltzemer had dispatched Isaac, other interest groups could also intervene.

    Isaac wondered if Lianne had considered that as well.

    ¡°Right wing! The right wing is breached!¡±

    Mors roared with a hoarse voice, moving his troops. Soldiers who had been on standby in the rear quickly filled the gap. Edelred watched the unfolding battle with a tense expression. As a king, his role wasn¡¯t just a morale-boosting totem but also to intimidate the enemy.

    If either side suffered severe damage, Edelred might join the battle wielding Kaldbruch, a pressure that even kept Lianne from participating. Thanks to this, the battle remained purely human. Though some knights achieved miraculous feats, none changed the overall situation significantly.

    ¡°General Mors, the Georg cavalry¡­¡±

    ¡°Again? These damned¡­¡±

    Mors cursed under his breath upon receiving the report from his aide. The recurring defeats of the Aldeon army were due to the Georg cavalry continuously disrupting from the rear.

    They didn¡¯t attack but merely showed themselves intermittently to irritate.

    But this time was different. Mors wasn¡¯t foolish enough to be fooled the same way several times.

    Mors and Delfric exchanged nces.

    ¡°For Elil, forever!¡±

    As Delfric suddenly roared, the Aldeon army¡¯s offensive surged unexpectedly. The battlefield, which had been reaching a stalemate, was caught off guard by the Aldeon army¡¯s unexpected aggression. With Delfric and Reyna leading the charge as if there were no tomorrow, cracks began to form in the Aldeon army¡¯s left nk.

    Only then did the Georg cavalry begin to move. The Aldeon army, focused entirely on the front, was full of gaps. It was clear that their formation would copse the moment the cavalry struck.

    However, that was exactly what Mors, and Isaac, had hoped for.

    Dududududu! The moment the Georg cavalry charged towards the rear of the Aldeon army, waiting for this exact moment, someone suddenly rode out from the woods in the rear. Some of the Georg cavalry felt a strange sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu.

    Isaac was charging towards them.

    ¡°Falling for the same trick again.¡±

    Bang! Without waiting for a response, Isaac immediately decapitated the lead cavalrymander.

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read more than 25 advance chapters or support me, you can do it at /Akaza156

 Chapter 186:

    Chapter 186:

    **Boom-boom-boom-boom!**

    The headless cavalry captain, along with his horse, tumbled on the ground, causing a significant disruption in the formation of the charging cavalry. The knights were shocked by Isaac¡¯s sudden appearance, but they were even more startled to realize that he wasn¡¯t merely striking and fleeing; instead, he was actively splitting their formation.

    ¡°Catch that madman!¡±

    ¡°No, what are you saying! Keep charging!¡±

    A chaos of screams and shouts ensued. Although there were knights ready to takemand after the captain¡¯s death, their judgments were severely shaken. Their opponent was none other than Isaac.

    Since the main force was faltering, they had to strike at the rear of the Aldeon army and crush them! No! It was an opportunity to punish the Holy Grail Knight who had brazenly harmed theirrades right before their eyes!

    Indecision caused the cavalry¡¯s ranks to break significantly.

    A knight, whose left eye wound was still fresh, screamed as if in a fit.

    ¡°That damned bastard has killed ourrades like dogs! If we can¡¯t catch him, we¡¯re doomed too!¡±He was part of the cavalry that had suffered near-annihtion from Isaac¡¯s previous ambush. They were traumatized by the recurrence of a simr event right before their eyes.

    His vengeful roar made some sense. Though the Georg knights were suffering heavily, if they didn¡¯t catch Isaac now, they would still be hindered and unable to effectively charge. Eventually, the deputymander urgently issued an order.

    ¡°Capture the Holy Grail Knight first! No matter how much of a Swordmaster he is, he can¡¯t¡­¡±

    The deputy paused, suddenly realizing.

    Alone?

    Even when the cavalry had suffered significant losses previously, Isaac hadn¡¯t attacked alone. The knights he had personally in weren¡¯t even ten.

    The deputy hastily corrected his order.

    ¡°Ambush! It¡¯s an ambush! Prepare for an ambush¡­¡±

    Thud. A momentter, an arrow shot from the woods pierced the shouting deputymander¡¯s throat. Themander fell off his horse, an arrow lodged in his neck.

    While everyone¡¯s attention was on Isaac, soldiers with spears emerged from the woods, stabbing the knights in their backs and nks.

    It took the falling of dozens of knights for the others to realize the ambush. Compared to the entirety of Aldeon¡¯s forces, these assants were a negligible number, yet they were enough to aggravate the knights while Isaac wreaked havoc on the battlefield.

    The thought of ¡®annihtion¡¯ shed through the minds of the knights again. Conventionally, losing a third of their forces was enough to be deemed incapable of effectivebat, ssified as a route. The damage they had suffered from Isaac before was even more dreadful.

    It was natural for their morale to plummet.

    But that wasn¡¯t the case.

    ¡°Kill the Holy Grail Knight!¡±

    In times of crisis, these battlefield ghosts seemed to rage even fiercer. Some cavalrymen, filled with frenzy, charged towards Isaac.

    A cavalryman, spear still lodged in his nk, charged at Isaac, who dodged, causing the spear to impale hisrade¡¯s horse instead, but his momentum remained unbroken.

    Although they were a vocal minority, when such few start to incite, instincts usually drive the rest to follow, especially in a leaderless situation like now.

    ¡®This is getting troublesome.¡¯

    Bang! Crack¡­ Feeling the undying morale of the cavalrymen, Isaac quickly felt exhaustion setting in. Another spear grazed his shoulder, wounding him.

    There were not a few among them skilled in superior swordy. Even as a Swordmaster, Isaac could not withstand dozens of skilled swordsmen draining his stamina. Fortunately, themanderless, vengeful knights were in disarray, creating chaos.

    Even if Isaac could cut down dozens with his sword energy, if this continued, fatigue would take him first. Isaac saw no choice but to look for an escape opportunity. Slowing down the cavalry¡¯s charge was sufficient for now.

    ¡°Holy Grail Knight!¡±

    A knight with glistening white eyes charged madly, roaring. Isaac wrapped the knight¡¯s mace with the Luadin Key and swiftly unleashed a short burst of sword energy, severing it. However, the knight didn¡¯t stop and headbutted Isaac.

    Bang. Isaac staggered briefly, but the knight fell from his horse, his helmeting off.

    ¡®Don¡¯t these men care about their lives? Do they have several to spare?¡¯

    Isaac muttered a curse, gripping his sword tighter. He paused when he saw the fallen knight. The knight¡¯s mace wasn¡¯t held in his hand but was soldered to the wrist part of his armor. Isaac realized why these cavalrymen could perform such mad attacks.

    ¡®As expected¡­¡¯

    This cavalryman was certainly one of the knights Isaac had killed in the woods before.

    Back then, Isaac had ordered, ¡°Cut off all the thumbs of the dead knights.¡± It was a minimal precaution that allowed them to handle the bodies with minimal muttion.

    As expected, the knights who had lost their thumbs couldn¡¯t exert much force in this battle.

    Then, this particr knight had attached his weapon directly to his armor.

    ¡°It seems the Immortal Order was involved at this point already.¡±

    Though he didn¡¯t want to believe it, his worst suspicion had now been confirmed.

    It wasn¡¯t surprising.

    Just as the Codex of Light had intervened in Elil for their own benefit, so had the Immortal Order, naturally intervening in Elil for their own interests.

    ***

    The knight charged at Isaac, attempting to bite his leg. However, Isaac raised the heat of the Luadin Key and drove it into the knight¡¯s head. Fierce mes scorched the knight¡¯s head. Even as an undead, he couldn¡¯t withstand the mes of the Luadin Key.

    At that moment, Isaac felt a chilling aura.

    ck, ck, ck. Amidst the noisy battlefield, the sound of a single horse¡¯s hooves ttered loudly. Isaac¡¯s heightened senses warned of a formidable enemy approaching.

    ¡°Stand back!¡±

    The charging knight roared, and the Georg cavalry split like the tide, revealing Lianne Georg.

    ¡°Cavalry, join the main force and retreat to the Elion fortress!¡±

    Upon arrival, Lianne immediately ordered a retreat.

    ¡°But the Holy Grail Knight¡­¡±

    A knight protested as if challenging a superior¡¯smand, prioritizing vengeance over orders. mes sparked in Lianne¡¯s eyes at this disobedience, a fierceness the cavalrymen had never seen before, making their hearts nearly stop in fear. However, instead of ying the knight, Lianne reprimanded him.

    ¡°The main force hasn¡¯t been able to seize a chance to retreat! Prioritize the overall battle situation over personal grudges! If the cavalry joins, the Aldeon army will have no choice but to retreat! Retreat to the fortress immediately afterward!¡±

    The reason the cavalry couldn¡¯t charge was that Isaac was holding them back. Now, Lianne was offering to release that hold. The cavalrymen, simmering with anger yet swallowing their hatred for Isaac, prioritized joining the main force as quickly as possible to facilitate a retreat.

    Thud-thud-thud-thud! The cavalrymen charged across the battlefield, ignoring even the conscripts¡¯ intercepting attacks.

    As the cavalry started moving, the formation of the Aldeon army began to change. They had already dealt significant damage to the Georg army. Today could certainly be counted as a tactical victory for the Aldeon army.

    ¡°It seemed too quiet today. Holy Grail Knight!¡±

    Swoosh, swish! Clink-nk-clink!

    Lianne swiftly spun her sword and struck down at Isaac. Instead of foolishly receiving the holy sword, Isaac narrowly deflected it. The frost was so intense that the chill from her sword pierced through the Luadin Key, creating a circle of white frost on the ground.

    ¡®She is angry.¡¯

    Unlike her usual tired expression, Lianne¡¯s eyes were fierce as she looked at Isaac.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t you think I would understand your intent? Or is it because you¡¯re a foreigner that you don¡¯t know?¡±

    Isaac knew but asked for confirmation.

    ¡°Are we both just exhausting our forces only to wear down our emotions?¡±

    ¡°Yes! The soft methods Edelred thinks of can¡¯t bring back peace! We need to reim our honor, and the Aldeon royal family needs a pretext that they have sufficiently punished the traitors!¡±

    Lianne bared her teeth and growled as she spoke.

    ¡°This wasn¡¯t supposed to be a one-sided victory! Do you think I took our precious soldiers out of the fortress just to amuse you? But you¡¯ve been gambling with the lives of our soldiers!¡±

    The reason the Aldeon army had been so aggressive was that Isaac had promised to block the cavalry. There was also Mors¡¯s n to clear out the cavalry while they were at it, relying entirely on Isaac¡¯s capacity, a gamble, as Lianne put it.

    Shick, shick! As Lianne¡¯s sword whistled sharply past, the chill bit painfully into Isaac¡¯s skin and lungs. However, Isaac did not counterattack but instead dodged, maintaining a check. He didn¡¯t want to reveal his more dangerous powers, especially in broad daylight, without the certainty of being able to kill his opponent.

    ¡°If you have a mouth, say something! Does the Codex of Light insistently need Elil¡¯s blood for the Dawn Army? Will you take as much as you need even if it means trampling everything?¡±

    ¡°I have one thing I¡¯m curious about, Lianne Georg.¡±

    ng! Isaac deflected Lianne¡¯s sword and said. Lianne frowned but also discreetly surveyed the rear to check if the cavalry had safely rejoined the main force. Seeing that the situation was not much different from what she expected, she looked back at Isaac with a sense of relief.

    ¡°A question? Do we have time for idle conversation?¡±

    ¡°Do you have any veterans from the 12th Dawn Army here? I mean thest Dawn Army.¡±

    Isaac ignored Lianne¡¯s retort and posed his question. Since the Kingdom of Elil formally ceased participation in the Dawn Army over a hundred years ago, there have been no official entries. However, knights on pilgrimages and devout believers often joined as volunteers.

    Lianne grimaced and red at him.

    ¡°I see no reason to inform you.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s fine. No need to tell me.¡± Isaac said, slowly lowering his sword to the ground, signaling that he had no intention to fight further.

    ¡°The Immortal Order has a method called ¡®death insurance¡¯ to increase their poption.¡±

    The Immortal Order couldn¡¯t naturally increase its poption. Therefore, they actively epted various forms of ¡®migration¡¯ such as conscription, kidnapping, and persuasion.

    Among these, the most effective method to attract high-quality personnel was the ¡®death insurance¡¯ Isaac mentioned.

    ¡°One can maintain their original faith while alive, but immediately upon death, they be an undead of the Immortal Order.¡±

    Most subscribers to ¡®death insurance¡¯ join under irresistible circumstances. However, breaking this contract is surprisingly not too difficult. A local priest could nullify it through confession, atonement rituals, and offering sacrifices.

    But interestingly, actual cancetions of the contract are very rare.

    Thecency of being able to cancel anytime and the fear of ¡®just in case¡¯ keep the contract in ce.

    Death makes anyone fearful.

    ¡°If you know someone with experience in the Dawn Army, it¡¯s highly likely that they have contracted with the Immortal Order. I hope you¡¯ll be cautious.¡±

    Lianne¡¯s face twitched at this. However, she no longer had time to argue with Isaac as the Aldeon knights, having regrouped after the retreat, began to converge on their location.

    Instead of responding, Lianne mounted her horse and began to circle back towards the fortress.

    ¡°Holy Grail Knight! Are you alright?¡±

    An Aldeon knight approached Isaac, who looked dreadful after single-handedly facing numerous knights.

    Fortunately, his visible wounds were healing, but he was beginning to feel hungry. However, Isaac was confident that Lianne had suffered a greater blow in today¡¯s fight than he had.

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read more than 25 advance chapters or support me, you can do it at /Akaza156

 Chapter 187:

    Chapter 187:

    ¡°As you know, if someone you know has fought with the Dawn Army, there¡¯s a high chance they¡¯ve made a pact with the Immortal Order.¡±

    The words Isaac left echoed in Lianne¡¯s ears as she returned to the castle. Naturally, she was not foolish enough to take the enemy¡¯s words at face value and be shaken by them. Yet, the reason she could not rebuke Isaac¡¯s statement was because she herself harbored simr suspicions.

    ¡°There are external forces within the Georg household.¡±

    After the death of her father, Vio Georg, numerous nsmen and nobles had flowed into the Georg territory from outside. In fact, Lianne herself was one of those people,pletely unsuspected.

    She had to avenge the dishonored Vio Georg and restore his honor. It was a value and purpose that was quintessentially Elil.

    However, the method was quite different from what Lianne had imagined.

    She remembered the traditional method.

    On a vast in, countless gs and soldiers lined up, and the fate of the battlefield was determined by the duels of brave young knights. An epic of heroes born from unexpected tactics and critical crises¡­ Romantic, if put nicely, and barbaric if not.

    Lianne, while casting her vote for being called barbaric, respected and loved the tradition.Thus, she listened to the stories of the n elders and gathered many opinions. However, the first war she engaged in against the former king Alfred was filled with hatred, vengeance, and ughter. The elders said it was because of Alfred¡¯s cruelty and the Georg family¡¯s loss of honor.

    But if one must engage in dishonorable fights to regain honor, where exactly does honor lie?

    Should honor be regained by killing Alfred? Was honor just hanging on the head of that vulgar fat man?

    Moreover, Lianne hadn¡¯t even managed to kill Alfred. Alfred, despite being a swordmaster, had died of hypertension from indulging in rich food and excessive drinking. Perhaps, it was a historically unprecedented event for a swordmaster.

    As the war fizzled out, Lianne harbored many doubts.

    ¡°Among the elders of the Georg family¡­ there is someone inciting hatred.¡±

    And that person had particrly stood out among some factions during this war, and Lianne had already narrowed down her suspects to one. It was something she did not want to believe and it did not help boost the morale of the Georg troops either.

    ¡°Dawn Army veteran.¡±

    ¡°Contract with the Immortal Order.¡±

    ¡°Death insurance.¡±

    The words left by Isaac spread in her mind. Amidst a desire to scream, Lianne crossed the drawbridge leading to the castle.

    At that moment, cheers erupted.

    ¡°Lianne! Lianne! Lianne!¡±

    Despite expecting a subdued atmosphere due to the severe losses, Lianne felt bewildered as she observed the soldiers. As she dismounted from her horse, Villon Georg was the first to rush forward. He embraced her tightly, pride evident in his gesture.

    ¡°Thank you, n leader! Thanks to you, we¡¯ve saved the Georg troops!¡±

    ¡°Uncle.¡±

    She could see the returning cavalrymen cheering in her view. The soldiers were also sending their praises to them. Having stirred the kingdom of Ellil and incessantly harassed the Aldeon troops outside the castle for a long time, they had be heroes.

    In a situation where they could neither eat properly nor rest, these men had dramatically appeared and saved the Georg troops when they were in crisis. They rightfully deserved the acim of war heroes.

    And Lianne was the hero who had saved that cavalry.

    ¡°Uncle, may I have a word¡­¡±

    ¡°Lady Lianne, I know you¡¯re tired, but please, just a moment.¡±

    Villon¡¯s earnest expression made Lianne close her mouth.

    ¡°Today, our troops were essentially defeated and barely managed to retreat. We need to boost morale, or else everyone will go to sleep anxious.¡±

    Since his point was valid, Lianne responded to the soldiers. Villon raised her hand to answer their cheers, and the cheers of the soldiers grew even louder. At that moment, Villon shouted.

    ¡°Today, we faced a great crisis!¡±

    Villon¡¯s booming voice quieted the soldiers. Lianne was surprised by the sudden speech but decided to stay quiet for morale¡¯s sake as he had suggested.

    ¡°The enemies have desecrated the battlefield of Ellil by bringing in foreigners and heretics! Our troops wavered momentarily due to their cunning and desperate schemes, but that was all!¡±

    Villon continued his thunderous roar.

    ¡°It¡¯s because we have heroes they do not!¡±

    ¡°Lianne!¡±

    A soldier, unable to contain his excitement, shouted. Simultaneously, simr shouts of other renowned knights or someone¡¯s name erupted from various ces. Names of the cavalry captain and Villon were also mentioned. Villon waited for the cheering to die down before continuing.

    ¡°Now, with the return of our heroes, we are made whole! There is no defeat in our army now!¡±

    A sinister smile flickered across his face.

    ¡°Under the leadership of General Lianne Georg, we will annihte the usurping Aldeon troops and reim our lost honor! Not one of the Aldeon seeds will remain!¡±

    The soldiers¡¯ cheers erupted again. Amidst the overwhelming cheers, Lianne found it hard to breathe. She felt as though she might drown in the cheers, praise, and excitement.

    The whole world was pressing her.

    To be more heroic, sharper, crueler.

    That¡¯s where honor lies, they said.

    ¡°Ellil! Ellil! Ellil!¡±

    Yet, Lianne managed a forced smile and waved her hand.

    Her gaze turned towards Villon. She had many questions for him.

    Had he truly betrayed Ellil, did he forsake honor to retrieve honor, was he really enrolled in the death insurance of the Immortal Order?

    However, Lianne did not want to start a trial against a senior member of the n during wartime.

    Wasn¡¯t it true that Villon fought for the Georg troops? Moreover, the cavalry faction he led was treated as heroes. In this situation, revealing Villon¡¯s faults was not wise.

    ¡®It won¡¯t be toote to ask after the war is over.¡¯

    More in hope than rational thought, Lianne chose to remain silent.

    ***

    ¡°Please don¡¯t undertake such reckless operations again, teacher.¡±

    Edelred, lying in bed next to Isaac, spoke in disbelief. The tent was filled with food, swords, and shields. The story of Isaac leading only a few soldiers to halt the Georg cavalry had be legendary, and these were gifts left by numerous nobles.

    There were also letters wishing for Isaac¡¯s swift recovery from his many injuries.

    ¡°Actually, the wounds have all healed.¡±

    However, it would seem strange if he were to start walking around immediately after sustaining such injuries, so for now, he was pretending to convalesce.

    ¡°There¡¯s no need to worry, Your Highness. My life is the most precious to me. I wouldn¡¯t have done it if I thought my life was in danger.¡±

    ¡°Is that so? I was surprised, thinking you might be ready to sacrifice yourself for the sake of the Aldeon army.¡±

    When Edelred had agreed to deploy his troops upon hearing Isaac¡¯s n, he thought it was merely a feint. He never imagined that Isaac would personally dive in and slit the cavalrymander¡¯s throat.

    ¡°Anyway, I am the most precious person to myself, so you need not worry. Besides, there are things I havee to realize today that I must discuss with Your Highness.¡±

    Isaac ryed to Edelred the same information he had shared with Lianne.

    There is a possibility that the Immortal Order is involved within the Georg cavalry, likely with a high-ranking official resurrecting dead knights¡­

    ¡°And there¡¯s a high probability that it¡¯s not just one or two people. Likely, there is one person in a high position, and factions under him are derived in session. Probably those rted to the Georg cavalry.¡±

    Edelred¡¯s expression hardened upon hearing that the Immortal Order might be involved.

    ¡°The Immortal Order, you say? Those creatures that walk around as nothing but skeletons? Are they really within the Georg army? I haven¡¯t seen such things.¡±

    ¡°Huh? Ah, Your Highness must have never seen the Immortal Order. This ce is one of the furthest from the ck Empire¡­ Not all members of the Immortal Order turn into skeletons right away. They can look quite alive until they undergo dposition.¡±

    Of course, such undead, still with flesh, are considered a ¡®lowly and smelly¡¯ ss within the Immortal Order. Isaac suspected that at least half of the cavalry were undead.

    ¡°The force was almost fully intact.¡±

    The Georg cavalry had been fiercely shing at the front lines, in conditions where it was difficult to replenish supplies and manpower. Under normal circumstances, their numbers should have been much lower. However, the Georg cavalry Isaac fought today appeared almost entirely intact.

    This meant that the Georg cavalry could essentially all be members of the Immortal Order or have signed death insurances.

    However, the concept of the Immortal Order still seemed foreign to Edelred.

    ¡°Why would the Immortal Order interfere in our affairs? West participated in the Dawn Army over a hundred years ago and have had no involvement in such matters since¡­¡±

    ¡°Your Highness, you are unaware, but the Immortal Order has consistently shown interest in Elil. I know of a lich who dragged a knight of the Elil order around as a Duhan. They might havee to offer ¡®immigration¡¯ due to a constant shortage of people, or perhaps their aim is to deplete forces to ensure that there are no future participations in the Dawn Army.¡±

    Unlike Edelred¡¯s thoughts, the Immortal Order had ample reasons to meddle. Strong humans lead to strong undead.

    Recruitment of talents was always a significant concern for the Immortal Order.

    Edelred, lost for words, then protested.

    ¡°Why are you telling me this only now? If they are instigating our wars, perhaps we could have avoided this conflict!¡±

    ¡°I only became certain of it today. But what would have happened if I had used the Georg army of harboring spies from the Immortal Order without any evidence before?¡±

    ¡°Well¡­¡±

    Edelred pondered the future consequences and then fell silent. The Kingdom of Elil had epted Isaac, the bearer of the Codex of Light, because he was from the White Empire, sharing the same roots and a simr culture.

    However, the Immortal Order was different. By the standards of Elil, they were an evil that must be eradicated, deserving of disdain. In the early days of the Dawn Army, the Kingdom of Elil had eagerly sent its most knights to exterminate them.

    Immortal Order spies in Georg? Then this war was heading towards a situation where one side must bepletely annihted, with the Georg side rightfully being the one to suffer.

    It¡¯s unrealistic to expect the Georg army to respond with, ¡°Ah, I see. Then we will surrender half of our knights.¡± They would likely react angrily, dismissing it as a baseless nder.

    Naturally, the Georg family would fight desperately to survive.

    ¡°That¡¯s why we absolutely needed proof.¡±

    ¡°¡­But sooner orter, wouldn¡¯t the oue be the same? If this bes known, there will be calls for the extermination of the Georg family. Unless it is known who belongs to the Immortal Order¡­¡±

    ¡°No. Our task hasn¡¯t changed. Do you remember what our objective was?¡±

    ¡°Huh? Capturing the fortress of Elion¡­ Oh, could it be!¡±

    Isaac nodded.

    ¡°Returning the division ritual and receiving an oracle at the Holy Land of Elion will solve everything. Elil will send down his messenger to sift through the impure.¡±

    ***

    The next day, the Georg army did not move from the fortress.

    As usual, there were taunts and challenges to duels, but perhaps due to the severe losses from the day before, or maybe some new orders had been received, the Georg army did not respond and firmly locked their gates. Although a siege seemed inevitable, the Aldeon army was undisturbed.

    Delfric muttered as he observed the immobile Georg army.

    ¡°Just as the Holy Grail Knight said, they don¡¯t move an inch.¡±

    ¡°Given the severe losses they suffered yesterday and theck of cavalry to disrupt our rear, it¡¯s understandable.¡±

    Then how would the Aldeon army conduct a siege against them?

    Isaac¡¯s conclusion was simple.

    Just don¡¯t.

    That afternoon, the Georg army realized that the Aldeon army had lifted the siege and withdrawnpletely.

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read more than 25 advance chapters or support me, you can do it at /Akaza156

 Chapter 188:

    Chapter 188:

    ¡°Has the Aldeon armypletely withdrawn?¡±

    ¡°Yes! Absolutely! It¡¯s certain that the Aldeon swine fled with their tails between their legs, intimidated by General Georg¡¯s bravery!¡±

    The atmosphere within the fortress was festive. The inhabitants were ted, believing that the Aldeon forces had finally surrendered and retreated.

    However, while listening to the report with Lianne, Villon couldn¡¯t believe it and rubbed his face in doubt. Although there had been reports of the Aldeon army packing up and withdrawing from the fortress walls at dawn, Villon considered it a preposterous ruse to draw them out of the fortress. He ignored it but sent scouts to keep watch.

    Lianne shared Villon¡¯s skepticism, unable to hide her dismay.

    Villon pondered for a moment before speaking out in frustration.

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t make sense that they would retreat just like this.¡±

    ¡°If they judged that there was no chance of winning¡­¡±

    ¡°It would be a fatal blow to the Aldeon royal family if rumors spread that they had failed to return the relics and fled before the traitors. It¡¯s impossible for that to happen.¡±Lianne, sharing the same thoughts, shrugged her shoulders in despair. Yet, a rxed smile formed on her lips.

    ¡°That¡¯s true. But the problem is for the Aldeon fools, not us. We have won and protected the Holy Land from danger. Isn¡¯t that enough?¡±

    Villon¡¯s face wavered at Lianne¡¯s words. Her words implied that the war was over, victorious through General Georg¡¯s campaign. The withdrawal of the Aldeon army was the unmistakable proof.

    Suddenly, an epiphany struck Villon like lightning.

    ¡°Damn it, that¡¯s it.¡±

    As Villon¡¯splexion turned pale, Lianne asked him, puzzled,

    ¡°Why are you upset, uncle?¡±

    ¡°The Aldeon army isn¡¯t trying to end the war! They¡¯re just dying it! The Holy Grail Knight realized that there¡¯s no need to fight right now¡­¡±

    Villon stopped speaking and closed his mouth. Lianne looked at him with sharp eyes.

    ¡°What are you saying, uncle? Why is there no need to fight right now?¡±

    Villon met Lianne¡¯s gaze with a somber look. His eyes seemed like they wanted to scream but barely held back. Lianne tried to read the deep-hidden words within him.

    ¡®Have you really turned Elil¡¯s glorious warriors into undead?¡¯

    Recalling Isaac¡¯s words and Villon¡¯s reaction, Lianne soon understood why the Aldeon army had withdrawn.

    The Aldeon army had no need to fight. Soon, Georg¡¯s forces would be decimating each other.

    Lianne hadn¡¯t found any evidence yet, but Isaac was convinced that there were undead in the Aldeon army still ¡®with flesh on them.¡¯ Furthermore, the Immortal Order considered flesh as an abomination and let it rot and decay.

    In time, the undead within Villon¡¯s faction would start to stink. Especially once the war ended and the smell of rotting corpses vanished and armor was removed, it would be impossible to hide.

    Then, Villon would have no choice but to flee or hide with his faction.

    Otherwise, he would be torn apart by other knights of Georg¡¯s army.

    The Aldeon army could resume fighting at that time.

    ¡°Uncle.¡±

    Lianne decided to make things clear to Villon before that happened.

    ¡°You once participated in a campaign with the Dawn Army, uncle. I can hardly imagine such a massive war. How was it?¡±

    Villon looked at Lianne with a weary gaze. She could tell that he knew what she was implying.

    ¡°It was hell. There was no glory or honor there.¡±

    ¡°Uncle¡­¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, mydy. I now understand what trick the Aldeon pigs are ying. But there is no reason for us to fall for their tricks.¡±

    Villon picked up his helmet and began to gather his equipment. Lianne¡¯s face contorted.

    ¡°What are you doing?¡±

    ¡°Are you going to let an enemy who has invaded Georg¡¯s territory escape just like that? The moment of their escape is the most vulnerable to attack. We must chase them down and expand our victory, making sure they never think of invading again.¡±

    ¡°Stop. I have given no such orders.¡±

    No matter how much she respected the family elder, she couldn¡¯t allow him to initiate military actions on his own.

    But Villon had already crossed the line. He looked at Lianne sadly through his helmet.

    ¡°Lianne.¡±

    Lianne flinched at the unexpectedly gentle voice. At this moment, Villon was not her subordinate but the kin of her deceased father.

    ¡°Please let me find honor on the battlefield.¡±

    If Villon stayed, he could end up being revealed as undead and either be massacred by other knights or executed. Nothing was certain yet, but Villon¡¯s desperation was clear.

    Lianne ultimately could not stop her uncle.

    ¡°Prepare the cavalry! We will pursue the fleeing Aldeon army!¡±

    Cheers erupted at Villon¡¯smand. Almost all of the cavalry, which could be considered Villon¡¯s faction, began preparations to deploy, and a significant number of knights from the Elion Order also joined the campaign. There was no reason to miss an opportunity for an easy victory.

    Just then, someone approached Villon with a spear in hand. It was Beowulf Georg, Villon¡¯s son. Lianne remembered that Beowulf had sustained a perilous fatal wound, but now he was walking aroundpletely fine.

    However, Lianne remained silent again.

    The deployment happened swiftly due to the urgency.

    The sound of hundreds of horses¡¯ hooves echoed.

    Lianne watched as the dishonored knights cheered,ughed, and talked, setting out to find honor that was nowhere to be found.

    ***

    ¡°The trail of the Aldeon army leads southwest towards the Heron ins!¡±

    Villon nodded at the scout¡¯s report.

    ¡°Good. Keep up the reconnaissance and chase down the enemy. They must be anticipating our pursuit, so we cannot afford to fall into their traps foolishly.¡±

    Villon wanted to swiftly attack the Aldeon army from behind, but he did not indulge in the foolishness of neglecting reconnaissance. If the Holy Grail Knight had persuaded the Aldeon army to retreat, they would certainly expect his pursuit. They must already know that Villon¡¯s time in the Elion fortress was limited.

    ¡°Villon, I came because you asked, but I¡¯m not sure this is wise.¡±

    Calbert Georg, an elder of the Georg family, said. Villon had brought out most of the elders of the Georg family for this chase, showing who was effectively leading the Georg family.

    ¡°What worries you, elder?¡±

    ¡°I know you¡¯re almost on par with a Swordmaster, but there¡¯s that Holy Grail Knight in the Aldeon army. Our soldiers are worth a hundred each, but I¡¯m worried that Holy Grail Knight might turn the tide of the battle.¡±

    The mention of the Holy Grail Knight made Villon¡¯s face twitch. He barely restrained his anger and maintained aposed appearance.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. A Swordmaster isn¡¯t invincible. If we just manage to capture King Edelred, they¡¯ll be disoriented and crumble.¡±

    ¡°Umm¡­ Alright. We¡¯ll trust you then.¡±

    Calbert looked skeptical but quietly stepped back. Villon knew the old man hade simply not to miss an opportunity for easy glory. At his age, it wasn¡¯t easy to earn distinction.

    But his caution was not unfounded. The presence of the Holy Grail Knight was indeed a lethal threat to Villon.

    ¡®Holy Grail Knight¡­!¡¯

    Villon felt like shouting. There was no reason for the war to have elerated this rapidly. The lesson he had learned from his participation in the Dawn Army was that ¡®the oue of a war is decided before it even begins.¡¯

    Therefore, his n was to take time to persuade the knights of the Georg family, to deepen factions among the nobility, and to exacerbate the conflicts within the Aldeon royal family. Ultimately, he intended topletely turn Lianne to his side as well.

    Then, when his preparations wereplete, he nned to dry up the seed of the Aldeon royal family and reim his dead brother¡¯s honor.

    However, everything copsed the moment the Holy Grail Knight brought forth the rite of division. He instantly shattered the problems of the Elil kingdom,id the groundwork for fractures, and even formed an alliance with Saltain.

    He even created a legitimate reason to invade the Holy Land.

    ¡®He has ruined everything.¡¯

    Villon, attempting to prevent any unrest within the Georg army, had even resorted to killing an envoy, a dishonorable and unjust act, yet he believed it necessary to prevent peace.

    And as he had hoped, the war had started.

    ¡°As a follower of Elil, this war might be thest,¡± Villon thought to himself.

    He looked over at his son running beside him. Inside the helmet, his son¡¯s eyes were already decaying.

    Once the flesh rotted and the bones were exposed, he could no longer live in the Elil Kingdom. Instead, he would have to live in the deserts of the ck Empire, far from the glorious battlefields of Elil.

    When that time came, Villon had no intention of only exiling his son and his men to the distant desert.

    He too would face the cold desert night winds.

    ¡°The Aldeon army is in sight!¡±

    And so, the final confrontation had arrived.

    ***

    Due to the hasty pursuit, the Georg army had no chance for a surprise attack. With all the noise and the numerous scouts they had deployed, it was natural they were spotted early. The Aldeon army, anticipating the Georg cavalry, had already formed their battle lines.

    Villon gritted his teeth upon seeing the formation of the Aldeon army. It was perfect for a set-piece battle, arge-scale force meeting on a wide in for a fair fight. While this might excite any warrior of Elil, to Villon, it seemed like a trap he knew but could not avoid walking into.

    ¡°The enemy¡¯s preparations are impable. It seems they¡¯ve deliberately drawn us here.¡±

    Calbert muttered beside him. The Heron ins provided an ideal environment for arge-scale battle. Since a siege at Elion fortress was not possible, luring them out had clearly been the intention. To engage in battle here was a foolish choice.

    Calbert nced at Villon as he spoke, ¡°We don¡¯t need to y their game. Let¡¯s retreat for now and if they seem to break ranks then¡­¡±

    ¡°Prepare all troops for battle!¡±

    Villon shouted, ignoring Calbert¡¯s advice. Calbert was startled, but he had no authority beyond giving advice. All the soldiers here obeyed only Villon.

    ¡°The entire Aldeon army will die here today! Until thest fragment of their bones is buried deep beneath the ground!¡±

    The Georg army roared and formed their charge. Villon scanned the Aldeon forces, looking for the Holy Grail Knight. The fact that Isaac had opted for a pitched battle instead of a siege was an affront in itself, but that would not be all. Surely, he had more strategies up his sleeve.

    ¡°Where are you, Isaac¡­?¡±

    Just then, someone appeared in the center of the Aldeon army, nked by knights. It was the Holy Grail Knight, Isaac, he had been so desperately seeking. Villon was shocked to see him stepping forward willingly.

    ¡®Is he truly intending for a direct confrontation?¡¯

    As the Aldeon knights, led by Isaac, slowly advanced, Villon no longer had any doubts.

    His heart, still that of a warrior of Elil, began to beat fiercely.

    ¡°Prepare all troops to charge!¡±

    ¡°But, General Villon! The enemy is attacking!¡±

    A scout suddenly ran up to him, reporting. Villon looked at him puzzled¡ªof course, the enemy was attacking. Wasn¡¯t it obvious with Isaac leading the knights charging right before their eyes? No one could be blind to that.

    ¡°What are you saying, messenger! The battle has already begun!¡±

    ¡°No, no! It¡¯s not the Aldeon army!¡±

    Not the Aldeon army? It was then Villon heard themotion and intermittent screams from behind them, from the forest they had passed through. Other soldiers also heard the noise from the rear and began to break formation in confusion.

    Something was ambushing them.

    But Villon, having spread scouts in all directions, had confirmed there were no enemies. So, what could be attacking them now? It could only be wild beasts¡­

    As Villon was realizing this, another possibility dawned on him, and right then, a scout¡¯s scream-like shout confirmed his fears.

    ¡°The Witch Hectali sisters are attacking us!¡±

    As the scout¡¯s scream rang out, Isaac and the Aldeon knights began their charge.

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read more than 25 advance chapters or support me, you can do it at /Akaza156

 Chapter 190:

    Chapter 190:

    Ting, ting, ting!

    Each time Lianne stepped on the surface of the water, a sound resonated as if she were tapping a teacup with a teaspoon. With just three strides, she closed the distance and swiftly struck down at Isaac. It was an honest and straightforward movement, a signal marking the beginning of the duel and a warning to any interlopers.

    Crack. Instead of freezing Isaac in ce, the cold created a circr ice sheet on theke beneath his feet. As he stepped back, pushing Lianne away, the thin ice shattered.

    ¡°Step back.¡±

    Isaac ordered Edelred and the knights to retreat. While sending Edelred to the Holy Land was a priority, prating the defenses of this most formidable guard, who stood alone on that solitary bridge, seemed daunting.

    ¡®Is this our first real fight?¡¯

    The first time, they both held back, feeling there was no need to exert full strength, and the second time, the situation was too tangled with numerous soldiers for either to fullymit. But this time was different. Neither could retreat unless one was killed or severely wounded.

    Strands of The Color Beyond seeped beneath the surface. Theke¡¯s hue subtly shifted¡ªa change not lost on Lianne. However, she could not call it cowardly, as she too was borrowing the power of the Holy Sword.

    Without a clear initiator, both lunged simultaneously.Unlike the initial strike, Lianne smoothly deflected Isaac¡¯s powerful blow. The chilling frost of Lumiarde threatened his throat.

    Lumiarde¡¯s frost was more menacing for the atmosphere it froze around the de than for the visible de itself. Yet her de, instead of slicing through the neck, seemed caught by the very strike she had deflected and was dragged to embed itself into the ground.

    ¡®What?¡¯

    Lianne¡¯s moment of perplexity was brief, as she recalled feeling as if Isaac¡¯s sword moves had been sticky and entangling before.

    That was Isaac¡¯s sword energy. It was like being attacked by a multitude of beasts, an aggressiveness hardly befitting a Pdin of the Codex of Light, yet Lianne considered that perhaps such ferocity was necessary even to rend angels.

    As Isaac retracted his sword, Lianne felt the pulling sensation again. However, she kicked at Isaac¡¯s abdomen, pushing him back. Being dragged into such a deadly dance was disadvantageous for her. Yet, Isaac did not easily let her go, clinging persistently and pressing her hard.

    Crack, crack, crack! The sword energy rising from the Luadin Key ferociously gnawed at Lumiarde. While it wasn¡¯t enough to damage the Holy Sword, Lianne felt as if being ¡®bitten¡¯ by that sword would cause flesh to tear away.

    ¡°You wield a bestial sword energy, Holy Grail Knight!¡±

    But instead of fear or disgust, Lianne felt the pure joy ofbat.

    She had trained for a long time. She had encountered various sword techniques of diverse faiths. But she had never faced a technique like Isaac¡¯s before.

    ¡°I¡¯ll teach you not to bite off more than you can chew!¡±

    In the moment Lianne adopted a new stance, a sharper coldness surged from Lumiarde¡¯s de. Even the Luadin Key, protected by heat, began to frost over, and Isaac felt a bone-chilling pain as if his lungs were freezing, making it impossible for him to get close again.

    Lianne had now fully unleashed her sword energy. Simultaneously, the peak of the Elion Knight Order¡¯s sword techniques, honed by Lianne, began to unfold.

    A single, honest thrust. However, Isaac saw the point of her sword split into six, and those six into another six, soon multiplying into countless des forming a fractal, blossoming into a gigantic snowke.

    It was beautiful but deadly.

    Isaac¡¯s eyes momentarily turned purple. Unintentionally, he had activated the Eye of Chaos.

    In the dizzying disy of swordy, Isaac realized that among the branches of the snowke, there was only one lethal de. A faint understanding of Lianne¡¯s intent allowed him to discern this.

    Whoosh. ng! With all his might, Isaac swung his sword, breaking through Lianne¡¯s technique. As the snowke shattered, Lianne¡¯s eyes showed surprise. While he felt a slight bruise to his pride as he had relied on the power of miracles to break through, fighting with mere sword skills while possessing miracles was something only the devout of Elil would consider, a perverse act.

    ¡°Impressive! What about this then?¡±

    Despite one of her secret techniques being broken, Lianne was not disheartened and immediately continued her move. Her body shot upwards and she began running through the air, using the humidity and rain in the atmosphere to instantly create stepping stones.

    Her movements were light and brisk, but the intent behind her de was still deadly.

    Ordinary sword techniques assume that both the opponent and oneself are fighting on equal footing on the ground, not attacking from above or falling from the sky.

    Isaac gritted his teeth against Lianne¡¯s technique, which unfolded in even moreplex variations than expected.

    He knew the sword techniques of the Elion Knight Order were ornate and intricate. However, the technique Lianne disyed was on another level. To describe it as merely a fancy disy of swordsmanship seemed inadequate. Isaac felt as if he was seeing snow fall for the first time in his life.

    The drizzling spring rain had, against the season, turned into a blizzard.

    As each snowke harbored a de and the wind carried a murderous intent, Lianne was fueled by a simplepetitive spirit. The intent to cut down her opponent and ensure her own survival emerged not from hate or anger but from a pure desire to fight and prevail.

    ¡°Elil, oversee this duel! If your will is with me, show me the right path!¡± Lianne called out to Isaac, urging him to be Elil¡¯s agent.

    A duel was sacred. The victor of the duel determined the righteous path.

    If you are right and I am wrong, then defeat me in this duel and demonstrate Elil¡¯s justice!

    Lianne shouted this with a murderous intensity filling her entire being.

    ¡°Show me that you possess honor!¡±

    Thud. Isaac stomped his foot down and swept his sword upward. The resulting wave pushed back theke¡¯s waters, revealing the outline of a white stone bridge. As Lianne rained down attacks from above, she was startled by the sight.

    Edelred and the other knights, positioned horizontally, couldn¡¯t see what was unfolding. However, Lianne, from her vantage point, spotted a massive creature lurking beneath theke.

    As Isaac drew his sword up, numerous tentacles burst forth from theke, striking at her fiercely.

    ***

    Boom! In an explosive surge, a waterspout obscured the scene, preventing the onlookers from seeing what exactly happened. Yet, through the mist, the silhouette of the tentacles piercing Lianne¡¯s body could be seen.

    However, as the spray settled, everyone sighed in relief at the sight of Liannending on her feet, dusting herself off, even the Knights of Aldeon.

    They were puzzled by their own sighs but soon understood.

    This battle was worthy of respect, a fight beyond theirprehension between transcendent beings. At the same time, Lianne was the pride of Elil. They felt a conflicting emotion; they needed to surpass her yet hoped she wouldn¡¯t be defeated.

    ¡°Huff, huff¡­¡±

    Meanwhile, Lianne was feeling chills she had rarely experienced in her lifetime. Water, whether sweat or rain, trickled down her forehead.

    ¡®What was that? A monster? No, if it had been a real monster, I would be dead. Was it just the intensity felt from the sword energy?¡¯

    That was likely. It¡¯s well-known that the stronger the sword energy, the clearer its visible manifestations be. Lianne had enhanced this effect with the power of the Holy Sword Lumiarde.

    ¡®But the Holy Grail Knight has no such sword. Is he really manifesting this level of power with just his sword energy?¡¯

    Lianne shivered.

    The myriad of tentacles formed by the sword energy that burst from theke were attacks that could not be easily survived if struck directly. Therefore, instead of confronting the attack head-on, Lianne diffused her form within the snowke to scatter the attack.

    This was a tactic exploiting Isaac¡¯s sword energy¡¯s deadly persistence on a single target. It was a move she had created but never sessfully executed outside of practice, yet she had dramatically seeded at the critical moment.

    Hush¡­ Within the pouringke waters, Isaac stood quietly, observing her. The way he casually held his sword made Lianne feel chills again.

    It was as if he was saying he could have killed her but chose not to.

    ¡®¡­Bluff.¡¯

    Lianne instantly saw through his posture as a bluff but couldn¡¯tugh. Honestly, she doubted she could withstand another attack like the one before.

    Just as Lianne thought, Isaac was indeed bluffing.

    He too felt uneasy about this fight. The environment was overwhelmingly in Lianne¡¯s favor, and with countless witnesses around, using the tentacles was not an option. Moreover, it was doubtful whether it was even possible to win without killing Lianne.

    ¡®It¡¯s a joke that he thinks he¡¯s sparing me when his sword skills seem stronger than mine¡­¡¯

    Isaac had already been covertly exploiting miracles to arge extent, intermittently activating the ¡®Eye of Chaos¡¯ and trying to use the ¡®Color Beyond¡¯ to bind or opportunistically deploy tentacles. Yet, none of these strategies were proving effective.

    ¡®I could kill with the tentacles openly, but¡­¡¯

    Then he would also have to kill Lianne and all the spectators. That would be utterly wrong.

    Normally, Isaac would adapt his opponent¡¯s sword technique to disconcert them, but Lianne¡¯s technique, based on Lumiarde, was uniquely her own.

    Even if he learned the same techniques, replicating Lianne¡¯s power and effect would be challenging.

    ¡®Should we just call it a draw?¡¯ He felt like saying, but such a ludicrous suggestion would only enrage Lianne further.

    ¡°Lianne!¡±

    Just then, Edelred shouted from the opposite side of the bridge.

    ¡°Enough! Stop fighting! Why must both of you, who seek justice, turn your swords against each other?¡±

    ¡°It is a sacred duel! Outsiders, stay out!¡±

    Lianne sharply rebuked him. Yet, Edelred persisted.

    ¡°The Holy Grail Knight has vowed to return the relic to Elil and bring back an oracle directly! If so, why not seek the answer from Him? Why must blood be shed in the Holy Land?¡±

    Lianne¡¯s sword hand wavered.

    Edelred¡¯s words were true. If a real answer from Elil was needed, why not simply ask Him directly? Both the Holy Grail Knight and Edelred were on their way to seek that very answer.

    Unintentionally, Lianne found herself responding.

    ¡°It is precisely because of that blood.¡±

    Her voice trembled. As soon as she uttered those words, she realized why she stood on this bridge.

    It was to be judged by Elil.

    ¡°My n has already spilled far too much blood due to our mistakes! To pay for that blood, my own must join theirs! I have lost the right to be a guardian of the Holy Land!¡±

    Lianne was convinced that she would lose this duel. If there was justice with Elil, He would not overlook her, a sinner. She believed that only byying her corpse in thiske could she regain some semnce of the honor she had forsaken.

    ¡°Give me a chance to reim my honor, Your Highness.¡±

    ¡°I wish you would not die!¡±

    Edelred, ignoring Lianne¡¯s response, continued to shout. Lianne turned to him, wondering what he was talking about.

    ¡°I have realized my feelings through thatst exchange! I do not wish to see you hurt or injured in this ce! Even if you are a Holy Grail Knight, I will not stand by if you are harmed!¡±

    ¡°What are you saying¡­?¡±

    The statement dumbfounded everyone, from the Aldeon troops to Georg¡¯s men. Particrly, Lianne¡¯s eyes shook wildly, bewildered.

    While Edelred did not explicitly state his meaning, it was clear what he was implying.

    ¡°I care for you¡­¡±

    Isaac was the only one not surprised by the deration, having previously heard hints of this from Edelred.

    In a sh, Isaac lunged toward Lianne, who was partially in a daze. Caught off guard, she missed her chance to counter the sudden assault.

    Swoosh, crack!

    Lumiarde flew out of her hand as her wrist twisted at an odd angle. Despite the pain of possibly a broken wrist, Isaac saw Lianne grit her teeth and endure. If she switched the sword to her other hand, another round of fighting would ensue.

    ¡®It¡¯s unavoidable.¡¯

    Isaac directed his de toward her unguarded abdomen.

    A chilling sound of flesh being sliced echoed.

    Lianne, seeing the de embedded in her abdomen, looked at Isaac in disbelief. After a moment of silence, she barely managed to speak.

    ¡°Missed the organs, bones, and any major blood vessels. It¡¯s just a minor wound. I haven¡¯t lost yet¡­¡±

    Lianne couldn¡¯t finish her sentence as her eyes rolled back.

    Isaac had applied a wound-sealing bandage from Kaldbruch to her abdomen. As she said, it was not a mortal wound, but without receiving a healing miracle, it would be difficult for her to move for some time.

    However, a Swordmaster wouldn¡¯t die from such an injury.

    Isaac, with a detached expression, gave a wry smile toward Edelred, who was staring nkly at him.

    ¡®An attack is the best confession, after all.¡¯

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read more than 25 advance chapters or support me, you can do it at /Akaza156

 Chapter 189

    Chapter 189

    Chapter 189: Corruption, Division, Dishonesty (2)

    A knight of Georg¡¯s forces was startled by a wolf that suddenly appeared from the bushes.

    Normally, wolves dislike the smell of metal and avoid it, especially when many people are moving about. Surprised though he was, the knight realized that the movement of so many people had actually caused him to miss his chance to flee, so he drew his sword. With a crucial battle ahead, he couldn¡¯t afford to waste time on a mere wolf.

    With a loud growl, the wolf charged. Just as the knight calmly aimed to strike it down, a sudden owl swooped down from a tree and struck his head.

    An owl in broad daylight? As the knight was baffled, the owl¡¯s talons left a deep gash in his eye. Soon after, the wolf bit and pulled at his leg. The horse too sensed the knight¡¯s dismay. The knight hadn¡¯t even managed to shield his eyes before he was thrown to the ground.

    A breath-stopping shock ensued.

    The knight, rather than shouting, screamed wildly as he swung his sword haphazardly. Then, out of nowhere, a wild boar charged and hit him in the chest. With mysterious brute strength, the knight rolled several times before struggling to his feet.

    A creature such as this could not kill a knight of Georg. He could not exin this bizarre event, but¡­ he attempted to chant an Elil prayer as he swung his sword. However, what came out of his mouth instead was a sopping wet rat.

    ¡°Choking, gasping, coughing.¡±

    The knight felt strange and ghastly things growing and bubbling inside his body. The fetid smell of beasts gnawing at his guts and suffocating his breath climbed up his nostrils.

    At that moment, the wolf bit into his nape.

    There was no scream.

    Such incidents were urring throughout the rear of Georg¡¯s army.

    The mischief of the Witch Hectali was well known throughout the kingdom of Elil, so naturally, Georg¡¯s forces were aware of it too. Yet, it was unclear why such an event had happened now. However, they soon recalled one reason.

    ¡°The Holy Grail Knight is not here, but over there!¡± shouted a knight of Georg as he tore leeches sprouting from his body and threw off his armor.

    There was only one usible reason. The witches had suffered severe damage from the Holy Grail Knight and vowed revenge. This incident was well-known to Georg¡¯s forces as well.

    And finally, the witches hade for their revenge!

    Precisely timed with their battle!

    Indeed, to the witches, all knights of Elil looked the same, whether they were Isaac or his enemies. It was believed without doubt that the witches attacked them without thought.

    ¡°The witches are too foolish to even distinguish between the forces of Aldeon and Georg,¡± it was thought.

    This seemed more realistic than the assumption that the witches had be vassals of the Holy Grail Knight and were attacking Georg¡¯s forces on his orders.

    ¡°Forward! We must move forward! Our enemy isn¡¯t some wild beast, it¡¯s Aldeon¡¯s forces! Fight the enemies with spears and swords!¡±

    Villon shouted incessantly.

    He struggled to push the knights in the rear forward when a more desperate scene unfolded before his eyes. From the rear, left, and right nks of Aldeon¡¯s forces, countless gs and knights and soldiers were appearing.

    It seemed unlikely to be a coincidence; the timing had clearly been orchestrated.

    ¡°Villon! We must retreat! We¡¯ll be annihted if we stay!¡±

    Calbert shouted upon seeing the numerous gs.

    Villon gritted his teeth.

    Although the charge of Aldeon¡¯s forces was imminent, the soldiers could not ignore the screams behind them. Unlike other soldiers, Villon knew that the Holy Grail Knight was behind Hectali¡¯s attack. He had either persuaded or subdued Hectali somehow.

    But Villon had no intention of retreating.

    ¡°This is an opportunity to kill more of them! All forces, charge!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re mad! Elil would never want such a foolish battle¡­¡±

    In an instant, Villon swung his spear and impaled Calbert through the neck. Calbert¡¯s eyes widened. Villon swung his spear again, knocking him off his horse and spraying blood.

    ¡°Noisy old man! Anyment that breaks morale is met with summary execution!¡±

    As Villon¡¯s madness became apparent, some knights exchanged looks and began to retreat. These were knights of the Elion Order, who, while agreeing with Villon, had orders from Lianne to retreat immediately if it seemed to be a trap.

    Seeing the Elion Order retreat, Villon realized the situation had be even more desperate. ming them for cowardice was futile.

    Villon thought it unnecessary to worry about the knights¡¯ departure from the front line. After all, his forces were of the Immortal Order, which, even if killed, would not die. They could take damage, retreat briefly, and then be resurrected. The enemies might sense something odd, but by then, he would have taken the heads of Edelred and Isaac. Above all, Villon still had a trump card left.

    As soon as Villon gave the order, the soldiers, instead of dwelling onplex thoughts, chose to obey. After all, facing a curse from a witch was less honorable and glorious than fighting fellow humans like Aldeon¡¯s forces.

    With numerous shouts, Aldeon¡¯s forces shed with Georg¡¯s.

    ***

    The battle situation itself flowed in favor of Aldeon¡¯s forces.

    The terrain was chosen by Aldeon, and it was the time they wanted to fight. Moreover, the presence of Hectali initially greatly disturbed Georg¡¯s forces, preventing them from deploying their full strength.

    But Villon didn¡¯t care. The terror of the Immortal Order was that no matter how much damage they took, they could always be resurrected. To be resurrected, one had to apostatize, but that didn¡¯t mean they forgot their honor.

    ¡®I have already seen the battlefield of the dead in the Dawn Army!¡¯

    Villon silently roared as he cut down a knight of Aldeon.

    No one is born a follower of the Immortal Order. No one chooses it as their first faith. All are apostates from other faiths, those who have turned their backs on their homnds.

    They chose earthly attachments over heavenly glory.

    Naturally, among those he fought, there were plenty of Elil¡¯s followers to be stepped on.

    ¡®The glory of Elil? Why beg for it in death when it can be obtained in life!¡¯

    Villon had not yet apostatized.

    The miracle he had prayed for, ¡°death insurance,¡± was triggered upon death. If not renounced before dying, his soul would automatically be mortgaged to the Immortal Emperor Beshek. However, since he had no intention of renouncing the death insurance, he was effectively already an apostate in spirit.

    The only thing he desired, even to the point of forsaking everything he had achieved in life, was one thing.

    To restore his crushed brother¡¯s honor.

    He believed this could only be achieved by drying up the seed of the Aldeon royal family.

    ¡°Dry up the seed of the Aldeon royal family!¡±

    Villon roared fiercely, swinging his spear. With each swing, soldiers¡¯ necks broke, and knights fell from their horses. He was not a Swordmaster, but his strength and skill wereparable.

    Villon knew he could never be a Swordmaster.

    ¡°Come out, Holy Grail Knight!¡±

    Villon was certain that no one but himself could confront Isaac at this moment. Isaac would stab at his heart, and then he, Villon, would immediately be an undead and tear Isaac apart. There were battles only the undead could fight, and the experienced Villon knew well what form such battles took.

    However, Isaac did not respond.

    Breathing heavily, Villon sensed something was wrong. The Holy Grail Knight, equal to or even more active than himself, had not been seen since the early stages of the battle.

    ¡®Wait, where is Edelred?¡¯

    If the Holy Grail Knight was absent, then he should at least cut down Edelred. But Edelred was nowhere to be seen either.

    Suddenly, Villon felt a pang in his chest.

    ¡®I¡¯ve been deceived.¡¯

    Isaac¡¯s interest had never been in Villon.

    His goal had always been the Holy Land of Elion, from beginning to end.

    He had no interest in Villon, who even in turning undead sought to regain his honor.

    ¡°Holy Grail Knight!¡±

    Surrounded by a wall of iron formed by countless soldiers and knights, Villon let out a scream-like shout.

    ***

    ¡°General Mors seems to be doing well.¡±

    Isaac muttered, overhearing someone¡¯s roar from beyond the hill. Edelred repeatedly looked back with an uneasy expression.

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure if it¡¯s right for us to move alone, leaving our soldiers behind.¡±

    ¡°As long as we¡¯re not running away alone but instead infiltrating a dangerous area, what¡¯s the problem? The knights all understood.¡±

    Isaac, Edelred, and a few knights were taking advantage of the chaos in the battle to bypass Georg¡¯s forces and head towards the Holy Land of Elion. The rifts and turmoil created by Hectali had obscured the vision of Georg¡¯s forces, making this maneuver possible.

    Had there been a high likelihood of Aldeon¡¯s forces facing defeat, they would have chosen to fight. However, due to various schemesid out by Isaac, Georg¡¯s forces were unterally being defeated.

    Villon¡¯s belief that the oue of the war is decided before it starts was correct.

    ¡®The moment he considered using the power of the Immortal Order, he was already defeated.¡¯

    While the power of immortality was formidable, that was all it was.

    The undead, though they might enjoy the power of their order, base it on losing all the connections and reputation they had built up until then.

    Villon must have been prepared to lose even that to win this war.

    However, once Isaac realized his strategy, Villon was doomed to defeat.

    ¡®He won¡¯t understand how I figured it out.¡¯

    Villon had hidden it quite thoroughly.

    The stench of decaying corpses was masked by the battlefield¡¯s foul odors, and rather than merging the main cavalry into the fortress, they were instructed to carry out guerri warfare from the outside. Appearance was concealed with armor, and those who wished to fight even as undead were selectively recruited to their side.

    Indeed, many knights, including Lianne, seemed unaware of what was happening. Although they sensed something was amiss, it was highly likely they hadn¡¯t connected it to the Immortal Order.

    The reason Isaac had realized this was simple.

    He had already broken the Elil route.

    Years from now, the Immortal Order would firmly establish itself within the Kingdom of Elil. They would conscript the dying knights of the Elil Kingdom into the ck Empire, thereby weakening the military power of the Dawn Army. However, their goals did not stop there.

    The true purpose of the Immortal Ordery in the Holy Land of Elion.

    ¡°Fortunately, it¡¯s still early enough to eradicate its roots.¡±

    It was a situation deep with concern, as the Elil Kingdom could potentially be destroyed. Fortunately, Villon did not have the authority to invade the Holy Land. If Lianne had also fallen for his coaxing, the worst could have happened.

    The spring rain, which had paused for a while, started to fall again. Isaac moved forward, breathing in the scent of water emanating from theke.

    ¡°Let¡¯s hurry. Once we reach the Holy Land of Elion, we can end the war more quickly.¡±

    ***

    When they arrived at the fortress of Elion, the gates were wide open, and the drawbridge was lowered. It was natural since the Aldeon forces had withdrawn, and they were only waiting for the return of Georg¡¯s forces.

    At a nce, Isaac could tell that the remaining troops in the Elion fortress were few.

    Yet, he couldn¡¯t becent. The most powerful forces of Georg¡¯s army might still be present in the fortress.

    Isaac boldly approached the front of the fortress.

    Edelred and the other knights looked pale, but Isaac was confident that the remaining forces of Georg¡¯s army would not attack further. The most extreme and belligerent had already left with Villon, leaving only the skeptics and those who obeyed Lianne¡¯smands.

    As Isaac and his party approached, soldiers on the walls of the Elion fortress moved about busily. Isaac allowed them ample time to prepare as they slowly approached. Even as they crossed the drawbridge and reached the gates, no one tried to stop or attack them.

    The Knights of Aldeon also disyed expressions of distrust, and the soldiers of Georg¡¯s army were no different.

    At that moment, a knight approached Isaac.

    ¡°General Lianne Georg is waiting for you.¡±

    Leaving just those words behind, the knight led the way. It was unclear whether he was addressing Edelred or Isaac. Edelred exchanged nces with Isaac and followed the knight.

    The knight led them to a deserted ferry point on the opposite side of the Elion fortress, leading to the Holy Land of Elion.

    The pouring spring rain drummed busily on theke, creating ripples, and a thick mist rose from the water. The thudding of the raindrops sounded like the chatter of onlookers. Amidst the misty surface of theke, Lianne Georg stood as if she had been waiting like an ancient tombstone, fully exposed to the falling rain.

    Edelred muttered in disbelief as he observed her.

    ¡°On the water¡­¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s a bridge underneath the surface. Your Majesty. It seems the rumors about a bridge from the Elion fortress to the Holy Land of Elion are true.¡±

    The primary role of the Elion fortress was more akin to a ¡®gateway¡¯ than guarding the Holy Land of Elion. While it had no strategic advantage, its symbolic significance was paramount. And Lianne was the sessor of a family that had guarded this gateway for generations.

    She carried centuries of history on her shoulders.

    Lianne slowly swept her sword, Lumiarde, across theke¡¯s surface. White frost blossomed like flowers and scattered along the water¡¯s flow.

    Her sword finally targeted Isaac.

    ¡°It seems the tongue of the Codex of Light is stronger than the sword of Elil. Just a few words broke Georg¡¯s army¡¯s sword.¡±

    Isaac shrugged.

    ¡°We didn¡¯t apany the Aldeon army either. Isn¡¯t that fair?¡±

    Continuing calmly, Isaac said, ¡°And to be precise, it wasn¡¯t I who broke the sword, but the swordsman himself. It was you who chose to wield a de that was chipped and poorly maintained. I merely pointed out the fracture.¡±

    ¡°A frustratingly urate statement. Fitting for a follower of the Codex of Light.¡±

    ¡®Not a follower of the Codex of Light, though.¡¯

    Isaac weed such a misunderstanding inwardly. Judging by the reactions of the remaining soldiers and knights in the Elion fortress, it was clear that Lianne had decided to ept and concede defeat. Considering that there had been a traitor within her family who had seized control of the army¡¯s core, it could be said that she had lost all honor as a guardian of the Holy Land.

    The honor built by her ancestors had beenpletely lost by her generation.

    Isaac was unsure how to feel about this irony.

    Lianne, who wielded the honor-named sword Lumiarde, had no honor left, and Edelred, who held the justice-named sword Kaldbruch, had no justice.

    ¡®It¡¯s all due to the folly of the ancestors.¡¯

    Perhaps the old order really was due to copse. And now was the time to write a new history.

    Lianne swept back her rain-drenched hair and let out a long sigh. Her breath formed a long, white trail among the raindrops.

    She gazed nkly at Isaac, then turned her eyes toward Edelred.

    ¡°I have lost all pride, honor, and justification. This war has turned in your favor, Your Majesty Edelred. Perhaps it was doomed from the moment I followed the will of the elders.¡±

    Swish, swish. Yet, Lianne gripped Lumiarde tightly, readying herself to fight.

    ¡°But Your Majesty Edelred, nor the Holy Grail Knight, I don¡¯t think you are right either. The Holy Land is threatened, and heretics are attempting to step in. I no longer know what is right.¡±

    ¡°Lianne¡­¡±

    Edelred seemed about to burst out with something, but Lianne cut him off and dered,

    ¡°I now renounce my family. I renounce my status. I renounce vain desires.¡±

    She clenched her sword firmly and dered,

    ¡°Only Elil will wield me as a sword here, to deliver fair judgment from this spot.¡±

    Crack, crack, crack, crack. The surface of theke where Lianne stood furiously froze over, forming an ice age. Simultaneously, Lianne, now a demon of the snowy wastnd, charged forth with a blizzard.

    The grand finale of the long fight was a duel.

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

 Chapter 191:

    Chapter 191:

    ¡°Isaac!!¡±

    Edelred ran up in horror.

    The knights of Georg¡¯s army, who had been watching the duel, also came to their senses btedly and hurried over. Isaac lifted Lianne to show that she was safe. However, Edelred, with a pale expression, opened his mouth to say something to Isaac.

    ¡°Please be quiet, Your Majesty.¡±

    Isaac warned in a low voice.

    ¡°A duel is a sacred event. Unless you are directly involved in the fight, any cheering or jeering from the ¡®crowd¡¯ is considered an indirect factor by Elil. You were the first to interfere, Your Majesty, and it was Lianne who was distracted by it.¡±

    Isaac quickly retorted, effectively silencing Edelred. Before Edelred could think of a rebuttal, the knights of Georg¡¯s army had already approached.

    One of the knights from Georg¡¯s army, with aplicated expression, looked at Isaac and then spoke.

    ¡°Congrattions on your victory, Holy Grail Knight.¡±Isaac recognized that this knight was second inmand at the Elil Fortress after Lianne and had epted the oue of the duel.

    ¡°Your name?¡±

    ¡°Lavad Georg, I am the centurion of Elil Fortress.¡±

    Isaac, judging by his appearance and age, guessed he might be around Lianne¡¯s younger brother¡¯s age. Knowing he was reliable enough to entrust Lianne to him, Isaac had left her in his care. They too had experience dealing with many injured, and thus, recognized that Lianne¡¯s condition was not critical.

    ¡°Thank you for showing mercy.¡±

    ¡°It was merely Elil¡¯s whim that favored me today.¡±

    Isaac humbly brushed off the praise. Even as the knight of Georg¡¯s army epted the oue of the duel without question, Edelred found himself increasingly at a loss for words. Isaac whispered to Edelred as if to soothe him.

    ¡°Whatever sweet nothings you might have whispered, Lianne wouldn¡¯t have heard you. But you seeded in rming her, so it ended with just minor injuries. In fact, Your Majesty, you saved Lianne.¡±

    Edelred¡¯s expression becameplex once more.

    Even so, this duel would linger long in his heart. But as the angels say, the world is not so soft, especially not for apleted being like Lianne.

    Realizing that even if Lianne woke up, she would say the same thing as Isaac, Edelred finally gave up on arguing.

    It was foolish to contest the already determined oue of the duel.

    ¡°I apologize for intruding so abruptly, Holy Grail Knight.¡±

    ¡°Not at all. But thanks to you, it seems things went ording to n.¡±

    ¡°n?¡±

    Isaac, watching the receding figure of Lianne being carried away, spoke,

    ¡°Blood and violence can breed love. Having received Your Majesty Edelred¡¯s confession in a state of vulnerability and devastation, it will linger long in her memory.¡±

    Originally, Isaac¡¯s n had been to incite conflict and turmoil only to create an incident that would reverse the atmosphere and foster a mood of reconciliation. Though the intervention of the Immortal Order had twisted the path, Edelred¡¯s untimely intervention had enabled a dramatic event.

    It was all thanks to Edelred.

    Edelred¡¯s face reddened at Isaac¡¯s words.

    ¡°I never agreed to such a n¡­.¡±

    ¡°Hush. It doesn¡¯t matter how genuine it was. At any rate, we couldn¡¯t have hoped for a better oue than this. Let us hurry to the Holy Land now.¡±

    Isaac looked around Elil Fortress. He had hoped that the Aldeon army would hold off Villion long enough, but if Villion decided to give up, they couldn¡¯t detain him for long.

    Edelred, realizing that their real destination was now just ahead, issued orders to the other knights.

    ¡°From here on, only the Holy Grail Knight and I will proceed. The rest of you are to stay and guard this ce.¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ***

    The knights left at Elil Fortress treated Lianne with bewildered expressions. All the basic emergency treatments had already been administered by Isaac, so all they could do was pray for her swift recovery.

    Of course, their prayers were indeed effective miracles of healing.

    Even yesterday, they had been blocking the way for Edelred and Isaac, and now they were conflicted about letting them go just like that. But it was Lianne herself who had dueled with the Holy Grail Knight Isaac. Who could refuse to ept the result?

    Right before the duel, Edelred had made a remark that was quite concerning, but that was a matter for the parties involved to resolve.

    Lavad directed the soldiers,

    ¡°Move the general to his room. Prepare water for cleaning the wounds¡­.¡±

    At that moment, the sound of horse hooves thundered from the direction of the main gate, apanied by a thick smell of blood.

    Thud, thud, thud, thud¡­ Heavily, knights covered in blood entered alongside horses that were nearly dead. Lavad recognized the tattered, blood-soaked banner and realized these were knights from Georg¡¯s cavalry. However, they looked more like they had crawled out from the depths of hell rather than returning from a glorious battle.

    Then one knight threw off his dented helmet.

    ¡°Uncle Villion? Have you returned?¡±

    Villion¡¯s bloodshot eyes stared at Lavad.

    Lavad noticed that Villion and almost all of the cavalry were in a strange state. They hade through some horrific carnage, soaked in blood and flesh, with limbs missing and bodies pierced by spears, swords, and arrows. It was a wonder they were alive.

    ¡°Is Lianne dead?¡±

    Villion¡¯s voice grated like scraping iron. Lavad quickly regained hisposure and shook his head vigorously.

    ¡°No, not at all. She dueled with the Holy Grail Knight. Since General Lianne was defeated, she epted the oue and opened the way to Elil, the Holy Land.¡±

    Villion was silent at Lavad¡¯s words, then leaped off his horse and strode toward Lianne. Lavad, for some reason, felt he had to stop Villion. Other knights seemed to have simr thoughts and quickly approached.

    ¡°Uncle, I¡¯m sorry, but General Lianne needs to rest¡­.¡±

    However, Villion stepped forward, grabbed Lavad¡¯s face, and flung him aside. Instantly, the sound of swords being drawn rang out. At the same time, knights from Georg¡¯s cavalry also drew their swords.

    ¡°Stop! Stop this!¡±

    Lavad staggered to his feet, hurrying to prevent internal strife. Yet Villion, unconcerned even if carnage ensued, knelt beside Lianne and looked into her face.

    ¡°Lianne.¡±

    Lianne¡¯s injuries were deep, and she was not in a condition to easily open her eyes. Yet, at the sound of his voice, her eyelids fluttered open.

    A fleeting moment of joy appeared in her eyes.

    ¡°Uncle¡­ you¡¯ve returned.¡±

    ¡°Lianne, let¡¯s make a pact.¡±

    Villion¡¯s abrupt proposal caused Lianne¡¯s eyes to waver. Her gaze moved from Villion to the blood-soaked knights behind him.

    She immediately realized that few among them could genuinely be alive in such a state.

    And she despaired.

    How many knights of Elil had this man corrupted?

    ¡°Uncle, what have you done¡­¡±

    ¡°Now is the time to reim our honor, Lianne! Are you content to remain a guardian of the Holy Land, dishonored by the king who killed your father, defeated by heretics in duels, and whose sanctuaries have been vited!¡±

    Villion rebuked her sternly.

    Lianne closed her mouth. Villion¡¯s words were true. She had failed in every role assigned to her. But she was not ashamed.

    She had done her best, but her opponents were strong. If anything, it was her who had failed to maintain her dignity.

    ¡°My fathermitted suicide, Uncle.¡±

    Lianne spoke to Villion with pity.

    ¡°He chose to discard his honor because hecked the courage to refuse dishonorable orders. And then,cking the courage to seek forgiveness, he took his own life. What my father truly lost was not his honor, but his courage.¡±

    Villion¡¯s eyes trembled.

    ¡°How dare you¡­¡±

    ¡°And from what I see, Uncle, it seems you toock the courage to admit that there is no honor left in the Georg family.¡±

    Lianne punched Villion in the face.

    With a crack, his nose broke, and his body staggered backward. Lianne tried to stand but grimaced and clutched her stomach. The wound Isaac had inflicted was reopening.

    She was not in a condition to move. But there was something she had to do.

    Something she should have done long ago.

    ¡°There was something I always wanted to do to an old fool like you.¡±

    Lianne struck Villion¡¯s face again as he tried to rise.

    Crack, thump! The sight of a severely wounded woman beating a sturdy knight was startling, all the more because Lianne had always been known to respect tradition and honor her elders intensely.

    ¡°Huff, huff, huff.¡±

    Lianne, sweating profusely, looked down at Villion, copsed on the ground. It wasn¡¯t fatigue but rather the severity of her injuries that prevented her from swinging her fists any longer. Just then, Lavad hurried over and stopped her, concerned not for Villion but for Lianne.

    ¡°General. I will see to it that Villion Georg is detained separately. You need to rest now¡­¡±

    ¡°Yes¡­¡±

    The pain in Lianne¡¯s chest was intense as she struggled to rise with help. In that moment, she caught sight of the dagger embedded in her chest and Villion holding it.

    Lavad screamed in horror.

    ¡°It¡¯s an assassination!¡±

    Amidst the furious cries of the knights, Lianne twisted a smile.

    ¡°Uncle, it seems you¡¯ve learned too many wrong things in the Dawn Army¡­¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Lianne.¡±

    Villion twisted the dagger, widening the wound. Lavad shouted and drew his sword, moving to strike Villion, but a cavalryman who had sprinted over kicked Lavad down. The cavalrymen began to overpower the remaining soldiers.

    No knight present could stand against these cavaliers, already beyond the brink of death.

    ¡°I thought you would understand.¡±

    Villion caught the copsing Lianne and whispered,

    ¡°But there¡¯s no time to persuade you now. Now, I need your sword and the swordmaster.¡±

    ***

    Lianne¡¯s bodypletely copsed onto the ground.

    It was the vain death of the swordmaster and the leader of the Georg rebels. Villion felt regret even as he realized he had crossed a line that could not be retracted. He had tried so hard to avoid just such a situation.

    Now that things hade to this, he must eradicate the seed of the Aldeon royal family at all costs. Otherwise, all his sins would be rendered meaningless.

    ¡°Lord Villion, we have subdued the remaining soldiers.¡±

    ¡°Make sure there are no unnecessary casualties.¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    Villion, now essentially an apostate, still believed he was a follower of Elil. It might have been mere deceit, but even as an undead, he would continue to believe. To him, faith was not about heaven but about a philosophy of how to live on earth.

    His ns would benefit from more corpses, but he had no desire to shed unnecessary blood from those who had stood by him until yesterday.

    Now, only Edelred remained.

    Villion reached for Lianne¡¯s sword, the holy sword Lumiarde, lying beside her.

    As soon as he touched Lumiarde, a terrible chill overwhelmed him. Like Kaldbruch was given to kings, Lumiarde was meant for guardians of the Holy Land.

    Villion was not worthy.

    However, he had the strength to endure the chill emanating from Lumiarde.

    Crackle. The ck gloves Villion wore emitted a strange light, beginning to suppress the chill from Lumiarde. It was a relic he had obtained on an expedition with the Dawn Army. Villion was confident that the gloves could resist the chill from Lumiarde as he grasped it.

    Suddenly, everything centered around Lumiarde began to freeze. A massive ice formation rapidly enveloped his hand and arm, and Villion, in panic, struck it. However, the ice did not even scratch.

    ¡°Ice? No, crystal!¡±

    While everyone watched in shock, the crystalpletely engulfed Lianne¡¯s body. Villion realized that Lumiarde hadn¡¯t attacked him, but had acted to protect Lianne.

    Then Lianne¡¯s eyes opened.

    At the moment their eyes met, every knight in the Fortress felt an oppressive force. Villion, closest to this intensity, could not breathe and stumbled to his knees.

    Lianne¡¯s eyes shone a mystical deep green.

    Instinctively, Villion realized that the figure before him was not Lianne but an angel.

    An angel had taken residence within Lianne¡¯s body.

    ¡°You¡¯vee this far already.¡±

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read more than 25 advance chapters or support me, you can do it at /Akaza156

 Chapter 192:

    Chapter 192:

    The crystal trembled and hummed with a voice. An angel manifesting itself spontaneously without a summoning ritual was an extremely rare event.

    It meant that a deity was watching over this ce, this moment.

    As the crystal vibrated with a voice, all sorts of names of archangels flitted through Villion¡¯s mind. Then, the angel upying Lianne¡¯s body turned its gaze upon him.

    ¡°Take that and get out, bastard.¡±

    With a crackling sound, the crystal shattered, and Lumiarde was expelled. The holy sword stuck into the ground right before Villion. He realized that his gloves could sufficiently handle the cold emitted by Lumiarde.

    The crystal had been an extension of the angel¡¯s power.

    Villion finally spected about the identity of his opponent.

    ¡°Lady of the Lake, are you Nimloth?¡±

    ¡°Who gave you permission to speak?¡±With those calm words, Villion was thrown to the ground headfirst. He could not understand what had hit him. Another faith¡¯s angel couldn¡¯t have such power, but Villion was still a follower of Elil. An angel could exert absolute influence over followers of the same faith.

    Nimloth looked down at Villion and said,

    ¡°I have spared these nearly dead dogs because they still have some use to you.¡±

    Nimloth¡¯s gaze was icy as she looked at Villion and his cavalrymen.

    ¡°Go. There are threats to the Holy Land. Go and kill each other off. If you¡¯re still alive afterward,mit suicide. If you can¡¯t even do that, just disappear into the eastern wilderness.¡±

    Villion couldn¡¯tprehend her words. She seemed to acknowledge that they were like insured members of the Immortal Order. Yet instead of executing him immediately, she was sending them to the Holy Land, even knowing they were unholy.

    ¡°Is Edelred and the Holy Grail Knight a bigger threat to the Holy Land than the Immortal Order?¡±

    Villion could not grasp the implication. He had imed that ¡®the threat to Holy Land Elion is the Aldeon army,¡¯ but he didn¡¯t truly believe it.

    It was more about redirecting his inner conflict with the Immortal Order as the target.

    His thoughts wereplicated, but he could no longer ponder. Nimloth¡¯s words spurred them colder still.

    ¡°Go.¡±

    Villion sprang to his feet, and at the same moment, his cavalrymen began to move.

    Nothing had changed. Though he hadn¡¯t turned Lianne into an undead, having Lumiarde was enough.

    The holy sword was the key to the Holy Land; the power of the Immortal Order could handle the Holy Grail Knight.

    Suddenly, a cavalryman shouted,

    ¡°The Aldeon army is approaching!¡±

    Villion clenched his teeth.

    The Aldeon army, which had confronted them on the Heron ins, had pursued them and finally returned to Elion Fortress. Whether it was Nimloth¡¯smand or for revenge, they couldn¡¯t afford to fight with the Aldeon army nipping at their heels when they needed to rush to the Holy Land.

    He had no choice but to cross a deeper line once more.

    Villion removed the gloves that protected his hands and gripped Lumiarde barehanded. The coldness crept up his hand, arm, shoulder, and soon overwhelmed his head and heart. As the frost touched his heart, Villion felt a long-dyed contract finally being sealed.

    His heart slowly stopped, and a strange power flowed through his bones.

    Elil, who had been with him all his life, was no longer by his side.

    In return, he gained the time to struggle for hundreds, thousands of years.

    That time would be enough to earn honor topensate for his current dishonor.

    ¡°Rise.¡±

    Villion¡¯s eyes flickered deep ck as hemanded.

    To the countless corpses that hadn¡¯t been properly buried during the war and were stored.

    The boundary between life and death began to blur throughout Elion Fortress. The power that bound the dead seeped from the ground, raising them.

    Those insured by the Immortal Order could be undead with their former selves and abilities intact, but those who were not fell to miserable zombies. However, Villion now needed these mindless meat shields.

    ¡°Block anyone from crossing into Aldeon Fortress.¡±

    ***

    ¡°Advance to Aldeon Fortress!¡±

    Mors led his soldiers at the forefront, racing forward. Despite his fatigue from the relentless advance from the Heron ins leading only the Aldeon knights, a strange fervor and excitement propelled him.

    Atst, this tiresome civil war was about to end. Victory was within grasp!

    Villion, who had led Georg¡¯s army, had fled in a miserable state. There had been considerable resistance, resulting in not insignificant casualties, but it was aplete victory. All that remained was Elion Fortress. If Isaac¡¯s n had seeded, it would be nearly empty.

    ¡°ept their surrender as soon as we breach the gates¡­¡±

    Bang. Suddenly, Mors¡¯s vision flipped as he tumbled to the ground. He had tripped over something. Dizzy for a moment as he saw the knights rushing towards him, he was fortunate that they split like a tide, avoiding trampling him.

    Delfric rushed to help him up.

    ¡°General! Are you alright?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m fine. But what¡¯s this?¡±

    Initially, he thought he had tripped over a body. But then he saw his horse, its leg broken, being held by a hand that had sprung from the ground. Before he could fully grasp the situation, rmed shouts and screams began to erupt around him.

    ¡°What is it? Is this Georg¡¯s cavalry counter attacking?¡±

    ¡°General! General!¡±

    Reyna Hilde suddenly rushed in and mmed a sword down in front of his nose. Just as the words ¡®killing a superior¡¯ flickered through his mind, Reyna plunged her hand into the ground and pulled something out.

    It was a zombie, pierced from the crown of its head to its jaw.

    Reyna and Mors were simultaneously shocked.

    ¡°An ambush from beneath the ground! Are those Georg¡¯s men insane?¡±

    ¡°What, this¡­ Reyna, this is an undead!¡±

    While Mors was amazed by Reyna¡¯s imagination, it was natural for the younger people in this region, far removed from the Immortal Order, not to know about undead. However, Mors, seasoned with age, immediately thought of the Immortal Order.

    He had already heard from Isaac that the Georg¡¯s cavalry might include members of the Immortal Order.

    But now, the situation unfolded across the entire battlefield. Although most bodies produced during the battle had been recovered, many had been buried or trampled in the mire created by seasonal rains and were unountable. Worse still were the urrences at the nearby burial sites.

    From the rear, from a forest where bodies had been buried, zombies began to emerge. Even from within Aldeon Fortress, staggering, moving corpses wielding bows and spears appeared haphazardly.

    ¡°Undead! They are undead! Georg¡¯s men are summoning undead!¡±

    A knight screamed almost hysterically.

    Mors felt a chill down his spine. The nature of the war had changed entirely with the intervention of the heretics. It had turned into a massacre or a war of annihtion.

    The problem was that they seemed likely to be annihted before they could even reach that point.

    Handling undead varied greatly depending on how well one knew to deal with them. And in the Kingdom of Elil, knights who knew how to counter undead could be counted on one hand.

    ¡°To Elion Fortress! Head to Elion Fortress and make our stand there!¡±

    Confronting the undead in the exposed wilderness was suicidal. Mors quickly led his troops towards Elion Fortress. But despair soaked his vision; the gates of Elion Fortress were firmly closed. They were likely to die clinging to the walls.

    At that moment, a miracle unfolded before his eyes.

    The gates began to open unexpectedly.

    ¡°Come this way!¡±

    The one opening the wide gates was a knight covered in blood, Lavard Georg.

    Without time to doubt his intentions, Mors hurriedly rushed in. Following him, the Aldeon knights poured in. Mors thanked the young knight who had opened the gates.

    ¡°Thank you, much appreciated.¡±

    ¡°No need for thanks. We¡¯re just trying to survive too.¡±

    Lavard gave a bitter smile and gestured towards the interior of the Fortress. Mors quickly realized that the situation inside the Fortress was not much different from the outside. Knights were fiercely fighting corpses within the Fortress, and except for around the gates, they were nearly surrounded.

    It had only been Lavard and a few knights who had risked their lives to break through the undead and open the gates.

    ¡°How are things outside?¡±

    ¡°Not good at all.¡±

    Mors recalled the number of undead that had surged from outside as he responded. A new hypothesis dawned on him. Perhaps Villion had not just evacuated people to the Fortress after burning viges and rounding up the residents. The absence of corpses might have been because they were already buried somewhere else.

    ¡°Let¡¯s save the thinking forter. We need to fight now!¡±

    The Aldeon knights, without a moment¡¯s rest, began to confront or kill the undead alongside Georg¡¯s knights. The arrival of the Aldeon knights gave the Georg knights a chance to catch their breath, but the situation didn¡¯t improve significantly.

    Outside, thousands of zombies were swarming, and instead of being able to protect Edelred, they were overwhelmed just trying to survive within the Fortress.

    Mors, witnessing this, realized that the war had truly ended.

    It wasn¡¯t the oue he had desired.

    Instead, the end of the war had morphed into a new kind of conflict.

    It was a war between the living and the dead.

    Seeing this, Mors felt a surge of excitement. A heartyugh burst from him.

    ¡°Ha-ha-ha! Enemies that I can kill without guilt! Perfect!¡±

    He had been sick of killing his fellow believers and countrymen. In this situation, the vile undead, twisted by heretic sorcery, were an easy enemy to understand.

    Elil¡¯s miraculous strength seeped into his weary body.

    ¡°Elil! I heed your call!¡±

    Mors immediately sprinted back into the battlefield.

    ***

    ¡°So, was this civil war orchestrated by the Immortal Order?¡±

    On the bridge leading to the Holy Land, Edelred asked Isaac.

    He had already heard from Isaac about the Immortal Order¡¯s involvement, but the thought that they had been mere pawns in the Order¡¯s scheme was disheartening.

    They had thought they were fighting for a noble cause and honor, only to be used as pieces in someone else¡¯s game.

    However, Isaac shook his head.

    ¡°No. The civil war was already in your hands. Nobody ordered it, nobody orchestrated it.¡±

    ¡°But the Immortal Order¡­¡±

    ¡°The Immortal Order was just one of the tools. Immortality is a risky but useful tool. The Immortal Emperor Beshek wouldn¡¯t care if his religion is used this way. He¡¯s satisfied as long as the number of undead increases.¡±

    Like those tempted by the Red Chalice, those who fear death are drawn to the Immortal Order. Those, especially Elil followers, who constantly duel at life¡¯s crossroads, are even more susceptible.

    Cunningly, the Immortal Order promises the participants of the beleaguered Dawn Army life insurance for resurrection. They suggest it can be cancelled at any time.

    Insured individuals initially ept the offer nning to cancel it immediately.

    But nothing is as seductive as the power of immortality when the weak confront the strong.

    Eventually, Villion too sumbed to this temptation.

    ¡°But doesn¡¯t the Immortal Order gain from this conflict? If the fighting increases the number of corpses, their ranks swell. Or perhaps they invested in the possibility of Georg¡¯s rebels winning? Just as Emperor Waltzemer sent you, maybe they aim to push the Kingdom of Elil to side with the ck Empire!¡±

    Edelred, seeming excited by his own words, eximed.

    Isaac gave a bitter smile.

    Regrettably, Isaac hadn¡¯t told him everything. This young king didn¡¯t truly understand the depth of fear. Of course, the Immortal Order has its own agendas. How would he react if he knew they hardly cared about a mere civil war?

    Sure, they would prefer if the knights of Elil Kingdom killed each other, but that wasn¡¯t the important part.

    Their real objectivey within the Holy Land.

    Revealing that purpose would make Edelred realize what true terror was, so Isaac couldn¡¯t speak recklessly.

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read more than 25 advance chapters or support me, you can do it at /Akaza156

 Chapter 193:

    Chapter 193:

    Isaac estimated the distance to the Holy Land of Elion. The path was unrideable, so he had to walk, but it wasn¡¯t easy to walk fast in a ce where water sshed up to his ankles.

    ¡®It¡¯s getting closer now, but¡­¡¯

    The silhouette of the Holy Land of Elion, which had seemed distant, was now considerably nearer. Beyond those cliffs, encircled as though by pointed spears forming a barrier,y the ce where Elil¡¯s body was enshrined.

    Yet, Isaac kept looking back.

    [The Nameless Chaos watches you.]

    Isaac understood why the whispers of warning continued. He had already sensed an ominous aura emanating from the fortress of Elion. The dark shadows cast over the fortress were clearly signs of the Immortal Order.

    ¡®It seems they¡¯ve finally shown their true colors.¡¯

    If so, those viins were undoubtedly rushing here, ready to die, or rather, to be shattered. The only chance to turn the tide was now at the Holy Land of Elion.

    ¡°Hurry up. It seems the Immortal Order scoundrels are just starting to leave.¡±¡°What? But the forces of Aldeon should be holding them back¡­¡±

    ¡°When those who fear neither death nor injury and disregard wounds decide to escape, no one can stop them. Even if the Aldeon forces arrive, that ce is a battlefield. It must be piled with corpses.¡±

    Realizing what Isaac¡¯s words implied, Edelred¡¯s face turned pale. If Isaac was right, the forces of Aldeon were likely already fighting the undead legions.

    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we go back? We can clean up the Immortal Order scoundrels and still make it to the Holy Land!¡±

    ¡°We need to go to the Holy Land not to fight the Immortal Order, but to prevent them from invading it in the first ce.¡±

    Even if all the undead at the fortress of Elion were cleared, if the Immortal Order invaded the Holy Land, it would be over. As Isaac was about to exin how dangerous the invasion of the Immortal Order could be, he spotted an army approaching from a distance.

    A wave of cold spread like a wave, and a path of ice formed over the surface of theke. Hundreds of cavalrymen were charging across it at a furious pace. The icy bridge was rough enough to prevent slipping.

    At the forefront was Villon Georg. From a distance, Isaac recognized him wielding Lumiarde and smirked bitterly.

    ¡®Faster than expected. And he even has Lumiarde.¡¯

    He must have intended to kill Lianne to snatch it.

    Isaac felt conflicted knowing Villon was serious. Meanwhile, Edelred¡¯s face turned pale upon seeing the charging cavalry, but then he gripped the Holy Sword Kaldbruch tightly.

    ¡°Lumiarde¡­?¡±

    Isaac blocked him with a hand.

    ¡°Refrain from using Kaldbruch, Your Majesty.¡±

    ¡°But I should be of help¡­¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s strange. The Immortal Order is openly invading the Holy Land, and yet there¡¯s no intervention from the angels. They might be neglecting it on purpose or even leading it.¡±

    Isaac still hadn¡¯t dismissed his suspicion that one of Elil¡¯s angels was manipting Georg¡¯s rebel forces. And if that angel still hadn¡¯t abandoned their purpose, they might even use the Immortal Order to thwart Isaac. Using Kaldbruch, which harnessed the power of angels, might backfire.

    ¡°Holy Grail Knight!¡±

    Villon¡¯s roar, filled with rage, echoed over the surface of theke. Isaac pulled out the Luadin Key. Edelred also decided to lend his strength, but without drawing on Kaldbruch¡¯s power. It was a reliable sight, but whether it would truly help was questionable.

    ¡®In the Holy Land, watched by angels, alongside a child, against hundreds of undead knights from Elil? This difficulty level is insane. Chaos? If you don¡¯t want me to die here, how about doing something?¡¯

    [The Nameless Chaos watches you.]

    [The Nameless Chaos wants you to execute the ¡®corruptor Villon Georg¡¯.]

    [Chaos¡¯s reward awaits you.]

    Instead of helping directly, it seemed to be offering motivation. Isaac smirked.

    ¡°Let¡¯s see what happens then.¡±

    ***

    Isaac faced Villon head-on as he approached. The vibration from the cavalry¡¯s hooves drummed on the bridge, trembling the previously calmke surface. Villon, wielding Lumiarde, unleashed a storm of cold with unstoppable ferocity as he charged.

    Isaac, of course, was unaffected, and so were the cavalry around him.

    ¡®The undead of the Immortal Order are not affected by the cold.¡¯

    Perhaps due to the aura of the dead, they already emitted a chilling presence just by being near. Ironically, this allowed the Immortal Order¡¯s undead to wield the relics of Elil.

    ¡®Well, I¡¯m using the Luadin Key myself.¡¯

    Isaac lifted the Luadin Key high, drawing out its sword energy to the fullest.

    Fluttering wildly, the mes of the Luadin Key writhed in a deep purple, eerie aura, as if performing a bizarre ritual, dancing and flickering.

    Isaac concentrated intensely, mimicking the advanced sword techniques used by the Knights of Aldeon.

    No past, no future. Only the determination to kill the enemy before him.

    A sound like metal crushing emanated from Isaac¡¯s hand holding the Luadin Key. He struck down like lightning towards the bridge leading to the Holy Land of Elion.

    In an instant, the sound vanished.

    Instead of noise, a powerful wave spread across the entireke first. The waves furiously pushed forward, revealing the bleached surface of the bridge below. Then, a loud explosion followed.

    The bridge connecting the Kingdom of Elil and Elil¡¯s mausoleum was, in itself, a holy ce and a relic. Isaac¡¯s attack would not have destroyed it, not even if he had unleashed some miracle.

    However, the impact did not simply disappear.

    The result was a ferocious vibration that shook the entire bridge.

    Quaking, the ice road created by Villon was swept away or shattered by the vibration. The only reason hundreds of cavalrymen could ride across the mere ice was because the robust bridge had served as a support. But now, that bridge was casting off the road.

    As the ice broke, the undead knights were rmed and tried to halt. But it was toote for any response.

    ¡°General Villon!¡±

    Many undead knights stumbled from the single strike and fell beneath the water.

    Wearing heavy armor, they sank like stones into the depths of theke¡ªake nearly hundreds of meters at its center. It would take ages for them to crawl out from under the water if they could find their way through the notorious fog and dark waters of Lake Elion.

    ¡°Damn it!¡±

    Unfortunately, Villon had not fallen beneath the bridge due to Isaac¡¯s strike. He hastily scattered cold around him to repair the ice, but by then, nearly half of the undead knights had already plunged into theke.

    Villon, who knew better than anyone the notorious fog and depth of Lake Elion, realized he had lost manyrades to Isaac¡¯s strike.

    Without even a chance to enjoy the fruits of having sold their souls to the Immortal Order and be undead.

    ¡°I will kill you!¡±

    ¡°The angels failed, what can you possibly do?¡±

    Isaac mocked Villon¡¯s energy as he raised his sword.

    ***

    Racing across the surface, Villon charged at Isaac with reckless aggression.

    The sheer weight of Villon¡¯s charger made it a deadly weapon. However, Isaac had no intention of engaging in a direct confrontation with the fierce undead from Elil.

    As the collision neared, the Colors Beyond, already scattered on the ground, gripped the charger¡¯s ankles tightly. It wasn¡¯t enough to drag but was sufficient to trip it unexpectedly. As the charger stumbled and fell, Villon was catapulted forward.

    Villon rolled across the bridge in a battered mess.

    Isaac did not give Villon a chance to rise and swiftly attacked.

    ¡®He¡¯s no longer a follower of Elil, so there¡¯s no need for a fair fight.¡¯

    Isaac¡¯s sword, teeming with deadly intent, came crashing down on Villon, who barely managed to raise his own de in time to block the attack. Had it been a normal sword, Isaac¡¯s sword energy would have split it and likely taken Villon¡¯s head with it, but the sword in Villon¡¯s hands was the holy sword Lumiarde.

    With a screeching sh, a burst of cold exploded out. Isaac retreated before his feet could freeze. Although he regretted not finishing it in one go, this move was a definite upper hand.

    Villon, rolling to his feet, shook off ice fragments from his body. Being undead, he neither suffered from the fall¡¯s impact nor felt any pain.

    Enraged, Villon yelled, ¡°This is no ce for a heretic to interfere!¡±

    ¡°Now you say that? And you¡¯re no longer a follower of Elil either.¡±

    Isaac found it absurd but dismissed it, knowing that viins often ignore their own hypocrisy.

    And in that regard, Isaac had no room to talk about being duplicitous either.

    Villon, incensed by Isaac¡¯s taunt, swung his sword again.

    Whoosh, sh! Lumiarde¡¯s de gleamed as it erupted with light, aiming to im Isaac¡¯s life. Just as he had with Lianne, Isaac used the Eyes of Chaos to discern which attacks were genuine and deftly countered them. Yet, Villon relentlessly continued his assault.

    One terrifying aspect of the undead was their ability to keep fighting without fatigue or feeling the burden of injuries. Among them, Villon seemed almost akin to a Death Knight, endowed with thepensation of life insurance.

    Despite not learning the Immortal Order¡¯s miracles, there was no reason he couldn¡¯t match a Death Knight, given his pre-death status as one of Elil¡¯s finest knights.

    But Isaac, shing with the attacks, gauged Villon¡¯s level.

    ¡®He¡¯s among the best knights I¡¯ve seen, but not quite a Swordmaster.¡¯

    That meant it would take about five knights of Villon¡¯s caliber to match Isaac. His current resilience was purely thanks to Lumiarde.

    Isaac waited for the right moment to disengage Lumiarde and aimed his sword at Villon¡¯s throat.

    Crack! However, Isaac¡¯s attack was blocked by Villon¡¯s left hand. Isaac was surprised that Villon was able to grasp the sword energy of the Luadin Key with his hand.

    Soon, Isaac realized that the gloves on Villon¡¯s hands were not ordinary but relics of heresy.

    ¡°Wearing something nice, aren¡¯t you?¡±

    Knowing he was already at a disadvantage, Villon heard Isaac¡¯s words as mockery and red with grinding teeth.

    ¡°General Villon!¡±

    The undead knights, having regrouped from the confusion, joined the fight. Isaac sheathed his sword and backed off. The area had be a sizable ice patch due to Villon, but given the earlier catastrophe, it couldn¡¯t spread far. At most, only three knights could confront Isaac simultaneously on the bridge.

    ¡®Lucky they¡¯re all undead followers of Elil.¡¯

    If these had been true Death Knights who knew the Immortal Order¡¯s miracles and could summon specters or phantom steeds, Isaac would have been in real trouble.

    They would have attacked from the air.

    But now, they were merely knights who fought well and didn¡¯t die easily, without the hope of Elil¡¯s blessings.

    On this narrow bridge, Isaac was distinctly at an advantage.

    However, just being able to confront them didn¡¯t mean he could easily wipe them out.

    ¡®As long as Villon has Lumiarde, he can enter Elion. If he interferes during the returning ceremony, it¡¯s all over. I need to deal with this here.¡¯

    Isaac subtly gauged their morale.

    Knights who until days ago served Elil and pursued glorious battles, now reduced to pathetic and corrupted undead, obsessed solely with vengeance. Wouldn¡¯t they feel self-loathing?

    Isaac spoke up, ¡°Tricked by angels, you sold your honor, pride, friends,rades, and kin. And that¡¯s all you can do after such a betrayal?¡±

    Crack. Villon, his eyes zing with anger, red at Isaac. But Isaac didn¡¯t stop taunting.

    ¡°Oh, being able to express your feelings so vividly is only temporary. Soon your face will rot, muscles to form expressions will decay, and even your eyes will fall out. Naturally, your hair too.¡±

    ¡°Shut up!¡±

    ¡®A knight who only knew battle,cking in vocabry.¡¯

    Isaac thought internally but continued to provoke him outwardly.

    ¡°Why, Villon? Are you scared of bing that? Then you should have chosen your ce to die better. If you¡¯re afraid of dying, what does abandoning the god you served all your life at the end amount to?¡±

    At Isaac¡¯s rebuke, the knights flinched.

    Isaac had surmised that had these knights been aggressively coerced into bing undead, they would have likely resisted and fought to their deaths. However, the nature of the life insurance was different. They likely lived with a slight difort, postponing the cancetion of their membership until they died somewhat unexpectedly. Internally, they might haveforted themselves with the excuse that they hadn¡¯t deliberatelymitted apostasy, to lessen the guilt on their conscience.

    And to justify such actions to themselves, they would have been even morepliant with Villon¡¯smands.

    The truly terrifying aspect of the life insurance was precisely this: it passively allowed individuals who might have resisted bing undead to eventually ept it through neglect.

    This maniptive conversion process was a critical point Isaac understood and used to his advantage in psychological warfare, aiming to undermine their resolve further and exploit the internal conflicts gnawing at the knights.

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read more than 25 advance chapters or support me, you can do it at /Akaza156

 Chapter 194:

    Chapter 194:

    ¡°All of this is for revenge! To reim honor! It¡¯s all because of the royal family of Aldeon! So, one must think about drying up the seed of the Aldeon royal family to wash away this dishonor, right?¡±

    Villon and the undead knights fell into silence. The undead knights, not even breathing, just observed Villon, seemingly hoping he would say something.

    After a brief silence, Villon bared his teeth and smiled, saying, ¡°What¡¯s so bad about that, Holy Grail Knight?¡±

    Villon and the undead knights were rendered speechless by Isaac¡¯s blunt retort.

    ¡°What¡¯s so bad about it?¡±

    ¡°Fear of death is natural, you young fool. It seems you fight as if you have several lives to spare, probably because you are still young. Or perhaps, being a noble Pdin, you think this mortal life isn¡¯t significant.¡±

    Although Villon spoke mockingly, Isaac inwardly flinched.

    He still lived in this world with the sensation of ying a game to some extent.

    Without such objectivity, it would be a world too tough to endure.¡°But if death isn¡¯t feared, then why would the Immortal Order exist?¡±

    Villon passionately argued.

    The Immortal Order was born about 300 years ago, thanks to the Immortal Emperor Beshek, who became a god by exploiting the faith of people desperate to escape their fear of death. Beshek had brought down their afterworld to earth through rituals that broke the boundaries between this life and the next.

    Thanks to him, the territory of the Immortal Order was both the living world and the hereafter. They had no heaven or hell to go to after death; only this life mattered to them.

    It was a faith for those obsessed with the present over the afterlife.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be arrogant, Holy Grail Knight. Death is naturally terrifying. I am afraid of death. Afraid I won¡¯t be able to avenge my brother, unable to pick up the honor that has fallen to the ground, worried that everything I¡¯ve done will end up meaningless!¡±

    Villon rose to his feet, leaning on Lumiarde.

    ¡°People ignorantly say that because life is finite, one should pursue their goals more desperately, more passionately. But if I can be obsessed with my goals without worrying about not achieving them, why should I reject immortality!¡±

    ¡°So you¡¯ve thrown countless followers of Elil into the mud, led your kin to death, and even killed your niece to snatch Lumiarde? Is that the goal you wanted to achieve by bing undead?¡±

    Edelred¡¯s eyes wavered at the mention of Lianne¡¯s death. He must have suspected something the moment he saw Lumiarde.

    But there was no time to console Edelred now. Villon too closed his eyes tightly when Lianne was mentioned. He slowly opened his eyes and murmured as if sighing.

    ¡°They could have just been made undead.¡±

    Isaac was bbergasted.

    But he could also see how, 300 years ago, the Immortal Order came to split the world into such a massive power.

    There must have been countless Villon Georgs in that era.

    ¡°And Lianne is not dead. She is being protected by an angel.¡±

    ¡°An angel?¡±

    The mention of an angel piqued Isaac¡¯s curiosity further. However, Villon had no intention of following Isaac¡¯s line of questioning.

    ¡°If we originally hated bing undead, we should have been made to not fear death!¡±

    Villon bellowed angrily.

    ¡°Making us not fear dying without achieving, attaining, or acquiring anything! It¡¯s irresponsible to say don¡¯t try to live forever when you create an irrational fate and a limited lifespan!¡±

    ¡®Honestly, I agree.¡¯

    Considering that gods and angels are almost immortal beings themselves, the culture that disapproves of undead seems absurd. In the same vein, the undead of the Immortal Order were almost atheists of this world.

    A collective of individuals who had forsaken their own gods and gathered.

    But Isaac couldn¡¯t be swayed by Villon¡¯s argument.

    ¡°Argue all you want, Villon, but this ce was created by the intent of angels and gods, not by your will. You speak as though you became undead by your own choice, but you were merely dragged along by Elil¡¯s doctrine and manipted by the Immortal Order¡¯s conspiracy.¡±

    ¡°Really think that, Holy Grail Knight? That I¡¯m just a puppet of the gods?¡±

    Villon roared back.

    ¡°No, bing undead has only sharpened my perspective. I no longer beg for Elil¡¯s answers, nor do I fear the afterlife! The Immortal Order? Immortality is merely a tool for me! They are all merely means to an end! Holy Grail Knight, you are the one who is merely a puppet of the gods!¡±

    Villon growled as he lifted Lumiarde. A vicious anger and hatred surged through his entire being.

    Isaac twitched his eyebrows in disbelief at Villon¡¯s intensity. The force rising along Lumiarde was undoubtedly that of sword energy.

    Villon, now aged and an undead of the Immortal Order, was emitting sword energy, an impossible urrence that, while shocking Isaac, also led him to realize Villon¡¯s true nature.

    At that moment, Isaac unearthed Villon¡¯s hidden motives from their conversation.

    The real purpose behind Villon¡¯s transformation into an undead of the Immortal Order.

    ¡°So, were you trying to resurrect Elil as an undead?¡±

    Silence followed.

    No one could respond to Isaac¡¯s unexpected remark.

    A corrupted nameless knight.

    A Death Knight from Elil who appeared when the Kingdom of Elil was on the path to destruction, having abandoned his name, lineage, and faith.

    The being who led the Kingdom of Elil to be territory of the Immortal Order, using undead Elil as a weapon to shatter the world.

    In the quiet, Villon let out a cynicalugh. He neither denied nor ignored the usation. Revealing even deeper madness, he murmured,

    ¡°Yes. Nothing else could prove my will as much as that. Elil is dead. What remains is merely a corpse.¡±

    ¡°What did you say about Elil?¡±

    From behind Isaac, Edelred muttered in disbelief.

    ¡°Do you really think that the angelsmanded you to reject the Dawn Army, steal Elil¡¯s corpse, turn it into an undead, and start a bloody civil war among your own followers? Absolutely not! That was all my desire! Whether it was the gods, the angels, or the Immortal Order, they just lent me power!¡±

    Elil¡¯s unholy resurrection n.

    This was the destruction route of the Kingdom of Elil in the game.

    ***

    The process for the destruction route of the Kingdom of Elil is as follows:

    In the game, once the Immortal Order has sufficiently grown, it seizes control of the Georg family. The ¡®corrupted nameless knight¡¯ who has upied the holynd, Elion, performs the unholy resurrection ritual on Elil¡¯s corpse.

    The undead Elil bes a formidable force for the Immortal Order, which first destroys the Kingdom of Elil.

    Whether it¡¯s possible or not is not even a matter for discussion. Even within the Immortal Order itself, there might be skepticism, but Isaac already knows it¡¯s possible.

    He has seen it happen several times.

    If asked whether this event was nned by the Immortal Order, it¡¯s ambiguous. From the Immortal Order¡¯s point of view, when ying, it was treated as an entirely unexpected ¡®event.¡¯

    That this isn¡¯t an event that yers can lead in the Immortal Order route means that the initiative lies more with the Elil route.

    Finally, Edelred realized what Villon had been scheming and bellowed in anger.

    ¡°What did you say! Villon Georg, what did you do to Elil!¡±

    Edelred was so astonished he could hardly continue. Even Edelred, who despised knights to an extreme, found the n too insane to believe. Even the undead knights, apparently not expecting such words, showed severe agitation beyond their raised weapons.

    But Villon, judging it toote to conceal his intentions, shouted again.

    ¡°I refused to bleed in other nations¡¯ wars, stole Elil¡¯s corpse for power, and incited a civil war for revenge! To say that we were mere puppets of the angels is an insult and an underestimation!¡±

    ¡°Stop spouting madness!¡±

    The angry voice came not from Edelred or Isaac but from one of the undead knights.

    With a half-sobbing tone, he roared,

    ¡°I didn¡¯t follow you to do such things! I¡ª¡±

    The undead knight screamed and swung his sword at Villon. However, Villon coldly swung Lumiarde and instantly split the knight¡¯s armor and torso in two. Lumiarde¡¯s chill and Villon¡¯s sword energy instantly froze the undead knight¡¯s body, shattering it into pieces without leaving even a fragment behind.

    Villon realized only then that he had been emanating sword energy, and flinched at the revtion. Even in this moment, he couldn¡¯t grasp what it meant that he had awakened this power.

    As Villon turned his head, even the undead knights recoiled in surprise. However, among the undead, there were those who agreed with his views.

    Villon growled out loud.

    ¡°Fine. Better this way. Curse me and criticize me now instead of stabbing me in the backter. Call me an immoral bastard! That¡¯s better than being just a puppet!¡±

    This was directed not only at Isaac but also at the undead knights. They had a choice: be manipted by angels and gods, or seize powerful forces to achieve their desires.

    Immediately, infighting broke out among the undead knights. There were voices condemning Villon as mad, and others praising his rebellion.

    Being undead didn¡¯t necessarily corrupt their spirits. They simply embraced a new philosophy and perspective as immortals.

    Ignoring the division behind him, Villon turned his attention back to Isaac.

    Isaac finally realized that the real battle was just beginning. Villon, awakened with sword energy and wielding Lumiarde as the ¡®corrupted nameless knight¡¯, would now be a threat on par with Lianne.

    ¡°I¡¯ll kill you and make you undead, Holy Grail Knight!¡±

    ¡®Better than just dying, I suppose.¡¯

    Isaac thought to himself, but the Nameless Chaos would never allow it.

    Villon charged at him, screaming.

    However, a massive shadow began to loom over them from above.

    Emerging from the mist, a pale, creaking shadow loomed over them. Isaac and Mors, who were preparing for the final confrontation, were left speechless by the appearance of this unexpected entity.

    It was neither angel, human, nor monster but a gigantic structure.

    ***

    Hours earlier, at Elion Fortress.

    ¡°The zombies keeping!¡±

    The Aldeon Knight Order was still struggling at Elion Fortress. The walls outside were already surrounded by a tremendous number of undead, making escape impossible. The Aldeon army might open a path if they could catch up, but the infantry alone seemed unlikely to reach them quickly.

    Mors split a zombie¡¯s head irritably with his axe and shouted.

    ¡°Where the hell are all these damn thingsing from? Is there a secret pit underground at Elion Fortress where zombies spring forth?¡±

    At that, Lavard shouted.

    ¡°The back gate! No, the main gate leading to the holynd is still open! It seems like zombies areing through theke!¡±

    ¡°If that¡¯s true, why wasn¡¯t it mentioned sooner¡­¡±

    Mors was about to lose his temper but realized it wasn¡¯t the time for that. Instead, he pointed out a few of the Aldeon knights and rushed forward.

    ¡°Delfric! Reyne ! Take the skilled ones and hold the front! I¡¯m going to the back gate!¡±

    ¡°Are you going to block the back gate?¡±

    ¡°No! Let¡¯s escape via the bridge! Even if they¡¯re zombies, it¡¯ll be easier to fight them if they¡¯re one-legged!¡±

    Mors chose to escape through the back gate, rather than blocking it.

    Inside the fortress, there were already too many zombies. Even those zombies that seemed to be former knights relentlessly pursued them with undying strength and fierce hostility, despite having lost their intellect. Ultimately, Elion Fortress was no longer a safe zone.

    With fierce roars, Delfric and Reyne began to cleave through the zombies. Their swordsmanship, forceful enough to split their enemies in half, remained effective even against clustered groups. The horde of zombies started to be cleaved apart swiftly, and the knights of the Elion Knight Order filled the gaps.

    The knights quickly moved towards the back gate.

    Resistance intensified, but the miracle of Elil continually invigorated them. At some point, the Aldeon Knight Order and the Elion Knight Order were singing the same military hymn, or rather, a battle hymn. Though from different affiliations, they were all followers of Elil. Their trust and faith in each other were firmly established.

    ¡°It¡¯s the back gate!¡±

    Reyne, who had run ahead first, smashed a water-soaked zombie¡¯s head, shouting as she did. However, at that moment, a menacing spear whizzed by her ear. If Delfric hadn¡¯t grabbed her by the neck at thest moment, her head would have been split open.

    ¡°We can¡¯t go any further.¡±

    It wasn¡¯t just zombies at the back gate. A few knights from the Georg cavalry, who seemed to be stragglers, stood among the zombies.

    They were fully armored, but there was a stench suggesting they had been dead for quite some time. One of them disdainfully taunted Lavad.

    ¡°To think you Aldeon dogs would join hands, isn¡¯t the name of Georg ashamed? It would have been better to die and be zombies to gnaw at these scoundrels¡­¡±

    ¡°How dare you discuss shame with that rotten mouth!¡±

    Lavad was furious and attempted to rush at them. The undead knights prepared to attack, mocking Lavad. Mors sensed that breaking through them wouldn¡¯t be easy. The terrain was in their favor, and the overwhelming number of zombies continuously wore down their forces.

    ¡°Come.¡±

    Instead of despairing, Mors was enraged.

    Anger is also a virtue of Elil.

    ¡°The already dead and defeated dare to act so arrogantly!¡±

    The knights charged together. Mors was at the forefront.

    It was then.

    Boom! Mors felt something huge whiz past right in front of him. It swept away dozens of zombies and the undead knights in front of him. Mors felt a chill down his spine as he saw what had just passed.

    It was a massive harpoon for whaling.

    The thick harpoon, connected to a heavy chain, was quickly retracted, dragging another undead knight standing on the bridge with it. The undead knight was severed at the waist as the harpoon collided with the railing of a ship, dropping him into theke below.

    Mors looked to where the harpoon had been retracted and almost cried when he saw the massive silhouette and the fluttering g.

    ¡°Saltain! Saltain¡¯s ships have arrived!¡±

    Rosalind Saltain had led the ships of the Salt Council to their aid.

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read more than 25 advance chapters or support me, you can do it at /Akaza156

 Chapter 195:

    Chapter 195:

    Bang! Bang! Each harpoon strike created a significant fracture among the zombie forces. This harpoon wasn¡¯t designed for human adversaries but for battling massive sea monsters like giant whales or sea serpents. It had also been used recently to hunt the Drowned King.

    Rosalind leaned out over the ship¡¯s railing to look down at Mors.

    ¡°General Mors, it seems you¡¯ve found yourself in quite the predicament,¡± she observed.

    Mors hadn¡¯t expected to feel any sort of warmth towards Rosalind, so he was caught off-guard and momentarily lost for words, his mouth agape.

    With a mocking smile, Rosalind turned to the sailors andmanded,

    ¡°It seems thendlubbers have pissed themselves at the might of the Salt Council! Snap them out of it!¡±

    ¡°Aye!¡± the sailors responded eagerly.

    The sailors of the Salt Council heartily responded,unching harpoon fire and arrows at the zombies. The colossal ship was virtually a moving fortress. The zombies could do nothing against the onught from the ships of the Salt Council.

    On the bridge, there were still a few undead knights, but they were soon crushed under the charge of the Knights of Aldeon. Once the undead knights were thoroughly obliterated beyond recovery, Rosalind lowered adder to the side of the ship.¡°Madam Rosalind, I am at a loss for how to express my gratitude¡­¡±

    As the Knights of Aldeon and the Knights of Elion boarded Rosalind¡¯s ship, Mors expressed his thanks. He too had been a subordinate of thete King Alfred and was not unrted to the massacres that had urred in Saltain. Yet, to be saved by Rosalind left him without words.

    However, Rosalind scoffed in response.

    ¡°Hmph. Gratitude need not be spoken, just not forgotten.¡±

    ¡°I will not forget, at least until I die. Neither will my men nor the knights present here,¡± Mors vowed.

    Delfric and Reyna, who had narrowly escaped death, nodded vigorously, but Lavad seemed puzzled and asked,

    ¡°But how did you find the way to theke? Most of the channels were blocked or too dangerous to navigate¡­¡±

    Naturally, there was a river connecting theke surrounding the Holy Land of Elion to the sea. However, the army of Georg, preparing for war, had long since installed barriers to prevent ships from navigating upstream.

    Rosalindughed dismissively.

    ¡°Those toys? They¡¯re a jokepared to what I dealt with in my days as a pirate, or rather, a righteous ouw. Just haul the ship over the mountains.¡±

    ¡°¡­You dragged a ship over mountains?¡±

    Lavad reexamined the size of the ship, finding it hard to believe. A small boat for a dozen people might be one thing, but this was the size of a battleship. Yet Reyna firmly stated,

    ¡°Nothing is impossible if you have a clear purpose and will, and know the way. Especially if it involves something the sailors of the Salt Council and the Holy Grail Knight aremitted to.¡±

    said this with Reyna a smirk.

    ¡°Besides, I already knew the easiest route to reach the Holy Land of Elion.¡±

    ¡°Why? How¡­¡± Lavad¡¯s question hung in the air as Rosalind merely twisted her lips without answering.

    Mors, listening from the side, thought it best not to pry further.

    Until recently, Rosalind had been consumed by thoughts of vengeance. She likely had even nned out how to deal with the Holy Land.

    ¡°It¡¯s better not to know scary stories, young knight. By the way, where is our dear Holy Grail Knight?¡±

    Mors then pointed toward the direction of the Holy Land of Elion.

    ¡°The Holy Land! His Majesty Edelred went towards the Holy Land of Elion with Georg on his tail; we must hurry!¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t fret, General Mors. I have words for Georg as well¡­¡±

    ***

    From beyond the mist, a massive warship emerged. Bearing the g of Saltain, the ship sped toward the bridge where Mors stood, crashing into it with ferocious speed.

    Bang! Nearly crushed by the ship, Mors gasped in shock and stumbled back. Even for Villon, the undead swordmaster, it would be difficult to survive being squeezed between a stone bridge and the massive vessel.

    ¡°Villon!¡±

    Atop the prow, Rosalind with her silver hair flying wildly, roared in a voice that belied her age. It seemed that a loud voice was a fundamental trait among the followers of Elil.

    ¡°Villon Georg! It¡¯s me! Rosalind of Saltain!¡±

    ¡°Rosalind? Damn it, how did you¡­¡±

    Villon was puzzled as to how the ship of Saltain had managed to navigate to theke, let alone approach the Holy Land through the fog.

    But there she was, unmistakably present, standing fearlessly on the railing looking down at Villon.

    ¡°This isn¡¯t your ce to intervene, Rosalind! Stand down!¡±

    Isaac somehow felt that Villon and Rosalind knew each other quite well, as people usually addressed her with formal titles like ¡®Lady Rosalind.¡¯

    Loud enough for everyone to hear, Rosalind said,

    ¡°I heard you joined the Dawn Army voluntarily after I chose Theobald. Villon! But that doesn¡¯t mean you should ruin the country! Half the world is female, after all!¡±

    ¡°How long will you keep dredging up that old story! I¡¯m already married with grown kids, you crazy woman!¡±

    Villon shouted as if he was about to explode.

    Isaac felt slightly taken aback listening to the scandalous history between the undead swordmaster and the widowed pirate captain, but supposed that such old acquaintances might have many intertwined tales.

    With a smile still ying on her lips, Rosalind looked down at Villon and said,

    ¡°Yes, I was d to hear you were doing well. But why stir up this gue now?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s for my brother¡¯s vengeance! You have no part in this¡­¡±

    ¡°Who¡¯s speaking of vengeance in front of whom here?¡±

    Chilled by Rosalind¡¯s icy remark, Villon shut his mouth.

    She slid down a rope that hung from the prow.

    The knights, Isaac, and everyone else gasped as she boldly faced hundreds of undead knights and the newly awakened undead swordmaster. Only the seasoned sailors who had long known her remained unsurprised.

    It was like a scene from decades ago, a female pirate battling against knights of Elil.

    Lady Rosalind, with her hair wet from the rain, spoke again,

    ¡°Say it again, Villon. Whose vengeance are you speaking of now?¡±

    ¡°I am¡­¡±

    ¡°Are you speaking of vengeance for Vio Georg?¡±

    Villon mped his mouth shut.

    Vio Georg had been the one ordered by thete King Alfred to destroy the Saltain, with thergest responsibility lying on the king himself. However, Vio Georg could have refused or even passively resisted but had instead dutifully carried out his role.

    He bore undeniable responsibility for the massacre of Saltain.

    As a result of the massacre, overwhelmed by guilt, Vio Georg had starved himself to death. While Villon might have grounds to protest against the royal house of Aldeon, he could not call for vengeance in front of Rosalind.

    ¡°The greatest right to vengeance is mine, Villon. Any objections?¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    Villon could only growl in pain, unable to respond. The threats he had been voicing about killing Isaac and Edelred, and resurrecting Elil as undead to destroy the kingdom, could not be maintained in front of Rosalind.

    All his reasons for vengeance fell powerless before her.

    ¡°In my presence, even the Georg family is nothing but sinners. Any objections?¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    Villon could have killed Rosalind right there and continued with his mission. However, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to do it.

    Villon¡¯s brother had taken his own life to atone for his misdeeds. To kill Lady Rosalind would be to deny not only his brother but also himself.

    His sense of justification was still paramount.

    Vengeance was the only thing that drove him.

    ¡°Then you should have joined in the vengeance!¡±

    Villon finally unleashed his suppressed anger in a shout.

    ¡°I thought you would join in vengeance against the Aldeon royal family! If only Theobald, that weak pacifist, hadn¡¯t been there! I thought you, of all people, would want to dry up the seed of the Aldeon royal family as much as I did!¡±

    The knights around felt a chilling energy as the swordmaster¡¯s genuine fury erupted, sharp enough to wound their skin.

    Rosalind stood calmly before him, meeting his gaze.

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡±

    ¡°But why! I thought the opportunity had finallye when Theobald Saltain died! Why now do you spout nonsense about peace!¡±

    Where is justice to be found?

    It was a cry Rosalind had shouted into the void, a prayer left unanswered.

    After wandering lost, Rosalind had finally encountered justice. She pulled from her bosom what she had discovered as justice.

    Villon looked strangely at Rosalind as she drew a dagger from her pocket.

    ¡°What is that? What are you going to do with it?¡±

    Stabbing a swordmaster with a dagger seemed ludicrous, and even if she did, Villon, being undead, could live eternally with it embedded in him.

    However, Rosalind calmly dropped the dagger from her hand.

    ¡°Georg.¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°Saltain forgives you all. So now, forgive yourselves.¡±

    ***

    Forgiveness.

    Villon felt Rosalind¡¯s words touch something deep within him, something hidden away in his emotions. Her words cut through him more sharply and painfully than any weapon that had ever wounded his body.

    Only then did Villon realize the true nature of his heart.

    The emotion he had been feeling was not vengeance against the Aldeon royal house, but guilt over the disgraceful massacremitted by his brother. And he had been trying to offset that guilt by cing the me on the Aldeon royal house.

    ¡°My father killed himself. Uncle,¡± Lianne¡¯s words finally made sense to him.

    ¡°My father chose the path of dishonor because hecked the courage to refuse an ignoble order. He thencked the courage to seek forgiveness afterward. What my father truly lost was not his honor, but his courage.¡±

    The courage to seek forgiveness.

    If Villon had wanted to reim his honor, he should have sought forgiveness from Saltain first, rather than causing a civil war, a path he ignored because it seemed unchivalrous and not honorable enough.

    In the end, he had faced the shame of being forgiven before he could even ask for it.

    ¡°What forgiveness, I never asked for, nor do I need any¡ª¡±

    Villon stopped himself as he tried to reject Rosalind¡¯s words forcibly.

    Villon¡¯s breathing suddenly becamebored.

    An undead¡¯s body no longer has a heartbeat or breaths. Yet, he felt as if his lungs were being squeezed, his insides twisted, his heart madly thumping. Villon tried to scream, but no breath came.

    His body slowly crumbled.

    Copsed on the ground, Villon was unable to make a sound as he wept.

    ¡°What have I been fighting for all this time?¡±

    How many of his kin had died? How many of his men had been driven to the battlefield?

    Though his kin had actively supported the civil war, and his men were exhrated by the opportunity for military glory, the civil war wasn¡¯t driven by Villon alone, nor would it have been avoided without him.

    But Villon wanted to scream only for the sins he personallymitted.

    ¡°Lianne, that young child had already realized on her own!¡±

    The child who had respected him simply because he was an adult and had epted him without question.

    But only Lianne hadpleted her own world, not swept away by the excesses of the adults around her, doing her best in her own ce.

    She knew what needed to be done, yet he had forcibly involved her. And he had stabbed that Lianne in the heart.

    What vile acts he hadmitted.

    Where could honor now be found?

    Villon wanted to scream into the void. Then, suddenly, he saw Rosalind¡¯s dagger fallen in front of him. That was it. Rosalind¡¯s justice was right there.

    Villon hurriedly picked up the dagger and aimed it at his own throat. Now, the only option left was to follow his brother¡¯s path.

    Thump. The dagger plunged into his neck swiftly, without anyone to stop him.

    But the expected pain, the release of death, did note.

    It was then that Villon realized the horror of immortality.

    Nowhere could he find honor anymore.

    This world itself had be his eternal punishment, his own personal hell.

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read more than 25 advance chapters or support me, you can do it at /Akaza156

 Chapter 196:

    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 be 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 be a Swordmaster like his brother. He understood that hecked one crucial element.

    Whether it was Elil¡¯s blessing or thest 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 be 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 ovee his inferiorityplex 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 orboring as a zombie ve 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 be a Swordmaster.

    Yearster, 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, hadmitted 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 ept the deeds his brother hadmitted. 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 thisnd.

    If he failed, his life would be marred entirely by defeat.

    But at the location where his goaly, 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 copse 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 copse from inertia or copse 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 bing 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¡¯sposed handling during Rosalind¡¯s confrontation. Moreover, Edelred had Kaldbruch.

    Isaac hoped it wouldn¡¯te 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 valuableing 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 ced 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 copsed. 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, shing 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 theke.

    Isaac was rmed, but she skillfully swam and grabbed thedder 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 priestughed 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 be legally ipetent, 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 very 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 hastilymanded the undead knights. Villon immediately unleashed his icy sword energy, and the undead knights raised their swords.

    Yulihida¡¯s sword shed.

    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 ce 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 themand 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 ced 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.

    ng. 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.]

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read more than 25 advance chapters or support me, you can do it at /Akaza156

 Chapter 197:

    ¡°Predation of souls? What on earth¡­?¡±

    Before Isaac could grasp the full meaning, he noticed his sword aura zing even more fiercely. Instead of the tentacles, it was now the aura that was absorbing the surrounding souls.

    [You have preyed upon ¡®Villon Georg the Corrupt.¡¯]

    [The efficiency of your consumption has increased thanks to the ¡®Intestines of the Dead God¡¯ perk.]

    [You have acquired the temporary perk ¡®Immortal Will.¡¯]

    [Even when sustaining a near-fatal injury, this perk will keep your soul tethered to your body for a short period.]

    [The temporary perk will be maintained until it is fully digested.]

    It was quite a beneficial perk.

    It seemed more like a perk granted due to the tenacity of Villon¡¯s prolonged life rather than one obtained by preying on an undead soul. With this perk, even if Isaac sustained a fatal injury, he would have time to endure or escape.¡®So now I can prey with my sword aura as well? No, it even works on souls?¡¯

    Direct predation using the tentacles was highly risky, but using the sword aura posed no such danger. However, it seemed that only souls could be preyed upon with the aura, and its efficiency was lower. Rather than consuming the entire soul, it was more like extracting a portion of its power. To properly consume, devouring the physical body remained the best method.

    ¡°Isaac.¡±

    At that moment, Yulihida approached Isaac, deftly dodging the spears and swords obstructing her path. Isaac hoped to see a hint of triumph on her face, but all he saw was a trace of urgency.

    ¡°We should hurry. The Lady and the Wizard have begun to move.¡±

    Without paying any attention to the undead knights, Yulihida strode confidently toward Elion. Edelred, bewildered by the situation, followed Isaac, trusting he knew what was happening. However, Isaac was just as clueless.

    ¡°Your Majesty!¡±

    Rosalind¡¯s voice, filled with confusion, called out. She demanded an exnation. But neither Isaac nor Edelred had the time to provide one.

    ¡°I¡¯ll exinter, Lady Rosalind! For now, hold your ground!¡±

    An angel¡¯s intervention was like a natural disaster. Trying to discern the cause and effect was futile for ordinary humans; it was part of a grand scheme beyond theirprehension.

    Though it was unsettling and infuriating, there was nothing they could do.

    This world was just that kind of ce.

    The undead knights were left behind.

    Without their souls, their bodies would remain there forever unless dealt with, like statues guarding the Holy Land.

    ***

    As they approached the Holy Land of Elion, the mist grew denser, making it impossible to see ahead. Despite feeling they should have arrived by now, they kept walking until Yulihida grumbled irritably.

    ¡°When is this damned thing going to show up?¡±

    Isaac then spoke to Edelred.

    ¡°Your Majesty, please raise Kaldbruch.¡±

    When Edelred raised Kaldbruch as instructed, a path opened up through the thick mist. Only then did the stairs leading up to Elil¡¯s cemetery be visible, stairs that had beenpletely hidden just moments before.

    Without waiting, Yulihida strode up the stairs.

    Isaac watched her and sensed her anxiety. She was so anxious that she, who usually refrained from intervening in human affairs, had struck down a priest of the Immortal Order.

    Even though angels were overwhelming and unteral beings in this world, such an event was rare.

    ¡®What could be making the Archangel so anxious?¡¯

    Isaac sensed that the time for him to carry out the mission given by the Sword of May was approaching.

    He decided to ask the question that could no longer be postponed.

    ¡°Sword of May, we have now reached the Holy Land of Elion. Please tell me what I must do.¡±

    Edelred, standing nearby, was astonished at the mention of the Sword of May. Yulihida nced at Edelred and then looked back at Isaac.

    ¡°Hm, yes. The King of Elil should hear this too. It¡¯s not unrted.¡±

    She spoke as she walked up the stairs.

    ¡°Isaac, you must go to the Crystal Battlefield.¡±

    ¡°¡­Elil¡¯s Urbansus? How?¡±

    Usually, being told to go to the afterlife meant to die. Isaac had crossed such boundaries before, but that was thanks to the miracles of the Salt Council, which allowed traversal between life and the afterlife.

    However, he was unaware of any simr miracles in Elil¡¯s faith. Fortunately, it didn¡¯t seem like he was being asked to sacrifice his life for the mission.

    ¡°It can be done in the Holy Land. The boundary between Urbansus and the real world is thin there¡­¡±

    Yulihida paused and looked back at Isaac. Her gaze wasplex.

    ¡°There, you must eliminate the Archangel Calurien.¡±

    Archangel Calurien.

    Though known as the ¡®Wizard,¡¯ the name Calurien was so famous during his lifetime that he was often referred to as the Wizard Calurien even now. He was akin to a figure like Luadin in Elil¡¯s faith, the first to be named by Elil.

    ¡°¡­Eliminate Calurien?¡±

    This task was of an entirely different magnitude than subduing a wicked bandit on the mountain. Isaac was shocked that such a mission, one suitable for an angel, was entrusted to him.

    If the first Archangel Calurien were attacked, would the other angels remain idle? Angels, devotees, perhaps even Elil might intervene. Was this not a deration to confront the entire faith of Elil?

    ¡®Is this a way to get rid of me? Sending me to Elil¡¯s battlefield to die?¡¯

    But if that were the case, the Sword of May could have just taken him out directly. Why go through such aplicated and time-consuming process to approach Elil¡¯s Urbansus?

    Edelred, who had been listening, also shouted in disbelief.

    ¡°Sword of May! As an Archangel of the Codex of Light, how can you speak of eliminating Calurien? What do you mean by this? Although Elil has separated from the Codex of Light, Elil still follows its values and order!¡±

    Edelred¡¯s words were true.

    Elil had established the foundation of the great empire that solidified the Codex of Light¡¯s presence on the continent but simultaneously created a schism that split the empire in half. Despite this, Elil never waged an invasion war ormitted massacres against the Codex of Light.

    Even after attaining divinity, Elil imed to follow the values of the Codex of Light and insisted that he had only parted ways with the orders distorting its principles. Hence, he was still part of the vast order of the White Empire¡¯s alliance.

    Yulihida calmly gazed at Edelred and spoke.

    ¡°King of Elil, did I say to cut down Elil? I said Calurien.¡±

    Edelred¡¯s eyes wavered.

    Isaac quickly understood and responded.

    ¡°So, the objective is not to oppose the faith of Elil but to remove Calurien specifically.¡±

    Though the objective remained daunting, the initial difficulty had made it seem rtively easier inparison. However, Edelred was still puzzled.

    ¡°Did Calurien do something wrong against the Codex of Light?¡±

    ¡°No. Not to the Codex of Light.¡±

    Yulihida answered calmly.

    ¡°But he wronged Elil. Calurien has imprisoned Elil and silenced him. Other angels are passively assisting in this.¡±

    Edelred was left speechless by Yulihida¡¯s startling revtion.

    Could it be that the reason for Elil¡¯s silence all this time was because of Calurien?

    Isaac was equally shocked. He knew that returning the Ritual of Division allowed one to face Elil, but the impression that Elil was confined never came through in the game.

    ¡°We should move quickly. We need to strike before Calurien intervenes in reality.¡±

    ***

    At the top of the stairs, a sudden autumnndscape appeared.

    Rustling crimson leaves and a gentle breeze swirled within the enormous stone walls. The scent of a tranquil garden wafted through the air. At the garden¡¯s center, a tall oak tree stood, surrounded by sporadically blooming camellias, all gazing up at the oak.

    Isaac held his breath as he looked beneath the oak tree.

    A man, with a tall stature, a pale face, neatly braided hair, and long ears that revealed his elven heritage, now vanished from this world, leaned against the tree as if asleep, clutching an empty scabbard.

    This man, with an impression like a willow drenched in rain, was Elil.

    He didn¡¯t seem to fit the titles of ¡®Conqueror¡¯ or ¡®Great General,¡¯ but the scar on his chest and the empty void it revealed identified him as Elil. Most importantly, the sacred energy that filled this space, despite the absence of a proper temple or priest, dered his identity.

    ¡°This is where Elil ascended¡­ When he took hisst breath, the surrounding season froze, and the flora ceased to age or die. It was said that when Elil returns, he wouldn¡¯t be startled by the changes but would feel as if he had just woken from a brief nap.¡±

    Edelred muttered, his voice choked with emotion at being in this holynd.

    ¡°That¡¯s a bit strange.¡±

    Suddenly, Hesabel¡¯s voice broke in. Only Edelred, who hadn¡¯t noticed her following, was startled. Isaac and Yulihida remained unfazed, as Hesabel had been brought along for the ritual to be conducted here.

    ¡°From what His Majesty said, it seems Elil ascended in autumn, yet these camellias are not in season. Camellias bloom in spring.¡±

    ¡°T-That¡¯s because it¡¯s spring outside¡­¡±

    ¡°Then what about the story that time stopped?¡±

    ¡°Hesabel, don¡¯t trouble His Majesty.¡±

    Although she had once been a devotee of the Red Chalice, and her skepticism toward Elil¡¯s legend was understandable, now was not the time. The meaning of this scenery could be decipheredter.

    At that moment, Yulihida stepped forward. Edelred looked anxious, worried that bringing an angel of a different faith into Elil¡¯s sacred burial ground might result in some inappropriate action.

    ¡®Now that I think about it, Edelred is the only true follower of Elil here.¡¯

    Even the ovepping faiths were absent. Although Hesabel had converted, she didn¡¯t count.

    Isaac, unable to ignore Edelred¡¯s pleading eyes, reluctantly tried to restrain Yulihida.

    ¡°Sword of May, why exactly is Calurien silencing Elil?¡±

    Yulihida stared intently at Isaac. She seemed to contemte whether to forcepliance, but fortunately, she was reasonable.

    She turned her gaze to Edelred and asked.

    ¡°King of Elil. What do you know about Calurien?¡±

    ¡°That¡­ Calurien was Elil¡¯s greatest mentor and helper, advising him on his path to bing a Conqueror, and ultimately, guiding him to be a deity. He always assisted Elil with prophetic insights and magic.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re well informed. But it seems you don¡¯t know what Calurien originally was?¡±

    ¡°The hermit living in the Tower of Wintercall, wasn¡¯t he?¡±

    In the far north of Elil¡¯s kingdom, beyond the rough seas and rocky shores, stood a tall tower. It was now a ruin, but it was once famous as Calurien¡¯s hideout.

    ¡°Calurien was originally a dragon named Bacalurien. He was a dragon worshiped in Elil¡¯s kingdom. After being defeated by Elil, Bacalurien swore fealty to him and offered his assistance.¡±

    Isaac let out a dryugh.

    Defeating a dragon and making it a subordinate? It sounded like a fantasy novel dream. If he thought about it, Elil¡¯s journey itself resembled that of a fantasy novel protagonist.

    ¡°Like most dragons, Bacalurien was once revered as an ancient god. Naturally, he knew the ways to be a deity. In exchange for revealing those secrets, he became an angel.¡±

    Yulihida smirked as she spoke. As she said, dragons were powerful enough to attract worship solely because of their strength and appearance. They held significant power wherever they went, but most disappeared with the fall of the ancient gods.

    However, there are always the cunning ones.

    Some dragons chose to be subordinates of divine beings rather than bing gods themselves. Their secrets, power, and abilities were enough to achieve great feats as angels. Calurien was one of them.

    ¡°Then¡­ are you saying that Calurien covets Elil¡¯s power and seeks to suppress him and take his ce?¡± Edelred asked, struggling to believe it.

    If Elil symbolized strength, courage, and honor, Calurien symbolized wisdom and knowledge. Hearing that the first Archangel might betray the god was shocking.

    Yulihida¡¯s response was simple.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±

    ¡°Pardon?¡±

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read more than 25 advance chapters or support me, you can do it at /Akaza156

 Chapter 198:

    Isaac pondered briefly before asking, ¡°You¡¯re not asking me to do this alone, are you?¡±

    ¡°Of course not. How could you possibly oppose Calurien by yourself? And why do you think I came all this way? Stop saying foolish things,¡± Yulihida retorted sharply.

    Isaac felt a twinge of annoyance at Yulihida¡¯s scolding, but he reminded himself that this angel, or rather this woman, was a swordsmanship maniac from 300 years ago with littlemon sense. He merely imagined stuffing a ball of cat hair into Yulihida¡¯s mouth while she slept.

    ¡°If you¡¯re done with your questions, I suggest we proceed with the ritual quickly. If Calurien intervenes, it¡¯ll be toote.¡±

    Isaac stepped forward. When he had decided to return the Rite of Division, he had intended to unify the Kingdom of Elil under the oracle of Elil. He hadn¡¯t expected to get involved in such a major incident.

    ¡®Well, I should have anticipated getting involved with angels if I was dealing with an angel helping me catch bandit chiefs and witches.¡¯

    He just didn¡¯t expect that the opponent would be Elil¡¯s first Archangel, Calurien.

    ¡°Hesabel.¡±

    Hesabel, who was to assist with the ritual, took her ce. The ritual to receive the oracle could be conducted using the ceremony he learned from the Red Chalice Club. After all, the two orders shared the same roots. In a way, Hesabel, who drank the blood of the Red Chalice, could be considered a distant rtive of Elil. She was more suitable for the ritual than anyone else.Hesabel took the Rite of Division handed to her by Isaac and made a small cut on her palm. Blood, more copious than the minor wound suggested, dripped heavily. As she chanted the prayer, she began to circle around Elil. Wherever drops of her blood, imbued with divine power, fell, red flowers bloomed.

    As the ritual required some time, Isaac asked Yulihida, ¡°This procedure is to offer the Rite of Division directly to Elil. I won¡¯t be entering Urbansus, will I?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re calling Elil. You¡¯ll automatically enter. Especially since you¡¯ve already visited the afterlife, you have nothing to worry about.¡±

    Isaac figured there must be somemon knowledge among angels he wasn¡¯t privy to.

    Yulihida added one more thing, ¡°Oh, when you enter the Crystal Battlefield, activate the ¡®Lighthouse of the Watcher¡¯ immediately.¡±

    ¡°What? Why¡­ I can¡¯t keep it on for long.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not for you; it¡¯s for that vampire and Elil¡¯s king. You might die as soon as you arrive.¡±

    Isaac didn¡¯t understand at first but then realized the meaning behind Yulihida¡¯s words and was startled.

    ¡°Wait, you mean Hesabel and Edelred are going too? Those two¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­And finally, a part of your heart has returned like this, so please ept it with mercy.¡±

    Just then, Hesabel recited the final prayer of the ritual.

    With a rustling sound, the flowers that had sprouted where Hesabel¡¯s blood had fallen began to grow rapidly, spreading around the area. Isaac recognized them as the same type of camellias that had bloomed around Elil.

    Suddenly, his vision blurred.

    Isaac felt a familiar sensation, the power of Urbansus. The world of the dead was seeping in, epassing all time that had passed, the foundation of everything humanity had built.

    Beyond that vast expanse of time, he saw a massive, blue-ming eye.

    Yulihida¡¯s voice roared in the moment.

    ¡°Do not obstruct the advent of the Millennium Kingdom and await judgment, Calurien!¡±

    Bang. Her shout exploded like a st, sweeping through the area.

    ***

    Isaac¡¯s dulled hearing gradually returned. Although tinnitus rang for a while, his senses recovered, and his vision and mind cleared. He slowly noticed that the massive stone spear barrier blocking his view had disappeared. Instead, a grand forest filled with golden deciduous trees ofte autumn unfolded before him.

    Thud. Thud. He heard the sound of someone copsing. Hesabel and Edelred had fallen to the ground without any resistance. Realizing that their souls were trying to escape their bodies under the pressure of the afterlife, Isaac activated the Lighthouse of the Watcher.

    As a gentle halo spread out, all the order of Urbansus began to align with the reality. Edelred and Hesabel, whose souls were about to escape, groaned and curled up, though they still had not regained full consciousness.

    ¡°Sword of May! There was no need for them toe, was there?¡±

    [No, if it wasn¡¯t necessary, I wouldn¡¯t have summoned them.]

    A voice reverberating like a hum echoed in Isaac¡¯s head. He looked around and realized that Yulihida was nowhere to be seen. Instead, he noticed something unexpected, not on the ground, but in the sky.

    A gigantic eye, about 10 meters in size, surrounded by white mes fluttering like feathers, floated in the air. Around the eye, five rings rotated at varying speeds, each ringposed of hundreds or thousands of weapons, mostly old and broken, indicating they were spoils picked up from battlefields.

    The eye slowly turned its gaze towards Isaac.

    As he met the enormous eye, Isaac felt a moment of dizziness.

    [The Nameless Chaos is watching you.]

    However, Isaac instinctively knew that ¡®that¡¯ was the Sword of May and steadied his mind. Upon entering Urbansus, she had regained her true form as an angel. It was an appearance truly befitting an angel, terrifying and awe-inspiring.

    The Sword of May stared at Isaac and then whispered.

    [You maintain your sanity even after meeting my gaze. Indeed, a child loved by Chaos is different.]

    ¡°Love? What on earth¡­?¡±

    ¡°Ugh, ugh, ugh, Isaac¡­ sir¡­¡±

    Hesabel, having regained consciousness before Edelred, groaned and writhed. Unsure of what to do, Isaac cut his own hand and fed her his blood. Fortunately, as Isaac was a higher being than Hesabel, his blood seemed to have a beneficial effect on her.

    But Edelred still had not regained consciousness.

    ¡°Why is Edelred necessary, even if Hesabel is?¡±

    [Both are needed to face Elil.]

    Though he wondered why, the Sword of May was not inclined to provide further exnation. Asking would only lead to more questions, so he decided to ept it.

    [Have Elil¡¯s king draw on the power of Kaldbruch. It will help him endure longer. And prepare for battle.]

    ¡°Battle?¡±

    [This is Elil¡¯s battlefield. Elil¡¯s scouts patrol constantly.]

    ¡°Intruder!¡±

    Isaac clicked his tongue as he saw a cavalry patrol rushing through the oak forest. They were Elil¡¯s warriors, driven mad by a lust for battle even in death.

    Isaac drew the Luadin Key and released a sword aura towards them.

    At that moment, the Elil warriors shouted.

    ¡°Sword aura! Retreat!¡±

    ¡°¡­¡­¡±

    Isaac was at a loss for words at their absurd but logical reaction. The cavalry made a hasty turn to avoid him and fled.

    Isaac realized toote that showing his sword aura had been a mistake.

    ¡°Bring the general! An external Swordmaster has invaded!¡±

    ***

    ¡°So, they can¡¯t see the 10-meter-wide angel spinning in the sky but find a man emitting sword aura suspicious?¡±

    Although the Elil scouts did not attack Isaac, they maintained a constant perimeter, threatening and restraining him. With Hesabel and Edelred still recovering, Isaac had no choice but to wait.

    Several impatient or honor-driven Elil knights charged at him but fell to his counterattacks. Just moments ago, another knight who had fiercely rushed at him had fallen to Isaac¡¯s sword.

    The Sword of May observed the scene in silence.

    Isaac grumbled about the Sword of May, who didn¡¯t assist him, and the knights, who ignored it, as he prepared to fight again.

    [They cannot see me.]

    ¡°How is that possible?¡±

    [Because at this point in time, the angel known as the Sword of May has not existed. They are mere shadows of time. They cannot perceive what does not exist.]

    Isaac recalled that Urbansus was a space where past times umted. Just as Amunds had shown him the time when the Salt Desert was created, the Sword of May had brought them to a time when the Kingdom of Elil existed in the past.

    If the Sword of May had not yet appeared, it must have been at least 300 years ago.

    ¡°I did not exist in this time either.¡±

    [But humans did, and you are human. They understand what humans are. Shadows can only see other shadows, not light. Light does not cast shadows¡­ If you don¡¯t understand, just think of it as me not wanting to be seen.]

    Isaac decided to skip further pondering as he was getting tired of understanding it.

    Instead, he focused on practical matters.

    Another knight charged at Isaac, shouting his name, family, parents, and birthce. Isaac half-expected him to dere his blood type and MBTI but dispatched him before he could.

    Isaac nced around. He had taken down nearly ten knights, but there were no corpses. Those who fell turned into scattered leaves, blown away by the wind.

    ¡®I think I¡¯m starting to grasp what these shadows of time are.¡¯

    They were not real souls. In essence, they were like NPCs repeating the same actions. They reacted based on variables within this time and ce but could not anticipate extraneous factors like angels. Or perhaps they chose not to.

    ¡®So, where are the real souls?¡¯

    Isaac revisited a question he had pondered before in Urbansus. If Urbansus was a space where all past times umted, where were the afterlife realms, heaven and hell? Were all the sayings about receiving grand hospitality in heaven or burning in hell just lies concocted by gods to deceive humans?

    Isaac¡¯s question was unexpectedly answered quickly.

    ¡°General! The general has arrived!¡±

    The sound of galloping hooves heralded the approach of knights. Isaac, preparing for yet another hassle, tightened his grip on his sword.

    ¡°Ugh, ugh¡­ Teacher?¡±

    At that moment, Edelred groaned, barely regaining consciousness.

    ¡°Draw on the power of Kaldbruch, Your Majesty. It will help you recover from this state akin to a hangover.¡±

    He was already holding Kaldbruch, but Edelred¡¯s will was needed to harness its power. Edelred, groaning like someone suffering from severe nausea, clutched Kaldbruch and began to chant a small prayer.

    A soft rustling sound apanied the transformation as Edelred¡¯s eyes glowed a deep green, and his hair brightened. Leaf-patterned tattoos imbued with radiant light appeared on his skin as the angel¡¯s power began to seep into his body.

    As Edelred exhaled deeply, a potent divine force emanated from him.

    On earth, this power would have drained his body, but in Urbansus, it brought him to an optimal state. Edelred looked at Isaac, astonished by the changes he felt within himself. Fortunately, it seemed the angel within him did not intend tosh out at Isaac.

    Hesabel, having drunk Isaac¡¯s blood, was also able to move. Now, Isaac felt confident that they could at least flee if they encountered the so-called general. He looked ahead.

    At the forefront was a slender woman in armor. As he tilted his head, wondering if she was another female knight, he recognized the armor.

    The general halted abruptly upon meeting Isaac¡¯s gaze. She signaled the knights to stop and lifted her helmet, revealing a familiar face.

    ¡°Lianne?¡±

    ¡°Holy Grail Knight? Are you dead too?¡±

    Their stunned gazes met, and one of the knights, sensing the strange atmosphere, shouted.

    ¡°They know each other! Disperse!¡±

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read more than 25 advance chapters or support me, you can do it at /Akaza156

 Chapter 199:

    Isaac, realizing that the ¡®general¡¯ the knights had been waiting for was Lianne, lowered his sword in disbelief. Just a few days ago, they had been crossing swords, but meeting in such a far-off ce felt like encountering someone from his hometown.

    Edelred was particrly taken aback.

    ¡°Uh, um, Lianne? So, you¡­ died? ording to Villon, the Lady of the Lake was protecting you¡­¡±

    Edelred was so flustered that he trembled despite drawing on the power of Kaldbruch. Isaac, feeling sorry for him, wanted to pat his shoulder, but Lianne seemed unconcerned.

    ¡°I¡¯m not entirely sure what happened either. I met the Lady of the Lake, but she didn¡¯t exin much. She just told me to stay here for a while. But¡­¡±

    She cast a fearful nce at the sky but quickly looked away, unable to keep her eyes on it for long. Even a Swordmaster dared not look directly at the presence floating in the air.

    Lianne, appearing confused, asked, ¡°Is that an angel of the Codex of Light? Judging by the blinding radiance, I assume so. Who is it?¡±

    ¡°After shing swords and even facing a cat together, you don¡¯t recognize her?¡±

    ¡°Could it be¡­ the Sword of May? But how¡­¡±Realizing that the being floating in the sky was the one who had driven away the cat she had encountered, she was stunned. Fortunately, the Sword of May wasn¡¯t a petty angel seeking revenge on Lianne for that incident.

    [There won¡¯t be any more interruptions, so that¡¯s good. Move, Isaac. We have a long way to go.]

    ¡°Ah, yes¡­ but where are we going?¡±

    [To where Elil is. Calurien will be waiting there.]

    The Sword of May said this and began to move silently, gliding through the air. The wings made of zing feathers didn¡¯t p. After all, such a massive body wouldn¡¯t fly by wing power alone.

    The idea of walking in the afterlife seemed odd, but Isaac followed orders for now. Somehow, Lianne, also bewildered, ended up apanying them. Isaac found it rather convenient; with her presence, there wouldn¡¯t be any more scouting parties causing trouble.

    Edelred, who walked beside Lianne with a pleased expression, asked cautiously as they moved.

    ¡°So, the Lady of the Lake told you to wait, which means you¡¯re not definitively dead.¡±

    Lianne nodded.

    ¡°Yes, Your Majesty. I remember my uncle stabbing me in the chest. It was a fatal wound, and I thought it was all over. But beyond that, I¡¯m not sure what happened. However¡­¡±

    She looked around with a serene expression. The forest filled with golden leaves and chirping birds seemed tofort her. Even though scouts of Elil were lurking menacingly beyond the woods, she felt at ease.

    ¡°In fact, I feel more at peace here than in the fortress of Elion. Thanks to the Lady of the Lake¡¯s favor, I feel honored to stay in this heaven.¡±

    Edelred nced around with a perplexed look.

    ¡°So, this is Elil¡¯s heaven?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Even if you die, you revive the next day, so you can always challenge strong opponents without worry. When you return to the fortress, you are greeted by magnificent scenery and abundant fields. In the battlefield governed by Elil, no deceit or vile acts are possible. This is indeed heaven.¡±

    ¡°Still, cultivating the Holy Land while alive¡­¡±

    Edelred spoke cautiously, noticing Lianne¡¯s apparent contentment with this ce.

    If a believer entered heaven, it was considered a happy ending. But while alive, one might sin and lose the chance to enter heaven. Therefore, wishing for someone in heaven toe back to life seemed questionable.

    However, Isaac couldn¡¯t shake off the feeling of disconnect in Lianne¡¯s words. Urbansus was a collection of past moments. This meant that the scenery and time Lianne considered heaven actually existed in a certain period. Revival could be seen as a repetition of time.

    ¡°I don¡¯t like it here. Everything turns to leaves when you die, you don¡¯t need to eat, so there¡¯s no appetite, and everyone¡¯s eyes are red, looking for someone to fight¡­¡±

    Hesabel grumbled. Normally quiet, she seemed irritable, perhaps still suffering from the aftereffects of her soul detachment.

    Lianne ignored her, but Isaac found her words unsettling.

    The heaven of the Red Chalice was a grand banquet hall filled with pleasures, delicious food, and indulgences. The meat served at the banquet were sinners who had fallen into hell.

    Heaven and hell were in the same ce.

    ¡®Then Elil¡¯s hell must be¡­¡¯

    Isaac thought of the knights endlessly wandering this forest. Reviving after death meant eternal life. They would fight forever but never grow stronger, only suffering eternalck and humiliation.

    This battlefield was heaven for the victors and hell for the losers.

    Isaac asked Lianne what he was curious about.

    ¡°Lianne, who rules this ce now?¡±

    Lianne answered as if Isaac had asked something strange.

    ¡°Of course, it¡¯s Elil. Who else would rule Elil¡¯s heaven?¡±

    Her answer confirmed Isaac¡¯s suspicion.

    This was still a time when Elil was alive and ruling the kingdom.

    ***

    As time passed, Hesabel¡¯s soul density adjusted to Urbansus, and she returned to her original condition, as did Edelred. However, Edelred maintained the state of drawing power from Kaldbruch as he could do so without burden.

    As a result, they were quite helpful in subsequent battles.

    ¡°I¡¯ll handle this!¡±

    Edelred swung Kaldbruch at a massive bear charging at them, seemingly eager to test the sword¡¯s enhanced power.

    But swinging Elil¡¯s holy sword at a mere bear was like shooting a cannon at a mosquito. Edelred was even using Isaac¡¯s Isaac Swordsmanship.

    BANG! Edelred¡¯s light swing sliced the massive bear as if it were bitten, leaving only its head and hind legs. The body scattered in a semi-circle of blood and flesh within a 20-meter radius.

    ¡®The power of an angel indeed. Insane.¡¯

    Isaac couldn¡¯t help but be amazed. The holy sword¡¯s power seemed to enhance Edelred¡¯s swordsmanship, especially Isaac¡¯s notoriously lethal style. Using such an attack on a person in battle would undoubtedly earn severe reprimands.

    ¡°Uh, um, so¡­¡±

    While Edelred was flustered, a crossbow bolt whizzed past his hair. The bolt hit its mark perfectly, striking between the eyes of a wolf lurking in the bushes, aiming for Edelred¡¯s nape. The blood on the arrow quickly mingled with the wolf¡¯s fluids, causing it to crumble.

    ¡°Oh, indeed, our strength has generally increased.¡±

    The miracles of the afterlife seemed to enhance everyone¡¯s power to some degree. While Isaac¡¯s own strength had grown, the overall changes were noticeable.

    ¡°But why are there so many wild beasts here? They don¡¯t even avoid people armed with spears and swords.¡±

    ¡°This is the royal hunting ground. Knightse here to hone their skills,¡± Lianne exined, and Isaac tilted his head in confusion. Hunting grounds usually meant a ce to gather meat, but it seemed the concept was different in Elil¡¯s time.

    ¡°So, where exactly are you heading? I heard you¡¯re going to where Elil is¡­¡±

    Lianne asked the question she should have asked earlier.

    ¡°I heard you¡¯re returning the Rite of Division. I thought you were just going to return it to the Holy Land. I hoped to receive an oracle in the process. But toe this far¡­¡±

    [We are going to meet the archangel Calurien.]

    The Sword of May answered in her ce. Isaac hoped he wouldn¡¯t reveal too much, but the Sword of May was notoriously indiscreet.

    [Calurien has imprisoned Elil and silenced him. We will defeat him and free Elil. If you are favored by the Lady of the Lake, you could be of help. Join us.]

    ¡°What? Wait! What are you saying? You n to harm Archangel Calurien? This cannot be allowed!¡±

    In shock, she instinctively drew her sword. Though it wasn¡¯t Lumiarde, it was still a finely honed de. The problem was that around the Sword of May were countless such fine swords, broken, rusted, and reduced to trophies.

    Before the Sword of May could add another trophy to its collection, Isaac quickly intervened.

    ¡°Wait, Lianne. We can exin¡­¡±

    ¡°No! This is an intolerable statement! Imprisoning Elil? Do you think such ridiculous lies would convince the protector of the Holy Land? I expected better from the renowned Sword of May, but this is disappointing!¡±

    Lianne cast a disappointed look at Edelred as well.

    ¡°Your Majesty, did you follow this nonsense? Using Kaldbruch as a key? This is preposterous¡­¡±

    ¡°No, I¡­.¡±

    As Edelred wavered, Isaac had no choice but to strike Lianne on the back of the head with his hilt. However, a Swordmaster wouldn¡¯t fall for such an attack. She deftly deflected his strike, drawing her sword back and aiming to hit Isaac¡¯s jaw.

    The next moment, her body was impaled by a massive sword. The Sword of May had attacked. Lianne looked at the sword piercing her in disbelief, but then two, three more spears and swords struck her body. She was pinned by the weapons and couldn¡¯t even fall.

    ¡°Lianne!!¡±

    Edelred, horrified, tried to reach her, but her body disintegrated into golden leaves before his eyes. He shouted in fury.

    ¡°What have you done?¡±

    [What have I done? She¡¯ll revive tomorrow. There¡¯s no time for persuasion.]

    ¡°But still¡­¡±

    Finally, Edelred seemed to remember this was heaven and calmed down, though he was still seething. When he tried to re at the Sword of May, he staggered and nearly fell, unable to bear the angelic presence.

    The Sword of May exined calmly.

    [The girl is favored by the Lady of the Lake. I hoped to use her to persuade the Lady, but there¡¯s a high chance she would betray us at a critical moment. I considered taking her along if her personal qualities allowed persuasion. But it seems unlikely. So, she¡¯s excluded.]

    Edelred couldn¡¯t argue with the Sword of May¡¯s ¡°logical and considerate reasoning.¡±

    However, Isaac feared this unempathetic angel might turn another important ally into an enemy, so he quickly intervened.

    ¡°Your Majesty, Lianne will revive anyway and won¡¯t care about what happened in heaven. The most important thing is proving we were right. What¡¯s more important than freeing the imprisoned Elil and receiving the oracle?¡±

    Edelred sighed deeply, still looking resentfully at Isaac.

    ¡°I¡¯m only listening to this angel because of you, Teacher. Without you, my stance wouldn¡¯t be much different from Lianne¡¯s.¡±

    ¡°Thank you for your trust.¡±

    Isaac managed to cate Edelred and red at the Sword of May.

    But he was at a disadvantage in a staring contest, so he decided to try another approach.

    ¡°Let¡¯s have a word in private.¡±

    ***

    ¡°From now on, I¡¯ll handle all the conversations. Don¡¯t interfere.¡±

    [You¡¯re quite audacious. The followers of Elil often achieve inexplicable feats. We must not underestimate them. It was a rational choice.]

    Isaac red at the Sword of May.

    ¡°So, what about me? Am I trustworthy? Didn¡¯t you call me a monstrous hybrid favored by the Nameless Chaos? How can you trust me with this mission?¡±

    [I didn¡¯t say that exactly. And it¡¯s not so much about trust as it is about capability. You seem capable of aplishing it.]

    ¡°Ha.¡±

    Isaacughed in disbelief.

    ¡°I need to rethink this mission. Why should I undertake such a perilous task in the first ce?¡±

 Chapter 200:

    The Sword of May responded to Isaac¡¯s words with disbelief.

    [Shameless. Is it not enough that I don¡¯t expose your secret to the church?]

    Frankly, it was true.

    Isaac wasn¡¯t in a position to negotiate with the Sword of May on this matter. If the Order of the Codex of Light were to decree his emunication and execution, Isaac would be hunted by the White Empire forever.

    However, since they hade this far, the Sword of May didn¡¯t have many alternatives either. For some reason, she imed that her angelic powers alone wouldn¡¯t suffice against Calurien. Isaac¡¯s remark about reconsidering was a bluff, but it put the Sword of May in a difficult position.

    Isaac wanted to use this opportunity to get a definitive answer.

    ¡°So, in return for this task, you¡¯ll keep your mouth shut forever? I can continue to exist within the Codex of Light without issue?¡±

    [You already follow the Codex¡¯s order and serve it. The Lighthouse Keeper deemed you useful. We might even gain another ally through you.]

    This meant it wasn¡¯t just the Sword of May¡¯s judgment but also that of Luadin the Lighthouse Keeper. Isaac felt a glimmer of hope, suggesting that even if his allegiance to the Nameless Chaos was revealed, he might still be epted within the White Empire.¡°Doesn¡¯t the Codex of Light reject Chaos?¡±

    Even Al Durad, the Liberation Bishop Isaac had met, had cooperated with the Codex to prevent the return of the Nameless Chaos, aiming to rece that position with Kalsen. The Codex¡¯s principle was to kill and burn any minions of the Nameless Chaos on sight.

    The Sword of May¡¯s answer was simple.

    [I have faced and ughtered countless minions of Chaos.]

    She blinked her eyes made of mes and continued.

    [If it seems like you¡¯re receiving special treatment, it¡¯s because you¡¯re special.]

    Her answer was straightforward and understandable. Isaac being special among the Nameless Chaos¡¯s minions was evident.

    Isaac neither sought the world¡¯s destruction nor cried out to offer sacrifices to writhing tentacles. Compared to such monsters, Isaac might indeed be someone the Sword of May could ept.

    ¡®But that also means only as long as I¡¯m useful. Essentially, they intend to use me as a meat shield.¡¯

    He didn¡¯t mind using and discarding others, but he detested being used and discarded. Angels and gods were entities that would deceive even their own followers for the greater good. Doing so to followers of other faiths was even more given.

    ¡®Don¡¯t trust the Sword of May too much.¡¯

    Isaac recalled Kalsen¡¯s words.

    The humble and somewhat naive persona Yulihida disyed in the Elil Kingdom had lowered Isaac¡¯s guard, but she was still an angel. For reasons beyond human understanding, she could abandon him at any time.

    Ultimately, Isaac decided to follow her for now but to remain cautious. Such a level of detachment seemed appropriate for any faith.

    [However, you are a calcting person, so without a reward, you wouldn¡¯t be motivated. Since we must fight a formidable enemy, I will grant you a reward in advance.]

    A bright light enveloped Isaac, and he felt a surge of energy. The Sword of May¡¯s voice resonated with authority and promise.

    [May the power of the Codex strengthen your resolve and sharpen your de. Use this gift wisely in the battles toe.]

    Isaac felt the weight of responsibility but also the power coursing through him, enhancing his abilities. He nodded, epting the terms.

    ¡°Thank you. I¡¯ll make sure to live up to this.¡±

    With renewed vigor, Isaac prepared for the challenges ahead, determined to see this mission through while staying vignt of his allies and enemies alike.

    The Sword of May¡¯s eyes shed as it plucked a feather-like me from itself and dropped it. The me floated down, gently merging with the Luadin Key. Isaac took out the key and ignited the me.

    The previously red-burning Luadin Key now zed with a brighter white me.

    [Enhanced Luadin Key (S+)]

    [A sword that has shed its former shell and regained its original form. It is a key that reveals and unlocks hidden and confined things with light and heat. Enhanced with heavenly heat and an angel¡¯s feather, it grants permanent warmth and vitality to its bearer. Superior unsealing, cold resistance.]

    [This should be a satisfactory reward. Now stopining and get to work.]

    Isaac epted it with a delighted expression. Maybe the Sword of May was a good person after all?

    ***

    However, great rewards oftene with tough conditions.

    Despite their initial momentum, breaking through Elil¡¯s heaven became increasingly difficult as time passed.

    ¡°Why the hell are there so many trolls in Elil¡¯s heaven?!¡±

    Hesabel shouted in frustration.

    Savage, massive trolls swung or threw logs at Isaac¡¯s group. Trolls, considered favored beasts of the Red Chalice, didn¡¯t fit in Elil¡¯s heaven.

    But Edelred had a different view. With a swoosh and a crash, he shattered a flying log with a single strike of Kaldbruch and exined.

    ¡°Trolls are the preferred prey of knights! Sturdy, strong, and above all, minions of the Red Chalice. Hunting trolls is considered proof of bing a true knight in Elil¡¯s kingdom!¡±

    In other words, they were released as trophies or level-up monsters.

    Elil¡¯s yground¡­ or rather, battlefield, was designed for fulfillingbat.

    The problem was that the level of the monsters released there was set for people who would revive the next day. Naturally, Isaac¡¯s group, who would face a permanent end if they died, had no choice but to fight fiercely.

    Even Isaac, who had mastered the sword aura, found it challenging. There were monsters prepared for the Swordmasters of Elil, who had a guaranteed ticket to heaven.

    ¡°Grrroooooar!¡±

    Isaac was confronting a massive troll wearing a crown made of intertwined skulls and finger bones. The ¡®massive¡¯ part was beyond ordinary, being thrice the size of other trolls, wielding a huge club embedded with troll teeth and jawbones.

    Isaac temporarily dubbed him ¡®Troll Dental Hygienist.¡¯ Every swing of the club shatteredrge trees like toothpicks and left craters in the ground.

    Edelred had initially engaged the troll with Kaldbruch, but surprisingly, the troll knew how to wield a weapon. When Kaldbruch damaged its club, the troll managed to make Edelred stumble.

    ¡°What kind of monster is this?¡±

    [That¡¯s Troll King Debeburged. He¡¯s one of the ancient gods Elil killed. A hybrid of giant and troll, blessed by nature worship. Elil liked him so much that he even bestowed knighthood on his corpse.]

    The Sword of May took on the role of an informativepanion rather than intervening. The troll king¡¯s club emanated a deadly aura, almostparable to Isaac¡¯s sword aura.

    Hesabel tried to control the troll king¡¯s mind and shot several blood-stained arrows into it, but the troll¡¯s monstrous regeneration rendered her efforts futile. During the fight with Edelred, even after losing its wrist, it had already regenerated by the time he blinked.

    At one point, Isaac quickly maneuvered under the troll king. It seemed like the perfect angle for the troll king to crush Isaac into pulp. But the troll king, wisely, did not fall for Isaac¡¯s bait and tried to retreat to reassess the situation. Exactly as Isaac had anticipated.

    Isaac¡¯s sword moved in a peculiar manner.

    The troll king hesitated for a split second, unsure of Isaac¡¯s next move. Seizing the opportunity, Isaac executed a swift and powerful strike aimed at the troll king¡¯s exposed side. The movement was fluid and unexpected, catching the troll off guard.

    With a precise sh, Isaac¡¯s sword cut deep into the troll king¡¯s side. The troll roared in pain and fury, but Isaac didn¡¯t relent. He followed up with a series of rapid strikes, each one finding its mark and further weakening the colossal creature.

    Despite its regeneration abilities, the troll king couldn¡¯t keep up with Isaac¡¯s relentless assault. Isaac¡¯s movements were a blur, his sword dancing through the air with deadly precision. Finally, with onest, powerful strike, he severed the troll king¡¯s head from its body.

    The massive body of the troll king copsed to the ground with a thunderous crash. Isaac stood over it, breathing heavily but victorious.

    [Well done, Isaac. That was impressive.]

    The Sword of May¡¯s voice resonated with approval. Isaac nodded, feeling a sense of aplishment. He knew the battle was far from over, but for now, they had earned a hard-fought victory.

    The Troll King felt a strange force pulling at his retreating steps, causing him to lose his bnce. Taking advantage of the opening, Isaac shed upward at the Troll King¡¯s groin. It was the unfortunate position he had to target due to the creature¡¯s immense size, where an ordinary human¡¯s neck would be.

    The Troll King let out a horrific scream, thrashing wildly. However, the struggle ceased as the Luadin Key pierced his throat. The white mes from the key nullified the creature¡¯s monstrous regeneration abilities.

    Isaac wiped the sweat from his brow as the Troll King finally turned into fallen leaves. He felt a sense of self-reproach for having to use both his sword aura and techniques just to defeat a mere troll.

    ¡®If a troll, even an ancient one, is this tough, what about the angels¡­¡¯

    What troubled Isaac more was the increasing difficulty of the monsters they were encountering. The ultimate destination of their journey promised even greater challenges, including dragons.

    ¡°Sword of May, can¡¯t you just, I don¡¯t know¡­ teleport us or something?¡±

    He almost mentioned how Amands in Miarma used to effortlessly manipte space and time. Of course, Isaac knew that if such a thing were possible, the Sword of May would have done it already. Hisint was more of a grumble.

    [This is Elil¡¯s Urbansus. I cannot interfere. Each domain has its boundaries.]

    ¡°Then at least lend a hand?¡±

    [Shall I handle the trolls while you deal with the angelster?]

    ¡°¡­I¡¯ll try harder!¡±

    Isaac thought it might be easier if Calurien attacked directly.

    ¡®Why isn¡¯t Calurien attacking us first?¡¯

    In the real world, dys were inevitable due to limited power. But since entering Urbansus, the Sword of May seemed less anxious, and Calurien, who seemed ready to appear at any moment, was holding back.

    ¡®Are Elil¡¯s angels so lenient that they tolerate an invasion?¡¯

    Absolutely not. Elil was notoriously aggressive towards invaders. The only reason for this hesitation could be that Calurien was dealing with a greater threat than Isaac¡¯s group.

    Isaac turned his head with a distant gaze, unable to fathom what they might face. Amidst the forest devastated by the Troll King, theke shimmered beautifully in the distance, and by theke¡­

    Isaac froze.

    [Isaac, there¡¯s no time to admire the scenery. Hurry up.]

    The Sword of May urged as he stood still.

    ¡°Ah, yes, right¡­¡±

    Isaac replied stiffly and resumed moving. Despite turning away, he felt the piercing gaze of the woman standing on theke, still fixed on him.

    ***

    Even in heaven, night falls.

    It was a time to reset and reorganize everything. The burnt remains became trees again, scattered fragrances returned to their original forms, and the dead were revived. It was a time to be prosperous again, to achieve victories anew, and to take their ces for new defeats.

    The Sword of May dered a halt and rmended rest. Not for humanitarian reasons like ensuring rest time, though.

    [The time when everything is restored to its original state means that anything that shouldn¡¯t exist will be erased. If you don¡¯t want to be a nonexistent entity, don¡¯t stray from this bonfire.]

    She lit a sizeable bonfire in the middle of the orchard they chose as their resting ce. The white mes burned an entire tree as fuel. Isaac could sense that the mes had an effect simr to the beacon of the Watcher.

    Having fought all day with Kaldbruch, Edelred quickly fell asleep.

    Hesabel, despite her wide-awake eyes at night, wasn¡¯t foolish enough to wander during the reorganization period. The Sword of May closed herrge eyes, but it didn¡¯t seem like she was sleeping.

    With some rare free time, Isaac examined the Sword of May.

    Initially, he felt both awe and fear at her ridiculous appearance, but remembering that she was actually the short Yulihida Arte created a strange sense of intimacy. Summoning his courage, Isaac decided to ask something he had always been curious about.

    ¡°By the way, why are you afraid of cats, Sword of May?¡±

    The swords orbiting the Sword of May halted. From Isaac¡¯s experience, this indicated either surprise or concentration.

    She blinked her eyes and stared at Isaac. He thought she might remain silent, but surprisingly, she spoke candidly.

    [Yes, it¡¯s good for you to know. You must have started to realize how soft the world can be.]

    ¡°Soft, you say¡­?¡±

    Isaac was puzzled by the unexpected word.

    Soft? To him, the world was harsh, violent, and sharp.

    Isaac had been wounded many times by the world¡¯s rough edges, nearly dying on several asions.

    But the Sword of May began an entirely different tale.

    [There was a small, soft cat I raised since childhood. Her name was Settra. At that time, I didn¡¯t know how frightening cats could be. I thought they were just lovely creatures.]

    She continued, revealing her affection for cats without hesitation.

    [I always loved cats. In fact, the only beings I truly gave my affection to were cats. But my enemies also realized this. They learned that I cherished my cat.]

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read more than 25 advance chapters or support me, you can do it at /Akaza156

 Chapter 201:

    Isaac wondered if the Red Chalice had taken the cat as a hostage. It was an absurd and petty act, but it was something the Red Chalice would do. However, what the early undead of the Immortal Order did was even more ridiculous.

    ¡°They heard that I liked cats, so they started tying random cats to their shields to confront me. I couldn¡¯t kill them without cutting down the cats first.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±

    Isaac¡¯s expression grewplex. Using innocent, speechless animals as shields was indeed an atrocity. But he doubted it was enough to defeat Yulihida Arte, a war hero and a candidate for Archangel at the time. Instead, Isaac sensed just how desperate the undead of the Immortal Order must have been.

    At his peak, Yulihida must have truly been a formidable presence.

    ¡°You didn¡¯t lose because of that, did you?¡±

    ¡°If I had, I wouldn¡¯t have be an angel. I killed and purified all the cats and the undead. They couldn¡¯t even retrieve the bones. It was the greatest victory of my life.¡±

    It was an expected oue. Yet, Isaac couldn¡¯t understand why the Sword of May was afraid of cats.

    Then Yulihida continued speaking.¡°Only after the battle did I realize¡­ how strong I had be.¡±

    ¡®¡­¡­?¡¯

    It was a strange realization to have after cutting down cats, but the Sword of May was speaking the truth.

    She looked at Isaac with heavy eyes.

    ¡°There was no difference between the hundreds of undead and the cats I killed. It was like the difference between petals and stems. Since that day, I¡¯ve been a little afraid to wield my sword.¡±

    Imagine someone strong enough to crush iron with one hand holding an egg. Would there be a difference between the eggshell and the yolk? Even a slight squeeze would crush the egg. Unless handled with extreme care.

    ¡°My sword is a righteous weapon that destroys the undead, but it can also easily kill a kitten. How is this world different from those cats I killed? It¡¯s small, soft, and lovely but easily broken.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve tried countless times to forget that day, but every time I see a cat, I¡¯m reminded of what I hold in my hands. That¡¯s why I¡¯m afraid of cats. And Isaac, you should be afraid from now on too.¡±

    Isaac recalled the first time he met the Sword of May and her boastful threats about ending the kingdom of Elil and blowing up the royal castle.

    She wasn¡¯t just boasting. She feared and was wary of her own destructive power.

    Isaac had always thought the world was violent, sharp, and rough.

    But now, looking back, he realized that he, chosen to wield the tool to cut down Calurien, was also one of those sharp and rough edges of the world.

    If he ever found something to love in this world, Isaac would have to fear it too.

    ***

    After the conversation, Isaac gazed at the countless stars adorning the sky. Unlike the stars that consistently flowed in one direction, these stars shifted slowly or quickly in irregr patterns. It was an odd sight, but he understood it reflected the anomalous time flows urring across Urbansus, a ce where normal time didn¡¯t apply.

    Isaac suddenly noticed a peculiar constetion.

    ¡°The constetion you¡¯re looking at is called the Wanderer. It has no fixed position and can¡¯t be predicted.¡±

    Turning toward the voice, Isaac realized he was no longer by the campfire but at the edge of ake. Despite the sudden change, he calmly observed the figure who had summoned him here.

    A woman stood with her toes dipped in the water, dressed in a soft, dark green velvet dress with silver hair cascading down to theke like a waterfall. Around her feet, aquatic nts and flowers flourished, and a light mist rose from the surface.

    She held a spear and shield, and despite her delicate appearance, she looked entirely natural in that stance.

    ¡°What brings the Lady of the Lake to me?¡±

    ¡°¡­What brings me? It¡¯s your lot that has invaded. Asking the homeowner why they¡¯re here is like a thief questioning the owner of the house.¡±

    The Lady of the Lake, Archangel Nimloth, responded incredulously but did not brandish her spear with hostility. Isaac, who had somewhat anticipated this meeting since encountering her at theke, found the situation quite intriguing.

    They were on their way to eliminate Calurien, yet Calurien hadn¡¯t shown himself, and only the Lady of the Lake had been interfering with them.

    ¡°If my words were offensive, I apologize. I merely thought there must be a reason for a being as esteemed as the Lady of the Lake to invite me to such a beautiful ce instead of punishing me.¡±

    Nimloth was known in Elil¡¯s faith as a guardian of knights, guiding young knights, leading mature knights in battle, and ushering fallen knights to heaven, a kind of reaper and protector of knights.

    Although she appeared as a beautifuldy, legends said she discovered and trained the Supreme King Elil in his youth.

    If Elil learned wisdom from Calurien, it was said he learned swordsmanship from Nimloth.

    Nimloth gazed at Isaac for a moment before speaking.

    ¡°I heard you¡¯re a devout Holy Grail Knight, yet your tongue is quite eloquent.¡±

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not apliment.¡±

    Nimloth struck the water with her spear, creating ripples that disturbed theke.

    ¡°You ask why I summoned you? Because you¡¯re invading Elil¡¯s sanctum. By what authority does the Codex of Lightmit such acts? We¡¯ve already split from the Codex! This kind of intervention vites the covenant!¡±

    Isaac assumed Nimloth didn¡¯t recognize him as a servant of the Nameless Chaos, but rather was angered by the presence of the Sword of May. Still, Isaac felt some injustice himself.

    Was this situation something he desired? A pdin had to obey the angels¡¯mands.

    ¡°I share your anger, Nimloth. But how can a mere mortal like me defy the grand designs of the gods?¡±

    In truth, if defiance could benefit him, Isaac would do so without hesitation. For now, he yielded. There were many secrets he didn¡¯t know yet. If he could sway Nimloth, he might learn what the Sword of May was hiding.

    ¡°Moreover, the Sword of May told me that Calurien has imprisoned Elil.¡±

    Nimloth fell silent at Isaac¡¯s words. Sensing her hesitation, Isaac quickly continued.

    ¡°Lady, Elil has been silent on earth for over a century. If Calurien has indeed imprisoned him, isn¡¯t it right to free him? Elil is your god, but also your disciple.¡±

    Nimloth¡¯s face twisted as if struck by Isaac¡¯s words. Shame, anger, and sorrow shed across her features.

    ¡°Silence! How dare an outsider question our faith? If Calurien did such a thing, it¡¯s only because Elil needed it, embracing sorrow and anguish to achieve it!¡±

    Nimloth¡¯s voice trembled with rage.

    ¡°Even if it¡¯s true, how can an outsider interfere in our internal matters? This isn¡¯t in the Codex of Light¡¯s doctrine! The Lighthouse Keeper is just being greedy for the Millennium Kingdom!¡±

    Millennium Kingdom.

    Isaac focused as he heard the term again, having previously heard it when the Sword of May roared. It wasn¡¯t an unfamiliar term to him. In Nameless Chaos, it was said that when the Holy Land was conquered and unified under the Codex of Light, the ¡°arrival of the Millennium Kingdom¡± would be dered, signaling victory.

    In the game, each faith had a victory deration: ¡°Midas¡¯ Touch¡± for the Golden Idol faith, ¡°The Last War¡± for the Elil faith, and so on. The Millennium Kingdom was the Codex of Light¡¯s victory deration. Isaac had thought of it as a mere figure of speech, but it seemed to hold a different meaning for the angels.

    ¡°Why is the advent of the Millennium Kingdom a problem?¡±

    If the Millennium Kingdom arrived, the Codex of Light would win, and it would also signify the victory of the White Empire. Helping the Codex of Light to seed in the Dawn Army was also Elil¡¯s goal. It seemed strange that Calurien or Nimloth, Archangels of Elil, would oppose it.

    At Isaac¡¯s question, Nimloth¡¯s eyes shed. The mere act of meeting her gaze felt like being pierced by a spear. Not just a feeling¡ªblood trickled from Isaac¡¯s mouth.

    [The Nameless Chaos watches you.]

    Isaac¡¯s body jerked as he roughly drew the Luadin Key. The pure white mes that burst forth invigorated him, slightly diminishing Nimloth¡¯s imposing presence. Isaac realized that for a moment, all his internal organs had ceased functioning. A regr person would have died without knowing what hit them.

    ¡°Elil¡¯s faithful do not shy from a fight. Why would I be any different?¡±

    Nimloth looked at Isaac and slightly bowed her head.

    ¡°My apologies. I was angry, thinking you knew what the Millennium Kingdom¡¯s advent meant and were actively aiding it. But it seems you don¡¯t even know what it is. Ignorance can¡¯t be punished.¡±

    Isaac found it ridiculous.

    Nimloth might never have seen the Millennium Kingdom, but he had seen it firsthand and even yed a role in bringing it about. In this respect, Isaac had the upper hand, even against an angel.

    ¡°Sure, you might know about the advent of the Millennium Kingdom. But do you know what happens after?¡±

    ¡°¡­¡­¡±

    That was true. yers had no way of knowing what happened after the game¡¯s ending.

    However, Isaac aimed his sword at Nimloth and said, ¡°If you try any tricks again, I won¡¯t stay quiet.¡±

    Nimloth smiled slyly and tilted her head.

    ¡°A warning from the ¡®Angel yer¡¯? Don¡¯t get cocky just because you killed a couple of washed-up angels.¡±

    Despite her words, Nimloth seemed to appreciate Isaac¡¯s boldness and continued with a smile.

    ¡°Fine¡­ I¡¯ll tell you why the Codex of Light shouldn¡¯t interfere with Elil¡¯s internal matters.¡±

    ***

    Nimloth extended her hand toward Isaac.

    He hesitated but then took her hand, stepping onto theke. Instead of sinking, his feet felt as though they were treading on soft sand. It was a different sensation from when he used the Doctrine of Waves.

    ¡°Follow me. We¡¯ll talk while we walk.¡±

    From the beginning, it was clear Nimloth had no desire to fight Isaac. She seemed intent on persuading him to abandon his expedition. Isaac understood that the sess of this mission depended not on the Sword of May, but on him.

    Amid the quiet sound of gentle waves, Nimloth began to speak.

    ¡°Do you know why the Elil schism urred?¡±

    The decisive event that caused the split between the Codex of Light and Elil. Isaac only knew that the event had halved the great empire that once was under the Codex of Light. At the time, Elil¡¯s kingdom was a vast nation, controlling the western and southern parts of the empire.

    The rebellion of Elil, the second Archangel appointed after Luadin under the Codex of Light¡¯s blessing, was a shocking event not only for the Codex of Light but for the entire world. There were many stories surrounding the incident.

    One story that was always mentioned was about Elil¡¯s daughter and lover, the dancer.

    ¡°I heard that Elil rose against the Codex of Light because he couldn¡¯t stand its vile acts and did so with a righteous heart.¡±

    Of course, Isaac wasn¡¯t about to tell an Archangel that their god had rebelled because he couldn¡¯t marry his daughter. While he had the courage to fight an angel if necessary, he wasn¡¯t foolish enough to provoke one unnecessarily.

    However, Nimloth scoffed and gestured with her chin.

    ¡°I know what the Codex of Light ims. Speak honestly.¡±

    ¡°¡­I also heard the rumor that Elil split from the Codex of Light because they wouldn¡¯t allow him to marry his daughter.¡±

    ¡°Which one do you think is true?¡±

    ¡°Who knows¡­¡±

    Isaac¡¯s expression, which clearly said, ¡°How would I know? Just tell me the answer,¡± made Nimloth chuckle.

    ¡°The answer is ¡®both¡¯.¡±

    ¡°Ah, I see¡­¡±

    Even if the Codex of Lightmitted vile acts that Elil couldn¡¯t overlook, Elil¡¯s actions inevitably led to a scandalous end. No matter how righteous, the truth was wrapped in an unavoidable disgrace.

    No matter how righteous Elil was, there was no way to justify his incestuous desires.

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read more than 25 advance chapters or support me, you can do it at /Akaza156

 Chapter 202:

    ¡°Well then, the nature of that ¡®vile act¡¯ bes crucial. At the time, the Lighthouse Keeper Luadin gave an order to Archangel Elil. Hemanded him to kill a certain woman.¡±

    ¡°A certain woman?¡±

    ¡°Just an ordinary woman.¡±

    If she were truly ordinary, Luadin wouldn¡¯t have ordered an Archangel to kill her.

    Nimloth continued, smiling as if she enjoyed the wordy.

    ¡°Yes, in fact, Luadin had a vision of the future in Urbansus. He foresaw the rise of a powerful nation that would hinder the grand design of the Codex of Light. Unhappy with this vision, Luadin sought to alter history. He aimed to eliminate the progenitor of this nation before she could even be born.¡±

    In other words, Luadin ordered Elil to kill a seemingly insignificant woman for the sake of the Codex of Light¡¯s grand design.

    ¡°Why Elil?¡±

    ¡°Because the woman was Elil¡¯s wife.¡±Isaac fell silent.

    He realized who Nimloth was referring to as the progenitor of that powerful nation.

    ¡°She was the progenitor of a people who would be born in the future. Luadin knew that her daughter would be a deity, kill Elil, and ally with the undead to obstruct the grand design of the Codex of Light. It would be much harder to ¡®correct¡¯ this once she became a deity, so he wanted to deal with it beforehand.¡±

    In Elil¡¯s myth, his daughter, the dancer, was often mentioned, but his wife was rarely discussed. Being a mere human who died shortly after giving birth to the dancer, she had left no significant aplishments.

    Luadin¡¯s decision to kill this one ordinary person was intended to eradicate the future birth of millions of new people and to prevent the foretold death of Elil by his own hands.

    But this act, paradoxically, led to the birth of two new deities.

    Elil defied Luadin¡¯s order and protected his wife.

    This led to the birth of his daughter, who was prophesied to kill him.

    Elil¡¯s wife died from childbirthplications, but Elil firmly dered his protection of his daughter. He vowed not to overlook Luadin¡¯s vile act, even if it meant his own death.

    Elil¡¯s defection eventually led him to attain divinity with Calurien¡¯s help. The faith of Elil, which did not exist in history, was born, greatly disrupting Luadin¡¯s n.

    In the end, Luadin lost the chance to ¡®correct¡¯ history.

    Now, Elil could also intervene in Urbansus.

    ¡°Of course, Luadin warned Elil. He told him he would regret his rebellion. That his daughter would kill him, his knights would be isted, his angels would despise him, and he would be plunged into eternal self-loathing¡­¡±

    Nimloth murmured, her voice heavy. Yet she continued.

    ¡°Elil chose to ept all of this. He preferred to suffer rather than kill his daughter before she was born. In bearing shame and disgrace, he found courage and honor.¡±

    Isaac remained silent.

    He felt ashamed of his earlier thoughts, where he had mocked Elil as incestuous.

    ¡°So, the story about marrying his daughter is a vile lie¡­¡±

    ¡°Oh, that part is true. They were indeed a well-matched pair.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡­¡±

    A righteous but tragically somber incestuous rtionship.

    ¡°However, the im that Elil instigated a schism to marry his daughter is an ill-timed and malicious lie. One cannot marry an unborn daughter.¡±

    Isaac was shocked as he learned the truth behind Elil¡¯s schism. The ¡°birth of a nation that would stand against the Codex of Light¡± clearly referred to the kingdom of Wachia.

    Elil¡¯s wife¡¯s daughter was to be the progenitor of that nation.

    ¡°It¡¯s true that the Red Chalice holds significant influence¡­ but I wouldn¡¯t say the kingdom of Wachia is powerful enough to threaten the Codex of Light.¡±

    The human hunters were notorious, but their infamy stemmed from their heinous and brutal actions rather than their strength.

    The nation of Wachia wasn¡¯t particrly strong either. It was merely thergest among the small nations in the East. Despite appearances, Elil¡¯s kingdom was objectively more than twice as powerful as Wachia.

    ¡°The people of Wachia don¡¯t seem all that strong¡­¡±

    ¡°Hm. From what I know, it¡¯s not about the nation but about an exceptional hero born from their people who awakens the nation. Someone like Luadin or Elil, a historic hero.¡±

    ¡°A hero?¡±

    Nimloth nodded.

    ¡°Yes¡­ I think the name of the destined hero was Hesabel, wasn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°Hesabel?¡±

    Isaac asked for confirmation. Nimloth nodded again.

    The phrase ¡°The gambling-addicted vampire I subdued is actually an SSS-ss national hero?!¡± shed through Isaac¡¯s mind, but he dismissed it as unlikely.

    Hesabel appeared in the game as the heir to Duke Gullmar¡¯s house, but she never became a hero who saved the nation.

    However, there was an exnation that somewhat matched this if the ¡°Crimson Tomb¡± victory deration of the Red Chalice was considered¡­

    Isaac suddenly felt a chill.

    In the Red Chalice route¡¯s victory deration, the ¡°Crimson Tomb¡± ending involved a vampire sessfully executing the ultimate conspiracy and assassination, consuming countless angels and royals, and bing a new god who even overpowered other deities.

    In the game, the yer was the one to achieve this, but what if there were no yer in this world?

    There would be someone capable of carrying out such an act.

    Could that be Hesabel?

    ¡®It can¡¯t be my gambling-addictedpanion. Could it be someone with the same name?¡¯

    Isaac found it hard to believe, but he couldn¡¯t dismiss it as mere coincidence, given the name was mentioned by an angel. It was also strange that the Sword of May didn¡¯t seem concerned about a Red Chalice follower named Hesabel among their group.

    ¡®Maybe my appearance or changes in history made her less significant¡­ or perhaps it¡¯s deemed better for her to stay alive¡­ or maybe the Red Chalice is protecting her?¡¯

    If so, it made sense why the Mirror Handmaiden had ced Hesabel near Isaac. Whether the dancer wanted herself to be consumed or not, Hesabel was undoubtedly a crucial key for the Red Chalice.

    Unaware of Isaac¡¯s thoughts, Nimloth continued.

    ¡°Regardless, since Elil sanctioned the schism, what happens in the Red Chalice Club, now a separate entity, is not our concern.¡±

    Nimloth¡¯s words might have disheartened the countless Holy Grail Knights who left to retrieve Elil¡¯s stolen heart, but they underscored her distaste for the Codex of Light¡¯s interference.

    ¡°For the same reason, we cannot allow interference from the Codex of Light, just because we were once under its umbre. Make sure the Sword of May understands this clearly.¡±

    ¡°Lady, it¡¯s not that I intend to defy your wishes¡­¡±

    Isaac pondered how to logically persuade her.

    ¡°Let¡¯s assume it¡¯s none of the Sword of May¡¯s business. Why, then, did you permit the Immortal Order to approach the Holy Land of Elion? Didn¡¯t you know they intended to resurrect Elil in a corrupted form?¡±

    ¡°Elil?¡±

    Nimloth frowned as if she didn¡¯t understand.

    ¡°Resurrect Elil as an undead? How? That¡¯s impossible.¡±

    Isaac was taken aback. He had seen it happen and knew it was possible, yet Nimloth spoke as if it were inconceivable.

    ¡°To do that, Elil would have to permit it. Do you think he would consent to being resurrected as an undead? It¡¯s an insult to his will.¡±

    ¡°So, it¡¯s possible with Elil¡¯s consent.¡±

    But Nimloth believed such a thing could never happen, which was why she allowed the Immortal Order¡¯s incursion.

    She hoped for mutual destruction between them and Isaac¡¯s party.

    However, in the game, Elil was resurrected in a corrupted form, leading to the downfall of Elil¡¯s kingdom.

    Isaac considered another possibility.

    Elil might not be in his right mind to the extent of agreeing to such a resurrection.

    ¡®I¡¯m starting to get really curious about the details of this incident.¡¯

    Originally, Isaac intended to meet Elil to bring Elil¡¯s kingdom into the Dawn Army. However, the backdrop to Elil¡¯s kingdom refusing to join and enduring constant civil war was Elil¡¯s silence, and the cause of Elil¡¯s silence was Archangel Calurien¡¯s suspected imprisonment of Elil.

    And if that imprisonment wasn¡¯t due to rebellion but had a legitimate reason?

    ¡®Regardless, I need to meet Elil. If I can¡¯t recruit Elil to the Dawn Army, the Dawn Army of the White Empire will be the hardest path.¡¯

    As he got closer to Elil, the truth seemed within reach.

    Isaac thought it would be best to approach the answer through the Lady of the Lake, who seemed to be aiding Calurien in a passive way.

    ¡°The Sword of May, who follows the orders of the Lighthouse Keeper Luadin, is not likely toply just because a mere pdin says so.¡±

    Nimloth nodded. She hesitated for a moment before speaking solemnly.

    ¡°Then to the Sword of May¡­¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve heard that story directly, but I think the cat story will backfire.¡±

    Isaac preemptively interrupted, just in case.

    Nimloth frowned at his words.

    It seemed it was indeed Nimloth who had informed Lianne about Yulihida¡¯s identity.

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to touch the Sword of May¡¯s painful wound either. But what other choice do we have?¡±

    ¡°How about a more¡­ conciliatory approach?¡±

    ¡°Conciliatory approach?¡±

    Isaac nodded.

    ¡°The Sword of May seems to have a ¡®misunderstanding¡¯ about Calurien. If Calurien came and exined it well, perhaps she might ept it.¡±

    Nimloth looked at Isaac as if doubting his intelligence.

    ¡°Are you suggesting that the target of an assassin shoulde out and say, ¡®You have misunderstood your reasons for killing me,¡¯ to the assassin?¡±

    ¡°The problem is that the assassin will approach the target no matter what. And I, given my situation, cannot defy the Sword of May. So instead of constantly sending monsters to hinder us, wouldn¡¯t it be better if Calurien stepped forward from the beginning?¡±

    Nimloth pondered Isaac¡¯s words.

    The wise Calurien wouldn¡¯t simply agree to such a request. However, it was inevitable that they would meet eventually.

    Given that an angel from another faith was causing chaos in heaven, this issue ultimately required direct intervention by an angel.

    ¡°Very well. Let¡¯s try it your way.¡±

    ***

    [So this is the result of your persuasion?]

    Isaac averted his gaze, avoiding the sight of the ten-meter-wide eye floating in the sky staring at him.

    Isaac had confessed to meeting Nimloth and ryed thepromise.

    Nimloth had clearly conveyed Isaac¡¯s words to Calurien, and Calurien had taken them seriously. He hade to meet the Sword of May at sunrise.

    With approximately ten thousand knights of Elil, various bizarre magical creatures, and golems with magical storms raging through their joints.

    And that wasn¡¯t all.

    On the right wing of this strange army stood Nimloth, the second Archangel of Elil, and on the left wing was a knight wearing a light blue lion-shaped helmet. That lion helmet marked him as the Lion Knight, Elil¡¯s third Archangel.

    In the central rear, an old wizard hovered in the air, watching them. With his long beard, pointy hat, flowing robe, and long staff, he looked like the quintessential wizard.

    This old man was surely Calurien, Elil¡¯s first Archangel.

    Facing even one Archangel was overwhelming, but three? Isaac felt at a loss for words.

    It was like witnessing a hurricane, volcanic eruption, and tsunami all at once. Seeing one angel in a lifetime was enough, but Isaac had seen far too many.

    ¡®But we have someone with the strength of an angel.¡¯

    Isaac nced at Edelred. Edelred looked as if he was having a heart attack at the sight of so many angels, but he was still standing.

    When their eyes met, Edelred cautiously spoke.

    ¡°Master, I respect you, but I do not respect you enough to think fighting three angels simultaneously is wise.¡±

    ¡°Very wise, Your Majesty.¡±

    Such restraint in his personal feelings meant Elil¡¯s future was bright.

    Isaac turned his gaze to the national hero prophesied to stand against the grand design of the Codex of Light, the SSS-ss vampire Hesabel. Surprisingly, Hesabel showed no sign of being intimidated or afraid. Instead, she smirked mockingly at the Archangels.

    ¡°They don¡¯t even realize this is all a trap and a conspiracy by Lord Isaac. The people of Elil are rusted from head to toe!¡±

    ¡°¡­¡­¡±

    ¡°Come on, Lord Isaac! It¡¯s time to humiliate them!¡±

    ¡°¡­¡­¡±

    ¡°Lord Isaac?¡±

    Isaac was already running in the opposite direction, away from the approaching confrontation. The future of Wachia seemed bleak.

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read more than 25 advance chapters or support me, you can do it at /Akaza156

 Chapter 203:

    ¡°Sorry, Hesabel. Maybe your gamble failed¡­¡±

    Isaac had such a gloomy thought, but he couldn¡¯t bring himself to say it aloud.

    The Sword of May also seemed to realize that ming Isaac alone wouldn¡¯t solve anything in this absurd situation and turned her head.

    [Come forth, Calurien.]

    Calurien, who had been in the rear, glided forward. Despite appearing as an old and shabby wizard, he showed no sign of being intimidated in front of the Sword of May.

    ¡°You¡¯vee a long way, young one.¡±

    [Do you measure age while living in the time of Urbansus? You haven¡¯t shed your lizard habits.]

    ¡°I¡¯ve lived as a dragon since long before the name of the Codex of Light emerged. Even if you add up all the ages of the Codex of Light¡¯s angels, they wouldn¡¯t be half of mine.¡±

    ¡®So even angels engage in such trivial power struggles,¡¯ Isaac thought, amused. Perhaps it was such characteristics that allowed mortal-born angels to rise to higher positions.At the same time, Isaac felt the depth of those years in Calurien¡¯s words.

    The ancient gods ruled the world for tens of thousands of years before the nine faiths appeared. An old dragon like Calurien might have lived for over ten thousand years. To Calurien, even Luadin of the Codex of Light was just a ¡®child.¡¯

    Calurien¡¯s gaze shifted slightly to Isaac.

    ¡°He told me toe out and resolve the situation myself. Said it was the only way.¡±

    Isaac braced himself, expecting to be mocked. However, Calurien¡¯s next words surprised him.

    ¡°You¡¯re a smart one. I like you.¡±

    [Smart, you say?]

    ¡°Sword of May, looking at your rigid thinking, you must have realized that having one or two monsters or angelse forward wouldn¡¯t work. But here we have three angels, and you are just one. Surely you don¡¯t n to rely on humans?¡±

    Calurien chuckled.

    ¡°I¡¯m not looking to fight with numbers, but Sword of May, you¡¯re not thinking of a foolish battle, are you? Even angels can be annihted if they die in another faith¡¯s domain. But we won¡¯t die here.¡±

    The Sword of May¡¯s eyes glinted. Isaac learned for the first time that angels could be annihted if they died in another faith¡¯s domain. It also became clear that the Sword of May hade with significant resolve despite appearing lighthearted.

    ¡°So you should be grateful to the Holy Grail Knight who has created a chance for you to retreat with honor. Do not miss this opportunity. Sword of May. Retreat safely, for it is more precious than victory.¡±

    Hesabel looked at Isaac with admiration. Though he felt burdened by her gaze, Calurien¡¯s words held some truth.

    The Sword of May never retreated unless the battle was utterly hopeless.

    Isaac had merely provided her with a stage to retreat gracefully.

    Of course, in the worst-case scenario, they would have to fight those three angels, but there were ways to handle that.

    The Sword of May remained silent, spinning the rings of her sword hilt. Isaac had seen her do this many times and knew it meant she was contemting. After a moment of silence, she finally spoke.

    [Fake.]

    Calurien didn¡¯t flinch, but the Sword of May threw one of her rings. The hundreds of swords swirling within the ring moved in a peculiar trajectory, shing at the airborne Calurien.

    Isaac was astonished to see that each of those swords moved with the essence of advanced swordsmanship.

    But with a simple wave of his staff, Calurien easily deflected most of the swords. However, the swords were not all evenly powered.

    While the weaker swords fell away, the stronger ones cut Calurien¡¯s robes.

    In that moment, Calurien¡¯s figure wavered like mist.

    From a distance, Nimloth clicked her tongue.

    [Your mistake was appearing here with three angels. Calurien. You wouldn¡¯t havee without leaving other wardens to guard Elil¡¯s prison.]

    In other words, the real Calurien was monitoring Elil closely, and the Calurien before them was a fake, as the Sword of May had said.

    ¡°Hahahaha!¡±

    Calurien burst intoughter.

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s true. I cannot neglect my duties. I have more important tasks than dealing with the likes of you. But there¡¯s something you don¡¯t know.¡±

    Calurien¡¯s eyes shed as he waved his left arm. Simultaneously, the figure of the Lion Knight dissolved into mist, revealing yet another Calurien.

    ¡°The Lion Knight volunteered to guard Elil! He¡¯s always by his side to ensure I can¡¯t harm him. Not much of a warden, really.¡±

    Then Calurien waved his right arm. Nimloth¡¯s figure also transformed into Calurien.

    Now there were three Caluriens, each dressed identically and waving their staffs, preparing spells.

    ¡°The Lady of the Lake pities both Elil and me. She¡¯s apassionate girl, guarding Elil¡¯s abode. The one facing you is me!¡±

    Isaac¡¯s suggestion had been epted.

    Calurien himself hade forward to confront the Sword of May. It wasn¡¯t the ideal oue, but it wasn¡¯t the worst either. The Sword of May began spinning her rings rapidly. The weapons broke the sound barrier, tearing through the air and radiating intense heat.

    The battle was imminent.

    At that moment, the Calurien on the right swung his staff from left to right. Like drawing a curtain, night fell, bringing with it storm clouds and a hurricane.

    Isaac nearly toppled over from the sudden gusts and torrential rain but managed to stay upright.

    Calurien¡¯s thunderous voice boomed through the storm.

    ¡°It was the night of the worst storm in Elil¡¯s kingdom! People called it the ¡®Night of the shing Angels¡¯!¡±

    ***

    Boom, crash!

    The sudden night and storm were devastating. Raindrops pounded like bullets, and trees bent precariously as if about to snap. Amidst the chaos, Calurien¡¯s army began to move.

    ¡°Do you have any special tricks?¡±

    [Calurien will focus on fighting me. Your job is to keep everything else from interfering.]

    The Sword of May spoke as she slowly lifted off the ground. Despite the storm, her mes burned brightly as if nothing could extinguish them.

    The whirling rings of her swords shattered the raindrops.

    [Calurien uses various illusions and tricks. Do not be deceived by them.]

    The Sword of May warned, but Isaac was baffled. How could mere humans discern the illusions of an angel-level wizard?

    However, the Sword of May hadn¡¯t brought Isaac along just for his swordsmanship.

    [In times of dire need, use the Lighthouse of the Watcher. Calurien¡¯s illusions are powerless before its light.]

    ¡°I can¡¯t use it often, though¡­¡±

    Activating the Lighthouse of the Watcher made every nerve in Isaac¡¯s body tingle. It felt as though every cell was being used to process and verify the surrounding environment. It didn¡¯t drain any specific faith or stamina, but repeated use felt like it would overload his brain, burning it out.

    Yet, the Sword of May couldn¡¯t offer any more advice. Calurien began hurling lightning at her, initiating the attack. As always, Isaac knew he¡¯d have to figure things out on his own.

    ¡®My only allies are tentacle monsters, heretics, and a vampire.¡¯

    ¡°For the glory of Elil! Charge!¡±

    Amanding roar pierced through the storm, and the undead knights of Elil began their advance. The hurricane¡¯s force affected them as well, so despite the terrifying roar, their pace was agonizingly slow.

    ¡®This storm is clearly more about hindering the Sword of May than us.¡¯

    At least that was a relief for Isaac.

    Isaac ignited the radiant mes of the Luadin Key, preparing for battle. The warmth and vitality from the Luadin Key provided the strength to endure the storm.

    Thud, thud, thud, thud.

    The knights of Elil abandoned their horses but maintained their ranks as they approached. No matter how skilled Isaac was, facing ten thousand of Elil¡¯s knights was out of the question.

    Fortunately, there was another person in their group who could wield angelic power.

    ¡°Your Majesty, I¡¯m counting on you.¡±

    While he couldn¡¯t fight three angels, surely he could handle the knights. After all, those knights were technically Edelred¡¯s ancestors, but they wouldn¡¯t be reborn the next day like Isaac and Hesabel would be if they died here.

    Edelred gripped Kaldbruch with a determined expression.

    ¡°Leave it to me, teacher. Calurien himself admitted to imprisoning Elil, so these knights are merely being used by him.¡±

    Edelred¡¯s resolve suggested he wouldn¡¯t hesitate despite the knights being his ancestors.

    As the angelic power from Kaldbruch grew stronger, small flowers and nts began to sprout at Edelred¡¯s feet. Isaac was surprised to realize that Edelred hadn¡¯t yet tapped into the full power of Kaldbruch.

    ¡°Then I¡¯ll leave the rear to you¡­ Ah.¡±

    Suddenly, Edelred¡¯s eyes wavered. He was staring at arge, rotund knight at the front of the advancing knights.

    Isaac noticed Edelred¡¯s trembling hand and grabbed his shoulder.

    ¡°Your Majesty, what¡¯s wrong?¡±

    ¡°M-my father.¡±

    At the forefront of the knights, thete King Alfred, who had died of high blood pressure, was charging with a mighty roar.

    ¡°Glory to Elil!¡±

    ***

    The battle in the sky between the angels was unfolding in a realm beyond humanprehension.

    The Sword of May wielded a ringposed of hundreds of swords. Each of these swords could execute advanced swordsmanship individually. Advanced swordsmanship is most effective when utilized not by individuals but by entire knightly orders.

    And the Sword of May possessed five rings.

    In other words, she could unleash the equivalent of five knight orders¡¯ worth of attacks simultaneously.

    Considering that a single knight order could conduct a siege without priests or pdins, the destructive power was unimaginable.

    [In the kingdom of Elil, we¡¯ve seen wizards like you before, Calurien.]

    The Sword of May directed her rings to attack Calurien. As the attacks, each imbued with the essence of advanced swordsmanship, converged by the hundreds, they formed an immense force that dominated the area with an otherworldly phenomenon.

    The force took the shape of a coiled serpent.

    Bang. As the serpent of swords collided with the intangible shield around Calurien, a cascade of lightning-bright sparks erupted and flowed like a waterfall. The Sword of May relentlessly continued her saw-like assault.

    [You¡¯re old, foolish, and your pathetic struggle to survive is pitiful! How can we believe such a witch was of the same kin as Elil?]

    The Sword of May was referring to Hectali.

    Hectali, once an elf like Elil, had, like many other elves defeated by Elil, lost her prideful past while fleeing.

    [You seek to make Elil into a wretch like that witch, that great knight!]

    Despite the Sword of May¡¯s roaring usations, Calurien remained unfazed. As he barely withstood her attacks, he suddenly deactivated his shield. With his staff, he struck at the iing ring of swords.

    It appeared foolish to counter the Sword of May¡¯s ring with a staff, but instead of shattering, the swords transformed into a flock of geese dispersing in all directions.

    The Sword of May hastily recalled her attack as hundreds of her weapons turned into geese in a single move.

    ¡°Do you think I¡¯m blindly loyal to Elil, child?¡±

    Calurien muttered, pushing his sses up under his hat.

    The geese, caught in the storm, fluttered and dived, but when Calurien aimed his staff at the Sword of May, they soared in that direction. Sensing danger, the Sword of May swung her swords at the geese.

    The ring easily ughtered the geese, but what spread was not blood but dark smoke.

    ¡°If I were blindly loyal to Elil, he would have died on the battlefield long ago! Even now, I¡¯m busy preventing him frommitting suicide!¡±

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read more than 25 advance chapters or support me, you can do it at /Akaza156

 Chapter 204:

    The moment the smoke engulfed the Sword of May, her mes turned ck. Though she didn¡¯t fully understand the nature of the smoke, she knew it was rapidly weakening her fire.

    The mes emanating from her body were her connection to the Codex of Light and the source of her power in Elil¡¯s Urbansus.

    ¡°I knew those Codex of Light bastards would stir up this chaos eventually! Did you think I¡¯d just sit around waiting?¡±

    Isaac might have recognized the smoke as ¡®carbon dioxide gas.¡¯ However, even he wouldn¡¯t know how to counter it effectively.

    The Sword of May struggled to maintain her weakening mes and concentrated her power on a single strike.

    Calurien sensed the danger and moved swiftly.

    Bang. In the next moment, Calurien realized that the Sword of May was no longer in front of him, and that his right side had beenpletely blown off.

    The Sword of May red at him from 500 meters away. Meeting her gaze, Calurien chuckled.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t know that bulky body of yours could move so quickly. I thought you just toddled along at human walking speed.¡±[And I didn¡¯t know that decrepit, wretched body of yours could move so quickly. Don¡¯t you ever exercise? Sweating a bit, are we?]

    At the Sword of May¡¯s words, Calurienughed and waved his staff. Then, more Calurien clones appeared around him. One of the clones cast a spell, instantly healing Calurien¡¯s injuries.

    The Sword of May also rekindled her fading mes. However, her fire didn¡¯t ze as intensely as before. In Elil¡¯s Urbansus, it was difficult to regenerate her mes.

    Her gaze naturally turned toward the ground.

    The true secret weapon she had prepared was still not ready.

    ¡®I hope you¡¯re quick about it, Holy Grail Knight¡­¡¯

    ***

    Unfortunately, Isaac wasn¡¯t in a good situation either.

    ¡°Kill the intruders who dare to invade Elil¡¯s sanctum!¡±

    Elil¡¯s knights, soaked in blood and madness, charged en masse. They were a formidable force, controlled by a single powerful leader.

    As they unleashed their advanced swordsmanship and charged, their momentum became a massive force sweeping across the battlefield.

    Rumble, rumble! To break their momentum, Isaac quickly attacked their weak points. The knights¡¯ surge threatened to overwhelm him, inflicting numerous wounds on his body, but Isaac found openings amid the chaos.

    No matter how strong a chain is, breaking its weak link will cause it to fall apart.

    Isaac used his swordsmanship to shatter the knights¡¯ formation, disrupting their fierce momentum. However, breaking the flow didn¡¯t mean all the knights were dead.

    ¡®Edelred needs to step in.¡¯

    A king wielding Kaldbruch was a strategic weapon of immense power.

    However, Edelred was facing his worst enemy.

    ¡°You beardless whelp!¡±

    Thete King Alfred, who had died of high blood pressure, charged with a thunderousugh, wielding a massive two-handed sword. Despite the apparent wildness of his strikes, each blow contained the essence of Aldeon swordsmanship, forcing Edelred, even with Kaldbruch, to sink his feet into the ground to withstand the force.

    But it wasn¡¯t Alfred¡¯s strength or skill that was hampering Edelred, it was his own fear.

    ¡®Shall I shoot?¡¯

    Isaac considered rushing to help but paused to hear Hesabel¡¯s intent. Hesabel had disappeared somewhere the moment the battle began. She hadn¡¯t fled but had hidden in the most advantageous spot on the battlefield.

    Isaac bit his lip and sent his will to her.

    ¡®No, this is something Edelred needs to ovee on his own.¡¯

    Facing and oveing his trauma, fear, and guilt was a rare opportunity. Isaac didn¡¯t want to deny Edelred the chance to grow.

    ¡®If he surpasses this barrier¡­ Edelred might glimpse the realm of the Swordmaster.¡¯

    ***

    No one can predict who might be a Swordmaster; it¡¯s a rare and unpredictable talent.

    It was said that only followers of Elil could awaken the power of swordsmanship, but Isaac, who was not a follower of Elil, had also awakened it.

    While the talent was believed to show prominently at a young age, Villon demonstrated his awakening after bing undead. This suggested that perhaps the power of swordsmanship was not a miracle exclusive to followers of Elil.

    ¡®Or maybe people have misunderstood the very nature of swordsmanship and sword aura all along.¡¯

    Because only followers of Elil had be Swordmasters, the power of swordsmanship had been regarded as a miracle of Elil.

    But how could Isaac, who wasn¡¯t a follower of Elil, use swordsmanship?

    Perhaps there were unknown conditions for awakening the power of swordsmanship, and it wasn¡¯t that only followers of Elil could awaken it, but rather that other faiths might have prevented their followers from awakening it.

    While bing a Swordmaster was not something that could be achieved through effort alone, Isaac knew that Edelred had the potential to be one.

    ¡®What Edelred needs is experience and to ovee his fear of his father.¡¯

    If Edelred could win this battle, he might achieve significant growth. Whether that would lead to bing a Swordmaster in the short term was uncertain, but it would certainly help him ovee the current challenge.

    Thud, thud, thud!

    Another group joined the fray.

    Giant golems, magical constructs created by Calurien, approached.

    Isaac dashed forward to prevent them from interfering with the struggling Edelred. As he moved swiftly, the golems struck the ground, creating craters and sshing mud like waterfalls.

    Isaac employed his ¡°Eight Paths¡± swordsmanship on the nearest small golem. The Luadin Key, surrounded by sword aura, sliced through the stone as if it were tofu, reducing the golem to dozens of pieces in an instant.

    ¡®This is¡­ tricky.¡¯

    However, Isaac¡¯s expression was not bright.

    The golem crumbled quickly, but the broken stones floated back up, reforming into their original shape.

    Instead of a solid rock golem, it had be a golemposed of gravel. Being an inanimate object driven by magic, a golem could only be destroyed by breaking the magical catalyst inside it.

    Due to theplex crafting required, lower-level golems typically hadrger catalysts, but these golems were the work of Calurien, a dragon and angel, and the progenitor of wizards.

    Despite cutting it into small pieces, there was no sign of the catalyst.

    ¡®Using the tentacles wouldn¡¯t help either. Tentacles can devour almost anything, but not stone.¡¯

    Moreover, these golems weren¡¯t just made of stone. Whether it was Calurien¡¯s preference or not, some wereposed of steel, titanium, and evenva.

    Despite his bitter smile, Isaac began to channel the ¡°Color from Beyond.¡±

    The situation was difficult.

    If the Sword of May couldn¡¯t defeat Calurien, Isaac would have to fight an angel after dealing with all these golems.

    This might be the worst situation since Isaac had appeared in this world.

    ¡®Which means, today I will surpass my limits once again.¡¯

    Isaac leapt onto the gravel golem, raising the Luadin Key and releasing a powerful burst of sword aura.

    Crackle! The zing mes roared and exploded like a lightning bolt.

    The sword aura shattered the gravel golem into pieces again, but this time, it bound the debris, preventing it from reforming, and pulverized it once more.

    This all happened in less than a second.

    Amid the shattered fragments, a teal-colored stone that didn¡¯t fit in disintegrated. The golem did not rise again.

    It wasn¡¯t a strategic action but a brute force method of smashing with raw power. Given the number of golems, it wasn¡¯t a tactic that could be repeated often. However, it had an effect; even the knights of Elil, who had been surrounding Isaac, hesitated.

    The heavenly knights, who would resurrect even if killed, did not halt out of fear of death.

    On the contrary, they felt a strange reverence towards Isaac.

    Isaac stood firm, facing countless enemies and overwhelming beings without retreating. It didn¡¯t matter that he was a heretic or that he had invaded Elil¡¯s sanctum.

    To the knights, he appeared as an ideal figure, reminiscent of the highest aspirations of Elil¡¯s faith.

    Isaac met Edelred¡¯s eyes from a distance. He gave a sly smile to the knights and Edelred before charging at another golem.

    From the knights¡¯ reaction, Isaac saw a glimmer of hope.

    The sess or failure of this battle depended on Edelred.

    ***

    ¡°You¡¯re weak, even with Kaldbruch in your hand!¡±

    Boom. Edelred¡¯s father, the tyrant Alfred,ughed maniacally as heunched attack after attack. Despite his massive size, his strength and speed were befitting a Swordmaster.

    ¡°Guh¡­!¡±

    Edelred tried to counter Alfred¡¯s strikes with Kaldbruch, but Alfred never engaged in a simple test of strength.

    Alfred had quickly assessed that Edelred¡¯s skill level was far beneath his own.

    Even though Edelred borrowed angelic power through Kaldbruch, it wasn¡¯t truly his own. Compared to Alfred, hegged in skill, speed, and experience. It was clear from the way Alfred¡¯s sword shed with Kaldbruch without breaking that it wasn¡¯t an ordinary sword.

    ¡°This one¡¯s mine! Don¡¯t interfere!¡±

    Alfred even excluded other knights, insisting on fighting Edelred alone.

    Edelred found this strange.

    ¡®Doesn¡¯t he recognize me as his son?¡¯

    Alfred had only died a few years ago. He should recognize Edelred. Yet Alfred didn¡¯t hurl the usual degrading and demeaning remarks at him. Though he mocked Edelred¡¯s skill, it was as if he were taunting a knight encountered on the battlefield.

    Edelred had no intention of appealing to fatherly affection. But standing before his father¡¯s sword as just another knight made his blood run cold.

    ¡®Father¡­¡¯

    ¡°How dare you daydream in front of me!¡±

    Thud. Alfred kicked Edelred¡¯s stomach, trying to topple him. If Edelred had fallen, Alfred would have immediately driven his sword into his neck, but Edelred barely managed to brace himself with Kaldbruch, staying upright. His breathing grew heavy. Fear crawled up his spine. Memories of being beaten by his father at night resurfaced.

    Alfred¡¯s thunderousughter and sword swings felt more likeshes. The thunder was his scornful words and mockingughter, the pouring rain like the whispers of his courtiers under his tyrannical rule.

    Edelred felt himself regressing, bing younger, weaker, more miserable. Despite the angelic power in his hands, it felt as insignificant as dust.

    A cruel smile spread across Alfred¡¯s face.

    ¡°Give me Kaldbruch! It belongs to me!¡±

    Boom! Suddenly, a tremendous noise erupted from one side of the battlefield. Isaac had smashed a giant golem with a single strike. The thunderous noise drew the attention of the knights.

    Isaac stood atop the rubble, not basking in his victory but scanning for his next opponent.

    A veritable war god.

    A sight worthy of the tyrant Elil¡¯s incarnation.

    Despite the distance, Isaac¡¯s eyes met Edelred¡¯s. Edelred flinched, feeling a surge of shame. Compared to Isaac, he felt small and insignificant. Yet, a part of him hoped Isaac woulde to his rescue.

    But Isaac merely gave a small smile and ran towards another foe.

    As if saying that Edelred could handle this on his own.

    That implicit, unwavering belief sent a sudden shiver down Edelred¡¯s spine.

    ¡°How long do you n to daydream?¡±

    Alfred swung his massive sword at Edelred again.

    The pinnacle of Aldeon swordsmanship. An advanced sword technique that could shatter a fortress gate in one blow, carried by sword aura. Edelred felt as if a battering ram were descending on his head.

    Thud. Edelred effortlessly parried Alfred¡¯s sword.

    At the same time, he pushed Alfred back. Alfred, who had no intention of engaging in a test of strength, quickly retreated, sensing something different about Edelred¡¯s demeanor.

    Indeed, Edelred was undergoing a transformation.

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read more than 25 advance chapters or support me, you can do it at /Akaza156

 Chapter 205:

    ¡®Did my father always look like this?¡¯

    Alfred¡¯s once muscr limbs were now covered in bby fat, and his once fierce face was now marred with age spots and unsightly pimples. On reflection, this was the same image of his father that had haunted Edelred¡¯s memories.

    His father remained the fearsome figure from his past.

    But Edelred had changed.

    He had be a king, amander, and, most importantly, he had received Isaac¡¯s guidance.

    Edelred never missed a day of practicing the swordsmanship Isaac taught him. However, he had never had the chance to use it against Alfred. Mesmerized, Edelred took a step forward.

    Edelred¡¯s transformation became even more dramatic due to Kaldbruch.

    His hair grew increasingly bright, and the lightning tattoos on his skin glowed even more intensely. His pupils gleamed with an otherworldly green light.

    Edelred raised his sword.Raindrops parted as if in reverence to the king.

    All the knights in the vicinity sensed the scent of a birch forest. The sound of the pounding raindrops felt unusually loud.

    It seemed as though only they were left standing on the battlefield.

    Edelred¡¯s sword aura was silent but carried the force of a storm.

    Alfred raised his sword to block the attack.

    Edelred brought his sword down.

    Without a sound, Kaldbruch pierced Alfred¡¯s body.

    Holding the broken sword with both hands, Alfred appeared to surrender, his body scattering like fallen leaves before hitting the ground.

    Edelred sighed, a breath like an ancient tree exhaling, as he watched Alfred¡¯s form disperse.

    The frightened boy became a man by ying his father.

    Edelred looked at the scattered remains of Alfred and spoke.

    ¡°Kaldbruch is mine.¡±

    The knights of Elil shivered at the sight of the king descended from the heavens.

    ***

    Isaac sensed a shift in the flow of the knights.

    ¡®Edelred did it!¡¯

    Though he was too far away to see, the retreating movements of the knights confirmed Edelred¡¯s victory. At the same time, a message came from Hesabel.

    ¡®The kid did it! The knights are retreating!¡¯

    Isaac hadn¡¯t fully trusted Edelred to handle it alone.

    No matter how much of a king he was, Isaac couldn¡¯t leave him entirely on his own. He had instructed Hesabel to intervene if the situation became dire, but she hadn¡¯t needed to.

    Calurien had entrusted Alfred with themand and control of the knights. But with Alfred¡¯s defeat, the knights had clearly been swayed by Edelred¡¯s disy.

    Just as they had been awed when Isaac shattered the golems.

    ¡®Even though there was an angel¡¯smand, Kaldbruch is a symbol of the king. Its authority is hard to reject.¡¯

    Angels were sacred beings encountered rarely, but the knights had served kings wielding Kaldbruch their entire lives. They were instinctively drawn to the knight with a sword rather than the mage.

    Of course, Isaac didn¡¯t expect the knights to immediately obey Edelred. However, he anticipated that they would at least hold back until Calurien issued new orders.

    The problem was the golems and magical creatures.

    In addition to the myriad golems, chimera beasts¡ªflying, crawling, and leaping¡ªconstantly targeted Isaac. Though he had taken down several golems and chimeras, he was feeling increasingly exhausted.

    ¡®I¡¯ming to join you!¡¯

    While Isaac fought, Hesabel somehow rejoined him. Though invisible, she made her presence known by shooting the heads off gargoyles that were pestering Isaac.

    A massiveva golem lunged at Isaac, intending to crush him with its enormous bulk. Isaac braced himself with the Luadin Key, ready to endure some injuries, but suddenly, an arrow pierced the golem¡¯s body.

    In an instant, theva golem ceased its heat emission and melted into a puddle on the ground. Isaac was astonished that Hesabel had found and destroyed the golem¡¯s catalyst with a single shot.

    ¡®How did she know where to shoot?¡¯

    ¡®I don¡¯t know, the golem¡¯s heart was the only obvious target.¡¯

    She seemed unaware of her own growth. Isaac realized that Hesabel had developed an instinctual ability to pinpoint vulnerabilities and execute lethal strikes.

    Seeing her skill, Isaac decided to prepare for the next stage of the battle.

    ¡®I will need Hesabel¡¯s help.¡¯

    It was time for Hesabel, the national hero and SSS-ss gambling master destined to kill gods and consume angels, to shine.

    ***

    ¡°Teacher!¡±

    Edelred rushed towards Isaac. With the angelic power from Kaldbruch, his speed was incredible, and he collided with a nearby golem, sending it flying.

    Thud. The golem, despite its massive weight, rolled like a truck had hit it, stopping only when it crashed into another golem.

    Edelred staggered from the impact, clearly feeling the strain.

    ¡°Don¡¯t let your power go to your head and do something foolish, Your Majesty.¡±

    Isaac scolded him, half amused.

    Edelred smiled brightly at him. Isaac noted the significant change in Edelred¡¯s demeanor.

    No, his entire appearance had transformed. Though only a short time had passed, it felt like a long time in terms of physical changes. His armor was now adorned with branches and leaves, and a cape of autumn leaves flowed down his back like angelic wings.

    ¡°Is that also Kaldbruch¡¯s power?¡±

    ¡°Yes, it seems so. Since I awakened my sword aura, I can draw even more strength from it.¡±

    Isaac hadn¡¯t known that Kaldbruch¡¯s power could be harnessed in stages. Apparently, the stronger the wielder¡¯s power, the more they could draw from the angel¡¯s power, taking on an appearance simr to an angel.

    ¡°I¡¯ll handle these small fries! Teacher, please stop Calurien!¡±

    Isaac wanted to ask him not to use such lowly words, considering his royal dignity, but Edelred was the best-suited to handle the golems. Even with Hesabel¡¯s impressive sniping skills, she couldn¡¯t pierce the tough exteriors of the golems.

    Isaac looked up at the sky.

    The storm still raged fiercely, and the angels were engaged in a magnificent and iprehensible battle. However, it seemed that the Sword of May was gradually gaining the upper hand.

    The Sword of May had only three rings left, and her mes were considerably weakened, but Calurien was in worse shape. Three Caluriens floated in the sky, battling the Sword of May.

    His clothes were tattered and barely held together from numerous cycles of regeneration and destruction.

    As the Sword of May swung her ring once more, another Calurien was shredded and fell away. Though he attempted something, the fierce sparks around the Sword of May indicated he had failed.

    ¡®Something¡¯s off.¡¯

    Overall, it was clear that the Sword of May was overwhelming Calurien. While the situation on the ground might have introduced some variables, Calurien was umting fatigue and injuries.

    Yet Isaac felt an intense sense of unease and foreboding.

    It was all too chivalrous.

    ¡®Why would the wise and magical Calurien insist on such a chivalrous fight?¡¯

    Calurien was indeed using powerful magic and had brought plenty of allies to back him up. But it was still a highly ¡®chivalrous¡¯ head-on battle suited forrge-scalebat.

    Calurien wasn¡¯t known for fighting this way.

    He was a ¡®wizard¡¯ and an archangel who valued wisdom as much as courage and honor. Most importantly, Calurien¡¯s specialty, illusions, hadn¡¯te into y yet, despite the Sword of May¡¯s warnings.

    Moreover, this was Elil¡¯s heaven.

    For Calurien, Elil¡¯s foremost archangel, to struggle so much in his own home ground suggested only one conclusion.

    Calurien was conserving his strength.

    The Sword of May seemed to sense this unease too, finding it difficult to finish Calurien off quickly.

    ***

    ¡®We have to hurry and lend our strength.¡¯

    Whatever scheme Calurien was hiding, they needed to force him to reveal it quickly or finish him off before he could. Otherwise, they would have to face Calurien after the Sword of May was exhausted.

    ¡®Hesabel, can you tell which of the three Caluriens is the real one?¡¯

    ¡®No. They all look real to me.¡¯

    Hesabel could perceive the flow of life, a mysterious ability granted by the Red Chalice doctrine that couldn¡¯t be fooled. This meant that Calurien¡¯s clones genuinely shared his life force.

    Calurien continued to cast powerful and wondrous spells. With three of him rotating their efforts, the Sword of May faced relentless, powerful magic. Despite her strong attacks, the three Caluriens took turns regenerating, protecting, and attacking, depleting only the Sword of May¡¯s stamina.

    ¡®Unless we can simultaneously overpower all of Calurien, victory is impossible.¡¯

    Isaac recalled subduing Hectali.

    Calurien was many times stronger, but without assistance, the Sword of May seemed unlikely to win.

    ¡®But how? If only they were fighting on the ground¡­¡¯

    ¡°Caw!¡±

    Even in that situation, attacks on Isaac and his party continued unabated.

    With Edelred joining the fray, the golems were being destroyed, but the chimeras, which struck swiftly and retreated, were another story. Isaac swiftly grabbed a winged chimera charging at him, spewing fire.

    The movement was as natural as grabbing a puppy by the scruff of its neck. The chimera iled like a snake biting itself, but Isaac immediately struck its nape with his left hand.

    Crack. His left hand transformed into tentacles that rapidly took control of the creature¡¯s head. Once the parasites from beyond seized its nervous system, the chimera shuddered and then moved ording to Isaac¡¯s will.

    ¡®Hesabel, snipe the right Calurien!¡¯

    ¡®Me? How?¡¯

    Hesabel sent back a message of disbelief.

    How could he exin everything? Growthes from figuring out such challenges on one¡¯s own.

    He gave Hesabel themand, and she had to find a way to execute it.

    Growth happens at such times.

    Since falling into this world, Isaac had continuously taken on missions, striving desperately to fulfill them and earn rewards. If Hesabel had the potential for greatness, she would somehow manage as well.

    ¡®If she fails, there¡¯s no helping it.¡¯

    Isaacunched himself at the left Calurien.

    As Isaac rose rapidly on the chimera, the Sword of May nced at him, seemingly recognizing his intent, and unleashed a fierce attack on the central Calurien. Calurien, noticing Isaac¡¯s approach, turned his gaze toward him.

    As Isaac got closer to Calurien, his head began to cool.

    ¡®Am I sane, doing this?¡¯

    He realized that the being up there was an angel.

    While he had once subdued an archangel with Kaldbruch, it was more like intimidating them into leaving rather than outright defeating them. It was akin to a hostage situation.

    But now, his opponent was Calurien, Elil¡¯s first archangel.

    Even if his power was divided, he was strong enough to contend with the Sword of May head-on. Isaac started to suspect he might be undertaking an exceptionally foolish act.

    Calurien, without looking directly at Isaac, snapped his fingers. Instantly, the chimera carrying Isaac copsed, transforming into various animals and plummeting to the ground. Naturally, Isaac also began to fall.

    ¡°Hahaha!¡±

    Isaacughed. Calurien had allowed Isaac to rise higher, intending to drop him from a lethal height.

    But Isaacughed because he realized Calurien¡¯s overconfidence in this simple tactic allowed him to approach so closely.

    ¡°You underestimated me, Calurien!¡±

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read more than 25 advance chapters or support me, you can do it at /Akaza156

 Chapter 206:

    Just before falling, Isaac exploded the condensed Color Beyond beneath his feet.

    Boom! The fierce explosion propelled Isaac vertically upward once more.

    Since learning to materialize the Color Beyond, Isaac had discovered that its properties could shift between solid, liquid, and gas depending on its concentration.

    And the moment solid matter turned to gas, its volume expanded explosively.

    This volume wasrge enough to engulf Calurien, the Sword of May, and everything else in a vast, dark mass. Though the force felt like he had been shot from a cannon, nearly causing him to lose consciousness, Isaac gritted his teeth and held on.

    Isaac enveloped himself in the Color Beyond, adjusting his trajectory. As he glided through the air, he caught sight of Calurien, who seemed momentarily startled by the sudden obstruction in his view.

    ¡®A bit too far.¡¯

    Isaac realized he was out of range to strike with his sword. Launching himself like a cannonball to hit the target had been a far-fetched idea.

    But it didn¡¯t matter. Isaac transformed his left arm into a tentacle. The tentacle, gripping the Luadin Key in its mouth, shot forward, piercing Calurien¡¯s heart and burrowing into his chest.At that moment, the rings around the Sword of May began to glow brilliantly. Though Isaac couldn¡¯t discern the exact technique she used, he saw the front-facing Calurien shatter into pieces.

    Now, thest one remained.

    ¡®Hesabel!¡¯

    Isaac turned his gaze to the remaining Calurien on the right. If he cast a resurrection spell, the Caluriens defeated by Isaac and the Sword of May would revive immediately.

    From below, a terrifying force propelled an arrow upwards.

    The arrow, imbued with a crimson aura, was grotesquelyrge,posed of bone, muscle, and blood. Isaac didn¡¯t even want to guess what it originally was. The unholy arrow shot skyward, aiming directly at Calurien¡­

    But was caught in his hand.

    ¡°What the¡­?¡±

    Crack! Although the arrow had ascended at an almost unavoidable speed, Calurien managed to catch it, preventing it from piercing his heart. However, the potent energy within the arrow caused blisters to form and his hand to burn.

    But it seemed that was all. Hesabel¡¯s attack appeared to have failed.

    However, the attack of the unparalleled assassin Hesabel was never that simple.

    ***

    ¡®What does he expect me to do?¡¯

    Hesabel had been baffled by Isaac¡¯smand, but an assassin¡¯s virtue is to obey orders. Above all, Isaac wouldn¡¯t give her an impossiblemand. If he ordered it, it meant she could do it.

    Hesabel believed this without a doubt.

    But her crossbow didn¡¯t have the range to reach Calurien¡¯s altitude.

    ¡®Is the crossbow my strongest weapon?¡¯

    No. Hesabel had another weapon entrusted to her by Isaac. A token of his trust. The Dagger of Division was in her possession. This dagger had been used by the Dancer to strike down Elil. It was undoubtedly powerful against the angels of the Red Chalice, and even more so against the angels of Elil.

    ¡®I have a way.¡¯

    Hesabel mentally dusted off old doctrines she had forgotten. She recalled the trials and miracles of the Prophet of the Red Flesh, whose skin the Dancer had joyously peeled, reassembling her flesh, bones, and blood into a new form.

    And a miracle began to manifest where she stood.

    ¡®I can do this¡­ because I must.¡¯

    Hesabel¡¯s body melted and her bones restructured.

    Flesh was added, and muscles unraveled into fiber strands.

    It looked like a grotesque structure made from a human body. Hesabel thought her form might not be beautiful, but sometimes functional beauty can overshadow other aesthetic senses.

    She twisted her joints and drew the bowstring.

    It seemed difficult to pull her own body and shoot it, but she managed more skillfully than expected. It felt simr to the sense of handling tentacles she had developed under Isaac¡¯s guidance.

    Bang. The arrow wasunched.

    The dark Color from Beyond obscured her vision, but she could see her target, Calurien¡¯s heart, clearly. Calurien easily caught her arrow, her spine.

    That was exactly what Hesabel wanted.

    Crack! The Doctrine of Red Supplication activated, reconstructing her body around the spine. The unravelled muscles, blood, and bones ravenously consumed everything around to reform her original shape. Even an angel was not exempt. Calurien, who had grabbed her spine, had to surrender his right arm as Hesabel¡¯s prey, as her flesh.

    The first thing reconstructed was not her head, torso, or heart, but Hesabel¡¯s right arm.

    Even without eyes, driven by instinct alone, she plunged the Rite of Division into Calurien¡¯s neck with her right hand.

    ¡°Gah!¡±

    For the first time, a scream echoed from Calurien¡¯s mouth.

    ***

    Without giving Calurien a chance to react, his three clones were swiftly defeated. Seeing Hesabel being reconstructed around Calurien¡¯s body, Isaac marveled at her sess and realized how much she had grown.

    Though Calurien may have underestimated them, believing he couldn¡¯t be defeated by mere mortals in the presence of the Sword of May, this was an extraordinary feat.

    Isaac extended his tentacles into Calurien¡¯s body, seeking to consume the angel¡¯s essence. Opportunities to devour an angel¡¯s essence were rare. Though he only absorbed some dry leaves and a portion of the angel¡¯s power, it was enough.

    [You have devoured the essence of ¡®Calurien (EX)¡¯.]

    [Consumption efficiency is increased by the ¡®Intestines of the Dead God¡¯ perk.]

    [You have acquired the temporary perk ¡®Primordial Magic¡¯.]

    [Primordial Magic (S): The magic contains the power of the observers who organized order in a time when the world¡¯s order was not yet fixed. It can grant life to inanimate objects or alter the properties of elements. It is consumed immediately upon use.]

    ¡®What?¡¯

    Though he had acquired an absurd power, the realization that he had consumed Calurien¡¯s essence rather than Calurien himself made Isaac aware of the anomaly.

    He realized the true nature of the Calurien he had captured. It was a magically crafted puppet, infused with a portion of Calurien¡¯s essence.

    It wasn¡¯t strange that Hesabel had identified it as ¡®real¡¯. The power within it was strong enough to rival an angel.

    Calurien must have endured immense pain and expended great energy to create this puppet, essentially another self.

    The greatest illusion is to create an entirely new reality.

    ¡®So, which of the three Caluriens was the real one?¡¯

    Isaac quickly examined the Caluriens killed by the Sword of May and Hesabel. But he only saw leaves beginning to scatter.

    The ¡®knightly¡¯ behavior of the ¡®wizard¡¯ Calurien. Isaac had thought he was conserving his strength and aimed to eliminate him as quickly as possible.

    But none of the three were the real target.

    Isaac finally understood the source of his unease.

    ¡®Why three?¡¯

    Calurien had three clones. But there was no reason for it to be three. If more numbers were advantageous, he could have created more, and if concentration of power was key, one would suffice. Perhaps it was a limit, but if there needed to be three?

    Three matched the number of archangels who could appear.

    ¡®What if he implied there were only three from the start?¡¯

    In fact, there could be a fourth Calurien somewhere, preparing a final weapon.

    ***

    Before he couldprehend the situation, Isaac began free-falling from the scattering leaves.

    Isaac quickly reassembled the Color Beyond into a wide parachute. Although he wanted to create wings to glide, it required too much power to make them thick and wide enough.

    ¡®Hesabel?¡¯

    Hesabel, too, had lost her support, but she had anticipated being in the sky when she reconstructed her body.

    Wide,rge red wings sprouted from her back. These wings radiated powerful energy.

    Having devoured Calurien¡¯s essence, her strength seemed to have significantly increased.

    Hesabel, with a dazed expression, possibly from the reconstruction or the devouring, abandoned the disintegrating Calurien and glided through the sky.

    Isaac turned his head to ask the Sword of May what was going on. However, she did not seem shocked or afraid; she was merely waiting for Calurien¡¯s next move, knowing that it wasn¡¯t over yet.

    Isaac finally sensed the discrepancy in everything.

    Why did Calurien bring such arge army? Why did he choose a stormy night called ¡®the night when angels sh¡¯ as the backdrop?

    The army and the storm did not significantly help in dealing with the Sword of May. But if it was all a distraction, it made sense.

    ¡°The sky!¡±

    Isaac instinctively shouted.

    The Sword of May, instead of asking for an exnation, immediately unleashed her rings and directed them toward the sky. Calurien had to summon the storm.

    To hide his true form.

    And to mask the noise of what he was doing.

    Rumble, rumble, rumble¡­

    The air vibrated with powerful waves, strong enough to wonder why it wasn¡¯t noticed earlier. The Sword of May, too, seemed to realize what was happening above the storm clouds and roared.

    Her roar tore through the clouds, revealing ¡®it.¡¯

    A massive mountain of rock.

    Hundreds of meters high, with an even greater diameter, it was falling upside down towards them. It was so high that its tip was glowing red from friction with the air as it plummeted.

    And atop the falling mountain, a giant dragon was pushing the mountain with all its might.

    The battle with the Caluriens had merely been a distraction to prevent them from stopping the mountain¡¯s descent.

    This was Calurien¡¯s ultimate illusion.

    Not magic or swordsmanship, but pure gravitational energy and overwhelming mass to annihte the angel.

    ¡®It¡¯s over.¡¯

    Isaac considered all options but found no way to stop the falling mountain. It was pure, unadulterated force, impossible to negotiate with, deceive, or intimidate. It was toote to escape, and even with all their power, they couldn¡¯t cut it down.

    The Sword of May might be able to stop it if she was willing to sacrifice herself. But Isaac couldn¡¯t think of a reason why she would risk her life to save him or Hesabel. To her, they were just useful tools. She needed to conserve her strength to deal with Calurien afterward.

    However, the Sword of May did not flee.

    Instead, she flew higher, elerating towards the falling mountain. Her three remaining rings spun even faster.

    [Holy Knight, brace for impact.]

    ng. The three rings extended into three long des. It looked like three massive swords. Then, she unleashed her ultimate technique, a strike only the angel and the bearer of the sun¡¯s me could perform.

    An immense sh blinded Isaac. He couldn¡¯t see what was happening. The following explosion sent shockwaves that churned his insides. Gliding on the Color from Beyond, Isaac was blown away like a piece of paper.

    Isaac plummeted towards the ground but was suddenly caught. Hesabel, who was gliding, had grabbed him. However, she too had not fully recovered from the impact of the storm, managing only to stabilize their fall.

    Crash! Isaac and Hesabel tumbled across the field, but they were neither thrown nor broken. Though their bodies screamed in pain, surviving was a miracle in itself.

    As soon as he stopped rolling, Isaac looked up at the sky. He was astonished.

    ¡®I must be insane to think I could face an angel.¡¯

    The massive falling mountain had been sliced into six pieces.

    It seemed to momentarily hang in the air, having lost its initial descent speed. Then, it began to fall towards the ground again. Isaac braced for the inevitable devastation.

    But something felt off. He looked up again.

    ¡®The Sword of May?¡¯

    She was nowhere to be seen. Amid the scattering mountain fragments, Isaac saw countless glowing weapons and drifting ashes. It was reminiscent of the leaves shed by Elil¡¯s followers upon death.

    ¡°The Sword of May¡­¡±

    Isaac groaned, sensing her demise.

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read more than 25 advance chapters or support me, you can do it at /Akaza156

 Chapter 207:

    [Isaac.turn on the Lighthouse of the Watcher.]

    Isaac was startled by the voice of the Sword of May that he suddenly heard. There was no sign of the Sword of May around him. However, she urgently pressed him again.

    [Isaac. Lighthouse of the Watcher¡­]

    Instead of asking questions, Isaac hurriedly activated Lighthouse of the Watcher.

    As everything became clear, the light emanating from Lighthouse of the Watcher illuminated the flickering mes in the air.

    Under the light, the mes began to gather and transform into a certain shape.

    At that moment, Isaac understood why the Sword of May had brought him here.

    ¡°Lighthouse of the Watcher transforms the area illuminated by its light into the afterlife of that faith. You brought me here as a means of survival.¡±

    Even an immortal being like an angel cannot survive if they die in the heretical heaven. It is a ce ruled by an entirely different order.But the Sword of May had used Isaac, who possessed the Lighthouse of the Watcher, as a ¡®save point.¡¯

    The Sword of May, now small and cute enough to fit in his hand, sparkled as she responded to Isaac¡¯s words.

    [If it was only that, I wouldn¡¯t have brought you.]

    There was a sense of satisfaction in the Sword of May¡¯s words. Isaac couldn¡¯t understand her thoughts, but there was no time to ask.

    Boom, rumble, boom! The mountains carved by the Sword of May fell, causing earthquakes and dust storms in the area.

    ¡°Teacher!¡±

    At that moment, Edelred, who had witnessed the fall of Isaac and Hesabel, hurriedly ran over. He flinched at the sight of Hesabel with herrge wings but did not question it.

    ¡°The aftershock ising! Be careful!¡±

    Instead, he spread the cloak of his transformed armor, empowered by Kaldbruch, to shield the surroundings. The storm of debris from the shattered mountain quickly swept through the area.

    The storm shook the surroundings for a long time before gradually subsiding.

    Isaac first surveyed the area. The most important was Hesabel, who had fallen with him. She was just as battered as he was, but she was rapidly recovering without any major injuries.

    ¡°Hesabel. Are you alright?¡±

    ¡°I have been reborn¡­ Please call me Hesabel of the Blood Wings.¡±

    ¡°Does a new birth bring a second adolescence? Anyway, it seems you are alright.¡±

    Isaac judged that Hesabel was not in her right mind due to the shock of the fall.

    Hesabel felt sullen as Isaac dismissed her, but he immediately turned his attention to Edelred.

    ¡°Your Majesty Edelred, it seems you have¡­ awakened the sword aura?¡±

    Isaac noticed the extraordinary change in Edelred¡¯s demeanor.

    He sensed well-honed power and restrained presence from him. No longer did he resemble the child wielding the ill-fitting weapon of Kaldbruch.

    Edelred replied with a shy smile.

    ¡°Yes. I don¡¯t know how it happened, but when I faced my father, suddenly¡­¡±

    Isaac nodded.

    The moment of awakening came suddenly. However, Isaac believed that Edelred¡¯s transformation might be a temporary change created by Kaldbruch and Elil¡¯s heaven. He couldn¡¯t be certain what would happen once they returned to the surface, where Kaldbruch would be absent and the divine power saturating the air would no longer exist.

    ¡°To truly make that power yours, you must not forget the enlightenment you¡¯ve gained now.¡±

    Edelred nodded. Isaac, however, had faith that Edelred would manage well.

    There was a world of difference between those who had experienced it even once and those who had not. Given Edelred¡¯s inherent talent, he would quickly reach his current level again.

    Isaac emerged from Edelred¡¯s cloak and climbed the hill.

    The surroundings were nothing short of a disaster. The once gently rolling hills had transformed into mountains, cliffs, and rocky wastnds. The shock alone seemed to have cleared out any remaining golems or magical creatures. But the important thing was missing.

    ¡°Where is Calurien? Sword of May, what happened to Calurien?¡±

    [Cut down, but not killed.]

    Isaac felt a chill run down his spine at the Sword of May¡¯s reply.

    Rumble, crash.

    Then, a massive something emerged from the copsing rocky mountain. It was an ancient dragon with blue scales, six sharp horns, and scales deeply etched like a millennia-old tree.

    The once revered archangel Calurien had revealed his true form. Despite his visible severe injuries and exhaustion, his presence was still vividly alive.

    ¡®It looks like the Sword of May lost.¡¯

    The Sword of May had been shattered and transformed into a small size thanks to Isaac, but the opponent, though heavily wounded, had survived.

    Calurien¡¯s final gambit had seeded.

    [The rest is up to you, Isaac.]

    ¡°¡­Do I stand a chance?¡±

    The Sword of May answered sternly.

    [Of course not.]

    Isaac red at the Sword of May, wondering why she would even suggest fighting, but she responded logically.

    [Of course, you do stand a chance now. But Calurien isn¡¯t going to ept a fight with you as you are now. Knowing that you are stronger than expected, he will probably flee, recover his strength, and return.]

    ¡°Recover his strength? How long will that take?¡±

    [If it¡¯s enough strength to kill you all, half a day should be sufficient.]

    ¡°¡­¡±

    In other words, there would be no chance to eliminate Calurien unless they did it now. But Isaac doubted if they had the strength to prevent Calurien from escaping. If that massive being decided to take flight, there would be no stopping her.

    At that moment, the Sword of May offered a solution.

    [Consume me, Isaac.]

    ¡°Pardon?¡±

    Fortunately, the Sword of May wasn¡¯t suggesting suicide.

    She gathered the mes of her body to create a small me. Isaac could tell that this burning me was the essence that the Sword of May had barely managed to gather.

    [This is part of the ¡®me of Glory,¡¯ the source of immortality bestowed by the Codex of Light. I can¡¯t give you all of it, but it¡¯s enough to imbue you with some of an angel¡¯s power. It¡¯s better than nothing.]

    Better than nothing? Isaac felt the immeasurable divinity surging within the me. Even in her diminished state, the Sword of May still harbored immense power.

    Before Isaac could consent, the Sword of May extended the me towards him.

    [The me of Glory will manifest ording to your will, but it will also activate automatically in the face of mortal danger. Be cautious, as the living body will suffer from the prolonged manifestation of the me of Glory.]

    The Sword of May delivered this and then began to flicker and dim.

    [I will focus on recovery for the time being, so you¡­]

    The Sword of May disappeared before finishing her words. However, it felt more like she had moved to some unseen realm rather than dying or vanishingpletely. Isaac hesitated, unsure of what to do with the ¡®me of Glory¡¯ left by the Sword of May.

    ¡®Should I really follow through with this? What if the Nameless Chaos acts up again?¡¯

    [The Nameless Chaos watches you.]

    As expected, a message came, indicating that the Nameless Chaos was keeping an eye on him.

    This was poison. But since it was the essence left by an angel, it was a poison tempting enough to risk death for.

    After some deliberation, Isaac held the small me in his left hand. His palm opened wide, releasing small tentacles that wrapped around the me.

    ¡®When in doubt, let this thing decide.¡¯

    As soon as the tentacles drew the me into his hand, a wave of heat surged through his body, almost bursting from within. Isaac thought that the Sword of May might have been trying to kill him with this ploy.

    ¡°Isaac!¡±

    ¡°Teacher!¡±

    Edelred and Hesabel rushed over in rm at the sight of Isaac, but they stepped back in shock from the intense heat emanating from him. Isaac soon realized what was happening inside his body.

    It wasn¡¯t the me left by the Sword of May that was the problem. It was the tentacles.

    ¡®This damn thing is trying to devour the me all at once!¡¯

    Instead of slowly digesting the me of Glory left by the Sword of May, the tentacles were attempting to consume it all at once, making it their own instantly. It was an act of pure, beastly ¡®Predation.¡¯

    The issue was that this wasn¡¯t just any divine power; it was the power that created angels, akin to biting into a bomb.

    Isaac gritted his teeth and mentally shouted into his depths.

    ¡®Stop it immediately!¡¯

    His fiercemand reverberated through his inner realm, causing all his minions to shudder at the echo. Even those far away like Hectali and Zihilrat, and Hesabel, who was closest, clutched her head and sank to her knees. However, Isaac had no attention to spare for them.

    The tentacles halted their ravenous attack on the me in response to Isaac¡¯s strong will. As the raging heat momentarily subsided, Isaac exerted even stronger control over the tentacles.

    It was then that Isaac recalled the advice given by the Imperial Guard Knight Bashul.

    Don¡¯t let the beast roam freely; leash it and control it.

    Until now, Isaac had needed the beast¡¯s power. But now, it was time for Isaac to grasp the leash.

    ¡®No, don¡¯t eat it!¡¯

    Wait, was this really how one trained a dog?

    Isaac, feeling dizzy, wasn¡¯t sure if this was the right approach, but he continued to mentally whip the tentacles whenever they showed a savage hunger for the me.

    ¡®Slowly, slowly¡­¡¯

    Surprisingly, this method worked.

    The tentacles engaged in a brief battle of wills with Isaac before ultimately obeying hismand. Only after receiving Isaac¡¯s permission did they slowly wrap around the me and absorb it.

    The thought of this happening within his own body felt strange, but now Isaac had the me, not devoured in a single gulp, but ready to be used when needed.

    Isaac gauged the power now residing within him.

    ¡®It¡¯s a limited power, but it might beparable to Kaldbruch at least.¡¯

    Isaac gripped the Luadin Key tightly and stood up.

    He had gained the angel¡¯s power and recovered his strength. Now, it was time to finish everything.

    ***

    The debris from the copsed mountain was immense, but finding a hundred-meter-winged lizard among it wasn¡¯t difficult.

    Calurien was catching his breath and regaining his strength. However, his wounds did not seem to be healing easily. The sixrge wounds carved by the Sword of May were bleeding profusely, forming puddles on the ground, and his bones and organs were visible. Each ragged breath he took crackled with lightning, resonating through the air.

    Isaac noted that Calurien¡¯s wounds appeared quite severe.

    ¡®With the me of Glory and the help of Edelred and Hesabel, there might be a chance.¡¯

    Calurien seemed to realize that Isaac was preparing for battle, ring at them sharply.

    The mere gaze of the nearly three-hundred-meter dragon was enough to exert immense pressure on Isaac. Moreover, this was an archangel.

    But now, it was just a strong opponent. The crushing oppression he had once felt when facing an angel was no longer there.

    This was likely due to having even a semnce of an angel¡¯s rank.

    ¡®Though severely injured, this is still Elil¡¯s heaven. I must attack with all my might before he can escape.¡¯

    ¡°Hesabel, Edelred. Can you still fight?¡±

    Edelred had already fought for a long time, and Hesabel had performed a miracle bypletely dismantling and reconstructing her body. If they couldn¡¯t fight, Isaac nned to battle alone. He was the only one who had received the essence from the Sword of May.

    But Hesabel nodded first, and Edelred followed suit. Still, Isaac didn¡¯t n to rely heavily on them. He was simply assessing the maximum cards he could y. The specifics were still unknown.

    ¡®Better to attack and formte a strategy than give him more time to recover.¡¯

    Isaac swiftly approached, evaluating the avable tactics.

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read more than 25 advance chapters or support me, you can do it at /Akaza156

 Chapter 208:

    (If you want to support and, motivate the trantor, read at Fenrir Trantions.)

    Rumble, rumble¡­!

    As Isaac began to run at a rapid pace, Calurien moved, causing a massive mountain to copse. The mountain, literally split and shattered, took on a bizarre shape rarely seen anywhere in the world.

    Calurien¡¯s form, emerging from the rock mountain, was equally formidable. The rough scales and jagged, protruding horns made him look like a moving mountain range due to his enormous size.

    At that moment, Calurien opened his mouth.

    [Wait, let¡¯s settle this with words!]

    ¡°Who do you think you¡¯re fooling?¡±

    Isaac retorted incredulously.

    If it had been just ten minutes earlier, he might have been swayed by such words. However, with Calurien¡¯s body continually recovering every moment, he had no intention of falling for such a dying tactic. If a conversation were to begin, it would be after severing his limbs and pressing a de to his neck.Realizing that Isaac had no intention of talking, Calurien opened his mouth wide.

    Crackling! Lightning gathered and surged within his mouth before bursting out fiercely. The streaks of lightning ricocheted madly around the rocky valley.

    Isaac quickly hid himself in the crevices of the rock mountain and began to maneuver around.

    ¡®It¡¯s fortunate the terrain is so rugged.¡¯

    Though running was difficult, with Isaac¡¯s level of physical ability, it posed no problem. The debris from the fallen mountain hindered Calurien¡¯srge movements, while it provided Isaac with cover and defense.

    ¡°Calurien! Why have you forsaken your duty to protect Elil?¡±

    In the meantime, Edelred shouted loudly from the front. Normally, Calurien wouldn¡¯t have paid him any attention, but Edelred¡¯s authority drew his focus.

    ¡°Did you really imprison Elil and plunge the kingdom into civil war? Did you incite countless Elil knights to shed meaningless blood?¡±

    Edelred was not only a Swordmaster but also the king of Elil, wielding the Holy Sword Kaldbruch. It was no exaggeration to say he held a position equivalent to the pope of the Elil Kingdom.

    Bound by the duties of an angel, Calurien could not ignore his cry.

    [If you know nothing, shut up! I was trying to protect you all¡­]

    Swoosh! As Calurien¡¯s mouth opened, a bolt from Hesabel¡¯s crossbow flew in. However, this was no ordinary bolt. Crafted by attaching red wing feathers and finger bones, this bolt contained powerful divinity in itself.

    Calurien, recalling the agony of one of his incarnations during the ritual of division, instinctively twisted his neck to avoid the bolt. But the bolt gracefully curved and embedded itself in Calurien¡¯s throat. The feathers were coated with the ¡®poison of a corrupted angel¡¯ that Isaac had previously distributed.

    Intense pain and blisters erupted. However, it wasn¡¯t enough to cause significant harm to Calurien. For a human, it was akin to a small thorn lodged in the throat, causing difort. It couldn¡¯t be said to have dealt a serious blow to Calurien.

    But the story changed the moment Isaac, climbing the mountain, leapt down onto Calurien¡¯s head. Calurien felt a powerful aura emanating from the approaching Isaac.

    Isaac, who seemed ordinary while running, now had eyes and hair engulfed in white mes, burning brightly.

    Seeing this, Calurien was horrified.

    [The me of Glory! For the Sword of May to go that far?]

    Despite his confusion, Calurien reflexively spewed a lightning breath towards the descending Isaac. He realized that Isaac¡¯s appearance had slightly changed from when he first saw him.

    ¡®Was his armor always that color?¡¯

    The next moment, the lightning breath struck the blister inside Calurien¡¯s mouth.

    Boom! The lightning exploded right inside his mouth. The frenzied bolts spread wildly in all directions. Edelred, worried about Isaac who must have been at the center of the explosion, deflected the rampaging lightning.

    Calurien was disoriented by the breath that had exploded inside his mouth. The lightning spread through the burst blisters, making it difficult for him to even move. Blood was now pouring out from inside his mouth.

    Thus, Calurien didn¡¯t notice Isaac perched atop his horns.

    Isaac, who had taken the lightning head-on, appeared rtively unscathed. Hanging onto the horn, he immediately channeled as much sword energy as he could and shed down at Calurien¡¯s forehead.

    Rip! The sound echoed through the valley as if the world itself were tearing apart.

    ***

    [Aaaaargh!]

    Calurien let out a bestial roar, unimaginable from an angel, thrashing around. Isaac clung desperately to the horn with his left-hand tentacle to avoid being flung off.

    He looked at the spot on Calurien¡¯s forehead where he had struck.

    ¡®Not enough.¡¯

    The blow, delivered without proper stance,cked sufficient power. Although it was a strike strong enough to shatter Calurien¡¯s scales, such an achievement was not enough in a life-and-death battle. The fury rather than the pain seemed to be driving Calurien¡¯s rampage.

    [You filthy monkeys! Ungrateful worms! I¡¯ll kill you all!]

    To inflict proper damage on Calurien, Isaac had to target the already wounded areas rather than striking the new outer shell. He shifted his gaze to the chest area still scarred from the Sword of May. Calurien had kept his body low and hadn¡¯t taken flight since the battle began.

    ¡®He¡¯s trying to keep his wounds hidden.¡¯

    No matter how strong Calurien was, he couldn¡¯t endure repeated attacks on already injured areas. Recognizing this, Hesabel aimed her arrows at the wounded area. However, Calurien, having learned from experience, used his magic to block the iing arrows.

    Thud, thud! The arrows, repelled by a small, bell-like barrier, lost their trajectory and fell. In the meantime, Isaac slid down Calurien¡¯s body. Despite happening behind his back, Calurien had no reason to watch calmly.

    Crackle! Lightning surged from Calurien¡¯s horns, racing along the wings and scales. Though his mouth was damaged and he could no longer use the lightning breath, his ability to generate lightning remained. Isaac, d in armor, couldn¡¯t withstand the lightning.

    As expected, Isaac staggered and fell to the ground after being exposed to the lightning. However, hended skillfully and immediately burrowed under Calurien¡¯s abdomen.

    [What!]

    ¡®It worked.¡¯

    Isaac, panting heavily, gazed at the color beyond covering his armor.

    [Primordial Magic (S): The power imbued by the Observers who ordered the world before it was fixed. It can grant life to inanimate objects or alter the properties of elements.]

    This ability, acquired by absorbing Calurien¡¯s essence, had animated a part of the ¡®color beyond.¡¯ Originally meant to be a desperate measure just before attacking Calurien, Isaac hadn¡¯t thought of how to use it. He had nned to use the color beyond to ¡®dye¡¯ his armor, hoping it could respond organically to any anomalous attack. That¡¯s why his armor had changed color.

    While attacking Calurien, he discovered an unexpected effect of this.

    ¡®¡­The color beyond is an instor.¡¯

    It was something he had never considered, so he hadn¡¯t expected it, but thanks to this, he had been able to survive Calurien¡¯s attack.

    Isaac looked up at the blood flowing down like a waterfall from above his head, and at the wound on Calurien¡¯s chest. The injury from the Sword of May had noticeably healed since the battle began. However, the exposed bones and organs were still clearly visible.

    But what captured Isaac¡¯s attention the most was a gem pulsating with a vivid blue light amid the crimson blood.

    ¡®Dragon Heart.¡¯

    Isaac¡¯s body twisted at a strange angle.

    It was due to aiming upwards, unlike usual. The color beyond burst out like mist, and his tentacle tightened its grip on the Luadin Key, pulsing rhythmically. As the muscle fibers swelled, a fierce me of glory erupted from above Isaac¡¯s head.

    ¡®If I can just cut this¡­!¡¯

    At that moment, Isaac¡¯s body froze. Gravity, time, and the earth itself seemed to seize him.

    Calurien, exhausted, used all the magic and power he could muster to grasp Isaac¡¯s body.

    He squeezed out even his healing power to bind Isaac. The magic alone was enough to crush Isaac¡¯s body. He felt as if his lungs were being forced out of his chest and his eyes would pop out from the pain.

    But Calurien did not stop there; he raised his hand.

    [Do not underestimate an angel!!]

    Calurien, with a blood-choked roar, brought his wed hand down on Isaac.

    Crack. The chilling sound erupted from beneath his hand, and blood redder than Calurien¡¯s own gushed out.

    [The Nameless Chaos watches over you.]

    Calurien red at the being that had targeted his only weakness with a fierce groan. It was the first time since bing a celestial angel that a mortal had driven him this far.

    But a chilling sensation overtook his entire body.

    ¡®No way? Is this not over?¡¯

    Before Calurien¡¯s shock subsided, Isaac moved beneath his hand.

    [Immortal Will: Even when fatally wounded close to death, it binds the soul to the body for a short time.]

    Isaac had used the immortality ability he temporarily gained from absorbing Billon¡¯s soul right here and now. His bones were broken, his flesh was torn, his limbs were severed, and blood pooled like a pond, but his life and soul were still attached to his body, moving ording to his will.

    And the tentacles were reconnecting each part of his body.

    Now, it was only his willpower that moved Isaac¡¯s body.

    As if he had never been trampled, Isaac¡¯s body rotated fiercely as nned, unleashing sword energy.

    A storm of sword energy burst out in the form of tentacles. The storm, mixed with the color beyond, severed Calurien¡¯s ws and surged up. The unleashed sword energy spread like branching lightning, ravaging his wounded body.

    An angel¡¯s scream echoed throughout the heavens.

    It was the scream of a ughtered beast.

    ***

    ¡°Hah¡­¡±

    It was a long while before Isaac finally exhaled a breath. He had been unconscious for a brief moment. He still wasn¡¯t sure if he was truly alive. The immortal will merely kept him temporarily alive; if his wounds weren¡¯t treated, he would eventually die.

    ¡®It seems I¡¯m not dead yet.¡¯

    Isaac struggled to turn his head. The area was drenched with Calurien¡¯s blood, but only the area around Isaac remained clean. He realized that the tentacles had devoured arge amount of Calurien¡¯s blood while he was unconscious, replenishing his strength.

    [You have consumed ¡®Calurien¡¯s Body (EX)¡¯.]

    [The ¡®Intestines of the Dead God¡¯ perk increases the absorption efficiency.]

    [Your physical abilities have greatly increased.]

    [Your divine abilities have greatly increased.]

    [Your regeneration abilities have greatly increased.]

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read more than 25 advance chapters or support me, you can do it at /Akaza156

 Chapter 209:

    In the game, this event was referred to as the ¡®Abyss Flood,¡¯ a significant incident urring in the early to mid-stages. The severity varied based on yer performance, but in the worst case, nearly one-third of the Imperial capital could be devastated.

    The true nature of the incident varied depending on the yer¡¯s faction.

    For yers aligned with the White Empire, it was described as a ¡°terrorist attack by cultists who, with the help of the Immortal Order, awakened an ancient chaos in the capital.¡± In contrast, yers from the ck Empire were told it was a ¡°disaster invoked by the Codex of Light trying to artificially summon celestial power.¡±

    Such events, where the truth changed based on the yer¡¯s choices and faction, weremon, and often the exact truth remained unknown. With Isaac now actively altering the course of history, even the game¡¯s knowledge could no longer be fully trusted.

    Regardless of whether cultists were involved, the existence of monsters was a fact. Since he was nning to investigate the cemetery anyway, it was convenient to incur a debt from the Order in the process.

    ¡®The timing doesn¡¯t align perfectly, but if the conditions were triggered by the Dawn Army, it could happen earlier.¡¯

    The monster could have grown stronger by consuming diligently before making an appearance.

    Especially since the Order was the one to request the investigation, there was an additional clue to understanding the incident¡¯s true nature.

    ¡®It¡¯s unclear who the culprit is at this point¡­ but given that the Order requested it, it¡¯s likely a terrorist act. Or perhaps the Order started it and couldn¡¯t handle it, so they¡¯re passing the buck.¡¯Given the current state of the Order, it wasn¡¯t an entirely unlikely scenario.

    ¡°So, if it¡¯s referred to as a serial murder case at the cemetery, it means bodies have been found there, right?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s the ambiguous part. There¡¯s talk of murders, but no one has actually seen them, nor have there been any reports.¡±

    Hesabel wasn¡¯t calling it an ¡®urban legend¡¯ for no reason.

    ¡°We may not know if cultists are involved, but we should still investigate the cemetery. The Order likely didn¡¯t ask me due to mere rumors, and public unrest caused by such rumors can¡¯t be ignored¡­¡±

    ¡°Hm, that sounds like a n. It would be nice if a suspicious, dark-robed cultist with a wavy dagger was just waiting for us¡­¡±

    Isolde¡¯s words trailed off at that moment. Isaac, too, was looking at the end of the alley at the same time.

    A monk in a dark gray robe stood there, motionless. It was one of the darker corners of the old city¡¯s already dim alleys.

    Any ordinary person would have immediately stopped or avoided him, but Isaac and Isolde darted forward.

    ¡°Stop! You¡¯re under arrest for suspicious behavior!¡±

    (If you want to support and, motivate the trantor, read at Fenrir Trantions.)

    This was an extremely ruthless arrest deration only a former inquisitor could make.

    However, the monk remained still, with his hood deeply covering his face until they got close. Since there was a possibility he was just an ordinary monk, Isaac tried to grab his arm instead of drawing his sword.

    But the robe twisted unnaturally, and suddenly a dagger emerged from the sleeve. Isaac wouldn¡¯t have been harmed by a mere monk¡¯s dagger, but the monk didn¡¯t swing it; instead, it felt as though the dagger seeped out.

    Ignoring Isaac¡¯s hand and arm, the dagger approached his face like a shadow casting over him. Isaac barely managed to twist his neck to avoid it, but it still grazed his skin, drawing blood.

    It wasn¡¯t an attack he could block or counter.

    ¡®What is this¡­¡¯

    The monk swung the dagger at Isaac again. The grotesquely contorted, snakelike movements were inhuman, more akin to a gas or liquid awkwardly mimicking human motions.

    But at that moment, Isaac had already drawn the Luadin Key and swung it.

    Whoosh! The heat emanating from the Luadin Key instantly burned and shredded the robe. Isaac waited to see the creature¡¯s true form emerge, but all that remained was a scattering of ashes.

    ¡°Isaac!¡±

    Isolde¡¯s voice called from behind. Despite being a long, narrow alley with no exits, two more monks appeared out of nowhere, attacking Isolde with daggers. However, Isolde swiftly retreated by kicking off the walls and floor.

    Her movements were astonishingly fast and agile. Isaac was momentarily reminded of the Wka hunters, and then he recalled that she had consumed the heart of the Red Prophet.

    Isolde shook the bracelet she had prepared in advance.

    As the bracelets shed, a blinding sh erupted. It was a holy relic imbued with the Codex of Light¡¯s miracle. While the monks were staggering, Isaac incinerated one, and Isolde drove a dagger into the other¡¯s body. The monk erupted in light, bubbling and disintegrating.

    ¡°That dagger¡­¡±

    ¡°Oh, His Majesty gave it to me. He said it was very powerful, and it truly is.¡±

    Though not as strong as the Luadin Key, it seemed to be a potent holy relic. With her enhanced physical abilities from the Prophet¡¯s heart and this strong relic, Isolde wouldn¡¯t easily be overpowered.

    ¡°Is it over?¡±

    ¡°Looks like it.¡±

    With no further ambushes, they surveyed their surroundings. The alley, where themotion had urred, was filled with the smell of burning. Neither Isaac nor Isolde could exin these bizarre creatures.

    ¡°Hm¡­ there really are evil cultists? Then again, we don¡¯t even know if these are cultists. Are these things really roaming the capital? And what kind of faith wields such power?¡±

    Isolde murmured in confusion. It was understandable that she couldn¡¯tprehend. It wasn¡¯t the Immortal Order, and no faith she knew of dealt with such monsters.

    However, Isaac had seen simr creatures before.

    The robes were more worn and tattered, but these were priests who had already lost their bodies, wandering without form in the apocrypha.

    Priests of the Nameless Chaos.

    ***

    Isaac and Isolde searched the alley further but couldn¡¯t determine where the creatures had been hiding. However, they did find some clues.

    Isoldey on the ground, peering into a drain hole the size of a palm, and spoke.

    ¡°If their bodies are that flexible, then slipping through a hole like this should be no problem.¡±

    That seemed like the only usible exnation. Other possibilities included them having the ability to teleport suddenly or move through shadows, but the former made any spection impossible, so it was dismissed for now. Thetter would have rendered them immobile when struck by the sh Isolde emitted.

    ¡°Where does this drain lead?¡±

    ¡°Hmm.¡±

    Isolde pondered the intricateyout of the old city, then shook her head.

    ¡°The old city is builtyer uponyer over the ancient city, so making an urate guess is impossible. Underneath could have been a bustling boulevard back in the day. But if this is a functional drain, they could have traveled through here¡­¡±

    Isolde traced her finger along an imaginary map, measuring distances, and stopped at one point.

    ¡°¡­and it¡¯s likely connected to the cemetery.¡±

    The cemetery itself was a mound of stacked graves forming a hill. It had to be connected somehow. Isolde murmured in confusion.

    ¡°How did they know we were talking about them ande for us?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s a saying that if you talk about ghosts, they¡¯ll appear.¡±

    ¡°Ghosts? There¡¯s no way evil spirits from the Immortal Order roam the capital freely.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    Isaac had meant it as a joke, but in a world where the dead unabashedly returned as skeletons, it was noughing matter.

    However, Isolde didn¡¯t seem to take it too seriously, lost in thought.

    ¡°¡­Someone might not have liked this investigation and leaked information.¡±

    Isaac immediately thought of Cardinal Camille.

    He had started the investigation with Isolde right after receiving the request from Camille. He didn¡¯t think it necessary to report it to Waltzemer or Dietrich, so he hadn¡¯t said anything. Isolde was involved simply because she was in the old city.

    But Camille wouldn¡¯t sabotage a request he had made himself.

    ¡°It¡¯s possible the information leaked from within the Order.¡±

    Isaac muttered.

    Even if it wasn¡¯t Camille, if there was a leak, it was likely from the Order. It could be an insider with interests contrary to Camille¡¯s, trying to hinder Isaac¡¯s investigation.

    ¡°A cultist within the Codex of Light, summoning monsters¡­ It¡¯s not entirely unreasonable. The cemetery is managed by the Order, so if there are apostates hiding there, it would be a good hiding ce.¡±

    Isaac hesitated to mention that these might be cultists of the Nameless Chaos. He wasn¡¯t certain himself. Typically, when the minions of Chaos appeared, either Isaac or the monsters would feel a strong attraction or hostility towards each other.

    But this time, there had been no such reaction.

    ¡°Let¡¯s do this. I¡¯ll investigate the cemetery, and you, Isaac, look into the priests at the cathedral.¡±

    Isaac looked at Isolde incredulously.

    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t it be the other way around?¡±

    ¡°I was expelled from the Order not long ago, so it¡¯s awkward for me to meet with the priests. I could only greet Cardinal Camille because of past connections. But you, Isaac, have many friends within the Order.¡±

    Friends within the Order?

    Isaac, who recently decapitated a priest and worried about beingbeled an Imperialist, found this surprising.

    ¡®Apart from Juan, I think most people dislike me.¡¯

    Seeing Isaac¡¯s puzzled look, Isolde shrugged.

    ¡°Just go and meet them. And don¡¯t underestimate your past as an inquisitor. Investigating the Order¡¯s members is my specialty. I¡¯ll apany you to any dangerous ces, so don¡¯t worry.¡±

    Isolde had a reckless streak when focused on something, but she never acted without confidence.

    Isaac decided to trust her and epted the proposal, but not without his own safety measures.

    ***

    The Utenheim Cathedral, with its long history, had a patchwork appearance, and a haphazard assortment of facilities. There were prayer chapels, dormitories for priests, arge library, dining halls, gardens, seminaries, and more, branching out like limbs.

    Even as a Holy Grail Knight, many ces weren¡¯t open to outsiders. However, Isaac felt a strange familiarity upon visiting this religious site after so long.

    ¡®It reminds me of my time in the monastery.¡¯

    (If you want to support and, motivate the trantor, read at Fenrir Trantions.)

    Though Utenheim Cathedral was farrger and more splendid than the monastery he had lived in, it shared the same old building feel.

    Isaac noticed a group of young priests quietly chatting as they passed through the garden. It struck him that, had he not be a Holy Grail Knight, he might have joined a monastery and studied like them.

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    A young priest looked at Isaac with surprise.

    ¡°Wait, are you Isaac Issacrea?¡±

    ¡°A Holy Grail Knight? Is it really him?¡±

    Isaac, feeling rxed in the cathedral, hastily pulled his hood over his head. But it was toote; the young priests swarmed around him excitedly.

    ¡°Sir Knight! I¡¯ve been wanting to meet you!¡±

    ¡°Brother Ahil said he met you and even got your signature in the Bible! We were so jealous! We were hoping you¡¯d speak to us too!¡±

    ¡°Uh, well, sorry about that. I didn¡¯t realize¡­¡±

    Isaac was flustered by the unexpected enthusiasm from the young priests.

    Were the monks at the monastery like this? Perhaps they had seemed more mature because Isaac was younger then. The priests in the capital, being from wealthier families, might also have more leisure.

    ¡®Kids these days¡­¡¯

    However, their reaction seemed too fervent to be merely about meeting a famous Holy Grail Knight. Suddenly, a young priest with sses grabbed Isaac¡¯s hand, beaming brightly.

    ¡°Isaac Issacrea, our new beacon! We¡¯ve heard so much about your teachings! You are our idol!¡±

    Teachings? Idol?

    Isaac was baffled. He had many memories of cutting and shing, but none of teaching.

    However, the bespectacled priest continued, eyes shining with fervor.

    ¡°The ¡®New Doctrine¡¯ you spread in the Issacrea territory is the true teaching that reces the old doctrines! I¡¯ve been eager to meet the pioneer of this New Doctrine!¡±

    Ah.

    Isaac finally remembered.

    The sermons he had given at the monastery in the Issacrea territory, filled with mixed teachings of science, philosophy, and various ideologies he had picked up, supposedly to spread the Doctrine of Chaos within the Codex of Light.

    Isaac suddenly realized the truth.

    He was indeed part of this ¡®new generation¡¯ and, in fact, stood at its forefront.

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read more than 25 advance chapters or support me, you can do it at /Akaza156

 Chapter 210:

    There was a brief silence after Isaac¡¯s words, then Calurien¡¯s lowughter filled the air.

    [Do you know what it means to extract a Dragon Heart?]

    ¡°I know that unlike other creatures, removing it won¡¯t be fatal.¡±

    [¡­A Dragon Heart is not like a heart.]

    Calurien growled in a low whisper.

    [We were born as the firstborns of this world. Even when the divine beings were still babbling, our kind walked this earth. We lived through times when thend was nothing but seethingva, and through eras when not a single de of grass could grow.]

    Isaac wondered if this was a moment for apuse, but it seemed it would be nothing more than sarcasm. Despite Calurien¡¯s proud words, dragons were now nearly extinct.

    [A Dragon Heart is the source that allowed us to be born as divine beings. Simply by breathing, power umtes within the Dragon Heart. My soul is contained within it.]

    ¡°That¡¯s exactly why you need to extract it, Calurien.¡±Isaac spoke, hoping his words would sound partly like a threat.

    ¡°If I take it by force, you will surely die. You might not die permanently since you¡¯re an angel now, but without your precious Dragon Heart, you won¡¯t be as powerful as before. Who knows what might happen to you before you resurrect. And I can¡¯t leave you here out of pity because you might recover ande after us again.¡±

    Subduing Calurien had been a near-miraculous feat achieved with the help of the Sword of May.

    Isaac had no intention of taking the gamble of facing Calurien again. He had to ensure Calurien remained crippled while he had the upper hand. The Dragon Heart was a kind of hostage.

    ¡°But if you willingly extract your Dragon Heart, you won¡¯t die.¡±

    Calurien narrowed his eyes and stared at Isaac. Though the statement sounded absurd, he realized Isaac¡¯s intention.

    (To read advance chapters, fastest update and to support the trantor please read at Fenrir Trantions.)

    [You say you won¡¯t kill me? Are you defying the Sword of May¡¯smand?]

    ¡°Strictly speaking, the Sword of May¡¯s objective was to liberate Elil, not necessarily to kill you.¡±

    Isaac shrugged as he replied.

    ¡°If liberating Elil can be achieved without your death, I think that¡¯s eptable. Besides, killing you, only for you toe back, serves no purpose. But if you ¡®lend¡¯ me your Dragon Heart for a while, it serves a purpose.¡±

    [Purpose?]

    ¡°You can stay by my side and see if my wordse true.¡±

    There would be no Great War, and neither the Elil Kingdom nor its faith would fall. If that meant the end of the world, then so be it.

    Calurien was silent for a moment before a mental wave ofughter emerged. It was a satisfiedugh.

    [There seems to be no other way.]

    It was clear that Isaac¡¯s goals were different from those of the Codex of Light or Elil. In that case, it might be better to stay by this rising figure and lend him strength as needed. It didn¡¯t matter if Isaac was a servant of the Nameless Chaos.

    In fact, it was precisely because of that that Calurien felt he should stay close. If Isaac began to go astray, he would need someone to warn him.

    Calurien felt that Isaac was a being who would do anything to achieve his desires.

    [Very well. I will entrust my heart to you.]

    ***

    After receiving the Dragon Heart from Calurien, Isaac was guided by Nimloth to an unknown destination.

    Unlike when he had walked for a long time with the Sword of May, the scenery changed rapidly with each step. In an instant, the time of day and even the seasons shifted.

    They arrived at a picturesque hill by ake. Reeds swayed by thekeside, and flocks of geese flew in formation.

    Isaac, feeling a sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu as he observed the scenery, spoke up.

    ¡°Is this the Holy Land of Elion?¡±

    Nimloth nced back at Isaac, but Edelred looked at him with confusion.

    ¡°What? Isn¡¯t this apletely different ce? There¡¯s no surroundingke or walls of stone.¡±

    Having fought for weeks around the fortress of Elion, Edelred was somewhat familiar with its surrounding geography. Thendscape here had none of the distinguishing features that marked Elion.

    However, Isaac wasn¡¯t speaking based on the terrain.

    ¡°The trees are the same. It¡¯s also autumn.¡±

    Isaac pointed to the trees on the hill.

    Of course, there were differences. Unlike the Holy Land of Elion, there were no camellia flowers, and there was no mist.

    Edelred still looked puzzled, but Nimloth spoke up.

    ¡°You have a keen eye, Holy Grail Knight.¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ we¡¯re on our way to meet Elil, after all.¡±

    Nimloth nodded and began ascending the hill.

    ¡°Yes. This specific time and ce is the only where Elil can be seen. Calurien ced him here in this time and space.¡±

    When they finally reached the top of the hill, Isaac felt a stifling sensation in his chest. The others seemed to be experiencing simr difort. Isaac realized that the air and divine power were particrly dense on this hill.

    Arge sword was embedded under the grand oak tree at the top of the hill. Edelred, who had been watching the sword, gasped in shock.

    ¡°The Holy Sword Kaldwin! Is that Kaldwin? The sacred artifact that was retrieved by the ¡®Ashen¡¯ Holy Grail Knight, who seeded in retrieving it and returned it to Elil, who then appointed her as the fourth celestial angel?¡±

    The title of Holy Grail Knight might be defunct now, but it has a grand and long history.

    Many Holy Grail Knights once roamed the continent searching for Elil¡¯s lost sacred artifacts. One of these knights, after a tremendous adventure, seeded in retrieving one of Elil¡¯s lost holy swords.

    However, fanatical followers of the Codex of Light captured her and set her aze on a pyre. Despite the mes, the Holy Grail Knight did not reveal the location of the retrieved sword. Moved by her sacrifice, Elil manifested in thatnd and gathered the ashes of the knight, appointing her as the fourth celestial angel.

    She was Elil¡¯s fourth and youngest celestial angel, known as ¡®Ashen¡¯, and the sword that Elil personally retrieved and embedded here was Kaldwin.

    In fact, Isaac had tried to summon Elil by offering up his split-rite, much like Ashen. But the interference of the Sword of May had changed everythingpletely.

    ¡®Come to think of it, Ashen did not appear during the subjugation of Calurien¡­ probably because she¡¯s active on the mortal ne. She must already be in the East by now.¡¯

    The celestial angel Ashen usually acted like a prophet of the Red Flesh on the mortal ne, functioning as a sort of secret agent for the Elil Order. However, unlike the Red Flesh, she didn¡¯t scheme or plot. Having not received any divine oracles for the past century, she would likely continue her usual activities.

    Collecting sacred artifacts or exterminating viins as she did in her lifetime.

    From the perspective of those she hunted, having an angel doing such things would be a disaster.

    While she often interacted with humans, she left no significant historical traces. However, in an Elil faith ythrough, she frequently appeared as an ally.

    ***

    Nimloth caressed Kaldwin as she spoke.

    ¡°Yes. This is Kaldwin, Elil¡¯s most cherished holy sword. It¡¯s currently being used as the lock for the prison.¡±

    A powerful holy sword was indeed a potent sacred artifact.

    It was ironic that Kaldwin, Elil¡¯s most cherished sword, was being used as the catalyst to seal him. Nimloth stepped aside as if making way for Isaac. Isaac stepped forward and took out a blue gem from his bosom.

    It was Calurien¡¯s Dragon Heart.

    [Bring me close to Kaldwin.]

    A faint voice of Calurien emanated from the Dragon Heart. His soul resided within it, and his incarnation had entered a long slumber for recovery, unable to move anymore.

    As Isaac brought Calurien¡¯s Dragon Heart closer to Kaldwin, the flickering light from the heart seeped into the sword. Though it was unclear exactly what was happening, Isaac realized he was unlocking aplex and powerful seal. Hundreds, maybe thousands, ofyers of seals, illusions, bindings, suggestions, and brainwashing spells were being unraveled through Kaldwin.

    With eachyer that was undone, Isaac felt the suffocating sensation in his chest gradually ease. The strange density of air and divine power on the hill was all due to these seals.

    Crack, crack.

    Finally, it was as if something had copsed, and a breeze blew through.

    A cool autumn wind blew from theke.

    As the pleasant wind rustled their hair, everyone visibly rxed. But only Nimloth remained tense, bowing her head in silence.

    ¡°I greet the Supreme King.¡±

    ***

    When Isaac turned his head, he didn¡¯t see Elil, as he had expected. Instead, there was a massive knight wearing a lion-shaped helmet. The knight stood silently, gripping a greatsword with both hands and making no response to Nimloth¡¯s words.

    ¡®The Lion Knight, Elil¡¯s third celestial angel¡­¡¯

    In the game¡¯s lore, aside from the gods, he was the strongest entity in one-on-onebat.

    The title of the Supreme King¡¯s Guardian Knight wasn¡¯t given lightly. Nimloth remained bowed before him in silence.

    ¡°Nimloth? What¡¯s going on?¡±

    Someone peeked out from beside the Lion Knight.

    It was the same face Isaac had seen in the Holy Land of Elion. A tall, slender elf with a beautiful appearance.

    It was Elil.

    The title of Supreme King seemed almostughable given his quiet and modest presence. The Lion Knight¡¯s overwhelming aura had overshadowed Elil.

    Edelred instinctively knelt at the sight.

    Isaac and Hesabel, though technically heretics, followed suit out of respect. But Isaac noticed that Elil wasn¡¯t even looking at him.

    No, he didn¡¯t need to.

    The moment Isaac set foot in this space, everything about him had already beenid bare to Elil¡¯s senses. Every de of grass underfoot, every breath of wind, every ray of sunlight touching his skin was an extension of Elil¡¯s perception.

    ¡°We have interesting guests. Larabia, wake up. We have visitors.¡±

    A woman had been sleeping next to Elil. They both seemed to have been napping under the autumn sun. But she didn¡¯t wake up, instead, she mumbled and turned over.

    Elil looked apologetic as he turned to Isaac¡¯s group.

    ¡°Apologies. Larabia seems tired. Let¡¯s talk with me instead.¡±

    Elil smiled warmly as he approached Isaac¡¯s group.

    Isaac found Elil¡¯s demeanor odd.

    Elil, supposedly sealed for nearly a century, was calm and gentle. It differed from the stern image shown to Elil¡¯s followers, and contrary to Calurien¡¯s fears, there was no self-destructive inclination visible.

    Elil looked around at the group, then tilted his head.

    ¡°But where is Calurien? He always came with you.¡±

    Isaac noticed Nimloth¡¯s head bowing even lower. She radiated intense tension and fear.

    Nimloth, Elil¡¯s mentor, and Calurien had be celestial angels almost simultaneously. Yet here she was, trembling before Elil.

    It wasn¡¯t fear of Elil himself, but fear of the confession she was about to make.

    Elil¡¯s gaze shifted to the sword, Kaldwin, embedded in the ground.

    His expression hardened instantly. Nimloth spoke up.

    ¡°Calurien can no longer maintain the seal.¡±

    As soon as Nimloth spoke, Isaac felt something was terribly wrong.

    Elil remained silent for a moment before speaking.

    ¡°I see.¡±

    Elil¡¯s voice was dry and cracked, devoid of the kindness and gentleness from moments ago.

    It sounded like the tearing scream of an ancient tree about to fall.

    Isaac realized why Calurien had been able to imprison Elil.

    Calurien hadn¡¯t used sheer force to seal Elil. He had trapped him in a cycle of sweet illusions and happiness, making Elil unwilling to leave. Elil had been performing the role of the happiest moments in his paradise.

    In other words, Elil had willingly chosen to stay within Calurien¡¯s seal.

    Now that the y had ended, Elil had to return to reality.

    His paradise began to crumble.

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read more than 25 advance chapters or support me, you can do it at /Akaza156

 Chapter 211:

    *Crack.*

    Isaac felt the world itself fracturing.

    Literally, everything within his sight began to splinter and fissure. Time, space, life, and inanimate objects all fragmented and scattered. The only things remaining intact were singr entities.

    Isaac was flung out of the world.

    In an instant, as the world shattered around him, Isaac saw in each fragment the countless timelines where Elil had intervened.

    Only then did Isaac understand why Elil¡¯s heaven was called the Crystal Battlefield.

    Even a single battle held hundreds of processes and thousands of potential oues.

    A battle, in itself, was a brilliant crystal.

    Elil¡¯s knights sometimes won and sometimes lost, each scenario sparkling like a beautiful polyhedron.Both victory and defeat were beautiful. Elil cherished them all.

    Crystal polyhedrons flowed down like the tears of orphans and widows.

    However, as all the pieces fell, Isaac found himself cast into a pitch-ck void, devoid of light, ground, or sky. He had expected a dizzying fall, but even that didn¡¯t happen. There was no gravity to pull him down in this ce.

    ¡®At least I can still breathe.¡¯

    Isaac took out the Luadin Key and ignited it. The light brightened his surroundings, but he saw neither Nimloth, Edelred, nor Hesabel.

    Considering what might happen in Urbansus, finding them seemed impossible. They had likely been sent to entirely different times and spaces. Pondering how to escape, Isaac decided to wait for a while.

    But soon, Isaac revised his judgment.

    ¡®I¡¯ll go mad if I stay here.¡¯

    In a space where no sensation could be felt, ten minutes and a hundred years held no difference. Though he thought he had waited a short time, he couldn¡¯t tell if an hour or a day had passed. Others would likely be even more mentally shaken.

    At that moment, Isaac felt a presence.

    It was a literal presence. He sensed Elil in every direction, no, in all time and space. It wasn¡¯t merely close by. If encountering an angel felt like being overwhelmed by their presence, a god was different. Isaac felt as though he was inside Elil¡¯s very being.

    Suddenly, numerous crystal fragments began to appear. The hastily pieced-together crystals formed a mosaic, quickly creating a new time and space.

    ***

    Isaac stood on a windy hill crowned with an oak tree. In front of him was Elil¡¯s back. Elil was looking down at ake rippling in the wind beside the tree.

    Isaac nced around at his surroundings.

    A sunny autumn day, a small hill, and arge oak tree.

    Though there were no camellias, the scenery was identical to what he had seen before entering Urbansus. Only then did Isaac realize the moment he was in.

    It was the very day Elil ascended.

    The day the dancer cut open his chest and stole his heart.

    Elil detached his shoulder from the oak tree and turned to face Isaac.

    His eyes were inorganic.

    It was more like a statue made in Elil¡¯s likeness than Elil himself.

    Of course, all the essential elements of life, such as breathing, slight tremors, and subtle imbnces, were present. However, the Elil before him felt like something meticulously mimicking even those details.

    Isaac took out the Rite of Division from his bosom, knelt on one knee, and bowed deeply.

    ¡°I present the sacred relic to the Supreme King. Please ept the finally returned Holy Sword Gargaldia.¡±

    Yet, Elil did not even nce at it. He simply ignored Isaac, remaining silent.

    This was an unexpected situation for Isaac. Normally, Elil would ept the Rite of Division immediately andmend the retriever.

    However, the person who took the red ritual was none other than a woman.

    Larabia, the woman who had been by Elil¡¯s side, and his daughter.

    She approached with an incense burner hanging from her wrist and a dagger in her hand, hidden behind her back. Elil clearly saw her, but fixed his gaze on the void as if he hadn¡¯t noticed.

    Everything unfolded like a y.

    Elil spread his arms as if to wee her. Larabia approached, kissed him, and embraced him. Suddenly, the Rite of Division plunged into Elil¡¯s chest.

    What happens when a god bleeds?

    The world held its breath. The scent of blood spread. Suddenly, everything turned red as if bathed in sunset. It felt as though the whole world was running amok. The seas flooded, rivers flowed backward, and the earth closed its eyes and sank. In an instant, a massiveke formed in the vicinity.

    Then Larabia swung the incense burner, releasing smoke, and ced her fingers to her lips. Silence fell. The world calmed as if nothing had happened, and the sky regained its original color. Under the bright autumn sun, Larabia continued her quiet ughter on the hill, where only the perpetrator and the victim were present.

    As Elil¡¯s body copsed, Larabiaid him against the oak tree and cradled him. Her body was drenched in Elil¡¯s blood. Yet, unsatisfied with just that much blood, she widened the wound further to extract what she sought.

    It was the heart of a god.

    Even after being cut out, Elil¡¯s heart continued to throb, still pumping warm blood. An unending holy grail, the eternal vitality, the heart of the one who reached the pinnacle in a mortal body. Larabia was soaked in the blood pouring from the heart.

    By then, Elil¡¯s body had already died and ascended. Larabia, too, ascended to the ranks of the gods as a result of this ritual. But she neither shed a tear nor mourned. Nor did she disy any ecstasy or delight.

    She simply kissed Elil¡¯s cheek once more, and whispered something.

    But Isaac couldn¡¯t hear a word. Larabia didn¡¯t make a sound. She just mouthed the words, as if even the corpse shouldn¡¯t hear. Then, she cut her fingertip with the Rite of Division.

    As blood welled up on her finger, she used it to paint Elil¡¯s lips.

    Then Larabia fled, carrying the dagger that had cut Elil¡¯s chest, his heart, and the incense burner used in the crime. Her only witnesses were the trees, the wind, and the ghosts.

    With each step she took, drops of blood fell, making camellias bloom.

    ***

    *Crack.*

    Suddenly, time and space shattered again, and Isaac was flung back into the pitch-ck void where he had been before. The abrupt shift gave him a headache.

    Isaac struggled to understand what he had just witnessed.

    ¡°Elil¡¯s ascension¡­ was it done with Elil¡¯s consent?¡±

    He had always had some doubts. How could a mere dancer have cut out the heart of the world¡¯s strongest being, a living force who had defeated dragons, angels, and even gods?

    It would have been impossible without Elil¡¯s consent.

    But Isaac wondered if Elil had truly consented to this ascension.

    Conspiracy, maniption, and assassination were the dancer¡¯s domains.

    Isaac began to suspect that Larabia¡¯s scheme might have made Elil consider ascension inevitable. Only the strongest could extract the heart of the strongest. Or someone to whom the strongest had willingly granted his heart.

    Perhaps Larabia had cunningly deceived Elil into willingly giving up his heart.

    ¡®¡­This has gone too far. Whatever the truth was, it doesn¡¯t matter now.¡¯

    After all, it had happened hundreds of years ago. Whether Larabia gaslit Elil to extract his heart or simply turned the coin in a vending machine, it didn¡¯t matter to him.

    Listening to the dancer¡¯s perspective might reveal more, but the dancer in the recollection he had just seen had shown no emotion or uttered a single word. As one of the Nine Faiths and an ascended being, the real dancer was likely not present, and what he had seen was probably just an illusion created by Elil¡¯s Urbansus.

    What mattered now was that Isaac no longer had the Rite of Division.

    Isaac believed that Elil showing him this memory was part of the ritual retrieval ceremony.

    Revealing the hidden stories and legends tied to the sacred relic.

    Though this had never happened before, it was possible since the relic was an EX-rank sacred item offered directly to a god.

    As expected, Elil¡¯s presence loomed again.

    The first thing Isaac saw was red. Then, the smell of something burnt and ash-filled wafted towards him.

    It was a fortress made of red stone.

    Isaac realized he recognized this ce. It was Rougeberg, the stronghold of House Brant and once the capital of Elil. However, while the structure was familiar, the interior was filled with exotic furniture, curtains, and carpets. Moreover, it was crumbling, decaying, and soaked by rain.

    Isaac, who remembered Rougeberg in its splendor, found this scene unfamiliar. It looked like a fortress long since fallen, abandoned, and in ruins. Rain drizzled through holes in the roof under thick, gray clouds.

    ¡°Come closer.¡±

    Isaac turned his head at the sudden voice.

    At the head of the empty hall, hunched over a pile of rubble, sat Elil. He, too, looked like a discarded remnant, forgotten and abandoned along with the ruins.

    ¡°I¡¯ve heard about you from others.¡±

    His eyes were still inorganic, his expression like a crafted statue. From his words, Isaac knew Elil had already conversed with, or at least examined the memories of, Edelred and Hesabel.

    Elil, with empty eyes, gazed at Isaac.

    ¡°Though you are a heretic, I acknowledge that you are a knightly knight, a warrior-like warrior. If you desire a reward, speak of your wish.¡±

    ***

    Isaac gazed quietly at Elil, who asked him to state his wish.

    He looked like someone who needed a good meal and a long rest, but Isaac couldn¡¯t dare to say that. Elil wasn¡¯t truly hungry or tired.

    His hunger and exhaustion were of a different kind.

    Isaac knelt on one knee and bowed before Elil.

    ¡°Now that the sacred relic has returned to its rightful owner, that is enough for me.¡±

    Isaac lied. In truth, he wanted to demand all the treasures and sacred relics Elil had, but that was nothingpared to what he truly desired.

    No angels, no gods, no listening ears or watching eyes. This was the moment.

    ¡°However, if I may, I would consider it an infinite honor if Elil¡¯s warriors lent their swords under the banner of the Order of Light.¡±

    Before Elil lost interest in earthly matters, he had agreed to the participation of the Dawn Army under the name of the White Empire.

    Although they had shed with the Codex of Light, grudges were irrelevant. Elil sought onlybat and glory, not to oppose the order established by the Codex of Light.

    Isaac was now asking again for the participation of the Dawn Army.

    Edelred¡¯s agreement alone wasn¡¯t enough. If there were those in Elil¡¯s kingdom who opposed the Dawn Army¡¯s participation, a divinemand was the most powerful way to unify the kingdom. This would be a great help to Edelred in leading the kingdom to unity.

    ¡°The Dawn Army, you say.¡±

    Elil opened his mouth with a bored expression.

    ¡°Why should we join the Dawn Army?¡±

    Isaac realized this was the crucial moment he had been waiting for.

    (To read advance chapters, fastest update and to support the trantor please read at Fenrir Trantions.)

    Even though the moment had arrived, Isaac hesitated to answer.

    What he was about to say would result in countless casualties. It would bring sacrifices and sorrow beyond even what Isaac, who saw this world as a mere game, could bear.

    But Isaac had no choice but to answer.

    All he could do was offer a small apology before speaking.

    ¡°It is thest chance for the knights to return to Elil¡¯s kingdom.¡±

    Elil¡¯s face remained expressionless at Isaac¡¯s reply.

    ¡°Knights returning? You speak as if there are no knights in my kingdom.¡±

    ¡°With all due respect, Elil.¡±

    Isaac leaned against the armrest and stared intently at Elil.

    ¡°I haven¡¯t seen a single knight here. This ce is nothing but a wretched slum where people fight over scraps in the mire.¡±

    For the first time, a smile crept onto Elil¡¯s lips.

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read more than 25 advance chapters or support me, you can do it at /Akaza156

 Chapter 212:

    Elil did not ask why he should join the Dawn Army out of reluctance. He wanted to probe Isaac¡¯s intentions and hear his thoughts.

    Isaac then delivered his prepared answer.

    ¡°The chivalry of the Elil Kingdom has long since fallen. A mere foreign heretic Holy Knight has defeated all the renowned swordsmen in various regions. The King of Elil learned swordsmanship from that foreign heretic, and the Guardian of the Holy Land was also defeated by him.¡±

    To dere in front of Elil that his faith, kingdom, and legacy were all ruined could have seemed like an act of suicide. However, Isaac was confident in his actions.

    Elil would not harm him for this.

    ¡®That thing¡¯ did not operate in ¡®that way.¡¯

    ¡°Were they at least fulfilling their duties properly? The King of Elil couldn¡¯t even quell a witch¡¯s rampage and was dragged around by rebel forces. The Guardian of the Holy Land was being eroded by the Immortal Order, and your angels permitted the invasion of the undead.¡±

    Isaac silently apologized to Edelred and Lianne, but these words were necessary.

    There was no other way to make Elil take an interest in the world again.¡°Is this truly thend of knights, Elil? Or is it just a gathering of warlords falsely iming your name?¡±

    ¡°You speak the truth.¡±

    Elil¡¯s eyes sparkled as he spoke.

    ¡°Those who call themselves knights are on an ind far from the battlefield, biting and tearing at each other for a scrap of honor like wolves. There are no more knights in the Kingdom of Elil. Only rogue warriors with swords remain.¡±

    Elil scoffed and murmured.

    ¡°And what of the state of the kingdom? They¡¯ve lost all their gloriousnds of old, yet they make no effort to reim them. They chose to follow the order of the Codex of Light, so they had no choice. But why does the kingdom persist? If they do not wage war to defeat their enemies, what is the point?¡±

    ¡°Indeed, that is true.¡±

    ¡°Even the angels are the same. They feared the resumption of my wars so much that they trapped me in the confines of time. No, the most pathetic one is me. A fugitivemitting incest, a defeated warrior, a betrayed king, and a god who avoids reality. I am the fitting king for a pathetic country.¡±

    Isaac swallowed at Elil¡¯s coldment.

    Calurien had said that he confined Elil to protect him from his self-loathing. And Elil was now showing exactly that.

    But Isaac doubted there was any way for Elil to be otherwise.

    Upon his ascension, Elil became the god of knights who sang of victory, glory, courage, and honor.

    But now, did he possess any aspect that aligned with his faith and creed?

    His army was stuck on the safest ind far from the Dawn Army, his knights were busy fighting among themselves, the King of Elil showed no proper charisma, and his most glorious swordmasters were repeatedly defeated by a heretic Holy Knight.

    ¡®Heaven and hell are the same ce.¡¯

    Thus, this must be hell designed for Elil.

    Just because a god dwells there doesn¡¯t mean it¡¯s heaven. Elil existed at the bottom of this hell, licking his failures, regrets, and past glories.

    There was only one way out of this hell.

    War.

    Elil¡¯s eyes gleamed as he stared at Isaac.

    ¡°To find courage, one needs a moment requiring courage. To find honor, one needs a battlefield where honor can be earned. To seek glory, one needs a ce to return with glory.¡±

    His eyes burned with strange desire and longing.

    ¡°A knight needs a battlefield to be a knight.¡±

    ***

    Thud.

    Elil walked down from the pile of rubble.

    To Isaac, Elil looked like nothing more than a war-mad fanatic. But expecting different values from a Supreme King who had pursued conquest and power his entire life would be strange. Especially when his faith and followers were stained with defeat.

    ¡°I have long recognized that you are like me.¡±

    Isaac felt the urge to retort that he didn¡¯t have a perverted taste for incestuous desires for his daughter, but Elil wasn¡¯t referring to that.

    ¡°You do not truly believe in your own faith, and even your convictions are merely tools. Love, loyalty, the same. You act only for your own benefit. Is that not so?¡±

    Isaac could not respond.

    In truth, he was dragging the Kingdom of Elil into the battlefield to achieve his goal of reiming the Holy Land. His rtionships, journey, convictions, and faith were all just means to an end.

    Isaac stared intently at Elil and asked.

    ¡°Then, what is your goal?¡±

    Victory was not Elil¡¯s goal. Isaac was certain of this.

    Of course, winning would be better. But if Elil were the kind of being who could discard everything for the sake of achieving a ¡®goal,¡¯ he wouldn¡¯t have said Isaac was like him. Most importantly, if victory was Elil¡¯s goal, he wouldn¡¯t call the deration of war ¡®Ragnarok.¡¯

    War was a process, not a goal.

    However, Elil considered the great war against everything to be a deration of victory.

    ¡°I want everyone to die,¡± Elil growled.

    ¡°I want my followers to die like true warriors, crying out for honor and glory on the battlefield, and then be scattered in the mud of the battlefield. Even if not a single one remains alive, I will be pleased. They will finally enter a battlefield filled with glory.¡±

    What would it feel like to face a god who despises his own faith?

    The Elil in front of him was precisely such an entity.

    The fact that the Kingdom of Elil was in the safest ce, far from the ¡®true battlefield,¡¯ that his followers refused to fight, and that they clung to outdated,fortable lives without progress.

    Everything was loathsome to Elil.

    ¡®Is that why he epted the resurrection ritual performed by the Immortal Order when they revived him as an undead?¡¯

    When Isaac yed as the Immortal Order, resurrecting Elil as an undead was impossible.

    In the end, Elil¡¯s resurrection might have been epted because it was requested by none other than Elil¡¯s knight, Villon Georg. He wanted to push the Kingdom of Elil into a battlefield at any cost.

    Ironically, Calurien, who confined Elil, had been protecting the Kingdom of Elil.

    Isaac once again realized that Elil was already dead.

    Elil whispered, standing right in front of Isaac.

    ¡°And I want you to lead that war.¡±

    Isaac felt an oddity in Elil¡¯sck of hostility or wariness towards him.

    Of course, Elil knew about Isaac¡¯s lineage and faith, yet he showed this bizarre degree of affection without any hesitation.

    For Elil, the Nameless Chaos would also be an enemy to be defeated.

    ¡°¡­You know I am a Nephilim, right?¡±

    ¡°So what? I, too, sired a Nephilim. To escape that sin, I had to break away from the Codex of Light.¡±

    ¡°Does my faith not matter?¡±

    ¡°As far as I know, Chaos is already dead and forgotten. Chaos can¡¯t just emerge from the Forest of Oblivion now. Even if it somehow reaches out with its tentacles to disturb the Codex of light, isn¡¯t that also a battlefield for glory?¡±

    In other words, even if the Nameless Chaos reemerged, Elil would personally rise to cut it down, driven by either determination or madness.

    Isaac couldn¡¯t tell if this was unique to Elil or if other gods were like this as well. Nevertheless, despite any reservations, Elil harbored intense affection for Isaac.

    He believed that Isaac would lead the grand stage of the great war he envisioned.

    ¡°But mere effort alone won¡¯t be enough for you to achieve victory.¡±

    Elil¡¯s eyes sparkled as he gently touched the corner of Isaac¡¯s eye.

    ¡°I shall reveal the secrets of the world to you¡­.¡±

    ***

    Time in the castle of Rougeberg began to rewind suddenly.

    The crumbling walls were restored, the burnt ashes reverted to curtains and carpets, and the soaked stones dried again. At some point, Isaac found himself in a hall bathed in the strong light of the setting sun.

    In the center of the room stood a massive table,rge enough for six adult men to lie on, and on it was an enormous map of the continent. The arrangement showed the deployment of the Elil Kingdom¡¯s army and opposing forces, an overwhelming disy even at a nce.

    This was a time when the Kingdom of Elil still upied a significant portion of the continent. However, the map depicted a period hundreds of years ago when that territory was gradually being encroached upon.

    At least five or six hundred years in the past.

    ¡°How is the situation at Ultenheim?¡±

    Someone approached briskly from behind and spoke. Isaac turned to see none other than Elil, approaching with a heavy expression. As Isaac struggled to find words, his mouth opened of its own ord.

    ¡°It¡¯s dire. General Baden has fallen, and the Ultenheim garrison has fully surrendered.¡±

    It wasn¡¯t Isaac¡¯s voice. Only then did he realize he was wearing a robe, holding a staff, and donning a pointed hat. Isaac was now Calurien.

    Elil spoke up.

    ¡°Another anomaly caused by Urbansus?¡±

    At Elil¡¯s words, Isaac¡ªno, Calurien¡ªwore a grim expression.

    ¡°It appears so. General Baden and his forces were an invincible force, yet they were overwhelmed so one-sidedly¡­¡±

    An anomaly caused by Urbansus. The meaning was clear.

    Amunds had said the afterlife was the sum of all past times, and the corrected past affected reality. The enemies were using this skillfully, and Elil was being taken advantage of.

    The two turned back to the map. Numerous white pieces symbolizing the Codex of Light were positioned, while red pieces marked the Cult of the World¡¯s Forge, blue for the Salt Council, light green for the Order of Olkan, and various other colors surrounded the green pieces of the Kingdom of Elil.

    The faith invading the Kingdom of Elil was the Codex of Light. A war between Elil and the Codex of Light was not surprising. Until the appearance of the ck Empire, Elil was merely a rebel.

    Naturally, a question arose.

    ¡®Why doesn¡¯t Elil use Urbansus?¡¯

    Calurien spoke.

    ¡°The newly named angel of the Codex of Light, ¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö, seems to be ying a significant role. We cannot track her movements in Urbansus. At this rate¡­¡±

    Isaac hadn¡¯t misheard. When the angel¡¯s name was mentioned, there was a buzzing noise, and nothing else could be heard.

    Isaac realized it wasn¡¯t just an unusual name; it was erased even in Urbansus. That angel was likely now a fallen entity.

    Being named by a god is a great honor, but having one¡¯s name erased is an unparalleled disgrace and despair. Yet, before her name was erased, she seemed to have made considerable achievements in pushing back the Kingdom of Elil.

    Elil stared intently at the map. But looking at the map didn¡¯t change the arrangement of the pieces.

    The Kingdom of Elil¡¯s army was clearly on the defensive. Although the territory marked as the Kingdom of Elil covered nearly half the continent, the area they actually controlled was less than half of that. With the loss of Ultenheim, Elil was facing a situation where he might have to retreat from Rougeberg.

    ¡°How about moving to Aldeon for now?¡±

    ¡°Aldeon? That ind?¡±

    At this time, Aldeon was more of a remote ind on the outskirts than the center of the Elil Kingdom. However, it was a beautiful ce, and Elil often used it as a retreat.

    ¡°No matter how powerful the Codex of Light¡¯s authority is, it would be difficult for them to cross into the Salt Council¡¯s domain. For now¡­¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re telling me to flee. No, if ites to that, I¡¯d rather ascend.¡±

    Calurien fell silent at Elil¡¯s sudden words. He understood all too well what that meant, having been the one who had informed Elil about the ascension ritual.

    Elil looked at Calurien and spoke.

    ¡°Wizard, my invincible army is being annihted across the kingdom due to absurd mistakes and misjudgments. Even battles where Nimloth and I personally secured victory have, upon return, turned into defeats. This outrageous fraud is possible because the Codex of Light is manipting history, and other gods are supporting them!¡±

    Elil roared in anger.

    ¡°I must ascend. Only then can I stop the Lighthouse Keeper¡¯s machinations. We must also be able to use Urbansus!¡±

    ¡°Your Majesty, if you do that¡­¡±

    ¡°My body will die. But what does the body matter to a god?¡±

    ¡°Your Majesty does not understand what it means to join the Nine Faiths!¡±

    Calurien spoke with a groan.

    ¡°Living beings experience joy and sorrow, make mistakes, and ponder. But an ascended god cannot. Bing one of the Nine Faiths means bing an absolute order and concept.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ve had this conversation before. Fine. I¡¯ll be that absolute order. What¡¯s the problem?¡±

    ¡°What Your Majesty envisions as order, ideology, conviction, morals, ethics¡­ all of it will be an eternal, immutable truth. Your Majesty will be a being without doubts or mistakes. If something appears that deviates from that order, you will relentlessly crush it to correct it.¡±

    Calurien¡¯s words were too vague and metaphysical.

    (To read advance chapters, fastest update and to support the trantor please read at Fenrir Trantions.)

    For Elil, who wanted to defeat the Codex of Light by bing an ascended god, they held little appeal. But Calurien struggled to exin any further.

    To put it metaphorically, Elil was now akin to a revolutionary creating a new order. A revolutionary is powerful and worshipped. But to ascend is akin to the death of the revolutionary,pleting his ideology. Often, people equate the ideology with the revolutionary, but they are different.

    A revolutionary can betray, but an ideology does not change.

    An ascended god does not think or ponder.

    They exist as a concept.

    An unchangeable, unpersuadable, unregretful concept.

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read more than 25 advance chapters or support me, you can do it at /Akaza156

 Chapter 213:

    ¡°Please listen, Your Majesty. Of course, if you wish to be a pir of great order, I will support you in any way I can. But if your true desire is to protect the princess, then flee far away.¡±

    Calurien¡¯s words were earnest.

    Elil had apostatized from the Codex of Light and performed the ritual to be a god, but he was still just a ¡°worshiped powerful being¡± simr to an ancient god. To be a true god, he needed to undergo the ascension ritual, take his ce in the afterlife, and dominate the past, present, and future.

    But was that what Elil truly wanted?

    Calurien knew what Elil truly desired. Elil had renounced the Codex of Light and sought godhood to protect his daughter and achieve a noble victory, hadn¡¯t he?

    ¡°To protect Larabia, we need victory, not escape, Calurien.¡±

    But Elil was a warrior.

    He had forged everything with his sword, sweat, and blood.

    Elil stared at Calurien with burning eyes.His eyes were filled with chivalric desires like anger, longing, and the urge to avenge his defeats.

    As a conqueror and victor, he couldn¡¯t ept losing to such ¡®cowardly tricks.¡¯

    ¡°¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö will face me directly on the battlefield. Then we¡¯ll see who the true warrior is.¡±

    ***

    When Isaac turned his gaze again, he was back in the ruins of Rougeberg.

    ¡°Did you see? This is Elil.¡±

    Elil murmured as he walked through the empty ruins.

    ¡°A father protecting his family, a knight facing cowardly tactics, a warrior who never surrenders until the end.¡±

    ¡®Is he boasting now?¡¯

    But Isaac soon understood Elil¡¯s meaning.

    The individual known as Elil no longer existed.

    Only the ideals and rules established by Elil remained. The Elil Isaac saw now was merely an idealized manifestation created by the faith of Elil.

    Calurien¡¯s mention of ¡®joining the order¡¯ must have referred to this.

    Had Elil won the war against the Codex of Light at the cost of his ascension?

    Judging by the current state of Elil¡¯s kingdom, it didn¡¯t seem so. Even after securing a ce in Urbansus, his best achievement was likely only protecting the dancer.

    Isaac realized from what Elil showed him that to be a true god, one must abandon their mortal body, and divine beings were not ones to be persuaded or negotiated with.

    In fact, thetter concerned him more.

    He had always thought that while impersonal gods might be impossible to sway, there might be a way to reason with personal gods.

    ¡®Then shouldn¡¯t they also avoid the kind of insanity that leads to suicidal tendencies?¡¯

    No, on reflection, Elil couldn¡¯t evenmit suicide.

    From the moment he became an ascended god, he was simply a force driving his own will to the end of days.

    That will now sought conflict, although the result could only lead to ruin.

    Elil exined why he had shown his memories.

    ¡°The battle against other faiths ultimately leads to war in Urbansus. If you cannot prevent this, you might win battles but lose the war.¡±

    At Elil¡¯s warning, Isaac thought of the god of the Immortal Order.

    ¡®Wait, then what about the Immortal Emperor Beshek?¡¯

    Whether or not one could call it a ¡°living body,¡± Beshek, the god and ruler of the Immortal Order, possessed a physical form and walked the earth.

    Since he had drawn the afterlife down to the earthly realm, it was unclear if Beshek still retained the full powers of Urbansus. Nheless, being one of the Nine Faiths, he likely wasn¡¯tpletely at the mercy of alterations to the afterlife.

    ¡®While I already had some idea, this is indeed a critical fact.¡¯

    Isaac had learned this through Amunds in the Urbansus of the Salt Council. The fact that historical distortion was possible through Urbansus and that such distortions could alter reality.

    In other words, mere mortals could never truly win a fight against a real god.

    Only those belonging to the Nine Faiths could stand against the Nine Faiths.

    They were the only ones who could prevent historical distortions.

    The persistence of the Red Chalice Club, despite the Codex of Light¡¯s efforts to eradicate it, and the Immortal Order¡¯s growth to a world-dividing power, were evidence enough.

    ¡®Can the Nameless Chaos truly stand against them?¡¯

    Isaac hoped that the Nameless Chaos, being part of the Nine Faiths, could at least put up a fight. However, it was the angels who needed to move between the realms of Urbansus, and he doubted the Nameless Chaos even had such a realm. If it did exist, it was likely in utter disarray. Perhaps it was better if they did not intervene.

    ¡®It might be wiser to seek help from Elil or the Red Chalice Club.¡¯

    Elil held a favorable view of him, and the Red Chalice Club was a secret ally, regardless. While it was regrettable that he couldn¡¯t immediately leverage the Salt Council, it might be better to pin hopes on future possibilities.

    In any case, it was good to have many friends.

    Ultimately, this meant that Isaac needed to appear useful. The only reason the faiths didn¡¯t want to kill him was that he had potential utility in their envisioned futures.

    Isaac couldn¡¯t know exactly what futures they were envisioning, but he sensed that he yed a role in each faith¡¯s victory deration.

    Right now, he was a deeply political entity among the gods.

    ¡°I understand, Elil.¡±

    And Isaac was someone who could leverage even gods as tools if given the chance.

    ¡°I would like to make my wish now, as I mentioned earlier.¡±

    Isaac thought he needed to persuade Elil to elicit his support.

    But he was wrong. Elil was already prepared to be persuaded or to aggressively impose his will.

    He desired war. He wanted a battlefield where he could seek glory, honor, and courage.

    He was willing to wage war, even as an undead.

    To Elil, Isaac was the perfect trigger and proxy for the war he desired.

    ¡°A wish?¡±

    Elil smirked.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you wished for the Dawn Army¡¯s participation?¡±

    ¡°Elil, you already deeply desire the Dawn Army¡¯s participation. Therefore, that is your wish, not mine. On the contrary, since I am bringing you the war you desire, I deservemendation.¡±

    Elil burst intoughter, augh of satisfaction.

    Such an egocentric powerhouse appreciated those who stood confidently before him. Hispanions and friends likely shared this trait.

    Isaac felt he had a sense of what kind of personality the dancer might have had.

    ¡°Very well. State your wish.¡±

    And Isaac knew a wish that would satisfy Elil even more.

    ¡°A sparring match, please.¡±

    ***

    Elil epted Isaac¡¯s request without hesitation.

    Elil didn¡¯tugh at or dismiss Isaac¡¯s absurd wish to spar with him. His demeanor suggested he had expected this.

    Just as with the Dawn Army, he might have anticipated such a desire.

    Amodating such knightly desires.

    However, for Isaac, this decision was based on meticulous calction and benefit.

    ¡®I don¡¯t expect to win.¡¯

    If Elil¡¯s skills were even half as legendary as the tales suggested, Isaac would be dead before he could draw his sword. Elil, having ascended, could manifest the strength of his prime and still existed as the ideal of swordsmanship.

    The passage of time and injuries were mere trivialities to him.

    But that was precisely why it was worth fighting him.

    ¡®If I can learn even a fraction of Elil¡¯s swordsmanship, it¡¯ll be worth a hundred times more than any relic or blessing.¡¯

    Elil stood opposite Isaac.

    The location was still the ruins of Rougeberg. Yet, it was spacious enough for their sparring.

    ¡°Let me exin the rules first.¡±

    Elil picked up a sword and spoke.

    Isaac found the mention of rules odd.

    Typically, rules in sparring are set to prevent the participants from getting hurt or killed. However, it seemed unlikely that Elil would be clumsy enough to kill Isaac, and Isaac doubted he could even injure Elil.

    ¡°First, I will not use miracles. I won¡¯t vanish from your sight by erasing my presence. I won¡¯t create shockwaves that could bring down buildings, nor will I burst the air to rupture your eardrums and disrupt your bnce. I won¡¯t stop your heart with killing intent. I won¡¯t use sword aura or advanced sword techniques. I will only confront you with raw strength and speed.¡±

    ¡°¡­I assume these rules don¡¯t apply to me and only to you, Elil?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s usually called a handicap or a penalty¡­ but thank you.¡±

    Since Elil was taking the handicap upon himself, Isaac had no reason to refuse. However, he couldn¡¯t help but feel disappointed. What he wanted to learn was Elil¡¯s swordsmanship.

    ¡°However, please understand my desire to witness your swordsmanship. Could you not use advanced techniques?¡±

    Isaac believed he could at least endure, if not surpass, angelic swordsmanship. But could Elil, even in his prime, handle it without using sword aura or advanced techniques?

    If he could, Elil would be something more than a mere mortal, inherently extraordinary.

    ¡°That depends on you.¡±

    Elil replied, then erased the smile from his lips.

    In that moment, Isaac felt the air around them grow heavy.

    The atmosphere of the ruins changed.

    The setting sun¡¯s light began to carry the scent of blood, and the air froze as if it had been stagnant for a thousand years. Just from the change in atmosphere, Isaac found it difficult to breathe.

    ¡®This is¡­ Elil!¡¯

    Elil had no intention of holding back.

    Just as in a duel, sparring was sacred. Elil intended to defeat Isaac with all his might, within the limitations he had set.

    Elil took a step forward.

    [The Nameless Chaos is watching you.]

    In that instant, Isaac twisted his neck violently.

    *sh.* Isaac barely escaped the oppressive aura, moving his body. But his neck was already cut by Elil¡¯s sword, blood pouring out. Isaac quickly retreated and staunched the wound.

    Elil spoke calmly.

    ¡°One.¡±

    ¡®I expected it, but I still can¡¯t see him.¡¯

    Isaac chuckled bitterly.

    Elil hadn¡¯t intended to pierce his neck. He had merely ced the sword tip there, and Isaac¡¯s hurried movement had deepened the wound.

    But it seemed he had managed to impress Elil.

    ¡°Still, you reacted. Impressive.¡±

    ¡°¡­Thank you.¡±

    ¡°But it was clumsy. As soon as the sparring started, you should have activated your sword aura and fortified your body with miracles. You should have attacked first instead of giving me the initiative. Summon whatever you can. Aren¡¯t you a follower of Chaos? Use all the unorthodox and foul means you have. Deploy whatever you can to win.¡±

    Had he done so earlier, the mishap wouldn¡¯t have urred. Isaac decided to take Elil¡¯s advice.

    (To read advance chapters, fastest update and to support the trantor please read at Fenrir Trantions.)

    He began to arm himself with every means at his disposal, ones he had hesitated to use because of the consequences and the aftermath.

    As Isaac¡¯s aura began to change, Elil stood calmly across from him again, waiting for Isaac to attack first this time.

    Isaac had no thoughts of whether his opponent could withstand his attack.

    His mind was singrly focused.

    Unless he fought with the intent to kill Elil here and now, he wouldn¡¯t learn anything from him.

    Learning and lessons are only granted to the deserving.

    Isaac¡¯s eyes began to glow a fierce violet.

    Tentacles began to emerge, writhing from his body.

    ¡®Today, I will kill a god.¡¯

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read more than 25 advance chapters or support me, you can do it at /Akaza156

 Chapter 214:

    Chapter 214:

    Isaac first activated the Eye of Chaos.

    His eyes turned a deep violet, and tentacles began to slither out from between his eyelids. He had never used this ability to such an extent except when trying to discern everything about his opponent.

    ¡®¡­Dizzying.¡¯

    Looking at Elil with the Eye of Chaos, Isaac began to understand the enormity of what he had said.

    Even with the Eye of Chaos, Isaac couldn¡¯t glean any information about Elil.

    It wasn¡¯t that he couldn¡¯t see him. There was just too much to see. Elil was prepared to cut Isaac down with tens of thousands of movements. He hadplete control over the space they were in.

    Meanwhile, Isaac realized that no matter how much he attacked, he wouldn¡¯t be able to touch Elil.

    His confidence was not arrogance.

    ¡®But that¡¯s only if I fight like an ordinary swordmaster¡­¡¯Isaac didn¡¯t know his own limits when pushing the power of Chaos to its extremes. He had avoided relying on Chaos¡¯s power because he knew that the more he used it, the further he drifted from his true self.

    Today might be the stage to test those limits.

    Isaac ignited the heat of the Luadin Key to its maximum. The heat, fused with his sword aura, red with a menacing force. He took a deep breath and thenunched himself forward.

    *Boom.* The granite bs of the floor cracked under the shockwave. Sword aura flowed from his de, leaving strange marks on the walls and floor as it surged forward.

    *sh! Boom!*

    Isaac shed horizontally at Elil¡¯s body in an instant. However, Elil caught the sword with one hand without even looking at it. He was simply staring at Isaac.

    It was an unbelievable feat. Catching sword aura with an ordinary sword was impossible.

    But Elil did it.

    The tip of his sword precisely struck the hilt of the Luadin Key.

    No matter how strong a sword, it had weak and strong points. The weaker part is near the handle, and the stronger part is the tip. Even with sword aura, the distribution of force doesn¡¯t change.

    Elil intercepted it at the exact weak point in a fraction of a second.

    ¡®Just use sword aura, you madman¡­!¡¯

    Understanding and replicating are entirely different matters.

    Isaac was certain he could never master Elil¡¯s technique, no matter what. He continued his attacks. Although he was cautious of Elil¡¯s counterattacks, each strike was blocked by Elil¡¯s sword tip.

    Yet it was strange that Elil¡¯s sword tip didn¡¯t even get damaged.

    ¡°¡­That¡¯s not an ordinary sword, is it?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s the Holy Sword Aleval.¡±

    ¡°Holy Sword Aleval? That¡¯s a new name to me.¡±

    ¡°It means ¡®nameless.¡¯¡±

    So Elil wouldn¡¯t use miracles or advanced sword techniques, but he would use a holy relic?

    Isaac thought about pointing this out but decided against it, as it made him look pitiful. However, Elil, perhaps sensing this, added an exnation.

    ¡°Any sword I wield bes a holy sword. But without a legend, it¡¯s just slightly better than an ordinary sword, so don¡¯t worry about it.¡±

    In other words, he had indeed just picked up a random sword.

    Isaac felt a mix of disbelief and awe at the idea that any sword Elil picked up would be a holy sword.

    It wasn¡¯t surprising, considering it was a weapon used by a god, not just an angel. Although Elil wasn¡¯t using sword aura, the sword still didn¡¯t emit any special energy.

    epting this, Isaac resumed his attacks.

    *ng! ng! Crash! Crack!*

    Isaac¡¯s attacks were fierce and aggressive, but they were merely traps to provoke Elil¡¯s reaction.

    Elil saw through Isaac¡¯s ploy and didn¡¯t move unless there was a genuine opening. Hence, Isaac used his sword aura to viciously grab and tear at Elil¡¯s sword to disrupt his movements.

    After several exchanges, Isaac began to understand Elil¡¯s movements through the Eye of Chaos.

    Elil¡¯s body moved with mechanical efficiency and effectiveness. Every muscle fiber contracted and rxed with a clear purpose.

    His movements were so beautiful they almost exuded a sense of functional beauty.

    ¡®Was this monster just born this way?¡¯

    Isaac continued his relentless assault, even though replicating Elil¡¯s techniques seemed impossible. Elil had vowed not to use sword aura. Missing even once in targeting the exact point where the force changes would break his sword.

    Isaac aimed for that.

    ¡®¡­Honestly, I¡¯m not sure I could win even if Elil fought barehanded.¡¯

    *Crack!*

    When Isaac crossed swords with Elil for the fourth time, he managed to make their des sh directly. The moment their des met, the teeth of Elil¡¯s sword chipped, and a crack formed. Isaac didn¡¯t miss the opportunity and immediately executed his Ezak Swordsmanship: Eightfold Path.

    *Boom!* In an instant, Isaac¡¯s energy erupted, creating the image of a beast rising from the abyss with eight tentacles, engulfing Elil in a ferocious attack.

    *Crack, crack, crack!*

    However, Elil merely tapped at parts of Isaac¡¯s sword trajectory with his own de.

    The ¡°Eight Branches¡± lost its momentum and shattered almost instantly.

    The beast formed by sword aura dissipated, and Isaac lost his bnce. Elil approached casually, cing his de against Isaac¡¯s neck.

    ¡°Two.¡±

    Elil whispered. Isaac couldn¡¯t tell how many chances he would get, but he was alreadyunching his next attack before Elil could say anything more.

    From beneath Isaac¡¯s shadow, the grasp of the abyss shot up.

    The grip of the abyss emerged right beneath Elil¡¯s feet, writhing to tear him apart. However, Isaac realized through shared pain that it was thrashing not to finish its prey but out of agony.

    For the first time, the abyssal grasp had been shed and wounded, revealing its innards and viscera. It melted away quickly into the colors beyond.

    Elil had not been swallowed by the abyssal grasp. He had simply stepped back and sliced through it as it emerged.

    But there was a result. Elil looked at Isaac for a moment before tapping his sword. With a sharp sound, the de split in half. The part Isaac had managed to crack had broken.

    ¡°Impressive.¡±

    Isaac steadied himself again.

    Elil had taken Isaac¡¯s life twice, but Isaac had broken Elil¡¯s holy sword, Aleval. Breaking a god¡¯s sword was an encouraging result.

    Instead of picking up a new sword, Elil picked up the broken de.

    Then he assumed a dual-wielding stance. What had been Aleval was now divided into Al and Eval.

    ¡°Let¡¯s raise the difficulty a bit.¡±

    With those ridiculous weapons, higher difficulty?

    Isaac wanted tough but couldn¡¯t even move his lips.

    ¡®Being underestimated has its limits.¡¯

    His eyes burned even more fiercely.

    ¡°Then I¡¯ll raise the difficulty too.¡±

    Isaac¡¯s left hand finally began to twitch and morph.

    ***

    Despite his bravado, Isaac had never considered Elil an opponent of ¡°low difficulty.¡±

    The reason he hadn¡¯t used the tentacle of his left hand until now was that it interfered with holding his sword and couldn¡¯t exert its true power in its unfamiliar form. The tentacle was more of a tool for unpredictable situations.

    But Elil required experimental attempts to find a breakthrough.

    Bang. Isaac charged at Elil again.

    This time, he didn¡¯t approach head-on but circled around, looking for an opening. Elil was deflecting Isaac¡¯s attacks with minimal movements. It required high concentration to execute such precise actions.

    In this case, a shy and unpredictable technique was necessary.

    *Crack, crack, crack!* The tentacle gripped the Luadin Key tightly. After witnessing Elil sever the grasp of the abyss, wielding the tentacle recklessly would be foolish. Instead, Isaac decided to use the enhanced grip strength and flexible movements provided by the tentacle.

    The hilt of the Luadin Key, now almost fused with his left hand, was invisible. The zing mes seemed to scream.

    ¡®Now!¡¯

    As Elil moved to face Isaac, who was circling him, Isaac kicked off the wall and lunged. The colors of the abyss burst forth from each step, enveloping Elil.

    Though it couldn¡¯t inflict deadly damage, it was enough to obscure Elil¡¯s vision.

    Isaac swung the Luadin Key, entwined with tentacles, mimicking Lianne¡¯s advanced swordsmanship. Reproducing her swordsmanship perfectly without Lumiarde was impossible. However, the fluidity of the tentacles allowed him to replicate the intricate movements to some extent.

    *ng!* Using the Elion swordsmanship, dozens of beasts with gaping maws emerged from the ink-like colors beyond, attacking Elil. Elil, unflinching, disrupted and countered Isaac¡¯s swordsmanship calmly, just as he had before.

    At that moment, Isaac¡¯s eyes gleamed. Using the Eye of Chaos, he tried to delve deeply into Elil¡¯s emotions to unsettle him.

    ¡°¡­!¡±

    But all he sensed was a single thought: the desire for battle.

    There was no emotion to draw upon.

    *Boom!*

    Finally, Isaac¡¯s sword shed with Elil¡¯s once more.

    This time, Isaac¡¯s sword didn¡¯t waver as easily. Elil¡¯s eyebrows twitched. The ridiculous strength and flexibility of the tentacle absorbed and deflected Elil¡¯s attacks. Elil had no choice but to parry each strike that rained down on him.

    It was akin to catching raindrops one by one. An impossible feat for most, but for Elil, it seemed as simple as a walk in the park.

    ¡°Three.¡±

    Though Isaac was the one pressing the attack, hiding within the colors beyond and pushing forward, it was Isaac who was on the defensive.

    His breathing grewbored, and his vision blurred. Hunger gnawed at him slowly.

    ¡°Four.¡±

    In that time, Isaac¡¯s life was taken two more times.

    Yet, Isaac continued to press on.

    Just one mistake, one moment of carelessness, and he could prevail.

    Isaac was already using the Broken Crystal Tombstone Fragment.

    ¡®This is an opponent where cheap tricks won¡¯t work.¡¯

    The fragment heightened his focus to an extreme degree. In the intense concentration that felt like his brain was burning, Isaac felt the world slow down. Just like Elil, he could afford no mistakes.

    ¡®I must force a reaction in directbat!¡¯

    Isaac attacked with the intent to kill Elil but did not think of victory.

    Such determination might provoke a reaction or emotion from Elil, finally leading to victory. Driven by this single-minded resolve, Isaac pushed his limits to the utmost.

    *Pik, jureuk¡­* The intense focus granted by the Broken Crystal Tombstone Fragment and the Eye of Chaos allowing him to discern Elil¡¯s intentions and movements caused his eyes to bleed. Blood-tears streamed down his face.

    Isaac didn¡¯t even notice the blood-tears as the tentacles absorbed them before they obscured his vision.

    With heightened focus, he unleashed advanced swordsmanship without pause. The Eightfold Path, Drowned Hand, Avnche Swordsmanship, Rotten Hammer Swordsmanship, techniques of Cedric, the Knights of Aldeon, and the Elion Knight Order. Isaac meticulously executed and unleashed every swordsmanship he had witnessed and consumed.

    As a result, there wasn¡¯t a part of his body that wasn¡¯t being strained.

    Only then could Isaac begin to mimic Elil¡¯s movements.

    His muscles, bones, blood flow, and nerves screamed in agony as they were forcibly aligned like a machine. It was a violent will that would force the body to move correctly even if it had to crush it. In fact, his body was tearing apart.

    Even the tentacles gripping the Luadin Key were splitting and bleeding from the pressure. Yet Isaac pushed on, unaware that his body was breaking apart from his own sword aura.

    He was nothing but a vortex consuming everything, jaws open wide, aiming to devour Elil.

    *Shick.* The blood Isaac shed turned into mist and dispersed.

    The blood mist mixed with the colors beyond, forming a monster born of chaos that swung its sword.

    It was a beast of cmity.

    By now, it was impossible to distinguish between the colors beyond and Isaac.

    Only then did Elil begin to move.

    ***

    Elil moved swiftly, continuing his attacks and defenses to avoid getting caught up in Isaac¡¯s swordsmanship.

    A fighting spirit that didn¡¯t care for its own body.

    But Elil sensed that it wasn¡¯t desperation but conviction that drove Isaac.

    And he was thrilled by that fighting spirit.

    An old emotion was stirred within him by that fighting spirit.

    ¡°Five.¡±

    Elil¡¯s sword once again grazed Isaac¡¯s heart. But he wondered if Isaac would have stopped even if he had pierced his heart.

    With that fighting spirit, Isaac would likely have struck down with his body even if he lost his heart. And Elil found it increasingly difficult to exploit Isaac¡¯s weaknesses.

    A slight doubt.

    That was enough for Isaac.

    If he could make Elil realize that his chance of winning this fight wasn¡¯t 100%, it would be enough.

    Only then did Elil realize what was happening.

    Isaac was fighting with everything, risking his life, while demanding something from Elil.

    Demanding he use his sword aura, demanding he show his true swordsmanship.

    Demanding hey everything he had before Isaac.

    In the midst of it all, Isaac was growing at an incredible pace. By observing and devouring each of Elil¡¯s movements, he felt sword aura form at his will. No, the sword aura was guiding and leading him.

    It brought Isaac to a realization.

    (To read advance chapters, fastest update and to support the trantor please read at Fenrir Trantions.)

    ¡®Sword aura¡­ could it be¡­¡¯

    And as Isaac transcended a certain limit, he stopped unleashing every swordsmanship he knew.

    He discarded everything. All miracles, relics, blessings, and wonders.

    Only one movement remained.

    He perfectly mimicked Elil¡¯s movement.

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read more than 25 advance chapters or support me, you can do it at /Akaza156

 Chapter 215:

    Chapter 215:

    With a thunderous crash, Elil¡¯s sword met Isaac¡¯s precisely.

    No matter how skilled Elil was, no ordinary sword could withstand such a blow.

    From the already broken and rusted de in Elil¡¯s hand, a radiant light burst forth.

    For that moment, the shattered, worn sword took on the ideal form of all swords.

    More than a holy sword, it was the most perfect weapon imaginable.

    And it was wielded by the most perfect knight in history.

    ¡°Well done.¡±

    In that fleeting moment, Isaac heard Elil whispering in his ear.

    Elil spoke to Isaac with Urbansus¡¯s time held still. As the eternal moment resumed its flow, Elil¡¯s words echoed.¡°¡­You are worthy to witness my sword.¡±

    It was a dazzling light.

    In that brilliance, Isaac could see what was happening thanks to Elil¡¯s consideration. Elil¡¯s sword aura elerated as it transcended a limit.

    The disced air collided, releasing intense heat. sma bubbles formed as the atomic nuclei collided with the de, bursting into blinding light.

    At this point, theposition of the de was no different from the air molecules. It was fusing and beginning to explode, disintegrating and consuming everything around it, including the de itself. The shockwave, moving faster than sound, instantly consumed and vaporized Rougeberg.

    It happened in a literal instant.

    An honest, horizontal sh performed in a moment that couldn¡¯t be divided into milliseconds.

    This was Elil¡¯s sword aura and his swordsmanship.

    ***

    *Rumble¡­*

    Lying on the ground, Isaac looked up at the cloudy sky.

    The deste wastnd around him was unrecognizable from where Rougeberg had stood moments before. Rocks sizzled as they melted, and some had turned to ss, glinting in the aftermath.

    Suddenly, rain clouds gathered, and a torrential downpour began. The intense heat had created convection currents, meeting the vapor to produce the deluge.

    ¡®Elil¡¯s strength is overwhelming, but isn¡¯t this a bit much?¡¯

    Isaac understood the principles of nuclear explosions and knew that achieving the speed of light required infinite energy. Therefore, nothing could reach the speed of light.

    Elil had disregarded those fundamental principles entirely. No wonder the Codex of Light, the god of physics, would cry over such feats.

    Isaac realized anew that he was indeed in another world.

    In life, Elil could trigger a nuclear explosion with a mere sword picked up off the ground.

    And the gods who fought and defeated him were equally insane. If altering history had been impossible, one might wonder if they could have ever beaten him.

    Isaac stood up.

    He had survived this explosion solely because Elil had frozen his time. Being detached from time, Isaac was unaffected by the events urring around him.

    Elil sat on a melted rock fragment. Despite his unbelievable feat, the sight of him drenched in the rain had a strangely fitting and mncholic air.

    As Isaac approached, Elil spoke.

    ¡°I lost.¡±

    ¡®Only someone like Elil could say something so absurd with a straight face.¡¯

    Elil had the opportunity to kill Isaac five times, and with his sword aura, he could have killed him a hundred times over if he wished.

    But Isaac was equally proud and unashamed.

    ¡°Then it seems I have won.¡±

    Elil was the one who imposed restrictions on himself. So it made sense for him to acknowledge his defeat, given that he broke those restrictions.

    Elil chuckled quietly at Isaac¡¯s response, finding it amusing.

    ¡°Yes, you won. But I didn¡¯t admit defeat because I used sword aura or advanced swordsmanship. I lost because I underestimated you. A swordsman loses the moment they underestimate their opponent. The truth is, after the fourth round, I couldn¡¯t kill you without using sword aura.¡±

    Isaac kept silent. Elil tilted his head slightly as he looked at Isaac.

    Isaac had faced death five times, not because he couldn¡¯t block or evade Elil¡¯s attacks, but because he was trying to understand Elil¡¯s swordsmanship.

    Elil hadn¡¯t merely been able to kill Isaac five times, he had only realized Isaac¡¯s intention after the fifth death.

    ¡°Even so, you fought as if you were willing toy down your life to watch me. My swordsmanship, my movements, the way I breathe, walk, and run¡­ You might know me better than Larabia by now.¡±

    Althoughparing him to Elil¡¯s lover and daughter seemed a bit off, Elil was speaking sincerely.

    ¡°I realized this only at the fifth encounter. During this brief sparring, you grew so rapidly that I couldn¡¯t kill you without using sword aura. That¡¯s when I knew this fight was meaningless. I never expected you to grow so quickly. Clearly, I was overconfident, so I can say I lost.¡±

    Realizing it only at the fifth encounter still made Elil a monster. Isaac had been fighting seriously for the most part.

    Isaac didn¡¯t feel triumphant about receiving Elil¡¯s deration of defeat. Essentially, Elil had fought with his hands tied, blindfolded, hopping on one leg on a tightrope while holding a sword in his mouth. Moreover, Isaac still hadn¡¯t actually defeated Elil.

    If Elil had used sword aura from the start, Isaac would never have won in a lifetime. Even though he had glimpsed the essence of Elil¡¯s swordsmanship, replicating it seemed impossible, much like how Lianne couldn¡¯t fully replicate swordsmanship without Lumiarde.

    ¡®Perhaps I could apply it in some way.¡¯

    Clearly, Isaac had grown significantly from his fight with Elil. This experience was even more valuable since it was learned from Elil, who had once defeated angels inbat.

    However, at the same time, Isaac had realized something potentially terrifying about sword aura through this battle.

    ¡°Although it seems you have already realized much, if there¡¯s anything you¡¯re curious about, ask now. Such an opportunity will note again.¡±

    Elil¡¯s words were timely. Isaac decided to ask about what he had realized during the fight.

    ¡°There is something I¡¯m curious about.¡±

    ¡°Something you¡¯re curious about?¡±

    Isaac took a deep breath and asked.

    It was a simple question, but it might be entangled with the secrets of the gods.

    ¡°Is sword aura not one of Elil¡¯s miracles?¡±

    Sword aura was clearly an alien force in this world.

    Even advanced swordsmanship, without divine miracles, could produce phenomena that defied thews of physics. Sword aura went beyond that, being visible to others and having physical force.

    It was essentially creating something from nothing.

    Simr things already existed in this world, even with much simpler conditions.

    They were called miracles.

    Elil smiled broadly at Isaac¡¯s words and looked at him.

    ¡°To think you¡¯ve reached that conclusion yourself, you are indeed a fascinating individual.¡±

    Elil turned his body to face Isaac.

    ¡°Yes, sword aura is not my miracle. Sword aura existed before I became a god, and it was the foundation of my ability to be one. It wasn¡¯t bestowed upon me. As you said, sword aura is not an Elil miracle.¡±

    Although Isaac had anticipated this answer, he found Elil¡¯s words puzzling. Other faiths also had outstanding warriors. Even Kalsen had better swordsmanship than Lianne or Cedric. But Isaac had never heard of him awakening sword aura.

    ¡°Then why don¡¯t warriors from other faiths possess sword aura?¡±

    ¡°All other gods strictly prohibited sword aura.¡±

    Elil spoke as he drove his sword into the ground. His sword aura began to seep into the cracks of the scorched wastnd created by his battle with Isaac.

    ¡°Only I, Elil, have allowed my followers to wield sword aura.¡±

    Sprouts, flowers, and stems began to grow from the cracks. It was a strange sight to see life sprouting from a weapon designed to kill, but for Elil, it was as natural as breathing.

    Isaac began to understand what sword aura truly was.

    ¡°Is sword aura a miracle one grants to oneself?¡±

    A satisfied smile appeared on Elil¡¯s face.

    ¡°As a reward for your victory, I will tell you the secret of this world.¡±

    He then began to whisper the secrets of the world, life, and will.

    ***

    Imagine you desire something deeply and passionately. You do everything in your power to achieve it, thinking about it constantly, showing passionate love and belief in it.

    In the world Isaac originally came from, such effort doesn¡¯t guarantee sess.

    But in this world, there is a force that responds to sincere desires.

    In this world, if you wish for something hard enough, there is a power that answers.

    This force has been called many names throughout history, but now it is known by one name.

    Divine power.

    ¡°And in the early days, when intelligent beings were still primitive and struggled to foresee even a day or two ahead, there were those who first recognized and began to harness this power.¡±

    When an individual desires something passionately, the power may only affect that individual. But if ten, twenty, or even hundreds and thousands of people focus their divine power on one person?

    That person bes a monster embodying the power of thousands or millions.

    ¡°These beings are known as the ancient gods, born in the earliest times.¡±

    Whether it was the desire to escape suffering from disease, the greed for more, the awe of vast and terrifying nature, or the fear of an uncertain future¡­ gods drew worship from all these things.

    Gods became entities that allowed intelligent beings to escape from fear and dread. Now, with the power of the gods, they could be free from their fears. If they were sick, they could pray to the god of gue; if they wanted a good harvest, they could pray to the god of prosperity.

    They didn¡¯t realize that this power came from themselves and relied on the gods they created.

    The most powerful desire was the wish for the continuity of today into tomorrow, the desire for safety.

    The hope that the sun would rise again, that spring would follow winter, that seeds would sprout into nts, a desire for order.

    This seemingly simple hope for order was actually the most powerful.

    Even the ancient gods wished for this ¡®order,¡¯ creating the strongest god.

    However, because this faith was ¡®obvious,¡¯ it was vague and had few followers. It was a humble faith believed only by desert shepherds until the prophet Luadin was born, giving it the name of the Codex of Light.

    ¡°And Luadin, through the wisdom whispered by the Codex of Light, illuminated a world that had been hidden in darkness. The power to wish for the continuity of tomorrow, the desire for everything to remain intact even after death¡­ this is Urbansus.¡±

    All life is born with the desire to live. And even after death, they wish for the world to continue and be eternal.

    This desire created the afterlife known as Urbansus, which Luadin discovered.

    ¡°Everything done in the name of faith is actually done by people. People are infinite power and change. Gods are merely old thieves exploiting that power. I am no different.¡±

    Elil spoke cynically, but Isaac felt calling them thieves was too harsh.

    (To read advance chapters, fastest update and to support the trantor please read at Fenrir Trantions.)

    A person alone has limited capability. No matter how strong Elil was, uniting the continent alone was impossible.

    But if one could gather enough human power, even a monster like Elil could be born, and a ce like Urbansus could be created. Although people have forgotten their origins, gods are ultimately the historical product of human passion and determination.

    ¡°But among intelligent beings, there are those with particrly strong desires.¡±

    Imagine one person harboring the desire of ten, twenty, or more people.

    Beyond that, possessing the belief and power that allows them to cut down armies, y monsters, and even defeat angels because they believe it¡¯s ¡®only natural.¡¯

    ¡°Such individuals are granted ¡®miracles¡¯ within their reach.¡±

    The power to make oneself a god through self-faith.

    ¡°That is sword aura.¡±

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read more than 25 advance chapters or support me, you can do it at /Akaza156

 Chapter 216:

    Chapter 216:

    How much self-confidence and one¡¯s own world would it take to make something like that possible?

    For an ordinary person, it would be impossible.

    ¡°Most warriors awaken sword aura. The reason this power is called ¡®sword aura¡¯ is because of that. Perhaps it¡¯s because the more they train and umte skill, the more their belief and confidence in themselves grow.¡±

    Elil added a clue.

    ¡°However, it¡¯s not only those who wield swords that can manifest it. Anyone with intense self-confidence, belief, and desire can do it. In such cases, it would appear as something akin to a miracle rather than sword aura. The unique aura of an exceptional artist or the enchanting charisma of a person. I consider these forms of ¡®sword aura¡¯ as well.¡±

    Individuals who achieve impossible feats as humans or manifest miracles on their own.

    The gods take notice of these people, give them names, and make them angels. But it might also be an act of recognizing powerful potential rivals and bringing them to their side before they be threats. You can see this in beings who, despite being clearly opposed to the gods, were made into archangels.

    ¡°When someone, or another person, aplishes something unbelievable, people often say, ¡®The gods helped! An angel descended!¡¯ Nonsense. In reality, the world responded to that person¡¯s desire and effort.¡±

    Miracles from the gods are known to be spontaneous and part of some grand n.That could be true, but many miracles might ur in this way.

    Elil, however, always grants miracles to those who train themselves.

    Even if they are insane thugs.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t prohibit sword aura because I see it as proof that a warrior has achieved enough self-confidence and mastery. But other gods are different. They have no reason to allow sword aura. In fact, they must actively suppress it. Yet, that power doesn¡¯t disappear even when suppressed; it manifests in other forms, such as miracles or bodily transformations.¡±

    The same goes for the Holy Body.

    Isaac suddenly remembered that Emperor Waltzemer manifested a Holy Body at the age of twenty. The time when glowing antlers appeared on his head, enabling him to end the civil war and unite the church and nobility.

    ¡®But what if that Holy Body wasn¡¯t actually granted by the Codex of Light?¡¯

    No, Isaac decided not to dwell on that now. It wasn¡¯t the issue at hand.

    Learning the secret of sword aura was already filling his mind.

    ¡®A god is like a Leviathan.¡¯

    Hobbes said that humans, in their fear of death, give up some of their rights to form a state to protect themselves. The state, with its monstrous power, can achieve what individuals alone cannot.

    In this world, gods are like states with personalities.

    Yet, among them, an exceptional individual can possess enough power to threaten the state.

    These are the swordmasters, those who harbor miracles, and Holy Body bearers.

    ¡°And they are also small gods who bestow miracles upon themselves.¡±

    Elil¡¯s exnation made Isaac understand why Villon had awakened sword aura. As a follower of Elil, there was no reason for sword aura to be suppressed. However, he only awakened it in his old age because he had finally achieved unshakable self-confidence, affirmation, and his own world.

    Even if that world was twisted and distorted.

    But maintaining such a twisted world is difficult, as evidenced by Alfred and Vio. The constant pressure from the outside world makes it challenging.

    This might be why swordmasters often seem out of ce in society.

    Lianne had her own world separate from the knights of Georg, and Edeled was the same.

    And Isaac, who believed he belonged to a different world.

    ***

    Learning the secrets about the gods and this world made Isaac suddenly feel afraid.

    In the end, gods were paranoid projections created by certain aspects of humanity¡¯s collective unconscious.

    You could call them humanity¡¯s mental illness.

    Then the Nameless Chaos might be a god created from humanity¡¯s self-destructive desires. It¡¯s not surprising that a god born from self-destructive desires would be suicidal.

    Isaac was its follower.

    Elil approached Isaac with a rxed smile, then brushed his hair aside.

    ¡°You remind me of my daughter.¡±

    Isaac had never heard anything that sent chills down his spine like that before.

    It was a statement that might have been affectionate if said by a normal father.

    However, it wasn¡¯t surprising that Isaac, a Nephilim, resembled Larabia, another Nephilim.

    Before Isaac could think of escaping, Elil spoke again.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know who your father was, but he must have been a servant of the Nameless Chaos. Why he left you, I can¡¯t say, but I¡¯m sure he had his reasons. No god would not covet someone like you.¡±

    Just as Isaac was considering making a run for it, Elil pulled something out.

    It was the sword Isaac had gone through so much trouble to retrieve, the Rite of Division. It became clear why Elil had brought up his daughter. He handed the sword to Isaac.

    ¡°This sword is no longer mine.¡±

    Isaac looked at Elil with suspicion, wondering what he meant.

    ¡°The sword has a different owner. You must return Gargaldia to its rightful owner, not me.¡±

    If the Rite of Division had another owner, there was only one person it could be. But Isaac couldn¡¯t understand why Elil was showing a different side from the game. Then it dawned on him.

    ¡®Usually, the Rite of Division is returned with the Red Chalice, Elil¡¯s heart. At that point, the Red Chalice Club is already in ruins. There¡¯s no reason to return it at the end of the game.¡¯

    Isaac realized his journey as a Holy Grail Knight had just gotten longer.

    For him, being able to use the Rite of Division until he returned it to the rightful owner was reason enough not to refuse.

    He would have to visit the Wachia Kingdom anyway on his pilgrimage to the Holy Land.

    However, Elil seemed to feel that merely entrusting him with this task was insufficient. He drew another sword from the air.

    It was Kaldwin, a holy sword with a blue gem embedded in it.

    ¡°Kneel.¡±

    Isaac, as if in a trance, knelt on one knee before Elil.

    He neither obeyed nor worshiped Elil, but there was a powerful, irresistible pressure that pinned him down. Yet, it didn¡¯t feel humiliating.

    At that moment, Isaac fully realized Elil¡¯s divine status.

    ¡°You are a warrior entrusted with a sacred mission by me. You shall be granted the authority befitting that role.¡±

    In this realm, this heaven, Elil was the absolute order. Submitting to this order brought Isaac a strange sense of peace. The knights in Elil¡¯s heaven fought and killed each other but were happy doing so.

    Elil tapped Isaac¡¯s right shoulder with Kaldwin.

    ¡°I appoint you as my Grand Warrior.¡±

    [The Nameless Chaos watches you.]

    At the mention of being Elil¡¯s Grand Warrior, Isaac looked up sharply at Elil. It was an act of tant disrespect, but the power of chaos broke through Elil¡¯s pressure, lifting him in surprise.

    The Nameless Chaos¡¯s furious rage was palpable.

    ¡®Wait, I¡¯m Elil¡¯s Grand Warrior?¡¯

    This position was originally meant for Edeled.

    The Grand Warrior received the same status as Elil incarnate on Earth. It was typically bestowed upon the king who dered a holy war and, in some cases, carried more authority than the king himself.

    It was a position necessary for the unification of Elil¡¯s kingdom, so it naturally should have been Edeled¡¯s.

    Moreover, Isaac was already the Resurrected Saint appointed by the Codex of Light, the Dreamer of the Salt Council, the Agent of the Nameless Chaos, and the nephew-inw of Emperor Waltzemer.

    Being granted the position of Elil¡¯s Grand Warrior on top of all that would create unimaginable chaos.

    [The Nameless Chaos watches you.]

    ¡°Wait, I¡­,¡± Isaac began to protest.

    ¡°Stay still,¡± Elilmanded.

    Elil attempted to tap Isaac¡¯s left shoulder with Kaldwin, but an unknown, powerful force resisted the de.

    Even Elil¡¯s might was being opposed by something so strong that it reversed his strength.

    [The Nameless Chaos watches you.]

    [The Nameless Chaos watches you.]

    [The Nameless Chaos watches you.]

    Isaac felt crushed, caught between the resistance of the Nameless Chaos and Elil¡¯s force. Elil¡¯s eyes red as he summoned sword aura from Kaldwin. The brilliant radiance violently cleared everything, leaving only the path for the sword.

    And this was Elil¡¯s heaven.

    Everything here was biased in Elil¡¯s favor.

    Slowly, but steadily, Kaldwin¡¯s de finally touched Isaac¡¯s shoulder. While Elil originally intended to tap multiple times, he seemed satisfied with even this brief contact and withdrew the sword.

    ¡°You are now Elil¡¯s Grand Warrior.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡­¡±

    [The Nameless Chaos watches you.]

    [The Nameless Chaos desires that you ¡®Defeat Elil¡¯.]

    [The rewards of Chaos await you.]

    [The rewards of Chaos await you.]

    [The rewards of Chaos await you.]

    ¡®No, even if you¡¯re angry, don¡¯t say such absurd things.¡¯

    Whatever the great reward was, Isaac had no intention ofmitting suicide. Even if he wanted to, Elil would probably prevent him from doing so.

    Isaac, silenced and seething with unspoken words, recognized that there was no turning back. Elil reversed Kaldwin and handed it to Isaac.

    ¡°This is the symbol of our covenant, the emblem of your status as my Grand Warrior. Take this sword and lead my knights into battle.¡±

    As Isaac epted Kaldwin, Elil gazed at him with burning eyes and a chilling smile.

    ¡°And ensure they ughter the enemies and find glorious deaths on the battlefield. Remind my followers what war truly means.¡±

    ¡°Ha¡­¡±

    It was a replycking in decorum, but being a Grand Warrior should grant him some leniency.

    ¡°And Calurien.¡±

    Elil whispered to the dragon heart embedded in Kaldwin.

    ¡°Your exilests until the Holy Grail Knight¡¯s mission isplete. Until then, fulfill your duties, whether you break or survive.¡±

    A strong wind swept through.

    Countless leaves swirled around Isaac, enveloping him in an instant.

    ***

    When Isaac opened his eyes, it was night.

    The dawn stars spread across the sky. The tall oak tree, autumnndscape, and faintly blooming camellia flowers remained as they were. Isaac saw Elil, who had just been conversing with him, now lying as if asleep or dead.

    He had returned to reality.

    Looking around, he saw Edeled and Hesabel also lying unconscious.

    Isaac assumed they would wake soon and discuss their experiences. They, too, must have conversed with Elil in their own ways.

    In Isaac¡¯s hand was the holy sword Kaldwin.

    [Holy Sword Kaldwin (EX)]

    [A practical sword wielded directly by Elil in battle. Made of an unknown metal, it never breaks or dulls under any circumstance. It can elerate the wielder three times a day for short periods. Anyone who is not Elil¡¯s Grand Warrior and holds this sword will stab themselves.]

    ¡®This is something I better not leave lying around.¡¯

    (To read advance chapters, fastest update and to support the trantor please read at Fenrir Trantions.)

    The self-harm option was an unfamiliar effect. It was likely a special addition by Elil.

    With its eleration effect and durability, it was modest for a holy sword, but sufficient. Considering the fragility of the Luadin Key, this was top-tier. Moreover, the true value of this sword wasn¡¯t in itsbat prowess.

    The authority tomand Elil¡¯s knights, even to tell them to jump into the sea to their deaths, was the real worth of this de.

    Although Isaac had been forcibly made Elil¡¯s Grand Warrior, he had lost nothing. In fact, he had gained the holy sword Kaldwin and reimed the Rite of Division.

    ¡®It¡¯s almost too good to be true.¡¯

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read more than 25 advance chapters or support me, you can do it at /Akaza156

 Chapter 217:

    Chapter 217:

    With the authority of Kaldwin in his hands, Isaac found it hard to deny it. He pondered what to say upon returning to the Gerthonia Empire.

    ¡®Should I just pretend it¡¯s a new sword?¡¯

    Holding the Holy Sword of Elil, he knew he had to follow the pretense to avoid bing sword fodder. Though thinking about it made him feel that he might truly be Elil¡¯s Grand Warrior, so he decided against it.

    Isaac reassured himself that he was a rational and logical person. Surely, he could find a reasonable solution.

    He looked at the gemstone embedded in Kaldwin, the Dragon Heart of Calurien, and spoke to it.

    ¡°Exile Calurien. How does the air of the ground feel?¡±

    The Dragon Heart of Calurien buzzed and glowed. His thoughts flowed into Isaac¡¯s mind.

    Calurien seemed just as bewildered by the current situation.

    [Was this your intention as well?]¡°I hoped I could return by extracting your Dragon Heart. Carrying Kaldwin was not part of the n. This gift is a burden even for the receiver.¡±

    Moreover, he had brought back the Rite of Division he had intended to return. He wondered if there was anyone other than Elil who had carried two of Elil¡¯s Holy Swords.

    [You can¡¯t me him. Having been dormant for so long, he was bound to spring up in rebellion. How starved he must have been, stuck on this remote ind, having once shouted for victory, glory, and courage.]

    Though Calurien spoke as if he understood Elil, he couldn¡¯t hide hisplicated emotions.

    Elil¡¯s orders implied that if the Elil Order acted unfaithfully, they might as well go to the battlefield and die.

    His angels would also struggle to escape Elil¡¯s intentions now.

    The suicide option attached to Kaldwin might have been an order imbued with Elil¡¯s will.

    ¡®Is this a ploy to revoke my Grand Warrior status and make me stab my own neck if I disobeyter?¡¯

    Isaac suspected Elil¡¯s intentions anew, but the Dawn Army would rise regardless.

    Isaac could only do his best.

    ¡°By the way, why did other orders cooperate when Elil was exiled to the ind? It¡¯s natural for the Codex of Light, but I saw the Salt Council, the World¡¯s Forge, and even the Olkan code involved.¡±

    Considering that the Olkan Code was now part of the ck Empire, Elil was essentially a ¡®public enemy¡¯ of that era, more than even the Immortal Order now.

    Given Elil¡¯s achievements, it seemed understandable, though Elil hadn¡¯tmitted mass genocide or resurrected the Dead God as an undead, nor exterminated a third of humanity. So why such extreme measures?

    Calurien¡¯s answer was calm.

    [The gods never liked Elil from the start.]

    Isaac felt he knew the reason even before hearing it.

    Elil was like an ancient deity upying half the world without being one of the nine faiths. And he revealed divine secrets too easily. Gods likely didn¡¯t appreciate a loose-lipped deity.

    However, Calurien¡¯s reason was unexpected.

    [Divine beings are never lenient towards those who give birth to Nephilim.]

    Hmm, Nephilim is indeed a sin¡­ Isaac nodded, then felt something odd.

    ¡°¡­One who gives birth to Nephilim? Not the Nephilim themselves?¡±

    [Nephilim? Gods don¡¯t make much of the Nephilim themselves. They¡¯re the result of sin, not the sinners. But the act of giving birth to Nephilim is the greatest sin a divine being canmit. If discovered, any faith would ensure they fall from grace.]

    Fallen angels have their names and angelic status stripped, as if they never existed. Although rare, fallen angels appeared often enough in Issacrea territory, indicating many had lost their wings throughout history.

    And their original names remained unknown.

    They must have been significant figures in their time.

    ¡®Was the order to kill Elil¡¯s pregnant wife because the dancer was a Nephilim?¡¯

    But it seemed strange upon reflection.

    ¡®Why is giving birth to Nephilim considered a sin?¡¯

    Isaac found it troubling.

    Though relieved he wasn¡¯t a major offense to the gods, he couldn¡¯t help but think of his biological parents.

    Elil had to defy and be a god to protect his Nephilim child, even giving his heart to his daughter. Isaac¡¯s parents must have paid a great price as well.

    Procreation and growth are natural instincts. From a god¡¯s perspective, more thriving beings should be a joy. So why consider it a sin and control it?

    As Isaac pondered, his arm suddenly dropped Kaldwin.

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    He tried to lift Kaldwin, but his armcked strength. Then he realized he waspletely drained. An immense hunger hit him.

    Pouring everything into the fight with Elil had left him utterly spent.

    ¡®Why now?¡¯

    [The divine power of Urbansus within you seems to have drained away, adjusting to the surrounding pressure.]

    Calurien sensitively detected Isaac¡¯s condition.

    [Your body, once full of divine energy, has returned to its original state. You¡¯re not in mortal danger, so don¡¯t worry.]

    ¡®Ah, I see.¡¯

    But Calurien spoke of ordinary people, not Nephilim.

    Isaac wobbled and fell to his knees, finally managing to steady himself.

    He had maintained his health with numerous blessings, but now, with the ¡®Intestines of the Dead God¡¯ growling in hunger, even moving in his armor was hard. Despite the lightweight enchantment, without his well-trained muscles and stamina, he might have copsed long ago.

    Groaning, Isaac struggled to remove his armor, eventually giving up and lying down. It felt like he was suffering from both low blood pressure and low blood sugar.

    ¡®¡­I¡¯ll have to leave the return to Hesabel and Edelred.¡¯

    ***

    When Isaac opened his eyes again, he saw a familiar Hesabel and an unfamiliar ceiling. It had be almost routine to see Hesabel each time he woke in a strange ce.

    Hesabel quickly descended from the ceiling as she noticed Isaac¡¯s eyes open.

    ¡°Are you alright, Isaac?¡±

    Red wings still sprouted from Hesabel¡¯s back. Cleverly, she folded them like a cloak over her shoulders, making them look like an exotic robe adorned with feathers.

    ¡°Hmm, I¡¯m fine. Where are we?¡±

    ¡°Ellion Fortress. That child king insisted on carrying you, but his legs dragged, so I carried you instead. Lianne Georg, as well as the Knights of Aldeon, have dered their protection, so you can rest assured.¡±

    ¡°Lianne? So, she revived?¡±

    ¡°Yes! She woke up the same day as us. As soon as she emerged from the crystal, she sent people to guide us to the Holy Land. We almost had to carry you all the way to Ellion Fortress! Do you know how long we were in Urbansus?¡±

    Isaac squinted and looked out the window. It had beente spring when they entered, but now it looked like full summer.

    ¡°Forty-eight days?¡±

    ¡°Oh, how did you know?¡±

    It had also been forty-eight days when they entered and exited Urbansus through the Moonwell ceremony of the Salt Council.

    The number forty-eight might have some significance, or it might be impossible to stay longer. Perhaps, once inside Urbansus, one mustplete that number of days to return.

    Isaac tried to get up but was overwhelmed by intense hunger.

    The ¡®Intestines of the Dead God¡¯ threatened to consume all the muscles Isaac had painstakingly built over the years if he didn¡¯t feed it soon. However, hecked the strength to lift a spoon. Cold sweat broke out.

    ¡®Are all Nephilim originally in this state?¡¯

    That couldn¡¯t be the case. It wasn¡¯t this bad during his monastery days. Isaac was currently like an over-tuned engine. If fuel was sufficient, it showed immense power, but ifcking, it was weaker than an average engine.

    ¡°¡­Hesabel, I¡¯m sorry, but¡­¡±

    ¡°Ah, yes! I anticipated this and prepared!¡±

    Hesabel had dealt with Isaac¡¯s hunger before in Issacrea territory. Isaac noticed a whole roasted pig, cold but ready, next to him.

    It wasn¡¯t the time to be picky.

    Isaac gave Hesabel a thumbs up and reached for the pig with his left hand instead of a fork.

    ***

    After avoiding what felt like imminent starvation, Isaac decided to take stock of his situation and gains.

    He had obtained Kaldwin, the title of Elil¡¯s Grand Warrior, and Calurien¡¯s Dragon Heart. What he lost was the meat he had stored in his belly. As a result, all temporary perks were gone. Losing the rotten angel¡¯s poison was unfortunate, but he had used it enough.

    With the title of Elil¡¯s Grand Warrior, Isaac had, in terms of symbolic authority, be an entity even greater than King Edelred.

    Of course, this didn¡¯t mean Elil¡¯s knights would defy Edelred¡¯s orders to follow him, but they wouldn¡¯t be able to ignore him either. As for the Nameless Chaos, it was undoubtedly furious about this, but it was uncertain how the Codex of Light would react.

    ¡°May the Sword of May, pleasee forth.¡±

    Isaac called out, hoping the Sword of May, which had disappeared for a while, would now reappear. But the Sword of May did not show itself.

    After some thought, Isaac lit the Lighthouse of the Watcher. A gentle light spread, fixing order. Only then did something respond.

    A small me in the shape of wings appeared before Isaac. Two old, chipped swords stood vertically, spinning around it. Isaac recognized this modest me as the Sword of May.

    ¡°Sword of May, are you alright?¡±

    [Yes, I am alive. Judging by the surroundings, you met Elil and returned.]

    ¡°You didn¡¯t expect failure, did you?¡±

    [Everything goes ording to the grand n set by the lighthouse keeper. There can be no failure.]

    She spoke calmly, adding,

    [Given your skills and resourcefulness, I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d fail with just Calurien. You¡¯re someone who would find a way to climb out of hell itself.]

    Isaac was both surprised and embarrassed by the unexpectedpliment and bowed his head.

    ¡°Thank you for the praise. Anyway, I¡¯ve met Elil and returned from Urbansus. But I¡¯ve run into a bit of a problem and wanted to seek your opinion.¡±

    The Sword of May turned its small form around to survey the surroundings.

    [Speaking of which, that sword.]

    Then, the Sword of May blinked as it looked at one of Isaac¡¯s hands. Its gaze fixed on Kaldwin, lying on Isaac¡¯sp. Isaac felt nervous, wondering if the Sword of May would recognize the Dragon Heart embedded in Kaldwin.

    [That¡¯s the Holy Sword Kaldwin. Was it used as Elil¡¯s sealing catalyst?]

    ¡°Uh, yes.¡±

    The Sword of May pointed out the Holy Sword instead of the Dragon Heart, either not noticing or not caring. Calurien¡¯s presence in the Dragon Heart was almost non-existent.

    ¡°Elil gave me this sword and appointed me as the Grand Warrior without asking my opinion.¡±

    [A Grand Warrior?]

    The Sword of May sounded somewhat surprised.

    [That¡¯s a prestigious honor. Congrattions.]

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem to be a problem?¡±

    [I was appointed during the first Dawn Army.]

    ¡°¡­Do they appoint many at once?¡±

    [No. Only one at a time. But Grand Warriors have short lifespans, so in arge war, multiple may appear in the same era. I, too, relinquished my duties as a Grand Warrior only after dying.]

    Elil seemed to appoint Grand Warriors from any religion or group as long as they fought well and served his purpose. Ultimately, a Grand Warrior was one who carried out divinemands directly, so it wasn¡¯t strange for anyone to receive it. However, it was certain that Isaac was the only one to receive the title of Grand Warrior in the past hundred years since Elil¡¯s long silence.

    [And it¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve seen someone receive the Holy Sword along with the title. Usually, it¡¯s just the title. Perhaps Elil is giving you special treatment.]

    Isaac hoped Elil¡¯s special treatment wasn¡¯t anything too worrisome.

 Chapter 218:

    Chapter 218:

    ¡°¡­¡­Anyway, if the Codex of Light doesn¡¯t have an issue with you bing the Grand Warrior of Elil, then it¡¯s fine.¡±

    He figured if anything happened, the Sword of May would defend him. Surely they wouldn¡¯t work him this hard and then turn a blind eye. However, for that to happen, the Sword of May had to remain intact. In its current small and cute form, it was difficult to show any authority.

    ¡°How is your physical recovery? Wouldn¡¯t it be better to return to Urbansus to recover?¡±

    [Hmm, I suppose that would be best. While I was anchoring you to my horizon coordinate system, I was so focused on recovery that I didn¡¯t realize I had returned to the surface.]

    What on earth was a horizon coordinate system? Isaac had no idea what the Sword of May was talking about but understood it roughly as meaning it had been attached to him. As the beacon of the Watchman started to dim, the Sword of May blinked drowsily and muttered.

    [I¡¯ll return to Urbansus for now. When you report to the Church, I¡¯ll grant an oracle at the same time, so¡­]

    Whoosh. The Sword of May disappeared before finishing its sentence.

    The light zed up and then melted away like it was dissolving into the sunlight.

    ***After sending back the Sword of May, Isaac prepared to leave.

    Of course, a single pig was far from sufficient to cover Isaac¡¯s physical condition. As a result, he was in a state of extreme inefficiency. In this state, he would probably lose even if he fought Edelred.

    However, Isaac forced himself to go outside.

    It was safer to go hunting himself if he wanted to consume something, and he needed to exin what had happened in Urbansus to the nobles of Elil.

    ¡®Given the situation currently unfolding in the Gertonia Empire, this has taken too long.¡¯

    Of course, in return, he had obtained the mighty authority of being the ¡°Grand Warrior of Elil,¡± but the Dawn Army was now right in front of him. Isaac needed to cross the sea as soon as possible.

    ¡°Holy Grail Knight.¡±

    When Isaac appeared in the hall, Edelred approached him with a surprised look. Edelred seemed stronger and more resolute than before. It seemed that the events in Urbansus had brought significant changes to him even without using Kaldbruch.

    ¡°Are you alright? You don¡¯t look well.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m fine. What about His Majesty¡­?¡±

    ¡°Holy Grail Knight! Are you really okay? You look like a walking skeleton, barely holding on!¡±

    Even Rosalind was rmed and fussed over him. Though it sounded like something an old woman would say, the approaching Mors, Reyna, Delfric, and others echoed simr sentiments.

    When Isaac had checked in the mirror beforeing out, he hadn¡¯t felt much different, but they described his appearance as if he were a gaunt skeleton.

    ¡°My condition isn¡¯t important. More importantly¡­¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s talk while you eat!¡±

    Apparently, for these muscle-bound knights, muscle loss was a more pressing issue than the secretive conversations with the gods in Urbansus. Isaac, also too hungry to argue,plied easily.

    Isaac was half-dragged to the banquet hall, where he was seated at the head of the table and provided with unlimited servings of roasted pork, pickled salmon, smokedmb, and more. As he chewed on the meat stuffed into his mouth, he thought, ¡®If I ate with my tentacles, I wouldn¡¯t even need to chew, and it would be done in an instant,¡¯ but decided against it, feeling he was losing his humanity.

    ¡°You¡¯ve already spoken with His Majesty Edelred?¡±

    Isaac asked, noticing the nobles¡¯ attention was focused solely on him.

    Edelred nodded first.

    ¡°Yes. Sir Hesabel and I woke up first and met General Lianne, so we spoke first. I never imagined I¡¯d have the adventure of an audience with the Supreme King in my life¡­¡±

    Edelred was still tearfully moved, as if the experience had been unforgettable.

    Considering Edelred¡¯s usual disdain for knights, his reaction showed how deeply affected he was by the meeting with Elil.

    But Isaac felt puzzled, wondering if Edelred had met a different Elil than he had.

    ¡®I only grew more repulsed by Elil.¡¯

    A god who wished for his own followers to be massacred wasn¡¯t worthy of worship, in Isaac¡¯s opinion.

    Just in case, Isaac asked Edelred what kind of conversation he had with Elil.

    As expected, Edelred¡¯s conversation with Elil consisted of simplepliments andmendations, along with brief inquiries about the current situation in the Kingdom of Elil. And questions about Isaac as well.

    ¡®Hesabel, what about you?¡¯

    Thinking she might have asked about the Red Chalice, Isaac inquired discreetly.

    Hesabel¡¯s answer was simr.

    ¡®He roughly praised my appearance and the courage toe this far, and only inquired about the current state of the Wika Kingdom. I thought he might ask about the dancer, but he didn¡¯t. Oh, he did ask about you, Isaac.¡¯

    It wasn¡¯t much different from Edelred. But Isaac felt assured that this confirmed Elil had taken an interest in the world.

    Elil¡¯s interest in the world definitely signaled that a major war was imminent.

    ¡°What about General Lianne? She must have gone to Urbansus as well.¡±

    The mention of Lianne made the knights fall silent. They exchanged cautious nces until Mors stepped forward to speak.

    ¡°General Lianne, upon hearing that you, His Majesty Edelred, and Hesabel had an audience with Elil, locked herself in her room. She said she would enter a period of fasting and prayer to atone for daring to obstruct the mission of the Holy Grail Knight.¡±

    ¡°Having been manipted by the heretic Calurien to turn her sword against her own people, she should be exiled or executed, not merely fasting in prayer!¡±

    Reyna Hilde shouted indignantly. Apart from her insistence on severe punishment for Lianne, a specific term caught Isaac¡¯s attention.

    ¡®Heretic Calurien? Have they already announced that Calurien was isting Elil?¡¯

    He thought that the revtion that a holy angel was imprisoning Elil was as shocking as heresy, and might not be disclosed due to its impact. Moreover, Elil had epted that confinement himself.

    However, as he listened, something seemed off.

    ¡°Who would have guessed that the heretic Calurien, who had been sealed for centuries, would break through the seal and beguile the Guardians of the Holy Land, seeking an opportunity for liberation. Don¡¯t me General Lianne too harshly.¡±

    Mors tried to temper Reyna¡¯s excitement. Isaac realized from this conversation that ¡®mental reformation¡¯ had urred among them.

    The events of Urbansus had somehow bemon knowledge among them.

    Calurien, who once symbolized Elil¡¯s wisdom, was now a heretic and an evil sorcerer sealed away.

    He had deceived Elil into waging war against the Codex of Light, but was gravely wounded and sealed away by an ¡®unnamed pdin¡¯ who crossed the sea centuries ago. Thanks to this, Elil reconciled with the Codex of Light and remained a friendly neighbor as they are now¡­ this was the reformed history.

    Isaac, who had suddenly be this ¡®unnamed pdin,¡¯ realized how powerful and eerie Urbansus¡¯s influence was. A mage who once had as much significance as the Watchman had been instantly reduced to a heretic.

    Calurien, embedded in Kaldwin, remained silent, likely anticipating such a situation. Defeat in Urbansus¡¯s battle meant epting such infamy.

    Isaac casually epted this altered mon sense.¡¯ But suddenly, he recalled the incident with Elil in Rougeberg and nearly dropped his fork.

    At that time, Elil had erased Rougeberg from existence.

    ¡®Wait a minute. Does that mean Rougeberg was erased from history too? If so, the Brant ducal family and Isolde as well?¡¯

    ¡°What happened to Rougeberg?¡±

    Isaac tried not to appear desperate as he asked. Mors looked puzzled at the sudden question.

    ¡°Pardon? Do you mean the Brant duchy? Ah, you must be referring to the Holy Grail Knight¡¯s inws. They had sent a few messengers worried about your dyed return. They were convinced when they heard you were in the Holy Land Elion.¡±

    Isaac sighed in relief at Mors¡¯s nonchnt response.

    Thankfully, that incident didn¡¯t seem to be epted as ¡®official history.¡¯ After all, the disappearance of Rougeberg would be a major event. If Elil could easily change history like that, he would have won long ago.

    ¡°So, you also met Elil, didn¡¯t you, Holy Grail Knight? How was it? What did he say?¡±

    The knights asked with curious expressions.

    Isaac couldn¡¯t tell them that Elil hadmanded them all to go to the battlefield and die. Fortunately, he had a story they would like.

    Although it wasn¡¯t much different from their first meeting, this time it held more weight.

    Isaac took out Kaldwin, which was hanging from his waist, and ced it on the table still in its sheath.

    ¡°This is the holy sword, Kaldwin, used by Elil and retrieved by Ashen.¡±

    The room instantly fell silent.

    Isaac continued, hoping they would focus more on the significance than his inadequate exnation.

    ¡°Elil handed Kaldwin to me and appointed me as the Grand Warrior.¡±

    The dining hall exploded with astonished and admiring shouts.

    ***

    The news of Isaac being appointed as Elil¡¯s Grand Warrior forced even Lianne, who had locked herself in her room, toe out. Since she had been in Urbansus, she remembered what actually happened and was not affected by the altered history.

    ¡°This is Kaldwin?¡±

    ¡°Yes. But do not attempt to wield it carelessly. I was warned that it would pierce the throat of anyone unworthy who tries to grasp it.¡±

    No one suggested testing it on a condemned prisoner. No one doubted the Holy Grail Knight¡¯s credibility, and making an unworthy person touch the holy sword itself was a grave sin.

    Lianne couldn¡¯t help but reprimand herself even more for obstructing Isaac, who returned with proof of meeting Elil. She wanted to bite her tongue at the thought of nearly ruining the grand cause but knew she still had a chance to repent.

    ¡°¡­¡­If Elil has entrusted you with the high rank of Grand Warrior, it means you bear great responsibility. I do not doubt Elil¡¯s will, but I want to know what mission he has given you.¡±

    There was no need to speak in circles or persuade. With such a clear symbol, it was just about conveying it.

    ¡°Elil wants us to join the Dawn Army.¡±

    The god of the knights handed a sword to the pdin.

    Could there be a clearer symbol?

    Isaac omitted the part about the order to go and die in the war, avoiding any socially awkward statements. The news of Elil¡¯smand to join the Dawn Army quickly spread throughout Elion Fortress, causing an uproar.

    Elion Fortress was already filled with nobles from all over the kingdom, including the Aldeon army, the Georg family, and even Rosalind Saltain. It was practically a grand assembly of the Elil Kingdom. The thought of a single angel descending and wiping out the Elil Kingdom¡¯s leadership gave Isaac chills, but it was also the best stage to unify opinions.

    ¡°The Dawn Army.¡±

    Lianne spoke in a somewhat reluctant tone.

    Naturally, there were knights who didn¡¯t want to join the Dawn Army. Not all Elil devotees were war-crazed zealots. Non-fanatics valued their lives.

    ¡°You don¡¯t seem enthusiastic?¡±

    ¡°How could that be, however¡­¡­¡±

    Lianne, in fact, leaned towards the belief that they should willingly participate in a glorious war. However, she appeared reluctant because she had seen her uncle¡¯s transformation after joining the Dawn Army and knew many nobles didn¡¯t want to participate.

    While young knights were excited about the impending great war, older knights frowned at the sacrifices and risks the Elil Kingdom would have to bear for joining the Dawn Army.

    Among them, even Rosalind Saltain didn¡¯t seem pleased.

    ¡°Your Majesty Edelred. You promised Saltain autonomy and independence. I believe you will respect Saltain¡¯s independent opinion regarding this Dawn Army participation.¡±

    It was inevitable that an independent opinion would emerge right after the civil war ended. Autonomy was what Edelred had promised. But Isaac hadn¡¯t expected such a direct response despite his high status as the Grand Warrior and bearer of Kaldwin.

    Of course, only Rosalind could speak so openly.

    Edelred spoke, seemingly troubled.

    ¡°Lady Rosalind. Of course, as promised, I will respect Saltain¡¯s opinion. But as you have seen, the threat of the Immortal Order doesn¡¯t spare this distant ind. Didn¡¯t you hear them say they¡¯d turn our knights into Death Knights and sphemously resurrect Elil as an undead?¡±

    ¡°I also saw and fought them. But Your Majesty, remember that the Immortal Order was able to infiltrate the Elil Kingdom because knights who had joined the Dawn Army returned corrupted. Those who learned the wrong things were contaminated and returned to the kingdom.¡±

    Isaac wondered if Rosalind had always been so dogmatic and closed-minded. Then she met his eyes and subtly nced at some nobles.

    Isaac recognized those nobles as neutral supporters of her.

    He realized Rosalind¡¯s intention.

    ¡®Ah¡­ she¡¯s ying devil¡¯s advocate.¡¯

    Regardless, the Elil Kingdom might be divided because of the Dawn Army. Rosalind intended to consolidate opinions by clearly stating the anti-Dawn Army faction¡¯s stance and creating an opportunity for unification.

    ¡°Alright. Then let¡¯s do this.¡±

    (To read advance chapters, fastest update and to support the trantor please read at Fenrir Trantions.)

    Rosalind made a gesture as if she had no choice after a lengthy debate.

    ¡°Let¡¯s decide this through a duel. If this is truly Elil¡¯s will, show us that intention again through a duel.¡±

    ¡°A duel?¡±

    ¡°Yes. We will choose Lianne Georg as our champion.¡±

    There was no dispute about the strongest among the opposition. Lianne, who had remained silent and kept a low profile due to her guilty position, was startled by her sudden selection as the champion for the duel. However, even the anti-Dawn Army nobles would agree to her.

    ¡°Then we will choose the Holy Grail Knight¡­¡±

    ¡°No, although he received Kaldwin, he is a devotee of the Codex of Light. This must be decided within our Elil Order.¡±

    Rosalind confidently looked at Edelred.

    ¡°We ask His Majesty Edelred to step forward as the opponent in the duel.¡±

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read more than 20 advance chapters or support me, you can do it at /Akaza156

 Chapter 219:

    Chapter 219:

    ¡°What?¡±

    Everyone turned to Rosalind at the unexpected remark. Isaac, who thought it was natural for him to be in the duel since he was chosen as Grand warrior to lead the Dawn Army, also looked at Rosalind in surprise.

    ¡®Is she really against the Dawn Army?¡¯

    From Saltain¡¯s perspective, it was entirely usible. The istionist nobles supported Saltain. However, he couldn¡¯t believe that Rosalind would deliberately put Edelred in a difficult position. Just as Isaac was about to stand up to voice his opposition, Edelred spoke up.

    ¡°I will do it.¡±

    Isaac was astonished once more.

    Though Edelred had grown remarkably after entering and exiting Urbansus, both mentally and physically, the power he disyed there was a temporary boost due to Urbansus¡¯s abundant divine energy. More time was needed to fully internalize that experience.

    ¡°Your Majesty, the power created by Kaldbruch might be temporary. Considering the side effects¡­¡±

    ¡°No, Holy Grail Knight. I can do it. I believe I can.¡±Although his voice sounded unsure, Edelred stood up confidently.

    Lianne looked equally troubled. She didn¡¯t want to fight Edelred as a criminal, nor did she want to oppose the Dawn Army. But if she appeared to fight half-heartedly or intentionally lose, it would cause significant bacsh.

    Edelred needed to clearly demonstrate his capability as the futuremander of the Dawn Army, and Lianne had to showcase the resolute will of the opposition.

    Isaac couldn¡¯t foresee how this troublesome situation would unfold.

    ¡®What on earth is Lady Rosalind¡­¡¯

    Rosalind, however, simply crossed her arms and looked around the room. Isaac considered using the Eye of Chaos to figure out what she was thinking but decided to trust Edelred for now. Even if Edelred were to lose, as Elil¡¯s Grand warrior, he could still muster some forces through sheer force of will.

    ¡°There is no need to set a date. Let¡¯s start right away.¡±

    Edelred immediately grabbed his sword and walked to the center of the hall. After a brief hesitation, Lianne followed. Her injuries hadpletely healed while she was encased in the crystal.

    Both of them wielded practice swords instead of holy swords. Swinging holy swords in a crowded hall could have unintended consequences. However, Isaac couldn¡¯t fathom how Edelred could win without even borrowing the power of Kaldbruch.

    ¡®Lianne is far stronger in experience, skill, and power. Even if Edelred uses sword energy, he¡¯s still a novice and hasn¡¯t fully mastered my swordsmanship. There¡¯s no way he can win.¡¯

    Lianne spoke to Edelred, who stood before her.

    ¡°Then, Your Majesty, I will start first.¡±

    Lianne lightly swung her sword, then lunged at Edelred in an instant.

    The speed was so swift that the air seemed to burst.

    She began with an attack aimed at Edelred from three directions simultaneously. Even without Lumiarde, the cold air was palpable. Edelred gritted his teeth and swung his sword. While it was impressive that he faced the Swordmaster¡¯s de with courage, his swordcked both sword energy and exceptional momentum.

    Just as Isaac foresaw Edelred¡¯s imminent defeat¡ª

    Boom! With a deafening crash, Lianne¡¯s body was hurled backward. She flew back faster than she had charged, and Isaac almost lost sight of her for a moment. Lianne barely managed to stop herself by stabbing her sword into the ground before she could collide with the wall, leaving a long scar on the stone floor.

    All eyes, filled with shock, turned to Edelred.

    Edelred stood with eyes wide open, exhaling deeply. Everyone around him felt as if their hearts had stopped under the immense pressure.

    Edelred¡¯s eyes emitted a blue light, his hair stood on end, and smoke that smelled like sulfur rose from his mouth. Isaac finally realized what was happening.

    ¡®An angel!¡¯

    Isaac recognized that the angel possessing Edelred was the ¡®Lion Knight.¡¯ There was no mistaking that terrifying pressure and power for anything else.

    The Lion Knight in Edelred¡¯s body surveyed the room. Shocked, no one could speak or move.

    Satisfied, the Lion Knight spoke.

    ¡°This is Elil¡¯s will.¡±

    Instantly, everyone in the hall, whether noble, knight, or soldier, knelt. Those who did not kneel felt their legs give way beneath them.

    The only ones standing were Isaac and the Lion Knight in Edelred¡¯s body.

    The Lion Knight looked at Isaac with burning eyes for a moment before vanishing.

    Edelred staggered but managed to regain his bnce. Then, seeing everyone prostrate before him, he looked surprised. It seemed he had no memory of the time when the Lion Knight had taken control of his body.

    In the heavy silence, Rosalind stepped forward and spoke for the first time.

    ¡°Elil¡¯s decision has been made. If anyone has an objection, step into the dueling ring.¡±

    Of course, no one stepped forward.

    ***

    ¡°I¡¯ve heard of divine intervention in duels to ensure a just decision, but I never imagined it would be this blunt. Usually, they take one side by coincidence or to bolster courage, don¡¯t they?¡±

    The decision had been made, and now it was time to act. After the major decision to dispatch the Dawn Army was settled, the nobles hurried back to their territories to assess the resources, soldiers, and knights they could send.

    Isaac grumbled to Rosalind about the absurd oue of the ¡°duel.¡±

    Rosalind merely chuckled.

    ¡°The providence of the gods is mysterious, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    Isaac thought it was just rigging the match, but to the faithful, it was a definitive result.

    ¡°Did you know the duel would end like this, Lady Rosalind?¡±

    ¡°No, not at all. But I did hear a lot about duel trials when I was young, through elders who remembered the times before the oracle ceased. If Elil decided to break his silence and start paying attention to the mortal realm again, I thought he might show his will directly rather than through anecdotes.¡±

    The knowledge and experience of the elderly were indeed remarkable. Isaac had to acknowledge that he still underestimated this world.

    When Edelred and Lianne were about to fight, Isaac had objectivelypared their abilities to gauge their chances of winning. However, from a devout believer¡¯s perspective, if Elil¡¯s will was clear, the oue was already determined.

    ¡®Would Lianne have lost even if a rock was ced there instead of Edelred?¡¯

    It was a pointless thought, but regardless, there was no better event to bolster Edelred¡¯s authority. For now, Edelred wouldmand the nobles as the ¡°king possessed by the Lion Knight.¡± Of course, it meant Lianne had to endure reopened wounds and four broken fingers.

    Yet, she seemed satisfied with the result in her own way.

    Edelred was personally tending to Lianne¡¯s wounds, apologizing as he did so.

    Though Lianne might still see Edelred as a younger brother, perhaps his knightly demeanor when he sent her flying with a single strike had sparked some sense of admiration in her.

    ¡°That aside, the item brought by the Holy Grail Knight greatly helped convince the nobles. Without it, it would have been difficult to win them over emotionally,¡± Rosalind said.

    The ¡°item¡± Rosalind mentioned was the handle of a sword once held by a Duhan summoned by the lich Al Durad in the Isaacrea territory. A renowned knight from Elil, he had been resurrected as a Duhan and eventually put to rest by Isaac. The handle bore the emblem of a noble family well-known in Elil.

    Only then did the half-Dawn Army supporters and istionist nobles realize that while they might distance themselves from war, war had always been close, and many of their ancestors¡¯ graves might have already been desecrated. Their rush back to their territories was because of this realization.

    Although many families opted for cremation, there were instances where, depending on the will, tombs or burial niches were still constructed.

    ¡°Many knights¡¯ corpses have likely already been plundered. They wouldn¡¯t havee all this way for just a few corpses,¡± Isaac said.

    ¡°Indeed. Who would have thought the evil of the Immortal Order would reach here? But once this fact is known, it will certainly ignite the fervor for the expedition¡­¡±

    With Elil¡¯s ¡°decision¡± made, the nobles naturally participated in the Dawn Army. However, they might have done so reluctantly and without enthusiasm. The plundered relics brought by Isaac provided apelling reason they could all agree on.

    ¡°That¡¯s right. The Holy Grail Knight went through the most trouble, so I n to give this to you.¡±

    Rosalind handed Isaac a box. Inside was a pair of pitch-ck gloves.

    ¡°Aren¡¯t these the gloves Villon wore?¡±

    Isaac remembered them well, as they had blocked both the cold of Lumiarde and his sword energy.

    Villon and his knights had been gathered and burned. The only way to kill the undead of the Immortal Order was to burn them, and even then, it required a troublesome purification ritual to banish their wandering souls.

    But the spoils remained.

    ¡°Yes. They say it¡¯s called the ¡®Hand of the Dead.¡¯ It¡¯s certainly a useful relic, but since it¡¯s clearly a heretical relic, no one wanted to take it. I¡¯ve been keeping it, but I thought I could entrust it to you, Holy Grail Knight.¡±

    Isaac took out the gloves and examined them.

    [Hand of the Dead (S)]

    [A glove modeled after the grasp a dead soul uses to drag the living into hell. Being already dead, it is immune to everything and can directly affect souls.]

    ¡®Not bad.¡¯

    While Isaac¡¯s attack power was increasing, his durability was stillcking. His mindset oscited between the veteran¡¯s view of ¡°just don¡¯t get hit¡± and thecency of ¡°as long as I survive, I can recover.¡± The gloves were top-notch armor that could even block sword energy. He paid no mind to the sinister origin.

    Isaac put the gloves on without hesitation. Like the Holy Knight armor, they adjusted perfectly to fit his hands. Although they were about 1.5 timesrger than his hands, they were not ufortable. On the contrary, he felt his grip strength increase.

    ¡®The tentacle will naturally poke through the left glove. If not, I could give it to Hesabel¡­¡¯

    Isaac was satisfied with the unexpected gain.

    ¡°Thank you. I believe these will be very useful.¡±

    ¡°I thought you were unique, but you truly have no qualms about using heretical relics, do you?¡±

    ¡°Does it matter if it¡¯s a ck cat or a white cat, as long as it catches the mouse Godmands me to catch?¡±

    Isaac responded shamelessly.

    Rosalind smiled, apparently pleased with his answer.

    ¡°Well said. Now that the Dawn Army¡¯s participation is decided, things will be busy around here. What will you do next, Holy Grail Knight?¡±

    ¡°Hmm, I must return to His Majesty the Emperor and report the sessfulpletion of the mission he assigned.¡±

    (To read advance chapters, fastest update and to support the trantor please read at Fenrir Trantions.)

    Isaac¡¯s mission was to secure the Dawn Army¡¯s participation from Elil, and he had seeded, even gaining the title of Elil¡¯s Pdin. There was no need to wait for Elil to prepare and cross over, so it was time to return to the Empire.

    Isaac grinned as he continued.

    ¡°But before I go, I think I¡¯ll have a meal first.¡±

    ***

    After bidding farewell to Edelred and his knights, Isaac left the Elion Fortress. He would see them again on the continent, in the Dawn Army. Edelred offered to escort him to the harbor, but Isaac declined. Edelred had far too much to do now.

    There was no need to waste time and risk Elil¡¯s wrath. Besides, Isaac had a ce to visit before leaving.

    Isaac hade this far with the help of Eidan and the Salt Council¡¯s ship. The harsh winds of the North Sea made it difficult even for the seasoned sailors of the Salt Council to approach, but Isaac felt this might be his only chance.

    ¡°We¡¯ve arrived!¡±

    Braving the fierce wind and rain, Aidan shouted as he managed to steer the ship to the shore.

    A half-ruined tower stood atop a high mountain.

    Isaac¡¯s destination was the northernmost part of the Elil Kingdom.

    It was Wintercall, where the secretboratory and the wizard¡¯s tower of Calurien once stood.

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read more than 20 advance chapters or support me, you can do it at /Akaza156

 Chapter 220:

    Chapter 220:

    Isaac barely made it to the shore through the storm. Fortunately, the beach was shallow, but the northern terrain grew increasingly rugged, with steep, towering mountains.

    However, what caught his eye first was the ¡®Broken Mountain¡¯ lying on the in ahead. Gentle hills suddenly gave way to a harsh gray rocky mountain, creating a bizarre sense of disparity.

    Eidan murmured, looking at the mountain in dismay.

    ¡°So that¡¯s the ¡®Broken Mountain¡¯. ording to legend, when the ¡®Night of the Angel¡¯s Collision¡¯ storm hit the Kingdom of Elil, the wind lifted and hurled the mountain. Of course, it¡¯s a far-fetched tale, but it¡¯s uncanny enough to inspire such imaginations.¡±

    ¡°¡­It might actually be true.¡±

    But Isaac¡¯s interest was not in a legend that might or might not have happened hundreds of years ago. He fixed his gaze on the ruins where Calurien¡¯sboratory used to be.

    Though now just ruins, this ce was once filled with terrifying legends befitting a dwelling of a celestial being. Thieves and Holy Grail Knights who sought Calurien¡¯s relics hade here, but since its copse, no one had ventured in.

    ¡°Eidan, you stay here and shelter from the storm. I¡¯ll visit that tower briefly.¡±

    ¡°Yes, understood. When should I expect your return?¡±¡°Tomorrow.¡±

    Isaac answered briefly and headed towards the tower with Hesabel.

    Hesabel seemed amazed that the Broken Mountain Calurien had cast aside actually existed. Despite the wear and erosion over the years, the smooth cut from May¡¯s sword was still visible.

    The events in Urbansus seemed to deceive not only people¡¯s minds but the world itself.

    ¡°Is there something specific you¡¯re looking for here?¡± Hesabel asked.

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    From the moment she heard they were going to Calurien¡¯s old hideout, Hesabel had been gathering information.

    ¡°The Elixir of Immortality? Or the secret to bing a god? I also heard rumors of a Dragon Heart.¡±

    Of course, most of these were based on legends and were nothing but absurd stories.

    Themon belief was that no celestial being would have stored precious relics carelessly, and anything valuable had already been looted. Anything left would be buried under the rubble.

    But Isaac was not after absurd legends or ghost stories.

    He was here to find what he ¡®knew¡¯ existed.

    The ¡®Upper Dungeon, the Wizard¡¯s Tower.¡¯

    Isaac intended to use his ¡®knowledge¡¯ for a change.

    Unlike other thieves, Isaac knew exactly what and how to search. And what he sought was not an object but something ¡®edible.¡¯

    ***

    After a grueling climb up the steep mountain path, they finally reached the base of the tower, but the debris from the copsed tower showed no openings. Isaac took out the Luadin Key. While Kaldwin was a higher-grade relic, in situations like this, the Codex of Light¡¯s relic, which revealed secrets and illuminated the darkness, was useful.

    As the mes from the Luadin Key spread brightly, Isaac didn¡¯t hesitate to swing his sword.

    The tower¡¯s debris split smoothly, creating a crack. When a staircase leading down opened up, Hesabel followed Isaac, marveling at the sight.

    Ordinarily, breaking the seal would require a cumbersome process. However, the Luadin Key, enhanced by May, easily broke through the old seal left by Calurien with its superior unsealing capability.

    [¡°¡­What have youe here for?¡±]

    Only then did Calurien send a telepathic message.

    Calurien had promised to assist and advise Isaac as much as possible under Elil¡¯smand. However, he hadn¡¯t expected Isaac¡¯s first move to be visiting his old hideout.

    ¡°I¡¯m here to deal with what you left behind.¡±

    [¡°There¡¯s nothing here. Of course, all the valuable items have been taken care of, and even the useless trash has been looted by grave robbers. Only the discarded waste remains because there was nowhere else to dispose of it.¡±]

    ¡°That¡¯s exactly what I came for.¡±

    As soon as Isaac finished speaking, something leaped from the wall and tried to bite him. However, Isaac dodged it effortlessly and struck it with his left hand. In an instant, his five fingers transformed into five tendrils and devoured the chameleon-shell-frog chimera clinging to the wall.

    [¡®???(B-)¡¯ has been consumed.]

    [Due to the ¡®Intestines of the Dead God¡¯ perk, absorption efficiency has increased.]

    [Insufficient information, no perks acquired.]

    The creature was a chimera left behind by Calurien.

    Calurien had been so passionate about biological synthesis that he had attacked Isaac¡¯s party with a horde of chimeras. He had thrown the leftovers, which he dared not release into the Kingdom of Elil, into his old hideout. However, even then, the chimeras survived by breeding enthusiastically or preying on each other.

    ¡®Thanks to that, the Wizard¡¯s Tower became quite a challenging dungeon¡­¡¯

    However, it seemed the chimera, with so many things mixed in, had uncertain information, resulting in minimal predation effects.

    In any case, it had been a long time since Isaac could expect noticeable effects from such minor creatures.

    Isaac¡¯s main purpose was simply to fill his stomach.

    The chameleon shell served as a sort of rm bell, asmotion began to stir from below the stairs. In this ce, where external prey rarely entered, such an intruder was very unusual.

    Of course, it wouldn¡¯t take long for them to realize the roles of predator and prey had reversed.

    ***

    A chicken-snake-centipede chimera dropped from the ceiling, attempting to wrap around Isaac. However, Isaac used his tendrils to seize and devour it before it could do so. Its grotesque appearance was enough to kill any appetite, but Isaac¡¯s first thought was, ¡®Isn¡¯tbining a snake and a centipede a bit redundant in functionality?¡¯

    ¡°What kind of logic did you use to conduct these biological experiments?¡±

    By the time he faced a rabbit-bear-marmot chimera, Isaac couldn¡¯t help but ask. The scene was reminiscent of a mad scientist¡¯s deranged brain dungeon.

    Despite its cute appearance, the rabbit-bear-marmot chimera seemed to hold a predator position in this dreadful dungeon and boldly charged at Isaac.

    Isaac easily blocked it with the Dead Man¡¯s Hand and thrust his left hand into the chimera.

    Since the primary goal was to use the tendrils for predation, Isaac rarely used his sword.

    [¡°Even I had a time when I was inexperienced and full of curiosity. Back then, I believed the survival of my species depended on me. These are merely the remnants of that time.¡±]

    ¡°Creating a dragon?¡±

    [¡°¡­I¡¯m surprised you know. How did you find out? Did an angel tell you?¡±]

    Since Isaac had learned this knowledge through the game, he gave a vague answer. Calurien, however, seemed not to have been hiding it much and let it slide.

    Dragons are inherently mysterious beings, but their descriptions often include a mix of elements like a snake¡¯s head, a lion¡¯s body, and bat-like wings. Biologically speaking, they resemble chimeras made deliberately forbat.

    Calurien seemed to have thought simrly.

    [¡°I suspected that dragons were artificially created chimeras by some ancient entity. Of course, considering that even gods are younger than us, it¡¯s absurd. But when our species started having difficulties reproducing, I couldn¡¯t help but investigate that possibility.¡±]

    Isaac was hearing for the first time that dragons had trouble reproducing. In Nameless Chaos, the dragons were all ancient and extremely rare. Isaac had always thought their decline was due to the gods, never considering their reproduction issues.

    [¡°These creatures are the remnants of my attempts to see if dragons could be synthesized. I buried them in a pit and forgot about them, never imagining they would be food for Chaos¡­¡±]

    Calurien muttered in aplex tone as he watched the chimeras get devoured by Isaac¡¯s tendrils one by one. Although the chimeras didn¡¯t grant Isaac any special abilities, they provided far more nutrition and satiety than wild animals due to their inherent strength.

    However, Isaac thought it was taking too long to reach his true target.

    [¡°By the way, how far do you n to go? Haven¡¯t you filled your belly enough?¡±]

    ¡°I¡¯m going to eat up the ultimate trash you created, Calurien.¡±

    [¡­¡­]

    Calurien did not respond. These chimeras were neither a disgrace nor a concern to him. What he truly didn¡¯t want Isaac to uncover was at the bottom of this dungeon. The chimeras were merely sentinels to conceal that presence.

    Meanwhile, Isaac was growing tired of dealing with these sentinels one by one. With no need to consider anyone else¡¯s judgment, Isaac decided to experiment with a trick he had learned in Urbansus.

    Taking a deep breath, Isaac willed his armor.

    Glooop.

    The color beyond, darkly hued, began to flow out from Isaac¡¯s armor. Like a cloak or a waterfall, the color spilled over, rapidly filling the dungeon and flooding down the stairs.

    The ancient magic applied color he had created while fighting Calurien was much denser and stronger than ordinary colors. It also moved at Isaac¡¯s will like his own limbs.

    Isaac let the color flow to its limit.

    Although he lost much of the satiety he had filled, it was worth the cost.

    Finally, when almost all the dark energy had spilled from Isaac¡¯s armor, he extended his tendrils into the color.

    [Shadow of the World (B) / Envelop your tendrils in the color from beyond, making them invisible or hiding them in shadows.]

    A perk that had been useful only for trickery became a weapon of mass destruction in this confined space.

    Crack, crunch, snap, crunnch.

    (To read advance chapters, fastest update and to support the trantor please read at Fenrir Trantions.)

    The eerie noises of tendrils tearing through walls reverberated. The soundsted for about ten seconds before it quieted down. Isaac withdrew the color back into his armor and resumed his steps.

    The dungeon, now cleanly swept, no longer saw any more chimeras. Though a significant amount of faith was consumed, it had allowed Isaac to fill his stomach quickly.

    ¡°Good. Now we can proceed faster.¡±

    Watching this, Calurien wondered if Elil had really chosen this warrior in his right mind.

    ¡®Or perhaps, it is exactly why he chose him.¡¯

    ***

    Calurien¡¯s dungeon was unexpectedly deep and vast. It took Isaac two more ¡®feasts¡¯ before reaching the bottom he had aimed for. The further down they went, both Isaac and Hesabel could sense an unusual energy.

    High-density, immense magic power.

    Just like when Elil was sealed with numerousyers of seals, though not as powerful, a considerable number of spells and magic ovepped here.

    ¡°What on earth is here?¡± Hesabel asked, her skin crawling from the magic she felt. Calurien, naturally, did not respond, but Isaac casually revealed what Calurien wanted to keep hidden.

    ¡°Calurien¡¯s creation of sin.¡±

    As Isaac swung the Luadin Key to break another seal, a hidden space was revealed. The ground crumbled away to expose a vast cavity. At its bottomy a creature bound by faintly glowing chains, seemingly asleep.

    It was a massive being, half-transparent and half-normal in appearance.

    Yet,pared to the other bizarre chimeras they had encountered, it looked ¡®rtively¡¯ normal. This was because, aside from being partially transparent, it was a creature they were already familiar with.

    ¡°¡­A dragon?¡±

    Hesabel murmured in disbelief. Isaac added an exnation to her faint words.

    ¡°Technically, it¡¯s an angel-dragon chimera.¡±

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read more than 20 advance chapters or support me, you can do it at /Akaza156

 Chapter 221:

    Chapter 221:

    ¡°An angel©¤dragon chimera?! Is that even possible?¡±

    Hesabel asked in shock.

    From the mortal¡¯s perspective, both dragons and angels were terrifying beings. While all dragons were either killed, driven to the outskirts, or became so rare they were only mentioned in legends, angels still roamed the earth, symbolizing the power of the gods.

    Unlike other orders, Elil did not view dragons as symbols of evil but rather as beings representing bravery and wisdom. However, attempting to merge an angel with a dragon was something even Elil could not forgive.

    ¡°He was able to research in secret because he shared his body and divinity.¡±

    Just like the Sword of May, gods had to consume resources like the ¡®me of Glory¡¯ to create angels. Elil was no exception. Calurien had stolen these resources, mixed them with his own genes, and created this hybrid.

    [¡­¡­.]

    Calurien said nothing, aware that Isaac already knew everything. He seemed to think this was also part of Isaac¡¯s ¡®mission.¡¯

    In reality, Isaac did not care much.Whether Calurien merged angels with dragons or Zerg with Protoss, it did not matter to Isaac. He was only curious about the effects of devouring it and had a minor question to solve.

    Isaac spoke as he descended the stairs.

    ¡°All attempts to create a dragon must have failed. You can tell since there¡¯s no finished product. The poorly made ones wouldn¡¯t be recognized as dragons.¡±

    [¡­¡­Yes. All the bodies crumbled, intelligence hit rock bottom, and reproduction was impossible. After much research, it was discovered that a dragon heart was essential to create a dragon. But artificially creating a dragon heart was impossible¡­¡­.]

    ¡°So he tried to substitute it with divine power?¡±

    In this world, there was a power that granted desires to those who wished. Sword aura, miracles, angels, and gods all proved this. Calurien tried to artificially inject that mysterious power into the body in ce of a dragon heart. The result was this hybrid.

    Perhaps Calurien became an angel of Elil just to create this. Obtaining an angel¡¯s divinity was not easy.

    But as seen from this hybrid¡¯s appearance, his attempt failed.

    [Yes. As a result, a being that half existed in Urbansus and half in the earthly realm appeared. However, its intelligence was severelycking, it could not use magic, and it could barely speak. Most importantly, it had no reproductive capabilities.]

    Calurien had experimented in an attempt to prevent the extinction of the species.

    He was not trying to create a global-grade mule.

    Ultimately, his experiment was a failure. But he couldn¡¯t discard the valuable experiment results nor expose his sins by releasing it to the world.

    He ended up hiding it in the deepest part of hisboratory.

    Isaac¡¯s party finally reached the underground floor. The angel©¤dragon chimera was still asleep. When Isaac cautiously reached out, it showed no sign of waking up or reacting.

    Upon inspecting the sealing chains made by Calurien, he saw that the Luadin Key could easily break them.

    ¡°Is it fierce?¡±

    [¡­¡­Don¡¯t talk like it¡¯s a dog. It¡¯s not calm.]

    There was no need to ask. The angel©¤dragon named Nacaruriel, like all chimeras, had a ferocious nature. But the risk of braving this secret dungeon was worth it.

    ¡°Then it¡¯s time to deal with your leftover experiment, Calurien.¡±

    Before Calurien could say anything, Isaac struck the chains with the Luadin Key. As soon as one chain broke, Nacaruriel¡¯s massive body twitched. Isaac didn¡¯t need to touch the remaining chains.

    As Nacaruriel awoke and shook its body, the chains shattered with a fierce glow.

    The hybrid born between divinity and savagery let out a savage roar.

    ***

    Isaac had wanted to devour it while it was still chained, but the seal protected it from external threats as well. In any case, to devour Nacaruriel, he had to break the chains.

    When the chains shattered forcibly instead of gradually, the curses imnted by Calurien were immediately triggered.

    Boom, boom, boom! ck mists enveloped Nacaruriel and began to crush it. Nacaruriel struggled, its neck pressed to the ground as if under tremendous weight.

    Isaac felt relieved watching this.

    ¡®At least this part is the same as the dungeon mechanics.¡¯

    Even as a failed experiment, the angel©¤dragon hybrid was an absurd oue. Given that in the game, defeating an angel was a rare event, fighting Nacaruriel alone should have been nearly impossible.

    Calurien¡¯s seal mechanics made it bnced.

    But having mechanics didn¡¯t mean it was easy; a hidden boss wouldn¡¯t be so simple.

    ¡®Hesabel, get ready.¡¯

    Isaac leaped in to ughter the creature reduced to a wild beast.

    Nacaruriel roared fiercely and spread its wings. Its body disappeared and reappeared in mid-air.

    ¡®It does have phase shift abilities.¡¯

    Nacaruriel, half dragon, half angel, existed partly in Urbansus and partly on earth. Though neither fully, it could momentarily exist in whichever dimension it wanted.

    Rather than truly disappearing, it submerged its whole body in Urbansus and then resurfaced.

    To understand how, one would need to ask the Immortal Emperor who pulled the afterlife to the earthly realm.

    Nacaruriel unleashed a fierce breath attack. As a product of Calurien¡¯s genes, it was a lightning breath.

    Boom! Fortunately, Isaac had prepared for this. He quickly condensed the color beyond to block the breath.

    ¡®I¡¯ll snipe it!¡¯

    Hesabel, sensing the awakening of Nacaruriel, had already retreated to a strategic vantage point. She aimed her crossbow, enhanced with red feathers, and fired at Nacaruriel.

    The bolt struck, peeling away the scales around Nacaruriel¡¯s neck and embedding itself.

    Hesabel¡¯s eye twitched. She had aimed for the eye, but it seemed Nacaruriel had dodged, sensing the attack. As she prepared to shoot again, the same thing happened.

    Nacaruriel vanished suddenly and reappeared right in front of Hesabel.

    Just as it lunged to bite her with sharp teeth, Hesabel managed to evade by transforming into a red mist using her crimson entreaty.

    Nacaruriel roared in fury at the escaping prey.

    It was a monstrousbination of the functional violence of an angel and the instinctive violence of a dragon.

    ¡°Fortunately, it doesn¡¯t seem like it can escape the tower right away.¡±

    Fighting a winged beast in a confined space was vastly different from fighting it in the open. As long as it didn¡¯t escape the tower, the prepared methods should suffice to hunt it down.

    The curses left by Calurien¡¯s seal continued to persistently target Nacaruriel. However, Nacaruriel inhaled deeply, as if intending to incinerate the ck mist, and unleashed a breath of lightning.

    Whoosh, KRRRRRRR!

    The single breath, unleashed in the narrow cavern, created a storm of lightning as if hundreds of tornadoes had erupted. The lightning bounced off the walls, causing it to scatter wildly.

    Isaac protected himself with armor imbued with the color beyond, but he couldn¡¯tpletely avoid being scorched in the unshielded areas.

    As a result, he had to consume the precious fullness he had just barely managed to achieve.

    During this time, Hesabel shot several more arrows. She aimed for the rtively difficult-to-dodge,rge wing areas. However, another remarkable feature of Nacaruriel was revealed.

    Hesabel¡¯s arrows passed through its semi-transparent wings.

    ¡®The arrows just went through!¡¯

    ¡®The semi-transparent parts belong to Urbansus¡­ it seems.¡¯

    If so, this attack should work.

    Shhh, whoosh! Nacaruriel sneered at Isaac¡¯s attack and twisted its body. Isaac¡¯s sword aimed at the parts Nacaruriel made semi-transparent.

    But the fierce sword aura from Kaldwin bit into Nacaruriel¡¯s wing joint, tearing it savagely.

    ¡°Kyaaa!¡±

    Nacaruriel reappeared, roaring furiously, and plummeted. It slid down, leaving long w marks on the wall.

    Isaac judged that his hypothesis was correct from this sight.

    ¡®Indeed, the Soul Devourer perk can injure it.¡¯

    Nacaruriel didn¡¯t fully transition to Urbansus; it only matched its body¡¯s nature to that realm. This confirmed that the Soul Devourer perk was effective.

    This was quite encouraging.

    Sword aura was useful for destroying undead, but there was nothing to be done if the soul escaped. Undead could find a way to stitch themselves into patchwork bodies again if they retained their souls. However, if their souls could be injured, this process would slow significantly.

    However, the fragments of souls on the sword were barely noticeable, not even triggering an alert. He intended to devour it all. He had no intention of being satisfied with just a part of the soul.

    In its rage from the wound, Nacaruriel unleashed another breath at Isaac. This time, instead of following the same pattern, it cunningly spewed lightning in all directions. The entire space was flooded with unpredictable lightning, making it certain that Isaac would be electrocuted.

    But Nacaruriel¡¯s lightning was slower than Isaac.

    The runes inscribed on Kaldwin glowed.

    The thrice-permitted eleration ability instantly ignited Isaac¡¯s body.

    Before Nacaruriel could even finish its breath, Isaded behind it. The eleration was so intense that his knees nearly buckled.

    Isaac was dizzy from the speed.

    ¡®I didn¡¯t even think of running especially fast¡­!¡¯

    Kaldwin¡¯s eleration ability didn¡¯t just enhance agility; it sped up Isaac¡¯s time itself. This allowed him to run at several times the normal speed even with regr movements. However, the momentum exerted on his body was also multiplied.

    ¡®Using this recklessly could turn it into a self-destruct device.¡¯

    But if mastered, its potential was limitless. With this speed, he could leap much higher than usual. Utilizing this speed, Isaac rotated swiftly and shed Nacaruriel¡¯s hind thigh.

    Another cry of agony erupted. Isaac quickly thrust his left hand into the wound before Nacaruriel could phase shift. Parasites from beyond swarmed into the wound.

    It was an experimental attempt, but when Nacaruriel shifted through phase, the parasites fell to the ground.

    ¡®As expected, it doesn¡¯t work.¡¯

    He had considered taming or turning Nacaruriel to his side. But the phase shift ability rendered the parasites ineffective.

    In that case, he would devour it entirely.

    Calurien, watching Isaac¡¯s fight, muttered.

    [You seempletely unfazed.]

    ¡°Not at all.¡±

    Isaac replied, drawing out tentacles from his left hand.

    ¡°As I said, I¡¯m not here to fight. I¡¯m here to eat.¡±

    Isaac was merely testing his new abilities against Nacaruriel.

    Realizing Isaac was a dangerous foe, Nacaruriel searched for an escape. But there was no way out of the seal. Calurien said it had the intelligence of a human, but in fact, even animal-level intelligence was considerable.

    Meanwhile, the ck mist once again tried to ensnare it.

    Nacaruriel attempted to phase shift again. But this time, Isaac, having predicted its move through the eye of chaos, was waiting. He grabbed Nacaruriel¡¯s wing joint with the hand of the dead. Nacaruriel panicked and tried to phase shift again, but the hand of the dead, capable of grasping even the soul, hindered its ability.

    Unable to shift properly, Nacaruriel pped its wings in distress.

    Isaac¡¯s left hand plunged deep into its neck.

 Chapter 222:

    Chapter 222:

    *Crack!*

    The part of the body Isaac touched with his left hand was the non-translucent part, the part still belonging to the physical world. The tentacle that pierced through in an instant severed Nacaruriel¡¯s spine. Despite being a hybrid of angel and dragon, the basic body structure remained unchanged; when the nerves were severed, the body was paralyzed and went limp.

    Seizing the opportunity, Calurien¡¯s sealing curse rapidly enveloped Nacaruriel¡¯s entire body once again. Fully subdued, Nacaruriel could do nothing but await Isaac¡¯s decision. Even in this state, Nacaruriel couldn¡¯t suppress its aggression and snarled fiercely.

    [¡°Are you going to eat it?¡±]

    ¡°Why hunt a beast if you can¡¯t tame it?¡±

    Of course, Isaac didn¡¯t deny feeling a bit of regret. However, unlike other beasts that could somehow be tamed or controlled, chimeras couldn¡¯t suppress their savage nature. More importantly, Isaac was still hungry.

    Then Calurien spoke up.

    [¡°What if it can be tamed?¡±]

    ¡°You can tame a chimera? Is there a way?¡±[¡°You¡¯ve seen me control chimeras before, haven¡¯t you? If your goal isn¡¯t to consume its flesh, I¡¯ll teach you how to control it.¡±]

    Isaac recalled that during the events in Urbansus, there was a chimera herd among the forces Calurien had led. If control were impossible, forming an army of chimeras wouldn¡¯t have been feasible.

    Isaac brightened at the thought.

    Like other chimeras, this one likely wouldn¡¯t grant any special benefits if consumed. It would just be meat to fill his stomach. Though his overall stats might slightly increase, Isaac wasn¡¯t in a situation where he needed that. He could always sate his hunger by devouring a whale.

    However, if he could tame and ride this transparent, flying creature capable of teleportation, he would have a dragon at his disposal.

    Any gamer would be ecstatic.

    But what benefit would Calurien get from this?

    Isaac was curious why Calurien made such an offer.

    ¡°Are you feeling responsible?¡±

    This reaction hadn¡¯t been there when they captured other chimeras. Calurien didn¡¯t respond.

    Isaac suddenly remembered the name attached to this chimera©¤Nacaruriel. Though Calurien never mentioned it, the name clearly appeared in the game.

    All dragons were given sacred five-letter names. Perhaps Calurien had some attachment or hope for this experimental creature.

    It might be too precious to be just a snack for a passing Holy Grail Knight.

    [¡°If you don¡¯t intend to eat it, bring Kaldwin closer.¡±]

    Kaldwin contained the dragon heart where Calurien resided.

    Isaac brought Kaldwin close to Nacaruriel¡¯s wound. The dragon heart red brightly, and a powerful essence permeated Nacaruriel.

    At the same time, the energy coursed up Isaac¡¯s left hand, leaving a six-branched tattoo resembling Calurien¡¯s horns on the back of his hand.

    Calurien whispered in a weary voice.

    [¡°¡­¡­Now it will obey you. But it might not follow others, so don¡¯t leave it unattended. Outside the tower, it will need to eat; one horse or cow a day should suffice. Let it fly twice a day, and don¡¯t force it to hold back when it needs to discharge lightning. And¡­¡­¡±]

    Isaac was taken aback by Calurien¡¯s lengthy instructions.

    ¡°Why so many details?¡±

    [¡°Then will you abandon it?¡±]

    Isaac fell silent. Taking in a pet requires responsibility and care. It¡¯s not something to be done on a whim just because of a gaming impulse¡­ Ultimately, having decided to adopt the creature, Isaac epted his responsibilities. Naturally, the lure of a transparent dragon mount yed a significant role in his decision.

    ***

    Nacaruriel had suffered significant injuries, so they had to wait a while for it to recover. However, the abundant magic within the tower not only sealed Nacaruriel but also maintained its physical health.

    While waiting for its recovery, Isaac rummaged through Calurien¡¯sboratory. In fact, this was his real objective rather than Nacaruriel. Theb was full of priceless potions and materials, left unattended by Calurien out of neglect but invaluable on the surface.

    Watching Isaac sweep up materials no less valuable than the bones of a fallen angel, Calurien murmured in disbelief.

    [¡°How did you know all these things were here? Does the Codex of Light tell you such things?¡±]

    ¡°Why the Codex of Light and not Nameless Chaos?¡±

    [¡°The Codex of Light illuminates secrets. And Nameless Chaos, as I understand it, cannotmunicate with you normally.¡±]

    [¡°Nameless Chaos is watching you.¡±]

    Indeed, as Calurien said, Nameless Chaos couldn¡¯tmunicate normally. Yet, Isaac found its expressions quite detailed. Sometimes it conveyed emotions or intentions that were difficult to articte in words. In some sense, it was more precise thannguage.

    Anyway, Isaac knew about this ce simply because it was a famous farming spot. Feeling no need to exin, Isaac tried to change the subject and caught sight of Nacaruriel.

    He then remembered the topic he had previously discussed with Calurien but hadn¡¯t pursued.

    ¡°By the way, why did you say giving birth to a Nephilim is a sin rather than the Nephilim itself?¡±

    [¡°What?¡±]

    ¡°Actually, until now, I thought Nephilim were considered sinful because they stole the miracles of the gods. But that doesn¡¯t make sense. The amount of divine power squandered by a handful of Nephilim pales inparison to the wasteful usage by ignorant priests or greedy bishops. As the child of an angel, wouldn¡¯t they be guaranteed saints?¡±

    In fact, if Nephilim were recognized for their status and became devout apostles of the gods, it would be more desirable. Despite their physical frailty, Nephilim could harbor much stronger divine power than ordinary humans, and being descendants of angels, their talents and limits would far surpass those of regr humans. In this case, bonding with an angel could be seen as a blessing rather than a sin.

    However, in this world, Nephilim are considered severe abominations to the extent that even archangels fall from grace because of them.

    After a moment of silence, Calurien hesitated before speaking.

    [¡°¡­¡­Well, I¡¯ve never really thought about it. I just assumed it was forbidden, like human sacrifice. The conception of Nephilim was naturally considered taboo.¡±]

    ¡°If ¡®obvious¡¯ sins were uneptable, then things like murder would be too. But from what I know, angels are the experts in killing. In fact,pared to angels tearing people apart, human sacrifice is modest¡­¡­.¡±

    Isaac trailed off.

    Human sacrifice was prohibited because it granted a strong divine power to the recipient.

    This was why the ancient gods could amass great power in a short time, and the Nine Faiths gained control of the afterlife by banning human sacrifice.

    In other words, the reason for banning human sacrifice was to eliminatepetitors.

    Isaac extended this thought to the Nephilim.

    No, he focused on the act of creating Nephilim rather than the Nephilim themselves.

    A sudden realization dawned on him. The gods weren¡¯t opposed to the existence of Nephilim.

    ¡®Are they actually prohibiting angels from reproducing?¡¯

    Because if angels increased in number, they could be powerful rivals.

    ¡®And all faiths except for Elil forbade swordsmanship.¡¯

    The reason for banning swordsmanship was to hide the fact that humans could wield divine power themselves. Despite this, humans who excelled in other ways were either recruited or eliminated.

    Isaac¡¯s gaze shifted to Nacaruriel, the original subject of this conversation.

    ¡®¡­¡­Calurien said dragons suddenly became infertile for no reason.¡¯

    Dragons were one of the most formidable rivals to the Nine Faiths in the early days.

    The fact that they suddenly became infertile as the Nine Faiths rose to prominence seemed too coincidental. Though it happened alongside the fall of the ancient gods, biological reproduction was unrted to that event.

    ¡®And Luadin attempted to abort the Dancer while still in the womb.¡¯

    Luadinmanded Elil to kill his wife to prevent the birth of the Wachia people.

    This, too, was an act of preemptively eliminating a potential threat.

    Throughout history, the most efficient way to control potential enemies was to limit and control their birth.

    Isaac began to suspect, or rather be convinced, that the gods might be using their own angels as tools of control and suspicion.

    The prohibition of swordsmanship, the control of Nephilim, the ban on human sacrifice, the dragons¡¯ infertility, and the case of Wachia.

    At this point, it was more than mere conjecture.

    Isaac realized that the taboos of the Nine Faiths were rted to preventing the increase of uncontroble entities.

    The rulers of Urbansus were using the past to oppress the present and manipte it to their liking. This was how the Nine Faiths ruled the world through Urbansus.

    ***

    Isaac decided not to share his spections with Calurien for now.

    While the circumstances seemed to support his theory, the truth was still unknown. Besides, knowing wouldn¡¯t change anything he could do. Even if Calurien were to be enraged, there was little he could do in his current state with only a dragon heart.

    ¡®Talking recklessly could lead to unnecessary antagonism.¡¯

    Though Isaac had be quite strong, he hadn¡¯t surpassed the limitations of mortality. He was still merely capable of resisting angels at best.

    Had it not been for the Sword of May, he would have been ughtered by Calurien alone. Given the clear hierarchy among angels, it was doubtful if Isaac could resist an angel like the Lighthouse Keeper Luadin if he decided to eliminate him for being too perceptive.

    Just then, Hesabel, who had been listening quietly, spoke.

    ¡°Hmm, perhaps the rtionship between angels and gods is inherently unhealthy, hence the prohibition. The bnce of power makes one side easily oppressed by the other. It could lead to sexual violence, which is why it¡¯s forbidden.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡­¡±

    ¡®Could that be it?¡¯

    While not entirely illogical, hearing such reasonable words from a follower of a god known for incestuous orgies was unsettling.

    Isaac couldn¡¯t bring himself to voice his thoughts and simply stared at Hesabel, who retorted indignantly.

    ¡°What do you mean by that look? Wachia is morally liberal but also has strict rules. And since the pleasure of bloodsucking surpasses sexual pleasure, we are more chaste than the Western continent.¡±

    ¡®It seems she¡¯s feeling guilty.¡¯

    Of course, Isaac knew that these ¡®rules¡¯ only applied among the followers of the Red Chalice. The infamous Wachia hunters were notorious for a reason. When dealing with foreign heretics, they would recreate ¡®heaven¡¯ on earth.

    ¡°By your logic, wasn¡¯t the rtionship between Elil and the Dancer a power imbnce? Isn¡¯t that a greater risk of sexual violence than incest?¡±

    Calurien answered Isaac¡¯s question.

    (To read advance chapters, fastest update and to support the trantor please read at Fenrir Trantions.)

    [Hmm, well. While I didn¡¯t support their union, it was consensual, and gically, once someone bes an angel, they are reborn as apletely different being. Also, considering their ages, Elil was over 250, and the Dancer was over 30 when they fell in love, so they could make rational judgments. Although I can¡¯t say there were no ethical issues, they are gods. It¡¯s like using human metaphors to describe phenomena or orders. The union and separation of the Supreme King and the Dancer symbolize the rise and fall, and the division of a kingdom.]

    ¡°Still, you can¡¯t just dismiss a real event as a metaphor.¡±

    Isaac was exasperated but chose to drop the topic.

    Discussing this couple any further felt dizzying. It seemed mythical tales should remain within mythology.

    However, Isaac didn¡¯t lose sight of his earlier insight.

    If the Nine Faiths were obsessed with eliminatingpetitors, then someday Isaac might be their target. And if that happened¡­¡­

    Nacaruriel might be valuable proof for an unexpected alliance.

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read more than 20 advance chapters or support me, you can do it at /Akaza156

 Chapter 223:

    Chapter 223:

    After finishing his business in Calurien¡¯s secretboratory, Isaacpletely demolished the tower.

    Previously disguised as ruins, it was now genuinely a heap of rubble. He did not entertain thoughts that this ce could be a cultural heritage site in the future.

    Instead, he pondered how to bring his new mount¡­ no,panion, Nacaruriel, to the Empire.

    ¡°I should call you Nel since Nacaruriel is too long.¡±

    Shortening the five sybles to one seemed extreme, but Nacaruriel, or rather, Nel, snorted and rubbed her head against Isaac¡¯s shoulder.

    Seeing her docile behavior, like a tamed puppy, it was clear that while she might not be very intelligent, she was definitely domesticated.

    Still, he couldn¡¯t just let her roam free with the assurance that ¡°our dragon is friendly and won¡¯t bite.¡± Isaac double-checked with Calurien.

    ¡°Are you sure she won¡¯t eat people if instructed not to?¡±

    [Just think of her like a dog. She¡¯ll respect your words to some extent, but there¡¯s no absolute guarantee. She might think, ¡®If I bite that person, my master will be upset, but since they made me angry, I¡¯ll just bite once.¡¯ It¡¯s best not to keep her too close to humans.]Isaac decided to ept that exnation for now despite his unease.

    Creating some excuse to keep her nearby was one option, but in a crowded ce, some madman might try to prove their bravery. It seemed wiser to let her roam in the wild and call her when needed until it was safer.

    Riding Nel across the sea was tempting, but Eiden was waiting on the coast.

    However, Eidan wasn¡¯t the only one awaiting Isaac at the shore.

    ¡°Son-inw, it¡¯s been a while.¡±

    Dietrich Brant greeted him by the campfire with Eiden.

    ¡°My daughter asked me to check if there were any other women around you¡­ but there¡¯s no woman, and what is that? Could it be a dragon?¡±

    Isaac felt more chills than when he fought Calurien.

    ***

    Of course, checking for other women was Dietrich¡¯s joke. He knew Isaac had returned from the Holy Land and came to greet him. Upon hearing Isaac went north instead of directly to the Empire, he had chased him down.

    Thanks to this, Isaac boarded Dietrich¡¯s ship instead of the Salt Council¡¯s.

    Dietrich¡¯s ship, befitting a duke¡¯s warship, wasrge enough to amodate Nel, who was over 10 meters long from head to tail.

    Dietrich, having heard much about Isaac from the Kingdom of Elil, asked a few questions but no more. He seemed more interested in the tangible, semi-transparent dragon than in the metaphysical principles of Urbansus and the secrets of the world.

    ¡°You came all this way to tame that dragon?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s now in the Codex of Light against taming beasts, is there?¡±

    Isaac brazenly lied, and Nel licked Isaac¡¯s head in response. Due to her size, Dietrich thought the dragon might be devouring Isaac but was reassured by Isaac¡¯s determinedly calm demeanor.

    ¡°Well, I suppose it¡¯s not strange considering you¡¯re said to have reformed the Princess of the Red Chalice. The Church might even appreciate the sight of a ferocious dragon bowing to a Holy Grail Knight.¡±

    ¡°Indeed.¡±

    Isaac felt uneasy but relieved. At least, as long as Nel didn¡¯t start eating people in the square.

    ¡°But what brings you here? I thought you¡¯d be busy preparing for the Dawn Army.¡±

    If it were just a greeting, a servant or Isolde could have been sent. It didn¡¯t make sense for the busy duke toe personally.

    ¡°Hmm, I¡¯ve left urgent matters to Isolde and my wife. My wife handles the estate management, and Isolde is active outside, so nothing iscking. But more importantly, I thought it best to inform you of the Empire¡¯s situation directly.¡±

    ¡°The Empire¡¯s situation? Has something happened?¡±

    Dietrich responded with a slightly displeased expression, gazing at the southern horizon.

    ¡°The Dawn Army has started.¡±

    Isaac was surprised but could understand.

    ording to history, the Dawn Army was supposed to start in winter. However, the flow of history he had altered had elerated its start.

    Even with Kalsen he had devoured. Originally, there had been no major incident like the ¡®failure of Kalsen¡¯s ascension,¡¯ but the mere ¡®disappearance of Kalsen¡¯ had sparked the Dawn Army.

    ¡®Originally, the Codex of Light and the Immortal Order had allied to make Kalsen a god. But since that failed, the alliance must have ended.¡¯

    ¡°His Majesty the Emperor hasn¡¯t yet gathered enough forces, has he?¡±

    To amass enough troops and knights and to boost morale, Isaac had proposed the reconstruction of the ¡®White Empire.¡¯ But Elil was only just starting to gather troops, and he had no idea what had happened to the Crucible of the World. He had heard other envoys were sent there, but no news hade.

    ¡°That¡¯s right. I heard His Majesty is just now mobilizing knights and organizing supply lines. The Golden Idol Guild gouged prices, but they¡¯re handling most of the supplies.¡±

    The Golden Idol Guild did trade with the Immortal Order but wasn¡¯t a major client since the Order had no need for ¡®necessities.¡¯

    The Immortal Order usually sought luxury goods, art, or quality weapons, which weren¡¯t hugely profitable despite their scale.

    ¡°Then what do you mean by the Dawn Army has started?¡±

    ¡°Some fanatics have formed their own armies and are marching independently. It¡¯s making His Majesty impatient. He¡¯s eager to meet you as soon as possible.¡±

    ***

    No matter what Isaac did, the Dawn Army was inevitable.

    That was not something Isaac could stop alone; it was the spirit of the times, the flow of the era, and the direction of history that everyone yearned for.

    Therefore, it was not surprising that there were people swept up in the ¡®inevitable flow of the times.¡¯

    The port city of Syracusa, where Isaac and Dietrich arrived, was one of those ces with many such people.

    ¡°The millennium is near! Repent!¡±

    Isaac stepped off the ship with a horrified expression as the cries reached him the moment the ship touched the dock.

    A group of priests marched, shirtless, whipping their backs. Leading them was a priest holding arge symbol of the Codex of Light, chanting its verses incessantly.

    Dietrich watched the scene with a bitter smile.

    ¡°It¡¯s a mess here too. Let¡¯s finish resupplying and leave immediately.¡±

    ¡°¡­It¡¯s chaos. Isn¡¯t this ce quite far from the Holy Land?¡±

    Syracusa was a port city on the southern tip of arge penins jutting out of the western Empire. While it was a roundabout route on the map, traveling up the river allowed them to reach the capital faster than bynd. Although it seemed close to the ck Empire across the sea, the physical barrier of the sea was a significant hurdle for ordinary people.

    Despite being far from the frontline, this ce disyed extreme fanaticism.

    ¡°Maybe that¡¯s why. I heard the border residents are rather reluctant about the Dawn Army. If you n to go ashore, be careful not to get caught up in any trouble.¡±

    Isaac considered not disembarking at all, even without Dietrich¡¯s warning.

    He knew this world was inherently like this, but he did not want to get swept up in religious madness and darkness.

    However, seeing the smoke rising beyond the pier triggered a memory.

    ¡°Damn¡­¡±

    Isaac reluctantly stepped off the ship. Ignoring what he knew felt wrong, especially if it was within his power to address it.

    This was the first time he felt ufortable with the knowledge from the game.

    Following the procession to the square, he encountered the expected sight. Several stakes were erected throughout the square. On each stake, a victim was either already bound or about to be.

    ¡°Burn the contractors with holy fire!¡±

    In the center of the square, another victim was set alight. The woman tied to the stake screamed and struggled, but the executioner relentlessly shoved the torch into the pyre.

    ¡°Ahhh!¡±

    The fire, soaked with oil, quickly consumed the wood and the woman¡¯s flesh and bones. It was a gruesome witch hunt, but the scene behind her was different from reality. Her screams continued as her skin charred and shriveled.

    ¡°Oh, the flesh of the wicked contractor burns! It is purified into ashes! The Codex of Light embraces the wicked¡¯s unvirtuousness with light and heat!¡±

    ¡°Ahhh! Please, please kill me, kill me!¡±

    The unnatural mes consumed all the flesh, leaving only bones. Yet, the ckened skull continued to scream as mes burned in its eyes and mouth.

    Isaac easily identified the woman¡¯s status.

    ¡°She¡¯s an insurance contractor.¡±

    Dietrich, who had followed him, muttered, observing the scene.

    Such ¡®contractors¡¯ were burning all over the square. Consequently, the executions neither ended quickly nor ceased their screams. The miraculous holy fire inflicted pain even on the undead souls, whose flesh had already been burned away and could no longer feel pain.

    ¡°¡­This should be the rear lines. How did they find so many insurance contractors?¡±

    ¡°They likely confessed during confession. Some might have requested to break their death contracts, only to be caught up in the madness and made an example of¡­ Also, many cross the sea to the ck Empire¡¯s territory, so there¡¯s a fair number of people going back and forth.¡±

    The Immortal Order, except for cases needing living ves, did not require food. This meant most farndsy fallow. People crossed the border, drawn by the ck Empire¡¯s abundant fishing grounds, mountains, and mineral veins.

    The Immortal Order, instead of immediately turning such captives into zombies, enrolled them in death insurance, finding it more useful in the long term due to their perpetual poption shortage.

    ¡°Syracusa is rtively tame. In the southern Empire, they dig burning pits and throw people in. It¡¯s said to look like hell, with hundreds of death insurance contractors writhing as skeletal remains.¡±

    Isaac felt nauseous. This might elevate piety and unity, but identifying death insurance contractors without their confession was challenging.

    It was no different from a witch hunt. If you floated in water, you were a witch; if you sank and drowned, you were innocent.

    Even if innocents were burned, would the priests take responsibility? They¡¯d likely dismiss it with talk of ¡®holy fire¡¯ or some such nonsense.

    One reason corrupt priests conducted such acts was to ¡®purify¡¯ the property of the wicked apostates.

    Soldiers and knights were patrolling the square, not to stop these acts but to ensure they were carried out properly and to monitor for resistance.

    At their forefront, a priest with a reddened face shouted fervently.

    ¡°Repent! The millennium is near! The walking corpses of the Immortal Order are invading your heaven! Join the Dawn Crusade under the guidance of Holy Father Horma Kmuel!¡±

    It was the same ¡®fanatical Dawn Army procession¡¯ Isaac had heard about.

    Dietrich mentioned these processions were urring throughout the Empire. From the looks of it, the Church seemed to encourage rather than suppress them.

    ¡°As you can see, some ¡®extremist priests¡¯ of the Church are also fueling this frenzy. Among them, a priest named Ciero leads thergest group.¡±

    Dietrich shuddered in disgust.

    (To read advance chapters, fastest update and to support the trantor please read at Fenrir Trantions.)

    ¡°I can¡¯t fathom what those fanatic peasants without a proper knight or priest aim to achieve by rushing into the ck Empire. They think miracles will descend and drive out heretics with their sincere faith. Do they think the previous Dawn Army failed due to ack of miracles?¡±

    In short, religious fanaticism was sweeping the loweryers of society.

    Social discontent, fear of the afterlife, and the desire to prove faith exploded, leading to scenes like this across the Empire.

    Isaac frowned at the foolishness but stopped, feeling a twinge of guilt.

    ¡®¡­I¡¯ve be quite the noble.¡¯

    The people he had been associating with were mostly nobles, knights, and priests. He had momentarily forgotten the lives of the lower ss.

    In Sore, people starved to death, abandoning their faith because there was nothing to eat, and even the monastery priests survived on a few potatoes a day.

    These were scenes he had forgotten as he rose to prominence as a Holy Grail Knight.

    Of course, those now swept up in the madness were influenced by religious fanaticism, but society¡¯s failure to support them was also to me. For the suffering, there was only one way out of their tormenting world.

    Dying gloriously to reach heaven.

    At least the afterlife seemed better than this world.

    And the Dawn Army was a direct ticket to heaven.

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read more than 20 advance chapters or support me, you can do it at /Akaza156

 Chapter 224:

    Chapter 224:

    However, this conversation could not take ce in front of Dietrich. As the Duke of Brant, he was among the highest ranks in society, second only to the Emperor. Dietrich wasn¡¯t just an observer in this situation; he was someone who needed to take responsibility.

    He often med the ignorance of the poor, speaking condescendingly, but that was because he was well-fed and his living conditions were more than adequate.

    Thus, Isaac had no choice but to keep his mouth shut.

    Since he decided to ept Isolde, he had inevitably be part of the same group.

    By epting one side of this world, Isaac too had be a part of that world. The more he intervened, the more he became entangled in it.

    ***

    From one of the execution tforms where the mes had died down, a charred skeleton still trembling was retrieved, and a new victim was brought forth. The new victim, dragged by the soldier, was a girl who seemed barely over ten years old.

    ¡°Wait.¡±

    Isaac approached them. As an armored figure drew near, the soldiers flinched, but the priest, consumed by madness, did not. The priest red at Isaac and shouted.¡°Who are you? Do you dare to interrupt the sacred purification ritual?¡±

    Instead of answering, Isaac sighed and climbed onto the tform. The ckened logs crumbled under his feet, but the foundation, made of stone, remained intact. The priest, initially startled by Isaac¡¯s calm demeanor, grew even more enraged.

    Soon, soldiers and knights began to gather, as if they were ustomed to such confrontations. It seemed that simr disputes had urred before.

    Among those who approached was a pdin. Standing at two meters tall, the pdin had a cold expression and wore a silver helmet. The priest, reassured by the presence of the pdin behind him, sneered at Isaac.

    ¡°This is Sir Leohen Ostara, the Chief Pdin of the Ostara Knight Order! The Skull Destroyer, the Hammer that Crushes Atheists, the Herald of Dawn! And you, a mere wanderer knight, dare!¡±

    Isaac was secretly pleased with the drawn-out introduction.

    ¡°I am Isaac.¡±

    Having be part of the ruling ss, it wasn¡¯t a bad idea to wield that authority freely. After all, he had aimed to rise to power to do as he pleased.

    The priest thought he had heard the name somewhere before, but before he could recall, Isaac swung his sword, slicing through the execution tform in an instant. The sword energy from Kaldwin reduced the tform to sawdust.

    The priest¡¯s thoughts about Isaac¡¯s name vanished.

    ¡°Sword energy, sword energy! It¡¯s the heresy of the Supreme King!¡±

    Isaac was satisfied. He had deliberately used Kaldwin instead of the Luadin Key to reveal his identity slowly. However, it seemed the priest didn¡¯t even recognize Isaac as an ally of the same White Empire faction.

    As the girl, who was about to be hanged, stared nkly at Isaac, the pdin named Leohen stomped forward and swung his mace at Isaac.

    His body was surrounded by various miracles, emitting a dazzling light. Seeing his quick reaction, it was clear he knew what a swordmaster was and how strong they could be.

    ¡®Now that I think about it, I¡¯ve never properly fought the pdins of the Codex of Light.¡¯

    Isaac had sparred with the pdins of the Briant Knight Order led by Rotenhammer but had never fought them in battle. Now, this opponent was definitely trying to kill him. Leohen¡¯s mace fell with the ferocity of a meteor.

    Bang. Instead of taking it head-on, Isaac lightly deflected it. Leohen, wary of the swordmaster¡¯s energy, also sneered at him.

    Thinking a mace¡¯s weight would slow its movement was amon misconception. Pdins could swing their weapons twice as fast as other knights and could handle them even faster with skill.

    Especially if using advanced swordsmanship.

    Leohen aimed to crush the swordmaster¡¯s head with a swift strike.

    His body spun like a whirlwind, closing in on Isaac in an instant.

    In contrast, Isaac¡¯s attack seemedzy, almost slow. His sword had just begun to move.

    It seemed certain that Isaac¡¯s head would be shattered by Leohen¡¯s advanced swordsmanship.

    That would have been the case if Leohen¡¯s wrist hadn¡¯t suddenly been pierced by Isaac¡¯s sword.

    ¡°Ugh!¡±

    Even hidden under armor, the de urately struck the artery. When Leohen hastily pulled his arm back, the wound, shed by the sword energy, tore even wider. Blood flowed profusely through the gaps in his armor, soaking the dry logs.

    Isaac shrugged as he watched.

    ¡®I was just mimicking it, but it turned out pretty well.¡¯

    He had merely imitated part of the swordsmanship that Elil had used to mock him.

    A technique that targeted the weakest point before the opponent¡¯s attack began.

    Isaac introduced unpredictability in his movements, making it impossible for the opponent to anticipate.

    This technique had two effects.

    It imprinted on the opponent that he was overwhelmingly faster and allowed him to im that he only meant to threaten while the opponent brought the injury upon themselves.

    ¡°Uoooo!¡±

    However, true to his size, Leohen wasn¡¯t discouraged by a single attack and swung his mace again. Isaac calmly received the attack. His movements were small, seemingly focusing solely on defense.

    As a result, those watching felt as if they were hallucinating.

    Leohen was clearly the one attacking, yet he was the one umting wounds and bleeding. To them, it looked as if Leohen was voluntarily throwing himself onto Isaac¡¯s sword.

    The priest, unable to believe his eyes, was about to shout.

    ¡°Ma, magic¡­!¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s the Holy Grail Knight! Sir Isaac!¡±

    A soldier btedly shouted. At those words, the priest was about to explode in anger but then looked at Isaac¡¯s face and snapped back to reality.

    The Saint of Resurrection, known for his angelic appearance and saintly mercy.

    He had appeared like aet, ying ancient gods and banishing heathen angels, oveing death, and returning with an oracle from heaven as the Holy Grail Knight.

    The priest couldn¡¯t be unaware of the famous Holy Grail Knight.

    Isaac had already revealed his name, making it impossible to im ignorance because of his notable appearance.

    ***

    Leohen, meanwhile, staggered before copsing to his knees. It seemed less like he was quickly submitting to the call of the Holy Grail Knight and more like he had lost too much blood and fainted. The bleeding was too severe for blessings to handle any longer.

    Isaac, with the authority of the victor, calmly kicked Leohen off the tform, sending him tumbling below. The gathered pdins and soldiers looked up at Isaac with frozen expressions.

    Isaac addressed them nonchntly.

    ¡°He¡¯ll die like that. Treat him.¡±

    Only then did the pdins and priests hurriedly rush over.

    Honestly, it didn¡¯t matter if he died, but if the Holy Grail Knight killed a pdin right after returning, the church might mistake him for an imperialist. To wield authority, one must also know how to respect it.

    ¡°W-we greet the Saint of Resurrection¡­¡±

    To see the ves of authority bowing down on their own like this.

    The priest trembled, waiting for Isaac¡¯s words. He had long forgotten about the sword energy.

    Isaac pondered what to do with this priest, who must have burned dozens of people by now. Just like with the pdins, he couldn¡¯t harm the priest. Although the priest¡¯s personal power might be weak, his authority far surpassed that of a pdin. The repercussions would be much greater.

    However, he could prevent him from doing such mad acts again.

    ¡°Priest.¡±

    ¡°Y-yes.¡±

    ¡°What is the usual procedure for those who voluntarily confess to subscribing to life insurance and request to cancel it?¡±

    The priest flinched and replied with difficulty.

    ¡°The, the punishment for apostasy is, always burning at the stake¡­¡±

    Isaac exercised patience once more.

    ¡°I¡¯m talking about those who voluntarily confess and request to cancel their life insurance.¡±

    ¡°¡­We conduct a cancetion ritual.¡±

    ¡°Right. We bless their return to the light and erase the evil traces of the Immortal Order in exchange for the cost of the sulfur and juniper used as sacrificial materials.¡±

    ¡°Th-that is¡­¡±

    The priest desperately tried to offer an excuse. Of course, Isaac understood that there was some meaning behind what seemed like mere madness.

    Life insurance policyholders were long-term enemies and potential spies whose identities were hard to gauge while alive. Moreover, people suffering in life might be tempted to be undead. This procedure sent an early warning to such people before they joined the Dawn Army. It showed them what happened to the undead they wanted to be: unable to die and burning in eternal agony.

    Seeing that, even those who feared death would reconsider subscribing to life insurance. Isaac, recalling the chaos life insurance policyholders almost caused in the Kingdom of Elil, couldn¡¯t me the ¡°procedure.¡±

    However, if those who confessed and wished to cancel their contracts met such a fate, the remaining ones would have no choice but to turn to the Immortal Order.

    It was a shortsighted and foolish act.

    Above all, he could not agree with burning children as examples.

    ¡°I understand. But don¡¯t you think it¡¯s a bit excessive?¡±

    ¡°We will be more cautious in selecting apostates.¡±

    Only then did Dietrich approach, sensing the situation had calmed down.

    He seemed to be pondering how to handle the aftermath, yet he looked somewhat amused.

    Isaac fiddled with his sword before drawing it. The priest, relieved to be alive, lifted his head.

    In that instant, Isaac¡¯s sword shot upward. The priest¡¯s head, severed without resistance, spun and crashed into one side of the tform.

    ¡®Come to think of it, the reason I obediently followed authority was to ensure no bacsh when cutting down people like him.¡¯

    Until now, Isaac hadplied with the Codex of Light to survive.

    However, with the celestial authority recognizing him as ¡°useful,¡± there was no need to cater to the church.

    A much higher authority than any on earth acknowledged him.

    ¡®If I¡¯m a useful tool, you must also show your usefulness to establish a give-and-take rtionship.¡¯

    Having be a part of the ruling ss, Isaac decided to exploit that authority to his advantage.

    ¡°It was as light as cutting grass.¡±

    (To read advance chapters, fastest update and to support the trantor please read at Fenrir Trantions.)

    Isaac muttered as he kicked the headless priest¡¯s body, ensuring everyone remembered his name.

    ¡°I am Isaac Issacrea.¡±

    He made sure they wouldn¡¯t forget by toppling the headless corpse.

    ¡°Remember what you saw and spread the word. Faith doesn¡¯t justify everything. Divine punishment might note as lightning but in the form of a wandering knight.¡±

    ***

    Dietrich swiftly boarded the ship with Isaac and departed immediately. The priest¡¯s beheading was shocking, but they feared the immediate arrival of enraged local lords, abbots, or pdin orders.

    ¡°What can a mere local abbey do to the Saint of Resurrection who fulfilled an angel¡¯smand?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a story that works in the capital or the holy city! Unless an angel descends to give a warning, the local folks value their rtionships more!¡±

    Dietrich retorted, exasperated.

    ¡°If the abbey priests gather to argue or attack, what will you do then? Will you behead all of them?¡±

    Reflecting on Dietrich¡¯s words, Isaac also felt some regret.

    One priest could be punished for viting doctrinal principles, and the church would overlook it.

    But beheading a hundred abbey priests would undeniablybel him a heretic.

    Dietrich¡¯s quick move to get him on the ship was precisely because of this.

    ¡°I thought you were a clever son-inw, but I never imagined you¡¯d do something so insane.¡±

    ¡°I did it because I¡¯m clever.¡±

    Isaac responded with a faint smile.

    It wasn¡¯t just for the satisfaction of beheading the priest.

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read more than 20 advance chapters or support me, you can do it at /Akaza156

 Chapter 225:

    Chapter 225:

    Dietrich flinched and looked at him.

    ¡°The Dawn Army that the Church is pushing forward on their own, anchoring in Syracusa in the western part of the Empire where madness is thickening, right in the midst of an ongoing heresy hunt. You showed me quite the spectacle. From the start, we didn¡¯t need supplies, did we? You said it was an urgent matter, but there¡¯s no reason to anchor so close to the capital.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡­¡±

    Dietrich didn¡¯t respond.

    But it was clear just from how quickly the ship had set sail as soon as Isaac boarded.

    ¡°Perhaps you deliberately showed me the Church¡¯s madness. It would be even better if a conflict arose between me and the Order. That way, I¡¯d be forced to rely even more on His Majesty the Emperor.¡±

    In the end, this too was part of the tedious power struggle between the Emperor and the Church.

    Isaac had long since seen through Dietrich¡¯s intentions but decided to y along.

    Because Isaac also couldn¡¯t stand those bastards in the church.Dietrich gave a bitter smile.

    ¡°¡­¡­You¡¯re an unnecessarily clever son-inw. And a mad one at that. So, was beheading the priest a signal that you¡¯re cutting ties with the Church?¡±

    ¡°Regrettably, the Church won¡¯t expel me over such an incident. The will of the Church doesn¡¯t matter. The angels won¡¯t have any desire to do so.¡±

    In the end, earthly authority was insignificantpared to heavenly authority.

    Isaac had no intention of denying the authority of the gods and clinging to the Emperor, a mere human, in a world ruled by gods. As always, he intended to benefit as much as possible, like a bat.

    The incident of beheading the priest would be his message to the Church.

    I have no intention of being a pawn in your trivial games. I have the angels¡¯ backing. The angels won¡¯t cast me out over a few priests¡¯ necks, so don¡¯t be the second neck to be severed.

    ¡®Though it seems excessive, if the Church is descending into fanaticism, I need to clearly show my stance.¡¯

    If the Church was wise enough, they would understand. Or the angels would inform them.

    Isaac took care of the girl who almost ended up on the pyre due to the beheaded priest. He intended to have Hesabel find a priest in the capital to perform the annulment ritual directly.

    Dietrich seemed to ponder how to exin this situation to the Emperor and how to justify it to the Order, continuously tapping on the railing.

    Isaac decided to ease his father-inw¡¯s worries a little.

    ¡°Seeing as you¡¯ve deliberately shown me all this, His Majesty must really be at odds with the Pope.¡±

    Dietrich frowned and then replied.

    ¡°At odds? You must be unaware, being from abroad. I¡¯m worried there might be a civil war before the true Dawn Army even begins.¡±

    ¡°Civil war? Between the Emperor and the Church?¡±

    How could that be? Although the Emperor held practical power, his authority was held by the Church.

    Even if the Emperor mustered his forces and stormed the Vatican, the Pope¡¯s single ¡®You¡¯re emunicated!¡¯ would turn the Emperor into a barbarian. From the Pope¡¯s perspective, turning an Emperor with such unprecedented power into an enemy would be akin to self-harm.

    ¡°Of course, it¡¯s a metaphor. The Licht Treaty ensures that a civil war cannot ur. His Majesty is that furious. His Majesty is maddened by the fact that the troops he should rightfully recruit are turning into independent warlords.¡±

    ¡°But the Church would argue that the faithful are voluntarily forming forces. If the pdin orders and priests join this ¡®voluntary Dawn Army¡¯, His Majesty¡¯s forces would effectively be halved.¡±

    In a world where gods existed, the Church¡¯s authority was immense. Without priests or pdin orders, the Emperor would be doomed to fail in a war against the Immortal Order before it even began.

    The Empire was currently engaged in a struggle between the Pope and the Emperor over themand of the Dawn Army.

    The root cause of this situationy in the Emperor¡¯s authority beingparable to that of the Pope. Previously, there had been no Holy Emperor with such strong authority. Entrusting it to the Pope was questionable given the Church¡¯s repeated failures with the Dawn Army.

    ¡°Do you remember the heinous attempted assassination in Rougeberg?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°The Inquisition concluded it was a terror attack by the ck Empire. But there¡¯s persistent talk that the Codex of Light Church secretly cooperated or at least turned a blind eye.¡±

    Isaac nodded, already aware of the matter.

    The distorted ankh.

    From Dietrich¡¯s conjecture, it seemed the Emperor hadn¡¯t yet disclosed the ankh. It was a sensitive topic that could cause division and serve as the Order¡¯s weakness.

    ¡®Not in a position to mock the Kingdom of Elil.¡¯

    The Kingdom of Elil¡¯s civil war was purely internal, while here, it was a mess even with external enemies. It was utterly disheartening.

    ¡°I heard His Majesty even killed his brothers to seize the throne. He doesn¡¯t seem like someone who would be lenient with his enemies, so this situation must be quite irritating for him.¡±

    ¡°Indeed. Although he respects the Church¡¯s authority for now, he is not a lenient person towards his enemies. However, while the Licht Treaty remains solid, he cannot directly oppose the Church.¡±

    ¡®The Licht Treaty¡­¡­¡¯

    A term he had heard earlier. Isaac knew what it was. It was a background exnation essential for understanding the Empire¡¯s history.

    In short, the treaty was an agreement to leave the earth to humans and the heavens to the gods.

    ¡®I thought it was just a nominal treaty, but it seems politically sensitive. I need to investigate further.¡¯

    Even Elil respected the Codex of Light but had severed ties with the Church. While Elil¡¯s stance included the angels, it might be less challenging if they only opposed humans.

    However, in the game, the Emperor never fully broke with the Church.

    Despite constant conflicts, the Emperor ultimately reimed the Holy Land and received the new Tablet of Dawn, marking the thousand-year kingdom¡¯s arrival and the Codex of Light¡¯s victory deration.

    But in this world, with Isaac¡¯s involvement, it was unpredictable how things would unfold.

    ¡®Honestly, the conflicts didn¡¯t seem this severe in the game.¡¯

    ¡°But His Majesty won¡¯t sit idly by while they fanatically mobilize the popce. They¡¯ll learn what it feels like to be gored by those sacred horns.¡±

    ***

    Before reaching the capital, Isaac investigated the Licht Treaty. The information was readily avable in history books, andbining it with his knowledge, he easily uncovered the details.

    Approximately 300 Years Ago

    Around 300 years ago, the White gue spread across the continent. Numerous kingdoms, cities, and viges copsed and perished. The disintegration of systems and societies led to even more death and fear.

    Amidst this terror of death, the Immortal Order emerged. With the advent of this new faith promising salvation from the fear of death, the inept and corrupt Codex of Light was almost destroyed.

    To survive, they convened a grand council in ¡®Lichthheim,¡¯ where the papacy is now located. There, they allied with the twelve kings, nobles, and the Emperor who ruled the continent.

    They decided to immediately form the Dawn Army to suppress the Immortal Order.

    In exchange, they made a pact that allnd would belong to humans, while the souls would belong to the gods. This was a radical condition as the Order owned most of thend at that time.

    Naturally, the kings and nobles, hungry fornd and power, signed the treaty and formed the Dawn Army. It seemed to everyone that the gods had forsaken the tangible asset ofnd, opting instead for the significant spiritual realm. For the priests and monasteries who owned vastnds, it felt like a bolt from the blue, but such drastic reform was necessary to restore their power.

    Most importantly, this treaty was directly instructed by Luadin. Through this bold reform, the Codex of Light Order, which faced its greatest crisis since the Elil faction, survived once again.

    Since then, the Church was ¡®in principle¡¯ unable to ownnd. It operated solely on donations received by monasteries. Despite this, immense wealth continued to pour into them.

    As a result of this treaty, all nobles, knights, and royalty in the Empire had to be followers of the Codex of Light. Even if the country changed hands dozens or hundreds of times, the continent remained entirely under the Codex of Light unless it was destroyed by an invasion of heretics.

    In essence, humans got thend while the gods got the people.

    Though it might now seem like just a nominal agreement, Isaac knew that the gods¡¯ schemes were never made lightly.

    ¡®There must be quite a powerful restriction. Surely, there are constraints beyond what¡¯s visible.¡¯

    It meant more than just a powerful ruler like the Emperor defying the Order.

    Isaac decided to remember this information.

    **Capital: Ultenheim**

    The heart of the Empire, the core of earthly power, where the bones of countless kings and emperors formed strata. Built as a strategic fortress city ording to the war ns of the born conqueror Elil, it still harbored undiscovered secret passages and mechanisms, ording to legend.

    As a result, Isaac felt overwhelmed by the grandeur of Ultenheim as he sailed up the river.

    ¡°¡­¡­It¡¯s impressive.¡±

    As the Duke Brant¡¯s warship sailed up the river, a massive chain was hoisted, opening the gates. True to its origins as a fortress city, the ck walls resembled an array of hundreds of thousands of shields, and the endlessly rising spires were like des.

    Consequently, Isaac couldn¡¯t help but feel overwhelmed like a country bumpkin.

    ¡°It¡¯s a magnificent city. Even the army of the Immortal Order couldn¡¯t breach these walls.¡±

    Dietrich spoke with pride, though it would be a dire situation if the Immortal Order ever invaded this far. Isaac, a modern man, had seen cities far more impressive. The modern marvels achieved through inconceivable architecture.

    However, ancient structures had a unique kind of madness, a sense of ¡®humans built this?¡¯ that was hard to match with machines, cement, and rebar.

    Moreover, Isaac could see something special that others could not.

    ¡®Even angels wouldn¡¯t dare to spread their wings here.¡¯

    This ancient city, infused with immense divinity from its history and spilled blood, had be a colossal holy artifact even angels couldn¡¯t easily bypass. Isaac felt drenched in the divine power emanating from it.

    ¡®It was wise to leave Nel behind.¡¯

    Isaac had decided to leave Nel outside. Bringing a man-eating monster before the Emperor might upset the guards, and the more people involved, the higher the chance of an incident. Until he received permission from the Emperor, he told Hesabel to look after her.

    ¡®Me? Really?¡¯

    ¡®At least someone who can escape should she try to eat them.¡¯

    Hesabel was displeased, but their simr tastes might lead them to get along better than expected.

    At that moment, arge bell rang out. Cheers erupted from all sides. Countless petals rained down from both sides of the canal as they sailed up the river.

    Though he expected some wee, Isaac was caught off guard by the sheer number of people.

    Citizens, soldiers, and knights of the capital gathered, waving at the ship Isaac was on.

    ¡°Holy Grail Knight! Holy Grail Knight!¡±

    ¡°Elil¡¯s grand warrior, the resurrected saint!¡±

    Dietrich, watching the scene, patted Isaac on the shoulder.

    ¡°Give them a wave.¡±

    Isaac reflexively raised his hand. The cheers grew louder.

    Women who saw Isaac¡¯s face screamed in delight. Suspicious, Isaac whispered to Dietrich.

    ¡°You mobilized the citizens, didn¡¯t you? To imprint me as your man against the Order?¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t say no one was mobilized. We couldn¡¯t just casually invite the great warrior of Elil, who revived the banner of reconciliation with the Kingdom of Elil and the Dawn Army alliance. But honestly, the mobilized crowd is gathering in front of the pce.¡±

    ¡°Then these are¡­¡­.¡±

    ¡°People who came to see the famous Holy Grail Knight.¡±

    People were pushing so hard that some fell into the canal. Isaac worried about idents, but the enthusiasm of the wee didn¡¯t wane.

    ¡°Isaac! Isaac! Isaac!¡±

    (To read advance chapters, fastest update and to support the trantor please read at Fenrir Trantions.)

    The cheers calling his name were burdensome, but he decided to enjoy it. The hot divine power charging up with each call of his name was satisfying.

    As he raised his hand, the cheers grew louder. The omnipotence of knowing all these people supported, respected, and expected of him.

    Suddenly, Isaac felt a chill. He understood why some ambitious individuals aspired to be gods.

    [The Nameless Chaos is watching you.]

    Even the Nameless Chaos seemed content for now.

    Isaac decided to let the long-starved god of recognition enjoy the opportunity to indulge a bit more.

    Before long, the ship docked.

    Fortunately, the dock led directly to the imperial pce, so there was no need to push through the massive crowd. Isaac¡¯s name continued to be called even as he climbed the stairs.

    For some reason, Isaac¡¯s heart pounded as he climbed the stairs. It wasn¡¯t just therge crowd or the imminent meeting with high officials. He felt a certain premonition. And when he finally reached the top of the stairs, Isaac realized his premonition was correct.

    Isaac forgot all the cheers. Even if millions called out, he would turn his head for this one voice.

    ¡°My angel.¡±

    Isolde approached with a bouquet and embraced Isaac.

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read more than 20 advance chapters or support me, you can do it at /Akaza156

 Chapter 226:

    Chapter 226:

    The subsequent events passed in such a whirlwind that Isaac couldn¡¯t grasp them properly.

    Amidst the cheers of the crowd, he ascended to the imperial pce under the escort of knights. He conversed with various elderly people with long titles, received a pat on the shoulder from the emperor, and before he knew it, he found himself sitting idly in a waiting room with Isolde.

    ¡°¡­It¡¯s overwhelming.¡±

    ¡°Indeed. Even though I rehearsed, I felt like I was being swept along.¡±

    Isolde murmured, looking somewhat fatigued.

    ¡°But what brings you here? I heard the Duke said the Inquisitor, no, you, would be protecting the Brant territory.¡±

    ¡°¡­Surprised to see me here, Isaac?¡±

    Isolde whispered with a sly smile.

    ¡°If your partner goes off for months without seeing you, wouldn¡¯t you follow them to check?¡±Isaac felt a pang of guilt at Isolde¡¯s words and tried to exin himself. But she burst intoughter and patted his shoulder.

    ¡°I¡¯m joking. His Majesty also summoned me. My father probably knew and wanted to surprise you.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    Isaac felt a strong urge to smack the back of Dietrich¡¯s seemingly kind head, but his inner Confucian persona barely restrained him. More than that, Isolde¡¯s words troubled him.

    The emperor wouldn¡¯t summon the Duke¡¯s heir from such a distance merely to surprise Isaac with a gift.

    ¡°Why did His Majesty call for you¡­?¡±

    ¡°Hmm, he¡¯s considering establishing a special audit organization. He suggested I join the expedition, leveraging my experience from the Inquisition.¡±

    Isaac¡¯s expression hardened.

    A special audit organization? That meant creating something akin to an imperial inquisition. Such positions wielded great power but were also perfect targets for resentment.

    The emperor intended to assign Isolde, who had seen all kinds of horrors as an Inquisitor, to a simr role.

    Moreover, the emperor didn¡¯t need to establish a new special audit organization or intelligence agency. The Imperial Knight Order already performed simr roles. So, if he still nned to create a new special audit organization and appoint Isolde, it could only mean one thing¡­

    ¡°Does he intend to investigate the Church?¡±

    As an Inquisitor, Isolde knew many of the Church¡¯s weaknesses.

    The Inquisition¡¯s role was precisely to cover up such weaknesses. If the emperor exposed the Order¡¯s corruption to the public, he could undermine its authority and power without directly antagonizing it.

    ¡°Isolde, you should refuse.¡±

    ¡°Because it involves pointing a sword at the Church?¡±

    Isaac was taken aback by Isolde¡¯s awareness. But he couldn¡¯t back down now.

    Exposing the Church¡¯s corruption was not just a matter of being disliked; it was a life-threatening task. The Church housed many powerful individuals, and the Inquisitors themselves were skilled in assassination and information maniption.

    Isolde could be killed by her former colleagues.

    ¡°I know what you¡¯re worried about, Isaac. But that¡¯s why I have to do it. No, I requested it. As the only daughter of the Brant family, formerly of the Inquisition, and¡­ thepanion of the Saint of Resurrection. Who else could do it?¡±

    ¡°No¡­¡±

    Isolde blushed slightly at thest title but remained resolute.

    ¡°Do you remember what I said in Issacrea territory?¡±

    Isaac was at a loss for words. He suddenly recalled that Isolde was a staunch radical reformer. In Issacrea territory, she didn¡¯t judge Isaac as a heretic upon seeing his tentacles.

    She judged him based on his results, actions, and character.

    ¡°I believed you were a messenger sent by the Codex of Light to restore broken order.¡±

    ¡°¡­Indeed.¡±

    Isolde still knew Isaac¡¯s secret. Yet, she continued to keep it hidden, hoping he would bring reform to the Church she loved.

    Isolde gripped Isaac¡¯s hand tightly.

    ¡°If someone else tries, they might notst long. But I know all the tricks of the Inquisition. There¡¯s no one else who can do this.¡±

    ¡°Haa¡­¡±

    Isaac sighed deeply. Even when he was in the territory, he had thought that getting involved with this crazy Inquisitor could lead to big trouble.

    But now that they were deeply entangled, Isaac had no choice but to support her.

    More than anything, he also wanted to see the world of faith that Isolde envisioned.

    The world he desired, where the ¡®Codex of Light¡¯ ruled, was one filled with the warmth of a hearth and the light shining on crops. Not a world where people burned at the stake and bowed under blinding shes.

    Perhaps only someone like Isolde could create that world.

    ¡°Very well. But I have one request.¡±

    ¡°A request?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s natural to worry as a couple, even if we¡¯re not formally bound yet, right? Trust me and allow me to take the necessary precautions to protect you.¡±

    Isolde seemed confused by what Isaac meant.

    Isaac knew that what he was about to do could pose a fatal threat to Isolde¡¯s faith. But he couldn¡¯t leave hispanion defenseless against the sharp fangs and ws of the Order.

    Isaac wanted to help Isolde realize the world she envisioned.

    To do so, they had to dismantle the existing one.

    ***

    After a long waiting period, Isaac finally managed to enter the emperor¡¯s office.

    The dwarves, who had entered with grim faces, grumbled as they exited immediately after the door opened. Isaac was surprised to see that they were forge artisans from the World¡¯s Forge Order.

    ¡®Forge artisans? It seems even the World¡¯s Forge Order has decided to join us!¡¯

    He had heard that an envoy was sent to them, but seeing the forge artisans here indicated the presence of a highly capable person. The emperor¡¯s office, a space frequently visited by forge artisans, was strewn with ominous weaponry that seemed out of ce amidst the documents that had just been signed.

    ¡°Isaac!¡±

    As soon as Waltzemer saw Isaac, he weed him with open arms. However, he quickly noticed the weapons scattered around and awkwardly leaned them against the wall to tidy up.

    ¡°Sorry about the mess. The equipment supplied to the knights was far below expectations, so I had to act quickly. These are not the kind of people one can afford to keep waiting.¡±

    ¡°So, the World¡¯s Forge Order has also decided to join the Dawn Army?¡±

    ¡°Indeed, Duchess Lyon did an excellent job. It cost a fortune, but being able to hire forge artisans is already a significant gain.¡±

    Isaac thought of Ulsten, who was probably enthusiastically hammering away at fallen angel fragments in the Issacrea territory. He hadn¡¯t seen him for a long time and hoped he had achieved the research results he desired. Soon enough, Ulsten would be busy with another of Isaac¡¯s requests.

    However, Waltzemer¡¯s expression was not good.

    Isaac, after a moment¡¯s thought, realized that what the emperor was saying didn¡¯t quite add up.

    ¡°Forge artisans of the World¡¯s Forge Order made them, yet the quality is below expectations?¡±

    ¡°Correct. While I may not be skilled in smithing, I have a keen eye for weapons. They produced some decent weapons, but what I seek is not merely ¡®decent¡¯ weapons. Especially considering the gold we paid, it¡¯s akin to robbery.¡±

    It seemed that aint had been lodged regarding the quality of the supplied products, causing the forge artisans to leave with grim expressions. Only the notoriously grumpy dwarves could dare to show such expressions even in front of the emperor.

    Isaac approached the equipment leaned against the wall and examined them. They had a good bnce, even weight, and the des were sharp. These were weapons any knight would be proud to wield.

    ¡°What kind of items did you request to warrant such dissatisfaction?¡±

    ¡°I requested holy weapons capable of battling pdins. But given the tight deadline, they brought subpar items.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡­¡±

    Isaac remained silent. Indeed, forge artisans of the World¡¯s Forge Order had the capability to create holy relics, even those of other faiths. Though a priest would need to imbue them with miracles toplete them, these weapons were undoubtedly powerful holy relics. However, Isaac was curious about the emperor¡¯s ¡®intent¡¯ behind requesting holy relics.

    Seeing Isaac¡¯s expression, Waltzemer chuckled.

    ¡°Why, do you think I n to attack the Church just because I asked for weapons capable of battling pdins? I would never dream of such a thing.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve heard that your rtionship with the Church is not very good.¡±

    ¡°The Church¡¯s zealots might try to blind me, but my faith is unwavering.¡±

    Though he spoke calmly, a person of the emperor¡¯s stature saying such things was practically the same as openly dering, ¡®Let the Pope and his men all perish.¡¯

    ¡°Don¡¯t take it too seriously. As you know, the Church is not properly cooperating with the Dawn Army. On the battlefield, the likelihood of their support being inadequate is high, so we need to find our own ways to deal with the undead of the Immortal Order. We can¡¯t face Death Knights or Liches unprepared.¡±

    The only way for amon person to stand against a pdin or priest was either to be a holy being themselves, like Waltzemer, or to possess even a modest holy relic. It seemed that Waltzemer was nning something like the ¡®mass production of holy weaponry.¡¯

    However, the artisans, dedicated to their craft, had failed to meet the military¡¯s essential demands for ¡®mass production and low cost.¡¯

    ¡®This isn¡¯t something I can help with.¡¯

    The emperor would have to either give up or drive the artisans hard.

    ¡°Hmm, that¡¯s not the main issue. I want to hear about your aplishments in the Kingdom of Elil.¡±

    ¡°Haven¡¯t you already received the report?¡±

    (To read advance chapters, fastest update and to support the trantor please read at Fenrir Trantions.)

    ¡°Do you think I dyed my schedule this much for nothing? I wanted to hear the exhrating story of what you achieved in Elil directly from you. By the way, your meeting is thest on today¡¯s schedule, so we have plenty of time.¡±

    Waltzemer reclined on the sofa, urging Isaac to start his tale.

    Isaac, amused, began to speak.

    ***

    ¡°¡­And that¡¯s how I came to witness his true swordsmanship. I don¡¯t even know how to describe it. It was like the impact of a star falling.¡±

    ¡°Ha, indeed, his titles of the War God and the Conqueror are well-deserved.¡±

    Waltzemer listened intently, repeatedly expressing his admiration. Despite expecting some political discourse, the emperor was genuinely engrossed in Isaac¡¯s tale. Even Dietrich had been deeply concerned about how to leverage Isaac¡¯s aplishments in Elil for political and diplomatic gains.

    Thanks to this enthusiastic listener, Isaac could delve into his story in detail. Of course, he kept secrets about the god Elil whispered to him and the swordsmanship to himself. The ambitious emperor didn¡¯t need to know such things.

    Naturally, he also omitted anyments about resembling his daughter.

    ¡°Fortunately, Elil recognized my sword and appointed me as a Grand Warrior. This recognition from the Kingdom of Elil significantly bolstered the Dawn Army¡¯s participation.¡±

    ¡°Oh, so the sword you brought with you is the holy sword Kaldwin, bestowed by Elil?¡±

    Isaac had received special permission to bear arms when meeting the emperor. The Luadin Key was his official armament as a pdin, and Kaldwin was a symbol of his role as a Grand Warrior of Elil. The emperor¡¯s unrivaled strength in the empire also contributed to the lenient weapon restrictions.

    As a result, none of the imperial guards stopped Isaac from drawing his sword.

    ¡°May I see it?¡±

    ¡°Of course.¡±

    Isaac ced Kaldwin on the table. Waltzemer reflexively reached out to examine it, but Isaac stopped him. Should the emperor identally stab himself, the Pope would be delighted, but Isaac preferred the current precarious bnce.

    ¡°Be careful. Holy swords will stab anyone not chosen as their master.¡±

    ¡°Hah, so the tales of holy swords being imbued with both divine power and curses are true.¡±

    Waltzemer, though disappointed, scrutinized Kaldwin closely. Despite being a warrior, he had a strong desire for fine weapons. His spear, too, was a high-level holy relic. After he finished observing, Isaac sheathed Kaldwin again.

    A satisfied smile spread across Waltzemer¡¯s face.

    ¡°Seeing that, I feel even more confident in dering myself the emperor of the White Empire once more. Delia Lyon did well in the Svalbard Inds, but not as well as you.¡±

    ¡°¡­Considering the alliance, it would be best not to appear too arrogant. It¡¯s better to ensure the young subjects can think of Your Majesty as such.¡±

    ¡°Of course. That¡¯s something for after the Dawn Army is finished. For now, internal consolidationes first.¡±

    Internal consolidation? Isaac cautiously observed Waltzemer.

    The emperor had now secured cooperation within the White Empire, including the Kingdom of Elil and the World¡¯s Forge Order. This meant he could now begin ¡®consolidation¡¯ against the Codex of Light Church without any opposing forces.

    The Immortal Order always defended but neverunched offensives.

    ¡°I¡¯m considering proposing Cardinal Juan Liard as the new pope.¡±

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read more than 20 advance chapters or support me, you can do it at /Akaza156

 Chapter 227:

    Chapter 227:

    The new Pope? Isaac was shocked by the term, but even more so by the name that followed.

    ¡°Juan?¡±

    Known for his sharp business acumen, or in harsher terms, his greed for money. The priest who constantly funneled money into the order, yet simultaneously wielded the authority of the church to extort funds, was the name Isaac heard. At that moment, Isaac decided he must intervene, no matter what.

    ¡°A new Pope? Is His Holiness the current Pope unwell? I heard he was quite healthy.¡±

    Isaac feigned ignorance of Waltzemer¡¯s intentions and asked.

    In truth, Pope Horma was healthy enough to personally lead the Dawn Army. Even if he were sickly, openly discussing a ¡®new Pope¡¯ was considered sphemous. Moreover, the person Waltzemer was speaking to was ostensibly a Pdin of the Codex of Light.

    ¡°Of course not. His Holiness the Pope is in good health. He¡¯s been boasting about leading the Dawn Army himself.¡±

    Waltzemer spoke with a mocking smile. To the emperor, who had faced countless battlefields and hellscapes, the Pope¡¯s words seemed like the naive utterances of someone who viewed war as a yground for gaining honor.

    ¡°But if His Holiness were to go to the battlefield, an ¡®unfortunate event¡¯ might ur. In that case, there should be a prepared candidate to quickly manage the chaos.¡±Waltzemer spoke as if that ¡®unfortunate event¡¯ was certain to happen.

    Upon hearing this grand conspiracy right after returning, Isaac felt certain he was back in the kingdom of Elil.

    This was the kind of story unimaginable in Elil.

    Unlike the emperor, the papal system had no sessor. If the Pope¡¯s seat became vacant, one of the bishops would be elected by the cardinals¡¯ vote. Of course, a cardinal could also run, but it was a rare urrence.

    If the emperor supported a papal candidate, they might receive significant support within the order.

    Isaac finally realized the emperor¡¯s scheme.

    It was not only the order that fueled the Dawn Army¡¯s frenzy. The emperor likely either ignored it or turned a blind eye. The order would be swept up in religious fanaticism, causing the Pope to act.

    Then, when the ¡®unfortunate event¡¯ left the Holy See vacant, a new Pope would be enthroned. Once the new Pope took office through legitimate procedures, the order would obey hismands. Thus, the emperor could seize control of the order without betraying it.

    Isaac saw this as a high-stakes gamble by the emperor.

    The problem was that the odds did not seem low at all.

    Enough to gamble the fate of the empire.

    ***

    ¡°¡­But Juan?¡±

    ¡°Is there no other priest? Surely the order has more suitable candidates.¡±

    ¡°I thought you were close with Bishop Juan Liard. Apparently not?¡±

    Waltzemer asked in surprise, but Isaac had nothing to say.

    In fact, it was Juan who had actively rmended Isaac as a candidate for sainthood, defended him against heresy charges, and enthusiastically promoted him as the saint of resurrection (with gold).

    Isaac had also pretended to diligently follow Juan¡¯s teachings, so it would seem he supported Juan.

    ¡°Come to think of it, Juan bing Pope isn¡¯t entirely bad. But Juan¡­¡±

    The priest who seemed more familiar with ledgers than scriptures, and gold coins than rosaries, bing Pope?

    Isaac still felt uneasy.

    ¡°One reason I considered Juan is that he listens to the ¡®people¡¯ and holds authorityparable to that of a cardinal. Moreover, he has a considerable faction within the order, supported by many priests. Not many priests with such influence have received the ¡®Wings of Radiance¡¯.¡±

    With his enormous wealth, Juan could easily buy off many priests. Ultimately, it was the cardinals who elected the Pope, so if Juan could buy his own vote and two others, it wasn¡¯t impossible.

    Realizing that the chances weren¡¯t entirely hopeless, Isaac quickly thought.

    ¡°A corrupt, money-hungry priest vs. a fanatic priest who drives believers to war. Both are despairing.¡±

    However, Isaac began to lean towards Juan. It was significant that Juan supported him, but more importantly, Juan was a pragmatist.

    Compared to a fanatic willing to sacrifice their life for vague concepts of the afterlife, a greedy person who wouldn¡¯t hesitate to run for an extra gold coin seemed more suitable for Isaac.

    And Juan would be easier to subtly manipte.

    ¡°There never was a choice.¡±

    There might be upright and devout priests like Abbot Evhar, but the papal position could not be separated from secr politics and diplomacy. Just as the emperor was trying to rece the Pope now.

    Juan, with his faction, wealth, and firm convictions¡­ or whatever, seemed a better choice.

    Once Isaac decided Juan was the better option, it was time to consider the feasibility.

    ¡°Do you think His Holiness, blessed with numerous miracles, would fall so easily to heretics?¡±

    This was a warning that a hasty attempt could lead to the empire fracturing just before the war.

    The best option was the Immortal Order, but it had to at least appear as another order¡¯s doing. However, the miracles of the Codex of Light were powerful. The Pope could even perform resurrection miracles.

    ¡°That¡¯s not necessarily the case.¡±

    Waltzemer smiled.

    ¡°It¡¯s better to discuss this in detailter. For now, it¡¯s enough to know that in case of an unfortunate event, you support Juan.¡±

    Isaac closed his mouth.

    Waltzemer had brought up the question to see Isaac¡¯s reaction to his ¡®sphemous suggestion.¡¯

    He wanted to know whether Isaac would side with him or the order.

    But it was a risky gamble. Isaac had shown the emperor that he wasn¡¯t a blindly devout Pdin, and the emperor had revealed his own irreverence.

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you worried that I might run to the church and report Your Majesty¡¯sck of faith?¡±

    ¡°Why? Didn¡¯t you tell me that the affairs of the earth should be decided by the people of the earth? Those words inspired me deeply.¡±

    Isaac was at a loss for words. He wanted to tell this middle-aged man not to be swayed by the words of a Holy Grail Knight who was not even twenty yet.

    However, Waltzemer¡¯s words aligned with Isaac¡¯s own thoughts. He, too, believed that a corrupt priest was better than a fanatical one, which is why he had decided to support Juan.

    Even looking at the higher-ups of the order, they didn¡¯t appear particrly virtuous. It was obvious what the Pope would be like if the lower ranks were any indication.

    And yet, the angels did nothing to punish the higher-ups of such a corrupt order.

    As evidenced by the events during the Treaty of Licht, they only intervened when the entire order was on the brink of copse.

    The teachings and morals left in the Codex of Light were only remnants from angels and saints.

    The Codex of Light merely protected a rigid order.

    ***

    Isaac realized that the conflict between the emperor and the pope was serious, but nothing changed immediately.

    In fact, all he confirmed was that what had been a vague emotional conflict had moved into the practical nning stage.

    Waltzemer and Isaac had merely tested each other¡¯s intentions. This could all end up fizzling out, and there was no concrete basis for it to develop into something more immediate.

    Thus, even if one of them betrayed the other, the chances of it affecting them were slim.

    Despite the chaotic situation, Isaac couldn¡¯t help but admire the strength and stability of the empire, which could still muster the Dawn Army.

    ¡°But if the emperor is sharpening his knife against the pope, the pope must be nning something against the emperor too¡­¡±

    The empire¡¯s strength ultimately stemmed from the solid order built over a long time by the Codex of Light. The pope wouldn¡¯t be taken down easily.

    The Inquisition was just as formidable as the Imperial Knights.

    ¡°Yes, let them fight it out. I¡¯ll support the side that seems likely to listen to me.¡±

    Isaac was confident he could sway the oue, as long as the angels didn¡¯t intervene.

    Besides his own martial prowess, he had the support of the Salt Council and the symbol of being the great warrior of Elil.

    With connections to the Sword of May, Isaac held a significant influence in this conflict.

    As soon as the meeting ended, Dietrich came to see Isaac. He, too, was curious about Isaac¡¯s thoughts and judgments.

    Isaac sighed and said, ¡°I heard about it beforehand, but I didn¡¯t think they were this serious¡­¡±

    They spoke carefully, omitting subjects, in case anyone was listening.

    ¡°His Majesty has always been ambitious since he was young. Ambition is a virtue for an emperor. No matter how capable someone is, without ambition, they are ipetent and will be overtaken by someone more ambitious.¡±

    Dietrich¡¯s words made Isaac think of those who had opposed Emperor Waltzemer, especially his brothers. They were used as a cautionary tale against pride, symbolized by the emperor¡¯s divine manifestation.

    No sane person would fight someone with antlers that emitted light.

    ¡°I¡¯m curious about the circumstances when His Majesty ascended to the throne. Was he as proactive in his ambitions back then?¡±

    If there was a simr situation, it would be the civil war within the empire. Back then, too, a civil war over the throne urred just as the 12th Dawn Army was about to mobilize, much like the current situation.

    Dietrich, with a bitter smile, began to recount, ¡°In fact, before ascending to the throne, His Majesty was the weakest of the seven princes. He was the youngest, and even his build was small. Until he manifested his divine form, no one saw him as apetitor.¡±

    This was news to Isaac. He couldn¡¯t imagine Waltzemer as a young child.

    ¡°But unlike me, who was from a coteral branch, the royal family was ruthless. From a young age, Waltz was caught in numerous assassination attempts. Despite three of his brothers dying, he survived. His session rank rose gradually, but few thought he would be emperor, myself included.¡±

    Dietrich paused, as if recalling the past, staring distantly at Wulfenheim.

    ¡°Then one day, a massive fire broke out at his residence. It was a fire sorge that it consumed his few possessions, his maternal family, and even his servants. I witnessed that fire. It was like the mansion itself was burning like kindling. And I can still vividly remember Waltz walking out of the fire, his antlers glowing above his head.¡±

    ¡°Did he manifest his divine form during that fire?¡±

    ¡°Yes. It waster revealed that the servants of the second prince caused the fire. The battle for session became public from that moment. Until then, the first and second princes had been fiercelypeting, but suddenly a supernova fell from the sky.¡±

    ¡°But the brothers chose to fight rather than submit to the divine authority.¡±

    ¡°A divine form is merely a tool bestowed by the gods upon humans. Oveing trials with that tool is up to the individual. If the Codex of Light intended to enforce its will directly, it would have simply struck down other sessors with lightning.¡±

    That would be the simpler and easier way.

    But the Codex of Light preferred subtle demonstrations of power.

    (To read advance chapters, fastest update and to support the trantor please read at Fenrir Trantions.)

    There could be many reasons, but Isaac believed it was to avoid showing the limits of their divine power. If they failed after showing clear intent, it would reveal their limits. But if they failed despite receiving a divine form, it could be med on individualck of effort.

    This meant that even if Waltzemer was killed by his brothers, the gods would not intervene. Thus, Waltzemer faced the trial of his brothers head-on, while his brothers faced the trial of his divine form.

    ¡­This was the public knowledge.

    However, Isaac had learned the secrets of the sword¡¯s energy through Elil.

    The gods did not want humans toe close to their exclusive powers. Thus, Waltzemer¡¯s desires, yearnings, and efforts might have been so suppressed that they manifested as a divine form.

    Considering Waltzemer¡¯s constant defiance against the order, this seemed usible.

    ¡°As soon as I heard that Waltz had manifested a divine form, I sought permission from my father and visited him with Delia Lyon. We talked all night and by dawn, I swore allegiance. The Brant familymitted to making Waltzemer the emperor with all our might.¡±

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read more than 20 advance chapters or support me, you can do it at /Akaza156

 Chapter 228:

    Chapter 228:

    At that time, the Brant family had enough power and influence to make an emperor.

    The Brant family, having merged with Elil¡¯s legacy on the continent, was already one of the strongest forces even before the unification of Waltzemer¡¯s empire. The heirs of the previous imperial dynasty considered them a silentpetitor rather than asking for their help.

    However, the Brant family had always maintained neutrality, just as they were now a strong ally to both the church and the emperor. But the Brant family breaking their neutrality and supporting Waltzemer was enough to make him a strong candidate for the emperor in an instant.

    At this point, Isaac became curious.

    ¡°Then why¡­?¡±

    Isaac almost finished his sentence but realized that it could be interpreted as treason if taken wrongly, so he kept his mouth shut. However, Dietrich, perhaps having pondered simr questions many times, spoke up.

    ¡°Why wasn¡¯t it me, but Waltzemer who was made emperor?¡±

    ¡°¡­To be honest, I am curious.¡±

    In fact, although not directly, Dietrich had royal blood in his veins. So, even if he became the emperor, people might gossip behind his back, but his legitimacy wouldn¡¯t becking.All the dynasties of the empire had short histories anyway. It wouldn¡¯t be strange for a new dynasty to rise. At that time, any prince could have be the emperor without raising eyebrows.

    But Dietrich did not be the emperor himself.

    ¡°There¡¯s only one reason. Waltzemer was chosen.¡±

    ¡°Because he was the Holy Body?¡±

    ¡°Right.¡±

    It wasn¡¯t because he was the holy body chosen by the Codex of Light.

    The process of Dietrich selecting him was moreplicated and borate.

    ¡°Who do you think is the real enemy of the imperial family?¡±

    The Immortal Order wouldn¡¯t be the right answer. They were the enemy of the Codex of Light, not the imperial family.

    However, identifying an entity as the enemy of the Gerthonian Empire was a subtle matter. Indisputably, Gerthonian Empire¡¯s national strength was the strongest on the continent. Without the intervention of the gods, there was no country or organization that could oppose them.

    Isaac had a word that came to his mind immediately, but he couldn¡¯t say it aloud.

    However, Dietrich was confident that his clever son-inw knew exactly what he was referring to.

    He pointed to one side of the window. It was the Ultenheim Cathedral, which had apanied the history of Ultenheim longer than any dynasty.

    The ¡®enemy of the Gerthonian Empire¡¯ was the ¡®Codex of Light.¡¯

    The reason previous empires scattered and fell apart was precisely because the church did not desire a powerful unified state.

    After the Elil sect, the church did not want a force as powerful as themselves.

    When Elil spread the name and fame of the Codex of Light across the continent through his sword, the incident where the most powerful tyrant split the empire in half was a great wound and betrayal to the church. Since the incident with the Elil sect, they had trauma over any power possessing absolute authority other than themselves.

    Especially after the Licht Treaty, when they ceded allnd to the powers and had limited control over them, they divided them and incited them to fight.

    The Licht Treaty instead became a means to continuously instigate internal conflict within the empire.

    ¡°Having an ordinary person be emperor would just repeat the same process as before. The nobles were tired of internal wars. To end it, they needed proof that the power was granted by the gods.¡±

    Dietrich whispered with a bitter smile.

    ¡°To be honest, as long as we had the Holy Body, it didn¡¯t matter who the sessor was. We judged that only Waltzemer was capable of ending this mess.¡±

    It was a surprising statement but understandable.

    ¡°Fortunately, Waltzemer wasn¡¯t a bloodthirsty berserker, a perverted maniac, or a fanatical zealot. Additionally, he had strong ambition and strategic insight. While a servant can do without ambition, an emperor cannot. Given the best conditions, there was no reason to hesitate.¡±

    Thus, the emperor rammed all his siblings with his horns and took the blood-soaked throne. No one raised any objections or dissatisfaction with the process. The authority ced upon him was stronger than a crown.

    ¡°The church had no choice but to ept it.¡±

    ¡°Right. After the procedure to confirm if the emperor was a believer of the Codex of Light, they acknowledged his throne. He became emperor after swearing to uphold the Licht Treaty.¡±

    No matter how unprecedented his power was, he could not escape the grasp of the church. Afterpleting the formal procedure, Waltzemer was granted the divine authority permitted by the gods to be exercised on earth.

    ¡°But this Dawn Army will be a significant turning point. Just as the Codex of Light reimed order and glory from the ancient gods, His Majesty the Emperor will seize new authority.¡±

    Isaac did not respond.

    The conflict between the emperor and the church was a headache, but Isaac¡¯s goal remained the same from the beginning.

    To win the Dawn Army.

    He had no intention of getting caught up in the power struggles of these power-hungry ghosts. Isaac had to at least strive to ensure they didn¡¯t lose focus on their goal.

    ¡®At least make sure not to ruin the Dawn Army by fighting.¡¯

    That would be putting the cart before the horse.

    Isaac inwardly supported the emperor because he seemed better suited to lead the Dawn Army. The Pope was just an extremely powerful miracle machine, and he had failed several times to secure victories for the Dawn Army.

    ***

    ¡°Holy Grail Knight, all the luggage has been loaded.¡±

    ¡°Hmm, good job.¡±

    Isaac watched as the servants bowed and reported that everything was loaded. He nced at the pile of luggage stacked in the carriage.

    The reward bestowed by Waltzemer for sessfully forming an alliance with Elil was immense. The three carriages were filled to the brim with treasures and riches.

    All of it was destined for Issacrea Estate.

    Since Isaac had also skimmed off some of the wealth sent to the Kingdom of Elil as a handling fee, the total reward he received from this mission was substantial. It was probably ten times the wealth he had umted while toiling in Issacrea Estate.

    Though there were a few tasks left to be done in Ultenheim, he was ready to depart whenever necessary, with everything already packed.

    ¡®It¡¯s ironic that an individual mercenary makes more money than thepany¡­ well, Issacrea Estate is more like a personal vault than a mere estate.¡¯

    It could bepared to a personal Swiss bank. Without a fixed residence or a mansion in a big city, one couldn¡¯t hide such wealth, and the respect for the Holy Grail Knight among the public could diminish.

    At that moment, Isaac noticed a servant hesitating, not leaving but fidgeting in ce.

    ¡°Do you have something to say?¡±

    ¡°Um, Holy Grail Knight, if it¡¯s alright¡­ could you hold my hand just once?¡±

    Isaac initially thought, ¡®The irresistible charm of a Nephilim strikes again,¡¯ but soon grasped the real meaning behind the words.

    In historical records, people often sought to touch the hands or feet of renowned saints, hoping for healing. It wasn¡¯t umon for saints to be dismembered after death and disyed in cathedrals and churches.

    ¡°If you need healing, you could see the vige priest, couldn¡¯t you?¡±

    However, in a world where miracles were real, money would be required, but a servant employed by the imperial family would surely have enough.

    ¡°Well, it¡¯s just¡­ I thought if I received the blessing of the Holy Grail Knight, my son might return safely from the Dawn Army.¡±

    Isaac felt a sudden rush of heat in his head.

    Before him stood one of the casualties of the war he had incited and drawn people into.

    Now, he couldn¡¯t ignore it as something that would have happened even without him.

    A sudden sense of harsh reality gripped Isaac¡¯s chest.

    [The Nameless Chaos is watching you.]

    Isaac quickly regained hisposure.

    He strode over to the carriage loaded with treasure and grabbed a handful of gold coins. He then piled them into the servant¡¯s hands. The servant, overwhelmed by the sudden fortune, bowed his head in shock.

    ¡°No, I can¡¯t ept this! I can¡¯t touch a reward bestowed by His Majesty! The knights will punish me if they find out!¡±

    ¡°This gold is from me, not His Majesty. Instead of praying or offering sacrifices, use this money to buy your son a good sword and armor. Make sure he eats well before he departs.¡±

    ¡°Holy Grail Knight¡­¡±

    ¡°Make sure he doesn¡¯t go charging into death thinking of heaven, but desires to return home to enjoy home-cooked meals. That¡¯s the only blessing I can give.¡±

    Most of the participants in the Dawn Army chose the beautiful and blissful heaven over the harsh reality.

    Isaac didn¡¯t me them for their choice.

    But he realized one thing he had to do. He didn¡¯t want to be like those who looked down and clicked their tongues.

    Isaac remembered the task he had toplete before leaving Ultenheim.

    ***

    ¡°You¡¯re donating the treasure His Majesty gave you to the Dawn Army?¡±

    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t omit that it¡¯s one of the three carriage loads.¡±

    At Isaac¡¯s nonchnt response, Imperial Guard Captain Bashul Norton looked at him in disbelief.

    Selling off the emperor¡¯s gift right after receiving it could be seen as not only impudent but also a challenge to the emperor¡¯s authority. And to mention it to the Chief Knight of the Imperial Guard, what was he thinking?

    ¡°I thought you had calmed down after your visit to the Kingdom of Elil, but what kind of outrageous act is this?¡±

    ¡®News travels slow. He probably hasn¡¯t heard that I beheaded a priest on the way back.¡¯

    Isaac thought to himself but didn¡¯t show it outwardly.

    ¡°Just think of it as a humble Holy Grail Knight unable to ept too much wealth. Besides, I have plenty of wealth in my wife¡¯s family, so I don¡¯t need it. And I¡¯m not rejecting His Majesty¡¯s generosity; I¡¯m donating it to the Dawn Army.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s the difference?¡±

    Bashul pretended to stride past Isaac irritably but only in appearance. As a devout follower of Elil, he couldn¡¯t disregard the authority of Isaac, a great warrior of Elil.

    Eventually, he turned back to Isaac and questioned him again.

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you already well-known? Why bother?¡±

    (To read advance chapters, fastest update and to support the trantor please read at Fenrir Trantions.)

    ¡°I disliked seeing the conscripted soldiers of the Dawn Army looking like a band of beggars with a single spear each. If the Dawn Army dispatched by the church looks like that, people should at least have something better from His Majesty to follow.¡±

    Bashulughed dryly at Isaac¡¯s response.

    In any era and any country, conscripts were poorly treated. Even in the ¡®holy war¡¯ of the Dawn Army, soldiers had to provide their own gear.

    Though conscripts were essentially support, and the war was mainly fought by priests, holy knights, and the army, Isaac aimed to improve the treatment of those conscripts.

    However, the Imperial Guard, already burdened with numerous tasks, didn¡¯t want to deal with the conscripts¡¯ treatment as well.

    ¡°Even if you do that, it¡¯ll be like a drop in the ocean. It¡¯d be a miracle if they got new shoe soles.¡±

    Though a carriage load of treasure seemed like a lot, the number of participants in the Dawn Army was staggering. Isolde had even suggested that if that was the goal, it would be better to donate more wealth under the name of the Brant Duchy. But Isaac wasn¡¯t unaware of that when he made the proposal.

    ¡°Yes. But if the rumor spreads that the renowned Holy Grail Knight donated wealth, and the Dawn Army from the capital has better shoes, it might be different. It could pressure other wealthy priests, nobles, and royals to contribute at least a little.¡±

    If the emperor was truly smart, he would start using Isaac¡¯s donation in that way.

    If they couldn¡¯t shed blood, they should at least contribute money.

    Of course, those pressured would dislike Isaac, but he didn¡¯t care.

    ¡°Then why not donate all three carriages?¡±

    ¡°Two carriages need to be invested in the Dawn Army departing from Issacrea Estate.¡±

    Bashul looked like he had been struck again.

    In fact, everything Isaac said was just his expectation; the actual oue was uncertain.

    There was a possibility that the donation might be siphoned off by someone in the middle. To minimize that, he entrusted it to Bashul, the Imperial Guard, but even he couldn¡¯t oversee everything.

    Ultimately, what Isaac could salvage was only within his reach, the area he could see and touch.

    The Dawn Army departing from Issacrea Estate would be much smaller, but with more wealth invested, they would be much better equipped.

    This was Isaac¡¯s minimal consideration for those he dragged into the battlefield.

    ¨CTL Notes¨C

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read more than 20 advance chapters or support me, you can do it at /Akaza156

 Chapter 229:

    Chapter 229:

    ¡°Such a headache. Fine. I¡¯ll take care of it.¡±

    Isaac had thrown the burden at Bashul, but ultimately, Bashul would pass that burden down the line. No one would dare touch the budget sent directly from the Emperor¡¯s personal guards. Moreover, the Emperor would augment the amount Isaac donated from his own treasury.

    ¡°Is that all you needed?¡±

    ¡°Hmm, is there anything unusual happening around Ultenheim?¡±

    ¡°Unusual? Apart from the crazies who im the Millennium Kingdom is near, setting fires everywhere, and the maniacs from the Golden Idol Guild trying to plunder under the guise of heresy?¡±

    ¡°Precisely that cult.¡±

    At Isaac¡¯s words, Bashul¡¯s face hardened as he quickly looked around. He knew there were no ears listening in thanks to the superhuman senses of the guards, but it was a reflexive action.

    Bashul¡¯s face twisted as he snapped at Isaac.

    ¡°If you value your life, watch your mouth.¡±¡°I¡¯m asking because I value my life. Nothing unusual, right?¡±

    The main task of the Imperial Guard was to detect and prevent any plots of rebellion or assassination.

    Because of what happened in Rougeberg, they were undoubtedly on high alert for any changes within the cult.

    Bashul squinted his eyes but answered.

    ¡°Nothing unusual with them yet. They¡¯re still driving people as if the world will end after the Dawn Army. I wonder what their n is after they conscript everyone, from farmers to merchants to tailors.¡±

    It seemed the Emperor wasn¡¯t nning to rece the Pope, nor was the Pope nning to rece the Emperor. After all, the Pope had an easier jobpared to the Emperor.

    ¡°If there were any significant issues around Ultenheim, the Imperial Guard would¡¯ve already intervened. Why?¡±

    ¡°Hmm, nothing important.¡±

    Bashul sighed and nodded.

    ¡°Please watch your words. For Miss Isolde¡¯s sake.¡±

    Isaac nodded. Bashul returned to the pce to deal with the new burden he had received.

    ¡®Bashul really doesn¡¯t know.¡¯

    In truth, Isaac had other intentions in assigning the tedious task of handling donations to Bashul. After the Dawn Army deration, incidents were bound to ur around Ultenheim. If Bashul didn¡¯t know, then the signs of the incident had yet to appear.

    ¡®In that case, I should take preventive measures now.¡¯

    ***

    The Gerthonia Empire was vast.

    From snow-covered mountain ranges to ins devoid of a single tree, to deserts where even stones crumbled to dust.

    However, when people thought of the ¡®Empire,¡¯ they generally envisioned Ultenheim, a ce withyers of intertwined history.

    Many empires and dynasties had risen and fallen under the name of the Codex of Light, but the perception that whoever controlled Ultenheim ruled the continent persisted. Everything else was considered mere periphery. Even the Holy Land, where Luadin brought the Dawn Tablet, couldn¡¯t be the center of the Empire.

    Thanks to this, Ultenheim, with itsyers of history, looked picturesque from a distance but chaotic up close. No matter how great the capital of the Empire was, this remained unchanged.

    ¡°From here on, it¡¯s the old city. The roads are messy, so please be careful.¡±

    Isaac nodded as he followed the monk guiding him. The monk, dressed inly, walked briskly over the broken and puddle-filled roads.

    Isaac, currently drawing too much attention in the capital and being widely recognized, wore the gray robe of a monk. Beggars and the poor along the way paid no heed to the two robed figures.

    ¡®Living in such a hidden ce.¡¯

    Isaac looked around. Buildings, bearing the weight of centuries of history, were piled upon each other likeyers of sediment. They leaned against one another, forming high, extended structures and creating a maze of dim alleyways.

    Naturally, this made the area dangerous and filthy, a shadow of Ultenheim.

    Unable to improve the ce unless it was entirely demolished, rulers hundreds of years ago had moved the capital¡¯s center north of the river, where the current new city stood. Thus, clean and good facilities flowed into the ¡®new city¡¯ of the north, while dirty and squalid ones remained in the ¡®old city¡¯ of the south.

    However, the ce that built the capital¡¯s history and legends was this old city.

    Amidst all this, there was a traditional building that had stood in its ce for nearly a thousand years.

    When they reached the heart of the old city, the building suddenly came into view.

    The Ultenheim Cathedral.

    Like other buildings, it had undergone numerous renovations and repairs, making it look patched together, but the grandeur built by history alone gave it authority.

    After guiding Isaac there, the monk bowed and disappeared, leaving Isaac to handle the rest. He seemed unimpressed by the Holy Grail Knight Isaac.

    Well,pared to the countless great figures and heroes who had left their mark here, a single Holy Grail Knight was nothing.

    With a bit of humility, Isaac stepped into the cathedral.

    ***

    ¡°Um, it was too heavy to carry, but could you sign here¡­?¡±

    When Isaac was asked to sign a book as big as the monk¡¯s upper torso while walking down the hall, he couldn¡¯t help but smile.

    After Isaac left his diligently practiced signature, the monk left happily.

    ¡°Brother Isaac.¡±

    As he turned around, an elderly priestess appeared without a sound. Seeing the sash draped over her shoulder, Isaac realized she was the one who had called him.

    ¡°Cardinal Camille Sar¨¦a.¡±

    She was one of the three cardinals among the countless priests of the Codex of Light.

    And she was the overseer of this dpidated cathedral, responsible for the Ultenheim region.

    However, considering Ultenheim¡¯s importance and standing, she yed more of a role as a politician or diplomat than a priest.

    Following protocol, Isaac approached Camille, knelt on one knee, and kissed her fingertips. Camilleughed gaily at his actions.

    ¡°Oh my, please just call me Priest Camille. Hearing my full name from a handsome Holy Grail Knight feels like a warm spring breeze.¡±

    ¡®¡­This woman?¡¯

    It was, of course, a typical joke made by elderly folks. Isaac didn¡¯t take it seriously. He¡¯d faced more tant flirtations at Duke Brant¡¯s banquets.

    Isaac stood and apologized first.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Due to circumstances, I had to meet His Majesty the Emperor first, which dyed my report to the Order. I¡­¡±

    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s fine. The heavenly gospel already informed us of the return of the Sword of May. I heard the Sword of May was very satisfied with your achievements. Now that the kingdom of Elil has also responded to the Light¡¯s call, it¡¯s truly a blessed asion.¡±

    ¡®Responded to the call? More like Elil wanted to destroy everything, and Calurien stopped them.¡¯

    Isaac thought to himself but nodded with a friendly smile.

    ¡°Thank you for your understanding.¡±

    Truthfully, Isaac had been a bit worried. Though he didn¡¯t expect the Sword of May to cover up everything, he couldn¡¯t be certain. He had killed a priest on his way here, and hadn¡¯t reported to the Order since returning. Recognizing the delicate tension between the Emperor and the Order, he should have visited sooner, but the Order had to seek him out instead.

    Part of the reason for Isaac¡¯s dyed report was his mentality of ¡®Why inform the Order when the highest authority, the angel, already knows everything?¡¯ Fortunately, Cardinal Camille didn¡¯t mention Isaac¡¯s act of beheading the priest.

    Camille continued praising Isaac¡¯s achievements and appearance, just before abruptly changing the subject when he was on the verge of boredom.

    ¡°Speaking of which, the Lady Brant brought an interesting child.¡±

    Isaac, who had been replying with polite thank-yous, suddenly snapped to attention. The ¡®interesting child¡¯ mentioned by Cardinal Camille was the one Isaac had rescued from Syrac after beheading the priest, the death insurance child.

    He had intended to leave the child with Hesabel, but the situation where everyone and their dog recognized her as the Lady of Waica made it difficult to send her to the church, leaving him no choice but to entrust the child to Isolde.

    ¡°I apologize for any sacrilegious incidents that urred in the process.¡±

    ¡°Oh my, sacrilegious? We¡¯re also concerned about some followers¡¯ excessive behavior. Despite constant warnings, controlling so many followers isn¡¯t easy.¡±

    ¡®For something that¡¯s supposedly difficult, it seems quite passionate and systematic.¡¯

    ¡°Hmm, it seems the child bears the spiritual mark of the Immortal Order. It¡¯s likely a death insurance contract. Forcing even children into such contracts, the Immortal Order is truly insane. Such unnatural beings resort to these absurdities.¡±

    ¡°I agree.¡±

    This was Isaac¡¯s honest opinion.

    ¡°However, annulling the contract is simple. Considering Lady Brant¡¯s request and the child¡¯s orphaned status, why not have the church raise them? Didn¡¯t you grow up in a monastery yourself, Holy Grail Knight?¡±

    ¡°Ah, yes. Indeed, it is a blessed thing.¡±

    Isaac replied reluctantly but nodded in agreement.

    Taking in orphans was one of the many key undertakings of the Order. The Ultenheim Cathedral wouldn¡¯t be as impoverished as the monastery where Isaac grew up.

    Isaac realized anew that Cardinal Camille was well-suited for her position.

    She skillfully used tedious praise to ease the atmosphere, then suddenly tightened the strings with an ufortable topic, creating a binding situation for Isaac.

    She wielded the Order¡¯s power and position, built over countless years of history, as if it were her own without hesitation.

    Though the child wasn¡¯t crucial to Isaac, he didn¡¯t want to abandon the child he had saved.

    ¡°¡­Speaking of which, I have one more favor to ask of you, though it may be inconvenient after your arduous mission.¡±

    Feeling that she had adequately tightened the leash, Camille finally got to the point.

    ¡°Could you investigate the sinister incidents urring in Ultenheim?¡±

    ***

    ¡°The cemetery serial murder case investigation?¡±

    In an alley of the old town, Isolde, who was walking with Isaac, asked in disbelief after hearing about his new assignment.

    ¡°No way, the church assigns such tasks to a Holy Grail Knight?¡±

    ¡°A Holy Grail Knight¡¯s primary duty is to eliminate evil beings¡­¡±

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    In fact, it was the second most important duty after finding holy relics.

    But Isolde still seemed unconvinced.

    ¡°This smells fishy¡­¡±

    Once a fervent fan turned wary, Isolde had be the head and sole member of a newly established special internal investigation unit, eagerly uncovering the Order¡¯s corruption.

    She already knew enough corruption without needing to search further, but she had documented and submitted those already. What she needed now was immediate, tangible evidence. And the Ultenheim Cathedral was naturally a prime target.

    ¡°Do you know anything about the cemetery serial murder case?¡±

    ¡°Well, it¡¯s amon urban legend. The old town is full of such sinister rumors. Compared to rumors about butcher shops selling human meat or finding human fingers in pig dung heaps, it¡¯s not much¡­¡±

    Though the rumors Isolde mentioned were terrifying, they were matters for the security forces, not a Holy Grail Knight.

    ¡°I heard the underground of the cemetery near Ultenheim is muchrger than known, with cultists who survived from long ago secretly living there. They supposedly crawl out at night, abduct people from the old town, and perform dark rituals. It¡¯s not much different from other urban legends.¡±

    The idea of cultists hiding in Ultenheim, especially in a cemetery, seemed preposterous. The Codex of Light¡¯s Order would obsessively manage such ces due to the Immortal Order. Even if there were cultists, the knightly orders could handle it, not Isaac.

    However, Isaac recalled an incident that urred around dawn in this area.

    That incident began when a monster emerged from the underground cemetery in Ultenheim, devastating the old town.<hr>

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 Chapter 230:

    Chapter 230:

    In the game, this event was referred to as the ¡®Abyss Flood,¡¯ a significant incident urring in the early to mid-stages. The severity varied based on yer performance, but in the worst case, nearly one-third of the Imperial capital could be devastated.

    The true nature of the incident varied depending on the yer¡¯s faction.

    For yers aligned with the White Empire, it was described as a ¡°terrorist attack by cultists who, with the help of the Immortal Order, awakened an ancient chaos in the capital.¡± In contrast, yers from the ck Empire were told it was a ¡°disaster invoked by the Codex of Light trying to artificially summon celestial power.¡±

    Such events, where the truth changed based on the yer¡¯s choices and faction, weremon, and often the exact truth remained unknown. With Isaac now actively altering the course of history, even the game¡¯s knowledge could no longer be fully trusted.

    Regardless of whether cultists were involved, the existence of monsters was a fact. Since he was nning to investigate the cemetery anyway, it was convenient to incur a debt from the Order in the process.

    ¡®The timing doesn¡¯t align perfectly, but if the conditions were triggered by the Dawn Army, it could happen earlier.¡¯

    The monster could have grown stronger by consuming diligently before making an appearance.

    Especially since the Order was the one to request the investigation, there was an additional clue to understanding the incident¡¯s true nature.

    ¡®It¡¯s unclear who the culprit is at this point¡­ but given that the Order requested it, it¡¯s likely a terrorist act. Or perhaps the Order started it and couldn¡¯t handle it, so they¡¯re passing the buck.¡¯Given the current state of the Order, it wasn¡¯t an entirely unlikely scenario.

    ¡°So, if it¡¯s referred to as a serial murder case at the cemetery, it means bodies have been found there, right?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s the ambiguous part. There¡¯s talk of murders, but no one has actually seen them, nor have there been any reports.¡±

    Hesabel wasn¡¯t calling it an ¡®urban legend¡¯ for no reason.

    ¡°We may not know if cultists are involved, but we should still investigate the cemetery. The Order likely didn¡¯t ask me due to mere rumors, and public unrest caused by such rumors can¡¯t be ignored¡­¡±

    ¡°Hm, that sounds like a n. It would be nice if a suspicious, dark-robed cultist with a wavy dagger was just waiting for us¡­¡±

    Isolde¡¯s words trailed off at that moment. Isaac, too, was looking at the end of the alley at the same time.

    A monk in a dark gray robe stood there, motionless. It was one of the darker corners of the old city¡¯s already dim alleys.

    Any ordinary person would have immediately stopped or avoided him, but Isaac and Isolde darted forward.

    ¡°Stop! You¡¯re under arrest for suspicious behavior!¡±

    This was an extremely ruthless arrest deration only a former inquisitor could make.

    However, the monk remained still, with his hood deeply covering his face until they got close. Since there was a possibility he was just an ordinary monk, Isaac tried to grab his arm instead of drawing his sword.

    But the robe twisted unnaturally, and suddenly a dagger emerged from the sleeve. Isaac wouldn¡¯t have been harmed by a mere monk¡¯s dagger, but the monk didn¡¯t swing it; instead, it felt as though the dagger seeped out.

    Ignoring Isaac¡¯s hand and arm, the dagger approached his face like a shadow casting over him. Isaac barely managed to twist his neck to avoid it, but it still grazed his skin, drawing blood.

    It wasn¡¯t an attack he could block or counter.

    ¡®What is this¡­¡¯

    The monk swung the dagger at Isaac again. The grotesquely contorted, snakelike movements were inhuman, more akin to a gas or liquid awkwardly mimicking human motions.

    But at that moment, Isaac had already drawn the Luadin Key and swung it.

    Whoosh! The heat emanating from the Luadin Key instantly burned and shredded the robe. Isaac waited to see the creature¡¯s true form emerge, but all that remained was a scattering of ashes.

    ¡°Isaac!¡±

    Isolde¡¯s voice called from behind. Despite being a long, narrow alley with no exits, two more monks appeared out of nowhere, attacking Isolde with daggers. However, Isolde swiftly retreated by kicking off the walls and floor.

    Her movements were astonishingly fast and agile. Isaac was momentarily reminded of the Wka hunters, and then he recalled that she had consumed the heart of the Red Prophet.

    Isolde shook the bracelet she had prepared in advance.

    As the bracelets shed, a blinding sh erupted. It was a holy relic imbued with the Codex of Light¡¯s miracle. While the monks were staggering, Isaac incinerated one, and Isolde drove a dagger into the other¡¯s body. The monk erupted in light, bubbling and disintegrating.

    ¡°That dagger¡­¡±

    ¡°Oh, His Majesty gave it to me. He said it was very powerful, and it truly is.¡±

    Though not as strong as the Luadin Key, it seemed to be a potent holy relic. With her enhanced physical abilities from the Prophet¡¯s heart and this strong relic, Isolde wouldn¡¯t easily be overpowered.

    ¡°Is it over?¡±

    ¡°Looks like it.¡±

    With no further ambushes, they surveyed their surroundings. The alley, where themotion had urred, was filled with the smell of burning. Neither Isaac nor Isolde could exin these bizarre creatures.

    ¡°Hm¡­ there really are evil cultists? Then again, we don¡¯t even know if these are cultists. Are these things really roaming the capital? And what kind of faith wields such power?¡±

    Isolde murmured in confusion. It was understandable that she couldn¡¯tprehend. It wasn¡¯t the Immortal Order, and no faith she knew of dealt with such monsters.

    However, Isaac had seen simr creatures before.

    The robes were more worn and tattered, but these were priests who had already lost their bodies, wandering without form in the apocrypha.

    Priests of the Nameless Chaos.

    ***

    Isaac and Isolde searched the alley further but couldn¡¯t determine where the creatures had been hiding. However, they did find some clues.

    Isoldey on the ground, peering into a drain hole the size of a palm, and spoke.

    ¡°If their bodies are that flexible, then slipping through a hole like this should be no problem.¡±

    That seemed like the only usible exnation. Other possibilities included them having the ability to teleport suddenly or move through shadows, but the former made any spection impossible, so it was dismissed for now. Thetter would have rendered them immobile when struck by the sh Isolde emitted.

    ¡°Where does this drain lead?¡±

    ¡°Hmm.¡±

    Isolde pondered the intricateyout of the old city, then shook her head.

    ¡°The old city is builtyer uponyer over the ancient city, so making an urate guess is impossible. Underneath could have been a bustling boulevard back in the day. But if this is a functional drain, they could have traveled through here¡­¡±

    Isolde traced her finger along an imaginary map, measuring distances, and stopped at one point.

    ¡°¡­and it¡¯s likely connected to the cemetery.¡±

    The cemetery itself was a mound of stacked graves forming a hill. It had to be connected somehow. Isolde murmured in confusion.

    ¡°How did they know we were talking about them ande for us?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s a saying that if you talk about ghosts, they¡¯ll appear.¡±

    ¡°Ghosts? There¡¯s no way evil spirits from the Immortal Order roam the capital freely.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    Isaac had meant it as a joke, but in a world where the dead unabashedly returned as skeletons, it was noughing matter.

    However, Isolde didn¡¯t seem to take it too seriously, lost in thought.

    ¡°¡­Someone might not have liked this investigation and leaked information.¡±

    Isaac immediately thought of Cardinal Camille.

    He had started the investigation with Isolde right after receiving the request from Camille. He didn¡¯t think it necessary to report it to Waltzemer or Dietrich, so he hadn¡¯t said anything. Isolde was involved simply because she was in the old city.

    But Camille wouldn¡¯t sabotage a request he had made himself.

    ¡°It¡¯s possible the information leaked from within the Order.¡±

    Isaac muttered.

    Even if it wasn¡¯t Camille, if there was a leak, it was likely from the Order. It could be an insider with interests contrary to Camille¡¯s, trying to hinder Isaac¡¯s investigation.

    ¡°A cultist within the Codex of Light, summoning monsters¡­ It¡¯s not entirely unreasonable. The cemetery is managed by the Order, so if there are apostates hiding there, it would be a good hiding ce.¡±

    Isaac hesitated to mention that these might be cultists of the Nameless Chaos. He wasn¡¯t certain himself. Typically, when the minions of Chaos appeared, either Isaac or the monsters would feel a strong attraction or hostility towards each other.

    But this time, there had been no such reaction.

    ¡°Let¡¯s do this. I¡¯ll investigate the cemetery, and you, Isaac, look into the priests at the cathedral.¡±

    Isaac looked at Isolde incredulously.

    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t it be the other way around?¡±

    ¡°I was expelled from the Order not long ago, so it¡¯s awkward for me to meet with the priests. I could only greet Cardinal Camille because of past connections. But you, Isaac, have many friends within the Order.¡±

    Friends within the Order?

    Isaac, who recently decapitated a priest and worried about beingbeled an Imperialist, found this surprising.

    ¡®Apart from Juan, I think most people dislike me.¡¯

    Seeing Isaac¡¯s puzzled look, Isolde shrugged.

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    ¡°Just go and meet them. And don¡¯t underestimate your past as an inquisitor. Investigating the Order¡¯s members is my specialty. I¡¯ll apany you to any dangerous ces, so don¡¯t worry.¡±

    Isolde had a reckless streak when focused on something, but she never acted without confidence.

    Isaac decided to trust her and epted the proposal, but not without his own safety measures.

    ***

    The Utenheim Cathedral, with its long history, had a patchwork appearance, and a haphazard assortment of facilities. There were prayer chapels, dormitories for priests, arge library, dining halls, gardens, seminaries, and more, branching out like limbs.

    Even as a Holy Grail Knight, many ces weren¡¯t open to outsiders. However, Isaac felt a strange familiarity upon visiting this religious site after so long.

    ¡®It reminds me of my time in the monastery.¡¯

    Though Utenheim Cathedral was farrger and more splendid than the monastery he had lived in, it shared the same old building feel.

    Isaac noticed a group of young priests quietly chatting as they passed through the garden. It struck him that, had he not be a Holy Grail Knight, he might have joined a monastery and studied like them.

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    A young priest looked at Isaac with surprise.

    ¡°Wait, are you Isaac Issacrea?¡±

    ¡°A Holy Grail Knight? Is it really him?¡±

    Isaac, feeling rxed in the cathedral, hastily pulled his hood over his head. But it was toote; the young priests swarmed around him excitedly.

    ¡°Sir Knight! I¡¯ve been wanting to meet you!¡±

    ¡°Brother Ahil said he met you and even got your signature in the Bible! We were so jealous! We were hoping you¡¯d speak to us too!¡±

    ¡°Uh, well, sorry about that. I didn¡¯t realize¡­¡±

    Isaac was flustered by the unexpected enthusiasm from the young priests.

    Were the monks at the monastery like this? Perhaps they had seemed more mature because Isaac was younger then. The priests in the capital, being from wealthier families, might also have more leisure.

    ¡®Kids these days¡­¡¯

    However, their reaction seemed too fervent to be merely about meeting a famous Holy Grail Knight. Suddenly, a young priest with sses grabbed Isaac¡¯s hand, beaming brightly.

    ¡°Isaac Issacrea, our new beacon! We¡¯ve heard so much about your teachings! You are our idol!¡±

    Teachings? Idol?

    Isaac was baffled. He had many memories of cutting and shing, but none of teaching.

    However, the bespectacled priest continued, eyes shining with fervor.

    ¡°The ¡®New Doctrine¡¯ you spread in the Issacrea territory is the true teaching that reces the old doctrines! I¡¯ve been eager to meet the pioneer of this New Doctrine!¡±

    Ah.

    Isaac finally remembered.

    The sermons he had given at the monastery in the Issacrea territory, filled with mixed teachings of science, philosophy, and various ideologies he had picked up, supposedly to spread the Doctrine of Chaos within the Codex of Light.

    Isaac suddenly realized the truth.

    He was indeed part of this ¡®new generation¡¯ and, in fact, stood at its forefront.

    _____________

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 Chapter 231:

    Chapter 231:

    Isaac, though somewhat bewildered, followed along, as he had intended to gather information from the priests anyway. He was also curious to see how his words had spread from the Issacrea territory. It wasmon for stories to get distorted as they passed from mouth to mouth.

    ¡°I never imagined that the idle chatter I engaged in outside would reach all the way to the capital. Have many people heard my stories?¡±

    The young priests responded to Isaac¡¯s words with awkward smiles. The most enthusiastic of them, a bespectacled priest named ire, spoke up first.

    ¡°It¡¯s hard to say it¡¯s a mainstream opinion. However, among people our age, ites up quite often. Usually, bishops or deacons dislike it, calling it radical.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s the outdated thoughts of those who cannot read the trends of the new era! Unlike those who just hidefortably in their parishes, mumbling to themselves, people like you, the Holy Grail Knight, go out into the world and see the reality for yourselves.¡±

    It seemed that young people everywhere held resentment against the entrenched power. After all, regardless of logic, old people had to be overthrown for young people to have a chance. The Codex of Light was an extremely rigid, conservative society. It was natural for the youth to be enthusiastic about Isaac¡¯s new assertions, given his dynamic activities domestically and abroad.

    ¡°I am curious about how my stories have spread.¡±

    The young priests eagerly shared their thoughts.

    ¡°Recently, our main topic of discussion has been miracles. Miracles are clearly acts of grace bestowed by a real deity. But as you, the Holy Grail Knight, mentioned, people today worship the miracles rather than the deity.¡±¡°Stronger miracles, more splendid miracles! How is it different from buying miracles with money? It¡¯s hard to tell if we¡¯re in the Golden Idol Guild or the Codex of Light.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right! Miracles are just tools to follow the will of the deity, yet people increasingly worship these tools. It¡¯s as if having stronger miracles proves stronger faith!¡±

    The Codex of Light is a strictly hierarchical society.

    As one ascends the hierarchy, stronger miracles are bestowed upon them. If by chance someone is granted a stronger miracle, they automatically rise to a corresponding rank. This process appears to involve very little actual faith.

    Strictly speaking, the church is ultimately just a tax collector. They gather faith, collect it as stipted, and then no further duties are imposed.

    The young priests were dissatisfied with this. They continued to talk for a long time.

    As Isaac listened to their stories, he began to feel a peculiar sensation.

    ¡°So, what do you think should be done?¡±

    ¡°As you, the Holy Grail Knight, said, we must return to our roots! The Codex of Light has already perfected the rules of the world, and our purpose is to understand and explore them. Rather than just using miracles as tools without understanding them!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right. The Lighthouse Keeper taught us the doctrine of miracles using light and fire, but it was meant to lightmps and kindle bonfires, not to burn our enemies!¡±

    ¡®Well, it seems it was indeed meant to burn enemies.¡¯

    Honestly, among the angels, none had burned more people than the Lighthouse Keeper. The destruction he wrought in Miarma, the holynd of the Salt Council, alone was exemry.

    But that was the fault of the Lighthouse Keeper, not a misinterpretation of the doctrine by the priests.

    The Codex of Light never stated anywhere to burn enemies. From the outset, the Codex of Light was simply order itself.

    The power that makes the world what it is.

    The Lighthouse Keeper merely took the most destructive aspect of that power and presented it as a fundamental doctrine.

    Isaac was amazed at how urately the young priests had grasped his intentions. Although he had left many things unsaid for fear of being branded a heretic or apostate, they subtly inferred even those hidden sentiments.

    ¡°Hmm, I¡¯m actually surprised at how well you all have understood my words. Forgive me, but have we ever met and discussed this directly¡­?¡±

    Honestly, it was astonishingly precise. They had organized and supplemented even the points Isaac had not fully formed into coherent logic.

    It wasn¡¯t entirely unbelievable. It wasmon on Earth for revolutionaries to create ideologies, and for those who followed to refine and organize them.

    But that wasn¡¯t what had happened to Isaac.

    ire smiled brightly, pleased.

    ¡°No need to say such things! We are d that we have urately understood the Holy Grail Knight¡¯s words. Of course, it was easier for us toprehend because you spoke based on the teachings of the Owl.¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ***

    The teachings of the Owl? Isaac wondered what that meant.

    Isaac had roughly studied the contents of the scripture, but the teachings of the Owl were new to him.

    ¡°Did you not speak based on the teachings of the Owl?¡±

    ire asked, rather puzzled. Though Isaac was taken aback, he was not a priest exploring doctrines, so it wasn¡¯t strange for him to be unaware.

    ¡°It seems to be an area I¡¯m not familiar with, so please exin.¡±

    ire seemed even more pleased that Isaac was asking to be taught.

    ¡°Ah, it¡¯s not surprising you don¡¯t know, as it¡¯s a non-mainstream opinion ssified as Apocrypha. We just assumed you had been influenced by it since there were so many simrities.¡±

    Given that it was the capital¡¯s cathedral, it wasn¡¯t strange for them to have books that could be ssified as forbidden. In the remote monastery where Isaac had been, such Apocrypha were impossible to find.

    ire and the young priests then began to exin the teachings of the Owl.

    In short, it was a form of Codex of Light fundamentalism. The argument was that the current church was distorted and that it was necessary to restore the original order. It even went further to assert that miracles were acts of distorting order and that the descent of angels was harmful to the ecosystem.

    ¡®Wow, someone crazier than me existed before?¡¯

    There were indeed many points where their views remarkably aligned with Isaac¡¯s.

    Upon reflection, it was natural that many would feel disillusioned by the corrupted church and attribute this not to the deity but to the church¡¯s corruption. It was no surprise that Isaac¡¯s logic wasn¡¯t novel. Such pioneers had already made these efforts; the church simply hadn¡¯t changed.

    The angels likely disapproved.

    ¡°Who is this Owl? It doesn¡¯t sound like a person¡¯s name.¡±

    ¡°Well, we don¡¯t know either. We only found the records. Considering how boldly the teachings addressed even the angels, it might be one of the Archangels.¡±

    Isaac¡¯s original purpose was to investigate the cemetery murder case, but he couldn¡¯t ignore such a kindred spirit who existed in the past. Especially if that person was so hidden from history.

    ¡°Hmm, can I also see some rted materials?¡±

    Isaac¡¯s words caused the priests¡¯ faces to stiffen.

    ¡°Well, the truth is, we assumed that you, the Holy Grail Knight, had studied the teachings of the Owl, but this isn¡¯t something that can be shared lightly with outsiders.¡±

    ¡°Ah¡­ I can see why the higher-ups would be ufortable with it.¡±

    But Isaac wasn¡¯t one to back down easily.

    He activated the Eye of Chaos at that moment. As his pupils turned purple, Isaac delved into ire¡¯s mental world. ire¡¯s mind was half open, making it easy to peer into.

    ¡®Huh?¡¯

    As expected, ire was thinking about the teachings of the Owl and their origins. However, what Isaac found there was unexpected and startling.

    ¡°I think it might be difficult. But if there is an opportunityter, I will try to arrange a meeting! Could you visit us again sometime?¡±

    ¡°¡­Of course. I will definitely visit again.¡±

    Isaac responded a beatte because of what he had read in ire¡¯s mind. He barely managed a hasty goodbye before heading out of the cathedral.

    He had heard something unexpected and found an unforeseen clue.

    ¡®They found such an Apocrypha in the underground cemetery?¡¯

    Their academic fervor was burning in a strange ce.

    If Isaac¡¯s suspicions were correct, the identity of the ¡®cultists¡¯ secretly operating in the cemetery were the young priests of this cathedral.

    ***

    Isolde slowly climbed the hill of the cemetery.

    As befitted the cemetery near thergest city of the empire, its size was immense.

    It was fortunate that cremation became the norm after the rise of the Immortal Order. Otherwise, the burial customs of the past would have umted enough graves to create a small mountain.

    ¡®They built catbs underground, then erected tombs above them, then extended further to create more graves, which copsed during the war and got buried by earth, and now there¡¯s a columbarium on top of that¡­¡¯

    The cemetery wasyered like strata, much like Ultenheim. When the teachings of the Codex of Light began to spread across the continent, believers would hide in thisbyrinthine graveyard to hold worship, evading the ancient gods. Now, ironically, cultists were hiding there.

    At the top of the hill, she saw arge furnace and priests conducting cremation.

    The priests swung incense burners to send souls to the afterlife, while the white ashes were prepared for the columbarium.

    ¡®Hmm, what to do¡­¡¯

    Isolde did not ponder for long and followed the funeral procession into the columbarium. No one suspected her, dressed as a monk.

    After cing the ashes in the columbarium, the priest performed a simple blessing and left with the mourners. Hidden among the columns, Isolde surveyed her surroundings.

    She had promised Isaac she wouldn¡¯t go into the underground cemetery. However, the well-maintained columbarium, filled with incense to repel the spirits and sacred fire burning in every corridor, was safer than the old town.

    ¡®This is almost like a monastery chapel.¡¯

    It was natural for the Codex of Light to obsessively manage cemeteries, wary of the Immortal Order¡¯s terror.

    The columbarium, though indoors, was well-ventted and dry, making it hard for ghosts to linger. The peculiar cultists she encountered in the old town would be the same.

    ¡®So, their hiding ce must be in the less maintained underground¡­¡¯

    Isolde had already memorized the map of the cemetery before entering.

    She walked through the corridors until she found stairs leading down. Naturally, the entrance was barred with iron grates, but she opened it with a set of keys stolen from a priest during the funeral procession.

    Pickpocketing and lockpicking were basic skills for an Inquisitor.

    ¡°Light illuminates the darkness, reveals secrets, and opens locked doors.¡±

    Muttering a scripture-like justification, Isolde took a sacred torch from the corridor and descended. The ever-burning sacred fire illuminated the surroundings much brighter than a regr torch.

    So far, there was no danger. The hazardous part would start at the old, chaotic ruins not on the map. She nned to explore just up to that point.

    The underground cemetery was meticulously managed and designed like abyrinth to prevent any possible escape of undead. Even if someone got lost in the dark and panicked, Isolde skillfully found her way down each level. The architectural style and decorations changed with each descent, revealing theyers of the past.

    The deeper she went, the more the air smelled different.

    Isolde felt she was traversing decades with each level. The dust she disturbed contained the ashes of the dead from before the rise of the Immortal Order.

    After a long descent, she stopped near thest corridor she found.

    ¡®This looks dangerous.¡¯

    The corridor she stood in matched the map, but arge hole in front of her did not. It seemed the space had copsed due to an earthquake or flooding. Isolde peered inside.

    Strange symbols and decorations were carved into the walls. It seemed like a ce that required an archaeologist rather than a theologian to understand. Observing the symbols, Isolde made up her mind.

    ¡®Alright then.¡¯

    She retraced her steps back to the columbarium and waited for Isaac. As the sun set, she saw Isaac hurrying towards her. Isolde called out to him.

    ¡°Did you find any clues?¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ I found something, though I¡¯m not sure if it¡¯s a clue. I didn¡¯t expect you to be waiting outside. I thought you¡¯d still be exploring.¡±

    Isolde looked at Isaac with exasperation.

    ¡°Do I look like an idiot? I wouldn¡¯t recklessly dive into a ce without knowing what¡¯s there.¡±

    Though the events in the monastery valley were intense, Isolde always ventured into the field with evidence and safeguards. The danger always exceeded her expectations. However, this time, she found a clear sign of danger that even she hesitated to ignore.

    ¡°I investigated the underground cemetery and found some concerning traces. I¡¯m not sure if it¡¯s a clue¡­¡±

    With that, Isolde pulled out a palm-sized piece of stone. The decorative tile that had fallen from the wall had a crudely carved tentacle with strange patterns.

    _____________

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 Chapter 232:

    Isaac examined the decorative tiles with a grim expression.

    ¡°Could these be the symbols of the cultists?¡±

    He deliberately refrained from mentioning the Nameless Chaos. He knew all too well what Isolde¡¯s reaction would be if he brought up the Nameless Chaos, and he had no desire to hear it.

    Originally, the term ¡°cultist¡± referred to worshippers of ancient religions. However, since the Nameless Chaos was also considered an officially extinct faith, the term ¡°cultist¡± included followers of the Chaos as well.

    Contrary to Isaac¡¯s expectations, Isolde shook her head.

    ¡°We can¡¯t be sure yet. It might be an angel from the Salt Council, or perhaps it¡¯s a misunderstanding due to some distortion. Therefore, we need to investigate further.¡±

    There was likely only one reason she showed Isaac this first. Remembering the tentacle he had shown Isolde, Isaac sighed deeply.

    He considered leaving Isolde behind, suspecting the Nameless Chaos might be involved. However, Isolde was not someone who needed his supervision, and her expertise as an inquisitor was essential for analyzing theological knowledge like the teachings of the Owl.

    ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s head down and take a closer look.¡±The two of them stepped back into the columbarium. Isolde had already scouted the path, so their descent was much quicker. They soon reached the copsed hole Isolde had discovered. The lower sections appeared neglected, causing the floor to give way.

    Isaac looked into the gaping hole and, igniting the me of the Luadin Key, jumped in. The me burned fiercely, illuminating the surroundings as if devouring the darkness. Isolde quickly followed him down.

    ¡°¡­Wow.¡±

    A sizable space appeared before them. It was a catb built in a different architectural style than the columbarium or burial sites above ground. Despite its rough construction, it was grand and vast. The walls were lined with shelves, stacked densely with something like books.

    Isolde groaned softly as she surveyed the space. Countless white bones were neatly arranged. Examining the skulls, Isolde spoke.

    ¡°These are purified remains, cleansed after burial. Even if a deranged necromancer came here, they wouldn¡¯t be able to do much with these bones.¡±

    The presence of these bones indicated the site was at least 300 years old.

    However, evidence of recent human activity was apparent on the floor, including copsed areas. Noticing the differing amounts of dust on the floor, Isolde frowned.

    ¡°It seems there¡¯s another secret passage besides the one we entered.¡±

    ¡°A drainage system leading to the old city, perhaps?¡±

    ¡°Yes. No one really knows howplex the underground of Ultenheim is¡­¡±

    Traces of the Nameless Chaos faith that Isolde had been concerned about were unexpectedly easy to find. Decorative bricks, patterns, and even coffins were tantly adorned with tentacles or strange fractal designs.

    Isaac recalled the world shown to him by Amunds, the angel of the Salt Council, right before the outbreak of the White gue.

    At that time, the Nameless Chaos was a widely revered faith, embraced by both the upper and lower echelons of society. Although it was a ndestine faith, a third of the poption knew the name of the god, to the extent that public worship might not have been opposed.

    ¡®It wouldn¡¯t be surprising if ire and those MZ priests had unearthed teachings buried in this cemetery.¡¯

    Isaac hadn¡¯t delved deeply into ire¡¯s mind, but even a brief conversation revealed they were not deranged cultists. Their minds were filled with youthful curiosity, schrly zeal, and a desire for recognition.

    It was likely they gathered in this underground cemetery to discover knowledge they had not been taught. When they were discovered, rumors of them being cultists likely spread.

    However, they might not have been unrted to the ¡°serial killings in the cemetery.¡±

    ¡®Those strange monks appearing in the old city and the potential monsters in Ultenheim¡­ maybe ire and his delinquent friends learned forbidden knowledge.¡¯

    Perhaps, like discovering the teachings of the Owl, they also uncovered knowledge of the Nameless Chaos. Although the knowledge about the Nameless Chaos was obsessively censored by the Nine Faiths, they probably didn¡¯t check every coffin in every grave.

    ***

    Isaac and Isolde searched the cemetery thoroughly, but found neither cultists nor monsters. They found ces where people had gathered or performed rituals, but without the perpetrators, it was meaningless.

    Isolde stood up after examining the ritual circle drawn on the floor.

    ¡°Is this an unfamiliar spell?¡±

    ¡°No¡­ it¡¯s so poorly drawn that I can¡¯t tell what it is. It looks like they tried to imitate various rituals with fragmented knowledge,bining the rules of Olkan, Chaos, and the Salt Council.¡±

    Isaac had a different impression than Isolde.

    Although the ritual was crude and disorganized, there were signs that it had partially seeded.

    [The Nameless Chaos is watching you.]

    The Nameless Chaos was clearly observing the situation. Isaac could sense from the scratches and energy around that something had emerged from this ritual. Even if the summoning of a specific entity had failed, fragments of Urvansus¡¯ energy might have appeared.

    Isaac shrugged as he looked down at the floor.

    ¡°We have no choice. Let¡¯s return for now ande back tomorrow.¡±

    ¡°Hmm, wouldn¡¯t it be better to stay hidden and wait?¡±

    ¡°The air is stale, and we don¡¯t know when they¡¯ll return. We aren¡¯t prepared to stay here long. We need at least water and food.¡±

    Isolde nodded, as his words made sense.

    It was alreadyte at night. The area around the ritual circle appeared long-abandoned, making it unreasonable to wait indefinitely. Isaac, however, nned to leave a rat infected with the Parasite from Beyond to monitor the area.

    Before leaving, Isaac needed to address something with Isolde. He couldn¡¯t leave her defenseless when there was a chance something had been summoned by the ritual.

    ¡°Isolde, I have a favor to ask, and I hope you won¡¯t be upset.¡±

    Isolde looked at him with a puzzled expression.

    ¡°I¡¯ll ept any favor you ask, but¡­ what kind of favor might make me angry?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re unable to use miracles right now, aren¡¯t you?¡±

    Though she had armed herself with useful relics, the miracles from her days as an inquisitor were no longer granted to her. Therefore, Isaac decided to take a bit of a risk.

    ¡°I might be able to¡­ grant you some miracles.¡±

    He could secretly nt a ¡®safety device.¡¯

    In fact, there was already a kind of safety device in ce. However, it would be more certain if he obtained Isolde¡¯s consent to grant her miracles directly.

    Isolde remained silent for a moment, taken aback by the idea of Isaac, rather than another priest, granting her miracles. However, her gaze inevitably shifted to Isaac¡¯s left hand.

    ¡°Does this have something to do with that tentacle?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve tamed and controlled the tentacle. I assure you, it will never harm you.¡±

    This could potentially impede Isolde¡¯s path, but Isaac reasoned that as an inquisitor from the Codex of Light who had already consumed the heart of the Red Chalice angel, a small blessing from the Nameless Chaos wouldn¡¯t be a significant blemish.

    Isolde hesitated for a moment before nodding.

    ¡°I believe in the Codex of Light, Isaac.¡±

    She cautiously extended her right hand and interlocked fingers with Isaac¡¯s left hand.

    ¡°But I also believe in you.¡±

    ¡°¡­Thank you.¡±

    ***

    ¡°Ugh, ah!¡±

    ire, who had been sleeping in the dormitory of the theological university at Ultenheim Cathedral, awoke with a start.

    At almost the same time, the other priests sleeping in the same room also woke up. Seeing the priests awake in the middle of the night, drenched in sweat, ire realized that it hadn¡¯t just been a simple dream.

    They shared a silent understanding, wrapped in fear, curiosity, and guilt, and carefully stepped out into the hallway.

    ¡°You all had the same dream, right?¡±

    ¡°¡­Yeah. That person was calling us.¡±

    ¡°What do we do?¡±

    As uneasy whispers circted, ire¡¯s eyes gleamed with fervor behind his sses. Unlike the frightened students, he was consumed by an academic zeal.

    ¡°Of course, we have to go back! This is our chance to find out why we failed and to correct it!¡±

    ¡°But¡­¡±

    ¡°Chaos is a crack in the orderly world established by the Codex of Light. We need to look into that crack, explore it, and learn how to seal it! That¡¯s our research and our mission!¡±

    Despite ire¡¯s passionate appeal, the students exchanged nervous nces.

    ¡°The Holy Grail Knight is currently in and out of the cathedral. If we get caught, he¡¯ll cut our throats.¡±

    ¡°No, it might actually be because Sir Isaac visited. We¡¯ve already confirmed that he shares our intentions. Sir Isaac would say that we need to learn how to tame and control the Nameless Chaos as well.¡±

    The students shook their heads at ire¡¯s absurd remark.

    ¡°No matter how great Sir Isaac is, that¡¯s a bit¡­¡±

    ¡°Yeah. Maybe we should confess our sins to the Holy Grail Knight and ask for his forgiveness. He might tell us how to make amends.¡±

    ire frowned at his friend¡¯s suggestion.

    ¡°We are not sheep who seek help; we are brothers who will one day stand shoulder to shoulder with Sir Isaac. He¡¯s our age but is already ying angels and reprimanding swordmasters. Are you going to continue living so pathetically?¡±

    The students fell silent at ire¡¯s words. Adjusting his sses, ire whispered covertly.

    ¡°Prepare yourselves. We¡¯re going back to the underground cemetery. This time, we¡¯ll do it right.¡±

    ***

    Watching the fog roll over Ultenheim at night, Isaac found himself deep in thought.

    ¡®Could those young priests be cultists involved with the Nameless Chaos?¡¯

    Though they were about his age, they were much younger if he included his past life. He had been pleased to find young priests who understood him well, but the thought that they might be cultists capable of summoning monsters made him feel conflicted.

    Isaac felt an odd irony in his emotions.

    ¡®¡­Would people like Gebel or Isolde think simrly if they knew my true identity?¡¯

    The individuals themselves didn¡¯t seem bad. However, associating them with the Nameless Chaos made Isaac view them through a biased lens. This was unavoidable.

    Everything rted to the Nameless Chaos involved insane monsters and cultists who dreamt of destruction, so anyone entangled with it was likely simr.

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    Thinking about ire and his gang, Isaacy down. He decided it would be best to release a parasite from beyond in the cemetery to monitor the area and confront ire directly for questioning.

    Since they seemed to respect him, he hoped they would listen to reason. If not, he would have to resort to force.

    At that moment, Isaac felt a strange sensation of his awareness fading. It was as if he were either falling asleep or about to experience vertigo.

    In this muddled state, Isaac opened his eyes to find himself in a dim, shadowy ce.

    ¡°Did it¡­ work?¡±

    He heard a familiar humming voice. His senses were blurred; sight, touch, hearing, and smell were all faint. It felt like all his senses had dulled to an extreme degree. In his hazy vision, he saw a group of priests in dark gray robes.

    ¡°O, forgotten god of names, we have summoned you! Obey ourmands!¡±

    _____________

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 Chapter 233:

    Chapter 233:

    The priests wore masks crafted from animal skulls, sourced from who knows where. It seemed to be equipment necessary for the ritual. Thanks to this, their faces were hidden, but Isaac recognized their voices immediately.

    It was ire and his group.

    Even in his dazed state, Isaac tried to grasp what kind of situation this was.

    Only then did he realize his form was like a hazy mist, barely retaining a semnce of a human shape. It felt as if all his bodily sensations and abilities had been reduced to one-tenth of their usual level. It was a bizarre and unpleasant sensation.

    ¡°Ah, can¡¯t he hear us?¡±

    ¡°Try reciting the incantation again. They said that followers of Chaos don¡¯t easily submit.¡±

    ire began to mumble some kind of prayer again. Isaac turned his head, feeling something pulling at him. Only then did he start to understand the situation a bit.

    ¡®Could they have been trying to summon a follower of the Nameless Chaos?¡¯

    For some reason, Isaac had been summoned instead, and they didn¡¯t seem to recognize his misty form. When their eyes met his, the priests showed fearful expressions.¡°S-stop it. He¡¯s looking this way.¡±

    ¡°They said it was a prayer to inflict pain. But it doesn¡¯t seem to be causing much harm¡­¡±

    A prayer to inflict pain? Now that he thought about it, he did feel a slight pinching sensation as he was being pulled. Isaac tried to approach them but felt a slight resistance and turned his gaze.

    Something was drawn on the ground.

    It was the ritual circle he had discovered today with Isolde. However, it was so crudely drawn that it wasn¡¯t functioning properly. The circle should have prevented the summoned being from leaving, but because the essential incantation was drawn inside the circle, Isaac could simply erase it with his foot and step out.

    Isaac erased the circle just to test it. The resistance that had been weakly pushing him back into the circle disappearedpletely.

    Yet, the priests continued to chatter, oblivious to the danger they were in.

    ¡°H-he¡¯s moving! He seems to be listening to us!¡±

    ¡°G-good. Keep going. Follower of the Nameless Chaos, can you hear us?¡±

    Isaac nodded for now.

    The priests exchanged smiles and hushed cheers of joy.

    ¡°This, this follower seems cooperative. We might be able to manage this!¡±

    ¡°Quiet, it¡¯s not over yet. Ahem, my name is irmont Sarea. I am your summoner, the signer of the contract! State your name!¡±

    The ritual circle that had summoned Isaac was nowpletely powerless, so it had no force topel the summoned being.

    Isaac looked at them pitifully and spoke.

    ¡°Hesabel.¡±

    He said it just to see what they would say. However, the priests screamed just from Isaac¡¯s response.

    ¡°He spoke! He spoke!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s the first time a summoned being has intelligence! We canmunicate with him!¡±

    ¡°Everyone, shut up! The ritual is still ongoing!¡±

    ire, who was still conducting the ritual calmly, repeated the name ¡°Hesabel¡± as if to engrave it in his mind.

    ¡°Hesabel, by the summoner¡¯s covenant, Imand you!¡±

    ire, with a desperate heart, issued amand to the creature he had summoned.

    ¡°Remove or take away all the followers of the Nameless Chaos that have been unleashed in this city!¡±

    ¡°Haa¡­¡±

    Isaac, who had vaguely guessed from their anxious exchanges, was now certain from ire¡¯smand.

    ¡®They are like the foolish college students in a stter movie.¡¯

    There are always those who crawl into restricted basements and meddle with forbidden ancient relics.

    These young priests had seemingly stumbled upon documents rted to the Nameless Chaos in these underground ruins and tried to utilize forbidden knowledge.

    However, as could be seen from their sloppy ritual, the summoning ritual had spectacrly failed, resulting in the release of the monks Isaac had encountered. But since Isaac hadn¡¯t felt the power of the Nameless Chaos from them, they were likely just imitations mimicking its form.

    However, if they had summoned something like the Apocalypse Handler that appeared in Rougeberg instead of Isaac, it would have resulted in a catastrophe.

    One that could destroy the old city.

    ¡®¡­Both the ims of the White Empire and the ck Empire were correct.¡¯

    ***

    Isaac continued to ignore him, so ire raised his voice again. Not stopping there, he recited the so-called ¡°prayer to inflict pain.¡± Influenced by the summoner¡¯s emotional state, the force pulling Isaac grew a little stronger.

    Such attempts, typically clich¨¦s, often lead to bad oues.

    Isaac strode out of the circle. ire and the priests seemed frozen, not expecting this situation. In the meantime, Isaac grabbed ire¡¯s cheek firmly.

    The mask made of a goat¡¯s skull fell off, and a scream erupted.

    Despite his severely restricted physical abilities, subduing a student priest posed no problem. Moreover, a fight is over once one loses their resolve.

    The students were already terrified the moment Isaac stepped out of the circle.

    A few tried tremblingly reciting prayers, but miracles had no effect on Isaac in his specter-like state.

    ¡®What should I do?¡¯

    Isaac contemted while looking at the struggling ire. He could instill the same fear and lesson these fools would receive in a stter movie. Although they meant no harm, the thought that their stupidity could further tarnish the reputation of the Nameless Chaos made him angry.

    However, he decided to give them a chance since it was unclear if anyone had died because of them and they were trying to clean up their mess.

    ¡°irmont Sarea.¡±

    Isaac looked at his face and spoke.

    ¡°I will give you a chance to rectify your sphemous act. What will you pay in return?¡±

    ire¡¯s eyes widened. Receiving payment for a prayer was only natural. Isaac had not received any faith from them.

    ire looked at Isaac withrge, tear-filled eyes and suddenly burst into tears.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry! I-I didn¡¯t know it would turn out like this!¡±

    Though he was still young, seeing a grown man cry like a child made Isaac feel awkward.

    ¡®What am I doing with a kid right now?¡¯

    But he was of age to be considered an adult in this world. Moreover, since they had already essed the knowledge of the Nameless Chaos, he couldn¡¯t just leave them alone. If he wasn¡¯t going to kill them, he had to keep them under his control.

    Isaac suddenly thought of the Licht Treaty.

    ¡®Land for humans, heaven for gods, was it?¡¯

    In that case, Isaac had to receive something appropriate. An old legend came to mind, and Isaac whispered to ire like a devil.

    ¡°Can you offer your soul in exchange?¡±

    Of course, he didn¡¯t really intend to take his soul. He didn¡¯t know how to take it or what to do with it even if he did. He just wanted to start negotiating from there, assuming ire wouldn¡¯t ept the terms since he would rise as a priest of the Codex of Light in the future.

    However, ire hesitated briefly and then nodded.

    ¡°Y-yes! I¡¯ll give it! If that will resolve this¡­¡±

    Isaac was slightly surprised.

    He realized that this pathetic student priest had an unusual resolve.

    Even though he had touched forbidden knowledge, he was at least prepared to suffer in both the mortal and divine realms to rectify it.

    Feeling a sense of futility, Isaac released his grip on ire.

    ¡°Alright. Then¡­ I¡¯ll tell you what you need to do.¡±

    ***

    These fledgling priests had already used forbidden knowledge to summon a follower of the Nameless Chaos. No matter the reason, they would have no excuse if dragged to the stake. Even though the Codex of Light values knowledge, this had crossed the line.

    However, their intent to resolve the situation was genuine. And they were the only ones who could properly handle the followers that had been released.

    Isaac instructed them on how to resolve the situation. But that didn¡¯t mean his task waspletely over.

    The next day, Isaac headed to the cemetery as soon as he woke up. Though he felt stiff from the summoning¡¯s aftermath, there were no other abnormalities.

    ¡®Now I understand why deities and monsters dislike being summoned by unauthorized individuals¡­¡¯

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    Isaac had never expected to be in the position of the summoned. He thought he needed to create countermeasures for such incidents. He was lucky to be summoned just before rest; if he had been in the middle of a battle, his body would have been defenseless. He also needed to find out why he, of all beings, was summoned.

    ¡°Shh.¡±

    As Isolde, who apanied Isaac to the underground tomb, descended into the hole, she ced a finger on her lips. She immediately extinguished the torch and rubbed her bracelet slightly to create a faint light. The light from the bracelet illuminated traces left on the floor.

    ¡°Someone infiltratedst night. The tracks lead towards the altar where the ritual took ce.¡±

    ¡°¡­Let¡¯s go.¡±

    Although Isaac already knew who it was, he pretended not to.

    The two moved quietly towards the ritual site. Even before they arrived, the torches and the hushed prayers indicated someone¡¯s presence.

    ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡±

    Isolde hid behind a wall corner and peeked at the scene. Several priests stood outside a strange red circle and inscribed symbols, reciting prayers without pause. The sobs and sighs interspersed with the prayers made it even more eerie.

    Isolde, recognizing the cult-like appearance, grabbed her dagger without hesitation, but Isaac stopped her.

    ¡°Wait, Isolde.¡±

    Isaac pointed to the center of the ritual.

    In the center sat the monk who had attacked them in the old city, in a meditative pose. However, despite his calm posture, something was happening within him, as ck smoke continuously billowed and settled, rising and falling erratically. ck smoke from outside seeped in and was absorbed by the monk¡¯s body.

    ¡°Are they summoning him? Or strengthening him?¡±

    ¡°It seems they are containing him.¡±

    Isaac answered Isolde¡¯s question.

    Though Isolde had her doubts, she followed Isaac¡¯s instructions for now. He knew more about handling these creatures than she did.

    Isaac hadn¡¯t told the priests how to resolve the situation. Instead, he had taught them the proper way toplete the ritual. ire and his group failed to properly contain or bind the followers of the Nameless Chaos. However, they were undeniably summoner and summoned.

    Isaac taught them how to properlyplete the summoning ritual.

    And the resolution started from there.

    As the scattered followers of Chaos began to gather and take shape, strange noises started to emerge. Screams, groans, wails¡ªevery unpleasant sound imaginable. The sobs of the priests were mixed in with the cacophony.

    As the ritual reached its climax and the monk¡¯s body began to swell as if about to explode, one of the priests screamed and stumbled back.

    ¡°Don¡¯t run!¡±

    Tears streamed down ire¡¯s face from beneath the mask as he shouted. But at the same time, with a loud thud, the monk¡¯s body burst, spraying in all directions. ire and the priests were thrown back, rolling on the floor.

    What was revealed beneath the monk¡¯s robes was a grotesquely twisted being. It wielded a butcher¡¯s axe, had the head of a pig, and constantly gnawed on its own hands withrge, cking teeth.

    ¡°A horror¡­¡±

    Isolde recognized what they were. Urban legends from the old city had taken shape and gathered. They were monsters that spread fear and fed on it.

    The so-called ¡°Whispering Night¡± monster let out a rough roar and charged violently. At that moment, ire, who hadn¡¯t let go of the ritual, recited the final prayer.

    Bang! The Whispering Night hit an invisible barrier at the edge of the circle, copsing in a heap. ire, havingpleted his task, slumped and fainted.

    Only then did Isaac rush out.

    Now it was time to clean up.

    _____________

    Rate us on <em><strong>Novel Updates</strong></em>, so this novel can reach many readers like you, and also it will motivate me to trante more chapters. (For every new rating I will release one new chapter.)

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 Chapter 234:

    Chapter 234:

    Kururururu!

    The Whispering Night twisted into a grotesque shape, making a sound like a night whisper suffering from a stomach ache. At first, it seemed like it had a bizarre form osciting between liquid and gas, simr to the Apocalypse Handler. However, beneath the monk¡¯s robe, its body was a jumbled mess of flesh and bone.

    It was unclear what was a limb and what was a tongue-like appendage, but its head was distinctly identifiable.

    A pallid face protruded starkly beneath the monk¡¯s robe.

    ¡°There¡¯s not a single part of you that¡¯s not hideous from head to toe!¡±

    Isaac leapt into the circle, making an unnecessary jab at its appearance. Whether the creature could understand his taunting words didn¡¯t matter. What mattered was that it thrived on devouring fear and growing stronger.

    Especially since the priests were cowering in terror, it was growing stronger by the moment.

    The Whispering Night, seemingly displeased with Isaac¡¯s mockery,shed out at him with an appendage that looked like a pig¡¯s head. A head the size of a human torso lunged at Isaac, aiming to crush him.

    Isaac easily cleaved the pig¡¯s head in two with the Luadin Key, but the Whispering Night¡¯s attacks weren¡¯t like those of a human, with swinging limbs.As the pig¡¯s head was severed, it let out a squeal, and through its teeth and throat, dismembered fingers and legs of a child could be seen writhing. It vomited these remains towards Isaac.

    The heat of the Luadin Key incinerated the vomit, but in that moment, a butcher¡¯s axe brutally struck Isaac¡¯s shoulder.

    Slick. Isaac¡¯s shoulder fell off andnded on the butcher¡¯s counter. On the counter, his limbs, including a smoked head, were neatly arranged.

    [The Nameless Chaos is watching you.]

    However, Isaac¡¯s mind remained firmly grounded. If he hadn¡¯t known it was an illusion, the scene would have been dizzying.

    ¡®¡­Fortunately, it¡¯s weaker than I feared.¡¯

    The Whispering Night¡¯s attacks almost always apanied nauseating hallucinations. This was the true nature of the serial murder cases in the cemetery without corpses.

    The Whispering Night must not have been very strong initially.

    But as the young priests frequently visited the cemetery, their imaginations fed the creature. Stories of a cult kidnapping people spread. The Whispering Night inted and fabricated these rumors, gathering fear.

    Whether the stories were true didn¡¯t matter. Those attacked by the Whispering Night saw horrific visions and spread these tales further. Yet, no one likely died during these encounters. The more witnesses, the more fear it could consume.

    There was no reason for the Whispering Night to consume people unless it had grown strong enough to ¡®harvest¡¯.

    ¡®If it had reached that stage, I couldn¡¯t handle it alone.¡¯

    If the Whispering Night had grown enough to ravage the old city, it would require the mobilization of the Pdin Order to subdue. Fortunately, the creature was confined within the circle due to re¡¯s final ritual. Limiting its movement made it much easier to confront.

    But facing the Whispering Night, constantly shifting between reality and hallucination, was no easy task.

    ¡°Isaac!¡±

    Isolde signaled. Isaac narrowed his eyes and turned his head slightly.

    With the sound of bracelets shing, a brilliant sh burst forth.

    Light weakened and subdued such tales and fears. Isaac had brought the Luadin Key specifically to utilize its heat and light.

    With the heat of the Luadin Key and Isolde¡¯s shbined, the Whispering Night visibly shrank. Struggling to withstand the light¡¯s heat, it lunged to block Isolde¡¯s radiance.

    Isaac stabbed its back with the Luadin Key, but it didn¡¯t stop.

    A horrid array of visions unfolded before Isolde. Yet, she defiantly red at the oing Whispering Night. Being outside the circle, she couldn¡¯t be directly attacked.

    However, her eyes wavered at something within the emerging hallucinations.

    This allowed the Whispering Night¡¯s attack to take hold.

    The midnight terror crept into Isolde¡¯s mind. Without divine protection like Isaac¡¯s, it was impossible to quickly counter the hallucinations.

    She staggered within the illusion.

    The Whispering Night, desperate to extract Isolde¡¯s core fear before being fully dismembered by Isaac, made ast effort.

    ¡°Ugh¡­!¡±

    Isolde gritted her teeth and swung a dagger into the air. Although it didn¡¯t connect, the Whispering Night recoiled as if struck.

    It seemed disoriented, as if it saw something strange in Isolde, floundering and unable to act.

    Isaac seized this opportunity, driving the Luadin Key into its crown and impaling it into the ground.

    ¡°Isolde! Are you alright?¡±

    ¡°Ah, yes¡­ I¡¯m fine.¡±

    Though the Whispering Night¡¯s assault on Isolde was brief, it could have caused significant mental trauma.

    Fortunately, Isolde seemed merely startled, not severely affected.

    ¡®Should I be relieved that it worked¡­?¡¯

    One of the ¡®safeguards¡¯ Isaac had left on Isolde was a sort of brand marking her as his. An embarrassing notion, but he believed it would affect the Nameless Chaos¡¯s minions. The brand was invisible and easily removable, which minimized issues. The creature had retreated from Isolde due to this mark.

    ***

    The subdued Whispering Night began to writhe, hiding various tales within its monk¡¯s robe. Recognizing that it was trying to evoke a different form of fear, Isaac drew Kaldwin, utilizing his sword energy to cut it down.

    Kaldwin, a relic of much higher caliber than the Luadin Key, effortlessly sliced through the Whispering Night.

    Isaac only managed to subdue the Whispering Night after almost severing itpletely, leaving only its head intact. In truth, he hadn¡¯t intended to subdue it but to kill it, yet it remained alive despite its condition.

    ¡®How do you kill this thing again?¡¯

    In the game, physical damage was followed by priests performing a divine punishment ritual to exorcise it. Since it was confined within the circle, re and her group would likely need to perform a reverse summoning ritual.

    Suddenly, the Whispering Night emitted a hissing sound through the monk¡¯s mouth.

    [Why attack ¡ö minions of ¡ö, oh priest?]

    Isaac froze. Despite the metallic undertones, the words were intelligible.

    Just like the minions of the Nameless Chaos had previously spoken to Isaac, the same was happening now.

    ¡°Isaac? What is it saying?¡± Isolde asked in a bewildered tone. She couldn¡¯t understand the words, but she recognized the creature was speaking in a structurednguage.

    Isaac frowned and split the creature¡¯s crown.

    However, it seemed the creature wasn¡¯t using its mouth to speak, as it continued hissing. It seemed capable of creating new mouths from anywhere on its body.

    [In the paradise of the dead, your ¡ö minions await the ¡ö return of ¡ö.]

    ¡°Shut up.¡±

    Isaac reluctantly responded, irritated by its words. He immediately regretted speaking, as Isolde¡¯s expression grew even more perplexed.

    ¡°Isaac, whatnguage is that?¡±

    When talking to the Nameless Chaos¡¯s minions, it seemed one could hear thenguage they understood. Isaac pondered how to exin.

    ¡°It¡¯s an ancientnguage. Even I can¡¯t fully understand it, so I told it to shut up.¡±

    ¡°It understands ¡®shut up¡¯?¡±

    ¡°When you deal with creatures speaking ancientnguages, you tend to learn the curses first.¡±

    The term ¡°ancientnguage¡± epassed numerous deadnguages. Only priests of the Salt Council, obsessed with historical research, couldprehend them all.

    The Whispering Night continued mumbling as if it felt wronged.

    [I am also ¡ö minion of ¡ö like her. I was merely waiting for ¡ö return of ¡ö.]

    By ¡®her,¡¯ it must have meant Isolde.

    It seemed to think she was a minion of the Nameless Chaos due to the brand Isaac left on her. Despite its lower intelligence, it was conversing with surprising rationality, almost as if it were a monk of the Nameless Chaos.

    It was even appealing to Isaac for sympathy.

    ¡®This thing is smarter than expected. Isn¡¯t it just a monster?¡¯

    Considering most minions of the Nameless Chaos were unintelligible monsters, this one seemed to possess the intelligence and manners of the top 1%. It felt wasteful to simply send it back. Isaac decided to interrogate it.

    ¡°How did you know I would resurrect?¡±

    The Whispering Night seemed to regard itself as a significant entity of the Nameless Chaos, or something simr. Isaac decided to converse ordingly.

    When Isaac responded, the creature seemed delighted.

    [I never doubted that the deception of Bishop Beshek and the Lighthouse Keeper would notst.]

    It was hard to understand, but it clearly referred to Bishop Beshek and the Lighthouse Keeper. It called him Bishop Beshek, not the Immortal Emperor, because when the Nameless Chaos killed its followers, Beshek was still a bishop of the Codex of Light, not yet a god.

    ¡°Why were you waiting for me?¡±

    Many minions dreamed of the Nameless Chaos¡¯s resurrection. But why?

    Their ultimate goal was the apocalypse? That was not a dream Isaac could fulfill.

    He had no desire to see a world overrun by swarms of tentacles.

    The monk paused, its pale eyes flickering before fixating on Isaac.

    It suddenly snarled.

    [You deceived me, you deceitful creature.]

    The Whispering Night¡¯s body violently shook. Isaac swiftly cleaved its head again. But from the severed spot, something unexpected erupted.

    A mass of tentacles.

    Thick, giant tentacles, far toorge to believe they came from the small head, burst out like a fountain. Isaac froze momentarily.

    He couldn¡¯t help but think of himself in the shattering monk¡¯s form.

    ¡°Isaac!¡±

    Isolde dashed into the circle, yanking Isaac away just in time to avoid the writhing tentacles.

    It was only after hitting the ground hard that Isaac regained his senses.

    ¡°This damned creature¡­¡±

    He realized it had keenly read his fears and manifested them. Or perhaps it merely exploited his old fear of the Nameless Chaos.

    Now he understood why Isolde had frozen when confronted by the hallucination.

    The monk¡¯s form was now merely a husk, with the rest reced by a mass of tentacles that solidified as they pierced the ceiling.

    The crimson tentacles slowly bleached to a pallid white and withered away.

    _____________

    Rate us on <em><strong>Novel Updates</strong></em>, so this novel can reach many readers like you, and also it will motivate me to trante more chapters. (For every new rating I will release one new chapter.)

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 Chapter 235:

    Chapter 235:

    Isaac approached the tentacles that had solidified after running rampant during the whispering night.

    The tentacles had turned into a column, resembling tangled tree roots. With a light swing of his sword, they crumbled away like soft ash. It appeared to beposed of the same substance as the white sand that emerged during an outbreak of the white gue.

    As Isaac dug through the copsed ashes with his sword, he touched something inside.

    A mask-like remnant of a monk¡¯s face, as pale as a skull, appeared. The lower part was tangled like octopus legs, grotesquely deformed.

    It was highly likely that what he initially thought was the monk¡¯s face was also a mask.

    ¡®ire and his group wore masks while performing their rituals. It¡¯smon for the priests of the Nameless Chaos to wear masks, so this guy must have used one as his face too.¡¯

    Upon closer inspection, it was no ordinary mask.

    [Slithering Fear (A+)]

    [Fear neveres boldly. It creeps in with a gloomy and ominous presence in everyday life, and one day, you will find it at your doorstep, around the corner, or at your bedside. When worn, it allowsmunication through telepathy, and induces fear in those of lower rank than the wearer.]¡®This will be useful.¡¯

    Isaac felt a sense of satisfaction.

    He had been thinking it would be good to have a mask since his face was too recognizable. He liked the intimidating appearance as well. He discreetly picked up the mask, pretending to gather evidence, and hid it inside his armor.

    ¡°Is it over?¡±

    Isolde asked, looking somewhat tired. Isaac turned to look at the young priests who were sitting on the floor.

    ¡°The real work starts now.¡±

    ***

    Reporting ire and his group to the church or beheading them on the spot would make things simple. With undeniable evidence and witnesses, the church would just need to scare them a bit, and they would surely confess everything.

    But if that happened, they would undoubtedly end up on the stake. Isaac didn¡¯t want that. It wasn¡¯t out of sympathy, but because they were obviously being used as well.

    ¡°Where did you get the materials for this ritual?¡±

    Isaac and Isolde started interrogating ire and his group, who were kneeling on the floor. They didn¡¯t even wonder how Isaac had managed to find and subdue the monster at the perfect time.

    After all, a Holy Grail Knight was a mystical being.

    ¡°We, we found it in this underground tomb.¡±

    As expected, but not the answer Isaac wanted. He shook his head.

    ¡°No. You don¡¯t have the capability. The deep underground tomb, precise materials, ritual procedures, procuring materials for sacrifices, deciphering documents written in Gorean¡ªit was clumsy, but it¡¯s not something you could achieve with a few months¡¯ effort. Someone helped you. Name that person.¡±

    Isaac believed that ire and his group couldn¡¯t have done this alone.

    They were too clumsy and ipetent for that.

    While they might be considered clever among their peers, this was beyond their ability. It was highly likely that the Immortal Order had covertly provided materials or that a surviving cultist had subtly instigated them.

    ire and his friends looked at each other in confusion. Isaac watched them with the Eye of Chaos. It wasn¡¯t difficult to discern their true feelings amidst their frantic nces and expressions.

    ¡°W-we really found the information ourselves¡­¡±

    Isaac sighed. They didn¡¯t even realize they had been deceived.

    ¡°Who suggested you explore the underground tomb?¡±

    Only when Isaac gave them a hint did their eyes widen in surprise. ire hesitated before speaking.

    ¡°C-Cardinal Camille entrusted us with managing the ossuary¡­¡±

    Cardinal Camille? Isaac fell silent at the mention of the high-ranking priest who had given him the mission. After a moment¡¯s thought, he asked another question.

    ¡°Was it also Cardinal Camille who told you about the teachings of the Owl?¡±

    ¡°Y-yes, that¡¯s correct.¡±

    ire answered, still not understanding why Isaac was asking these questions or what connection Camille had to the ritual. He cautiously added, worried Isaac might misunderstand.

    ¡°S-Sir Holy Grail Knight. Cardinal Camille is also my grandmother. She entrusted us with managing the tomb because she trusted us, but she never suggested we go underground or hinted at any information rted to this ritual. She¡¯s a high-ranking official who¡¯s also interested in the ¡®New Doctrine.¡¯¡±

    ire¡¯s words seemed to be more out of respect than just defending his grandmother.

    For a priest who often spoke disdainfully of the church¡¯s upper echelons, his tone was unexpectedly reverent, but it wasn¡¯t surprising if they had heard about the teachings of the Owl from Camille.

    However, considering Cardinal Camille¡¯s highly political nature within the Order, she wouldn¡¯t take such risks without reason.

    A person of her rank would have to see every action as a political move.

    It felt like pieces of a puzzle were falling into ce in Isaac¡¯s mind.

    ¡®Nameless Chaos, young priests, New Doctrine, teachings of the Owl, Holy Grail Knight¡­ Were they trying to frame me?¡¯

    Isaac felt a surge of incredulity.

    He was currently one of the most prominent figures in the church. He had driven out the angel of the cult, received the status of a saint, helped his patron bishop rise to cardinal, and recently received recognition as the Grand Warrior of Elil.

    But now, the words of the Holy Grail Knight had started to spread among young priests as the ¡®New Doctrine.¡¯ Moreover, it bore simrities to the teachings of the Owl, which the Order frowned upon.

    Coincidentally, the Holy Grail Knight had arrived in Ultenheim, and Cardinal Camille had decided to involve the foolish young priests with the Holy Grail Knight. They spread rumors that the ¡®New Doctrine¡¯ was rted to Nameless Chaos, tarnishing his reputation.

    The Holy Grail Knight would be disgraced, his momentum would be halted, and the Order would tighten its reins on him.

    Everyone would live happily ever after, except for the Holy Grail Knight.

    Of course, this was just spection.

    It could simply be Isaac¡¯s paranoid imagination. It still didn¡¯t exin why Cardinal Camille would distribute information about Nameless Chaos to the young priests and then ignore it.

    ¡®I¡¯ll have to confront Camille about this. Trying to frame me with baseless usations just because I¡¯m sessful¡­ I won¡¯t forgive this.¡¯

    Isaac sensed that something was amiss but chose to focus on his anger towards the machinations of the wicked Cardinal.

    Having identified the mastermind, he now needed to decide how to handle these priests.

    He turned his attention back to ire.

    The young priests, who had sessfullypleted the ritual and pledged their very souls to Isaac, had now be excellent cultists of the Nameless Chaos and heretics.

    Isaac spoke to them, who were dreading divine retribution at any moment.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think you¡¯ll be able to return to the church alive.¡±

    The already pale faces of the priests turned even whiter. One of them made a strange noise and copsed. Since Isaac¡¯s intention was to instruct them rather than scare them, he kicked the fallen priest awake.

    ¡°Listen carefully. This isn¡¯t about your true intentions or your noble family backgrounds. Because you¡¯re priests, the punishment will be harsher.¡±

    Priests and pdins, due to their high social status, often had their minor sins overlooked. However, the same clergy faced far harsher punishments for heresy and apostasy, crimes that were unforgivable and carried penalties many times harsher than those forypeople.

    With the Dawn Army at the doorstep, an excuse of ¡®research purposes¡¯ would not suffice.

    ¡°There¡¯s only one way for you to be forgiven.¡±

    ¡°W-what is it¡­?¡±

    ¡°First, you need to escape from here. I¡¯ll provide a ce for you to hide for a while. Work hard enough to be so invaluable that the church will regret killing you. Fortunately, as you haven¡¯t been ordained yet, divine retribution won¡¯t find you directly.¡±

    The priests staggered at Isaac¡¯s words.

    What kind of achievement could forgive their heresy and allow them to survive?

    But the method Isaac spoke of was the path he himself had chosen.

    By bing indispensable within the Codex of Light¡¯s Order, he ensured that his value made it too painful for the Order to cut him off.

    ¡°So, what should we do?¡±

    ¡°Since there are no official victims from this incident, I¡¯ll bury it. I¡¯ll arrange for your food, clothing, and shelter, so just follow my instructions.¡±

    As Isaac promised to take responsibility for them, the priests seemed relieved, despite their tearful eyes. The idea of being personally taught and cared for by a renowned Holy Grail Knight seemed to them a sufficient act of penance. They couldn¡¯t even imagine that this same knight was an Agent of Chaos.

    ¡®I¡¯ll turn you into useful cultists.¡¯

    As the saying goes, if someone hates you for no reason, give them a reason.

    Since Camille had branded him as being rted to the Nameless Chaos, he would create priests of the Nameless Chaos as she desired.

    ***

    Isaac handed over ire and his group to Hesabel on the outskirts of Ultenheim.

    The guards didn¡¯t find it strange that the priests were leaving the city and didn¡¯t bother to check them. Isaac gave them travel expenses and instructed them to go to the Issacrea territory.

    He didn¡¯t give them ample travel funds on purpose. He expected that during their journey, the pampered priests from thefortable Ultenheim would shed their refined demeanor. Though they would struggle, within the territory of Gertonia, they wouldn¡¯t starve if they lowered their pride, as people would be willing to offer charity.

    After sending ire¡¯s group away, Isaac returned to the Ultenheim Cathedral.

    ¡°Is it okay that I¡¯ve effectively dealt with criminals on my own?¡±

    On the way back, Isaac asked Isolde, who seemed to ponder for a moment before answering.

    ¡°Since it was an attempt that didn¡¯t seed, I don¡¯t think it¡¯s a capital offense. But if the details were revealed to the church, they would surely be executed. If someone can repent and correct their mistakes without dying, I think that¡¯s right.¡±

    Isaac felt reassured that Isolde¡¯s thoughts aligned with his. Although he hadn¡¯t thought of it as nobly as she did, he believed he had found the best oue.

    ¡°By the way, you seemed quite startled when that chaos monster attacked you. Did you see something?¡±

    Isaac¡¯s question made Isolde flinch. She hesitated before mumbling while tracing her chest with her fingers.

    ¡°I saw a beating heart inside its throat. It looked as if the heart had taken over its body like a parasite, leaving the rest of the body just a shell.¡±

    Isaac was momentarily speechless.

    Isolde had absorbed the heart of the Prophet of Red Flesh, essentially swallowing the power of an angel. However, she seemed to view it more as a curse than her own power.

    Her inability to fully utilize the power could be due to her fear that using it might allow the Prophet of Red Flesh to take over her.

    Isaac wanted to tell her not to be overly fearful but stopped when Isolde asked in return.

    ¡°The monster turned into a huge tentacle when it died. Is that your fear, Isaac?¡±

    Isaac kept silent. He wasn¡¯t in a position to lecture her.

    Just as Isaac feared that one day his body would be pierced by tentacles that would engulf the world, Isolde was afraid that the heart within her would eventually take over her.

    The two, each harboring a monster within, walked silently side by side.

    ¡°I should report this incident to Cardinal Camille. She will wonder why the seminary students suddenly disappeared.¡±

    Isolde nodded.

    ¡°Give her a good blow, Isaac.¡±

    While the Church had tried to bind Isaac, this incident also provided Isolde with valuable evidence of the Church¡¯s weaknesses.

    But it wasn¡¯t something that could be used just yet.

    How to act upon it was Isaac¡¯s decision.

    Isaac headed towards the Ultenheim Cathedral.

    It remained to be seen who the real monster was.

    _____________

    Rate us on <em><strong>Novel Updates</strong></em>, so this novel can reach many readers like you, and also it will motivate me to trante more chapters. (For every new rating I will release one new chapter.)

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 Chapter 236:

    Chapter 236:

    One bad habit of the priests from the Codex of Light Church was staying upte.

    They had no need to save on candle costs like themoners, and they could maintain bright lighting even at midnight as if it were broad daylight. Particrly, the Ultenheim Cathedral was illuminated like a nocturnal city even at night, allowing high-ranking priests to work, enjoy hobbies, or engage in self-discipline without rest.

    What was more important than what they didte into the night was that they could use far more productive timepared to ordinary people. While others could only do certain things during daylight hours, the priests could do those things for several more hours each day.

    The difference umted over time.

    Camille understood the importance of this time and strove to use it even more valuably. Her role was significant, especially now, with the Dawn Army approaching and the subtle conflict between the Emperor and the Order.

    ¡°Hmm.¡±

    So, as Camille was finally returning to her room after finishing her work, she felt even more fatigued when she encountered Isaac in the dark hallway. It was already close to midnight.

    ¡°Appearing so charming at this hour is troublesome, Holy Grail Knight. I¡¯m no longer at an age to be thrilled by such sudden visits.¡±

    If a Holy Grail Knight like Isaac visited, Camille should have been informed. But since she had heard nothing of it, it meant Isaac had slipped past the cathedral guards.¡°You all go inside first. I have something to discuss with the Holy Grail Knight.¡±

    Although there were no Pdins on guard inside the cathedral, there were assistant priests. Without suspicion, they bowed their heads and turned back.

    Despite Isaac¡¯s sudden midnight visit, Camille showed no concern for her safety.

    Camille did not think Isaac would harm her, and even if he intended to, harming a cardinal armed with miracles and holy relics would not be easy.

    However, Camille, knowing that the clever Holy Grail Knight might be slightly upset if he had grasped the situation, remained slightly wary.

    Isaac handed Camille a book. Recognizing it as apendium on the Nameless Chaos, Camille smirked.

    Isaac spoke.

    ¡°Evidence found in the underground crypt. We havepleted our investigation of the cult and taken appropriate measures.¡±

    ¡°As expected of a Holy Grail Knight. Have you already finished the task? So, what were the perpetrators like?¡±

    ¡°They were engaged in dangerous activities. Though I sternly reprimanded them, it won¡¯t erase their sins. But they were just the pawns.¡±

    ¡°Pawns?¡±

    ¡°Just curious youngsters. The important question is who gave them those dangerous items and for what purpose.¡±

    Camille continued to smile. This crafty politician of a cardinal was also skilled at maintaining a poker face.

    ¡°Did you find out anything about those behind it?¡±

    ¡°Roughly, yes. But there are parts that remain unexined, so I cannot be certain yet.¡±

    ¡°What unexined parts?¡±

    ¡°For instance, the preparation was too prolonged to be a mere frame-up, and why pass such dangerous knowledge to a blood rtive?¡±

    Isaac discovered that the ritual performed by ire and his gang took ce at least six months ago.

    It took that long for the old city district¡¯s ghost stories and umted fear to build up. It seemed unlikely it was a trap meant to ensnare Isaac.

    The fact that ire and Camille were rted by blood was also significant.

    If it were revealed that Camille¡¯s grandson was a cultist, it would damage her reputation.

    These were aspects Isaac could not understand despite his contemtion.

    Realizing that Isaac had grasped the situation to some extent, Camille smiled and spoke.

    ¡°It seems you are now ready for a conversation, Isaac.¡±

    Ready? Isaac wondered what she meant, but Camille turned away, gesturing for him to follow.

    ¡°Though a bit tired, let¡¯s talk slowly about the doctrine of the new faith¡­ no.¡±

    Camille corrected the word she had been about to use.

    ¡°Let¡¯s discuss the Teachings of the Owl.¡±

    ***

    Camille led Isaac to the rear garden of Ultenheim Cathedral. Contrary to the cathedral being in the midst of the densely packed old city district, the rear garden, with its high walls and thickly packed trees, gave the feeling of being in a deep forest. The cathedral¡¯s lights did not reach this forest.

    Camille walked briskly across the well-trimmedwn and stopped in the middle.

    Isaac thought it might be a trap but sensed no such signs. Of course, being a powerful priest, Camille could perform miracles strong enough to instantly incinerate an ordinary person. But Isaac was not an ordinary Holy Grail Knight either.

    He did not think about who would survive the fight. Whoever won, the aftermath would be difficult to manage.

    Camille sat on a stump in the shadow of the cathedral¡¯s light, casting her face into obscurity.

    ¡°They say angels¡¯ ears are in the sunlight. At least here, no one will eavesdrop.¡±

    ¡°Are the Teachings of the Owl such dangerous talk?¡±

    ¡°It depends on who mentions them.¡±

    Camille¡¯s answer made Isaac¡¯s suspicions grow.

    Why had Camille told her grandson ire about the Teachings of the Owl and the Nameless Chaos?

    ¡°Are you the sessor of the Teachings of the Owl?¡±

    The Teachings of the Owl should have been designated heretical and censored long ago. But the materials remained and were passed on to ire and young priests. Isaac noticed that these materials ire obtained were neither too old nor grammatically outdated.

    It meant someone had been continuously organizing, copying, and passing them down.

    ¡°The term ¡®sessor¡¯ of the teachings is misleading, Holy Grail Knight. Knowledge exists, and we are all humble students before the refined order. The term ¡®sessor¡¯ implies monopolizing the knowledge.¡±

    Camille¡¯s answer gave Isaac certainty.

    Unbelievably, Cardinal Camille was either deeply immersed in or was the Owl herself. Though he couldn¡¯t be sure as there were no urate records of the Owl.

    ¡°Are you the Owl?¡±

    ¡°No. The Owl lived roughly 500 years ago¡­ or perhaps even earlier. I do not know who he was. I can only specte that he might have been one of the angels.¡±

    An angel with heretical tendencies. Among the angels of the Codex of Light that Isaac remembered, there was no one named Owl. This meant he had either be a fallen angel or was hiding his true name.

    Whoever he was, he must have been on bad terms with the Lighthouse Keeper.

    ¡°The identity of the Owl is not important. What matters is his teachings.¡±

    Camille said with a dry smile.

    ¡°Holy Grail Knight, do you know when the Teachings of the Owl were most popr?¡±

    ¡°¡­When was it?¡±

    ¡°300 years ago. Just before the white gue spread.¡±

    Isaac fell silent. Just before the white gue. Before the name of the Nameless Chaos was forgotten.

    The Order had be extremely corrupt, and the entire continent was engulfed in apocalyptic frenzy.

    Camille was saying that the new doctrine Isaac spoke of, or the Teachings of the Owl, were popr during that time.

    Isaac, maintaining hisposure, retorted.

    ¡°I heard the Order was extremely corrupt back then. If the Teachings of the Owl demanded fundamental reform and moral rectitude, it would naturally have garnered public support.¡±

    ¡°The group that most actively embraced the Teachings of the Owl were the followers of the Nameless Chaos.¡±

    Every time Camille answered, Isaac felt like he had been punched in the gut.

    ¡®These bastards were useless then and still are now.¡¯

    Isaac bitterly thought, wondering how to exin his ignorance. In hindsight, the apocalyptic followers of Chaos and the Owl¡¯s teachings, which demanded that ¡®gods do not interfere in the world,¡¯ would inevitably intersect.

    In the end, the Teachings of the Owl demanded the end of the current world order.

    ¡°¡­So, learning the Teachings of the Owl and studying the miracles of the Nameless Chaos is the essence of the essence?¡±

    Camille burst outughing at Isaac¡¯s reply.

    ¡°Of course not. I think the followers of the Nameless Chaos misunderstood the Teachings of the Owl. The teachings are about studying the order of the world and using it logically. But in the process, they summoned the white gue upon the world, which was their downfall.¡±

    ¡°¡­.¡±

    ¡°In that context, I don¡¯t personally think researching the Nameless Chaos is bad. We must bridle the monster that might awaken at any moment.¡±

    ***

    Isaac could finally surmise ire¡¯s inner thoughts.

    As a student of the Teachings of the Owl, ire believed in studying everything, including other faiths. However, as a follower of the Codex of Light, other faiths were merely subjects of research and experimentation, nothing more, nothing less.

    The Nameless Chaos was no exception.

    Camille might have heard about the Teachings of the Owl from her parents, grandparents, or teachers. She too might have gone through the same process as ire in the past and now intended to pass on the knowledge under the guise of coincidence and mistake.

    Even if her grandson was sacrificed in the process, it was a problem to be endured.

    The pursuit of knowledge was a given for followers of the Codex of Light, and through sacrifice, other paths might be found.

    Camille said that past followers had misunderstood the Teachings of the Owl, but Isaac thought she was no different.

    Followers of the Nameless Chaos only upheld the im that ¡®gods should not interfere with humans,¡¯ and Camille viewed miracles merely as thews and phenomena by which the world operated. They both interpreted the religious doctrines as they saw fit.

    Isaac realized anew that the Codex of Light likely held the most extensive collection of materials on the Nameless Chaos. Through centuries of censorship and investigation, they must have burned countless materials while also collecting them.

    ¡°¡­So, why did you entrust the investigation of your grandson to me?¡±

    ¡°I trusted your character and believed you had the skill to solve it without sacrifice.¡±

    Camille said in a voice tinged withughter.

    ¡°But most of all, I was curious if you shared our way of thinking.¡±

    Isaac had not spread the new doctrine along with the miracles of the Nameless Chaos¡­ though he had a guilty conscience.

    It was true that he had intended to create a faction within the Codex of Light and cause a division. However, that was something that had happened within the Codex of Light 300 years ago. They had brought about the apocalypse to end a corrupt world or to prevent further change.

    ¡®Is this what the Nameless Chaos wants?¡¯

    Repeating the same thing that happened 300 years ago?

    It was hard to think so. There was no need to do it now, and Isaac would not ept it. If they did, they would have chosen someone much morepliant and obedient than Isaac.

    But Camille summarized her words simply.

    ¡°Holy Grail Knight, I know you have nothing to do with the Nameless Chaos.¡±

    ¡°¡­.¡±

    Isaac averted his gaze to the air. Fortunately, the shadows of the dark forest hid his eyes.

    ¡°But I must warn you that the new doctrine you openly preach is attracting considerable attention from the priests. The Church cannot ignore it considering your influence.¡±

    Even though Camille had learned the Teachings of the Owl, she was still a cardinal of the Codex of Light Order. She had no intention of deviating from the Order¡¯s rules.

    She held knowledge of the Nameless Chaos solely for instrumental use.

    To bridle the Nameless Chaos that might awaken at any moment.

    Isaac felt as though he too was being bridled by her.

    After a moment of silence, Isaac spoke.

    ¡°So, you researched the doctrine of the Nameless Chaos for academic purposes, secretly passed it on to your grandson, and tried to rope me in as well?¡±

    ¡°I find the term ¡®roped in¡¯ a bit ufortable, Holy Grail Knight.¡±

    Camille repliednguidly, as if tired.

    ¡°I wanted to imply that your beliefs align with ours. But if you insist on taking a different path, you might end up being falsely used of being connected to the cult.¡±

    Isaacughed.

    Just as the Emperor did, the Church was trying to keep Isaac on their side in their own way. While the Emperor tried to win favor by giving away various things, the Order was trying to bridle him.

    This was how the overwhelmingly powerful Church ruled the world.

    In the image Amunds had shown him from 300 years ago, there were wealthy power brokers who had tried to bring about the end of the world.

    Isaac realized that those people were like Cardinal Camille before him.

    Those who were willing to bring about the apocalypse to ensure their victory.

    They had not learned from the great catastrophe.

    ¡°Despite all the precautions, I ended up being used of being connected to the cult.¡±

    ¡°If you follow the Church¡¯s instructions from now on, it will be fine. But¡­ precautions?¡±

    Camille frowned, puzzled by his tone, which suggested he had tried to avoid evidence linking him to the cult.

    Ignoring her question, Isaac continued.

    ¡°Cardinal, I have one question.¡±

    ¡°What is it?¡±

    ¡°Did you not consider that passing dangerous materials to those young priests might result in casualties due to their mistakes?¡±

    Camille tilted her head at Isaac¡¯s question.

    ¡°Hmm, a few might die if they¡¯re unlucky. But it doesn¡¯t affect the greater good if a few lowly lives in the old city perish. In fact, it¡¯s better to clean up the suspicious people in the old city while we have the chance.¡±

    ¡°I see. That¡¯s clear.¡±

    Isaac felt a strange rity of mind.

    It seemed an old question had been answered.

    Camille did not know that her released materials might lead to her grandson¡¯s death and thousands of casualties in the old city. She would never know since it hadn¡¯t happened yet.

    But even if it happened right before her eyes, Isaac was sure Camille would not blink an eye.

    Her purpose was up in the high heavens, not in the gutters of the old city.

    Isaac took something out of a small leather bag at his waist. It was a bag that pdins usually used to store scriptures when on an expedition, but what came out was not an ordinary scripture.

    Camille¡¯s expression hardened as she felt the powerful heretical energy from the book. It was a heretical artifact far beyond any materials she had collected.

    ¡°As you said, it might be better to do some cleaning up.¡±

    _____________

    Rate us on <em><strong>Novel Updates</strong></em>, so this novel can reach many readers like you, and also it will motivate me to trante more chapters. (For every new rating I will release one new chapter.)

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter.

    If you want to read more than 20 advance chapters or support me, you can do it at /Akaza156

 Chapter 237:

    Chapter 237:

    ¡°Let¡¯s seed moderately and cling to the trend to survive.¡±

    That had been Isaac¡¯s goal up until now.

    Even recently, that goal had not changed. Ultimately, he aimed to make the Dawn Army sessful and solidify the dominance of the Codex of Light. His intention was to achieve undeniable merits so that he could live honorably.

    Isaac had steadily achieved this goal so far. Thanks to this, he had risen to a position unimaginable for an orphan from a monastery. He even beheaded a corrupt priest without facing any repercussions.

    So far, so good. Until now.

    But Isaac thought he needed to take one more step forward.

    ¡°What is that? Where did you get it?¡±

    By this time, Camille¡¯s tone had be stiff.

    What Isaac had taken out was the ¡°Book of the Nameless Worm.¡±It was a nameless scripture that Kalsen had prepared to be a god, and Isaac had created it as a sacred object to block the backflow of Urbansus.

    Isaac flipped through the book, which recorded his actions in real-time, with his fingers.

    ¡°The Nameless Chaos is a powerful god. Its minions are powerful, and each sacred object is also powerful and strange. It is not easy to restrain oneself from using that power freely.¡±

    What if Isaac had purely enjoyed the game and actively embraced the abilities of the Nameless Chaos, using them solely for his own purposes?

    What if he had wielded and devoured everything like a weapon without considering the aftermath or the bigger picture for the future?

    Moreover, Isaac possessed knowledge about the Nine Faiths and their future.

    Isaac believed he could be the catastrophe that would bring about the end of this world.

    The reason he didn¡¯t do so was simply that he considered this world as the one he would live in.

    Even while living under the watchful eyes of the Codex of Light, he enjoyed its solid foundation and warm sunshine.

    He could be satisfied with that.

    ¡°But despite my efforts¡­ you all wield the dangerous knowledge of chaos as if it were a mere tool.¡±

    ¡°You bastard, could it be¡­!¡±

    Feeling the ominous aura growing stronger from the Book of the Nameless Worm, Camille was shocked and attempted to perform a miracle. The cardinal was granted the most powerful miracle, second only to the pope of the Codex of Light. With the proper rituals and procedures, she could even summon an angel.

    Even an immediately manifested miracle could turn a single pdin to ashes in an instant.

    At that moment, Isaac¡¯s eyes turned a deep shade of purple.

    Simultaneously, a purple halo ominously emanated from above his head.

    It was an ominous light that seemed to devour both light and darkness. Purple beams of light, like thorny tentacles, spread out, upying and disintegrating all surrounding space.

    ¡°Gah!¡±

    Camille¡¯s throat was constricted.

    Isaac stood still, merely flipping through the book, yet Camille could not utter a single word, request help, or even gesture for a miracle. It was then that she realized what Isaac was doing.

    Her eyes filled with shock.

    Lighthouse of the Watcher

    A miracle that fixed the surrounding reality into a paradise the caster desired.

    Originally, only the clergy of the Codex of Light were supposed to possess such a miracle, yet it was spreading from the body of a heretic.

    Isaac, with a purple halo like a crown, looked at Camille with ominous eyes. The surroundings were transforming into a terrible paradise¡ªor rather, hell¡ªof a heretic ording to Isaac¡¯s will.

    ¡°So far, I have used this miracle to shine a light on another paradise outside the Codex of Light only once, Cardinal. It was merely an experiment to see if it was possible. Since then, I thought I would never use it again.¡±

    Camille realized that her body was grotesquely transforming. She tried to scream, but the purple light turned her mouth, tongue, teeth, and jaw into a single, amorphous mass.

    Her fingers twisted into bizarre spirals, and from those twisted fingers, more fingers sprouted in a fractal pattern.

    ¡°But the Church shakes my resolve.¡±

    Isaac looked at Camille with cold eyes.

    As a cardinal, she should have had some resistance to any heretical miracle. However, she had been too close to Isaac, and Isaac was pouring the full power of the Lighthouse of the Watcher into her.

    Naturally, the surrounding area was also affected to some extent. The air turned into sulfuric acid, sulfur, and methane, and eyes, ears, and teeth sprouted from tree branches. The grass melted like mucus, bubbling and fizzling.

    In the midst of that hellscape, Camille stood, her form twisting grotesquely.

    [Oooooooooh!]

    Finally, Camille, or rather, the ¡°Monster of the Old Quarter,¡± lost her humanity and roared with a grotesque scream.

    Isaac finally closed the Book of the Nameless Worm.

    ¡°You said even the Nameless Chaos can be a tool if necessary. Very well, I agree. But you did not mean to exclude yourself from that, did you?¡±

    ***

    The horrific screams that shattered the silence of the night turned the Ultenheim Cathedral upside down. The startled priests woke up and rushed outside. The Ultenheim Pdin Order, who were on guard, did the same.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on? Did the Immortal Order invade?¡±

    ¡°No, I don¡¯t know. Even if they did, it should be happening outside the walls, but this¡­¡±

    ¡°They say they heard screams from the back courtyard! Something¡¯s happening there¡­¡±

    The pdins and priests hurried toward the back courtyard. However, the corridor they were heading down copsed with a loud crash. Clouds of dust rose, and screams erupted from all around.

    ¡°Aaaargh!¡±

    [Oooooooooh!]

    Another monstrous roar drowned out the screams. The head of the Ultenheim Pdin Order, Erheim, who had been at the front and got buried under the corridor¡¯s rubble, dug himself out and rushed outside. Thanks to this, he was the first to see the monster that had attacked Ultenheim Cathedral.

    ¡°What the¡­¡±

    Its silhouette appeared through the dust clouds¡ªa gigantic giant nearly ten meters tall. The giant, with pale skin, stood among the twisted trees, its thirteen arms, which grew haphazardly, iling and reaching toward the sky, while its lower body was fixed like a pir, rooting into the ground.

    It seemed as if an unknown entity awkwardly mimicked a tree, mocking the heavens.

    Erheim felt a primal revulsion.

    ¡°Pdins, assemble! A heretical angel has invaded! We must hold out until the priests can summon an angel!¡±

    Erheim didn¡¯t know exactly what it was, but he assumed it must be some heretical angel. Even if it wasn¡¯t an angel, if it was powerful enough to break through the walls of Ultenheim and the miracles surrounding the cathedral, they had to respond at that level.

    ¡°Form four squads with the senior knights as leaders and attack from all sides! We don¡¯t know the enemy¡¯s abilities, so approach defensively! Respond as safely as possible! Vice-Captain Cedric, find out where this thing infiltrated from!¡±

    The Ultenheim Pdin Order, the elite among elites, did not panic despite the sudden situation and proceeded with their extermination mission ording to protocol. However, Erheim couldn¡¯t shake his doubts.

    There were no signs of breaches or attacks in the surroundings.

    ¡®So it was summoned here, but by whom, right in the middle of Ultenheim Cathedral?¡¯

    The monster began to thrash its arms more aggressively as it was attacked, causing widespread destruction and copse throughout the cathedral. However, as the attack continued, unsettling reports followed.

    ¡°Captain Erheim, miracles aren¡¯t working!¡±

    ¡°¡­Miracles aren¡¯t working?¡±

    For dealing with such grotesque entities, miracles were more effective than physical attacks. A pdin¡¯s sword, imbued with holy mes, should work, yet reports kepting that they weren¡¯t causing proper damage.

    As the dust and moonlight settled, the creature¡¯s form became clearer. Its twisted shape, with wrinkled skin like tree bark, was adorned with all kinds of sacred objects¡ªrelics, vestments, and icons¡ªin a grotesque array.

    It was unclear how these sacred objects, which should have been treated with reverence, ended up in the monster¡¯s possession, but it was evident that these relics were preventing miracles from working. The pdins were horrified by the sphemous sight. Even while continuing its assault, some of the monster¡¯s hands made gestures as if crossing themselves and praying.

    Each time it made those gestures, an intangible force radiated like a miracle, causing further destruction throughout the cathedral.

    The creature itself was an abominable sphemy.

    ¡°Damn it¡­¡±

    Erheim cursed as he prepared to join the fight, frustrated by the monster¡¯s seemingly mocking movements. At that moment, he saw someone wielding a sword of light, charging through the dimly lit forest. The figure swiftly passed the pdins and, with a shining sword strike, severed the monster¡¯s wrist.

    [Oooooooooh!]

    The monster roared in agony, twisting its body. Seeing the previously invulnerable creature¡¯s wrist being severed, Erheim couldn¡¯t help but shout in exhration.

    ¡°The Holy Grail Knight!¡±

    ***

    ¡®It¡¯s taken on a more grotesque form than I expected.¡¯

    Isaac had distanced himself from the area immediately after the monster appeared, knowing that being found nearby would raise suspicion. Fortunately, only Camille, who had now turned into the monster, knew that Isaac had gone to the courtyard.

    The cathedral was now nearly a third destroyed by the monster that Camille had be.

    Camille had requested Isaac to prevent incidents in the old quarter. While resolving that task, Isaac had sessfully preempted a monster that might have appeared in the old quarter.

    However, by turning Camille into a monster, it ended up with a monster in the old quarter after all.

    ¡®Honestly, she dug her own grave.¡¯

    ¡°Holy Grail Knight! The creature uses invisible powers! Be careful!¡±

    The injured pdins, who had fallen from the attacks, called out while protecting themselves with miracles. Isaac nodded. Although others couldn¡¯t see it, Isaac¡¯s chaotic eyes could.

    It was likely because the miracles were created by the Doctrine of Chaos.

    Camille, now a monster, had more than just thirteen hands. Four long, invisible hands were waving in the air, praising the heavens. These hands moved to strike only when the other hands made prayer gestures.

    As the monster Camille swung her hands fiercely, seemingly enraged by Isaac, she made a strange praying motion, aiming at Isaac. Being able to see the invisible hands, Isaac easily dodged. The movements were toorge to be difficult to avoid, the problem was merely their invisibility.

    ¡°No way¡­¡±

    ¡°Who is that man?¡±

    To the surrounding pdins, Isaac appeared to be evading invisible attacks with a miraculous ability.

    Isaac continued his assault. Although miracles did not work, shing attacks with his sword did.

    The creature was toorge, and it was unclear where its head was, making it difficult to kill it instantly. However, Isaac shed and wounded its body as if chopping down a tree.

    The monster Camille tried to crush Isaac with its grotesque hands, but she was far too slow for Isaac, who had evaded even Elil¡¯s swordsmanship.

    The ground around them was soaked with the monster Camille¡¯s red blood. Priests arriving at the scene were horrified and began performing sealing and exorcism rites.

    As the sacred hymns and prayers began to flow, the monster Camille¡¯s movements visibly slowed and weakened. Just as Isaac made a deep sh to its waist, causing it to stagger and fall.

    Isaac seized the moment and shouted.

    ¡°Now!¡±

    The pdins understood immediately and charged en masse. Dozens of weapons, wrapped in miracles, simultaneously tore into the monster Camille¡¯s body.

    ¡®What a pitiful end for a cardinal.¡¯

    Isaac felt a strange sense of satisfaction at the ironic and tragic end of Camille, who had once been revered by the Church.

    _____________

    Rate us on <em><strong>Novel Updates</strong></em>, so this novel can reach many readers like you, and also it will motivate me to trante more chapters. (For every new rating I will release one new chapter.)

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter.

    If you want to read more than 20 advance chapters or support me, you can do it at /Akaza156

 Chapter 238:

    The rumor of a monster appearing in the heart of the Ultenheim Cathedral spread throughout the entire capital in no time.

    Although the monster had turned into white sand shortly after dying, the rumors persisted.

    Given the enormous size of the monster and the number of people awakened by its grotesque screams, it was impossible to erase the traces of the cathedral¡¯s destruction. With the Dawn Army¡¯s arrival imminent, the sinister event within the Codex of Light Cathedral rapidly expanded, and naturally, the incident reached the Emperor¡¯s ears.

    ¡°The priests call it the Whitewood in Prayer.¡±

    Waltzemer spoke with a mixed expression of worry and amusement. Isaac found the name far more usible than ¡°the monster of the old city¡± and showed an incredulous look.

    ¡°They coined a euphemistic name since the priests are forbidden to speak about the incident. They named it after its appearance. I¡¯m curious about what it looked like. How was it?¡±

    Isaac, being at the center of this incident and having resolved the problem, couldn¡¯t avoid the Emperor¡¯s summons.

    ¡°It was just a grotesque old hag with many limbs and her lower body fused to the ground.¡±

    ¡°An old hag? So it was female. I hadn¡¯t heard that.¡±Isaac quickly changed the subject, realizing his mistake.

    ¡°But it¡¯s surprising that the Church is keeping quiet. It was clearly a terrorist act by the Immortal Order. I thought they¡¯d be infuriated enough to publicize it and criticize the capital¡¯s defense state.¡±

    ¡°Ah, there¡¯s an intriguing story behind that.¡±

    Waltzemer continued, tapping his fingers together as if he found it amusing.

    ¡°It turns out the monster¡¯s true identity was none other than Cardinal Camille.¡±

    ¡°What? No way. How could that be?¡±

    Isaac acted as if he had heard the most shocking news in the world for the first time. Waltzemer continued, despite finding Isaac¡¯s reaction slightly over-the-top.

    ¡°I heard some priests went missing during the incident, including Cardinal Camille. Her body wasn¡¯t found in the debris. Moreover, several relics used by Cardinal Camille were discovered on the Whitewood in Prayer¡¯s corpse.¡±

    ¡°How is that possible¡­ Could it be that a priest from the Immortal Order attacked Cardinal Camille and stole them, or perhaps transformed her?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a possibility, but if the Immortal Order¡¯s priests could infiltrate the capital¡¯s defenses, breach the cathedral¡¯s protection, evade the Pdin Order¡¯s vignce, and ovee the miracles and relics protecting the Cardinal, I would call off the Dawn Army¡¯s expedition. Fighting such foes would be madness.¡±

    Waltzemer didn¡¯t take Isaac¡¯s suggestion seriously, thinking he was joking.

    ¡°But the bigger issue is something else. ording to Investigator Isolde, numerous materials rted to Nameless Chaos were found in Cardinal Camille¡¯s quarters. It suggests that Cardinal Camille might have been a cultist.¡±

    Isaac had considered nting documents about Nameless Chaos in Camille¡¯s office. However, he refrained, thinking it would be too conspicuous. Yet, it seemed that not all the materials she had were discovered by Isaac.

    If Camille was alive, it might be different, but if she were dead, the priests who envied her and coveted her position would expose her secrets. The Codex of Light¡¯s concealment of the incident wasn¡¯t because a monster appeared in the heart of the cathedral but out of fear that the Cardinal might be revealed as a cultist.

    This was no ordinary scandal.

    ¡°This is serious.¡±

    ¡°Indeed. The Church¡¯s corruption isn¡¯t new, but this crosses a line.¡±

    The Emperor couldn¡¯t hide his delight.

    Did Camille¡¯s disappearance or death deal a blow to the Church?

    Regrettably for the Church¡¯s enemies, it did not.

    The Church operated on a strict hierarchy. Miracles were assigned ording to rank, and personal faith only influenced the strength of these miracles, not their variety or number. Even high-ranking priests like Cardinals could be easily reced by promoting a lower-ranking priest. It was a simple matter of swapping out parts.

    Theck of a Cardinal meant a deficiency in the Church¡¯sbat power equivalent to that Cardinal. To fill the gap, the Church would promptly appoint a new Cardinal and close the incident.

    This was both the root of the Codex of Light¡¯s chronic corruption and its strength and resilience. Thanks to this intricate hierarchy, the Order functioned robustly and organically, even if a position suddenly became vacant.

    ¡°So the Church will likely appoint a new Cardinal soon.¡±

    But the Emperor intended to exploit this system.

    He nned to ce his ally in the vacant position. It was cheaper and easier than bribing an existing Cardinal. Isaac considered asking if the Emperor had someone in mind but decided against it. The thought of another person like Juan made him nauseous.

    However, a greedy pig was preferable to a fanatic capable of experimenting that could destroy the old city and endanger her grandson.

    Isaac trusted the Emperor to handle it adeptly.

    ***

    Although Isaac hadn¡¯t expected the incident in the cathedral to end this way, it had a profound impact on him. Until now, he had lived as unobtrusively, passively, and defensively as possible.

    To survive.

    Even when meeting Camille, this approach hadn¡¯t changed. He thought he could get angry and threaten a bit but ultimately reach apromise and part ways. If someone had told Isaac a day earlier, ¡°You¡¯ll turn a Cardinal into a monster and then kill them,¡± he would have thought them insane.

    But Camille showed him that living passively would ultimately align him with monsters.

    ¡°You mean there¡¯s a faction within the Church that supports me?¡±

    Camille¡¯s attempt to threaten him became a clue for Isaac.

    She warned him about the many followers of his ¡°new doctrine¡± within the Codex of Light. She imed the Owl¡¯s doctrine was the root of the organization worshiping Nameless Chaos.

    Regrettably for her, that meant Isaac¡¯s strategy was seeding.

    ¡°From now on, I need to act more aggressively.¡±

    It seemed the organization hadn¡¯t yet developed significant cohesion, but it was a sign that Isaac¡¯s ns were bearing fruit. Although the Owl¡¯s teachings were the foundation, it didn¡¯t matter.

    Even if Isaac went a little rogue, there were forces within the Order to shield him.

    The angel tolerated him because he was useful. Young priests cheered for him. Nobles and the Emperor strove to win over the rising divinity.

    In this situation, simply watching the Church fall apart was foolish.

    Isaac decided to steer the Codex of Light Church in the direction he wanted.

    Camille was the start and the first step.

    Somehow, he felt the second step would involve the Inquisitor before him.

    ¡°Please don¡¯t take offense, Sir Issacrea. This is merely a procedural formality.¡±

    Naturally, the Codex of Light began investigating the chaos at Ultenheim Cathedral. Inquisitors from the Inquisition Office detained and interrogated every priest and pdin present during the incident.

    Isaac was no exception.

    He continued the conversation with the Inquisitor in a small room designated as a temporary interrogation chamber.

    ¡°I heard that Cardinal Camille¡¯s mishap was due to dabbling in forbidden knowledge¡­¡±

    The scarred Inquisitor looked at Isaac with gleaming pale gray eyes.

    ¡°Where did you hear that?¡±

    ¡°I have a few priest acquaintances in the cathedral. Some of them are even from the Inquisition.¡±

    The Inquisitor clicked his tongue, seemingly recalling Isaac¡¯s partner, Isolde.

    ¡°Hmm, I see. It¡¯s true that Cardinal Camille Sarea dabbled in the forbidden secrets of Nameless Chaos. Quite a few, including her assistant priests, were aware of this. It¡¯s appalling that she abused her position to recklessly delve into forbidden knowledge.¡±

    ¡°Was there no one who reported this to the Inquisition?¡±

    Isaac asked, sounding genuinely astonished.

    The Inquisitor pursed his lips but soon replied calmly.

    ¡°Cardinal Camille herself was the chief censor responsible for consolidating such reports and scrutinizing forbidden information. Cardinals have the highest level of ess to knowledge.¡±

    Isaac had anticipated this. To pursue the teachings of the Owl and approach forbidden secrets, one would naturally need to possess those secrets first. In that sense, Camille¡¯s position was optimal. Falling into corruption was a natural progression.

    However, the Inquisition wasn¡¯t a lenient organization. If a vige priest could make such a judgment, there would be no need for Inquisitors to be dispatched.

    ¡°But she also knew best how to handle such secrets cautiously. Therefore, I won¡¯t make any rash judgments that anyone could make, Sir Issacrea.¡±

    ¡°Please, go ahead.¡±

    ¡°On the night of the incident, Cardinal Camille¡¯s secretary testified that you visited herte at night. However, the entry records show no record of your visit. This means you met with Cardinal Camille in secret. Can you exin why?¡±

    Isaac didn¡¯t panic. This was an expected question, and he had a prepared answer.

    ¡°I was on a mission assigned by Cardinal Camille.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s see¡­ It was regarding the serial murders in the cemetery.¡±

    ¡°Yes. While investigating the case, I discovered a shocking secret about Cardinal Camille. As a Pdin of the Codex of Light, I didn¡¯t want false rumors about the respected Cardinal to spread.¡±

    ¡°A shocking secret?¡±

    ¡°I found out that Cardinal Camille had been conducting heretical rituals in the underground crypt, umting sinister power through these rites. I found traces of these rituals and summons in the crypt. Even now, anyone who visits there will find disturbing remnants of Chaos.¡±

    Isaac shamelessly pinned the me for everything that happened with ire¡¯s group in the crypt on Camille.

    The Inquisitor was taken aback by Isaac¡¯s words and rummaged through his documents. Researching forbidden secrets was grounds for disciplinary action, but conducting rituals and implementing them was an entirely different matter.

    ¡°I couldn¡¯t believe that the esteemed Cardinal Camille would engage in such acts. I thought someone was framing her, so I contacted her secretly to warn her. But when I mentioned disrupting the ritual¡­ she seemed distressed and headed to the rear garden alone.¡±

    ¡°¡­And then the incident happened?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    The Inquisitor leaned back, looking fatigued.

    His pale gray eyes, scarred face, and his unyielding demeanor before Isaac¡ªall indicated that he wasn¡¯t a novice Inquisitor. His long experience told him that Isaac¡¯s story was a lie.

    ¡°Are you asking me to believe that story, Sir Issacrea? A story with so many holes¡­¡±

    Isaac smiled at the Inquisitor¡¯s words.

    ¡°What if you don¡¯t believe it?¡±

    ***

    The Inquisitor¡¯s expression hardened.

    He felt a different aura from the young Holy Grail Knight, who had been calmlyplying with the investigation until moments ago.

    ¡°Cardinal Camille Sarea indeed delved into forbidden secrets. She conducted rituals in the crypt, collected materials, and became a monster. If there¡¯s a deeper truth hidden here, don¡¯t you think a higher will might be involved?¡±

    The Inquisitor, now sitting upright, felt an inexplicable psychological pressure from Isaac¡¯s violet eyes.

    ¡°Is it the role of an Inquisitor to uncover the truth?¡±

    Isaac¡¯s words, while absurd to say to an investigator seeking the truth, hit the Inquisitor¡¯s mark.

    The Inquisitor¡¯s role wasn¡¯t to uncover the truth but to create a truth that suited the Church¡¯s narrative.

    ¡°No, it is not.¡±

    ¡°Then do your job. The poor Cardinal has be a monster and likely went to hell. Perhaps she might even pray for the poor Inquisitor in that ce¡­¡±

    The Inquisitor suddenly remembered that the Holy Grail Knight before him had the power to repel angels, held the title of the Resurrected Saint, and had a mentor-disciple rtionship with the newly appointed Cardinal Juan Liar. They had even fought side by side in battles on missions from the angel.

    If Isaac was involved, it was the Inquisitor¡¯s job to clear the ¡°innocent¡± Isaac of any charges.

    ¡°I made a mistake, Sir Holy Grail Knight. Listening to you, I find it suspicious that the assistant priest who didn¡¯t report Cardinal Camille¡¯s vile actions is more to me. We will handle this appropriately to avoid any inconvenience to you.¡±

    ¡°Do as you see fit.¡±

    Isaac stood up, indicating that the interrogation was over. The Inquisitor stood upright and respectfully saw him off until he left the room. Suddenly, Isaac turned as if he remembered something.

    ¡°Oh, by the way, there are a few things in Cardinal Camille¡¯s records I¡¯m interested in. May I take a look?¡±

    ¡°Ah, those need to be reviewed and re-examined by the Censorship Office¡­¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll send them to the Censorship Office after I¡¯m done with them.¡±

    ¡°¡­I¡¯ll have the materials sent to your quarters immediately.¡±

    _____________

    Rate us on <em><strong>Novel Updates</strong></em>, so this novel can reach many readers like you, and also it will motivate me to trante more chapters. (For every new rating I will release one new chapter.)

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter.

    If you want to read more than 20 advance chapters or support me, you can do it at /Akaza156

 Chapter 239:

    Chapter 239:

    Isaac had taken the trouble to obtain Camille¡¯s data because he, too, knew almost nothing about the Nameless Chaos. The information he had about it was only the surface-level details expressed in the game, thanks to the Church¡¯s Censorship Department¡¯s obsessive removal and seizure efforts.

    Even the agents of the Nameless Chaos knew nothing about it, so the Censorship Department¡¯s diligence could be considered impressive.

    Until the inquisitor¡¯s smuggled documents arrived at his quarters, Isaac headed to the orphanage at Ultenheim Cathedral.

    ¡°Holy Grail Knight!¡±

    A priest who cared for the orphanage children approached with a surprised look. Behind him, a few small children hid and watched Isaac. He felt a strange sense of nostalgia.

    ¡°Hello, Father. I was concerned about the children being frightened by recent events, so I came to check on them.¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­ yes. They were quite scared. I never imagined Cardinal Camille would be involved in such¡­.¡±

    The priest, bewildered, patted the children¡¯s heads. The fact that the news had reached even a low-ranking priest meant the rumors had spread widely. It was only natural since Camille¡¯s personal artifacts were found inside the monster.

    ¡°I was also shocked to hear the news. I never thought the monster I beheaded was the respected Cardinal¡­.¡±Isaac¡¯s gaze shifted to a girl who was staring at him intently. She was the girl he had rescued from the pyre.

    Isaac spoke to the priest.

    ¡°For that reason, Father, I am concerned about the safety of the children here.¡±

    The priest looked distressed.

    The Ultenheim Cathedral¡¯s orphanage was one of the best facilities for orphans in the empire. If even this ce, considered a rearguard, wasn¡¯t safe, where could be considered safe?

    However, since monsters had appeared in the cathedral a few days ago and killed several priests, he couldn¡¯t simply ask for trust.

    ¡°Then¡­.¡±

    ¡°If it¡¯s all right, I¡¯d like to move the girl I entrusted to you to a safer ce.¡±

    Even though Isolde had carefully found a ce for her, the possibility that the Church could use her as a hostage made him reluctant to leave her here.

    Isaac nned to send the girl to the Issacrea estate for protection.

    The priest exined various procedures and circumstances, looking troubled. He wasn¡¯t worried about losing the child but genuinely believed that leaving her at the orphanage was the best option. Although Isaac knew the priest meant well, he couldn¡¯t trust the Church¡¯s upper echelons.

    Furthermore, since Isaac intended to continue walking a dangerous line, he was even more cautious.

    In the end, the priest couldn¡¯t sway Isaac and agreed to let the girl go.

    ¡°Hmm, if that is your decision, there is nothing more to be done. Ah, we haven¡¯t yet performed the ceremony to annul the death insurance contract. The cathedral scheduled to conduct the ceremony was severely damaged¡­.¡±

    Isaac was taken aback to learn that the death insurance contract had not been annulled yet, but he couldn¡¯t wait indefinitely.

    ¡°There are priests in my estate, so I will ask them.¡±

    ¡°Hmm, then please take care of it.¡±

    The priest, crouching to the girl¡¯s level and patting her head, spoke.

    ¡°Ang, when you go to the Holy Grail Knight¡¯s estate, you will live in a better ce than here. Don¡¯t forget to pray daily to the Codex of Light, read the scriptures regrly to purify your inner soul, and¡­.¡±

    Isaac felt a surge of anger watching a Church member, who had almost put the girl on a pyre, telling her not to forget to pray to the Codex of Light. In hindsight, it had been a mistake to leave her at the cathedral, but the insurance contract had left him no choice.

    ¡®Whether it¡¯s the Immortal Order that put death insurance on a child or the Codex of Light that tried to burn her at the stake, they are all filled with madmen.¡¯

    ¡°Is the child¡¯s name Ang? Does she speak?¡±

    Isaac interrupted the priest¡¯s lengthy instructions. The priest, flustered, nodded.

    ¡°Ah, she can¡¯t speak yet, but I needed a name to call her by, so I named her.¡±

    The name felt strongly religious. Isaac nodded and approached the girl, extending his hand.

    ¡°Ang.¡±

    Ang stared at Isaac before grasping his hand. Other than losing her voice, she showed no other symptoms, which was a relief.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go home.¡±

    ***

    A vige on the outskirts of Ultenheim.

    A wandering monk sat in a small chapel, which could barely amodate twenty people. Wandering monks were priests who retraced the paths of saints and angels, making pilgrimages to holynds. They traveled to remote areas where priests did not settle, and were highly weed by residents who always yearned for miracles. Particrly, these monks were more respected as they endured hardships solely for their faith, without regard for money or power.

    As the wandering monk recited the scriptures from beginning to end for the third time that day, a priest approached and sat beside him.

    ¡°We received a reply from the Inquisitor.¡±

    The wandering monk stopped reciting but remained in a praying posture, motionless.

    ¡°What did he say?¡±

    ¡°He reported no peculiarities about the Holy Grail Knight. He even added that he is an exemry pdin who sets a good example for others.¡±

    The wandering monk let out a long sigh, and the priest murmured in frustration.

    ¡°This false prophet doesn¡¯t seem as easy to deal with as Kalsen.¡±

    The wandering monk raised his head and stared at the priest.

    ¡°Kalsen wasn¡¯t an easy opponent either, brother.¡±

    ¡°I apologize. Indeed, it was difficult to lead Kalsen down the path of pride. He was like a lion, steadfastly believing in his path without wavering. But Isaac Issacrea¡­ seems to possess the cunning of a fox as well.¡±

    The priest shrugged in exasperation as he continued.

    ¡°All our brethren in the Watchers¡¯ Council know how careful Sister Camille was in her research on the Nameless Chaos. The Censorship Director deemed her cautious enough to pass on the information. The incident at the cathedral is clearly rted to the Holy Grail Knight.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°That the Inquisitor filed such a report means he had some means of coercion or persuasion. Kalsen wouldn¡¯t have done that. He would have boldly dered, ¡®I studied heretical doctrines and killed her¡¯ after beheading Camille.¡±

    ¡°Kalsen was a great pdin.¡±

    ¡°But Isaac, by some means, turned her into a monster and killed her in front of everyone while pretending he had nothing to do with it.¡±

    Although the oue of Camille¡¯s death was the same, the responses werepletely different. Kalsen chose the path of a lion, while Isaac chose the path of a fox.

    The troubling part was that Isaac¡¯s power didn¡¯t seem any less than Kalsen¡¯s. If Isaac indeed had a hand in turning Camille into a monster, it indicated he was flexible enough to use forbidden knowledge willingly.

    The wandering monk stared intently at the priest and asked.

    ¡°What is your point?¡±

    ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m not sure if choosing Isaac as the next false prophet was wise. Don¡¯t you think he is too dangerous? Even within the Church, the atmosphere of reverence towards him is unusual. If this continues, he will be uncontroble.¡±

    ¡°Uncontroble, you say?¡±

    ¡°I fear he might break away from the Church altogether and form a faction like Elil. Look at the young priests whispering about the Owl and people like Cardinal Juan. Even now, they seem uncontroble within the Church¡¯s grasp¡­.¡±

    ¡°Sigh¡­¡±

    The wandering monk grimaced and let out a long sigh. The priest realized he had overstepped. Before he could apologize, the wandering monk spoke.

    ¡°Brother, it was the higher-ups who designated Isaac as the false prophet. As long as the Lighthouse Keeper has chosen, we need not imagine or worry about other choices. Our task is to help realize their will on this earth.¡±

    ¡°I, I¡¯m sorry¡­¡±

    ¡°The Holy Grail Knight is uncontroble, you say?¡±

    The wandering monk patted the priest¡¯s shoulder before gripping it tightly.

    ¡°Brother, as long as the angels¡¯ wings ze in the heavens, the bnce of power has never wavered. Even the Elil faction was part of the grand n towards the Millennial Kingdom.¡±

    The priest winced at the strength of the grip and barely suppressed a groan as he replied.

    ¡°Y-yes, I¡¯m sorry. I was just concerned.¡±

    ¡°You seem to be apologizing a lot today. Perhaps we called you to the Watchers¡¯ Council too early.¡±

    The priest began to apologize again but stopped and bowed his head quietly. The wandering monk nodded, seemingly satisfied by his silence, and released his shoulder.

    ¡°Brother, young priests, the Pope, Cardinals, none of them matter. Remember, we are the only ones in the Church who hear the angels and carry out their will. Our role is to ensure these prideful and greedy sheep remain within the fold.¡±

    ¡°¡­I will remember.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m d you understand.¡±

    The wandering monk stood up. The priest, bewildered, rose with him and asked.

    ¡°Where are you going?¡±

    ¡°I must meet this Holy Grail Knight Isaac in person. Surely he wouldn¡¯t turn this feeble old man into a monster.¡±

    ***

    Isolde had gone to Isaac¡¯s quarters but couldn¡¯t find him.

    In the courtyard of the VIP amodations provided by the pce, carriages were lined up, ready to depart for Issacrea territory. Baggage was packed as if they were about to leave, but Isaac was nowhere to be found. Isolde finally spotted him hanging upside down from a tree in the garden.

    ¡°What are you doing?¡±

    Isaac opened his eyes at her question.

    ¡°I am trying to understand what the tentacle is thinking.¡±

    Isolde thought he must have lost his mind from hanging upside down for too long, but she tried to understand his words, ncing at his left hand.

    ¡°Since the tentacle is attached to your left hand, you¡¯re trying to understand its feelings by hanging upside down like it does?¡±

    ¡°Precisely. But it doesn¡¯t seem to be helping.¡±

    Isaac sighed and climbed down from the tree.

    Despite the absurdity of his actions, Isolde found herself annoyed that he looked handsome even after hanging upside down.

    ¡°Why are you suddenly concerned about the tentacle¡¯s thoughts?¡±

    Isaac silently pointed to a pile of documents stacked beside the tree. Isolde examined them and quickly realized they were Inquisition documents, causing her to jump in surprise.

    ¡°These are materials about heretics!¡±

    The contents were disorganized, but they ranged from information about the Nameless Chaos, rituals of ancient dead gods, to barbaric legends from apocryphal texts about exiled beings. Among them, the materials on the Nameless Chaos were the most abundant.

    ¡°Why do you have these?¡±

    ¡°I read a bit about the events, miracles, and rituals conducted by the Nameless Chaos¡¯s cult before it was eradicated. But even after reading just a little, it made me feel uneasy. The contents were bizarrely cruel and infuriating.¡±

    _____________

    Rate us on <em><strong>Novel Updates</strong></em>, so this novel can reach many readers like you, and also it will motivate me to trante more chapters. (For every new rating I will release one new chapter.)

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 Chapter 240:

    Chapter 240:

    [The Nameless Chaos is watching you.]

    Isaac felt a twinge of emotion as he recalled the records he had read in the documents. Responding to this, the Nameless Chaos suppressed his immersion.

    Isaac was furious.

    Until now, he had vaguely thought that the sinsmitted by the Nameless Chaos cult were simply ¡®bad.¡¯ He even harbored some sympathy for the fact that they all died of the White gue. However, after reading the historical documents, his head spun.

    They were people who deserved destruction.

    If the Nameless Chaos hadn¡¯t already annihted them, Isaac might have made it his mission to do so himself.

    If he had read these documents before growing with the help of the Nameless Chaos, he might have hesitated to use its miracles for his entire life.

    Now, he could tolerate it because he knew that the Nameless Chaos never endorsed the past actions of the cult and showed him endless favor regardless of what he did.

    However, it was still hard to ept the numerous massacres, torture, and madness carried out in the name of the Nameless Chaos.He could understand why all faiths and followers shunned the Nameless Chaos and had the worst rtions with it.

    ¡®Even though it¡¯s such an entity, can I tolerate it because it¡¯s helpful?¡¯

    Perhaps 300 years was enough time to forget the shock and terror. The current generation had lost the chance to feel fear and hatred due to the persistent censorship by the cult.

    For now, the bigger threat was the Immortal Order.

    ¡°For example, they performed a ritual called the Shedding Ceremony. It was a ritual to draw external power through the human body, transforming the essence beneath the skin. This ceremony was a mixture of the Key Ceremony of the Codex of Light, the Doctrine of Rebirth held by the Crucible of the World, and the Blood Ritual of the Red Chalice. The faith in the Nameless Chaos wasn¡¯t originally rooted but seemed to be a mix of various faiths¡¯ refuse, which is why it appears so jumbled. Naturally, the divine beasts they could summon or the power they could obtain couldn¡¯t be normal. The ritual primarily involves transforming oneself or others, and ire¡¯s ritual was sloppy because she didn¡¯t offer a proper sacrifice. The most suitable sacrifice would be a baby less than six months old¡­¡±

    ¡°Isaac,e here.¡±

    Isolde approached Isaac and gave him a tight hug.

    ¡°First, calm down, take a deep breath.¡±

    ¡°Hoo.¡±

    ¡°Now, exhale slowly, inhale again¡­ Look up at the sky once. Come over here to this sunny spot and get some sunlight. There.¡±

    Isaac obediently did as he was told. As Isolde gently stroked his back, he felt his nausea subside.

    The Nameless Chaos intervened to suppress his excessive emotional agitation. This was why he could perceive this world like a game. But the evil history rted to the Nameless Chaos couldn¡¯t be treated like that. Perhaps because it was connected to him, he couldn¡¯t view it as someone else¡¯s problem.

    ¡°Hmm, I¡¯ve calmed down. Isolde, you¡¯re quite good at this, aren¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°You see all sorts of things when you work as an inquisitor.¡±

    As Isaac looked at Isolde¡¯s bitter smile, he realized she wasn¡¯t as surprised by the documents as he was.

    She had been finding and burning such materials or eliminating the individuals involved. It was natural that she had a much higher tolerance than he did.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to be so shocked by this, Isaac.¡±

    Isaac silently looked at his left hand.

    ¡°It seems this is one of the tests I must face. Whether I can truly wander around trying to save people.¡±

    Isolde quietly observed Isaac before lifting the documents.

    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, it might be best to burn these.¡±

    Isaac was startled and looked at her in surprise.

    ¡°Ah, no, that¡¯s not necessary.¡±

    ¡°These are merely records. If they¡¯re so evil and damaging to your mind, there¡¯s no need to use them to perform rituals or research miracles. There¡¯s no need to immerse yourself in or empathize with a madman¡¯s thoughts. You¡¯ve been doing well with your duties without such things, haven¡¯t you?¡±

    Isaac was at a loss for words.

    As she said, no matter what the past cultists of the Nameless Chaos did, they were all already writhing in hell. Even if a few asionally crawled up and babbled nonsense, it was the meaningless ramblings of madmen. Isaac didn¡¯t need to respond.

    All the past is gone.

    Isaac, who lived in the present, didn¡¯t need to feel pressured by the bygone Urbansus. If he hated and resented them and devoted himself to killing simr people, his own life would undoubtedly be distorted.

    ¡°Your task, Isaac, is to prevent such things from happening again. You¡¯re already doing well and working hard, aren¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°¡­Yes.¡±

    Isaac exhaled a long sigh and pped his cheek hard. He felt a bit more clear-headed.

    It was an issue caused by being unable topletely separate the past Nameless Chaos from the current Tentacle. He could never fully forget the fear of failure, but he realized that he needed to stay alert because of it.

    Seeing that Isaac had regained hisposure, Isolde handed the documents back to him. He looked at them again and spoke.

    ¡°Alright. I know where I need to go now.¡±

    ¡°Where?¡±

    ¡°To the Issacrea territory. But before that, I have a ce to visit. Isolde, can you go to the territory first with Ang? I¡¯ll follow you shortly.¡±

    ***

    Although documents rted to the Nameless Chaos had indeed been found among the burial items in the underground catbs, they were not the majority. Unless it was a queen¡¯s tomb, the items taken into the coffin weren¡¯t likely to be precious. There was always the risk of looting, and the living could use them more valuably.

    In fact, most of the documents and tools ire obtained had been secretly hidden by Camille for her to find.

    So, where did the sources of these valuable materials that Camille and the Inquisition Bureau hade from?

    Isaacbined his in-game knowledge with Camille¡¯s documents to pinpoint the location.

    He flew towards that ce on Nell.

    The wind tousled his hair.

    Isaac brushed his hair back and enjoyed the breeze created by Nell slicing through the sky. As expected, Nell was a pretty decent mount. Thanks to his ability tomunicate actively with Nell, it was easier to control than a horse, and its translucent body was not easily visible even in the sky.

    Beside him, Hesabel flew along, her red wings spread wide. Though she was still awkward at flying, she managed to keep up, turning into red mist whenever shegged behind. Hearing their destination, she asked Isaac curiously.

    ¡°Baelbaden? Is that the ce?¡±

    ¡°Do you know it?¡±

    ¡°Of course. It¡¯s a famous hot spring resort in the Empire. I heard it copsed about 20 years ago¡­¡±

    Baelbaden was located roughly halfway between Ultenheim and Issacrea territory. Normally, they would have to take a detour along the road, but flying allowed them to go straight there without wasting time.

    It was originally a famous tourist spot visited by wealthy merchants and nobles, but it fell into ruin when the Codex of Light cracked down on it for its decadence and depravity.

    ¡°I even heard that the lord of Baden died of a heart attack because he was so enraged. Some of the visitors were priests from the Codex, after all. The sudden closure with such a flimsy excuse made people joke that a high priest might have caught a venereal disease there.¡±

    It was impossible for the Red Chalice Club, as secretive and sinister as it was, to be unaware of a resort frequented by high-ranking officials and priests. Yet, they seemed to be unaware of the secrets surrounding it.

    ¡°There are ruins of the Nameless Chaos cult there.¡±

    ¡°What?!¡±

    Hesabel was shocked at the idea that the ruins of the most notorious heretical cult in historyy beneath a resort visited by so many high-ranking officials and priests of the Empire.

    Isaac continued calmly.

    ¡°The rumors about decadence and depravity were all nonsense. They orchestrated this to close the site and start an excavation.¡±

    ¡°Why not just dere that they found an evil site and burn it down? Why go through such trouble?¡±

    ¡°Probably because there was something there too valuable to burn. Or perhaps one of the high priests wanted to keep it as a private vi.¡±

    Isaac chuckled and muttered.

    ¡°If the Inquisition Bureau isn¡¯t doing its job properly, as a Holy Grail Knight, I should step in.¡±

    ***

    With a p of itsrge wings, Nell descended onto the mountainside near Baelbaden. Even from a considerable distance, the characteristic sulfur smell of the hot springs wafted through the air. Isaac patted Nell¡¯s head, which was nuzzling against his shoulder, and gave instructions.

    ¡°Stay here and keep an eye on the surroundings. Don¡¯t eat any people.¡±

    Nell expressed a vague affirmation. Hesabel snorted and remarked.

    ¡°Even if you cooked and served them, it probably wouldn¡¯t eat. It¡¯s too full.¡±

    ¡°So, you¡¯ve figured out each other¡¯s dietary habits?¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ I just need to drink blood. It¡¯s like how some people prefer drumsticks while others prefer breast meat.¡±

    It seemed that they had grown quite ustomed to sharing food. Despite her words, Isaac knew that they had only hunted and eaten animals, not people.

    Not many people deserving to be eaten show up often¡­ Hopefully.

    ***

    Isaac and Hesabel infiltrated Baelbaden as night fell.

    The once glorious resort, now fallen into ruin, already felt like a grand historical site.

    The massive lodgings, once visited by the Emperor himself, still boasted their grandeur. Water overflowed from the central bath, running down the walls to form a stream.

    Although sulfur clung to the walls like tumors due tock of cleaning, the paths were still well-maintained, reflecting the high-status guests that used to visit.

    ¡°It¡¯s still a decent facility, but without people, it feels eerie.¡±

    Despite the Codex of Light¡¯s miracles making it a ce of bustling nightlife, the absence of people gave it a bizarre and eerie feeling. The only people around were probably the pdins or priests guarding the closed site.

    ¡°Who goes there!¡±

    Like the diligent pdin approaching them now, ready to cut down any trespasser in this sacred ground of decadence and indulgence, closed by the church.

    ¡°Reveal your identity immediately, while your head is still attached¡­¡±

    ¡°Just a passing Holy Grail Knight.¡±

    Isaac shamelessly replied to the pdin.

    The pdin stood still for a moment, seemingly not understanding, then lifted his helmet in surprise. Once his vision was clear, he asked in disbelief.

    ¡°Sir Isaac Issacrea? The Saint of Resurrection? Do you not remember me?¡±

    Isaac, prepared for a confrontation, was puzzled by the unexpected response.

    ¡°Huh? Do I know you?¡±

    The pdin removed his helmetpletely.

    Isaac still didn¡¯t recognize him. The pdin, frustrated, finally spoke first.

    ¡°It¡¯s me. Ian of the Brient Knight Order! We sparred near the Ariet Monastery, remember?¡±

    ¡°Ah, the fine¡­ young pdin.¡±

    Isaac swallowed the words ¡°the pdin who was smitten by my looks¡± and chose more socially eptable words. Although Ian was older than Isaac, the societal gap had widened considerably, so he had to let it slide.

    ¡°What brings you here?¡±

    ¡°Hmm, an unannounced inspection to ensure the security of this ce.¡±

    Hesabel marveled at Isaac¡¯s ability to lie without blinking as he spoke to the pdin.

    ¡®Does he really think such a flimsy lie will work?¡¯

    Indeed, Ian sensed something off about the unannounced inspection, but he didn¡¯t question it deeply.

    After all, the person in front of him was the famous Holy Grail Knight, with whom he had a personal connection.

    The overwhelming charm of a Nephilim instilled an unreasonable level of trust, leveraging personal connections.

    ¡°But why are you here, Sir Ian? Is the Brient Knight Order guarding this ce?¡±

    ¡°Ah, yes. That¡¯s correct. How did you know? Commander Rottenhammer is here too.¡±

    Isaac smiled. It seemed like things might go smoothly.

 Chapter 241:

    Chapter 241:

    Isaac headed towards the amodation where the Brient Pdin Order was staying. While Ian went inside to call Captain Rottenhammer, Isaac took a look around the quarters.

    The Brient Pdin Order was using a building that was originally a vi of a wealthy tycoon as their lodging.

    Though the luxurious facilities and decorations didn¡¯t quite match the pdin order, there was no particr reason not to use them either.

    ¡°Isaac! Our Saint of Resurrection has arrived!¡±

    Before long, Captain Rottenhammer emerged with a bright smile. His robust build and bushy beard were the same, but unlike Ian, he was dressed in casual clothes, indicating he might not have been on duty.

    ¡°It¡¯s been a while, Captain Rottenhammer. I intended to visit sooner, but my greeting is bted.¡±

    ¡°A busy Holy Grail Knight like you should focus on your noble journey instead of worrying about greetings! The stories I hear about you are incredible. I asionally ry them to Gebel.¡±

    Isaac couldn¡¯t help but smile at the mention of Gebel.

    He recalled the night when they left Ariet Monastery.If Isolde hadn¡¯t suddenly visited the monastery, he wouldn¡¯t have had the chance to retrieve the Rite of Division, and thanks to her request for support, he was able to meet the Brient Pdin Order.

    Moreover, being appointed as a pdin by Captain Rottenhammer allowed him to start his journey as a Holy Grail Knight.

    ¡°It would have been difficult without your consideration, Captain Rottenhammer. There aren¡¯t many who would appoint a child they just met as a pdin.¡±

    ¡°Regardless of anything else, I had already heard about the Abbot Yevhar¡¯s nobility. He vouched for you, Gebel taught you, and moreover, with your skill capable of surpassing even current pdins, it would have been dangerous to leave you as an ordinary person.¡±

    Rottenhammerughed heartily and walked, patting Isaac on the back. Isaac detected a faint smell of sulfur from him.

    ¡°Seems like you¡¯re quite enjoying life here?¡±

    Rottenhammer sniffed his own arm and made an awkward expression.

    ¡°There¡¯s a hot spring bath in the basement of this lodging. It feels like the pdin order is indulging in luxury, which is embarrassing. But nothing beats a hot bath after a whole day of training for recovery. Thanks to that, the guard duty at Baelbaden is practically a vacation.¡±

    Isaac¡¯s eyes gleamed.

    This was an opportunity to confirm whether the Brient Pdin Order was an ally or an enemy.

    Although Isaac knew Rottenhammer¡¯s personality and his actions in the game suggested he wasn¡¯t an enemy, he couldn¡¯t be too sure.

    ¡°Why is the Brient Pdin Order guarding such a remote ce?¡±

    ¡°Hmm, this is actually one of the parishes under the Renheim Cathedral¡¯s jurisdiction. But it¡¯s not just us; two other nearby pdin orders also take turns guarding the ce.¡±

    ¡°Why do they do that? It doesn¡¯t seem like an important ce.¡±

    ¡°As I said, being assigned here is practically a vacation. Even though it was decided to close down the ce to eradicate corruption and decadence, having the pdin order guard it just in case someone sneaks in for a bath is ridiculous. I think some high-ranking priest in the order is an idiot.¡±

    Although his words were extreme, based on the surface reasons, his argument seemed right.

    Isaac felt relieved.

    Rottenhammer was enjoying his life here, but he was a pdin who preferred to be active on the battlefield, and it seemed he was unaware of any significant events happening here. Rotating the guard duties among different pdin orders also suggested a deliberate attempt to keep the situation unclear.

    ¡°Do people really sneak in for hot spring baths?¡±

    ¡°Of course not. Well, asionally some suspicious groupse and go¡­¡±

    Rottenhammer muttered, seeming uneasy.

    ¡°Suspicious groups?¡±

    ¡°Hah, even though they are suspicious, they are brought in by priests. It¡¯s probably acquaintances or high-ranking individuals who couldn¡¯t forget the pleasures they enjoyed at Baelbaden and begged the for entry. The bishop even told us not to leave any records. I don¡¯t even want to know what those guys are doing in the basement.¡±

    Rottenhammer shook his head, seemingly church not wanting to discuss the church¡¯s disgrace in detail.

    But Isaac had gathered enough information.

    ¡®This is it.¡¯

    Isaac realized that the suspicious group Rottenhammer mentioned were the ones excavating or researching the hidden ruins here. However, given that Rottenhammer only found them ¡°suspicious,¡± it was clear they were not the prominent heretics.

    They were probably just amateurs like ire or sacrificialmbs.

    ***

    Rottenhammer entered his office and brought out a bottle of liquor.

    There was a rarely observed rule that ¡®clergy should avoid luxury and indulgence,¡¯ but alcohol was particrly disregarded.

    Isaac epted the ss without a second thought.

    He suddenly recalled that he had chosen to be a pdin because he didn¡¯t want to be forced to live an austere life like a priest.

    But in reality, priests were the most indulgent people in this world¡­ Isaac began to wonder if his choice had been the right one.

    ¡®Not that I could have be a priest anyway since I can¡¯t use the Codex of Light miracles.¡¯

    ¡°Enough with the boring talk, let¡¯s hear about the noble journey of a Holy Grail Knight! I heard you¡¯ve be one of the top seven warriors in the White Empire?¡±

    ¡°Excuse me?¡±

    Isaac asked back, astonished.

    ¡°I¡¯ve never heard of such a thing.¡±

    ¡°Really? The young ones talk so much, I assumed you knew.¡±

    Rottenhammer listed off names with amusement. The names and titles were so exaggerated that Isaac found them unbelievable.

    ¡°That¡¯s absurd. It seems more like a list of famous people rather than the strongest. I¡¯ve never even heard of some of them; how did I end up on it?¡±

    The inclusion of Emperor Waltzemer, Lianne, Georg, and the warrior Tuhalin, said to be the strongest in the current World¡¯s Forge order, and Dehra Heman, the captain of the Holy Knights under the Pope, was something Isaac could understand.

    However, the two individuals mentioned just before Isaac were ones he had never heard of and knew nothing about. Notably, true powerhouses like Bashul or the Red de Lua weren¡¯t even mentioned.

    Isaac felt humiliated just by having his name included in such a ranking.

    Rottenhammer chuckled heartily.

    ¡°Right? What meaning does such a list have? It all depends on the situation on the battlefield, the condition, and the grace of the gods.¡±

    Ultimately, the will of the gods is the most important thing.

    Even if humans were to fight with sticks, if an angel casually lent a hand to one side, even a three-year-old could break the arm of a swordmaster, just as Edelred had defeated Lianne. True warriors like Rottenhammer saw such rankings asughable because they understood this well.

    ¡°But I can¡¯t understand why your name is there, yet mine isn¡¯t. How about we have a spar outside?¡±

    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±

    ¡°Haha, just kidding. Why would I care about such childish things?¡±

    Surely he didn¡¯t care, right? Isaac felt uneasy but forced a smile.

    ¡°But it¡¯s still worth noting. Since it¡¯s a ranking within the White Empire, there¡¯s a high possibility of meeting these individuals in the Dawn Army. I¡¯ve heard that His Majesty the Emperor, General Georg, and Captain Heman are mature, so there¡¯s no need to worry about them. But Tuhalin is a madman, so it¡¯s good to remember that. Although I doubt you¡¯ll lose to him.¡±

    Isaac could somewhat agree with Rottenhammer¡¯s words.

    Such a ranking was never mentioned in the game, so he decided to disregard it.

    When the conversation reached a suitable point, Isaac decided to bring up the real issue with Rottenhammer.

    ¡°Captain Rottenhammer, may I take a look at the ce where those suspicious individualse and go?¡±

    With someone like Rottenhammer, it was best to be straightforward and honest. Rottenhammer silently took a sip from his ss and then ced it on the table.

    ¡°Ian told me you came here for some sort of surprise inspection. That was a lie, wasn¡¯t it? In the four times I¡¯ve been on guard duty here, there¡¯s never been such a thing. You came here wanting to visit the basement from the start, didn¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s correct.¡±

    ¡°And it wasn¡¯t because you wanted to enjoy the hot springs.¡±

    ¡°I discovered evidence that there¡¯s a cult group here.¡±

    Rottenhammer remained silent again.

    Isaac had phrased it simply as if there were cockroaches here, but it was far from a simple issue. This ce had been closed by the order, was guarded by the pdin order, and the ¡®suspicious individuals¡¯ Isaac mentioned were likely the ¡®suspicious groups¡¯ brought in by the priests.

    In other words, if Isaac¡¯s words were true, it was an enormous scandal that could shake the very foundations of the Codex of Light order.

    ¡°Are you sure?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m certain.¡±

    ¡°Any proof?¡±

    ¡°I have no evidence, but I can find it immediately if I go in.¡±

    Isaac was no longer in a position to spout nonsense. Well, he often lied and deceived, but at least he understood the impact of his words.

    Rottenhammer pondered deeply before speaking.

    ¡°ess is forbidden.¡±

    ¡°Captain.¡±

    ¡°You should have sneaked in instead. I know that the activities in the basement are suspicious. But I¡¯m a pdin, and a pdin is the sword of the church. When the hand holding the sword is not clutching money or a spoon, it¡¯s none of my business. If you¡¯re sure, report it to the Inquisition ande back with investigative authority. That¡¯s the order and the rule.¡±

    Rottenhammer spoke firmly.

    He was a pdin of the Codex of Light. Without adhering to the rules, the church would shake from its roots.

    Isaac knew that further persuasion was futile and quietly stood up.

    ¡°I¡¯ll visit again.¡±

    ¡°Do so. Next time, let¡¯s share a drink in peace.¡±

    Expecting things to go smoothly, Isaac sighed as he left the quarters. Hesabel approached him with a puzzled expression.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t go well? I thought you¡¯d storm in with the pdin order.¡±

    ¡°It didn¡¯t go as expected. But I got permission.¡±

    ¡°Permission?¡±

    Isaac nodded, looking back at the lodging where Rottenhammer had been.

    ¡°He told me to sneak in. To go in as if he didn¡¯t know.¡±

    Hesabel looked at Isaac intently, wondering if that was really the case. But Isaac confidently headed towards the central part of Baelbaden, the grand hot spring bath.

    Towards the hell that was boiling beneath the magnificent sulfur hot spring once enjoyed by the emperor.

    ***

    After Isaac left in a cold atmosphere, Ian entered the office with a puzzled look.

    ¡°Captain, is something wrong? Sir Issacrea¡­¡±

    Before Ian could finish asking what was going on, Rottenhammer interrupted him.

    ¡°Ian.¡±

    ¡°Yes?¡±

    ¡°You are on leave immediately. Return your armor and prepare with just a sword.¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°Your leave area is the basement of Baelbaden. Enjoy yourself there as a pdin, but after your leave, report to me immediately. Whatever you find there, don¡¯t try to do anything and return to report.¡±

    Ian did not ask again. He smartly grasped the situation and saluted Rottenhammer.

    ¡°I will go on leave, Captain!¡±

    After Ian left, Rottenhammer sank deeply into his chair.

    He wasn¡¯t sure if he had given the right order. He knew themand he had just given was skirting a fine line. No, if he looked inside himself, he felt he had already crossed the line.

    ¡°Whether Isaac is right or not, it¡¯s a problem.¡±

    If Isaac was wrong, he would me himself for doubting the order. But he could regain his trust in the order, so it wouldn¡¯t be all bad.

    Rottenhammer had found Isaac¡¯s im usible because he thought, ¡®If it¡¯s the current church , that might really be the case.¡¯

    But what if he found corruption within the church?

    Rottenhammer would have to fundamentally question what the Codex of Light church truly was.

    _____________

    Rate us on <em><strong>Novel Updates</strong></em>, so this novel can reach many readers like you, and also it will motivate me to trante more chapters. (For every new rating I will release one new chapter.)

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter.

    If you want to read more than 20 advance chapters or support me, you can do it at /Akaza156

 Chapter 242:

    The watch seemedx, possibly due to the belief that the Pdin Order was monitoring them. Even if the vignce had been stringent, it would have been difficult to detect the two people transforming into fog and passing over the wall in the dead of night.

    The garden of the grand mansion had no notable features, except for the unusually high walls. Isaac, who had been expecting suspicious statues, blood-spattered altars, or paintings with moving eyes, was disappointed. Fortunately, he spotted a man and a woman in crimson robes.

    ¡®They look suspiciously intriguing.¡¯

    The two were wearing masks, just like the ire gang, but they briefly lifted their masks and shared a kiss in a secluded corner of the wall. It was evidence that even within this secret cult, love could blossom.

    Showing their faces without masks was also a significant sign of trust.

    However, Isaac¡¯s mace interrupted their midnight romance simply because they appeared suspicious.

    Isaac swiftly subdued the pair and hid them in the bushes. To avoid causing amotion, he had knocked them out; they were ordinary people with no special powers. They didn¡¯t even seem to be at the priest level.

    ¡°Take this. Your wings stand out too much.¡±

    Isaac handed one of the robes to Hesabel. Although Hesabel would move around unnoticed anyway, it was entirely different to blend into the crowd. Isaac wore the mask of ¡®Crawling Terror¡¯ that he had acquired recently instead of the one he found.Just then, a bell rang somewhere, and the scattered people began to gather again. The crowd in crimson robes all wore masks, mostly of animals like cats, rabbits, and owls. They asionally made eye contact with Isaac but quickly looked away, startled by his mask.

    ¡®This is definitely rted to Camille¡¯s research.¡¯

    Although there was no sign or evidence directly linking to the Nameless Chaos, many aspects were simr to ire¡¯s activities.

    They descended further until they reached the entrance of a limestone cave adorned with intricate patterns. The hot spring¡¯s heat and the smell of sulfur wafted up from within. Despite the fear of suffocation, those ahead seemed fine as they steadily entered.

    ¡°Hold on, you.¡±

    A man wearing a lion mask at the cave entrance stopped Isaac.

    ¡°A mask I¡¯ve never seen before. Who are you¡­¡±

    The lion mask paused, tongue-tied, as if he had forgotten his words. Isaac had only stared at him directly, yet he seemed to have lost his next words as if his tongue had frozen.

    The fear instinctively felt by the lion mask was mistaken for intimidation.

    The charisma unique to Nephilim radiated power from Isaac¡¯s demeanor and presence, even with his face covered. The mask itself was a relic of the Nameless Chaos, naturally exuding a superior intimidation.

    ¡°Ah, are you from above?¡±

    Silence was the answer at such times. The other person would fill in the nks themselves.

    ¡°Ah, I apologize. I heard someone important wasing for the ceremony today, but I wasn¡¯t informed about the mask. I¡¯ll be careful.¡±

    The lion mask bowed repeatedly and guided Isaac inside.

    ¡®Seeing howx the security is, these guys are on ire¡¯s level.¡¯

    Isaac roughly gauged theirbat abilities¡ªprobably at the level of graduate students at best.

    As Isaac stepped into the cave, even with his mask on, the sudden rush of heat and steam enveloped him. Those ahead of him trembled momentarily. The sudden hot air made their own body heat feel cold, causing them to shiver. It wasn¡¯t unbearable but staying for long might cause dizziness.

    Then, Isaac saw what Camille the Cardinal had been hiding here.

    A vast cavern, almost asrge as the vige above, spread out beneath Baelbaden. Sulfur springs bubbled and steamed, with steam bursting forth sporadically. The intertwined miracles of the Codex of Light created an eerie illumination.

    Intricately carved tentacles wrapped around pirs, supporting the ceiling, while grotesque creatures were sculpted into columns, ring down at this man-made hell.

    ¡®Hell, yes. This is hell. This is the hell envisioned by the Codex of Light.¡¯

    Isaac realized how eerily simr this ce was to the hell described in the Codex of Light. It was indeed a relic site of the Nameless Chaos. Isaac could tell from the architectural styles carved here. But it was clear that the Codex of Light had interfered afterward.

    The reason was unclear. To imnt the notion that ¡®the Nameless Chaos is hell¡¯? It seemed usible. Or perhaps some unimaginative priest had attempted to revive the architectural style of the Nameless Chaos and failed miserably.

    In his personal opinion, it was like ¡®a well-themed amusement park hell.¡¯

    However, a threatening piece of evidence soon appeared before Isaac¡¯s eyes, proving it wasn¡¯t just a theme park.

    It was a gigantic egg.

    ***

    A gigantic egg, roughly the size of an adult man,y on the central altar of this profane relic site.

    The perfect oval of the egg stood out strangely in the otherwise twisted and perverse temple of the Nameless Chaos.

    It couldn¡¯t simply be considered a sculpture, because the moment Isaac saw it, he felt a strange and inexplicable attraction.

    ¡®What on earth is that¡­¡¯

    His stomach churned, forcing him to avert his gaze. He didn¡¯t know what it was, but he was certain it was rted to the Nameless Chaos.

    [Are you alright?]

    Though she wasn¡¯t visible, Hesabel, somehow watching from somewhere, asked. Isaac, surprised that he had shown enough agitation to be noticed, forced himself to calm down.

    As they moved towards the temple¡¯s center, the heat began to cool, dropping to an average indoor temperature. No, it felt slightly cold, as if the egg was absorbing the heat. This must have allowed people to survive even in this underground environment.

    ¡®Is that the relic of the Nameless Chaos the cult wanted to hide?¡¯

    He decided to keep watching. He didn¡¯t know how deeply involved the people here were.

    If blood were to be shed, it would be better to expose their crimes on the surface and kill them rather than conducting a massacre in this cave. Otherwise, Isaac could bebeled a mass murderer by the cult concealing their sins.

    ¡®But if they aremitting atrocities on the same scale as Camille¡¯s research¡­¡¯

    Then, regardless of their involvement with the cult, none would leave this ce alive.

    Isaac suppressed his rising killing intent and thought.

    Ding¡ªa bell rang from the north of the temple, drawing the wandering cultists towards it.

    Isaac naturally blended into the crowd.

    They seemed to be preparing for a ritual around the egg, but the cultists ignored it and stood facing arge altar to the north. On the altar stood a woman in an owl mask, draped in a yellow robe adorned with numerous ornaments, unlike the others.

    Isaac¡¯s eyes widened at her attire.

    It was identical to the yellow robes worn by the man who asionally appeared in his dreams.

    Isaac realized that her outfit signified some sort of priestly role.

    ¡°Pope Neria.¡±

    ¡°Your Holiness, it¡¯s been a while.¡±

    ¡°Cardinal Las, it has been a while. I will be leading the ceremony today.¡±

    Isaac was stunned by the exchanges between the woman and the crowd. The woman before him was being addressed as Pope, while others were called Cardinals and Bishops.

    Naturally, the Pope of the Codex of Light was Horma Kmuel, an old man.

    Isaac, curious, activated the Eye of Chaos to examine them, but they were all ordinary people. The woman called Pope Neria was slightly above average, but nothing special.

    ording to the titles mentioned, there were six Cardinals and about twenty Bishops present. In terms of hierarchy, they surpassed the Codex of Light. Even the lion mask who had questioned Isaac earlier was called the Grandmaster of the Pdin Order.

    The eerie scene passed, and the atmosphere settled.

    Pope Neria spoke.

    ¡°Faithful of the Nameless Chaos, wee to today¡¯s service.¡±

    ¡®Faithful of the Nameless Chaos?¡¯

    Isaac found the title awkward. He sensed no faith from them, nor did it seem the Nameless Chaos was watching over them.

    ¡°Some of you may already know, but a tragic event has urred recently. Cardinal Camille Sarea, who supported our research in Ultenheim, died in a tragic ident while studying forbidden rites.¡±

    Sighs and gasps echoed around.

    Isaac found their reaction perplexing. Weren¡¯t they supposed to be persecuted by the Codex of Light? Instead of celebrating the death of a Cardinal, they mourned?

    Pope Neria raised her voice to the murmuring crowd.

    ¡°But! Cardinal Camille Sarea, anticipating such a tragic event, entrusted us with preparations for her afterlife.¡±

    ¡°Oh, indeed!¡±

    ¡°If this ritual seeds, Cardinal Camille will return from death to reveal the true mysteries of Urbansus and the secrets of the Nameless Chaos buried in the Forest of Oblivion! Furthermore, the advent of the Millennium Kingdom will hasten!¡±

    Isaac felt a chill.

    ¡°Then, as servants of the Codex of Light, we can proudly act as the Church of the Nameless Chaos!¡±

    The cheers continued.

    Amidst the cheers, Isaac realized their true nature.

    They were not true followers of the Nameless Chaos. They were a bunch of pretenders, moths drawn to the power and authority of the Nameless Chaos. Rather than serving a grand cult, they enjoyed ying at being Pope, Cardinal, and Bishop in a smaller one.

    In a way, they were genuine chatans. Camille had exploited their vanity to experiment with the miracles of the Nameless Chaos.

    ***

    ¡®¡­So I could be the leader of these idiots?¡¯

    Isaac felt a dizzying sensation.

    He didn¡¯t want to be associated with these people, so he decided to observe their ritual.

    ¡®Resurrecting from death by the miracle of the Nameless Chaos? Camille?¡¯

    It was a simple task for the Immortal Order, but not for the Codex of Light. It wasn¡¯t impossible, but it required someone on the level of a Pope. But if they obeyed prohibitions, the Immortal Order wouldn¡¯t be as prosperous as it was now.

    Miracles of the Codex of Light were not to be used recklessly, and the Immortal Order was considered heresy.

    But what if they secretly borrowed the miracles of another faith?

    If Camille had discovered a resurrection miracle while studying the Nameless Chaos and left it as ast resort for herself? It wasn¡¯t entirely imusible. This ce was a muchrger-scaleboratory exploring the miracles of the Nameless Chaos,pared to what was happening beneath Ultenheim.

    ¡°Let us proceed with the ritual! Recite the prepared prayer!¡±

    Neria raised items from the altar: tattered Cardinal robes, a few sacred ornaments, and a ss jar containing what seemed to be some of Camille¡¯s remains. The gathered cultists began chanting prayers after her.

    Isaac quickly realized that their prayer was a poorly restored mess. Neria¡¯s ritual wasn¡¯t much different from what ire had done.

    Listening to their prayers, Isaac felt even more certain that he was the only true follower of the Nameless Chaos in this world. These people imed to be followers, but they didn¡¯t know the name of Chaos, had received no qualifications, and weren¡¯t under any observation.

    The Nameless Chaos didn¡¯t care about them. How could it, when it didn¡¯t even know it was being called?

    It was no different from watching a group of ants circling in a corner of the kitchen.

    But miracles were the embodiment of people¡¯s will.

    Their voices wandered in the void, asionally touching the tentacles at the fringes, identally pulling in fragments. Exposed to great power, they would just be swept away and die.

    There was no malice, no hope.

    They simply named the urrences miracles.

    Pitiful followers and a lonely god.

    [The Nameless Chaos watches you.]

    Isaac decided to show these ignorant fools the true god. To reveal the reality of the entity they were praying to, and how deep an abyss they were reaching into.

    Isaac quietly began to recite the prayer they were chanting.

    Crack.

    The wall above the northern altar began to twist and split.

    _____________

    Rate us on <em><strong>Novel Updates</strong></em>, so this novel can reach many readers like you, and also it will motivate me to trante more chapters. (For every new rating I will release one new chapter.)

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter.

    If you want to read more than 20 advance chapters or support me, you can do it at /Akaza156

 Chapter 243:

    Chapter 243:

    Neria was mechanically reciting the sacrificial rites.

    She chanted phrases filled with all sorts of unholynguages, sshing the blood of the chosen goat sacrifice onto the walls. The decapitated goat¡¯s head was smeared with sulfur, forming sphemous symbols.

    But in truth, she had no expectations for this ritual.

    Though Kamil had spared no effort in providing them with ample materials and support, sessful rituals were rare. asionally, they managed to summon a part of Chaos¡¯s minions, but these were often eliminated by the Pdins sent as overseers because they failed to control them.

    Reviving the dead? Even the Pope of the Codex of Light couldn¡¯t easily perform such a miracle.

    ¡®Let¡¯s just think of this as a memorial for Kamil.¡¯

    Kamil had been kind to her.

    He had saved her from the pyre when she was drawn to the knowledge of heresy, and he had ensured she had no worries about her livelihood. Of course, she knew Kamil had his own ulterior motives, but isn¡¯t that how the world works?

    Still, the fact that she had died horribly, transformed into a monster, made Neria uneasy about this ritual. The chances of sess were low, and even if sessful, the intended oue was even rarer. Neria feared that the ritual might go wrong, causing her to end up like Kamil.¡®¡­I should just stop halfway.¡¯

    Neria decided to omit some of the procedures Kamil had taught her and prepare to end the ritual gradually.

    At that moment, a voice interrupted her recitation.

    Startled by the unusually loud and clear voice, Neria looked around at the followers but couldn¡¯t tell who had spoken.

    Suddenly, she had a strange feeling.

    It seemed as if the chants were whispering directly into her ears.

    She heard bizarre ¡®sounds¡¯ that were hard to describe¡ªsharp metallic noises, a dull bubbling sound like tar, and the sticky noise of squeezed flesh¡ªall in the form of the chants.

    Something was happening.

    She tried to stop the ritual urgently. However, her mouth wouldn¡¯t stop. As if bursting forth, tongues of foreignnguage spewed out, and Neria continued to chant more loudly and passionately.

    By this point, the followers had also begun to stir. Many of them experienced simr phenomena. Ancientnguages and extinct words, unholy knowledge never encountered before, seemed to crawl into their brains.

    ¡°Aahh!¡±

    Neria bit her tongue several times, her teeth shing until her mouth was bloody, but she couldn¡¯t stop chanting. The temple filled with iprehensible phenomena, a mixture of wailing and chanting.

    And at the center stood a man wearing a strange mask.

    The moment she saw the terrifying mask, Neria realized that an entity that should not be among them had somehow infiltrated their midst.

    But it was toote for realization.

    Crack, creak.

    Neria turned around in tears, startled by the sudden loud noise.

    The north wall of the altar, which had been polished to a shine, had arge crack forming and was warping. She thought she might be crushed under the copsing stone, but the wall did not crumble.

    It twisted and grew.

    Like a hand or face pressing against soft silk to reveal its shape, something behind the rock wall was contorting to emerge. It resembled a swollen tumor, a human face, and a mass of writhing tentacles.

    Neria thought of the thin membrane surrounding a fetus, the amniotic sac. It was as if the rock was trying to give birth to a life.

    She prayed that whatever it was would note out.

    Crack.

    However, her prayers were in vain, as the rock began to split open. Thick blood gushed out from the cracks like a waterfall, drenching Neria who was standing below.

    ¡°¡­!¡±

    What emerged from the rock fissure had Kamil¡¯s face.

    Only then was Neria allowed to scream.

    ¡®Is this really happening?¡¯

    ***

    ¡®¡­It actually worked.¡¯

    Isaac felt a moment of dismay as he watched ¡®it¡¯ begin to emerge from beyond the cliff.

    In this ritual, he had merely reced himself as the priest with the ¡®Book of the Nameless Worm¡¯ as the sacrificial tool.

    Yet, as with most of the rituals Isaac had conducted so far, even if the procedure was somewhat sloppy, it would be considered a decent ritual if the leading priest and the sacred object were excellent.

    Moreover, nearly a hundred devoted believers were praying fervently, and there was even a temple.

    Conditions better than this were rare. The only issue was that this ritual was for Camille¡¯s resurrection.

    ¡®Is that even a resurrection ritual?¡¯

    Camille¡¯s face extended out from the cliff. It looked like a stick made of Camille¡¯s face had been pressed into wide, tough rubber.

    Her hands appeared haphazardly across the surface, butpared to the dozens of meters of the body protruding from the wall, they looked too small and fragile.

    Isaac recalled something from the sight.

    This was not a resurrection ritual.

    It was a summoning ritual.

    While there might not be much difference between the two since both involved calling back the dead, Camille had died as a Whitewood in Prayer at the end.

    Resurrecting in that form was not what Camille would have wanted.

    ¡°Ah, Camille! It¡¯s Cardinal Camille!¡±

    One of the believers screamed and prostrated themselves. The chanting of prayers stopped as they began to break free from the ritual¡¯s pressure. Despite being the ones conducting the ritual, they started screaming and struggling to flee.

    The thing that might be Camille began to wriggle, seemingly stimted by their screams.

    Isaac felt a strong sense of incongruity. Whatever that was, it could hardly be called Camille. Even if they brought Camille¡¯s grandmother or grandchild, they would shake their heads.

    No, Isaac felt something more.

    Like an anglerfish, something beyond was using Camille as bait to break through the door ande out.

    ¡°Cardinal Camille.¡±

    Neria cried, prostrated.

    ¡°What should I do? I don¡¯t know what to do now¡­¡±

    Neria had no idea why the ritual had seeded or what to do next. Honestly, if she could send Camille back right now, she would, but saying that would likely cause the giant body to crush her.

    Camille¡¯s mouth gaped open but made no sound. Instead, she wiggled her hand behind the membrane and pointed somewhere.

    Everyone¡¯s eyes followed her finger. It was pointing directly at Isaac. As he realized the dire situation,motion broke out behind him.

    ¡°Intruder! An intruder!¡±

    ¡°Damn it¡­!¡±

    The sudden uproar redirected the believers¡¯ attention to the back. Believers wearing hyena masks were wrestling with a man dressed as a monk.

    Isaac was speechless when he saw the man fighting the hyena masks.

    ¡®Ian?¡¯

    Ian, the novice Pdin of the Brient Knight Order, was somehow fighting here below.

    Though he wasn¡¯t wearing armor, he easily overpowered the men, then started running up the stairs. Seeing this, Neria shouted urgently as if receiving a powerful revtion.

    ¡°It¡¯s him! He must be the one who led Cardinal Camille to her death! He came to ruin the ritual and prevent her return! Catch him!¡±

    Prompted by Neria¡¯s cry, the believers screamed and charged. Ian, blocked by others at the top of the stairs, soon found himself surrounded.

    He drew his sword and swung it furiously.

    Even without armor, a Pdin was still a Pdin. No matter how many people there were, they were like sheep before the Pdin. However, fighting was less terrifying than the giant monster behind him.

    Ian couldn¡¯t fully exert his skills, not because he couldn¡¯t, but because he was hesitant to kill unarmed civilians.

    Isaac noticed this hesitation.

    ¡°C-catch¡­! Aaaah!¡±

    As Neria tried to order his capture, the entire temple shook violently. Camille thrashed in rage, causing the temple to quake. Columns copsed, and stones fell. As the dreadful word ¡®copse¡¯ crossed her mind, Neria shouted hastily.

    ¡°Cardinal Camille, why are you doing this! We¡¯ll catch him soon and offer him to you¡­¡±

    But trying to capture the wrong person wouldn¡¯t satisfy Camille.

    As if deciding to capture him herself, Camille wriggled and began to emerge from beyond the cliff. The membrane tore, revealing her true body inside.

    The writhing things within the membrane were three tentacles. Each one was as thick as several pirsbined, with ends shaped like Camille¡¯s face or small hands.

    From the torn membrane, blood gushed out, soaking the temple floor. The newly reborn Whitewood in Prayer, rooted in the giant wall, extended its body.

    ¡°A-ah, aaaaah¡­¡±

    Neria waspletely dazed by the sight. Then, red bugs with tendrils burst from within the membrane. They were flea-like creatures, the size of a person¡¯s head, covered in tendrils.

    The tendril-fleas quickly swarmed a believer, crushing his head in an instant, then sucked his fluids before taking over his head.

    Horrified screams erupted.

    The believers, who had turned to capture Ian, were now terrified by the chaos behind them. They rushed up the stairs, not to catch Ian but to escape.

    Neria saw a tentacle-flea rushing at her. It was muchrger and more monstrous, using its tendrils like legs. Realizing she knew nothing about the world beyond, which she had studied all her life, she was utterly dazed.

    At that moment, with a thud, the flea burst instantly.

    The one who cut it down walked past Neria without hesitation. She realized that this was the sphemous figure who had hijacked and led her ritual earlier.

    No, it wasn¡¯t hijacked.

    It was reimed.

    As a schr who had studied the Nameless Chaos for a long time, Neria realized Isaac¡¯s true identity.

    He was the ¡®true¡¯ agent of the Nameless Chaos.

    ***

    ¡®Hesabel, protect Ian from dying.¡¯

    ¡®Yes.¡¯

    Isaac looked back at Neria.

    Neria felt suffocating terror from the bizarre mask he wore.

    Through the thought-wave function built into the ¡®Crawling Fear¡¯ mask, Isaac whispered to her.

    [Evacuate ¡®my¡¯ believers to a safe ce and wait for my orders. I will punish youter for the sphemy youmitted.]

    ¡°A-ah, yes, honorable one!¡±

    Neria banged her head on the floor several times as she cried out. The owl mask shattered from the force, but she didn¡¯t seem to notice. She led the believers away, guiding them through a secret passage typically found in such temples.

    Leaving the believers to Neria, Isaac approached Camille, or rather, the Whitewood in Prayer.

    [It¡¯s a bit troublesome to kill the same thing twice¡­]

    The thought-wave from the mask directly reached the recipient, regardless of noise ornguage.

    The Whitewood in Prayer looked down at Isaac and swung a tentacle at him. Isaac easily dodged and sliced upward with Kaldwin, leaving arge, fierce cut that looked like a bite mark.

    [If you didn¡¯t want to die again, you shouldn¡¯t havee back to life.]

    Isaac prepared to kill her once more. He had already defeated her once. Though the tentacles had grown thicker, they were fewer in number. It wouldn¡¯t be difficult.

    But then, a tremor shook the entire temple. Simr-sized tentacles burst out from beyond the wall.

    Bang! Over ten tentacles whipped through the temple, trying to tear and devour Isaac.

    Startled, Isaac activated Kaldwin¡¯s eleration ability. His body darted along the tentacles, running swiftly.

    The tentacles weren¡¯t the only problem. The columns copsed from their rampage, causing the ceiling to cave in. Whether crushed by tentacles or tons of rock, the result would be the same.

    After several minutes of chaos, Isaac, breathing heavily, saw the moonlight streaming through the copsed ceiling.

    There had been several close calls, but he had barely survived.

    Tentacles protruded from the wall, embedding themselves in various parts of the temple.

    ¡®¡­If I hadn¡¯t trained my swordsmanship while studying the movement of tentacles, I would have been ttened.¡¯

    Through the copsed ceiling, the night sky was visible.

    The ¡®Whitewood in Prayer¡¯ was dancing toward the moon, giving thanks for its new birth.

    _____________

    Rate us on <em><strong>Novel Updates</strong></em>, so this novel can reach many readers like you, and also it will motivate me to trante more chapters. (For every new rating I will release one new chapter.)

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 Chapter 244:

    Chapter 244:

    ¡®Now, this is the Baelbaden I remember.¡¯

    Isaac thought with satisfaction, recalling Baelbaden as it appeared in the game.

    Of course, there were no entities like the Whitewood in Prayer in the game. However, for some reason, this pir copsed, the cavity was exposed on the surface, and the ruins of the Nameless Chaos were discovered. That was the background of this ce.

    At that time, it had already turned into a dungeon-like ce with Nameless Chaos monsters wandering around, so it was clear that they had caused some incident.

    Isaac merely lit the fuse on the powder keg that was bound to explode sooner orter.

    ¡°Ah, uh, aaah¡­¡±

    The devotees, who had yet to flee, seemed paralyzed at the sight of the Whitewood in Prayer writhing towards the moon. They mimicked its movements, as if their minds were overtaken, iling about as if they had no joints or bones. It was grotesque to witness.

    To Isaac, it conveyed nothing beyond a sense of disgust. However, it was clear that this newly summoned Whitewood in Prayer was of a much higher rank than the minions of Nameless Chaos he had encountered before.

    It was unclear if Camille had be a higher-ranked minion of Nameless Chaos, or if a higher-ranked unholy being had stolen Camille¡¯s face.But as for rank, Isaac did not fall behind.

    [The Nameless Chaos is watching you.]

    [The Nameless Chaos demands retribution against that abominable entity.]

    [The Chaos reward awaits you.]

    The Nameless Chaos expressed displeasure at the entity that dared to raise its tentacles before its agent.

    Its anger became Isaac¡¯s anger.

    ¡°Kiiiieeeek!¡±

    A devotee, possessed by a tentacle flea, charged at Isaac. The devotee¡¯s body moved, entangled in tentacles sprouting from the flea, exhibiting grotesque movements contrary to normal joints and muscles.

    Isaac effortlessly evaded the charging devotee. The devotee¡¯s outstretched hand mmed into a rock with a loud crash, the tentacles rooting into the rock and crushing it from within. When Isaac shed the flea, it spurted blood and the tentacles quickly withered.

    Even a flea possessed the strength to crush a human skull instantly. A normal sword would not have cut it so easily, but the Kaldwin sword, imbued with sword energy, sliced through the fleas like a broom sweeping away dust.

    ¡°Sigh¡­¡±

    Isaac looked up at the endlessly rising Whitewood in Prayer. From the moment it saw the moon, it ignored Isaac and extended upward towards the surface. It already seemed to have reached part of the surface.

    The problem was that it didn¡¯t seem to be ending anytime soon.

    ¡®Dozens? Hundreds of meters? No¡­ it¡¯s meaningless to measure.¡¯

    Beyond the wall from which the Whitewood in Prayer emerged, its ¡®door¡¯ was still open. Even though all the devotees conducting the summoning ritual were either dead or had fled, the entity continued to writhe and emerge. Alongside it, tentacle fleas and multi-eyed spiders also wriggled out.

    It was clear that the Whitewood in Prayer was connected to Urbanthus.

    Anyway, he had intended to destroy these ruins. He had nned to pin it on the entity, but since he had summoned it, he had to handle the situation before it worsened.

    ¡®Should I leave the situation on the surface to Captain Rottenhammer? He¡¯s had a good rest, so he should earn his keep.¡¯

    Isaac thought that Ian had probably escaped safely and reported the situation. He would understand and prepare ordingly.

    Isaac fixed his gaze on the Whitewood in Prayer.

    To deal with this giant neer, ordinary means would not suffice.

    ***

    ¡°What is that!¡±

    ¡°Call the captain!¡±

    As Isaac expected, the surface was in chaos.

    The pdins were astonished as the ground copsed with a loud crash, and ckish-red tentacles began to crawl out from the fissures. Along with them, minions of Nameless Chaos started emerging, forcing the pdins, who had been enjoying a leisurely break, to fight unprepared.

    ¡°Get a grip, you fools!¡±

    At that moment, Rottenhammer, d in full armor, appeared before them.

    ¡°Did I not always tell you that our mission here is to guard, not rx! Grab your weapons and form ranks now!¡±

    His reprimand, imbued with a blessing that cleared their minds and bolstered their courage, snapped the pdins out of their confusion. They quickly rallied and responded to the situation. They cast looks of respect and admiration at Rottenhammer, who had been resting in his armor in such a leisurely ce.

    ¡®¡­If not for Isaac, I would have been humiliated.¡¯

    After Isaac left, and even sending Ian on a reconnaissance, Rottenhammer had considered that something might happen. He hadn¡¯t anticipated such a crisis but had fortunately donned his armor just in case.

    A tentacle flea leapt onto a pdin¡¯s helmet, trying to crush it, but the pdin incinerated the flea with mes conjured from his grasp. The tentacle fleas were weak in durability but moved swiftly and unpredictably, making them difficult tobat.

    While the armored pdins on guard bought time, those who had rushed out in armor joined the battle, turning the chaotic melee into a one-sided ughter. However, they could not shake the feeling that they were not winning.

    As they dealt with the fleas, the tentacles that had crawled out from below had grown as tall as trees, reaching towards the sky. The sight of dozens of tentacles writhing towards the moon was grotesque and nauseating. If not for the miracle protecting their minds, it would have been unbearable.

    ¡°Captain!¡±

    ¡°Ian! What in the world is happening here?¡±

    Ian, having returned from underground, rushed over urgently. He, too, was covered in blood, likely from dealing with numerous tentacle fleas on his way, but he didn¡¯t seem to have any severe injuries.

    ¡°There was a cultists¡¯ temple and cultists underground! They summoned this abomination!¡±

    Rottenhammer¡¯s eyes widened and he ground his teeth.

    What on earth had the cultists been doing underground? Curses against theckeys of the cult roiled up to his throat. The only one who had warned and alerted them about this situation was Isaac, a lone wandering Holy Grail Knight.

    ¡°Details?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure. I fled just as that thing began to be summoned¡­ I saw the tentacles rampaging inside, and it didn¡¯t seem to distinguish between friend and foe. Most of the cultists down there were likely crushed to death or had their blood drained by the fleas.¡±

    Rottenhammer looked up at the Whitewood in Prayer.

    So, the summoning ritual had been interrupted, yet the entity was still growing.

    ***

    Creak, creak, creak.

    As it neared the moon, the tumor-like lumps growing from the Whitewood in Prayer began to erge. It was as if they were performing photosynthesis under the moonlight. New tentacles sprouted from the tumors, transforming it into a massive, grotesque tree.

    However, unlike a tree, each branch was not solid but a writhing, squirming tentacle. At some point, instead of tentacles, fruits began to grow from the tumors. These fruits quickly matured and burst open.

    Pop, pop.

    The creatures resembled a cross between bats and inverted sea anemones. They poured down, swarming over the pdins.

    With his limited knowledge of Nameless Chaos, Rottenhammer recognized them.

    ¡°Night Stalkers! Be careful not to get caught!¡±

    However, the pdins were unustomed to dealing with aerial attacks. One pdin, preupied with the tentacle fleas on the ground, was suddenly seized by a Night Stalker diving from above. The creature pped its wings, lifting the pdin into the air, and stuffed him into its body.

    Seeing this, Rottenhammer mmed his hammer into the ground with a roar.

    ¡°Your wrath shall descend like a thief!¡±

    With a thunderous crash, a bolt of lightning from the clear sky struck the Night Stalker holding the pdin. The creature screeched and plummeted, hit by the divine lightning.

    The other waiting pdins immediately speared and hacked the fallen creature to pieces.

    ¡°Is the brother alive?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s slightly injured but alive!¡±

    For pdins, who could heal injuries with miracles, ¡°slightly injured¡± meant they could return to battle soon. On the other hand, ¡°severely injured¡± meant that they might not survive even with healing.

    Rottenhammer had faith in the pdins¡¯ resilience and was relieved that his lightning had not been in vain.

    But there were already nearly ten Night Stalkers flying in the sky, and they still hadn¡¯t figured out how to deal with the giant tentacled monster.

    Rottenhammer could not single-handedly call down lightning to kill all of them.

    ¡°More of them areing!¡±

    The Night Stalkers swooped down unpredictably, targeting the pdins. Though the pdins fought back fiercely, the Night Stalkers had sharp teeth and ws on their tentacles, making it difficult to fend them off without risking being dragged into the air.

    Rumble, crash!

    Suddenly, a storm of lightning scorched the Night Stalkers. The pdins caught in the st were thrown back, but not as severely as the Night Stalkers, which were charred to their skeletons and fell to the ground.

    The pdins swiftly finished off the fallen creatures.

    ¡°Captain, you¡¯re amazing!¡±

    ¡°That wasn¡¯t me. Look over there.¡±

    The pdins, who had assumed it was Rottenhammer¡¯s miracle, looked up.

    In the moonlit silhouette, something was hunting the Night Stalkers. With enormous wings, it grabbed, bit, and incinerated them with lightning, leaving only burnt remains.

    Though barely visible in the darkness, the pdins trembled, thinking of a legendary creature.

    ¡°A dragon? Is a dragon helping us?¡±

    ¡°Yes. I don¡¯t know why, but it seems so.¡±

    The dragon¡¯s intervention turned the tide. However, dealing with the Whitewood in Prayer would likely require a high-ranking priest. If the Night Stalkers reached the city, it would be catastrophic.

    Ian looked at Rottenhammer and asked, ¡°Should I go request reinforcements?¡±

    ¡°No. Reinforcements aren¡¯t necessary.¡±

    Given its size, it would have already been noticed by nearby viges or churches. Reinforcements woulde without a request. And someone who should have appeared already hadn¡¯t shown up yet.

    Isaac Issacrea, the Holy Grail Knight who had warned them of this disaster.

    Rottenhammer was sure Isaac was behind the dragon¡¯s appearance. Having grown extremely disillusioned with the church, he trusted the lone Holy Grail Knight fighting somewhere more than ten bishops.

    ¡°The only one who can resolve this is already fighting. We need to contain this disaster and support him as much as possible.¡±

    _____________

    Rate us on <em><strong>Novel Updates</strong></em>, so this novel can reach many readers like you, and also it will motivate me to trante more chapters. (For every new rating I will release one new chapter.)

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 Chapter 245:

    Chapter 245:

    As Rottenhammer had expected, Isaac was fighting.

    However, the way he was fighting differed slightly from Rottenhammer¡¯s expectations.

    ¡®There¡¯s no point in slicing that thing with a sword.¡¯

    The Whitewood in Prayer seen in Ultenheim had some semnce of humanity, but now it had grown to a scale more akin to a structure than a living being. Though it still had tentacles of nerves and muscles writhing, Isaac cutting a few wouldn¡¯t bring it down.

    Especially considering the uncertainty of how massive its body was beyond that ¡®door.¡¯

    Therefore, Isaac decided to close the door.

    ¡°Hesabel, protect me so that no one cane near.¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    Isaac sat down right in the center of the altar. Swarms of tentacle fleas and multi-legged spiders with deformed long legs converged on him. However, a sudden storm of red feathers swept through the area before Isaac even had to draw his sword.Thud! As the red storm passed, Hesabel revealed herself. She spread herrge wings, shielding Isaac and mercilessly eliminating any intruders disrupting his ritual.

    ¡®To think I can now entrust my back to this one¡­¡¯

    It felt like just yesterday that Isaac had harbored gruesome thoughts of nting a bug in Hesabel¡¯s head to blow her brains out if she showed any signs of betrayal. Now, Isaac intended to focus on closing the door he had opened. There mighte a moment of weakness for Isaac during this process.

    If Hesabel were to betray him, there would be no second chances.

    Isaac was confident that Hesabel wouldn¡¯t betray him, even though it would be heartbreaking if she did.

    Isaac opened the book of the Nameless Worm, ring at the Whitewood in Prayer.

    The scriptures were still being updated with text, endlessly. It detailed how Isaac had disciplined the ignorant who impersonated him and punished minions who failed to recognize their master.

    Watching a book write itself with him as the protagonist felt strange.

    Isaac realized that even his thoughts of ¡®feeling strange¡¯ were being transcribed, making it difficult to think freely.

    ¡®Focus.¡¯

    Isaac swept his hand over the book. From now on, he would author this book.

    In the Nameless Chaos, there was no formal ritual.

    All names, rituals, and miracles had been eroded and vanished. The remaining rituals were mere crude remnants pieced together from fragments of the past.

    There was only one true ritual.

    Everything Isaac read, spoke, and did.

    His actions would be inscribed in Urbansus and be a replicable ritual.

    The words of the Nameless Worm¡¯s book followed Isaac¡¯s fingertips.

    [¡­Prophet Isaac sternlymanded the open door to close. The sphemous being, lured by the eerie wind from outside, had its head severed and fell to the floor as the door closed¡­]

    Rumble!

    With a thunderous noise, the underground temple shook violently. A strange, unprecedented sound reverberated throughout Baelbaden. It was the scream of the Whitewood in Prayer.

    The enormous scream caused the surrounding fleas to explode one by one.

    Even Hesabel staggered under the assault, and suddenly, blood gushed from the cliff where the Whitewood in Prayer extended, like a flood.

    St. The flowing blood surged like a wave, drenching Hesabel¡¯s ankles and soaking Isaac¡¯s scriptures and clothes.

    But Isaac did not move an inch, simply staring at the book.

    The Nameless Worm¡¯s book greedily absorbed the pouring blood, the texts turning a vivid purple.

    Rumble, rumble!

    The Whitewood in Prayer¡¯s resistance was significant, and the door wasn¡¯t fully closed yet. Moreover, the tree struggled, twisting its half-severed body to try and reopen the door.

    As the blood flood surged, the Whitewood in Prayer ceased its worship of the moon and turned its attention to Isaac.

    [¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö ¡ö¡ö ¡ö¡ö¡ö!!]

    A tumor swelled in the middle of the Whitewood in Prayer¡¯s tentacle, forming Camille¡¯s face. She screamed something iprehensible at Isaac with a furious expression unbefitting a human face.

    However, Isaac couldn¡¯t hear a word she said.

    His consciousness was already far away.

    ***

    Isaac found himself sitting in the middle of a forest.

    On a vast white sandy beach, unknown ck trees stretched their ckened, dried hands towards the sky. Among them, one tree stood out. Unlike the others, it still seemed to have some life left in it.

    Although seeing it for the first time, Isaac instinctively knew it was Camille. It dawned on him that all the trees around him were desated forms of the same kind of tentacles, stretching hundreds to thousands of meters.

    [What are you?]

    Camille, who should have been filled with rage, hatred, and murderous intent, stood in the middle of that deste forest, weeping.

    [What kind of creature are you to cast me into such a hell?]

    Camille med Isaac.

    Once a cardinal who was among the few in the sacred Codex of Light, she resented Isaac for casting her into such a dreadful ce. Shemented, iming that it was Isaac who had brought about her downfall, when even in death, she was assured of heaven.

    ¡°This hell is your creation, Camille,¡± Isaac said, quietly observing her.

    ¡°This ce is the most fitting afterlife for you.¡±

    Isaac remembered that no one mourned Camille¡¯s death. Bishops whopeted against her coveted the vacant cardinal seat, and the order sought a new cog in their machine. Even ire might not have been too saddened if he knew the truth about his grandmother. The only one who seemed to mourn a bit was Neria, and for that reason, this ce was the only suitable afterlife for Camille.

    Isaac¡¯s answer seemed unsatisfactory to Camille. She screamed and thrashed, swinging her branch-like hands towards Isaac.

    Isaac turned the pages of the scripture.

    As the nk white page appeared, Camille¡¯s fingers broke and twisted in a spiral. The grotesque distortion spread up her arms, twisting her entire body until it burst. There was no logic to this phenomenon.

    It happened simply because it was written in the book.

    The Nameless Chaos was writing the book, and Camille was merely a character in it.

    However, logic didn¡¯t follow that way. Camille¡¯s rage wrapped around Isaac, even with her body torn and shattered. She wanted to vent her anger, to see Isaac dead. Because a Prophet needed trials, and she was chosen to be one, even though she was insignificant.

    A trial for the Prophet to take one step further.

    The Nameless Chaos no longer intervened in the writing. From now on, it was a battle of will and realization.

    Or perhaps, a chance for the Prophet to realize a new value.

    [Gaahhhh!]

    Camille suddenly screamed, her body twisting. mes abruptly engulfed her fingertips, spreading quickly and consuming her body. It also crushed and pulverized her.

    Isaac did nothing.

    This was the work of his allies.

    ***

    ¡°Fire! Burn everything!¡±

    ¡°It burns well despite looking like a living creature, Captain!¡±

    Rottenhammer and his pdins set fire to various parts of the Whitewood in Prayer¡¯s body. The holy mes enveloping their weapons were one of the basic miracles for pdins. Camille¡¯s body absorbed and burned with the holy fire like dry wood. It seemed the title ¡°tree¡± was not for nothing.

    Nel asionally spewed lightning, leaving long fiery scars on the Whitewood in Prayer.

    Nel seemed satisfied with the zing inferno.

    However, due to the sheer size of the Whitewood in Prayer, the pdins showed concern as the mes reached hundreds of meters high. If it copsed while burning, the ensuing fire might be uncontroble.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about the fire, just burn it! This is a hot spring vige, there¡¯s plenty of water! Fighting this monster is worse than putting out a fire.¡±

    The pdins, who felt the same, eagerly set more fires. The Whitewood in Prayer¡¯s fleas climbing up were incinerated, and the night stalkers staggered, unable to withstand the heat. Any remaining ones were quickly caught and devoured by Nell.

    ¡°Cut down the burnt parts without mercy!¡±

    Boom! Rottenhammer¡¯s hammer smashed into the charred area, sendingrge fragments flying. Despite not being an ideal weapon for cutting wood, it shattered more of the tree than the swords and axes of other pdins.

    The burnt parts were neither as tough nor as hard as the tentacles, making them easier to cut. Of course, cutting through a structure-like tentacle with a diameter of over ten meters was no easy task. But they steadily and surely cut down the Whitewood in Prayer. Their efforts consistently umted damage somewhere.

    ***

    The attacks from the Brient Pdins inflicted damage on the Whitewood in Prayer, but it wasn¡¯t fatal. More dangerous was Isaac closing the door in Urbansus, severing its body.

    Not only was it a mortal wound, but if the power of the main body beyond the door was cut off, it would wither and die.

    Thus, Camille tried to focus more on Isaac. However, the attacks from the Brient Pdins and Nel¡¯s breath inflicted unbearable pain.

    [Aaahhh!]

    She released more bugs to suppress the intruders and more monsters towards Isaac¡¯s main body. A creature resembling a fusion of a snail and a mantis crawled out from the tentacle¡¯s flesh.

    But a powerful guard was already waiting there.

    Always apanying Isaac, Hesabel was already among the strongest nobles of Wachia. And the blood that powered her was flooding everywhere like a deluge.

    As the monsters approached, Hesabel carefully covered Isaac¡¯s face and body with her wings to protect him from the sttering blood. She then revealed a chilling smile and pped her hands.

    With a loud p, the blood pooled on the ground surged into the air, forming head-sized globules that exploded in all directions. Each one carried the power of a ballista.

    The bloody arrows burst into the monster¡¯s skin and exploded again, soaked in more blood.

    ¡°Hmph.¡±

    One snail-mantis managed to sneak around and try to wrap Hesabel in its tentacle-like body. Without even turning around, Hesabel thrust her palm under its chin, inserting a tentacle¡ªa miracle granted by Isaac. She quickly pierced and dominated the mantis¡¯s body, draining its fluids instantly.

    Thest mantis crumbled without a drop of fluid left. Only the fleas, barely surviving in the pit of blood, remained. They melted away every time they stepped into the blood, unable to approach Isaac.

    With safety secured, Hesabel bowed and looked at Isaac, who was focused on the ritual.

    A satisfied smile appeared on her face.

    Rumble, rumble, rumble!

    The ground trembled and groaned. The halted ritual resumed, and the door began to close again. Camille screamed, shouted, pleaded, and struggled with Isaac.

    But her role ended here.

    Crunch, crack, crumble¡­

    The eerie sound of flesh and bones being crushed echoed. The Whitewood in Prayer thrashed, but it was nothing more than the meaningless spasms of a dying creature. As the rumbling ceased, the massive body of the Whitewood in Prayer slowly copsed.

    [The Nameless Chaos is watching you.]

    [The Chaos Reward has been given.]

    [The Nameless Chaos enhances the ¡®Offspring of Chaos ¡¯ ability.]

    _____________

    Rate us on <em><strong>Novel Updates</strong></em>, so this novel can reach many readers like you, and also it will motivate me to trante more chapters. (For every new rating I will release one new chapter.)

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter.

    If you want to read more than 20 advance chapters or support me, you can do it at /Akaza156

 Chapter 246:

    Chapter 246:

    The message from the Nameless Chaos reached Isaac¡¯s ears even as he kept his eyes closed. His consciousness had left Urbansus just before the door closed. Isaac knew that the Praying Whitewood hadpletely fallen, so he examined his reward for victory with his eyes still shut.

    [Offspring of Chaos / Requires the ¡®Parasite from Beyond¡¯ ability. The parasite immediately devours the host and explosively grows, transforming into the ¡®Offspring of Chaos.¡¯]

    This was the original description of the Offspring of Chaos ability. However, the enhanced version had something new added.

    [Additionally, you can summon or dismiss chaos minions already created in the world through a sacrifice. However, the summoning site must have a sacrifice infected by the ¡®Parasite from Beyond.¡¯]

    ¡°So, I can summon and reverse summon minions now.¡±

    No matter how far Isaac was, he could call upon or send back his minions. This was extremely useful since it was hard for him to drag conspicuous minions around. He had left Hecatli in the Elil Kingdom because he couldn¡¯t find a way to bring her along on his ship.

    ¡°I need to confirm the definition of ¡®minion.¡¯¡±

    Broadly speaking, even Kyle or Hesabel, who were currently governing the Isaacrea territory, were minions of Chaos. More broadly, those followers Isaac had unknowingly influenced were also minions of the Nameless Chaos, but not all of them could be summoned. Given the need for a sacrifice, the ¡®summoning process¡¯ was likely very grotesque and shocking.

    Isaac opened his eyes and immediately met the gaze of Hesabel, who was right in front of him.He reflexively pped her forehead.

    Hesabel was knocked back, leaving a red handprint on her forehead.

    ¡°Hey, what the hell! You scared me!¡±

    Hesabel rubbed her forehead, grumbling.

    ¡°Do you hit someone who risked their life to protect you?¡±

    ¡°If I see you on the ceiling when I wake up, my heart races in fear. I¡¯ve wanted to hit you every time, but I couldn¡¯t reach you. Keep your distance if you don¡¯t want to get hit again.¡±

    Isaac didn¡¯t think Hesabel had any strange thoughts. Those people were naturally attracted to Nephilim-like appearances. Isaac wouldn¡¯t be surprised if she followed him because of his face rather than victory. Her uncle had died in a simr manner.

    Isaac looked around.

    Hesabel hadn¡¯t exaggerated; the aftermath of a fierce battle was evident. The number of monsters skewered to death on the walls and floor exceeded double digits.

    Below the cliff, the Praying Whitewood, severedpletely in half, dangled all the way to the ground. The blood-drained Praying Whitewood would soon turn to white sand, just like it had in the capital.

    Isaac felt it was a pity.

    Although he had received his reward, he needed to replenish the faith he had expended during the ritual. The minions of Nameless Chaos were rich in useful faith.

    ¡°Leaving food behind is wasteful.¡±

    Isaac ced his hand on the body of the Praying Whitewood and inserted a tentacle.

    Amidst the still-warm flesh, various inexplicable internal organs were chaotically arranged. Ignoring the unnecessary parts, Isaac sought the core of the flow. He sensed the heart, firmly lodged at the center.

    Isaac¡¯s tentacle grasped it, crushed it, and consumed the fragments in one go.

    Even from that single heart, he felt both satiation and a massive umtion of divine power.

    [Dark Eucharist / You can devour a target with a tentacle or treat it as ¡®Eucharist.¡¯ Faith increases proportionally to the quality of the Eucharist. Enemies who witness the Eucharist fall into fear or chaos, while your followers experience religious ecstasy.]

    The Dark Eucharist activated just in time. As Isaac calmly surveyed his surroundings, he noticed the silence and saw Neria and self-proimed followers of Nameless Chaos cautiously emerging from hiding. To them, the sight of a masked man with his hand on the Praying Whitewood¡¯s corpse appeared like a sacred religious painting.

    They shed tears and prostrated themselves. Neria crawled towards Isaac but stopped a short distance away, unable to muster the courage to get closer. The sins and foolishness of the past years surged up her spine.

    ¡°Prophet, oh Prophet, please¡­¡±

    The ignorant followers, witnessing the true advent of a god, bowed their heads and begged for mercy. However, their eyes were now clear, and their minds were sharp.

    ¡°Please, tell us how we can atone for our sins.¡±

    Isaac looked at Neria and the followers. These were people abandoned or emunicated by the Codex of Light or other faiths, effectively barbarians. They could havee out of curiosity or truly resented the world enough to wish for its destruction.

    ¡®What should I do with these hopeless lives?¡¯

    A pdin would have ughtered them without a second thought, but Isaac knew they were merely ignorant.

    Isaac recalled a friend from his previous world who habitually said, ¡°I want to die.¡± But Isaac knew he didn¡¯t mean it literally.

    It meant he wanted to go somewhere warm and peaceful, free from worries, to rx. If these people wished for destruction, it was because the world that made them desire it was wed. And now, Isaac had the sturdy edges needed to smooth out such a rough world.

    Isaac extended his hand towards them.

    [I will give you newmandments.]

    The thought wave echoed through his mask, reaching everyone. They bowed their heads, awaiting the newmandments of a new prophet heralding a new era.

    [Eat plenty of vegetables, get enough sleep, work honestly, and don¡¯t torment animals for no reason.]

    ***

    Thud, thud, thud, crash¡­

    With a loud rumble, the debris blocking the stairs copsed. Rottenhammer and the pdins were descending to the underground to uncover what had transpired there.

    Rottenhammer wanted to jump into the gaping hole alone to investigate, but the pdins stopped him, fearing the number of monsters below. Instead, they used the pdins¡¯ strength and miracles to barely carve out a passage they could pass through. Upon finally reaching the underground chamber, Rottenhammer was left speechless by the devastation and the stench of blood.

    ¡°What in the world¡­?¡±

    Even the fragments and reliefs remaining on the walls and pirs made it clear this ce was unholy. The Praying Whitewood, extending through a huge hole connected to the ground above, was now melting into white sand, its massive form nearly intact.

    And in the middle of the chamber stood a familiar face.

    ¡°Isaac!¡±

    ¡°Commander Rottenhammer. I¡¯ve been waiting for you.¡±

    Although it was clear he had ignored orders and entered alone, Rottenhammer neither showed surprise nor anger. He wasn¡¯t foolish enough to waste time on such matters after Isaac¡¯s warnings had proven true.

    Instead, he was filled with a different kind of self-reproach.

    ¡°Did the cultists truly perform an unholy ritual here? And I¡¯ve been protecting them all this time?¡±

    Though he had followed the orders of the Codex, it was tantamount to denying his life¡¯s work. He had spent his life smashing barbarians and heretics with his hammer, only to end up protecting those performing such heinous rituals.

    As Rottenhammer bit his lips in anger and self-loathing, Isaac shook his head.

    ¡°No. They weren¡¯t cultists. Just half-witted fools sacrificed for an experiment.¡±

    ¡°Half-witted fools?¡±

    ¡°Yes. It seems someone among the priests of the Codex was researching the miracles of the Nameless Chaos. The people here were merely those with nowhere else to go.¡±

    One of the Codex¡¯s ts was to seek and study knowledge. It wasn¡¯t unusual for heretical studies to be part of that knowledge. However, performing the rituals and summoning unholy beings was crossing a line.

    Rottenhammer had heard snippets about what happened in Ultenheim and Camille. After a long silence, he surveyed the blood-soaked surroundings. While there were no intact corpses, there were enough human fragments to be found.

    ¡°Are they all dead?¡±

    ¡°It seems so.¡±

    In truth, Isaac had sent his followers fleeing through a secret passage after dering the newmandments. He even copsed the passage after their escape, making it difficult to find them.

    He was unsure how they would interpret the newmandments. However, given that their faith in him was at its peak, he expected themandments to be deeply ingrained in them, akin to brainwashing. He had even imnted the ¡®Parasite from Beyond¡¯ in Neria.

    Isaac hoped they wouldn¡¯t take themandments lightly.

    They might seem yful, but he had spoken them sincerely. He hoped they would reflect on their meaning and understand them.

    ¡°Did you kill that monster too?¡±

    Rottenhammer asked, pointing to the remains of the Praying Whitewood.

    He knew that he and the pdins hadn¡¯t inflicted enough damage to kill the monster. Given more time, perhaps they could have, but it had shown strange behavior and died on its own. A battle that could have resulted in countless casualties ended with only a few injuries.

    Isaac nodded.

    ¡°I was lucky.¡±

    Rottenhammer exhaled deeply at Isaac¡¯s response and set his hammer down with a thud. Then he knelt on one knee before Isaac and bowed his head.

    The pdins, shocked by Rottenhammer¡¯s actions, watched him.

    ¡°First, I must apologize. For not believing you and nearly causing a greater disaster. And thank you. Thanks to you, my subordinates were saved. Perhaps even my own life was saved. You might have saved thousands, tens of thousands, including those in Renheim Diocese.¡±

    ¡°Please, don¡¯t do this.¡±

    Isaac tried to stop him in embarrassment. He felt undeserving of the apology and gratitude since he was the one who summoned the Praying Whitewood.

    But Rottenhammer spoke firmly.

    ¡°From today, the Brient Pdins will take the Saint of Resurrection, Isaac Issacrea, as our patron saint. Our original patron saint was Saint Brient, but the deeds of the Saint of Resurrection are no less significant.¡±

    Isaac was beyond shocked. The pdins who apanied him were equally astonished.

    Every pdin order had a patron saint as their symbol. The deeds of the patron saint often shaped the order¡¯s character and identity. This event could transform the Brient Pdins into the Isaacrea Pdins.

    Changing a patron saint wasn¡¯t amon urrence and could cause internal dissent. Moreover, Isaac was a novice with a short tenure as a pdin.

    ¡°But shouldn¡¯t you get the opinions of your subordinates and the bishop of Renheim Cathedral¡­¡±

    ¡°My subordinates will agree. If they don¡¯t, I¡¯ll persuade them. And the Renheim Diocese doesn¡¯t matter. We¡¯re based there and receive support from the Renheim Cathedral, but we¡¯re not bound to it. If we relocate, the bishop can¡¯t dictate to me.¡±

    ¡°But still¡­¡±

    ¡°If you refuse, I can¡¯t force you. You don¡¯t need to agree immediately. But think of it as my resolve and determination.¡±

    Isaac realized the depth of Rottenhammer¡¯s resolution.

    He was deeply disillusioned with the Codex of Light. With the Codex that deceived him and its actions. And this disillusionment wasn¡¯t recent but built up over time. This incident was just thest drop.

    Thus, he chose to serve a reliable saint over the Codex.

    ¡®Oh¡­ this is troublesome.¡¯

    Isaac couldn¡¯t simply rejoice at having a loyal pdin order. He worried that Rottenhammer would be disheartened upon discovering his true identity as an Agent of Chaos.

    However, Isaac understood his path.

    Now, his good deeds must be genuine, not hypocritical.

    For Rottenhammer, Isolde, Gebel, and Edelred.

    Not merely to survive and seed, but to avoid disappointing those who believed in him, even if his true nature was revealed.

    Isaac had to prove that he, an Agent of the Nameless Chaos, was undeniably a force for good.

    He reflected on his past actions.

    ¡®¡­Come to think of it, I don¡¯t think I was ever insincere.¡¯

    _____________

    Rate us on <em><strong>Novel Updates</strong></em>, so this novel can reach many readers like you, and also it will motivate me to trante more chapters. (For every new rating I will release one new chapter.)

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 Chapter 247:

    Chapter 247:

    Isaac decided not to respond immediately.

    If the Brient Pdin Order were suddenly reced by the Issacrea Pdin Order, it was likely to raise unnecessary suspicions from the parish of Renheim and the broader church. Isaac was already under scrutiny. Although he wasn¡¯t going tomand the Brient Pdin Order right away, the church would think otherwise. He wanted to avoid being hindered by unnecessary suspicions.

    What mattered was that Rottenhammer had shown his intentions to him. There was no immediate need to ce the Brient Pdin Order under Isaac¡¯smand.

    If the church were to oppose Isaac, Rottenhammer would at least support him.

    That was far more important than changing the name of the order.

    ¡®Whether or not the pdin order apanies me when deploying the Dawn Army is crucial.¡¯

    Moreover, the Brient Pdin Order had umted significantbat experience. They were a genuine elite pdin order, unlike those who only dealt with powerless life insurance policyholders behind the scenes.

    Isaac decided to leave them as they were for now and gradually imbue them with his own influence over time.

    ¡°But what is this?¡±The ruins of the Nameless Chaos were in a state of disrepair, making it difficult to determine where to start. However, there was one conspicuous object, partially buried in the debris¡ªarge, round object.

    It was an egg the size of a person that Isaac had noticed when he first entered.

    ¡°An egg? I¡¯ve never seen one thisrge. Could it be a dragon¡¯s egg?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure. It seems like the cultists were venerating it, so I¡¯m examining it.¡±

    In fact, Isaac had been inspecting this egg before Rottenhammer arrived.

    The egg existed in the game as well. Though noticeable, it couldn¡¯t be broken or interacted with, so he had assumed it was just a decorative object.

    Yet, for some reason, Isaac felt a strange attraction to the egg. It wasn¡¯t a sense of powerful energy or ominousness. It felt more like the familiarity one feels with a childhood friend or the scenery of one¡¯s hometown. However, he didn¡¯t want to risk touching it and causing an unknown event.

    ¡°Hmm.¡±

    Without hesitation, Rottenhammer tapped the egg with his finger. Seeing nothing happened, Isaac cautiously ced his hand on it. The surface was rough but covered with intricate patterns. Isaac could sense that these patterns were inherent, not carved by someone.

    ¡®Is this an eggid by one of the followers of the Nameless Chaos, or¡­?¡¯

    As Isaac considered cutting the egg with his sword, he suddenly froze.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±

    Rottenhammer sensed Isaac¡¯s confusion and asked. Isaac staggered back but didn¡¯t move away. He couldn¡¯t remove his left hand from the egg.

    Rottenhammer immediately understood the situation.

    ¡°My hand¡­¡±

    ¡°Focus on your hand and recite a prayer!¡±

    Rottenhammer swung his hammer at the area where Isaac¡¯s hand touched. If it had been a subordinate pdin, he would have simply smashed the hand and healed itter, but he couldn¡¯t treat Isaac so carelessly.

    Bang! Crack! However, the egg smoothly deflected Rottenhammer¡¯s hammer, remaining unscathed. Meanwhile, Isaac¡¯s hand was slowly being pulled into the egg.

    Despite no visible cracks or holes, his hand was being drawn in as if plunged into soft mud. Sweat beaded on Isaac¡¯s forehead as he drew his sword. He was ready to cut his wrist if necessary. Rottenhammer, thinking simrly, raised his hammer again.

    Isaac hastily stopped Rottenhammer.

    ¡°Wait! Just wait a moment!¡±

    Crack, crackle. Isaac felt the tentacle from his hand moving inside the egg. He tried to use his ¡®Rat in the Wall¡¯ ability to see inside the egg, but it didn¡¯t work. It was as if the inside was apletely different world, imprable.

    Yet, he felt the tentacle consuming something.

    No, it was slightly different from consuming flesh, bones, or blood.

    ¡®This is¡­¡¯

    At that moment, the egg made a crackling sound and broke, releasing his hand.

    ¡°Isaac! Are you okay?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m fine.¡±

    Isaac examined his hand in bewilderment. It was unscathed, as if nothing had happened. Rottenhammer swung his hammer again at the egg¡¯s cracked part. This time, the egg shattered instantly. Inside therge hole was an empty space.

    Rottenhammer peered inside in disbelief.

    ¡°There¡¯s nothing. The inside ispletely dry.¡±

    ¡°¡­Yes.¡±

    Isaac realized this too. The egg had been dead for a long time, probably since he first saw it, if not longer. Whatever was inside had either left long ago or ceased to exist.

    The tentacle had¡­ rather than consuming, it had ¡®reimed¡¯ something. It was a familiar power, as if something that had always been part of Isaac had returned to him.

    ¡®No way¡­¡¯

    Isaac thought as he looked at his hand.

    ¡®Could this be a Nephilim¡¯s egg?¡¯

    The thought sent chills down his spine.

    It was unlikely that there were two Nephilims rted to the Nameless Chaos in this world.

    ***

    The monster that appeared in Baelbaden in the middle of the night and its zing form was as visible as a beacon to the surrounding viges. By the time the sun rose, terrified soldiers and knights dispatched to assess the situation, along with support troops from the Renheim Cathedral, arrived in Baelbaden.

    Rottenhammer led the troops and ordered the recovery of the wreckage.

    ¡°Our guard duty has suddenly turned into a mission to excavate and restore ruins. We might as well take this opportunity topletely overhaul thisnd of decadence and indulgence. Now that traces of the cultists have been uncovered, the church will have no choice but to agree.¡±

    Upon returning to the surface, Rottenhammer shared his vision for the future of Baelbaden.

    Isaac didn¡¯t particrly mind if this ce remained and of decadence and indulgence, but he agreed with the idea ofpletely overturning it. The lord of Baden, who still hoped to reim his territory, would be upset, but that was his fate. The church wouldn¡¯t care about the fate of Baelbaden once it was of no further use to them.

    As Rottenhammer revealed his n, he discreetly whispered to Isaac.

    ¡°The Issacrea territory isn¡¯t far from here. If you can win over Bishop Lamarie of the Renheim Cathedral, you could use this ce as your stronghold.¡±

    Noble territories and parishes under the church¡¯s influence were different. To expand his territory, Isaac would need the emperor¡¯s permission, but expanding a parish only required the consent of the involved parties.

    Isaac smirked at Rottenhammer¡¯s ambition to extend influence to therge city of Renheim. Renheim was even bigger than Seor. It wouldn¡¯t be an easy task.

    ¡°That¡¯s beyond my jurisdiction. In any case, it¡¯s fortunate that the problem is resolved. If you find any unusual items during the excavation, please let me know.¡±

    ¡°Of course.¡±

    Isaked the time and manpower to meticulously search the ruins. Additionally, it was better for him to possess relics rted to the Nameless Chaos rather than letting them fall into the church¡¯s hands. Although he considered interrogating Neria again, leaving the cleanup to Rottenhammer seemed more reliable.

    ¡°Oh, by the way, Ian found something peculiar. He picked it up while investigating to gather evidence of the cultists underground. I was too busy to show you earlier.¡±

    Rottenhammer pulled out a distorted ankh. Isaac recognized it after a moment. It resembled the ankh shown by the emperor, which had been held by the priest who summoned the Apocalypse Handler in Rougeberg.

    However, the ankh Rottenhammer showed had the emblem of the World¡¯s Forge, not the Codex of Light. It was also covered in marks as if it had been chewed by small teeth and scratched with ws.

    It looked as if a beast had crudely carved it.

    ¡®Now that I think about it, summoning the Whitewood in Prayer was more of a summoning ritual than a resurrection ritual.¡¯

    Summoning the Apocalypse Handler in Rougeberg was also a summoning ritual. Isaac believed thismonality was no coincidence. The ankh used as a catalyst for the summoning ritual in Rougeberg had been excavated from this ce.

    ¡®So, it wasn¡¯t a fabrication by the emperor?¡¯

    Isaac, who had been suspicious of Waltzemer for failing to discover this, felt a bit of self-reproach. All the evidence and usations pointed to the Codex of Light.

    There wasn¡¯t enough evidence to suggest that Waltzemer had staged the event by sacrificing his own guards.

    ¡®Do the members of the church have the guts to do this without fearing hell? Or is the Lighthouse Keeper generous enough to send these perpetrators to heaven?¡¯

    Isaac sighed and tightly gripped the ankh that Rottenhammer handed him.

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    ¡°No need to mention it. I should be thanking you for taking on such an ominous item. By the way, I saw something strange yesterday¡­ Is that dragon yours?¡±

    Rottenhammer finally asked about Nel, the dragon, which had been weighing on his mind. Nel, after the battle, had returned to the forest, but the pdins had spoken highly of its tremendous performance.

    Isaac nodded with a wry smile.

    ¡°Yes. It turned out that way.¡±

    ¡°Did you coat yourself with honey or something that attracts these wicked beings? If I had something like that, I would have aimed for the Holy Grail Knight rather than just a pdin.¡±

    Rottenhammer spoke with genuine envy.

    Isaac thought that extensive game knowledge and strategies would suffice for now.

    Whatever it was, it was a talent that Rottenhammer couldn¡¯t have.

    ***

    Isaac left the now busy Rottenhammer behind and prepared to depart.

    He instructed Neria to head to the Issacrea territory. She might encounter ire. He had already given instructions to the followers guarding Issacrea, so they wouldn¡¯t be rmed by unexpected visitors.

    ¡®More importantly¡­¡¯

    Isaac checked that no one was around and looked at his left palm.

    A thin tentacle slithered up from his wrist, splitting his palm and crawling up like a sixth finger. He was so ustomed to it now that it didn¡¯t even feel grotesque anymore. But the tentacle didn¡¯t just emerge from his left palm.

    Tentacles were sprouting from various parts of his body, including his back, waist, shoulders, neck, and right hand. The range of tentacles expanded the more he consumed. When he devoured the Drowned King, his mutation had extended to his shoulders.

    But the recent change was dramatic. It seemed like he could generate tentacles from almost his entire body. Although there weren¡¯t many situations where he¡¯d need to do that.

    ¡®Is it because of that egg?¡¯

    The change urred after the tentacle consumed something inside the egg at the Nameless Chaos ruins. After the tentacle consumed it, Isaac felt something iplete within him be whole.

    It was as if he had left a part of himself in that egg when he was born.

    ¡®Was my body originally inside that egg, and someone extracted it for some reason and brought it into the world?¡¯

    Isaac recalled that Baelbaden had been seized by the church and closed off roughly twenty years ago.

    It matched the timeline of his own age.

    Isaac had lived in a secretive vige protected by the church until Kalsen¡¯s invasion almost got him killed. ording to the original ¡®history,¡¯ Isaac should have died.

    But he didn¡¯t die, and Gebel had picked him up and protected him.

    Many histories had changed.

    ¡®Does that mean my parents once stayed here?¡¯

    Isaac had never been curious about his biological parents. To him, ¡®Isaac¡¯ was nothing more than a game character. There was no reason to be curious about the origin of a game character. But the further he progressed, the more the traces of his parents seemed to catch his eye.

    This could possibly be rted to why Isaac was chosen by the Nameless Chaos.

    _____________

    Rate us on <em><strong>Novel Updates</strong></em>, so this novel can reach many readers like you, and also it will motivate me to trante more chapters. (For every new rating I will release one new chapter.)

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter.

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 Chapter 248:

    Chapter 248:

    ¡®I only intended to take care of Camille¡¯s aftermath, but what a coincidence.¡¯

    Isaac¡¯s visit to this temple was a product of coincidence and impulse. However, he thought that if he continued walking the path of the Nameless Chaos, he would inevitably visit this ce someday.

    Of course, nothing changed for Isaac after learning about his origin. He merely spected that the background of his birth wasn¡¯t solely due to forbidden love or lowly desires such as lust.

    If there was a reason for his birth, there would be a destination in the direction of his life.

    Isaac had to find that out.

    ***

    Isaac swiftly moved to the Issacrea territory riding on Nel.

    Thanks to Nel¡¯s speed, they arrived at Issacrea territory in less than half a day. However, instead ofnding immediately, Isaac flew around to get a rough look at the territory.

    Even from a distance, thendscape had changed considerably. The roads were clearly widened and organized, and there seemed to be quite a number of people passing by. Thend was being cultivated with wheat and potatoes, and the number of houses and waterways had increased.¡®Kyle is doing well.¡¯

    It was ironic that Kyle seemed better off after having his brain eaten by bugs than when he was intact.

    But the Issacrea territory always had the potential for such development.

    The former lord had intentionally isted it with ns of apostasy and rebellion, but with proper roads, it was actually a key transportation hub. It wasn¡¯t for nothing that Caitlin, the head of the Seor branch of the Golden Idol Guild, hade running. Moreover, goods from the Elil Kingdom and the Alliance of Arles were now passing through the northern Norden port, making the location noteworthy even to the Golden Idol Guild.

    Isaac pped Nel¡¯s wings and graduallynded in the middle of the monastery. While people might be startled, this was a ce where they needed to get used to such urrences.

    Most importantly, Isaac trusted himself, or rather, the reputation he had spread here.

    ¡°Lord! No, Abbot!¡±

    ¡°Holy Grail Knight!¡±

    ¡°The Saint of Resurrection has arrived!¡±

    Isaac gave an awkward smile at the cheers and shouts bursting out from all directions. He wanted to ask them to unify his titles.

    In the courtyard, Caitlin, cksmith Ulsten, and guard captain Jacquette were already gathered. Kyle had summoned the key figures of the territory upon hearing of Isaac¡¯s arrival.

    Isaac had many things to hear and tell them.

    Though people seemed startled to see a dragonnding in the monastery¡¯s center, they approached with curiosity rather than fear upon realizing Isaac was riding it. When Jacquette cautiously tried to reach out to Nel, Isaac stopped her.

    ¡°Don¡¯t touch it. Its dietary habits haven¡¯t been corrected yet.¡±

    ¡°What? Does it eat people?¡±

    ¡°More precisely, it doesn¡¯t have a preference.¡±

    While it might be a good habit for children, it wasn¡¯t ideal for people who could end up as food. Not wanting to test whether she suited the dragon¡¯s taste, Jacquette quickly withdrew her hand.

    ¡°The rumors about you are impressive, Holy Grail Knight.¡±

    Caitlin, being wise, spoke from about ten steps away from Nel, making it hard for Isaac to hear her.

    ¡°Have the rumors spread here as well?¡±

    ¡°Of course. Everyone in this area knows about it.¡±

    Isaac¡¯s deeds, including traveling to the Empire and the Elil Kingdom, had naturally spread here. The residents of Issacrea took pride in being part of the territory ruled by the Holy Grail Knight.

    ¡®I saw the Holy Grail Knight defeat the Angel of the Red Chalice and fight alongside him against the undead of the Immortal Order!¡¯

    It was something they could indeed take pride in.

    Surprisingly, there weren¡¯t any exaggerated rumors. In fact, they seemed somewhat understated by the time they reached Issacrea.

    Given the extraordinary feats of killing the Angel of the Salt Council at sea, bing the son-inw of the Brant Duke¡¯s family, rescuing the Emperor from Chaos¡¯s clutches, quelling a rebellion in the Elil Kingdom, and even negotiating with a god, there wasn¡¯t much room for exaggeration.

    Residents who observed Isaac¡¯s humble and modest demeanor up close sometimes felt that the stories were too embellished, despite their respect for him.

    ¡°And as the branch manager of Issacrea, I am very pleased that you kept your promise, Holy Grail Knight.¡±

    ¡°Ah¡­ it¡¯s only with the Elil Kingdom for now.¡±

    Isaac had promised her to open a trade route with the Elil Kingdom and the World¡¯s Forge. Though he only managed the trade with the Elil Kingdom, given that the Salt Council controlled most trade routes, he had essentially kept his promise.

    Isaac turned his attention to the stocky dwarf.

    ¡°Ulsten, Forge Master. I¡¯m d to see you¡¯ve been well. It must be tough being away from home.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Given that this ce is originally a mining vige, it feels like home except for the weather. By the way, I discovered something interesting while tinkering with the leftover materials¡­¡±

    Isaac was curious about what the Forge Master had found interesting. However, his curiosity wasn¡¯t immediately satisfied.

    Ulsten merely nced in a direction, indicating he couldn¡¯t say more.

    Following his gaze, Isaac realized why Ulsten couldn¡¯t speak freely. A rotund priest invish robes and a scrawny monk in shabby attire stood at the monastery entrance.

    Knowing what Ulsten had been tinkering with, Isaac understood his silence.

    ***

    There were many things to hear and tell, but Isaac decided to postpone all of that for now.

    The reason for the visit of the priests from the Codex of Light Church was difficult to grasp. Though Isaac had just demolished Baelbaden, the news hadn¡¯t spread yet.

    Isaac headed to the chapel where the priests waited. Upon seeing the two figures, he almost nicknamed them ¡®Fatty¡¯ and ¡®Skinny,¡¯ but Kyle, acting as the interim lord, approached and whispered.

    ¡°Bishop Ramari¨¦ of Lenheim Cathedral and an unnamed wandering monk.¡±

    Kyle added more information.

    ¡°At first, I thought Bishop Ramari¨¦ was the one visiting, but it seems he¡¯s actually assisting the wandering monk. He¡¯s constantly attending to his needs and asking for his opinions.¡±

    Isaac nodded. Even without being told, he could sense the immense power emanating from the wandering monk. Though it wasn¡¯t the power of an angel, it was at least angelic in nature, a presence that couldn¡¯t be ignored.

    ¡°Isaac Issacrea, it is an honor to meet the famous Holy Grail Knight.¡±

    It was indeed Horhel who approached first. Bishop Ramari¨¦ humbly stood behind him with his hands sped, merely observing their conversation, which revealed the power dynamics between them.

    Bishop Ramari¨¦ was genuinely there to assist, or rather, serve the wandering monk. It was unclear why a wandering monk in such ragged attire couldmand a bishop from the great city cathedral of Lenheim.

    ¡°Thank you for remembering my humble name. May I know your name?¡±

    ¡°It is a name not worth remembering, but you may call me Horhel.¡±

    Isaac hid his shock as much as possible, pretending it was the first time he heard the name.

    It was not an easy feat. For anyone who yed the game, Horhel was as famous as Kalsen.

    ¡®I never expected the Pope¡¯s proxy to visit.¡¯

    Horhel, the Pope¡¯s proxy.

    In the game, he appeared only after the midway point as the Pope¡¯s secret mission agent. As his title suggested, the miracles he could perform wereparable to those of the Pope.

    In other words, he was capable of confronting and summoning angels or borrowing their power.

    Unlike the Pope, who remained lofty in his seat, Horhel was active both in the shadows and in the light, making him potentially stronger than the Pope in terms ofbat power.

    Bishop Ramari¨¦¡¯s attire wasvish even for a bishop. Even Juan hadn¡¯t dressed so mboyantly. By contrast, Horhel looked as modest as a monk caring for orphans at Ariet Monastery.

    However, seeing him summon an angel and incinerate thousands of enemies in an instant would rify that authority stemmed from power, not attire.

    ¡°Brother Horhel, though this ce iscking, please make yourself at home. If you need anything for your pilgrimage, feel free to let us know. We will cooperate as much as possible.¡±

    Isaac hoped his words sounded respectful. There was no need to be servile. Since this was his first meeting with Horhel, being overly polite would seem suspicious.

    ¡®It¡¯s been a while since I felt this tense with someone.¡¯

    Horhel smiled with a wrinkled face and responded.

    ¡°No, there is no need to stay longer. I came to see the Holy Grail Knight. For a pilgrimage, a sturdy staff and durable clothes are enough.¡±

    ¡®That makes sense for a priest who can resurrect the dead with a miracle.¡¯

    Isaac thought sarcastically but merely bowed his head humbly.

    ¡°Thank you for viewing my hollow reputation favorably. Is there anything specific you wish to discuss with me?¡±

    Isaac wanted to advance the conversation quickly, hoping this dangerous man would leave soon. Fortunately, Horhelplied with his intent.

    ¡°Brother Isaac¡¯s journey has been fascinating. Defeating angels and monsters, bing the terror of heretics ¨C it has been very thrilling to watch. It reminds me of a great hero.¡±

    ¡°No, please don¡¯t say such things. The rumors are exaggerated. I am nothingpared to my predecessors.¡±

    ¡°Listen. There was indeed a hero whose deeds closely resembled yours. The Codex was about to appoint him as a saint and grant him a name.¡±

    To be given a name implied being appointed as a Holy Angel.

    Isaac pondered if he was referring to the Sword of May and Saint Arte, but then he realized Horhel was speaking in the past tense.

    Horhel mentioned apletely unexpected name.

    ¡°Have you ever heard of Kalsen Miller?¡±

    ***

    Isaac almost screamed.

    ¡®The lost Kalsen Miller? He¡¯s currently inside my belly.¡¯ Of course, he couldn¡¯t say that.

    Why was Horhel calling Kalsen, who was branded a heretic and expunged from records, a hero andparing him to Isaac?

    ¡®Is he trying to provoke me?¡¯

    Isaac tried to remain calm and hide his agitation.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t he a heretic who betrayed the Order?¡±

    ¡°Yes, but it¡¯s also true he was a great hero before his betrayal. His defection was a painful sorrow for millions of believers, including the Order. But fortunately, as he disappeared, a new hope emerged.¡±

    Horhel suddenly grabbed Isaac¡¯s arm. Closing his eyes and bowing his head as if in prayer, he murmured.

    ¡°It is a joyous and blessed event. They say the most painful betrayales from the most faithful believers, yet we can find a shining star even in the mire of evil. Brother Isaac has be a great hero and the bearer of light on the eve of the millennium kingdom.¡±

    Isaac was bewildered, wondering what Horhel was leading to by praising him so much.

    Judging by the atmosphere, it didn¡¯t seem like Horhel was going to say, ¡®I know your true identity, so let¡¯s strip away the fa?ade and see those tentacles.¡¯

    As Isaac was about to rx, Horhel gripped his arm tightly and said,

    ¡°The Lighthouse Keeper has a name prepared for you.¡±

    A prepared name?

    Isaac didn¡¯t understand the meaning for a moment.

    However, the realization came slowly but with clear intent.

    ¡°¡­Do you mean I will be given a name?¡±

    Among the numerous titles attached to Isaac, another one was about to be added.

    Isaac Issacrea, Provisional Archangel (Confirmed).

    _____________

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 Chapter 249:

    Chapter 249:

    What is the highest honor and position a human can attain in this world?

    In the world Isaac came from, achieving heroic feats might get one immortalized in a game as a character. However, in this world, one bes an angel named by the gods.

    Receiving a new name and being reborn anew¡ªthat is the status of an Archangel, the highest rank a human can achieve.

    ¡®As long as they don¡¯t entertain thoughts of daring to challenge the gods, that is.¡¯

    Among the Nine Faiths, there were gods who had been betrayed by angels, but none had fallen from power because of it, so let¡¯s set that aside.

    Anyway, Isaac was stunned by the possibility that such an immense position could be bestowed upon him.

    His first thought was, ¡®Is this even okay?¡¯

    Even the Lighthouse Keeper would know that beneath Isaac¡¯s skin, there wasn¡¯t just blood and bones. Furthermore, Isaac was a Nephilim. The angel who birthed a Nephilim inevitably became a fallen angel, an undeniable proof of sin.

    Could it be possible to be an Archangel despite such adverse conditions?The conclusion came quickly.

    There was no reason he couldn¡¯t.

    Belonging to another god¡¯s retinue?

    There had been angels whomitted apostasy and became gods themselves.

    There were those who renounced one faith andmitted apostasy to join another faith and became angels.

    Isaac could do the same.

    Nephilim? There were already exemry precedents like the Red Chalice and the Dancer. They weren¡¯t angels but gods, yet Nephilim were evidence of sin, not the sin itself. If that were a reason for punishment, Isaac¡¯s head would have been off long ago.

    ¡®But still, an Archangel?¡¯

    As Isaac was lost in thought and failed to respond, Horhel smiled, understanding it as him being overwhelmed.

    Isaac was indeed shocked.

    ¡°You seem surprised. Well, even I didn¡¯t expect to deliver such a promation twice in my lifetime.¡±

    Isaac barely managed to pull himself together at Horhel¡¯s words.

    ¡°¡­So, you must have delivered it to Kalsen as well.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right. The opportunity to be the messenger of an angel is not given to just anyone. It¡¯s truly a blessed and glorious thing.¡±

    Horhel observed Isaac¡¯splexion and slowly tilted his head.

    ¡°But you don¡¯t seem as pleased as Kalsen was, Brother Isaac.¡±

    Isaac quickly corrected his demeanor. He hurriedly knelt on one knee before Horhel and bowed his head. Following protocol, he unbuckled his sword and ced it on the ground.

    ¡°I dare not open my eyes to such unexpected radiance. Forgive me for not epting it with proper etiquette due to my bewilderment. It is a glorious matter, but it feels burdensome for my undeserved reputation. Please withdraw it.¡±

    Isaac had thought he would seed and live well under the Codex of Light. If bing a Archangel of the Codex of Light was foretold, he could certainly live a life of abundance.

    But he couldn¡¯t just ept it happily.

    There¡¯s no such thing as a free lunch. Promising generous rewards meant that severe trials were prepared. If he epted it just because it seemed nice, it might end up being like signing a ve contract.

    However, Horhel seemed to take Isaac¡¯s humility as sincerity or deliberately ignored it, picking up the sword and handing it back to him.

    ¡°Stand up straight, Holy Grail Knight. I am merely delivering the promation, not an angel. It¡¯s natural to feel burdened, but all this is the judgment made by the angels with their clear eyes.¡±

    ¡°But¡­¡±

    ¡°There haven¡¯t been many heroes who achieved such feats at a young age like you, Brother Isaac. Even Kalsen, who was destined to be a Archangel, didn¡¯t aplish such feats at such a young age. Think of how many more feats you can achieve in the future.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°And the Lighthouse Keeper only said there¡¯s a reserved name. It¡¯s not decided yet. Names are given after death, not immediately. Until then, they will watch if you umte enough feats, so don¡¯t feel burdened.¡±

    Cold sweat ran down Isaac¡¯s spine.

    That statement sounded like, ¡®We¡¯ll use you as much as you¡¯ve achieved so far and keep using you until you die.¡¯ It wouldn¡¯t be much different in reality. But he couldn¡¯t continue to refuse while pretending to be humble.

    Horhel had already mentioned Kalsen, who was simr to Isaac.

    If he kept refusing, they might suspect, ¡®Come to think of it, Kalsen also refused the glory of bing an Archangel by bing an apostate. Are you nning the same?¡¯

    ¡®Damn you, Kalsen.¡¯

    In the end, Isaac concluded that he had no choice but to ept while cursing the innocent Kalsen.

    Seeing Isaac¡¯s reluctance to answer quickly, Horhel smiled.

    ¡°It seems you¡¯re genuinely burdened, not just humble.¡±

    Isaac seized the hope that he might not have to answer immediately.

    ¡°I doubt whether I¡¯ve achieved feats suitable to be a Archangel. I¡¯m young andck the qualities to set an example for others. At best, I¡¯m just a swordsman who knows how to kill and cut things. How can someone like me be suitable to spread the order of the Codex of Light as a Archangel?¡±

    His words flowed smoothly when making excuses to refuse. But there was some truth in Isaac¡¯s words.

    Archangels symbolize the values pursued by their respective gods.

    In the Codex of Light, there was only one Archangel from the Pdins, the Sword of May.

    Even that was recognized more for creating the title of Pdin and devising the Pdin¡¯s swordsmanship than for achievements in battle.

    ¡®Kalsen was destined to be an Archangel but failed.¡¯

    Horhel seemed pleased with Isaac¡¯s humility and said with a smile,

    ¡°Brother Isaac¡¯s humble words seem to show why you should be an Archangel even more.¡±

    ¡®Damn, do I have to go around extorting money now that I¡¯ve be an Archangel?¡¯

    Isaac thought bitterly. But Horhel, seemingly not intending to pressure Isaac, sat down right in front of him.

    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s discuss the qualification for receiving a name.¡±

    ¡°Yes?¡±

    ¡°The Archangel, I mean. Let¡¯s specte why the Lighthouse Keeper intends to make you an angel. Kalsen is a close example.¡±

    Horhel leaned closer to Isaac.

    ¡°Brother Isaac, do you know why Kalsen was to be given a name?¡±

    ***

    Isaac pondered how much he knew about Kalsen.

    The Honorable Pdin Kalsen Miller.

    The Saint of the Sword, leader of the Milishar Pdins, Skull Crusher, a figure who built his legacy through the blood and bodies of countless enemies. He had also been given the opportunity to be named. Horhel must have approached him, as he did now, to deliver the glorious promation.

    Had Kalsen been a pdin with a normal mindset, he would have wept with joy or praised the gods to the fullest. But instead of fulfilling the glorious mission and bing an Archangel, he chose the path of apostasy.

    ¡®Why?¡¯

    Isaac recalled an interrogation he conducted long ago when Archbishop Al Durad invaded his territory. Al Durad had said that to prevent the Nameless Chaos from returning, they aimed to make Kalsen the new ninth faith.

    Kalsen had agreed to this, resulting in a coboration between the Codex of Light and the Immortal Order.

    At that time, Isaac wasn¡¯t sure if it was Kalsen¡¯s decision or an order from the Church. But seeing how things unfolded now, it seemed more likely to be thetter.

    Kalsen, who was supposed to be an Archangel, was thus made an apostate and expelled to the Immortal Order by the organization.

    Anyway, it was true that he had once been a candidate for bing an Archangel.

    So, what achievements had he made to be considered for such a position?

    ¡°Brother Isaac, do you know about the Archangels of the Codex of Light?¡±

    Isaac nodded.

    The Codex of Light had four Archangels.

    ¡°I know of the Lighthouse Keeper, the Blind Sentinel, the Sword of May, and the Burning Maiden.¡±

    Originally, there was ¡®the General¡¯ Elil between the Lighthouse Keeper and the Blind Sentinel, but due to the Elil faction¡¯s disastrous events, he was excluded. Perhaps Kalsen could have been the fifth or sixth name added. But he too failed due to apostasy.

    The Codex of Light didn¡¯t particrly have many apostates. It just appeared that way because the organization wasrge and numerous. Even the Red Chalice had the Prophet of Red Flesh running away.

    ¡°You are well-informed. Kalsen was supposed to be given the name ¡®White Hunter.¡¯ But now, that name will never be used.¡±

    Horhel murmured as he snapped his fingers in order.

    ¡°Do you know how Kalsen got the opportunity to be a Archangel?¡±

    Isaac shook his head. Kalsen had won numerous victories on the battlefield and defeated countless enemies. He was the undisputed strongest in the White Empire. But it didn¡¯t seem likely that he would be appointed an Archangel just for that. By that standard, even Waltzemer would qualify.

    ¡°It¡¯s natural you don¡¯t know. Because his true achievements have been erased.¡±

    ¡°¡­Erased?¡±

    ¡°Actually, about 20 years ago, there was one more Archangel in the Codex of Light.¡±

    Isaac felt a chill down his spine at the mention of 20 years. The fact that he had no knowledge of this Archangel implied that the angel had fallen and been erased from history.

    Isaac also felt a sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu with the number 20.

    ¡°That Archangelmitted a severe sin and went on the run. The Lighthouse Keeper ordered Kalsen, along with the Sword of May and the Burning Maiden, to find and eliminate that angel. Subsequently, the angel was punished by falling and erased from history.¡±

    Despite two angels being involved, Kalsen¡¯s help was needed, probably for the same reason Isaac was with the Kingdom of Elil. Entering certain ces was impossible for angels alone, or Kalsen¡¯s ability, ¡®Lighthouse of the Watcher,¡¯ was needed.

    ¡°Have you heard of the Teachings of the Owl?¡±

    ¡°Pardon?¡±

    Isaac was taken aback by the sudden question. He feared the inquiry might be about Camille, but Horhel¡¯s topic was entirely different.

    ¡°The fallen Archangel¡¯s name was ¡®White Owl.¡¯ She created the Teachings of the Owl. Though her name has been erased from history, her knowledge and traces persist stubbornly.¡±

    Isaac felt a strange ringing in his ears. At the mention of White Owl, fragmented memories resurfaced, echoing repeatedly.

    It was a memory from Urbansus of Elil.

    ¡°It seems the newly named angel, White Owl, is making significant contributions in the Codex of Light. We cannot keep up with her movements in Urbansus. At this rate¡­¡±

    The name echoed repeatedly in Isaac¡¯s mind, making him feel nauseous.

    ***

    Horhel patted Isaac¡¯s shoulder as if understanding his reaction.

    ¡°I understand. It seems you¡¯ve heard her name somewhere before. When erased knowledge is restored, it can cause headaches. I¡¯ve experienced it several times myself.¡±

    However, Isaac was experiencing something entirely different from what Horhel described.

    White Owl, 20 years, Al, Baelbaden, Teachings of the Owl.

    These wordsbined, leading Isaac to a hypothesis.

    ¡®Could the fallen angel White Owl be my biological mother?¡¯

    If so, her falling and being erased made sense. The gods strictly forbade angelic procreation. That could be a greater sin than the radical Teachings of the Owl.

    If true, Kalsen and the Sword of May would be enemies of Isaac¡¯s parents.

    ¡®Kalsen, you bastard. You kept this hidden?¡¯

    Isaac gritted his teeth, barely containing his emotions. Kalsen likely didn¡¯t even know that Isaac was the child of White Owl. The Sword of May, too, seemed unaware of whose child he was, only recognizing him as a Nephilim.

    ¡®Or maybe they just didn¡¯t care. That¡¯s more like them. It¡¯s not like Nephilim aremon in the world.¡¯

    Of course, bearing Nephilim was a grave sin, but as long as it wasn¡¯t discovered, there was no punishment. That¡¯s why a few Nephilim existed in the world.

    Isaac calmed himself.

    The only evidence that White Owl was his biological mother was the timing. Even if it were true, she wasn¡¯t his real mother, so he had no obligation to seek revenge.

    An Archangel mother he¡¯d never met¡ªmore nausea-inducing than nostalgic. Besides, his targets for revenge were Archangels.

    It wasn¡¯t a goal that would help him live long.

    Seeing Isaac trying to maintain hisposure, Horhel continued calmly, as if Isaac had regained hisposure.

    ¡°Anyway, because of that situation, Kalsen couldn¡¯t publicize his great deeds to the believers. White Owl¡¯s name remained in only a few records and among the priests.¡±

    ¡°¡­I see.¡±

    ¡°Although she was an Archangel, White Owlmitted grave sins and went on the run for a long time. The Lighthouse Keeper was so pleased with Kalsen¡¯s aplishments in this regard that he reserved a name for him. In that respect, looking at Brother Isaac¡¯s aplishments¡­¡±

    Horhel smiled.

    ¡°Indeed, your achievements may seem somewhatckingpared to how much they contributed to the celestial grand n. But as you mentioned, aren¡¯t you still young?¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°The Millennium Kingdom is imminent. If you assist in theing new order, I will show you the path to bing a prophet of the new era, Brother Isaac. Thus, finally, your name will be inscribed as the fifth Archangel.¡±

    _____________

    Rate us on <em><strong>Novel Updates</strong></em>, so this novel can reach many readers like you, and also it will motivate me to trante more chapters. (For every new rating I will release one new chapter.)

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 Chapter 250:

    Chapter 250:

    The Millennium Kingdom was the ultimate goal of the Codex of Light, and the position of an Archangel was something all believers aspired to.

    Refusing it was akin to confessing, ¡°I am a suspicious person with ns to apostatize.¡±

    Isaac decided to ept this as positively as possible.

    The Church would now make him perform all sorts of menial tasks to achieve the feats necessary to be an Archangel, but it would also bring him closer to the inner workings of the Church with considerable authority.

    Ensuring that no one could use him of being a heretic with undeniable authority was exactly what Isaac wanted.

    ¡®At least, the blessing of a naming ceremony will remain just a promation for now.¡¯

    Given the precedent of the exemry Elil, who had be an angel during his lifetime and then went berserk, all angels were only named after their death. Even if Isaac epted the promation (not that he had any choice), no one knew what might happen in the meantime.

    ¡®There¡¯s no chance they¡¯ll make me the Ninth Faith like Kalsen, right¡­?¡¯

    Kalsen had been a virtuous Pdin, but Isaac was an Agent of Nameless Chaos. They couldn¡¯t make Isaac the Ninth Faith as that would effectively aid in the return of Nameless Chaos.In other words, they couldn¡¯t use and discard Isaac like they did Kalsen. Instead, they tempted him with the grand reward of bing an Archangel, ensuring he wouldn¡¯t dream of bringing back Nameless Chaos.

    The Church also gained something. By enticing Isaac, who was navigating between the Emperor and the Order, firmly to their side with the trials to be an Archangel, they would secure his allegiance.

    Both sides wanted to hold Isaac¡¯s leash.

    ¡®Fine. Whether an angel or the Pope, they all want to hold my leash. They might not realize that holding a leash means having a ferocious beast right next to them.¡¯

    Even without all this fuss, Isaac supported the order pursued by the Codex of Light. In some ways, his faith was stronger than that of many priests in the Order.

    He didn¡¯t want other faiths to dominate the world.

    Yet, the reason these people constantly doubted and guarded against him was that they were believers.

    Believers were always trying to prove their faith. Paradoxically, because Isaac was not a believer, he pursued the values of the Codex of Light more diligently than anyone else.

    ¡°¡­Then, I will humbly ept the promation. I only hope that my inadequacies do not bring shame to the Codex of Light.¡±

    At Isaac¡¯s response, Horhel smiled. He grasped Isaac¡¯s hands tightly and prayed sincerely.

    ¡°This is truly a blessed event, Brother Isaac! I hope you will be a great sword of the Church. If there are any difficulties, please do not hesitate to tell me. I will actively assist you.¡±

    Isaac¡¯s eyes gleamed at his words.

    ¡°Thank you for saying so first, Brother Horhel. In that case, may I immediately speak about my current trial, or rather, my business?¡±

    Horhel, taken aback by Isaac¡¯s sudden change in tone, stammered for the first time in front of him.

    ¡°Of c-course, go ahead¡­¡±

    ¡°As you might have seen on your way here, this estate is a poor vige. I could not ignore the believers who gathered here upon hearing my humble reputation, so I epted them. However, I have not been able to pay detailed attention to the management of the estate due to my noble journey.¡±

    ¡°For that, the roads are quite well-maintained¡­¡±

    ¡°To maintain the faith of the believers who firmly believe that tomorrow¡¯s sun will rise, it is paramount to feed and shelter them well. If rumors spread that I might be named, even more hungry believers will flock here. In such a case, would it be right for me to leave on a journey, leaving the hungry believers behind¡­?¡±

    In simple terms, he was asking for money.

    As Isaac continued to talk endlessly about welfare ns and ways to raise funds without giving Horhel a chance to speak, Horhel finally excused himself, saying that he would leave the details to Bishop Ramari¨¦, and left.

    Watching Horhel leave, Isaac thought.

    ¡®They may know how to move and split the world, but they don¡¯t know how to cook rice or count coins.¡¯

    It seemed they were so upied with grand ns in the heavens that they couldn¡¯t see the small stones on the ground. Thinking this, he understood Horhel¡¯s shabby appearance and thin body.

    Wearing the authority of the heavens, they probably didn¡¯t care about clothes, and delicious food was likely considered a base desire.

    But did he realize that faith originally started from the lowly people?

    Perhaps Bishop Juan was truly a rare gem.

    ¡®Now, let¡¯s see, what about Bishop Ramari¨¦ of Lenheim Cathedral?¡¯

    Bishop Ramari¨¦ appeared reluctant when he came to negotiate the ¡°business¡± with Isaac. However,cking the courage to tly refuse the proposal of someone who might soon be named an Archangel, Ramari¨¦ had no choice but to provide substantial support to Isaac, which felt like cutting off his own flesh.

    Isaac gave him a lower score than Juan.

    ***

    After Bishop Ramari¨¦ left, Isaac thought about the White Owl.

    Nephilim inherited the miracle of the faith that gave birth to them.

    However, the White Owl was an angel from the Codex of Light, and Isaac possessed the miracle of Nameless Chaos. Hereiny the logical contradiction.

    ¡®So did the White Owl switch to the miracle of Nameless Chaos?¡¯

    While not impossible, Isaac thought it unlikely. All those who knew the true name of Nameless Chaos had died. Angels were unlikely to be exceptions. If any survived, it would mean there were still those who knew the true name of Nameless Chaos.

    There was another possibility.

    Naturally, children were not born alone.

    If the White Owl had been cast out due to procreation, it implied there was a partner involved.

    ¡®Since the White Owl seems to be female, let¡¯s assume she¡¯s the mother. Then, there must have been a father too.¡¯

    Thinking of prophets of the Red Flesh engaging in intercourse made Isaac feel nauseous. But it was natural for children to feel this way when imagining their parents having s*x.

    Though the appearances of the angels of the Codex of Light were different from those of the Red Chalice, they were equally strange in their own ways.

    Suppressing his vivid imagination, Isaac continued to specte about his unknown father.

    It was more likely that the one who inherited the faith of Nameless Chaos was on that side.

    It seemed odd that the White Owl inherited the faith of Nameless Chaos while ignoring the lineage of the Codex of Light, but by that time, she might have already apostatized. Although she retained the holiness of an angel, she had no faith to pass down.

    ¡®Could it be that both parents were angels?¡¯

    Children born from the union between humans and angels were called Nephilim. There was no specific term for offspring born between two angels. Nevertheless, it didn¡¯t seem impossible. It would only further appall the gods, who were already enforcing birth control policies.

    Just thinking about the eyes of Sword of May rubbing together made Isaac feel even more uneasy.

    It was a scene that could drive someone insane. That such beings could even reproduce was as shocking as realizing that their parents were perverts.

    ¡®This is giving me a headache¡­ No, I need to figure out how to interrogate Kalsen first.¡¯

    Isaac thought about Kalsen, who resided in his belly, only popping out when it suited him to say what he wanted before disappearing again. If he wished, he could try tomunicate through meditation, but torturing a dead man to extract answers was frustratingly impossible.

    Of course, the secret of his birth wouldn¡¯t affect his future actions.

    Still, he couldn¡¯t help but suspect that his birth might have been part of some grand scheme. Even if he tried not to let it bother him, the idea of being a mere pawn on a chessboard was irksome.

    Knock knock.

    Someone knocked on the door. Before Isaac could even answer, the door burst open, and Ulsten walked in.

    It was an action only a dwarf could do, even to an Archangel, without caring about the consequences.

    ¡°Sorry for barging in like this, Holy Grail Knight. I noticed the priests had left.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fine. You mentioned you had something to discuss?¡±

    ¡°Yes. I was worried the priests might be here because of that, but seeing them leave, it seems not, thankfully.¡±

    Isaac decided to shift his focus to this new topic.

    Secrets of his birth and the gods¡¯ grand ns were just headaches and didn¡¯t help with his current goals. Inparison, the fascinating items the dwarf might create or the monsters he could immediately kill and devour were far more interesting.

    ¡°Something that would concern the priests? That sounds intriguing. What is it?¡±

    ¡°¡­Are you alright? That doesn¡¯t seem like something a Holy Grail Knight should say.¡±

    ¡°Oops.¡±

    Isaac realized he had momentarily lost hisposure and quickly refocused his thoughts.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine now. What was it that you found?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s something you¡¯re quite familiar with. It¡¯s better if I show you.¡±

    ***

    The ce Ulsten led him to was the abandoned mine where the fallen angel was buried.

    Isaac found it curious that he ended up here right after discussing fallen angels with the priests.

    For the first time, he felt a personal curiosity about the fallen angel.

    Until now, to him, the fallen angel was merely a ¡°useful rare material,¡± but the thought that she might be his biological mother made him naturally curious.

    ¡®Surely, she couldn¡¯t be the White Owl.¡¯

    If so, Isaac had been farming his mother¡¯s remains to create items. That would be an exceptionally creative level of impiety.

    However, Isaac thought that wasn¡¯t likely. Usually, Archangels had very distinctive appearances, but the fallen angel found in the mine had the ¡°typical¡± appearance of an angel from the Codex of Light.

    Isaac and Ulsten finally arrived before the fallen angel statue.

    The fallen angel was still petrified in the wall. Isaac thought Ulsten had likely stripped away much of it to create items, but surprisingly, only one wing was half damaged.

    ¡°I told you to use as much as you needed for your creations and even sell it for funds if necessary, yet you didn¡¯t take much.¡±

    Ulsten¡¯s expression turned subtle.

    ¡°I told them not to sell it. Nor to strip it.¡±

    Isaac looked at him quizzically, and Ulsten resumed walking.

    ¡°What I wanted to show you is deeper inside.¡±

    Not showing the progress on the fallen angel¡¯s work?

    Isaac followed him, feeling a bit puzzled.

    Ulsten navigated the twisted pathways of the abandoned mine as if he had the map in his head. Isaac would have surely gotten lost if he hade alone.

    ¡°Could you just tell me what it is? Is there a monster down here?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s worse than that. It can¡¯t be exined with words. You¡¯ll understand once you see it.¡±

    Isaac followed Ulsten, wondering what could be so intriguing. As the walk continued, Isaac started to ponder again.

    ¡°Ulsten, have you ever felt like you were just a pawn on a chessboard?¡±

    ¡°A pawn? That¡¯s a luxurious thought. Aren¡¯t you all just pawns of the gods anyway?¡±

    Isaac was taken aback by this near-sphemous statement. But then he remembered that the god of World¡¯s Forge was currently absent. It was said that the god was in a massive furnace beneath the earth, melting and refining his body in preparation for rebirth.

    In other words, he was not a chess yer.

    Isaac was about to respond, but Ulsten didn¡¯t give him the chance.

    ¡°Pawns don¡¯t think such thoughts. If they could, they¡¯d already be the chess yers.¡±

    It was a statement full of pride and dignity, befitting a dwarf. As Isaac tried to ponder its meaning, they came to a narrow passage that required him to stoop as low as Ulsten. The moment he passed through, the air suddenly turned cold.

    They entered an open space with clear air. It was air that didn¡¯t fit this deep underground.

    ¡°Here¡­¡±

    ¡°Light it up.¡±

    Already illuminating the area with the Luadin Key, Isaac was surprised to find that the light didn¡¯t reach beyond where they stood. This indicated that the underground chamber was enormous. He intensified the light from the Luadin Key until the far side barely came into view.

    Ulsten then struck the holy relic he was holding and threw it. The zing relic illuminated the surroundings like daylight as it floated up slowly.

    Isaac finally saw the scale of the chamber.

    An iprehensibly vast space opened up before them. Isaac was stunned to realize that such an absurd abyss existed beneath his estate. It wasrge enough to warrant concern over sinkholes or copses.

    But Ulsten wasn¡¯t showing this space for its own sake.

    He quietly pointed to a massive stone structure exposed in a copsed dirt pile opposite them. Isaac, seeing the strange patterns, initially thought of a hidden ruin, but as he approached and saw up close, he realized what it was.

    Ulsten¡¯s words about an ¡°interesting discovery¡± were a gross understatement.

    Isaac felt fear before he could even feel awe. It was an unfathomable number of fallen angels. Fallen angels tangled, shed, and crushed together like garbage buried under earth and debris. Their number had to be calcted by area, not by count.

    Isaac tried to estimate the scale of the fallen angels buried under the dirt but gave up, feeling overwhelmed.

    At this scale, almost the entire deep underground of the Issacrea Monastery could be filled with fallen angels.

    _____________

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 Chapter 251:

    Chapter 251:

    ¡°¡­A fallen angel? It is a fallen angel, right?¡±

    Isaac asked Ulsten, even though he already knew the answer. The sight was so unbelievable.

    Even if it were humans, no, animals, the sight of such arge-scale ughter would be shocking. But the fallen angels, beings that once housed divinity, being ¡®culled¡¯ like this was outright sphemous.

    Culling.

    That was the only term Isaac could think of. This was a scene of one-sided massacre.

    Ulsten pointed at the ceiling as he spoke.

    ¡°While exploring for useful minerals, we found parts of fallen angels in several ces. It felt strange, so we dug deeper and found this ce. The fallen angels you were allowed to collect were just the tip of the iceberg.¡±

    Seeing Isaac¡¯s expression, Ulsten continued.

    ¡°I thought you might know, but it seems you didn¡¯t.¡±¡°¡­I had no idea. This is¡­¡±

    Isaac tried to recall if there had been any simr event in the game.

    There wasn¡¯t. Arge-scale excavation of fallen angels? Such an event did not exist.

    Isaac approached the buried fallen angels for a closer look. Only the fallen angels of the Codex of Light turned into stone, so naturally, these were fallen angels from the Codex of Light faction. These fallen angels hadn¡¯t been carved from stone; they had turned to stone in their living state. As a result, they retained a vivid and dynamic appearance, as if they mighte to life at any moment.

    The cracked, intertwined, and wounded forms were all vividly visible, creating an eerie atmosphere.

    As he examined them, Isaac noticed something peculiar about their posture. Checking other areas, he found amon trait among the fallen angels.

    ¡°What seems odd?¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re all upside down.¡±

    ¡°Upside down? Fallen angels?¡±

    Isaac nodded. Ulsten looked puzzled.

    Well, the appearance of angels, even fallen ones, was difficult for ordinary people to understand at a nce. It was hard to distinguish top from bottom easily. But having seen angels several times, Isaac could tell these angels were all turned downward, facing the ground.

    ¡®As if they were not trying to ascend but to dig into the ground¡­¡¯

    Isaac examined the condition of the angels.

    Though it was one-sided, from their condition, it was clear they had been fighting something fiercely. An enemy they couldn¡¯t overpower, so much so that even the injured and dying were piled up and crushed by their weight.

    The fallen angels had fought that enemy and were buried deep underground, turning to stone.

    ¡®Why?¡¯

    The Codex of Light must have had reasons to abandon them.

    Isaac imagined a terrifying gue. Angels contaminated beyond recovery by the enemy they fought. Instead of recovering them, the Codex of Light chose to forsake them, turning them into fallen angels and sealing them in eternal darkness with their enemy.

    Thus, the culling was carried out.

    What was certain was that the enemy of these angels was an underground entity.

    Isaac felt a chilling sensation as he looked at the fallen angels still buried under the soil.

    ¡°¡­Ulsten. Just to be sure, you didn¡¯t dig below this area, did you?¡±

    ¡°Well, we thought about exploring further, but seeing this made us lose all desire to dig. We left the existing fallen angels untouched, fearing they might awaken if disturbed.¡±

    One angel, whether one or a thousand, was equally threatening. But with such arge number, it would be nothing short of an astronomical disaster. It would be wise not to antagonize a being capable of mobilizing such a force.

    Isaac had no desire to provoke these beings, risking the Sword of Maying for him, saying, ¡°I don¡¯t like kids who know too much,¡± and cutting him down.

    ¡®In the end, whether crawling on the ground or licking boots, striving to be an archangel might be the only way to survive.¡¯

    ***

    ¡°Brother Horhel¡­ My meager learning still does not grasp the great heavenly n.¡±

    Inside the carriage returning to Lenheim Cathedral.

    After being almost robbed of half a year¡¯s budget for the cathedral by Isaac, Bishop Ramari¨¦ was deeply troubled.

    The heavenly n was of utmost importance, especially with the Millennium Kingdom approaching. However, until the Kingdom truly arrived, he had the responsibility of feeding his monks, students, and priests.

    Horhel looked at Ramari¨¦ with a smile.

    ¡°What kind of learning do you need, Brother Ramari¨¦?¡±

    ¡°I understand that Isaac is an important asset. But I see no piety in him. Neither in his conduct towards the Order nor in his actions. Why does the Lighthouse Keeper insist on naming someone who dares to trade with angels?¡±

    Horhel did not rebuke Ramari¨¦ for hisck of faith and intellect. He merely looked at him with a pitying expression.

    Not only Ramari¨¦ but many priests would react simrly if they heard the rumor that Isaac was a prospective archangel.

    Horhel was very displeased with their narrow-minded attitude.

    Isaac had shown exceptional achievements, skills, and potential enough to be rightfully considered an archangel. If there were ten more like Isaac, the Codex of Light would have already fulfilled the arrival of the Millennium Kingdom long ago.

    However, there was no need to further wound Ramari¨¦, who had just been drained of precious funds, by saying, ¡°Isn¡¯t it because you¡¯re ipetent and foolish?¡± Instead, Horhel calmly persuaded him.

    ¡°It¡¯s because Isaac is most suitable as a false prophet.¡±

    ¡°¡­I have heard of false prophets. They are said to be essential for the arrival of the Millennium Kingdom¡­ But I¡¯m not sure if someone like Isaac is suitable.¡±

    ¡°It seems you do not understand the role of a false prophet.¡±

    Horhel began speaking, more to organize his own thoughts than to persuade Ramari¨¦.

    ¡°The believers are foolish sheep, and the Watcher¡¯s Council are the shepherd dogs. We try to control the flock by following the shepherd¡¯s words, but it¡¯s difficult to control so many sheep. How do you think we can herd them into a pen?¡±

    ¡°¡­By hitting the sheep or barking fiercely?¡±

    ¡°Those methods have their limits. The sheep might get scared and run away. There is a much simpler way.¡±

    ¡°A simpler way¡­¡±

    Horhel made a gesture with his left hand in a fist and his right hand with one finger extended, moving it as if the fist was following the finger.

    ¡°Sheep have the instinct to follow when a leading sheep moves. We use that.¡±

    Horhel shook the extended finger as he continued.

    ¡°This leading sheep is called a false prophet. When the false prophet jumps into the pen, the other sheep follow. They don¡¯t know whether they¡¯ll be sheared, ughtered, or find afortable resting ce inside. We only need to control the false prophet.¡±

    Horhel sped both hands together as he finished speaking. Ramari¨¦ nodded in understanding.

    The wandering monk added an exnation.

    ¡°A false prophet is originally a being worshipped and loved by all. That¡¯s natural. But that worship and love are crowns and gifts ced upon them by our shepherd. Should the shepherd dog be surprised and jealous of that?¡±

    ¡°¡­I apologize, Brother. Thank you for exining in detail.¡±

    Ramari¨¦ expressed his gratitude to Horhel, who had kindly exined instead of severely reprimanding him. As he imagined the sheep entering the pen, he suddenly thought about the fate of the false prophet.

    ¡°So, the Lighthouse Keeper doesn¡¯t truly intend to appoint Isaac as an archangel?¡±

    Horhel smiled faintly at Ramari¨¦¡¯s question.

    ¡°How could we possibly understand the grand design of the angels? However, even if other sheep are ughtered, there¡¯s no reason to harm the false prophet. A good false prophet is very difficult to create. And if such a false prophet listens well¡­ sometimes they receive special names from the shepherd¡¯s affection.¡±

    A named sheep.

    Ramari¨¦ understood what that metaphor implied.

    Ramari¨¦ felt a chill at the thought that there might have been false prophets among the named, or previously named, angels. But he didn¡¯t dare voice such sphemous thoughts.

    Kalsen also had the potential to be an excellent false prophet. But no one knew where things went wrong, leading to his sudden disappearance.

    In any case, the fate of all false prophets was the same.

    As Horhel said, no matter the splendid adornments, humans were merely sheep raised by the gods. The moment one denies being a sheep or rejects the role of a false prophet, they revert to being just an ordinary sheep.

    And an ordinary sheep is merely destined for ughter.

    Just like the White Owl.

    ***

    Isaac imagined living as a docile sheep while looking at the tomb of fallen angels.

    It wasn¡¯t a bad thought. It was his initial goal and also the goal of being a Pdin of the Codex of Light. Completing the Holy War, reiming the Holy Land, and ultimately praising the glory of God in the arrived Millennium Kingdom. By then, the Codex of Light would no longer doubt him.

    But that wasn¡¯t a victory for the Nameless Chaos.

    ¡®So why did the Nameless Chaos choose me?¡¯

    Isaac didn¡¯t intend to follow the doctrines or goals of the Nameless Chaos. He wasn¡¯t even sure if such things existed. Despite his worries, the Nameless Chaos remained silent, as if leaving everything to his judgment.

    Isaac thought of an event.

    While there wasn¡¯t an event involving ¡®arge number of fallen angels,¡¯ there was one with ¡®arge number of angels.¡¯

    It urred during the game¡¯s conclusion, not during gamey, during the ¡®victory deration¡¯ event.

    When the Codex of Light finally triumphed and the ¡®Millennium Kingdom¡¯ arrived, thousands of angels descended from the heavens to dere that the world belonged to God.

    There was a simr event in the ¡®Rebirth¡¯ victory deration of the World¡¯s Forge ending. The Codex of Light, burning like a furnace with the angels thrown in as fuel, finally breaks through the earth¡¯s crust. In Elil¡¯s long-desired ¡®Great War,¡¯ an army of angels wages war across heaven, earth, and hell.

    All these events required a vast number of angels and were rted to the Codex of Light.

    The Millennium Kingdom was a given, and the the World¡±s Forge believed the entity reborn in the furnace was the Codex of Light. Elil aimed to be recognized as ¡®justice¡¯ by the Codex of Light, not the church. That was the purpose of the war.

    ¡®So, was Kalsen trying to perform an ascension ritual here¡­ because of these angels?¡¯

    Perhaps Kalsen had stored this arsenal to ensure he wouldn¡¯t be outmatched when reborn as the young god. Or he might have hidden it to control him. Or it could have been a lid sealed due to some unimaginable event on thisnd.

    Whatever the case, it was in Isaac¡¯s hands.

    This could turn a mere chess piece into a chess yer.

    In fact, Isaac was never meant to be a chess piece.

    ¡®Rather, I¡¯m a monster intruding on the chessboard.¡¯

    The ¡®original¡¯ Isaac should have died at Kalsen¡¯s hands. That fact remained unchanged in the Nameless Chaos¡¯s world. But Isaac survived and climbed onto this grand stage.

    That meant Isaac was not a chess piece but an intruding entity.

    And the yers of the chess pieces were bewildered by this unexpected presence. Some tried to remove him, while others extended their hands, hoping to use him. This meant Isaac could not only follow the rules but also be a yer of the chessboard himself.

    Isaac vaguely imagined a certain picture.

    His own victory deration.

    _____________

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 Chapter 252:

    Chapter 252:

    ¡°Ulsten, you haven¡¯t told anyone else about these fallen angels, have you?¡±

    ¡°Of course not. Who would I even consult about this?¡±

    Ulsten¡¯s reaction upon seeing the state of the halting of sales and production indicated he was equally appalled. He must have realized what kind of beings he would have to deal with if he made a mistake.

    But instead of stopping there, Isaac decided to take a step further.

    ¡°Alright. But please don¡¯t stop the production. If plucking a few feathers would wake them, they should have already awoken by now. Also, can you quietly investigate these beings within the World¡¯s Forge cult?¡±

    The World¡¯s Forge cult¡¯s deration of victory, ¡®Rebirth,¡¯ ends with the new Codex of Light emerging from beneath the earth. Isaac hypothesized that this ¡®new Codex of Light¡¯ might be these beings underground.

    Even though this ce had nothing to do with the World¡¯s Forge cult, there was definitely some connection.

    ¡°Are you saying¡­ these fallen angels might be rted to the World¡¯s Forge?¡±

    Isaac nodded.Ulsten understood the implication.

    Although it was equally terrifying, the proposal was intriguing to Ulsten, who had directly ventured from the Sv¨¢nbar Archipgo to the continent to create a ¡®new god.¡¯

    ¡°Got it. I¡¯ll investigate as much as I can on my end. But¡­¡±

    Ulsten, who had expected Isaac to bury the issue, showed interest in his investigative directive.

    ¡°It seems you aren¡¯t afraid?¡±

    ¡°How could I not be afraid?¡±

    Isaac smiled, touching his trembling lips.

    ¡°But whatever happenster, I don¡¯t want to face itpletely unprepared. At the very least, we should find a way to keep them buried.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re right. If these all start moving, the Issacrea estate would sink into the ground. So, what will you do?¡±

    ¡°Me? I will¡­¡±

    Isaac¡¯s tasks were already clear.

    ¡°In this mad world, I¡¯ll continue finding ways to survive with my people.¡±

    ***

    Autumn began coloring the high slopes of the mountains.

    Since Isaac started governing the Issacrea estate, the farmers, who had never once failed a harvest, anticipated another bountiful yield this year. Despite the growing poption, they didn¡¯t need to import food from outside.

    Moreover, exempted from imperial trade taxes, numerous goods were gathered and traded here. Though it wasn¡¯t a city yet, it was certain to be a significant trading hub in time.

    The rapidly developing Issacrea estate attracted many immigrants. Especially thanks to the rumor of the Holy Grail Knight treating barbarians and heathens without discrimination, persecuted talents naturally gathered.

    Among these were the dozens of immigrants who arrived with Neria.

    Although Isaac hadn¡¯t ordered them toe here, there were few ces the suddenly expelled heathens could go.

    At first, the estate¡¯s people were wary when dozens of people suddenly wanted to settle. But seeing them eat withoutint, sleep soundly in humble homes, work diligently, and treat both people and animals kindly, they were soon epted as part of themunity.

    A significant factor in their quick integration was their high level of education.

    For example, Neria now worked as an ountant and physician in the estate. Initially helping with farm work, she naturally took on the role after aiding farmers being exploited by merchants who couldn¡¯t read.

    Being literate and numerate was a remarkable skill in this era. On top of that, her knowledge of herbal medicine made many seek her out.

    Of course, the sick or injured should see a priest. But there were times when it was difficult to ask a priest, such as with mental illnesses, animal diseases, or minor ailments like stomachaches or colds.

    Other immigrants also knew how to read and possessed various skills or extensive knowledge in specific fields, greatly benefiting the estate.

    ¡°Miss Neria, my son recoveredpletely after using the herbs you rmended. Thank you.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re wee. I¡¯m d to hear it helped.¡±

    Neria responded politely to the grateful farmers and moved on. Watching her, the farmers gossiped about her.

    Her manner of speech, refined demeanor, and high education suggested she was undoubtedly a noble or a priest. But they couldn¡¯t understand why she lived humbly among them.

    Many spections arose, but it was clear Neria and her group were bing a significant part of the estate.

    ¡°Hu¡­¡±

    Returning to her room, Neria let out a deep sigh andy on her bed. It was the empty house initially assigned to the immigrants. Given her leadership status among the immigrants, she had a small private room.

    Today, she reviewed new contracts for the farmers, examined a calf¡¯s droppings to diagnose a dietary issue, and provided the necessary remedies.

    Though her daily life was exhausting, she felt more fulfilled than ever. The more she prayed to the Nameless Chaos, the more she felt a void within her being filled.

    ¡®I couldn¡¯t understand His teachings at first, but now I feel I can grasp fragments of them.¡¯

    Neria thought of the masked man who had saved them from Camille.

    Camille had undoubtedly be a monster due to the Nameless Chaos. But the man who saved them was also an agent of the Nameless Chaos.

    She couldn¡¯tprehend this contradiction but knew whom to serve.

    ***

    [He had been watching.]

    Suddenly, Neria¡¯s eyes flew open, and she sat up abruptly.

    A man stood at the foot of her bed.

    ¡°[You have been faithfully following my teachings.]¡±

    It wasn¡¯t a dream. Neria rolled off the bed and bowed her head to Isaac, the masked man. She couldn¡¯t bring herself to look directly at his mask, which gave her a chilling sensation.

    ¡°I have been waiting for you, Prophet.¡±

    ¡°[You were waiting?]¡±

    ¡°I knew that what you told us back then wasn¡¯t everything. The teachings you gave us have been a great gift. I thought you woulde to deliver punishment once we had atoned for our sins.¡±

    Isaac was momentarily taken aback.

    Indeed, the current life of Neria and her group was a rather mild punishment.

    But now, they had be a significant part of Isaac¡¯s domain. He didn¡¯t feel the need to punish them further.

    However, he could use their guilt to his advantage.

    ¡°[Very well. Since you seem ready, I will tell you what you must do.]¡±

    ¡°I will devote myself to fulfilling the mission.¡±

    ¡°[Spread my teachings throughout this estate. Let everyone whisper my teachings, listen to them, and let them be present in the farmers¡¯ seeds, the merchants¡¯ carts, and the priests¡¯ murmurs.]¡±

    Neria froze momentarily.

    Proselytizing was one of the mostmon and mundane doctrines. But this was Isaac Issacrea¡¯s estate. It was only natural for her to be afraid.

    ¡°This is Isaac Issacrea¡¯s estate, Prophet. No matter how benevolent andpassionate he is, I fear we may fall to his sword before we fully atone for our sins.¡±

    ¡°[I will handle him, so do not worry.]¡±

    Isaac spoke, trying to appear at ease.

    ¡°[You don¡¯t have to proselytize loudly. It is enough if you maintain the teachings, embody the philosophy, and set an example of the correct way of life.]¡±

    Isaac spoke earnestly to Neria.

    ¡°[You are the scriptures and the relics of the cult. People will read the doctrine just by looking at you, and they will be influenced by my teachings by being close to you. You are the sacred texts and the relics.]¡±

    Neria felt her heart flutter at Isaac¡¯s words. No one had ever said such things to her before. Even during her studies in the Codex of Light cult, the priests had always spoken as if they alone were the mouthpiece and instrument of the sacred texts.

    Isaac continued his teachings.

    ¡°[You need no temple, altar, or priest. I will not set a prayer text. You need not seek the name of a god.]¡±

    ¡°Prophet, then¡­ how should we rely on you when we need help?¡±

    In a world with gods, not being able to expect divine help was like drifting alone on a vast sea. As the leader of the cult followers, Neria had felt this desperation many times and asked with urgency.

    ¡°[I cannot help you.]¡±

    Isaac replied calmly.

    ¡°[I am not an omnipotent being. Like you, I am also an imperfect being, as is everything in this world.]¡±

    Isaac had long epted his own imperfections.

    All the evils and contradictions arising from faith stemmed from iming that the gods were omnipotent and perfect. While a god who could do anything existed, it was born from the wishes of ordinary people.

    ¡°[Therefore, you must strive to make your lives a miracle. Be warm and kind miracles to yourselves and to each other.]¡±

    Isaac pronounced this as if reaffirming it to himself.

    ¡°[Even so, if unbearable trialse, I will alsoe to you as a miracle.]¡±

    ¡°I will humbly ept your words.¡±

    Neria responded, struggling to breathe in the tense atmosphere.

    She realized that the teachings she received in the depths of Baelbaden were not punishments but doctrines and miracles. Despite her great sins, the Prophet had embraced and guided thempassionately.

    Thus, Neria epted the new faith.

    In the absence of a god to call upon, they themselves had to be the miracles of their lives, a form of atheism.

    ***

    Isaac promised Neria and her followers to continue teaching them and returned. He was surprised by how well Neria had adapted but was more astonished by their sincerity.

    ¡®I honestly thought the followers of the Nameless Chaos would be opportunistic chatans¡­ did the events in Baelbaden leave such a deep psychological impact?¡¯

    It could be that the trauma had rendered them somewhat simple-minded. Or perhaps they were deeply impressed by the ¡®Dark Communion.¡¯ If not, the chaff might have already fallen away, leaving only the core followers who reached the Issacrea estate.

    Isaac remembered that many more followers had escaped from Baelbaden.

    He didn¡¯t dwell on it. He decided to protect and care for those who hade under his wing. Ultimately, a person can only protect those within their reach.

    ¡®But why hasn¡¯t ire arrived yet?¡¯

    ire and her group, who had departed much earlier than Neria, had yet to arrive. Given their inexperience as theology students, getting lost was expected, but it felt toote. However, Isaac couldn¡¯t go out to search for them himself.

    As acolytes, they were unlikely to die on the road, so they would arrive eventually.

    Isaac didn¡¯t worry too much.

    He patrolled the estate lightly on Nel. The residents were no longer startled by the silhouette of a dragon flying overhead.

    Though the Issacrea estate in the valley had already darkened, Isaac, flying high, could still see the sun hanging on the western edge. As he scanned for any wandering travelers, he noticed a lone figure in monk robes walking from the east.

    Due to the monk robes, he wondered if it was ire, but it was unlikely they woulde from the east unless they were severely off course.

    Isaac descended.

    As Nel approached, the man in monk robes swiftly drew his sword. Isaac¡¯s eyes widened at the skilled movement.

    At least the skill of a pdin or higher. There was no need to scare him off right away, but he needed to identify him.

    Thud. Isaded, ready to draw his sword, and observed the stranger.

    ¡°Who are you?¡±

    The stranger hesitated.

    Instead of answering Isaac¡¯s question, he lifted his hood slightly and asked.

    ¡°Isaac?¡±

    Hearing the voice, Isaac felt as if he had traveled back in time several years. He barely managed to reply.

    ¡°Gebel?¡±

    The deserter who had taken care of him and taught him swordsmanship at the Ariet Monastery stood before him. Isaac dropped his sword and rushed forward, embracing him tightly.

    _____________

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 Chapter 253:

    Chapter 253:

    Gebel awkwardly sheathed the sword he had drawn and then hugged Isaac tightly.

    ¡°Heh, I didn¡¯t expect to be treated poorly, but I didn¡¯t anticipate such a warm wee. I always saw you as calctive and cunning, like a cold-blooded person devoid of emotions.¡±

    ¡°Is that what you say after meeting me again after so long?¡±

    However, Isaac found it hard to refute Gebel¡¯s assessment, so he didn¡¯t bother denying it. Whether in the monastery or anywhere else, Isaac had always judged things based strictly on profit and results, living his life as if strategizing for a conquest.

    It was a means of survival, but for him, this world was also a game. Yet, having lived this long, there were a few people who sometimes made him forget about the game. Gebel was one of those people.

    ¡°You seem taller since Ist saw you. You¡¯ve gained some muscles¡­ though not much, it seems you¡¯ve tried. You¡¯ve always had a body that didn¡¯t gain muscle easily since you were young.¡±

    Gebel muttered regretfully. However, knowing Isaac¡¯s strength, it wasn¡¯t something that concerned him much. Isaac turned around and picked up Kaldwin, which he had thrown aside. Calurien, who resided in Kaldwin, grumbled something.

    Gebel looked at the sword with a baffled expression.

    ¡°That doesn¡¯t look like an ordinary sword. Is it by any chance the Kaldwin I¡¯ve heard rumors about?¡±¡°You recognized it?¡±

    ¡°I used to be a pdin; it wouldn¡¯t make sense if I couldn¡¯t recognize such a holy artifact¡­ So, the rumor that you were chosen as Elil¡¯s Grand Warrior wasn¡¯t a lie after all.¡±

    Gebel shook his head in disbelief.

    Isaac chuckled at his reaction.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know what kind of rumors you¡¯ve heard, Gebel, but if you hear everything that¡¯s true, you won¡¯t be able to be surprised at each one.¡±

    ***

    Isaac intentionally walked with Gebel to the Issacrea Monastery.

    Although it had grown dark and the night had fallen, neither of them had any reason to fear the darkness. Moreover, the roads frequently used by many people were easy to walk on even without much lighting.

    Gebel continuously expressed his amazement as he looked around Issacrea.

    ¡°I¡¯ve been here before. It was just an ordinary rural vige. People¡¯s expressions were gloomy, and the lord was spending his meager ie building a wall. I heard you hadn¡¯t been managing this estate for long, but it seems there aren¡¯t many ces better to live within the Empire.¡±

    ¡°Stop with the ttery.¡±

    Isaac thought Gebel was makingme jokes just because they hadn¡¯t seen each other for a while.

    Of course, it had significantly developedpared to before, but it was stillckingpared to major cities like Serna or Lenheim. It would prosper more over time, but for now, it was just a rural area starting to develop.

    However, Gebel shook his head.

    ¡°No, I¡¯m not just talking about the visible roads or the fancy buildings. I¡¯m talking about the expressions of the people, the state of public facilities, and the security.¡±

    Gebel continued with a grim expression.

    ¡°On the way from Ariet Monastery to Serna, the road was so damaged that I had to take mountain paths several times, and I encountered bandits about five times. I guess they thought I looked easy since I was alone. In Serna, it¡¯s difficult to even walk around at night.¡±

    Isaac listened to Gebel and looked around. Despite it beingte at night,nterns lit by priests were ced at every intersection, and people were casually going in and out of taverns or continuing their unfinished business from the day. It was a rare scene for a rural area. Yet, no one looked anxious or wary.

    ¡°I¡¯ve been to Serna before. I saw the Barbary Bandits roaming around, but is it that bad now?¡±

    ¡°Are you talking about a year ago? The security has worsened dramatically since then. It¡¯s not because of you but because of the Dawn Army. Haven¡¯t you noticed how dire the Empire¡¯s situation is?¡±

    Isaac then realized why there was such a difference in their perceptions.

    Isaac hadn¡¯t traveled much within the Gerthonia Empire. After receiving Bishop Juan¡¯s summons to the Norden Port, he traveled by ship, briefly stopped at the stable Rougeberg, and then was dispatched to the Kingdom of Elil. He returned to Ultenheim by ship again and then traveled through the skies on Nel.

    This paradoxical situation meant that despite Isaac¡¯s extensive travels, he was unaware of how deteriorated the Empire had be.

    ¡°The biggest difference is the pyres. There are no pyres in this city.¡±

    Gebel muttered while standing in the za of the Issacrea estate.

    ¡°In the current Empire, pyres burn incessantly in every major city. If there¡¯s nothing to burn, they even light sacred fires to keep the mes going, iming it heightens the Dawn Army¡¯s morale.¡±

    ¡°¡­Come to think of it, I did see pyres in Syracusa.¡±

    Both Rougeberg and Ultenheim, where Isaac had stayed, were ces where the Order¡¯s influence wasn¡¯t strong. The only ce he had set foot in, Syracusa, had dozens of pyres.

    Gebel was saying that this situation was happening all over the Empire.

    ¡°Now that you mention it, I understand why you said my estate is a good ce to live. It¡¯s not because I¡¯m great, but because other ces are in such a mess¡­¡±

    ¡°In a world where everyone is mad, just trying to stay sane makes you an outcast. Just the fact that you haven¡¯t brought that madness into this vige means you¡¯re doing well enough.¡±

    ***

    Isaac brought Gebel into the monastery and treated him as an honored guest. The priests were curious about the identity of this man, whom the Holy Grail Knight was treating so reverently, but Isaac said nothing.

    Gebel declined the luxurious guest room and the meal, but he didn¡¯t refuse the fine liquor brought from the cer. Isaac and Gebel sat in front of a meaningless fire in the firece, drinking straight from the bottle and sharing stories of what had happened.

    The main topic was rifying the truth behind the rumors about Isaac.

    ¡°¡­So, the rumors were modestpared to the truth. You shattered the Archangel Calurien and sealed him in that sword?¡±

    ¡°Technically, the Sword of May did the heavy lifting, and I just delivered the final blow.¡±

    ¡°To have sparred with Elil¡­ even for you, that¡¯s over the top. You should have toned it down.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s true. It wasn¡¯t really a spar. I was just getting beaten up one-sidedly.¡±

    The stories from the Kingdom of Elil were hard to believe but could be shared like amusing and enjoyable tales of heroism. Gebel couldn¡¯t hide his astonishment at the fact that the student he had taught and trained was now standing shoulder to shoulder with the Empire¡¯s strongest and even defeating angels.

    ¡°Honestly, every time I heard rumors about you in the monastery, I would boast that I was your teacher. But now, I can¡¯t do that anymore. This isn¡¯t because I taught you well, but because you¡¯re truly remarkable.¡±

    ¡°If it weren¡¯t for you looking after me, I wouldn¡¯t have made it this far.¡±

    ¡°To think that little kid who ate rats would turn out like this, really.¡±

    Isaac was about tough but then straightened up and looked at Gebel seriously.

    ¡°You knew I ate rats?¡±

    ¡°How could I not? It was obvious you just pretended to bury them by roughly digging the ground. I confirmed theck of carcasses. I still don¡¯t know where or how you cooked them, though.¡±

    Isaac felt relieved. Clearly, Gebel didn¡¯t know about the tentacles yet. Isaac thought he could be honest with Gebel, but for Gebel¡¯s sake, he decided to keep his mouth shut for now.

    If the Church ever took issue with his tentacles, they would start by rounding up everyone who knew the truth. While he and Isolde were already bound by fate, he couldn¡¯t drag Gebel into it.

    Given his long career as a pdin, Gebel knew Isaac had some murky secrets, but he didn¡¯t pry. They both tacitly agreed to keep it an unspoken secret and moved on to other topics.

    The conversation returned to Isaac¡¯s journey. However, the stories after returning to the Gertonia Empire weren¡¯t as pleasant. They mostly involved Camille and the Nameless Chaos. Gebel, already aware of Cardinal Camille, nodded gravely.

    ¡°So, that rumor was true too. Cardinal Camille got involved with the Doctrine of Nameless Chaos¡­¡±

    Isaac didn¡¯t mention that he was the one who pushed her to that fate. But seeing what happened in Baelbaden, her self-destruction was inevitable. Gebel neither felt surprise nor sorrow that the Cardinal of the Codex of Light died by the hands of his student. Instead, he twisted his lips into a smile.

    ¡°Camille was more of an opportunist politician than a priest. A typical hypocrite. I wonder if any current cardinals aren¡¯t like that. It¡¯s fortunate that such vileness has been exposed.¡±

    Though Isaac, who was supporting and cheering for Cardinal Juan, felt a twinge of guilt, he didn¡¯t show it. While Gebel was a defector and an emunicated pdin, his faith was not misced. He was more akin to a devoted follower like Evhar, but just more open to revenge.

    Isaac felt the need to talk about that revenge.

    ¡°Well, and¡­ I met Bashul Norton.¡±

    ¡°Bashul? Bashul Norton? Is he alive? Wait, then.¡±

    Gebel¡¯s expression turned menacing. There was a hint of desperation in his eyes.

    ¡°Was it him? What happened to him? Did you kill him?¡±

    ¡°If you¡¯re asking if I killed him¡­ To be honest, when I first encountered him, I was just lucky not to die.¡±

    Isaac had fought with his hidden trump card, the tentacles, but if he had fought solely with his sword skills, he would have lost. At that time, he didn¡¯t have the ability to face a Swordmaster.

    ¡°How could you expect me to kill a Swordmaster?¡±

    Gebel looked visibly embarrassed at Isaac¡¯s words.

    ¡°Swordmaster? Does that mean he became a follower of Elil? No, that can¡¯t be. He didn¡¯t have the talent to be a Swordmaster. He was worse than me!¡±

    ¡°What? He was wielding aura des. And he was the chief knight of the Imperial Guard.¡±

    Gebel fell silent, his eyes betraying his confusion.

    ¡°Is it really Bashul? You didn¡¯t mistake him for someone else?¡±

    ¡°He called himself Bashul, and I confirmed he used the swordsmanship of the Avnche Knight Order. He also knew about you and imed he had his reasons back then.¡±

    Isaac recounted Bashul¡¯s exnation to Gebel. Bashul had merely followed the Order¡¯smand to lead the Avnche Knight Order to its doom, regretted it, and was sharpening his sword to kill the hypocrite who gave him that order.

    Gebel remained silent for a long time after hearing the story. After a considerable amount of time, he finally spoke with a heavy tone.

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem like you mistook someone else. Only Bashul would know that information.¡±

    ¡°Do you believe what he said?¡±

    ¡°If what you said is true, the one who deserves death isn¡¯t Bashul. Bashul wasn¡¯t the type to betray. But there are still some unclear points. Moreover, bing a Swordmaster¡­ that¡¯s not something you can achieve just because you want to, even as a follower of Elil.¡±

    Isaac agreed.

    To be a Swordmaster, one needed to demonstrate extraordinary talent from a young age, but it also required a firm belief and confidence in one¡¯s own strength without the need for miracles. Isaac understood that Gebel wasn¡¯t jealous of an old friend¡¯s growth but was suspicious of the dubious aspects.

    ¡°Now that you mention it, Bashul did say during our duel that he had his own trump card. Could it be rted to that?¡±

    ¡°Perhaps. Such sudden, inexplicable growth often has a god or angel behind it. If what Bashul said is true¡­ he might have gained something in exchange for bing a follower of Elil. We¡¯ll have to see when we meet him.¡±

    Though it would be quite offensive to Bashul, Gebel spoke with certainty. He clearly didn¡¯t believe that Bashul¡¯s achievements were due to his own efforts.

    ¡°More than that, I put you in a dangerous situation. I apologize. I didn¡¯t expect him to be a Swordmaster¡­¡±

    ¡°No. It¡¯s fine. Thanks to that, I got to experience a Swordmaster¡¯s skills firsthand.¡±

    The duel with Bashul had been immensely beneficial in the Kingdom of Elil. Learning the swordsmanship and techniques of an aura wielder had helped Isaac survive several times.

    ¡°By the way, wasn¡¯t it dangerous for you toe all this way, Gebel?¡±

    Gebel was a deserter and an emunicated pdin. While few would recognize him, getting caught and interrogated could be troublesome, especially with the Empire increasingly consumed by the Dawn Army¡¯s madness.

    Gebel¡¯s expression turnedplex at Isaac¡¯s words.

    ¡°Actually, I came because I wanted to ask you a favor. I could ask someone else, but I feel safest asking you.¡±

    ¡°A favor? Hmm, that works out well. I also had a favor to ask you.¡±

    ¡°Really? Then let me go first.¡±

    Gebel looked at Isaac seriously and asked.

    ¡°Is there a ce in the Issacrea Dawn Army for me?¡±

    Isaac¡¯s expression became intricate.

    Heughed with an unreadable expression before finally opening his mouth.

    ¡°Could you be the swordsmanship instructor for the Issacrea Dawn Army?¡±

    Isaac¡¯s question served as an answer, immediately determining Gebel¡¯s position and role.

    Gebel Krantz, the swordsmanship instructor of the Issacrea Army.

    _____________

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 Chapter 254:

    Chapter 254:

    Gebel had one reason for wanting to join the Dawn Army.

    ¡°What I want is always the same. Revenge.¡±

    Originally, his target for revenge was the one who had betrayed the Avnche Pdin Order and driven them to the brink of death. However, fundamentally, it didn¡¯t change the fact that those who killed hisrades were from the Immortal Order.

    Gebel confirmed that the current frenzy of the Dawn Army was more intense than ever. The entire continent was talking about the Dawn Army and burning everything as if there was no tomorrow.

    This meant two things.

    The war would result in massive casualties, but at the same time, they might finally seed in reiming the Holy Land after the failures of the past six Dawn Army campaigns.

    ¡°In other words, if I miss this chance with the Dawn Army, I won¡¯t have another opportunity for revenge.¡±

    Thud. Gebel ced the bottle of alcohol on the table with a firm hand.

    ¡°And Bashul will also join the Dawn Army. There¡¯s a high chance I¡¯ll encounter the high priest who drove the Avnche Pdin Order into a corner on the battlefield. There might be another opportunity for revenge there. At least in this remote monastery, there¡¯s no chance at all.¡±Isaac didn¡¯t ask what the swordsmanship instructor of the Issacrea estate would do if he killed the high priest. He was willing to help Gebel with his revenge.

    Helping with his revenge would be the least he could do to repay Gebel.

    However, Isaac couldn¡¯t help but ask one thing.

    ¡°I heard that Bashul received orders from an angel. What will you do if it turns out to be one of the Archangels who gave the order?¡±

    Gebel had been emunicated because of the unjust usations against the Avnche Pdin Order. He had done nothing wrong. But what if those he needed to take revenge on were the Archangels, the voices, and the will of the gods themselves?

    Gebel only looked at Isaac with a chilling expression.

    ¡°Then I¡¯ll show those bastards that if they treat believers like dogs, even angels can end up in a dog-like situation.¡±

    Isaac felt like he had glimpsed a fragment of Gebel Kranz¡¯s past, the time when he was known as the ¡°mad dog berserker.¡± Gebel had always been someone who could have been expelled at any time. Even if he hadn¡¯t been emunicated because of the Avnche Pdin Order.

    For him, his faith seemed more aligned with the Pdin Order he belonged to rather than the Codex of Light. It just happened that the Order¡¯s faith was in the Codex of Light.

    The moment the Pdin Order was annihted, his faith had lost its meaning.

    Isaac had a feeling that Gebel would die the moment hepleted his revenge, or even during it. That wasn¡¯t what Isaac wanted.

    But what if he found a new faith that wasn¡¯t the Church?

    ***

    In the Issacrea estate, which was protected by the Holy Grail Knight, there weren¡¯t many who dared to cause trouble.

    As a result, Jacquette and her guards spent more time on road maintenance and patrols rather than needing to risk their lives in training. While it was necessary to calm their temper from their bandit days during peaceful times, their long respite ended when Gebel became the swordsmanship instructor.

    Isaac had deliberately given only a brief introduction and title, leaving the rest to Gebel. Swordsmen don¡¯t easily ept someone who parachutes in as their superior.

    In the end, only bruises and bloody noses could persuade them.

    Gebel¡¯s first greeting was simple.

    ¡°Everyone, arm yourselves and gather at the training ground.¡±

    The quick-witted Jacquette immediately obeyed the order, but there were some who were suspicious of the suddenly appeared middle-aged man. However, when Gebel selected five of the most impudent ones and knocked them down at once, the order was established.

    Gebel¡¯s position was not that of a captain but a swordsmanship instructor.

    And the authority of a master is prioritized over any other power.

    The guards rapidly improved day by day through blood, sweat, and tears. And during patrols, they began to ept a certain notion under Neria¡¯s subtle constion.

    ¡®As long as Gebel is here, no problem can ur in the estate.¡¯

    Previously, they wondered who would dare to touch the Issacrea estate. But moving forward, they knew it would be an era of self-reliance. Once Isaac had ensured the estate¡¯s security withpetent strength in ce, he immediately set out for a slightly distant location.

    ¡®This way.¡¯

    Riding on Nel, Isaded in front of an old castle halfway up the mountain. It was in the heart of the western mountain range, a bit away from the Issacrea estate. It was a spot he had been eyeing because ity on the route from the empire¡¯s center to the Issacrea estate.

    As soon as Isaac descended, something began to stir and rise from the shadowy parts of the forest. It was Zihilrat, who had been ordered to investigate for traces of ancient gods while Isaac was away.

    ¡°The ancient gods in other ces were either dealt with by me or already dead. But the one here was beyond my ability to handle.¡±

    ¡°You dealt with the others?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    Isaac examined Zihilrat. He was indeed stronger and smarterpared to before. It was partly because he had devoured the ancient gods, but also due to the influence of Isaac¡¯s growth, simr to what had happened with Hesabel.

    Isaac wasn¡¯t particrly disappointed to hear that the ancient gods had already been killed.

    The ancient gods, by merely existing, negatively impacted their surroundings. It was right to eliminate them as soon as they were spotted, like cleaning up cockroaches. And Isaac had grown so strong that consuming ancient gods wouldn¡¯t yield significant gains anymore.

    ¡®With this, I can entrust Zihilrat to handle minor matters.¡¯

    Isaac was pleased with the growth of his subordinates. The fact that they grew independently without his constant oversight was even more satisfying. So, he decided to create another growth opportunity for them.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±

    ***

    The ancient castle, whose origin was unknown, was already in ruins, barely different from a pile of rubble. The ceiling had copsed, exposing the sky, and the wind howled through the cracks in the crumbling walls.

    ¡°The ancient god here is known as Tralgul.¡±

    Zihilrat whispered to Isaac, almost ingratiatingly, offering unsolicited information.

    ¡°An old record says a great general, wrongfully used of treason, fought and died here. Afterward, those who framed him all mysteriously died. Since then, the locals believed the general¡¯s curse haunted the ce, offering sacrifices to appease it or to curse others.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve done well in your research.¡±

    Isaac also knew what kind of ce this was and who resided here.

    The lord of the old castle, Traelgul, was among the higher ranks of the rtively insignificant ancient gods. He was once said to be a martial god before Elil, but now, he was merely an undead-type monster in the outskirts. However, he was still strong enough to pose a challenge for Zihilrat, who excelled in assassination and infiltration.

    Isaac had no intention of fighting personally.

    As they walked towards the throne of the old castle, a fog began to form around Isaac. The weather had been clear until they entered the castle, making the fog appear suspicious to anyone.

    Isaac stopped and instructed Zihilrat.

    ¡°Zihilrat, summon the rats.¡±

    Without a word, Zihilrat called forth the rats he had already infiltrated into the castle. All of these rats were infected with the Parasite from Beyond. As the rats gathered into a mound, growing to the size of a head, Isaac activated his enhanced ¡®Offspring of Chaos¡¯ ability andmanded.

    ¡°Come here.¡±

    With a sickening crunch, the rats began topress into one spot. The mass of flesh and bones squashed together, blood spraying everywhere but not a drop wasted as it reformed. The flesh pulsed and swelled repeatedly, and eventually, a delicate woman¡¯s form blossomed like a flower.

    ¡°I respond to your summons, my lord.¡±

    ¡°Hectali.¡±

    Once an ancient god of Elil, she had now be Isaac¡¯s servant. The fog thickened in response to Hectali¡¯s appearance.

    Isaac gestured lightly.

    ¡°With two of you, the bnce should be just right. Zihilrat, hunt Traelgul with Hectali. You may do as you wish with the flesh.¡±

    ¡°As youmand.¡±

    The castle seemed to shudder with anger at Isaac¡¯smand. A heavy voice boomed through the fog.

    [Who dares speak sphemy in Traelgul¡¯s domain!]

    Isaac coldly replied, ¡°Silence him before he prattles on.¡±

    ¡°As youmand.¡±

    Zihilrat tore through his robe, expanding into a colossal beast. He looked evenrger and had two additional limbspared to when he hunted the Wachian manhunters. Ferocious tentacles surged like a mane around his neck.

    Hectali also shed her delicate appearance, revealing a face split into eight parts. Her graceful movements were like a flower blooming, but each petal contained lips that ceaselessly chanted curses.

    As Hectali hissed and muttered, the fog parted to reveal the throne. Beyond it sat the headless general, leaning on a massive axe.

    Enraged by his visitors¡¯ insolence, Traelgul grabbed his axe and charged out.

    The battle began.

    Isaac found a suitable spot to sit and watched the fight.

    ***

    Unexpectedly, the battle was fierce.

    Zihilrat, skilled in ambushes, was unustomed to direct confrontations. Hectali, as a witch, was also limited without herir and minions. Lacking her minions meant she had to rely solely on curses.

    But Traelgul, wary of Isaac, couldn¡¯t afford to go all out against Zihilrat and Hectali either.

    ¡®Still, it doesn¡¯t seem like they will lose.¡¯

    Despite being strangers, Zihilrat and Hectali coordinated well, steadily inflicting wounds on Traelgul. Hectali¡¯s curses would slow him down, and Zihilrat would strike unexpectedly.

    Traelgul¡¯s ability to hold his ground was impressive. Isaac estimated Traelgul¡¯s level to be roughly on par with Rottenhammer or Gebel.

    ¡®Should I make him a servant?¡¯

    The temptation to recruit someone of Pdin Order captain level crossed his mind, but he dismissed it. The general¡¯s size and foul odor were too conspicuous. He would only be useful inrge-scale battles or frontal confrontations, and if his headlessness was exposed in the Dawn Army, it could cause an uproar.

    Moreover, many external priests were joining the Dawn Army. They wouldn¡¯t fail to notice.

    ¡®There¡¯s no need to be greedy. Faith would also be wasted.¡¯

    Realizing that the oue was just a matter of time, Traelgul desperately shouted.

    [You there, human! Are these your servants? Let me speak¡­]

    ¡°Pathetic, Traelgul. Face your end like a general.¡±

    [What grudge do you hold against me¡­?]

    There was no personal grudge, but an ancient god like Traelgul could corrupt those around him. Just as Zihilrat spread gues and Golruwa incited greed, Traelgul¡¯s presence would amplify violence and murderous intent in people nearby.

    He was nothing but a living sin.

    Isaac, concluding the fight was almost over, moved to another task.

    ¡®Let¡¯s see¡­ There should be a sanctuary here.¡¯

    The Immortal Order often hid ancient gods in sanctuaries. The sanctuary of the old castle was just below the throne. As Isaac searched for the hidden space beneath the throne, Traelgul shouted something, but Isaac ignored it.

    Reiming the sanctuary was straightforward; he only needed to embed his tentacles. Soon, veins and nerves spread from the pulsating heart, rooting throughout the sanctuary.

    Once the sanctuary was imed, Isaac could sense the environment and creatures around the castle. This strategic location, leading to the Issacrea estate, was ideal to secure.

    His expanded awareness detected a considerable number of people heading towards the Issacrea estate. Isaac focused on them.

    He was momentarily puzzled by what he felt.

    ¡®¡­A group of beggars?¡¯

    Then he sensed others. This presence was familiar.

    It was Isolde and herpanions.

    As soon as he located them, Isaac stepped outside. At that moment, Zihilrat seized an opening and bit off Traelgul¡¯s right leg. With a thunderous crash, Traelgul fell.

    Hectali quickly recited a spell and used her elongated fingers to stab into the gaps of Traelgul¡¯s armor, causing a swarm of maggots to crawl out from within.

    Traelgul couldn¡¯t even scream.

    Zihilrat and Hectali looked to Isaac for permission.

    ¡°Sorry. I have another use for him.¡±

    Isaac couldn¡¯t give them the promised flesh.

    He had just thought of a suitable use for Traelgul.

    _____________

    Rate us on <em><strong>Novel Updates</strong></em>, so this novel can reach many readers like you, and also it will motivate me to trante more chapters. (For every new rating I will release one new chapter.)

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 Chapter 255:

    Chapter 255:

    Isolde pondered how the Empire had fallen to this level. No, she mightment that the Order had fallen to this level.

    Because those blocking and yelling at her carriage were not bandits or robbers, but the Dawn Army.

    ¡°Hey, you¡¯re riding a pretty nice carriage!¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re on our way to fight the great holy war, wearing tattered clothes and hole-ridden shoes, and you nobles think you can just sit back and watch? How about a ¡®donation¡¯?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s no need for us to shed the blood of fellow believers, so show some generosity!¡±

    Isolde sighed deeply at the voicesing from outside. At her sigh, the girl entrusted to her by Isaac, Ang, turned her head.

    Isolde patted her head to reassure her.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know how the noble Dawn Army hase to this. Don¡¯t be scared.¡±

    Isolde had encountered such Dawn Army members several times before. They were civilian volunteer Dawn Army members who had risen voluntarily under Priest Ciero¡¯s speeches and incitements.They called themselves ¡®Ciero¡¯s Dawn Army,¡¯ but the majority of the Empire had a different name for them.

    ¡®Beggar¡¯s Dawn Army.¡¯

    They imed to have risen at the call of the Dawn Army, wielding only a sickle, heading out to reim the Holy Land, but everyone knew their real goal was plunder. Even if it wasn¡¯t, without supplies or logistics, they¡¯d have no choice but to resort to looting on their long journey.

    The group blocking the road now was one of many such beggar Dawn Army factions. Ultimately, they would join therge forces led by Priest Ciero and head to the Holy Land, but before that, they had already be a band of bandits.

    More than a hundred people blocked the road, shouting and preventing the carriage from moving. Ignoring them and pushing through might turn them from mere threats into a mob of robbers in anger.

    ¡°Miss, what should we do?¡±

    The man sitting in the coachman¡¯s seat asked calmly, showing no sign of fear. Despite Isolde¡¯s skills, the coachman was also one of the guards dispatched by the Brant family. Although he couldn¡¯t handle over a hundred people, he was not in a situation where he couldn¡¯t escape either.

    Isolde slightly opened the window to observe the ones blocking the road.

    Their emaciated appearances suggested they wouldn¡¯t let them go easily. Moreover, if they knew there were only women and children in the carriage, who knew how they might change. Anyway, this ragtag group would scatter if a few were cut down, but that would bring the political burden of having harmed the Dawn Army.

    ¡°Let¡¯s give them some money¡­¡±

    Just as Isolde thought it reasonable to hand over some money and send them away, a sudden thud was heard from above the carriage.

    ¡°What is it?¡±

    ¡°A crow¡­¡±

    As the coachman spoke in surprise, the crow suddenly opened its beak.

    ¡°Stay still.¡±

    Isolde knew that crows could speak humannguage, so she wasn¡¯t too surprised. But she held her breath as she saw crows starting to gather all around. The group surrounding the carriage also seemed uneasy, noticing the growing number of crows.

    ¡°Stay still, stay still, stay still.¡±

    The crow repeatedly murmured the same words. When a single crow murmured, it was one thing, but when dozens of crows murmured the same words, it was enough to frighten even the beggar Dawn Army.

    ¡°What is it saying, this damned crow!¡±

    The moment one of them picked up a stone to throw at the crow, the crow pped its wings and flew up. At the same time, all the other crows took off as well. They circled once in the air and then swooped down on the Dawn Army.

    ¡°Ahhh! Run away!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a curse! The curse of the Immortal Order!¡±

    A crow is not a small bird.

    A small one is about the size of a forearm, while arge one has a wingspan as big as a person¡¯s upper body. When such birds peck and w, it¡¯s almost like an attack with daggers. The beggar Dawn Army quickly broke apart and fled. They were remarkably coordinated when fleeing.

    The flock of crows chased after the fleeing Dawn Army.

    The coachman prepared to swing a knife at the crows approaching the carriage, but Isolde hastily stopped him.

    ¡°Stay still!¡±

    When the coachman stopped, the crows ignored him and flew away. Thest remaining crow circled once over the carriage and then perched on a nearby tree, watching them. It fluttered its wings once more and said,

    ¡°Stay still.¡±

    Isolde stepped out of the carriage and stared nkly in the direction where the beggar Dawn Army had disappeared.

    The coachman looked around at the surroundings that had been quickly cleared with an incredulous expression.

    ¡°¡­This is really strange. Is the end of the world reallying?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not the end of the world, but it seems someone is very angry.¡±

    Isolde had a hunch about who had done this. This ce was not far from his territory.

    Looking at the crow murmuring ¡°stay still,¡± Isolde said,

    ¡°Wait a moment. It seems we have a guesting.¡±

    ***

    p.

    As Isolde had predicted, not long after, Nel appeared, pping her massive wings. The sight of the translucent dragon left the coachman, already stunned by the crow flock, even more intimidated. However, Isolde, having been forewarned by Isaac, waited calmly.

    Thud. Isaded heavily and immediately approached her.

    ¡°Isolde. Are you hurt anywhere?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m fine. They were just a hungry mob¡­¡±

    But Isaac knew well how dangerous a hungry mob could be. That was why he had hurried Hectali to summon the crows and attack.

    ¡°More importantly, the beggar Dawn Army¡­ no, the Ciero¡¯s Dawn Army, headed towards the Issacrea estate. Will it be okay?¡±

    ¡°Ciero¡¯s Dawn Army? So those beggars were part of the Dawn Army.¡±

    Isaac had heard of Ciero before.

    While in Syracusa, Dietrich had mentioned him as one of the ¡®extremist priests,¡¯ a character depicted quite significantly in the game.

    Mainly for his incitement and madness.

    Priest Ciero was an extremist who first advocated for the formation of the Dawn Army. Outwardly, he appeared as an ordinary priest, but he had a talent for incitement, amassing a massive force and bing a core figure of the Dawn Army.

    At that moment, Ang opened the carriage door and stepped out. She trotted over and hugged Isaac without a word. Isaac, who had no intention of forming an attachment to this orphaned girl, was taken aback by her gesture but patted her head nheless.

    Isolde smiled at the sight, but her smile didn¡¯tst long.

    ¡°Along the way, I witnessed several groups of Ciero¡¯s Dawn Army. They were nearly begging through looting, asking for aid on their way to join the main army. There were so many of them that we couldn¡¯t act recklessly, and it was awkward to provoke those who call themselves the Dawn Army. His Majesty the Emperor also considered them a nuisance.¡±

    ¡°Rightly so.¡±

    A rogue armed force moving unchecked by the state would undoubtedly be a source of frustration for the Emperor. While the pdin orders were a small, elite force leading by example, these ragtag groups heading for the Holy Land would soon leave the Empire deste.

    ¡°And Ciero is a problem. From what I¡¯ve heard from those who joined his Dawn Army, they im he¡¯s a wise prophet, blessed by the Codex of Light. It seems the Church is indeed protecting him¡­¡±

    Isaac knew some secrets about Ciero but saw no benefit in revealing them. It was a useless secret for him.

    ¡°They even spread rumors that he was proimed an Archangel.¡±

    Isolde¡¯s next words made Isaac cough in surprise. After clearing his throat, he asked her to confirm.

    ¡°An Archangel?¡±

    ¡°I couldn¡¯t verify the truth of it. Rumors often get exaggerated among the vigers. He hasn¡¯t aplished anything significant, so it¡¯s hard to believe he¡¯d be made an Archangel¡­¡±

    Isaac hadn¡¯t heard about another person being named an Archangel so soon after his own promation. Could the title of Archangel be handed out so easily? Although it didn¡¯t concern Isaac directly, he wondered if Horhel might have approached Ciero as well.

    ¡®To rein in a rogue priest, there¡¯s no better bait than the title of Archangel.¡¯

    After all, the promation itself was an empty promise. Even if it was retractedter, it wouldn¡¯t matter to Horhel. But it was a perfect tool to exploit someone until their dying breath. Perhaps Kalsen had been driven in the same way.

    ***

    ¡°Anyway, it¡¯s good to see you. Let¡¯s head to the estate and talk more.¡±

    ¡°No, I¡¯ve been thinking about that.¡±

    Isolde appeared to be in deep thought for a moment before speaking.

    ¡°It¡¯s good we met here. Could you take Ang to the estate, Isaac? I was dyed because I was investigating Ciero. Besides, I need to look into the candidate for the cardinal rmended by His Majesty.¡±

    Isaac realized his mistake upon hearing Isolde¡¯s request. She was the sessor of Duke Brant and a royal investigator appointed by the Emperor. She wasn¡¯t someone who could run errands to take a child to an estate.

    Isaac hurriedly apologized, realizing his mistake.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. You must have had no time for such things¡­¡±

    Isolde shook her head with a smile.

    ¡°No. Ang was adorable, and I had to meet Bishop Katyn anyway, so our routes ovepped. But it¡¯s better to part ways here. I¡¯m short on time because of Ciero¡¯s Dawn Army¡­¡±

    Isolde rubbed her temples as if she had a headache.

    ¡°His Majesty asked me to expedite the investigation. The royal family and the Church are on the verge of exploding because of Ciero¡¯s Dawn Army. They¡¯ve been looting supplies, including military supplies delivered by the Golden Idol Guild.¡±

    ¡°Even military supplies? That¡¯s no small matter.¡±

    The Empire¡¯s regr army was also joining the Dawn Army. However, if these ragtag groups started interfering with military supplies, they would hinder the regr army¡¯s ability to show their ¡®true¡¯ strength. The Emperor, who was trying to support the Church, would be understandably furious as these actions would be a hindrance rather than a help.

    ¡°His Majesty might overlook a bit of food being taken. The problem is the threat to the Golden Idol Guild¡­¡±

    ¡°The Golden Idol Guild, being primarily merchants, would value stable security above all.¡±

    ¡°Yes. They¡¯ve organized a regr mercenary corps to protect the merchants. But if blood is shed, the Dawn Army¡¯s anger might turn towards the Golden Idol Guild, derailing the entire expedition. The Golden Idol Guild is worried about that¡­¡±

    Isaac suspected that the recent increase in visits by the Golden Idol Guild¡¯s trade caravans to the Issacrea estate was not just because the estate was developed. It was likely the only ce nearby where they could trade safely. But now, with Ciero¡¯s Dawn Army encroaching on the estate, there was a risk of trade being disrupted.

    ¡°Everything¡¯s in turmoil because of the war.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t understand why this is happening. Reiming the Holy Land won¡¯t end the world¡­¡±

    Isolde muttered worriedly. However, Isaac had a different thought.

    The Codex of Light believed that the Millennium Kingdom would arrive after this Dawn Army campaign. The arrival of the Millennium Kingdom meant the end of the current era.

    In Isaac¡¯s original world, it would be akin to the Rapture or Judgment Day. When that time came, worldly values would mean nothing.

    ¡°But didn¡¯t that Dawn Army flee towards the estate? I¡¯m worried they might harass the residents.¡±

    ¡°Hmm, no. It¡¯ll be fine. Don¡¯t worry about that.¡±

    Isaac assured Isolde of her concern.

    He had already prepared a way to ensure that this beggar Dawn Army wouldn¡¯t trouble his estate. For that, he needed survivors and loose-tongued witnesses to spread fear.

    ¡®Those beggars will be just right.¡¯

    _____________

    Rate us on <em><strong>Novel Updates</strong></em>, so this novel can reach many readers like you, and also it will motivate me to trante more chapters. (For every new rating I will release one new chapter.)

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 Chapter 256:

    Chapter 256:

    After sending Isolde away, Isaac headed towards the Issacrea estate with Ang.

    Since he couldn¡¯t entrust her to Hectali or Zihilrat, he had no choice but to take her himself. He considered walking, thinking the young girl might be afraid to ride on the dragon, but surprisingly, she didn¡¯t seem too frightened.

    Nel appeared to be interested in Ang, though it was unclear whether this was due to a sense of familiarity or curiosity about her flesh. On the other hand, Ang showed little emotion even as Nel pped his wings and soared hundreds of meters into the sky.

    ¡®Flying at this height, she should be either scared or at least curious.¡¯

    Isaac, knowing that Isolde would be horrified, deliberately performed some rather daring maneuvers. Ang clung tightly to Nel¡¯s sturdy mane, but still didn¡¯t appear to be scared.

    ¡®Is she inherently brave, or has the shock of losing her parents dulled her emotions?¡¯

    It was possible. However, Isaac was more concerned that she didn¡¯t seem desensitized to external stimuli. As soon as they arrived at the estate, he decided to consult a priest about Ang.

    ***

    ¡°Did it go? Is it gone?¡±¡°Oh my god, what was that thing?¡±

    Members of the dispersed Ciero Dawn Army began to crawl out from behind the trees where they had been hiding. Scattered in all directions by the flock of crows, they had lost their focal point, and their numbers had drastically decreased. Once a group of over a hundred, they now barely amounted to thirty.

    Their morale was already at rock bottom. Terrified by the enormous crow that had just flown overhead, they only stared at the sky. It was actually Nel with Isaac and Ang aboard, but none of them imagined it could be a dragon.

    ¡°What kind of ce is this where such insane crows roam?¡±

    ¡°I heard this is the famous Holy Grail Knight¡¯s domain. I expected a warm wee¡­ but to let such wicked things wander around!¡±

    The Dawn Army soldiers shuddered and anxiously looked around.

    When they had first left their viges to join the Dawn Army, brandishing farming tools, they had been in high spirits. It felt like they were doing something significant, and the vigers had even pooled their money to support them. Along the way, they met others with simr goals, banded together, and as their numbers grew, it was gratifying to see even noble lords and knights regard them with unease.

    But soon, their travel expenses ran out, and their good mood didn¡¯tst. They had to resort to asking for donations for their noble crusade, but no one weed them. When they requested food or a ce to sleep, people not only refused but even bolted their doors.

    The priest¡¯s promise that they would be weed and celebrated wherever they went was a lie.

    Having left their homes with great fanfare, they couldn¡¯t bear the shame of returning empty-handed. So they began to loot. As their numbers grew, so did the severity of their actions. It didn¡¯t take long for their looting to be violent. Though they were little different from bandits now, they still believed themselves to be the Dawn Army, convinced that joining Priest Ciero would open the gates to heaven.

    That is, if they didn¡¯t die in some unknown ce.

    ¡°Come to think of it¡­ isn¡¯t there a haunted castle called Traelgul around here? Could that thing havee from there?¡±

    When someone voiced this fear, everyone else gave them a wary look. Desperate for some peace of mind, they spoke to the only person who might provide it.

    ¡°Hey, student. You said you were headed this way, right? What the hell is going on here in the domain of the Holy Grail Knight?¡±

    A man asked a young man with a haggard expression.

    Student Priest ire, wiping his dusty sses, stared nkly at the sky.

    ¡°Well. Crows are clever beasts sometimes used by inquisitors. Perhaps the Codex of Light sent them to admonish us for the unholy things we¡¯ve done.¡±

    ¡°Hah. Someone knock some sense into this guy.¡±

    Another man smacked the back of ire¡¯s head.

    ¡°Thought he was smart because he¡¯s a student priest, but he¡¯s useless.¡±

    ¡°If he was any good, he¡¯d be in a cathedral or monastery, not wandering around here.¡±

    ire stumbled, picked up his fallen sses, and wiped them again.

    Isaac¡¯s assumption that the journey wouldn¡¯t be too difficult for someone of priestly rank was mistaken.

    The households already plundered by the Ciero Dawn Army were not openly hostile but had no food to spare. Additionally, the long distances were grueling for ire, who was physically frail.

    Ironically, it was the Ciero Dawn Army who helped ire¡¯s group.

    Once they had food and drink, ire¡¯s group could barely survive and continue their journey.

    For the Ciero Dawn Army, their addition was also wee.

    Though ire couldn¡¯t perform real miracles, having a priest in the group gave them significant authority.

    The fact that they could gather a hundred people was thanks to ire¡¯s group. By then, ire realized they were closer to a band of bandits, but he couldn¡¯t escape. He tried to dissuade them several times, only to get beaten.

    At first, the men hesitated to touch a priest, but now they knew nothing would happen, and they beat him without hesitation.

    ire didn¡¯t resist.

    Hispanions either died or fled. In the end, ire was the only one left heading towards the Issacrea estate. After hearing that his grandmother, Cardinal Camille, had be a monster due to dabbling in the Doctrine of the Nameless Chaos, he had no intention of returning.

    He now believed this journey was a penance, a punishment for his sins. Wandering in such a miserable state seemed fitting to atone for what he had done.

    ***

    ¡°Anyway, we can¡¯t turn back now. Those who scattered have nowhere to go, so they¡¯ll eventually gather in the Issacrea vige.¡±

    ¡°For now, let¡¯s find something to eat and a ce to rest. I heard the Issacrea territory is peaceful and well-off¡­¡±

    That meant they were looking for another ce to plunder. A lone house should be easy for thirty men to raid.

    A man motioned with his chin.

    ¡°I saw a house over there earlier. Let¡¯s check it out.¡±

    The Dawn Army moved in the direction indicated. Soon, they spotted a solitary house in a quiet area. The surroundings were well-maintained, and a few sheep were penned inside a fence. It seemed the rumors about the Issacrea territory¡¯s security were true.

    They were excited at the prospect of tasting meat again.

    Suddenly, ire jumped out in front of them and shouted.

    ¡°Run! Thieves are here! Run away!¡±

    The men cursed and immediately grabbed his head, mming him to the ground.

    ¡°You bastard, not doing any work!¡±

    ¡°Kill him!¡±

    They began to beat ire. But soon, they realized they didn¡¯t have time to beat him. A woman, having heard ire¡¯s shout, emerged from the house.

    As soon as she saw the Dawn Army, she bolted out of the house.

    ¡°Catch her! She¡¯s going to alert the guards!¡±

    If the security was stable, it meant that there was a patrol guard. The Dawn Army threw ire aside and ran to catch the fleeing woman. At that moment, ire, who had been curled up and beaten, suddenly stood up, raised his hands, and shouted.

    ¡°The Radiance is with me!¡±

    The Dawn Army recoiled in horror, knowing that ire was attempting to invoke a miracle, but nothing happened. ire, already tainted by the Chaos ritual, no longer had the power to perform miracles. Realizing he was just stalling, the men turned to chase the woman again.

    But ire chanted another prayer.

    ¡°Gather the scattered fragments of oblivion with your touch!¡±

    A man, thinking it was a meaningless incantation, tried to run but tripped over something that grabbed his ankle, causing him to tumble to the ground.

    For a moment, it seemed like a dark tentacle had emerged from the ground and grabbed his ankle.

    ¡°W-what is this?!¡±

    ire was just as shocked.

    It was a prayer he had read in records but never intended to use. He had never expected a miracle to be granted to a non-believer like him.

    However, itsted only briefly. The miracle dissipated quickly, but by then, the woman had disappeared into the mist surrounding the valley.

    Realizing they had failed, the Dawn Army turned their wrath on ire, who was helplessly slumped on the ground.

    ire, with a resigned look, smiled bitterly.

    ¡°Codex of Light, Owl, all the gods of the world. At least I saved one person.¡±

    A man, clutching a rock, stepped forward purposefully. ire, seeing the stone that would be his end, closed his eyes.

    But the awaited pain did note.

    Curious, ire slowly opened his eyes.

    The man with the rock stood motionless. The others were just staring at him. ire realized their gaze was slightly above him.

    He wondered if the mist had always been this thick.

    With a soft thud, something fell in front of ire.

    It was the head of the man who had been about to strike him with the rock.

    Soon, a gruesome massacre began in the thick mist.

    ***

    Crack.

    ire watched from beyond the mist as a knight in heavy armor crushed the head of a Dawn Army soldier with one hand. The knight tossed aside the man, whose head had been reduced to a strange size, and counted the remaining survivors on his fingers.

    The Dawn Army had tried to flee from ¡®that¡¯ several times. However, the thick mist twisted their sense of direction, causing them to end up back where they started. Eventually, they gave up running and charged at the knight, only to be brutally ughtered.

    [Ten. That should be enough.]

    The knight spoke in a strange, resonant voice from inside his helmet, then turned his gaze to ire. ire, who had watched the knight from start to finish, was the only one left alive.

    [This is the territory of Lord Traelgul of the ancient castle. Innocents will be spared, but those with malicious intent must offer a toll of a head, arm, or leg.]

    ire listened nkly. Traelgul stared at him and then spoke again.

    [Spread this rumor. So that everyone passing through here knows. Got it?]

    ¡°I understand.¡±

    ire replied quickly. He felt that if he didn¡¯t answer, the knight would choose another nine from the survivors to find someone who would.

    Satisfied, Traelgul nodded and disappeared into the mist.

    Even after Traelgul vanished, the remaining Dawn Army membersy on the ground, sobbing or groaning. Some eventually noticed the mist had lifted and fled in panic. They ran west, back the way they hade, rather than toward Issacrea.

    They would spread new rumors about the Issacrea territory, about a fearsome ghost knight lurking in the mists.

    ire staggered to his feet.

    Night had fallen. In the distance, he saw the approaching lights of what he presumed to be the patrol. They seemed to have been wandering in the mist as well. Unlike the other Dawn Army survivors, ire walked east, toward the torches.

    _____________

    Rate us on <em><strong>Novel Updates</strong></em>, so this novel can reach many readers like you, and also it will motivate me to trante more chapters. (For every new rating I will release one new chapter.)

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 Chapter 257:

    Chapter 257:

    ¡°ire, for heaven¡¯s sake. You look awful.¡±

    Hearing the report that one of the people brought in by the patrol was a priest, Isaac immediately went to identify him. He had thought it odd that ire was dyed, but he hadn¡¯t expected him to be mixed up with the Ciero Dawn Army.

    As soon as ire saw Isaac, he copsed on the steps, sobbing.

    ¡°I am ashamed¡­ to appear before you in such a disgraceful state.¡±

    If Isaac had known that ire was among the fleeing Dawn Army, he would have found a kinder way to bring him in. However, after hearing the woman¡¯s story and the patrol¡¯s report, Isaac understood that ire had tried his best to save someone.

    The student priest who had caused trouble in Ultenheim was no longer just a priest, but a respectable human being.

    ¡®He might be quite useful after all.¡¯

    Isaac, who had been skeptical about ire, felt a sense of expectation upon seeing his transformation. Now, ire had be a person who held skepticism about the Codex of Light and a wary interest in the Nameless Chaos.

    Isaac thought ire might even learn that tentacles, too, had their uses.¡°For now, clean yourself up and have a meal. Then tell me about your journey here.¡±

    ***

    ¡°You say it seemed like a miracle of the Nameless Chaos?¡±

    ire, now looking neat, recounted his experiences.

    He spoke of his departure from Ultenheim, wandering as a vagrant, joining the Ciero Dawn Army, and the hardships he endured to get here. But the story that caught Isaac¡¯s attention was only one.

    When he tried to stop the Dawn Army from looting, the Codex of Light did not respond to his prayers, but the Nameless Chaos did.

    ¡°Has anything like this happened before?¡±

    ¡°No¡­ I never even considered memorizing those prayers. Except during the ritual¡­¡±

    Isaac touched his face to hide his astonishment. Until now, miracles had only been granted to a select few. Although Isaac¡¯s physical abilities had naturally developed as he grew, the explicit granting of miracles was rare.

    Therefore, it was surprising that ire had used a miracle of the Nameless Chaos.

    Although he had performed the Nameless Chaos ritual, ire had not been ordained by Isaac, and there was no reason for the Nameless Chaos to respond to him.

    ¡°What kind of miracle was it?¡±

    ¡°I prayed for something to grab their ankles. A dark energy surged from the ground and seized them. It was only for a brief moment.¡±

    ¡°Can you show me now?¡±

    ire seemed hesitant to perform a miracle of the Nameless Chaos in front of the Holy Grail Knight. However, he couldn¡¯t refuse Isaac, who had once saved his life in Ultenheim. He hesitated but then recited the prayer he had used earlier.

    ¡°Gather the scattered fragments of oblivion with your touch.¡±

    ck energy slithered up from the carpet near the firece and quickly disappeared. It was so faint that it was hard to notice unless one looked closely, but it was clearly a miracle of the Nameless Chaos. Moreover, Isaac felt his divine power being subtly drained.

    The reason Isaac was concerned about ire¡¯s miracle was the possibility that it might signal the resurrection of the Nameless Chaos or something beyond his control. Just as Camille had researched the doctrines of the Nameless Chaos, there might be other hidden secrets. For some reason, theing of the Millennium Kingdom required miracles of the Nameless Chaos, which suggested that its influence might be spreading further.

    If they allmitted acts of terrorism in the name of the Nameless Chaos or, in the worst case, triggered another gue, even Isaac might find it impossible to contain.

    ¡®But right now, ire used my divine power to perform the miracle. It was a small amount, hardly noticeable, but¡­¡¯

    Isaac, wondering, focused on preventing any divine power leakage andmanded ire to perform the miracle again.

    ¡°Try it once more.¡±

    ire did as instructed. This time, the miracle did not ur. Even after reciting the prayer a couple more times, nothing happened, leaving ire looking puzzled.

    Isaac was convinced by this.

    ¡®¡­It was my divine power that triggered the miracle.¡¯

    Isaac remembered being summoned by ire in the underground crypt of Ultenheim. Although it was only a fragment of his soul, it was still a summoning, and he had taken over ire¡¯s consciousness to help him. ire seemed to have been deeply influenced by Isaac and had developed a sense of reverence for him.

    There was another possibility, too. This world granted miracles to those who earnestly desired them. ire¡¯s sincerity might have moved the world, causing a miracle. However, because he prayed to the Nameless Chaos, a miracle of that nature was manifested.

    In other words, ire had be a follower of the Nameless Chaos.

    Or rather, in this case, the Nameless Chaos had a name.

    Isaac Issacrea.

    ¡°¡­What will happen to me now?¡± ire asked in despair.

    Seeing ire¡¯s gloomy face, Isaac realized the weight of his confession. Just performing the ritual of the Nameless Chaos was a grave sin, and now he could even wield its miracles, making it reasonable to fear for his life.

    Even a benevolent Holy Grail Knight would find it hard to ept.

    In short, ire had confessed to Isaac with the expectation of facing death.

    Isaac had no such intention.

    ¡°ire, listen carefully.¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°Your miracle seems to have originated from me.¡±

    ¡°Yes¡­ yes?!¡±

    Isaac revealed the Color Beyond in front of ire. The swirling colors, emerging from his left palm, were much darker and more viscous than what ire had summoned.

    ¡®This is the only thing I can show for now.¡¯

    Tentacles would be too shocking. He needed to persuade ire step by step.

    ¡°Wait¡­ Are you saying, Holy Grail Knight, that you also use the miracles of the Nameless Chaos?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    Isaac¡¯s honesty was partly due to his trust in ire, but mostly because he knew no one would believe ire if he went around talking about it.

    His grandmother had transformed into a monster while researching the Nameless Chaos doctrine, and ire himself had run away from seminary to join the vagrant Dawn Army.

    Even if ire now imed that the Holy Grail Knight, Isaac, used miracles of the Nameless Chaos, no one would believe him.

    ¡®I can control the miracles whenever I want.¡¯

    But if he could speak honestly and persuade ire, his usefulness would greatly increase.

    ire was the only person, besides Isaac, who could use the miracles of the Nameless Chaos with a clear mind. His character had already been proven, and the rest depended on how Isaac handled him.

    More importantly, Isaac wanted to verify a possibility.

    That it wasn¡¯t the followers of the Nameless Chaos who became mad, but that mad people followed the Nameless Chaos, causing disasters like the white gue. Neria and her cultists were also part of that experiment.

    ¡°It¡¯s shocking, but it¡¯s the truth. However, you must have already judged me enough. Do I look like a madman performing rituals, summoning monsters, and devouring people with tentacles?¡±

    Isaac spoke boldly, and ire, calming down, shook his head.

    ¡°¡­No. You do not.¡±

    ¡°Exactly. I also think you¡¯re not a mad cultist, which is why I didn¡¯t behead you. If you were, I would have killed you in Ultenheim. I wield the power of chaos, but like you, it wasn¡¯t by choice.¡±

    ¡®Well, creating the character was a choice, but¡­¡¯

    Since there had been no warning that he would have to fight for his life in the game world, it wasn¡¯t exactly a lie.

    ire nodded as ifing to his senses.

    After all, he hade to the Issacrea estate to earn recognition through undeniable good deeds.

    To live honorably. And to do that, he first had to be honorable to himself.

    As Isaac withdrew the Colors Beyond, he said,

    ¡°But the important thing is how you use this power.¡±

    ¡°¡­I understand.¡±

    ¡°I have taken it as a sign to use this power not for existing order or system, but for my own sense of good. The more dangerous the power, the more one must strive to do good. That is the duty of all who wield power.¡±

    Isaac stood up and said,

    ¡°For now, don¡¯t show or use that miracle around others. It¡¯s easy to misunderstand. But starting tomorrow, I¡¯ll teach you a few more things.¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    If ire lived up to Isaac¡¯s expectations, he would grow significantly. And he could be an unexpected asset when Isaac joined the Dawn Army.

    ¡°Where should I stay?¡±

    Isaac smiled at ire, who had nowhere to go.

    ¡°There are some people in a simr situation. They eat their vegetables and are kind to animals. You should get along well with them.¡±

    ire tilted his head at the strange introduction.

    ***

    ¡®The empire is heading for a bad situation.¡¯

    Through his meetings with Gebel, Isolde, and ire, Isaac had grasped the overall atmosphere and situation of the empire.

    The empire was descending into chaos.

    Massive numbers of people were voluntarily heading towards the Holy Land, and the church was resorting to all means, even researching miracles from other faiths. At this rate, even if they recaptured the Holy Land, the empire might copse ore close to it.

    Such a desperate move meant the church was staking everything on this expedition.

    As if there was no need to consider what came after.

    ¡®¡­Does theing of the Millennium Kingdom mean something like an apocalypse or a cataclysm?¡¯

    Isaac recalled the apocalyptic theories from his world. The idea that after a series of disasters, the world would be destroyed, and the gods would judge who survived, bringing the dead back to eternal paradise.

    Some might think, ¡®Who would wee such a thing?¡¯ but the faithful would not. To them, it was a sacred and holy conclusion. A world where justice was served, and their suffering was rewarded. Many had died or sacrificed themselves for this conclusion.

    It must have been the same before the white gue arrived 300 years ago.

    Isaac recalled the scenes Amunds had shown him and fell silent.

    If he was in any way contributing to that oue, the Holy Land should not be recovered.

    ¡®¡­Honestly, I¡¯m not meless in the current situation.¡¯

    It was Isaac who persuaded the emperor to incite the Dawn Army. But even if the emperor had refused, the Dawn Army would have risen. His persuasion was to lead an inevitable movement more sessfully. But he hadn¡¯t anticipated such madness.

    Especially the Ciero Dawn Army was a problem.

    ¡®If they start targeting the Golden Idol Guild, the situation will spiral out of control, and even the church will struggle to manage it.¡¯

    The utility of the Golden Idol Guild was undeniable, and many bishops and priests received tribute from them. Naturally, they would try to control it, but with more people came more problems.

    Problems were bound to arise.

    The question was how big those problems would be.

    The expedition from the Kingdom of Elil would soon be dispatched, and church supplies were flowing in from the Furnace of the World. The Golden Idol Guild was constantly transporting logistics for the Dawn Army, experiencing both the benefits of war and theck of security. The Salt Council was also moving to awaken the sleeping god.

    Worrying about vagrants causing trouble seemed almost trivial.

    ¡®So what is the ck Empire doing?¡¯

    The Red Chalice must have already started plotting and scheming. The Olkan Code would surely show movement too, but whether it would be before or after the Dawn Army¡¯s promation, Isaac couldn¡¯t tell.

    However, the Immortal Order was eerily quiet.

    It was always the case. Apart from asional acts of terrorism or plundering, the Immortal Order never formedrge-scale expeditions to subjugate the empire. They focused solely on defense.

    But they wouldn¡¯t remain idle before such arge-scale expedition.

    They must be doing something.

    ***

    A whileter, as Isaac had feared, a problem arose.

    Not only for Isaac but for the entire empire, and in apletely unexpected form.

    _____________

    Rate us on <em><strong>Novel Updates</strong></em>, so this novel can reach many readers like you, and also it will motivate me to trante more chapters. (For every new rating I will release one new chapter.)

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 Chapter 258:

    Chapter 258:

    ¡°The Pdin beheaded a merchant from the Golden Idol Guild!!¡±

    Isaac wasn¡¯t the only one struggling to manage and control the fanatical madness of the Church. Emperor Waltzemer, who bore the dignity, authority, grandeur, and most crucially, the livelihood of the Empire, was a prime example of this struggle.

    Until now, he had been striving to diminish the authority of the Church and reim even a fraction of it. Recently, however, it seemed more like he was trying to prevent the Church from strangling the Empire to death.

    ¡°What were they thinking? Not just any merchant, but one from the Golden Idol Guild?¡±

    ¡°A ship from the Guild was plundered by the Dawn Army. The Pdin, who was nearby, took no action and was confronted by the merchant, leading to the enraged Pdin beheading him.¡±

    ¡°Is that Pdin¡¯s head just for decoration? Does he think he can just chop off anyone¡¯s head? Granted, we¡¯ve known for a while that those Pdins are empty-headed, but why didn¡¯t the merchant file aint with the authorities instead of the Church?¡±

    Waltzemer¡¯s face turned crimson with rage, but seeing his ministers sweating profusely and suffocating, he paused. He realized that his horns were zing brightly, causing difort to those around him.

    Waltzemer seldom allowed his emotions to manifest through his horns. He disliked revealing his feelings to others, regardless of the inconvenience it might cause. However, this incident had shaken him. Normally, he would suppress his emotions, but the repeated simr incidents had pushed his patience to its limit.

    Standing up with his hands on the conference table, Waltzemer began to walk slowly around the room. The ministers found it terrifying to have the enraged Emperor walking behind them, but they knew he wasn¡¯t a madman who would kill them in a fit of rage.There was someone else he wanted to kill.

    ¡°¡­The Pope.¡±

    Waltzemer muttered suddenly.

    ¡°Has His Holiness made any pronouncements about this incident? He must have been informed before I was.¡±

    ¡°Our priest reported that His Holiness asked how much gold was on the ship.¡±

    Waltzemerughed derisively.

    The ministers feared his horns might ze up again, but the Emperor didn¡¯t explode in anger.

    Afterughing heartily, Waltzemer calmed down, having mentally killed the Pope fifteen times.

    ¡°Offer condolences to the Golden Idol Guild and assure them ofpensation for the plundered cargo and a sufficient condolence payment for the deceased merchant. What was on the ship?¡±

    ¡°Fortunately, nothing too valuable, just wheat and barley.¡±

    Waltzemer nodded but suddenly something struck him as odd.

    ¡°Wheat and barley? That means the incident happened near Rehwis Harbor in the southeastern part of the Empire, which is suffering from a poor harvest, right?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    Waltzemer instinctively deduced the situation. The Golden Idol Guild likely intended to sell the grain at high prices in the famine-stricken Rehwis area. Alternatively, they might have gathered what little was harvested to fulfill a contract.

    However, the Dawn Army was there.

    Whether they demanded charity or a more reasonable price, the merchant probably responded poorly. The enraged Dawn Army then beat the merchant and looted the cargo.

    Could the Dawn Army have been the only participants in the looting? It¡¯s likely the local residents joined in as well.

    The resident Pdin likely ignored the situation on purpose, as the Pdins are still neighbors to the locals. But the merchant insulted and provoked the Pdin, leading to his beheading.

    ¡®Damned.¡¯

    The truth remained unknown.

    Waltzemer¡¯s deductions were based only on circumstances andmon sense. Honestly, he wasn¡¯t in the mood to me anyone. The result was a plundered ship and a beheaded merchant, and now he had to deal with the aftermath.

    Moreover, if merchants start fearing for their lives, who would bring food to Rehwis Harbor during a famine?

    ¡®The real problem is the mad Pope who incited the Dawn Army in the first ce.¡¯

    Waltzemer ultimately decided that the root cause of the situation was the Pope.

    Just as all poverty in the Empire was med on the Emperor¡¯sck of virtue, the moral poverty of the faithful was the Pope¡¯s responsibility. Waltzemer knew well the character of the Pope, unlike the Pdin who beheaded the merchant.

    He decided to wield a long-buried dagger he had kept in his heart.

    As he paced around the conference table, he returned to his seat. The Emperor picked up a document prepared by Isolde, detailing an investigation into a certain bishop.

    Bishop Katyn Rahel.

    A cardinal candidate the Emperor had in mind.

    ¡°When is the Cardinal election?¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re aiming to proceed as quickly as possible, so it should be within this month¡­¡±

    Waltzemer nodded. He decided to put all his efforts into the uing Cardinal election. Ensuring the sess of the Dawn Army was crucial, but for the Empire to survive beyond that, the Pope had to be dealt with. And he wanted to hasten that process.

    ¡®If we have to re-elect a Pope¡­ I need at least two Cardinals on my side.¡¯

    Knock, knock, knock.

    As Waltzemer was making his firm resolve, someone knocked on the conference room door. Though the Emperor frowned, he knew an interruption meant urgent news. A pale-faced messenger entered.

    ¡°Your Majesty, from the Church¡­¡±

    ¡°What is it? Another Pdin beheaded another merchant?¡±

    Prepared for the worst, Waltzemer was startled by the messenger¡¯s words.

    ¡°The Church is invading Olkan Code!¡±

    ***

    ¡°Olkan Code? The Olkan Code has mobilized?¡±

    Isaac asked the refugee in a surprised tone.

    The Issacrea estate was crowded with refugees who had suddenly poured in from the east. Most of them came from the eastern region, Seor. Fortunately, Isaac had ample food supplies stored up just before the harvest, so feeding them was not an issue. The problem was that the Olkan Code was on the move.

    ¡°Yes. The border principalities were raided by a horde of orc nomads, and there are frequent reports of sightings of at least 100 troops.¡±

    The refugee murmured in a voice soaked with despair.

    ¡°I heard that the Church provoked the Olkan Code. Is that true?¡±

    ¡°This is the first I¡¯m hearing of it. The Olkan Code is far from the Holy Land. Why would they?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know either. If that¡¯s not the case, they must have taken a wrong turn, or the Dawn Army did something crazy. If they can behead a merchant from the Golden Idol Guild, they are capable of anything.¡±

    Isaac nodded absentmindedly at this statement.

    He had already heard about the Pdin beheading the Golden Idol Guild merchant from Caitlin. If the Dawn Army had harmed a merchant, they would have retaliated in secret, but since it was a Pdin, it was a tricky issue for them.

    However, Isaac found it strange no matter how much he thought about it.

    ¡®There¡¯s no benefit in provoking the Olkan Code.¡¯

    The orc nomads started hundreds of years ago when the prophet Olkan led all the orcs eastward. Although not devoid of humans, the main poption was orcs. Being on the outskirts of the continent, they had little historical interaction with the Empire.

    Due to differences in faith, they were part of the ck Empire, but just as the Immortal Order viewed the living as inferior beings tormented by base desires, the Olkan Code also saw the undead as pitiful and weak, trapped souls in bones.

    The alliance¡¯s cohesion was not particrly strong, simr to the awkward rtionship between the Gerthonia Empire and the Kingdom of Elil.

    Provoking the Olkan Code and dragging them into a war was tantamount to the Church voluntarily sentencing itself to death by the Dawn Army.

    Subject Here ¨C No matter how foolish the Church was, it was unlikely they would do such a thing on purpose. It was more usible that the Olkan Code had been nning arge-scale raid and used the excuse of the roaming Dawn Army tounch an attack.

    ¡°Whether the Dawn Army did something stupid or the Olkan Code used it as an excuse to revert to old habits doesn¡¯t matter.¡±

    With the Dawn Army looming, it was clear the Olkan Code did note for a temporary raid. Historically, there was a record of the Olkan Code raiding right up to the front of Ultenheim.

    ¡°Jacquette, prepare for battle immediately. We need to go to Seor and assess the situation. Also, request support from Lenheim and Count Richard. When asking Lenheim for support, meet directly with Rottenhammer, themander of the Brient Pdin Order. And send a message to Duke Delia Lyon in the central region that the Holy Grail Knight requires her assistance.¡±

    Since Isaac had heard the news from a refugee, the central authorities would already have the information. Including details about the enemy¡¯s exact scale, the affected areas, and the reasons for the conflict.

    The Imperial Army might already be on the move even before his request for support was sent.

    ¡®Unless the Emperor is already shing with the Church.¡¯

    ***

    Isaac, having sent out requests for support, took off on Nel.

    He brought only Hesabel along, in case they needed to rescue an important figure. Although it was already dusk, mes could be seen flickering here and there even before they reached Seor. The Olkan Code liked to set fires after their raids, as part of their own ¡®ritual.¡¯

    ¡®It really is the orcs.¡¯

    Orcs were generally thought of as barbaric raiding tribes, but the orcs influenced by Olkan¡¯s religion were a bit different.

    They were still barbaric raiding tribes, but with a pragmatic and systematic approach.

    ¡®Hesabel, have you seen orcs before?¡¯

    ¡®Yes? I¡¯ve seen them a few times¡­ but I¡¯ve never sucked their blood.¡¯

    ¡®You¡¯ve never fought them, have you?¡¯

    ¡®No.¡¯

    ¡®Don¡¯t get close, shoot arrows, and keep moving while you fight.¡¯

    Though puzzled by Isaac¡¯s unfamiliar warning, Hesabel took it to heart. As Isaac flew low, the view of Seor came into focus.

    Seor was on the verge of falling, with fires zing everywhere. Many soldiers still defended the town hall, but Isaac knew it wouldn¡¯tst long.

    ¡®The city walls¡­¡¯

    Hesabel looked astonished at the signs of destruction on the walls. The damage seemed miraculous, but it wasn¡¯t due to an Olkan miracle.

    Nomads might be expected to struggle with sieging walled cities, but these orcs had something even the Empire hadn¡¯t yet fully adopted.

    Then, the orcs pulled something out in front of the town hall. Isaac groaned briefly when he saw what he had expected.

    It was a cannon.

    The orcs grinned at the soldiers holed up in the town hall and shouted loudly.

    ¡°Fire!¡±

    With a deafening roar, fragments of rock shattered the town hall. Onerge stone tore through the flimsy doors and ripped apart the soldiers behind them.

    Hesabel was horrified by the sight.

    ¡®What is that?¡¯

    ¡®It¡¯s a cannon. Part of the knowledge Olkan stole from the gods.¡¯

    The Olkan Code, symbolized by a single chain, emphasized only one rule.

    Be free. Especially, be free from the gods.

    The contradictory doctrine of not being bound by faith was the philosophical and Codetory essence of the orcs. Isaac decided to grant them an even greater freedom.

    As Nel began a low flight, a ripping sound filled the air.

    The orcs, who btedly looked up at the sky, shouted something just as lightning shot out of Nel¡¯s mouth.

    The precariously stacked gunpowder exploded, scattering the orc horde in all directions.

    _____________

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 Chapter 259:

    Boom¡­ Boom¡­

    Despite the tremendous explosion and scattering debris, the actual damage to the horde of orcs was minimal. Isaac continued to unleash thunderbolts to prevent the orcs from regrouping. With each lightning strike hitting the ground, screams and enraged shouts erupted.

    ¡®Isaac!¡¯

    At that moment, Hesabel¡¯s warning reached him. Isaac quickly adjusted Nel¡¯s movements and ascended sharply, narrowly avoiding a projectile.

    The cannonball that streaked across the sky crashed somewhere in the forest with a thunderous roar.

    ¡®They¡¯re firing anti-air cannons? Are they insane?¡¯

    When the cannon fire missed Isaac, angry curses echoed from the orc horde. Isaac unleashed another round of thunderbolts at them, but again, it did not deal as much damage as he had hoped. The orcs¡¯ tough skin and robust constitution were typical traits of their race. Moreover, they were not overly concerned about death.

    Boom! Boom!

    As several sharp cannon shots targeted Isaac, it became difficult to execute precise attacks from a low altitude.¡®They¡¯re using magic. Is the cannon blessed by their ancestors¡­¡¯

    While it might sound ridiculous, it was no joke. The Olkan Code attaches ancestral blessings to their cannons through shamans. Isaac instructed Nel to move independently and jumped off when his altitude was low enough.

    ¡°Captain Katawal! The demon hasnded!¡±

    ¡°Oh, he came down on his own. Bring me his head! I¡¯ll fire it from our cannon!¡±

    An orc with borate headgear roared and swung his sword. Several orcs armed with curved des charged at Isaac.

    There was no need to use his sword aura. The sharp de of Kaldwin cut through the orcs¡¯ swords and bodies simultaneously. His fighting speed was equal to his running speed.

    This meant the orcs could not even slow Isaac down to the extent of air resistance.

    The orc captain, named Katawal, realized Isaac was just as formidable on the ground as he was while riding a dragon and urgently pulled his horse back, shouting,

    ¡°Fire the cannon!¡±

    Boom! Despite still fighting orcs, a cannonball was fired with a loud noise. However, this time it was a cannonball bundled with irons. The orc in front of him was sliced into small pieces the size of the¡¯s holes, and the flew toward Isaac.

    Isaac finally unleashed his sword aura and shed through the.

    The iron was roughly sliced, brushing past Isaac, but he couldn¡¯t avoid getting drenched in the orcs¡¯ blood. Even though the orcs had fired the cannon at point-nk range, Isaac¡¯s unscathed appearance made them realize the gravity of the situation.

    Isaac, dripping blood and flesh, charged at them again.

    Only then did the orcs, even before the captain¡¯s orders, know what to do and mounted their horses with precision.

    It wasn¡¯t out of fear. For them, the battle truly began once they were on horseback. The captain had already mounted his horse by then.

    ¡°He¡¯s no easy foe! Commence the dying retreat!¡±

    The orcs around Isaac began to retreat like an ebbing tide. Isaac pursued and cut down several orcs, but he couldn¡¯t match the speed of their horses.

    At that moment, an arrow pierced the horse of the fleeing Captain Katawal. It was a shot from Hesabel. Katawal fell with a scream, and the orcs briefly hesitated before fleeing without looking back.

    Katawal struggled to his feet and red at the approaching Isaac.

    Knowing he couldn¡¯t capture all the orcs, Isaac aimed to interrogate at least one of them.

    Katawal grabbed a torch and dashed towards a nearby cannon.

    ¡°I¡¯ll kill you!¡±

    Cannons in this era were advanced technology, and the orcs were remarkably urate marksmen.

    But no matter how skilled, hitting a person with a cannon was not easy unless they were charging directly at it. Even for an ordinary person, it would be challenging.

    Isaac frowned and halted.

    ¡°Stop it.¡±

    Katawal, seeing Isaac actually stop, twisted his face.

    ¡°Let¡¯s just talk. You have a strong body and good equipment. Don¡¯t you value your life? I know killing you is pointless. Just talk and I¡¯ll let you go. Put down the torch.¡±

    Isaac spoke in a way that matched the Olkan Code¡¯s perspective, trying to persuade Katawal.

    For the first time, Katawal¡¯s eyes, burning with anger, wavered.

    It wasn¡¯t because he was swayed, but because he hadn¡¯t expected Isaac to say such things.

    ¡°You¡­ You seem to know a lot about us.¡±

    ¡°I know a bit.¡±

    The Olkan Code believed in reincarnation. Actually, they did reincarnate, even retaining their memories.

    When followers of the Olkan Code died, their souls temporarily left their bodies and immediately moved to the nearest shaman of the cult. The shaman would determine the order and family for their rebirth.

    Although there were rare cases where souls were lost for unknown reasons, most orcs born into the cult were reincarnated this way. Some had reincarnated dozens of times. Therefore, the Olkan Code had a weak sense of family but a strong sense ofmunity. Children were raisedmunally, of course.

    This system had its problems, but raising issues wrongly could lead to being ¡®reincarnated.¡¯

    The ck Empire had thismon feature of being an alliance of those who enjoyed ¡®immortality¡¯ in some form.

    ¡°Are you interested? Then let¡¯s exchange one question each.¡±

    At Isaac¡¯s suggestion, Katawal sneered.

    ¡°Not interested. Go to hell.¡±

    Katawal immediately thrust the torch into the cannon. The cannon was filled with remaining gunpowder and charges. He had intended to blow it up when Isaac got close, but now that Isaac had figured it out, there was no use.

    Isaac quickly retreated.

    Before he could take a few steps, a tremendous explosion obliterated the main street of the forest.

    ***

    It was only by morning that Isaac confirmed the orc horde hadpletely retreated.

    The officials and nobles, who had been cowering in fear inside the city hall, crawled out, trembling. Soldiers roamed the ravaged city, assessing the damage.

    ¡°Thank you. Thank you so much. If the Holy Grail Knight hadn¡¯te, we would have been¡­.¡±

    The mayor of Seor, elected by the merchants and nobles, repeatedly expressed his gratitude while gripping Isaac¡¯s hand. Although Isaac had much to say about a city asrge as Seor being decimated by a mere hundred orcs, he couldn¡¯tpletely me the mayor.

    The Empire had rarely encountered the Olkan Code, and even within the cult, cannons were cutting-edge secret weapons.

    More importantly, the city¡¯s defenses were weakened by the withdrawal of troops to join the Dawn Army, leaving the soldiers to focus on internal security rather than external threats.

    ¡°No need to thank me. As a fellow believer, it was my duty to help. But the orcs might return at any moment. Have you recovered all the cannons?¡±

    ¡°Yes, um, yes. The soldiers reported that those terrifying fire-breathing iron lumps? Cannons, I think? There were only three in total. But they were all destroyed¡­¡±

    Isaac was disappointed to see the state of the recovered cannons. The ones he had struck with lightning and the one Katawal had exploded with gunpowder were obviously unusable, and the remaining one had been rendered useless just before the orcs fled. They were thorough.

    The mere sight of the cannons made the mayor¡¯s knees buckle as he murmured tearfully.

    ¡°Where did these savages get such weapons? Do they have master cksmiths?¡±

    Isaac let out a long sigh and muttered,

    ¡°Olkan, the god of the Olkan Code, is said to wander the afterlife, plundering heavens. He whispers the secrets and knowledge of the afterlife to his followers.¡±

    ¡°Plundering gods? Is that even possible?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s typical of an orc god. However, the only things they can convey are technology and miracles, not unique philosophies, culture, or arts. They are truly barbarians.¡±

    Fantasy techno-barbarians.

    This was the most urate description of the orcs in this world.

    While practical, they progressed slowly unless Olkan conveyed additional knowledge.

    ¡®Why study when you can steal knowledge?¡¯

    Their entire race operated on apletely different set of principles from typical civilizations.

    Therefore, the faith that had the worst rtionship with the Olkan Code was the World¡¯s Forge. The Olkan Code¡¯s most distinctive feature, ¡®reincarnation,¡¯ was a secret stolen from the Forge of the World. Since they had stolen the sacred concept of ¡®rebirth,¡¯ the dwarves wanted to tear orcs apart whenever they saw them.

    The orcs had stolen the most technology and didn¡¯t even show respect for it.

    ¡°The cannon was originally created by the Forge of the World¡­ The Empire kept it a secret, but the Olkan Code brought it out, so there will be an uproar.¡±

    ***

    While Isaac was organizing his thoughts, a soldier who had roughly finished assessing the damage approached to report. The mayor, hearing the report, sighed in relief.

    ¡°Thankfully, the damage isn¡¯t as bad as we feared.¡±

    Despite the Olkan Code ravaging nearly half the city, there weren¡¯t many ces burnt or copsed. The walls, watchtowers, and city hall suffered, while many houses outside the walls burned.

    ¡°I¡¯m really relieved. Cannons could have demolished the entire city¡­¡±

    Since cannons consumed a lot of gunpowder, there was no reason to use them just to destroy the city. Isaac realized the orcs had moved efficiently and targeted key objectives.

    ¡®This wasn¡¯t a simple raid.¡¯

    Such pinpoint attacks were groundwork for upation. They didn¡¯t set fires to prevent the mes from spreading quickly in the city.

    Isaac quickly grasped the significance.

    ¡®Those were just scouts or an advance party.¡¯

    The orcs probably scouted a few houses while raiding, but seeing Seor¡¯s weak defenses, they judged they could capture it themselves.

    If Isaac hadn¡¯te, they might have seeded.

    Isaac¡¯s expression grew serious.

    ¡®Is the Olkan Code starting a major raid?¡¯

    Having experienced endings involving the Olkan Code, Isaac considered the situation potentially severe. A butterfly effect from one of his actions might have set the Olkan Code in motion.

    ¡°Just to confirm, there aren¡¯t any captured orc prisoners, right?¡±

    ¡°Ah, yes. Not a single one. Those bastards. They eithermitted s*****e or were killed by theirrades to avoid capture. How do they do that¡­ They¡¯re not afraid of death at all.¡±

    ¡®That¡¯s because they¡¯d rather reincarnate than be captured.¡¯

    The Olkan Code was a tricky enemy. The orc race was physically robust, their technology superior to the Empire¡¯s, mostly light cavalry due to their nomadic nature, and they didn¡¯t fear death. Even their umted experience remained through reincarnation.

    They were the worst adversaries.

    Their only weakness was a short lifespan, but even that was negated by reincarnation.

    An invasion by the Olkan Code was always a significant threat to the Empire, especially during internal and external turmoil.

    ¡®Well¡­ They do have weaknesses.¡¯

    Particrly for Isaac, who had repelled several major invasions by the Olkan Code. It wasn¡¯t difficult for him, as long as certain conditions were met.

    ¡°Rebuild the walls and prepare for an invasion. In the worst case, arge force from the Olkan Code could arrive.¡±

    At Isaac¡¯s words, the mayor looked terrified.

    ¡°Wh-what? Then wouldn¡¯t it be better to evacuate until the Church or Imperial Army arrives?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t expect the Dawn Army, and if the Imperial Army arrives on time, that¡¯ll be lucky. But there is a way to defend. If this is a full-scale invasion by the Olkan Code, there are people who will definitely help.¡±

    Isaac looked toward the northern sky.

    The proud dwarves, who hid like hermits of the world.

    They would surely be interested if they knew their sworn enemies wereing.

    But it was uncertain if the dwarves would act swiftly enough.

    ¡®¡­Until reinforcements arrive, I¡¯ll have to spread some terrifying rumors.¡¯

    _____________

    Rate us on <em><strong>Novel Updates</strong></em>, so this novel can reach many readers like you, and also it will motivate me to trante more chapters. (For every new rating I will release one new chapter.)

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter.

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 Chapter 260:

    Chapter 260:

    Was it the beginning of the Great Raid of the Olkan Code, or just a temporary plunder?

    Given the circumstances, it was more likely the former. If that was the case, Isaac alone could never stop it.

    All Isaac could do was dy their movements even a little.

    These orc nomads, once they started a Great Raid, became unstoppable war machines.

    They did not understand the concept of forward-thinking, healthy consumption, and cirction. They cut down all the trees, dug up all the mountains, burned them, and used stolen technology to create whatever they desired.

    While the World¡¯s Forge revolved around precise handcraft workshops led by artisans, the Olkan Code operated on mass production and mass consumption.

    Warnings like ¡°You¡¯ll go bankrupt eventually¡± were useless. They indeed just went bankrupt.

    They squandered all their assets and went bankrupt several times, waiting until time restored their assets and poption. Therefore, ironically, the most valuable plunder and precious protection target for them was ¡®knowledge.¡¯

    Because knowledge never gets consumed no matter how much you use it.The Olkan Code¡¯s production and consumption included their own lives. Paradoxically, the reason the Olkan Code had not conquered the world long ago was precisely because they did not fear death.

    Tactics and technology developed because of the fear of death.

    However, the Olkan Code believed in the immortality of the soul, so they were brave and easily died. Initially, other faiths were surprised and terrified by the Olkan Code¡¯s attacks, but eventually, they devised responses. The Olkan Code, beforeing up with countermeasures to those responses, would all die and go off to reincarnate. Their next invasion would be decades or even centuriester.

    ¡®¡­That means, we can¡¯t stop them until they are all dead and can¡¯t continue the war.¡¯

    Naturally, Isaac did not have the power or ability for that.

    At least, he needed equal forces, like the Empire¡¯s army or other faiths. The Great Raid of the Olkan Code always led to terrible disasters for the Empire, so it seemed hard to stop them unless the Dawn Army was immediately redirected here.

    ¡®But would the Codex of Light give up the advent of the Millennium Kingdom to protect the Empire? Those bastards?¡¯

    Based on what he had seen so far, no.

    Even if the Empire waspletely burned down, the Dawn Army would head for the Holy Land. He could only rely on the Imperial army.

    Or other faiths.

    If not, he would have to rely on Isaac¡¯s personal connections.

    ***

    Rumble, rumble, rumble¡­

    A group of pdins rode into the city of Seor with the sound of fierce hooves.

    The pdins, in their shining white armor, cast new light on the deste city filled with fear and dread. The pdin who led the group quickly stopped in front of Isaac.

    It was Rottenhammer.

    ¡°Isaac! I¡¯m d I can repay the favor so soon. Where are the enemies?¡±

    ¡°Thank you foring so quickly, Commander Rottenhammer. The enemies have retreated for now, so there¡¯s no immediate need for battle.¡±

    ¡°Is that so? Then let¡¯s unload our gear first.¡±

    Rottenhammer gave some orders to the pdins and then dismounted. He approached Isaac with a serious expression.

    ¡°I heard the Olkan Code has invaded. In fact, Seor wasn¡¯t the only ce to report sightings of orcs. We¡¯ve heard reports of orcs from several ces in the south as well.¡±

    ¡°From the south too¡­¡±

    ¡°It seems they areing in three directions. They bypassed the Kingdom of Wachia, so there¡¯s a bit of a gap, but it seems likely that the main force is headed here, to Seor.¡±

    The likelihood of a Great Raid increased.

    Isaac could not understand why the Great Raid had been triggered.

    ¡°By the way, I heard that the Codex of Light attacked the Olkan Code. I thought it unlikely with the Dawn Army being so upied, but do you know anything about this?¡±

    ¡°The Codex? Are you referring to the Dawn Army in Ciero? There¡¯s no way. No matter how foolish they are, they wouldn¡¯t do that. Not because they¡¯re ipetent, but because they¡¯re not smart enough for that. Even finding the orc vige in the Mann Sahar ins, where the Olkan Code is based, would be difficult.¡±

    The Mann Sahar ins were vast and barren, with hardly a hill or mountain in sight even after three days and nights of travel. It was no different from a desert in terms of finding water or people.

    Even if the Dawn Army in Siero lost their way terribly, they would not make such a mistake.

    ¡°So the rumor of the Codex attacking might be a misunderstanding or an excuse.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s highly likely. But at this point, does it matter?¡±

    Rottenhammer cleared his throat and spoke.

    ¡°In fact, I¡¯ve seen orcs before, but it¡¯s my first time facing the Olkan Code itself. You¡¯ve faced them, right? What are these heretics like?¡±

    ¡°Um¡­ It might be hard to understand if you haven¡¯t faced them before.¡±

    Isaac first exined to Rottenhammer with the remnants of cannons and gunpowder left by the orcs. Fortunately, Rottenhammer easily understood the concept of cannons and gunpowder and reincarnation.

    Explosions were amon miracle even in the Codex of Light.

    Reincarnation was understood as a concept simr to undead spirits and possession.

    However, he seemed a bit slow to ept the changes in the battlefield that these cannons and gunpowder could bring about.

    ¡°From the state of the city walls, I understand that the castle bes useless. But you¡¯re saying that even the cavalry will find it difficult to be effective? Are you saying that these cannonballs can prate the miracles of the pdins? Are cannons a kind of miracle too?¡±

    ¡°Usually not, but they can be imbued with miracles. Their demonic uracy surely involves miracles.¡±

    Isaac was not just trying to say that the advent of cannons equaled the fall of knights.

    Contrary to popr belief, while the fall of knights indeed started with the development of firearms, cavalry itself did not disappear immediately. In fact, until they were fully developed, cavalry was often the nemesis of artillery.

    Cavalry continued to exist even until the early 20th century. Especially pdins, who could protect themselves with miracles and move much faster than ordinary cavalry, were a different story.

    ¡°What I¡¯m saying is that it might be hard for you to adapt immediately to these new changes in the battlefield. This is your first time facing cannons, gunpowder, and insane enemies who reincarnate.¡±

    The drastic increase in the battlefield¡¯s scale due to cannons, the shock to both horses and men from explosions and loud noises, PTSD, the smell of gunpowder and acrid smoke, craters left on the impacted ground, barrage fire, sniping¡ªall these variables and tactical changes were daunting to consider.

    The role of the infantry wouldrgely remain unchanged. However, the existing pdin order, which focused on steadfast defense and frontal breakthroughs with speed, needed to adopt different tactics and a different mindset for this battlefield.

    Isaac did not have the confidence to teach and adapt them immediately.

    ¡®Sooner orter, they¡¯ll adapt and be killing machines against the orcs. But this battlefield won¡¯t be that one.¡¯

    Rottenhammer did not seem to fully understand, but he did not doubt the words of Isaac, whom he revered as a saint.

    He nodded, indicating he would heed Isaac¡¯s concerns.

    ¡°Alright. A new enemy means new tactics. I will listen, so please tell me without reservation.¡±

    Then, Rottenhammer asked curiously.

    ¡°Come to think of it, isn¡¯t this your first time fighting them too? You were on missions in the west before, so this should be your first encounter with the Olkan Code, yet you seem to know them well.¡±

    ¡®Ah.¡¯

    Isaac was thinking of an excuse when a voice came to his rescue.

    ¡°Isaac, here you are.¡±

    It was Gebel. Jacquette and Count Richard were also there.

    Most of the support forces from Issacrea and nearby areas had arrived. Rottenhammer looked incredulous when he saw Gebel in an unexpected ce.

    ¡°Gebel, I didn¡¯t expect to meet you here. The monastery¡­¡±

    At that moment, Gebel, looking troubled, put his finger to his lips. Rottenhammer closed his mouth.

    Gebel¡¯s status was not exactly upright. Of course, no one could do anything to him while Isaac supported him, but it was better to remain silent.

    Isaac, seeing that everyone had gathered, spoke up.

    ¡°Then let¡¯s discuss how to stop the Olkan Code.¡±

    ¡ª

    The Brient Pdin Order, the soldiers from the Issacrea estate, Count Richard¡¯s troops¡­ Those who could gather the quickest from the nearest ces had assembled. Others, upon learning of the approaching Olkan Code, would likely focus more on protecting their own territories rather than sending aid.

    Relying on the Imperial army or the forces of the Codex until they arrived was unrealistic. With everyone needed to hold out until then assembled, Isaac began the strategy meeting on the city walls.

    Isaac, who knew the Olkan Code well, led the meeting.

    ¡°First, we need to consider abandoning Seor.¡±

    ¡°¡­What?!¡±

    The mayor of Seor, whom Isaac reluctantly included, asked in a shocked voice. But Isaac had to say what needed to be said.

    ¡°I mean, we need to abandon it in the long term. Seor, as a trade city, is not suitable for defense. It¡¯s surrounded by open ins, the river is easily polluted, the walls are low and damaged, and it¡¯s easy to besiege with no reinforcements arriving soon. How can a city that was breached by a mere hundred reconnaissance troops hold a siege?¡±

    ¡°But¡­¡±

    ¡°Quiet.¡±

    Rottenhammer¡¯s stern word silenced the mayor of Seor. Therge hammer he had ced on the wall beside him likely yed a bigger role than his dignity.

    Isaac nodded gratefully at Rottenhammer and continued.

    ¡°But it¡¯s a waste to simply give up a city like Seor. Not all evacuations areplete yet. So, we will conduct a dying action centered around Seor, making it seem as if capturing Seor alone is a satisfactory achievement for them.¡±

    Isaac added a note for the mayor of Seor.

    ¡°Of course, we will recapture it as soon as possible with the help of reinforcements. But with our current forces, we cannot hold out here indefinitely.¡±

    ¡°How do you n to make them satisfied with just taking Seor? If this is indeed a precursor to the Great Raid seen in records, they won¡¯t be satisfied with just this. Do you have an attractive gift prepared?¡±

    Previous Great Raids had prated deep into the Empire and even threatened Ultenhaim. Since the Olkan Code¡¯s goal was simply plunder, there had been no significant damage, and they were eventually driven out. Therefore, the Codex of Light did not consider them a major threat.

    Unlike the Immortal Order, which seeded in upying and settling in the Holy Land.

    ¡°An attractive gift would be nice.¡±

    Isaac said, stroking his chin.

    ¡°But I don¡¯t have the means to prepare an expensive gift. I am a humble and poor Holy Grail Knight. However, I know how to make a gift appear attractive.¡±

    Isaac smiled at the mayor of Seor.

    ¡°Mayor, you once invested in Loracus, didn¡¯t you?¡±

    The mayor¡¯s face soured at the sudden mention of Loracus. The expensive nt that had swept through Seor, with merchants and farmers buying it up, causing its price to skyrocket and disrupting the market, was a nightmare for the mayor.

    ¡°¡­Well, I knew it was spective, but who didn¡¯t buy at least one back then?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not ming you. How much did you buy it for?¡±

    The mayor of Seor, ufortable with the topic, cleared his throat but eventually admitted.

    ¡°For a quite high price.¡±

    ¡°Then suddenly, the market price plummeted. What did you think as you watched the price fall?¡±

    The mayor of Seor wondered if the Holy Grail Knight who had caused the price crash was mocking him.

    But Isaac¡¯s face was serious.

    ¡°¡­I hoped to at least break even.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s my strategy.¡±

    The mayor of Seor looked puzzled. Then Gebel, understanding Isaac¡¯s point, spoke.

    ¡°You mean to make them suffer great losses in capturing Seor, so they consider breaking even to be satisfactory.¡±

    ¡°Exactly. I can¡¯t give the Olkan Code a valuable gift.¡±

    Isaac looked out at the in in front of Seor, soon to be a battlefield.

    ¡°But if they hold something worthless, even finding a stone in it would make them happy.¡±

    _____________

    Rate us on <em><strong>Novel Updates</strong></em>, so this novel can reach many readers like you, and also it will motivate me to trante more chapters. (For every new rating I will release one new chapter.)

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 Chapter 261:

    Chapter 261:

    Isaac diligently sent out scouts and repaired the walls before the Olkan Code returned.

    He also frequently flew on Nel to observe how far the Olkan Code had advanced from a distance. He considered raining lightning on the marching army a few times but abandoned the idea after seeing them shoot cannons with dangerous precision from about 400 meters below.

    If he got hit and isted, the consequences would be disastrous.

    Seeing the approaching army, Isaac was certain.

    ¡®It¡¯s a Great Raid.¡¯

    The number of troops in the vanguard alone was several thousand.

    Such a force was followed by more units. Considering there were simr groups in the south, he estimated an army of around 100,000.

    Even during the civil war in the Kingdom of Elil, he had not faced such numbers, and it felt unreal that ten times that number was marching for war.

    Any ordinary country would copse if they did such a thing. Just like the current Empire.These bastards would copse too, but they didn¡¯t care about that.

    Isaac recalled what the Great Raid was about in the Olkan Code scenario.

    Ironically, the goal of the Olkan Code was ¡®knowledge.¡¯ Knowledge about the gods and the secrets of Urbansus. And the ce with the most knowledge on the continent was¡­

    ¡®The secret archives of the Lichtheim Censorship Bureau.¡¯

    The most ndestine location even in the Holy City where the Pope resided.

    ying as the Olkan Code, the yer would split the Empire in half and extract knowledge from its corpse. It was a ridiculous oue for the Codex of Light, which sought to reim the Holy Land, but Isaac had experienced in the game that ¡®such a future was possible.¡¯

    ¡®And leading this Great Raid are Sahn Khan and the Archangel Manseungja.¡¯

    Sahn Khan would be leading this horde from somewhere.

    And Archangel Manseungja¡­ Even Isaac, who had experienced the game, couldn¡¯t guess its form or thoughts. It could be right next to Isaac or munching moss on a rocky hill somewhere.

    To stop the Great Raid, he needed to either kill or persuade one of these two.

    ***

    Huff.

    Nel folded its giant wings andnded on the wall, cutting through the night sky.

    The torches on the wall red fiercely. The soldiers, who couldn¡¯t even approach the dragon initially, now seemed fairly ustomed to the translucent dragon. They couldn¡¯t help but appreciate the creature that flew across the sky several times a day to scout distant areas on their behalf.

    Isaac walked along the wall, which had been clumsily repaired, and spoke.

    ¡°The wall repair was finished faster than expected.¡±

    ¡°Seor is quite rich in materials and supplies.¡±

    Jacquette boasted. As someone who had once been a bandit in this area, she seemed to enjoy the opportunity to ¡®legally¡¯ requisition Seor¡¯s resources.

    As a former ouw, she also found and confiscated hidden assets of gangs and illicit hoards, sending them all to the Issacrea territory. It was Isaac¡¯s order. The hidden gold coins would find more value in the noble journey of the Holy Grail Knight than being plundered by orcs¡­

    ¡°But is this wall repair meaningful? Those cannons really wrecked the walls.¡±

    ¡°The fact that they will waste effort trying to break it is meaningful. They¡¯ll see the repaired walls and mistakenly think we¡¯re clinging to them.¡±

    Even if the cannons were over-technologized, their use was limited.

    For example, firing at hills or moats surrounded by rivers wouldn¡¯t mean much. The cannons would target the ins and gates. Isaac nned to make them waste gunpowder on the walls and give them a grand wee when they finally stormed in.

    ¡°Have you prepared the items I requested?¡±

    ¡°Yes. There were plenty in stock.¡±

    Isaac nodded. The fact that the battlefield was Seor was both unfortunate and fortunate. It wasn¡¯t a good city for defense, but being a trade hub made it easy to procure hard-to-get supplies. And the items Isaac requested were the worst kind of surplus inventory.

    ¡®What we really need is reinforcements¡­¡¯

    Isaac looked west with a grim expression. Despite scouting intermittently, he saw no sign of additional reinforcementsing. Whether from the Imperial army or the Codex, it was truly disappointing.

    ¡°They seem to be getting ready over there too.¡±

    Jacquette said, looking at the countless fires lined up in the dark ins. The Olkan Code wasn¡¯t rushing. They leisurely spread out their camp and positioned their cannons, as if Seor¡¯s preparations didn¡¯t matter.

    They didn¡¯t even set up a proper siege formation necessary for a traditional siege.

    ¡®It means they don¡¯t care if we escape or reinforcements arrive, believing they can take us down whenever they want.¡¯

    Rottenhammer looked eager to charge out but didn¡¯t disobey Isaac¡¯s orders.

    ¡°When will they start?¡±

    ¡°Could be any time from tonight. Cannons don¡¯t need eyes.¡±

    It depended on how impatient the orcs were.

    And Isaac regretted his answer.

    The orcs¡¯ attack began that very night, without warning, with a barrage of cannon fire.

    ***

    Boom, boom, boom¡­

    The faint sound of cannon fire was followed by a series of earth-shaking explosions. The bombardment on Seor continued through the night, daybreak, and dusk, unceasing.

    ¡°Damn it, these bastards!¡±

    Jacquette, unable to sleep because of the cannon fire, ran up the wall with bloodshot eyes and shouted. Of course, her only response was more cannon fire. The thin walls couldn¡¯t protect her from the bombardment, so she had to be dragged down by other soldiers.

    Jacquette¡¯s condition mirrored that of most ordinary people in Seor.

    The pdins, with their strong mental fortitude, were ready for battle despite theck of sleep and constant noise, but some soldiers were starting to have panic attacks with each cannon st.

    At that point, Isaac had to question his judgment.

    ¡®¡­Are they nning to obliterate Seor?¡¯

    Isaac thought they would attempt pinpoint strikes and then upy Seor, just as the previous reconnaissance team had.

    However, the cannonballs they were currently firing were turning Seor¡¯s walls into something resembling a sandcastle.

    Cannons are expendable. Firing this many would have caused several cannons to burst or bend, and they would have wasted an enormous amount of gunpowder. Seor might be arge city, but such an approach was inefficient.

    ¡®Speaking of inefficiency, I shouldn¡¯t be thinking like this. There¡¯s no race more inefficient than the Olkan Code.¡¯

    Perhaps they were simply bombarding thergest city they saw without considering the consequences. And it seemed Gebel had a simr thought.

    ¡°I understand your strategy, Isaac,¡± Gebel said with a worried expression. ¡°But I¡¯m starting to worry that your strategy relies on the enemy being rational and reasonable. If you try to lecture them about wasting gunpowder and how they will fightter, they won¡¯t understand. They might regret itter, but what does that matter if we¡¯re already buried in this rubble?¡±

    ¡°¡­It¡¯s not the best, but I have a backup n, so don¡¯t worry,¡± Isaac replied with a bitter smile.

    Isaac did not have the luxury of assuming the battlefield would unfold as he hoped. For now, he had no choice but to wait.

    When the enemy has overwhelming power, the options avable are limited.

    Isaac headed underground, to his sanctuary beneath Seor, where he had devoured and upied Golruwa. As he ced his hand on the still-beating heart there, he felt Seor¡¯s nerves extending throughout the city as if it were his own body.

    Through this sense, Isaac had gathered detailed information on the positions, unit deployments, and supply routes of the Olkan Code over the past few days. But knowing this did not mean he could attack immediately.

    He could only prepare not to miss the right moment.

    ¡®It¡¯s about time to start.¡¯

    As he groped through Seor¡¯s territory, he touched an unripe ear of wheat. The wheat, swaying gently in the wind, watched the impending war without concern.

    Then suddenly, the wheat bent towards Isaac as if bowing.

    Isaac opened his eyes.

    He immediately grabbed his sword and rushed outside.

    The time hade.

    ***

    Koral Manho,mander of the Olkan Code¡¯s glorious vanguard, looked at the shattered Seor with satisfaction. A massive amount of smoke and dust rose from the debris of the broken walls.

    Like most orc nomads, Kor¡¯al had an obsession with tness.

    To them, a castle protruding from the t ins was bizarre and unpleasant. Now that the walls were almost level, Kor¡¯al felt a sense of exhration.

    Everything should be as t as the world they lived in.

    They had used more than half of the cannons and gunpowder supplied for the entire Great Raid just to tten these walls, but it didn¡¯t matter. In fact, he would love to use it all up right here and now so they could ravage the Empire with lighter bodies.

    At that moment, a young shaman approached him.

    ¡°Manho Koral, Shaman Kirmas warns of an enemy counterattack.¡±

    ¡°Hmm? Now?¡±

    Koral asked with a puzzled expression.

    This wasn¡¯t their first siege. They had already destroyed numerous principalities and kingdoms outside the Gerthonia Empire. Usually, by the time a city was this ruined, those inside were either physically or mentally broken.

    If they had any strength left for a counterattack, they would have done it already.

    However, as amander who respected superstitions, Kor¡¯al did not dismiss the warning. He, too, had heard rumors.

    ¡°Now that you mention it, Shaman Kirmas did say he heard from the dead scouts. Centurion Katawal was killed by a dragon and a monstrous pdin.¡±

    He had seen the dragon in the sky several times. Though it was powerless against their cannons, without those cannons, they would be vulnerable. Kor¡¯al suddenly felt uneasy and looked up at the sky.

    As he btedly considered conserving their gunpowder, he noticed something strange.

    ¡°Hmm?¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±

    ¡°The wind direction has changed.¡±

    Koral squinted and stared at Seor.

    ¡°Looks like there¡¯s more smoke rising than before. Is there a fire?¡±

    The smoke rising from the leveled Seor was thicker and denser than before, drifting towards them and gradually obscuring their view.

    Though it wasn¡¯t enough to be a problem, given their indiscriminate night bombardment, the acrid smoke made him frown.

    Then, he suddenly realized he recognized the smell.

    ¡®¡­Herbs?¡¯

    Thud, thud, thud¡­

    At that moment, a faint rumbling echoed. Koral, familiar with the sound of hooves, immediately recognized it as the sound of cavalry. Blending into the smoke rising from Seor, a group of knights was charging.

    Seeing their armor glinting in the dawn light, Koral remembered nightmares from a past life. He roared with a mix of anger and excitement.

    ¡°The Holy Grail Knights of the Codex of Light areing! Turn them into cannon fodder!¡±

    Koral wanted tough.

    He had seen heavily armored knights reduced to pulp by cannonballs many times. Especially these cannonballs, blessed by the Olkan Code¡¯s miracle, ¡®Ancestors Serving the Descendants,¡¯ which provided orcish uracy and cannon durability. The orc ancestors¡¯ blessings were the reason behind their remarkable uracy and the resilience of their cannons.

    Koral envisioned the pdins turning into bloody dust and burst intoughter.

    ¡°No matter how skilled the pdins are, they can¡¯t dodge this! Fire!¡±

    Boom! At that moment, the cannon next to Koral exploded with a deafening roar. The special gunpowder loaded for the pdins caused the cannon to tear apart all the orcs nearby. Even Koral wasn¡¯t spared.

    In a haze of tinnitus, he barely stood up. His right leg and arm were gone. Surveying his surroundings, he saw cannons that had been overused exploding or shattered. Those that had firednded in absurdly far-off ces.

    Meanwhile, the Brient Pdin Order rapidly closed the distance. The horses of the pdins had bags attached to them, continuously emitting smoke. Koral recognized the familiar floral scent from those bags.

    Loracus.

    Loracus¡¯s effect was to lower resistance to magic, or in this case, miracles.

    And now, the over-applied miracles of the Olkan Code were causing their cannons to explode.

    _____________

    Rate us on <em><strong>Novel Updates</strong></em>, so this novel can reach many readers like you, and also it will motivate me to trante more chapters. (For every new rating I will release one new chapter.)

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 Chapter 262:

    Chapter 262:

    Rottenhammer felt a surge of exhration as he watched the cannons explode.

    For days, the cannons that had been pounding on Seor tore through the orc artillerymen. The infantry unit, which should have shifted its formation earlier to protect the artillerymen before the pdins arrived, was caught in an untimely explosion, scattering their ranks.

    The Briant Pdin Order smelled blood among the disordered orc horde.

    The pdins, transformed into ferocious beasts, charged and tore the orcs apart with unstoppable force.

    *Crunch!*

    An orc, struggling to rise from the smoke, was trampled and crushed under the hooves of a horse in an instant. Another orc, who had regained his senses too quickly, shouted to form up the ranks.

    This made him an excellent target. A spear pierced through his cheek, dragging him along before being flung aside.

    Seeing the main body of the orc unit rushing out in a hurry, Rottenhammer shouted loudly.

    ¡°To the right!¡±In response to themand, the pdins swiftly turned their reins as one. The vanguard of the infantry unit, narrowly missed, was left tattered as if scraped by a saw. Instead of a head-on collision, the pdins continued their annihtion attack on the artillerymen.

    The pdins were not mere knights, and their weapons were not limited to swords or spears.

    ¡°Grant us Your Fragment!¡±

    Igniting a fire was one of the most basic miracles in the Codex of Light. And here, there were plenty of gunpowder caches that hadn¡¯t been caught in the earlier explosions.

    It was the perfect distance to perform a miracle.

    The orcs who had survived near the powder piles, whether due to misfires or because the powder was stored rather than loaded, faced hell again. Whenever the pdins saw a powder box, they immediately chanted a prayer and detonated it. Consequently, even the orcs trying to join the front staggered and retreated.

    mes and screams erupted wherever the knights went. Bringing gunpowder against the Codex of Light was a mistake from the start.

    Through Isaac, they had identified the enemies¡¯ locations, information, weaknesses, and the status of their powder magazines, allowing the Briant Pdin Order to ravage the Olkan Code without hesitation.

    They moved not as a group but as a single entity. A massive sword shed through the orc horde in one swift stroke.

    Orcs who kept their heads above knee level all lost their heads.

    ¡°Damn pdins¡ª!¡±

    A shrill scream pierced through the smoke.

    Rottenhammer recognized the borate headgear of the figure and realized he was someone of considerable rank.

    Although missing an arm and a leg, he sat and shouted defiantly at the pdins with remarkable spirit.

    ¡°I¡¯lle back and kill you all!¡±

    Rottenhammer wanted to admire him, but there was no time. He noticed a powder box next to the orc.

    It was powder that had survived the explosions.

    Seeing the torch in the hand of the orc with the headgear, Korral, Rottenhammer realized that a direct collision would cause the powder to explode.

    A mad grin appeared simultaneously on the faces of Rottenhammer and Korral.

    The Briant Pdin Order did not slow their charge, and Korral thrust the torch into the powder pile.

    A tremendous explosion shook the ground.

    ¡°Do not doubt, the Blessing of Light!¡±

    The explosion that shattered Korral instantly engulfed the Briant Pdin Order.

    Yet, something physically impossible happened around the pdins. Instead of consuming them, the mes gently pushed back, spreading the heat even more widely around. The pdins, enraptured by this holy spectacle, continued their charge, mumbling prayers without pause.

    Engulfed in mes, the Briant Pdin Order burst out of the explosion in formation. Their ming figures struck new terror and awe into the orcs.

    Rottenhammer, too, felt a profound religious ecstasy he hadn¡¯t experienced in a long time.

    These were clear enemies that one could kill without guilt.

    Rottenhammer appreciated the simplicity of that.

    *Thud thud thud thud¡­* At that moment, Rottenhammer heard the sound of hooves, not their own.

    A lighter tter than those in heavy armor.

    From the left, he saw the famous cavalry of the Olkan Code moving btedly.

    The pdins, buoyed by their religious fervor, showed no signs of intimidation even in the face of the massive cavalry, looking ready to charge in at any moment.

    However, Rottenhammer knew that the role of the pdins ended here.

    The pdins¡¯ charge was a temporary shock. The cannons were just a small part of the Olkan Code¡¯s power; their true strengthy in their vast cavalry.

    The true might of the Olkan Code had begun to move.

    Rottenhammer did not ce blind faith in the blessing of the Codex of Light.

    He gave themand without hesitation.

    ¡°Retreat to Seor!¡±

    Despite the disappointingmand, the pdins immediately turned their horses around. However, they did not forget their mission while retreating. They chanted prayers to ignite the remaining powder in the rear of the Olkan Code.

    As the powder began to explode, the cavalry, which had just started to catch up, was thrown into disarray again. Laughing heartily, Rottenhammer sped off. By the time the cavalry managed to resume their pursuit, the Briant Pdin Order was almost at Seor¡¯s gates.

    It was a great victory, yet Rottenhammer felt not entirely pleased. Though satisfying, it was a victory of little significance. The cannons were just a toy for the enemy.

    Now, nearly ten thousand cavalrymen would attack Seor.

    ¡®Isaac needs to do well.¡¯

    ***

    Isaac had not been with the Briant Pdin Order.

    The Briant Pdin Order had tasks they could aplish, and the Issacrea garrison and Gebel in Seor had their own duties.

    Isaac, however, had a task that he couldn¡¯t show anyone and wasn¡¯t proud of, but only he could do it.

    ¡°Lord Isaac, we have located the Shaman General.¡±

    Isaac nodded at the report from Zihilrat.

    Zihilrat had already infiltrated the enemy lines, disguised in the skin of an orc. While Isaac could pinpoint the deployment of barracks within the sanctuary¡¯s heart, he couldn¡¯t track the individual orcs who constantly shifted positions.

    Isaac¡¯s target was the Shaman General.

    The Shaman General was a shaman akin to a bishop, tasked with gathering and managing the souls of fallen orcs. The lesser shamans, called simply shamans or small shamans, handled fewer and smaller souls than the Shaman General.

    ¡°If the Shaman General is killed, their reincarnation process will be disrupted.¡±

    The reincarnation process of the Olkan Code was not wless.

    Even under normal circumstances, about one in a hundred souls went missing. Duringrge-scale wars, this ratio increased.

    These spiritual disappearances urred during the soul¡¯s transfer from the corpse to the shaman, with the risk increasing the farther the distance.

    Missing souls were not found in either heaven or hell, making this the greatest fear among the orcs of the Olkan Code.

    But if the Shaman General were to die?

    The orcs of the Olkan Code would be gripped by the fear that their reincarnation might fail.

    Orc bravery stemmed from their confidence in reincarnation.

    The certainty that they would be reborn in new, healthy bodies. Once that belief was shattered, fear of death would inevitably resurface.

    [Shaman Kirmas, Koral Manho has self-detonated!]

    Isaac heard the voice through Zihilrat¡¯s ear and saw the shaman called Kirmas through his eyes. As Isaac had informed him beforehand, Kirmas wore earrings of various colors, distinguishing him from other shamans.

    The moment he saw this, Isaac acted immediately.

    ¡°Now.¡±

    Nel, who was carrying Isaac, began a steep descent. Since all eyes were on the Briant Pdin Order rampaging in the front, spotting Nel was dyed.

    ¡°Shaman Kirmas!¡±

    A small shaman screamed and rushed towards Kirmas. Simultaneously, lightning from Nel¡¯s mouth incinerated the small shaman. Though Isaac clicked his tongue at missing Kirmas, he hadn¡¯t expected an easy resolution.

    Kirmas red at Nel and began chanting a spell. Isaac felt Nel¡¯s movements slow and stumble.

    The souls of unreincarnated orcs clung to Nel, hindering its movements.

    ¡°Go.¡±

    Isaac released Nel and jumped down.

    With a pdin suddenly descending in front of him, Kirmas had to stop his chanting. Isaac hade with the intention of causing chaos, so heunched a fierce attack at Kirmas.

    A fierce sword aura emerged from the tip of the Holy Sword Kaldwin.

    Isaac¡¯s Swordsmanship: Eight branches activated, sending eight fierce streams of sword energy that tore through everything in their path like a vicious eight-headed beast. Anything caught in its wake, whether bodies, weapons, or the ground, was torn apart.

    At the end of this path was Shaman General Kirmas.

    ¡°You bastard!¡±

    Kirmas bellowed urgently. It was no ordinary voice. A tempest-like wind surged through the area, toppling tents with the force of his voice. It was as if thousands shouted in unison.

    Isaac¡¯s Eight branches faltered and shattered. But determined not to miss the opportunity, Isaac activated Kaldwin¡¯s eleration ability and swung his sword. The speed was such that only a Swordmaster could block it.

    *Crunch!* The chilling sound of flesh and bone being severed echoed.

    Yet Isaac grimaced.

    Instead of piercing Kirmas¡¯s heart, Kaldwin had only prated his hand. Despite its sword energy and sharpness, Kaldwin remained lodged in Kirmas¡¯s hand.

    Isaac saw Kirmas¡¯s body and pupils twitching rapidly and realized.

    ¡°Already possessed? To block Kaldwin, how many souls has he taken in?¡±

    The shamans of the Olkan Code gained strength and endurance proportionate to the number of souls they harbored. But the more souls within, the higher the risk of mental copse as those souls vied for control.

    ¡°Even with 1,023 souls, you managed to pierce my bones. Impressive.¡±

    Kirmas growled with the voices of a thousand souls. It was no wonder Kaldwin, held by such overwhelming strength, wouldn¡¯t budge.

    Isaac knew taking down a Shaman General wouldn¡¯t be easy, but he hadn¡¯t expected Kirmas to be such a monster.

    Kirmas prevented other orcs from approaching. He seemed to understand that they would be useless against Isaac.

    Isaac also stopped Zihilrat, who was poised to strike from behind Kirmas.

    There was no need for that.

    ¡°Are you the Holy Grail Knight? How kind of you to walk right into my grasp. I¡¯ll shred your soul to pieces¡­.¡±

    Isaac ignored the clich¨¦ threat and let go of Kaldwin.

    Kirmas, startled by the unexpected move, looked at Isaac in confusion. Then, calmly pulling Kaldwin from his hand, he reversed it and drove it into his own neck.

    The de, driven by the strength of a thousand souls, easily pierced through his neck.

    [Holy Sword Kaldwin (EX)]

    [A practicalbat sword wielded by Elil on the battlefield. Made from a unique metal, it never breaks or dulls. It can elerate the wielder for a short time up to three times a day. Anyone who isn¡¯t Elil¡¯s great warrior will drive it into their own neck when wielded.]

    Recalling the helpful security feature of Kaldwin, Isaac pulled the sword from Kirmas¡¯s neck. The souls that had possessed Kirmas screamed and fled. The surrounding orcs and shamans were too stunned to grasp the situation.

    ¡°Wondering what just happened?¡±

    Isaacughed, then wiped the smile off his face and charged at the nearest shaman.

    Killing even one more shaman while they were confused would amplify the orcs¡¯ panic. As the heads of three more shamans rolled, the orcs finally realized the chaos, and guards rushed in with shouts and screams.

    But it was already toote.

    The guards, arriving btedly, froze at the sight of the fallen shamans. They feared dying here and losing their chance at reincarnation. Isaac, knowing he couldn¡¯t kill them all, decided to end it there.

    *Rumble¡­*

    Suddenly, the Color Beyond enveloped Isaac, disorienting the orcs with hallucinations and phantom pain.

    When they regained their senses, all that remained were the bodies of eight shamans, including Shaman General Kirmas.

    _____________

    Rate us on <em><strong>Novel Updates</strong></em>, so this novel can reach many readers like you, and also it will motivate me to trante more chapters. (For every new rating I will release one new chapter.)

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter.

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 Chapter 263:

    Chapter 263:

    ¡°Chase him!¡±

    The captain in charge of security shouted in shock.

    However, instead of pursuing Isaac, the orcs hesitated. Most of the shamans had died, making reincarnation difficult.

    Isaac¡¯s prediction was correct: if a shaman died, the orcs would feel the fear of death.

    The captain roared at the hesitant orcs.

    ¡°The general shaman was killed within the camp! Do you think Shaman Kirmas will spare you when he reincarnates?¡±

    Only then did the orcs, startled, start chasing Isaac.

    It wasn¡¯t just themon soldiers who could reincarnate; shamans could too, and their spiritual powers grew stronger with each reincarnation. They didn¡¯t know when Kirmas would reincarnate, but if he held them ountable, they could end up as souls, unable to reincarnate, destined to carry burdens.

    ¡°Where did such a madmane from¡­?¡±The captain nervously bit his nails as he examined the shaman¡¯s corpse.

    He knew there was a dragon. But he hadn¡¯t expected it tond precisely in the middle of the camp and target the general shaman.

    No one could have predicted such a scenario. Only Isaac could pull off something like this.

    ¡°A mess.¡±

    Clip-clop, clip-clop.

    Hoofbeats sounded from behind the captain. There was only one group permitted to ride horses within the camp. Not fellow orcs, but warriors born with the souls of orcs inside horse bodies, known as the chosen warriors.

    Orcs called these warriors, who were born as pdins of the Olkan Code, the Khan¡¯s guards or ¡°Keshik.¡±

    Isaac would have called them orc-centaurs, but the orcs had no such concept.

    ¡°An Keshik.¡±

    Seeing the enormous figure with a horse¡¯s body and an orc¡¯s upper torso, the captain nervously stepped back.

    ¡°General Shaman Kirmas was killed? He wasn¡¯t someone who would die so easily.¡±

    The Keshik moved only on the Khan¡¯s orders and were exempt from the military hierarchy. Even the lowest soldier didn¡¯t need to treat the Keshik as a superior.

    Yet, the captain couldn¡¯t tell the Keshik to just go away.

    Though the Keshik moved only by the Khan¡¯s orders, they acted as executioners or overseers. If themanding officer showed ipetence or signs of rebellion, the Keshik would immediately behead them.

    Having the Khan¡¯s overseer witness this chaos meant the captain¡¯s head could be forfeit. But the captain didn¡¯t foolishly attack the Keshik.

    An circled the scene, paying particr attention to Kirmas¡¯s body.

    ¡°What is this? Did he stab his own neck?¡±

    ¡°Yes, An Keshik. That¡¯s what the report said.¡±

    ¡°I was inspecting the chaos at Major Koral¡¯s front, then came here¡­ Had I known such an interesting event would happen, I would have stayed at the rear.¡±

    An bared his teeth in a grin and stared in a particr direction.

    It was the direction Isaac had fled.

    ¡°I¡¯ll pursue him. You tend to your duties. It seems the death of Major Koral has thrown the captains into disarray. With Shaman Kirmas gone, it¡¯ll be even more chaotic.¡±

    Startled by An¡¯s words, the captain rushed off. To avoid me, he needed to coordinate with the other captains. While the Holy Grail Knight¡¯s attack was a disaster from the sky, he had to stake his life on managing the aftermath.

    Once the captain left, An drew two curved swords from his back and started pursuing Isaac.

    ¡®He¡¯s a dangerous one.¡¯

    The Codex of Light wielded the mightiest warriors among the settlers. An had expected strong adversaries, but he hadn¡¯t anticipated meeting one so early. Isaac¡¯s daring move to assassinate a shaman from the sky indicated a deep understanding of the Olkan Code.

    This man was dangerous.

    An¡¯s instincts as the Khan¡¯s elite whispered that this man could threaten the Khan and the entire raid. He needed to be eliminated swiftly.

    ***

    Isaac fled towards the dense forest behind the orc camp. Since Kirmas¡¯s location was near the rearmost area, Isaac couldn¡¯t break through the heavy frontline forces towards Soer. He had to make a wide detour or return riding Nel.

    But the trail of ughter and destruction left by Isaac became a clear path. Soon, orc soldiers riding for their lives entered the forest in pursuit.

    Like many forests nearrge cities, this one was managed to raise livestock like pigs. Though there were no trees or vines blocking the path, it still provided enough cover for Isaac to hide.

    Rather than returning, Isaac chose to show the iing orcs a glimpse of hell.

    ¡°A monster!¡±

    An orc soldier swung his spear wildly, but the only thing getting hurt were the innocent trees.

    The soldiers who had entered with him had already vanished. The surviving orc could only see the barely perceptible movements of something inhuman and the asional remains of hisrades.

    Without a shaman, could he reincarnate if caught by this monster? Was this creature a chaos monster that devoured wandering souls?

    As these thoughts consumed him, the orc¡¯s breath grewbored, despite his inactivity.

    There was something evil in this forest. It wasn¡¯t a pdin. Perhaps even the pdin had already been devoured.

    Rustle.

    ¡°Who¡¯s there!?¡±

    The orc screamed and swung his spear. But there were only trees. The dark forest, shadowed by tall trees, barely allowed visibility. Yet, somewhere among those trees¡­

    Was that tree always that close?

    The orc fixed his gaze on one tree.

    Its branches were unusually long and abundant for its short trunk, creating patterns unseen in nature. As he realized the tree was mimicking, his mind turned icy cold. The ¡®tree¡¯ abandoned its disguise and began moving slowly.

    Hundreds of tendril-like branches, no, tentacles, floated as it ¡®walked¡¯ towards the orc.

    The creature had a woman¡¯s torso, but its face was grotesquely split, and above it, hundreds of tentacles spread like branches.

    Watching the tentacles dance, the orc felt his grip on reality slip. He realized the delicate bnce of order and rules he¡¯d known was being torn apart by this brutal, chaotic madness.

    The monster, no, Hectali, approached and whispered to the orc.

    ¡°Evi.¡±

    The orc foamed at the mouth and fainted.

    Hectali checked the state of the fallen orc to ensure he hadn¡¯t died of a heart attack. Just then, Isaac emerged from the forest, drenched in orc blood, and frowned at the sight of Hectali.

    ¡°You look horrific.¡±

    ¡°You told me to scare them and send them back. I was doing as instructed.¡±

    Isaac nodded. He too had been killing half and sending the other half back half-dead. The survivors would spread fear within the ranks of the Olkan Code, spreading rumors that the Nameless Chaos devoured souls.

    And it was no lie.

    [You have devoured ¡®Olkan Code Priest (B-)¡¯.]

    [Special perk from ¡®Intestines of the Dead God¡¯ increases absorption efficiency.]

    [Temporary perk ¡®Spiritual Communion¡¯ acquired.]

    [Temporary perks remain active until fully digested.]

    Though Isaac hadn¡¯t been able to devour Kirmas, he had absorbed soul fragments by killing the shamans with his swordsmanship, granting him this perk. It wasn¡¯t anything grand, merely the ability to see and speak with souls. While other faiths¡¯ miracles were learned, the Olkan Code¡¯s miracles were innate and could be acquired through devouring.

    This allowed Isaac to scatter or disrupt the souls of the shamans, preventing them from returning. And even without this ability, Isaac had the ¡®Grasp of the Dead¡¯ gloves, capable of holding souls.

    The fact that the souls killed in this forest couldn¡¯t return would unsettle the orcs.

    Then, suddenly,

    Swish! A sharp sound of an arrow pierced through the air, striking Hectali in the head. The numerous tentacles attached to Hectali¡¯s head lost their roots and fell to the ground.

    Hectali staggered, pointing in the direction the arrow hade from. At the same time, the forest rustled and wildlife began to scatter.

    Subject Here ¨C But soon, she crouched down as if a flower withered.

    Isaac realized Hectali wasn¡¯t dead but was seriously injured.

    ¡°Hectali, rest.¡±

    ¡®Yes.¡¯

    Hectali¡¯s strengthy in curses and summoning, not physical prowess. Even so, she wasn¡¯t an opponent to be taken lightly.

    ¡®To hit her with a single arrow in this forest?¡¯

    It was an extraordinary ability.

    Isaac immediately dashed in the direction the arrow hade from. In an instant, an arrowhead zoomed towards him as a tree trunk exploded. But Isaac, in a state of extreme focus, deflected the arrow. At the same time, he pinpointed the enemy¡¯s location and used Kaldwin¡¯s eleration ability to charge.

    Boom, boom! Kicking off two trees, Isaac soon spotted an orc¡ªno, a centaur-like creature, half-orc, half-horse.

    ¡®Keshik!¡¯

    The opponent was just as surprised. He threw aside his bow and drew his curved sword.

    Bang! The centaur, An, skidded back, leaving deep tracks as he moved. Isaac, who had intended to cleave him in two, ground his teeth. The sword wasn¡¯t ordinary, nor was the strength.

    ¡°Who are you? I didn¡¯t know the Codex of Light had such a pdin.¡±

    ¡°And who are you? I didn¡¯t expect anyone to block me.¡±

    ¡°An.¡±

    ¡°Isaac.¡±

    They rudely introduced themselves, both taken aback. An already knew Isaac¡¯s name through the whispers of the dead, and Isaac recognized An¡¯s identity, leading to their mutual surprise.

    ¡®Why is the Khan¡¯s chosen here?¡¯

    ***

    ¡°We must pursue immediately!¡±

    ¡°Are you insane? We should wait for Shaman Kirmas to appoint a newmander!¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s there to hesitate against that pile of rubble? Centurion Katawal nearly took the city alone!¡±

    ¡°That was before the Codex of Light arrived!¡±

    Meanwhile, the orc cavalry was in utter confusion.

    The captains, who were supposed to follow Major Koral¡¯smand, were in disarray due to the sudden death of theirmander. Although a sessor was appointed, hecked support among the other captains.

    ¡°If your strategy is to wait until a new major is chosen, why are you the newmander? You should take the role and lead!¡±

    The captain supposed to takemand had tried to be cautious but was berated and marginalized.

    Among orcs, such ¡®weak and defensive¡¯ strategies were not weed. Moreover, the enemy was a city they had already ravaged numerous times.

    Eventually, the captains forcefully decided to charge towards Soer, not long after Major Koral¡¯s death. They hadn¡¯t yet learned of Kirmas¡¯s death.

    Though they understood Major Koral¡¯s desire to tten the city, they had waited too long.

    And that wait brought them not the thrill of conquest, but utter humiliation.

    They had to wash away this disgrace.

    The only way to cleanse this humiliation was to turn Soer into a heap of rubble and bathe it in the blood of its inhabitants.

    ¡°Charge!¡±

    With a thunderous roar, the cavalry stormed towards Soer, kicking up immense dust. The destructive force within seemed like a rising storm.

    Their judgment was correct.

    By the time Major Koral had shattered the city walls, they possessed enough power to seize Soer. This fact didn¡¯t change despite Major Koral¡¯s absence. Had it been an ordinary city, the forting events would have been an all-out ughter by the Olkan Code.

    Had Isaac not perfectly prepared for the Olkan Code¡¯s assault.

    ¡°Kill them all!¡±

    As the first cavalryman crossed the stone hill, the captains felt something was terribly wrong.

    _____________

    Rate us on <em><strong>Novel Updates</strong></em>, so this novel can reach many readers like you, and also it will motivate me to trante more chapters. (For every new rating I will release one new chapter.)

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter.

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 Chapter 264:

    Chapter 264:

    The history of weapons was not linear.

    People often mistook evolution for something that transformed into a ¡®better being,¡¯ but such a notion was merely an illusion confined to the creatures in their pockets.

    Evolution was ¡®that which survived.¡¯

    It did not matter whether it was due to sharp teeth, immense reproductive power, or swift legs. Extinction did not show mercy to the weak, nor did it dy for the strong. Humans survived thanks to their cooperative nature and collective intelligence, not because individuals were exceptionally skilled.

    The same held true for war and weapons.

    No single type of weapon could hold the title of ¡®the strongest¡¯ for long. Humanity¡¯s malevolence was always ready to dethrone the mightiest to kill and ughter the enemy more easily.

    The cavalry of the Olkan Code, which once plunged the continent into terror and could have brought about ruin again, faced the same fate.

    Isaac, who had already grasped the strategies against ¡®the strongest,¡¯ had prepared countermeasures.

    ¡°Pull©¤!¡±What the cavalry that had just ascended the stone hill discovered were stakes that suddenly sprung from the rubble below.

    Crash! The horses that collided with the sharp-tipped stakes were impaled alongside their riders, meeting a gruesome end.

    The wall, which had copsed to a nearly t state, became an obstacle that obstructed the cavalry¡¯s view. Horses fell pathetically upon simr obstacles strewn all around. Realizing btedly that the cavalry¡¯s charge had been thwarted, the centurions swiftlymanded.

    ¡°There are stakes behind the walls! Shoot your arrows!¡±

    Instead of recklessly crossing the hill, the cavalry fired arrows while bypassing the obstacles. The orc light cavalry were not only skilled in swordsmanship but were also excellent archers.

    This was a given, considering they had umted countless experiences through reincarnation.

    However, even they could not shoot urately without a clear view. No screams were heard from beyond the hill, prompting the centurions to send scouts to verify.

    ¡°There is no one here!¡±

    ¡°Damn it¡­¡±

    The enemies had fled right after setting up the stakes. The centurions, who had expected the enemies to either fight along the wall or at least near the stakes, were dumbfounded.

    Something was off about these enemies.

    ¡°Something feels wrong. Let¡¯s split into three groups.¡±

    Another centurion agreed, so they proceeded without further objection, entering through the main gate, the south gate, and the copsed wall. Regardless, the copse made no significant difference. The light cavalry who entered Seor were once again taken aback by the situation within the city.

    The city had been devastated by bombardment, limiting the avable paths.

    No matter how skilled in horseback riding, there were limits to oveing obstacles.

    ¡°Damn it¡­ couldn¡¯t they have smashed it less?¡±

    Normally, after such destruction, the enemy would have surrendered or been trembling in fear. However, these enemies were waiting for them with intense murderous intent. The orc cavalry had to recall their unfamiliar experiences of urban warfare.

    ¡°There are many spots suitable for ambushes. Be cautious.¡±

    At that moment, as if waiting for those words, a group of archers appeared atop a ruined building and shot arrows at the orc cavalry.

    Thwack! Despite the sudden attack, the damage was minimal. The arrows could not prate the tough hide of the orcs deeply, merely startling the horses.

    Instead, the orcs scoffed, swiftly riding towards the archers and shooting back, taking down a few of them.

    ¡°Chase them!¡±

    The archers, who had been lying in ambush, began to flee urgently. The centurion, seeing their poor armament and skill, assumed they were at best militia.

    Hence, he did not anticipate the sniper shot at all.

    Thunk. The centurion¡¯s head was impaled by a crossbow bolt, pinning it to the opposite wall. The force broke his neck, causing his body to dangle like a puppet. The centurion, who died instantly, could only see his death in his soul state.

    ¡°There is a formidable sniper! Break through quickly!¡±

    Though the cavalry were rmed by the loss of their centurion, another tookmand immediately. Sniping was not a novel concept for these marksmen. Arrows blessed by their ancestors¡¯ protection could prate even mountains.

    But now, they couldn¡¯t even determine where the shots wereing from.

    The only way to avoid being sniped was to eliminate the sniper. If that wasn¡¯t possible, they had to leave the area as quickly as possible.

    The orc cavalry pursued the archers while simultaneously dealing with the bizarre notion of evading archers, sprinting at full speed.

    It was not easy to chase in the bombardment-ravaged streets while avoiding debris, but they soon caught up with the fleeing soldiers.

    ¡®Flee all you want, you¡¯ll just show us where they¡¯re hiding¡­¡¯

    They anticipated an ambush.

    These seasoned veteran warriors weed close-quartersbat.

    Hence, when they saw the soldiers and barricades lined up at the end of the alley, they sneered. Such obstacles had long been ovee.

    The leading orc cavalry swiftly shot arrows at the waiting soldiers behind the barricades. The arrows were blocked byrge square shields, but in the meantime, the second row of orcs hooked chains onto the barricades and pulled them down in one go. Barricades were strong against impact but not built to withstand prolonged pressure. The hastily constructed walls crumbled easily.

    Seeing the soldiers¡¯ panicked faces, the orcs smiled cruelly.

    They charged through the alley to ughter the fleeing soldiers, storming into the square.

    However, what they encountered was another group of orcs charging in from the opposite side.

    ¡°What? You were supposed toe from the south gate¡­¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s going on? Why are you here?¡±

    ¡°Regroup, regroup!¡±

    The square turned into chaos as numerous cavalry units from differentmands and leaders got entangled, disruptingmunication and reporting. Meanwhile, more guards flooded in, further congesting the square.

    The thought that crossed the centurions¡¯ minds was singr.

    Trap.

    The ruins and intricate alleys of Seor were designed to funnel them into one ce. The asional ambushes and dying tactics were also meant to herd them at the right time.

    ¡®Is this even a trap?¡¯

    They had anticipated ambushes in this location and charged in anyway.

    They intended to swiftly crush and defeat the enemies, even at the cost of some losses, to secure the area.

    Thus, their congregation in one ce only meant their victory would be more certain.

    However, the centurion smelled something foul beneath the pervasive scent of burning Loracus in the air.

    ¡°Alcohol.¡±

    A ming arrow shot by someone ignited the high-proof alcohol scattered on the ground. The vaporized alcohol burst into mes in an instant. Gunpowder collected by the remaining forces of Seor exploded with a deafening sound. The already chaotic square was thrown into further disarray by the shockwaves and mes.

    ¡°It¡¯s a small explosion! The bastards are ying tricks! Calm the horses!¡±

    The centurions desperately tried to control their troops. Indeed, there wasn¡¯t enough fuel in Seor to incinerate thousands at once.

    But the purpose of this ¡®trap¡¯ wasn¡¯t that.

    Isaac had instructed Jacquette and Gebel, who were in charge of Seor¡¯s defense, to induce confusion.

    To mix everything into utter chaos.

    ¡°Pdins©¤!¡±

    On one side of the square, the Pdin Order appeared, their armor gleaming. The Briant Pdins began chanting hymns in unison. As if responding to their song, the mes burning across the square zed even brighter.

    Though experienced orcs might remain calm, their horses could not. Covered in fur and unable to reincarnate, the horses went berserk, spreading panic to the other horses.

    Alongside the Pdin Order, soldiers marched out in formation from the direction of the city hall. Armed with long scythes and axes, the soldiers charged at the disoriented cavalry.

    A soldier wielding a long scythe struck an orc from behind, pulling him down, while another with an axe split the orc¡¯s head. The series of actions proceeded methodically. Some soldiers fell to the desperate counterattacks of the orcs. However, in the chaotic situation, the orcs, crammed into a narrow space, couldn¡¯t mount an organized counterattack.

    The shouts of the centurions trying to pull back and the soldiers floundering in confusion were all mixed up, creating aplete mess.

    ¡°Dismount! Get off your horses and fight! They are mere conscripts, not even half as strong as us! Kill them!¡±

    Meanwhile, the centurions quickly assessed the soldiers¡¯ level and equipment. Aside from the pdins, they were nothing special. One centurion, as if to prove this, swiftly charged at an old man in shabby attire standing at the forefront.

    However, in the next moment, the man¡¯s eyes gleamed.

    As Gebel shed his sword from top to bottom, the centurion and his horse were instantly cleaved in two.

    The shocking sight made even the soldiers about to charge hesitate.

    The centurion was losing his mind.

    The enemy was supposedly insignificant, and they outnumbered them in numbers, quality, and morale. Yet, he couldn¡¯t understand why he felt like they were losing. As he took out his horn to order another charge, he coughed up blood instead of breath, feeling a sharp pain in his neck.

    It was the red arrow he had seen earlier.

    Only then did he realize he was thest remaining centurion. The enemies had been systematically removing the heads of the Olkan Code forces.

    From the beginning, their reason was simple.

    To draw in more orcs.

    At that moment, a shout marking the end of the battle echoed.

    ¡°Shaman General Kirmas has been defeated©¤! The shamans have been killed in the enemy¡¯s ambush©¤!¡±

    And that was it.

    The centurion¡¯sst consciousness was trampled under the fleeing orcs¡¯ feet in horror. His soul might wander in search of the shaman, but it was uncertain whether he would arrive in time.

    ***

    When the opponent is superior, there is only one way to win.

    Make them lesspetent than they are. Blind them, deafen them, bind their hands, and restrain their feet.

    Isaac¡¯s forces systematically achieved this.

    They neutralized the cannons, captured themander, killed the shamans, lured them into narrow alleys, disrupted themand structure, and made them abandon their horses and weapons. In the history of the Olkan Code, they had never been so ipetent, but it was Isaac¡¯s strategy that led to this ipetence.

    And this was his final operation.

    Isaac knew this method would not work again. The shamans would be more thoroughly protected, gunpowder wouldn¡¯t be wasted, and they wouldn¡¯t charge into an unfamiliar city on horseback again until Isaac found another way to render them ipetent.

    The opponent in front of him, An, was far from ipetent.

    ¡®The hero of the Olkan Code¡­ the right hand of Khan.¡¯

    The saying that he was Khan¡¯s proimed son was a sort of joke. The Olkan Code did not value their offspring highly. It would be difficult for even the most motherly woman to see an old man¡¯s soul inside a baby as her son.

    But An was truly special.

    Because he was the fruit of love between Khan and his beloved steed.

    Therefore, no one could call An Khan¡¯s child. All the Kesik were infertile, and that was a fact.

    The two observed each other in silence for a while, recognizing each other as formidable opponents. Isaac thought that if An had been a follower of Elil, he might have be a swordmaster long ago.

    ¡°How long are you going to keep staring, Pdin¡ª¡±

    As soon as An¡¯s lips parted, Isaac¡¯s eyes shed, and he lunged.

    As expected, An barely managed to block Isaac¡¯s sword.

    A slight tremor flickered across his lips.

    Isaac immediately activated Drowned Hand, shaking An¡¯s body. Just when it seemed his bnce would copse, An instead stomped hard, charging at Isaac. When he raised his scimitar as if to sh down, Isaac¡¯s gaze was drawn upwards.

    In that moment, An¡¯s front hoof struck Isaac¡¯s chest with a powerful blow.

    Isaac felt as if he had been hit by a battering ram and staggered backward.

    An did not miss this opening and continued his barrage of attacks. Isaac felt a sense of injustice. An moved his four legs nimbly, maintained his bnce, and had more mass. With each sh of swords, it was Isaac who was repelled.

    An surpassed him in speed and stamina.

    ¡®If only I were born as robust as that¡­! No,e to think of it, I am a Pdin, right? Then I should use a miracle.¡¯

    There was no reason to fight honorably, especially since it wasn¡¯t a duel with Elil.

    He hadn¡¯t held back on miracles even in his duel with Elil.

    Isaac gripped his sword with both hands and swung it while scattering the Color Beyond towards An¡¯s head. However, An, as if expecting this, took a deep breath and blew away the color with his tremendous lung capacity.

    But Isaac¡¯s aim was elsewhere. He twisted his left hand slightly, summoning the Clutch of the Abyss from within the dissipated Color Beyond.

    Crash! A tentacle, almost asrge as An¡¯s horse body, sprang forth, wrapping around him and mming him into a massive tree. An¡¯s body writhed, bleeding profusely from beneath the tentacle.

    _____________

    Rate us on <em><strong>Novel Updates</strong></em>, so this novel can reach many readers like you, and also it will motivate me to trante more chapters. (For every new rating I will release one new chapter.)

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter.

    If you want to read more than 20 advance chapters or support me, you can do it at /Akaza156

 Chapter 265:

    Chapter 265:

    Just when Isaac thought it was over, An swung the curved de he had embedded in the tentacle, ripping open the wound.

    An emerged from the gushing chaos looking utterly devastated. His body was covered with deep bites and shes. The fact that he survived a direct hit from the tentacle was impressive, but it seemed unlikely that he could continue facing Isaac.

    At that moment, An spoke.

    ¡°I intended to leave you be if you fought fairly, child. But you shouldn¡¯t stoop to such dishonorable tactics.¡±

    The air around them began to change. Torn and wounded trees started to sprout fresh shoots, and crushed grass des rose upright.

    As the atmosphere shifted, Isaac realized what was happening.

    ¡°I greet the Archangel Manseungja.¡±

    The Archangel of the Olkan Code, Manseungja, had entered An¡¯s body.

    Isaac watched An, or rather Manseungja, with a tense expression.The appearance of An with Manseungja inside him seemed more serene than ever. His wounds healed instantly, and an even healthier vitality radiated from him.

    Isaac thought once again how unfair this seemed, but the tentacles also healed and served as weapons, so there was no useining.

    ¡®Manseungja, Orus Maktu¡­¡¯

    There were many nicknames for Manseungja.

    The First Reincarnator, the Wanderer Between Lives, the Seeker of All Things, the Roaming Shaman.

    When Olkan stole the secret of ¡®rebirth¡¯ from the World¡¯s Forge, the first to hear the knowledge and build the doctrine of reincarnation was the shaman Orus Maktu.

    Since then, he attempted reincarnation in countless entities, not just orcs but also birds, insects, beasts, and even nts. Olkan highly valued Orus Maktu¡¯s wisdom and experience and appointed him as an Archangel. Thanks to this background, all the shamans of the Olkan Code revered Manseungja as their greatest teacher, elder, and mother.

    Manseungja gazed at Isaac with a gentle smile.

    ¡°To recognize me so quickly, you are indeed an extraordinary child. Your name has even reached Urbansus.¡±

    Isaac broke into a cold sweat.

    For his name to be known in Urbansus meant he was gaining fame, but it wasn¡¯t necessarily a good thing.

    The gods he knew were envious and always sincere in suppressing neers.

    ¡°Another Archangel, ¡®Hwangcheon,¡¯ is likely at the Khan¡¯s side, and the ¡®Wolf That Swallowed the Sun¡¯ has no intention of leaving Urbansus, so I thought Manseungja was the only Archangel who might appear.¡±

    ¡°It sounds like you know us well.¡±

    ¡°The reputation of the Olkan Code is heard even beyond the Sahar ins.¡±

    An tilted his head with a crooked smile.

    ¡°If you know so well, why do you not withdraw your soldiers and block the Khan¡¯s army with a mere few tentacles?¡±

    Isaac did not mention how many angels those mere tentacles had taken down. After all, he had never defeated an angel with his strength alone.

    And Manseungja was someone who could be reasoned with. Provoking them would serve no purpose.

    Moreover, the current situation was the confrontation Isaac had been waiting for.

    ¡°Beyond that city lies my territory. It is a small ce with people who trust and follow me, along with some stone houses. Though I dared to oppose the Khan¡¯s army, please do not take it as a sign of disrespect toward Olkan.¡±

    Isaac differentiated between the Khan and Olkan. The divine Olkan and the earthly Khan were iparable in their stature.

    Manseungja smiled, finding Isaac amusing.

    ¡°Swear allegiance to the Khan¡¯s army. Seeing your kind heart, I shall request that your territory be preserved.¡±

    ¡°Though I am insignificant, how could I forsake the god who has embraced my life thus far and wander between different faiths? Even Olkan would not wee such behavior.¡±

    Isaac spoke shamelessly, showing no reverence for the Codex of Light or the Nameless Chaos. But in truth, Olkan did not favor apostates. They preferred those who came willingly to those they coerced through threats.

    They even considered their followers as spoils.

    ¡°You have a lot to say, refusing this and that. Then you shall only be trampled.¡±

    ¡°As you wish.¡±

    Isaac responded nonchntly, though he was sweating inwardly. If Manseungja ordered the Khan¡¯s army to advance with a simple ¡°Then die,¡± the Issacrea estate would be overrun, and Isaac would have to suffer the consequences.

    Fortunately, Manseungja merely observed Isaac despite his provocative words. As one of the few Archangels capable of ¡®empathy¡¯ due to witnessing andmuning with the life of all things, she opened a path for Isaac.

    ¡°Do you know the extent of the army prepared for this Great Raid?¡±

    Isaac had estimated, based on his reconnaissance, that the number was 100,000, and ording to Rottenhammer, there were two more forces to the south, so he guessed around 300,000. But Isaac knew the potential ¡®total army¡¯ that could invade if the Great Raid trulymenced.

    ¡°Three million?¡±

    ¡°Ten million.¡±

    Isaac fell silent.

    Ten million? Even in the Three Kingdoms stories, they exaggerated with numbers like a million or a hundred thousand troops, but never ten million.

    If ten million non-productive consumers moved, it would be a swarm of locusts in motion. Supplying them would be impossible, and nothing would remain where they passed.

    More importantly, to achieve that, even the Gerthonia Empire would have to gather everyone from children to the elderly. The Olkan Code, as Isaac yed it, never attempted such a thing. It was a task too difficult for settled poptions with sufficient sustenance, let alone for the Olkan Code, which lived a nomadic lifestyle. Attempting such a feat would endanger the very existence of their faith, not just the country.

    Isaac assumed it was mere bravado but couldn¡¯t be certain. These lunatics might attempt it even if it meant their downfall.

    Then the question was, ¡°why?¡±

    Why go to such lengths?

    ***

    ¡°What do you want?¡±

    Isaac dove straight into the matter at hand.

    If the goal was simply to seize the wealth and technology of the Gerthonia Empire, the Great Raid would suffice. But he was curious why they boasted about having ten million soldiers.

    Of course, Isaac knew that the true target of the Great Raid was the Lichtheim Censorship Bureau¡¯s secret archives.

    However, he didn¡¯t know what specific knowledge they intended to steal from there.

    ¡°There must be a reason for starting this war, mustn¡¯t there? You must have something you desire.¡±

    ¡°And if I tell you what I desire? Child, do you have the ability to provide it?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve already stopped an army that was deemed unstoppable with just a handful of troops.¡±

    He had already received reports about the situation in Seor through the eyes and ears of the minions he had nted there. All the messages that reached him through their will were positive.

    What was happening in Seor wasn¡¯t a battle but a massacre. Once they realized that their forces, incapable of reincarnation, suffered massive casualties, the rest of the Olkan Code¡¯s forces would inevitably waver.

    ¡°Trust me a little more. Haven¡¯t you already seen that I will do ¡®anything¡¯ to protect my territory?¡±

    ¡°And if I decide to kill you right here, wouldn¡¯t that make things much easier?¡±

    Manseungja toyed with the idea, idly fingering her curved de.

    Isaac believed she wouldn¡¯t resort to such brutality. However, another angel seemed to think otherwise. Suddenly, a bluish light began emanating from Kaldwin, the sword Isaac was holding.

    [If you dare harm Elil¡¯s Grand Warrior, I won¡¯t stand idly by, Manseungja.]

    It was the will of Calurien¡¯s dragon heart embedded in Kaldwin.

    Isaac was surprised by Calurien¡¯s reaction, who had remained silent for so long.

    He thought the dragon heart would only observe, but when faced with a crisis, it stepped forward to help.

    The reason angels couldn¡¯t recklessly harm believers of other faiths was due to the intervention of other angels.

    However, he hadn¡¯t expected Calurien, who wasn¡¯t even aligned with the Codex of Light, to step in.

    Manseungja scoffed.

    ¡°With that form? Archmage, do you think you can stop me with a mere shattered heart?¡±

    [I am difficult to handle, indeed. That¡¯s a matter for Elil¡¯s Grand Warrior to deal with.]

    Isaac felt the respect and admiration he had for Calurien quickly wane.

    [The Grand Warrior possesses skills acknowledged by Elil. He won¡¯t be easy to handle. Moreover, if the Holy Grail Knight perishes, Amunds of the Salt Council will be quite disappointed, and the Mirror Handmaiden of the Red Chalice will be irritated that her schemes were disrupted. And the World¡¯s Forge would be delighted at the opportunity to crush your head and would eagerly send angels. Oh, and the Grand Warrior is also a saint appointed by the Codex of Light.]

    Isaac felt that the most crucial point was pushed to the end, but he was amazed that Calurien knew all these connections.

    Manseungja also frowned, realizing Isaac¡¯swork was more extensive than she had anticipated.

    ¡°Quite the wide connections for someone who ims not to dabble in different faiths, Holy Grail Knight.¡±

    Isaac feigned indifference.

    [And you must also know what terrible power is trapped inside the Grand Warrior¡¯s body. I hope the Holy Grail Knight doesn¡¯t use that terrible power to protect himself. Manseungja, you should fervently hope for that as well.]

    Manseungja fell silent.

    An angel¡¯s intervention provided justification for other angels to intervene, just as the Archangel descended to protect a beloved mortal.

    If angels intervened, the battlefield would suffer devastating damage. Since the Olkan Code¡¯s army could achieve the Great Raid on their own, there was no reason to invite angelic intervention.

    ¡°I never intended to harm you. I just wanted to learn what the Holy Grail Knight was scheming.¡±

    Manseungja muttered as if grumbling.

    She gazed at Isaac with calm eyes before speaking.

    ¡°There¡¯s something to correct. You said we started this war. That¡¯s not true. This war was initiated by the Codex of Light.¡±

    Isaac wondered if the Dawn Army of Ciero had indeed crossed the Sahar ins and caused amotion. But what Manseungja said next was unexpected.

    ¡°Lighthouse keeper censored and erased some crucial knowledge. Extremely important knowledge.¡±

    Before Isaac could fully understand those words, Manseungja began to exude an explosive burst of authority and grandeur that she had kept hidden until now.

    ¡°Olkan has taken this as a deration of war against us.¡±

    Having be the messenger of divine words, even the normally reasonable Manseungja could no longer maintain her humble and gentle demeanor.

    Under the oppressive celestial authority, Isaac barely managed to remain standing.

    The entity before him was undoubtedly An.

    However, behind him loomed a figure, indistinct and shimmering like a mirage,posed of a haphazard jumble of various creatures: the neck of a horse, the head of an ox, the ws of a chicken, the wings of a locust, the legs of a flea, the feathers of an eagle, the skin of moss, the mane of a lion, the tail of a snake, the eyes of a bee, vines for veins, hair adorned with flowers, and limbs extended like tree branches. It was an amalgamation of all living things, continuously consuming and birthing one another, changing its form incessantly, rendering it impossible to see clearly.

    [Until the Olkan Code discovers what hidden knowledge was erased, the plundering will not cease, and it will be proimed once again that no knowledge can be hidden or controlled!]

    The voice of Manseungja echoed with the voice of the world¡¯s myriad beings.

    [All knowledge must be liberated! All wisdom must dream solely for freedom! All censorship and oppression should be used only against those who attempt censorship and oppression! This is the will of Olkan!]

    Isaac braced himself against the overwhelming pressure, struggling to remain upright. He had endured the aura of angels countless times before, but it never became something he could get used to.

    Isaac asked the Manseungja, now the roaring herald.

    ¡°What knowledge was erased?¡±

    Without knowing what knowledge had been erased, one couldn¡¯t even have such an objective. It was akin to having a stolen item but not knowing what it was.

    However, given their clear sense of absence, they would know what had been erased.

    Even Isaac couldn¡¯t bring the entire underground of the Lichtheim Censorship Bureau.

    Fortunately, Manseungja knew what had been erased.

    [The name of the Nameless Chaos.]

    Isaac¡¯s expression hardened.

    [The Olkan Code will not cease its plunder until that name is rediscovered.]

 Chapter 266:

    Chapter 266:

    The first thing that Isaac thought was, ¡®Is the Olkan Code a bit slow on the uptake?¡¯

    The reason why the ¡°Nameless Chaos¡± had no name was that it had killed all those who knew its name, leading its faith to ruin.

    The attack of the Codex of Light was closer to s*****e than anything else. And knowing what happened to those who knew that name wasn¡¯t particrly beneficial.

    ¡°Pardon me, Archangel.¡±

    Isaac spoke carefully, hoping not to sound contentious.

    ¡°All those who knew that name are dead. Even if we search the entire Empire, it¡¯s doubtful we¡¯d find anyone, and even if we did, would it be wise to inform the Olkan Code of that name?¡±

    [Don¡¯t speak foolishness, Holy Grail Knight.]

    The Archangel scoffed as she spoke.

    [The Lighthouse keeper wouldn¡¯t have recklessly erased such valuable knowledge. Would you, of all people, simply erase a name capable of killing someone just by knowing it, and forget its existence?]¡®Why is she treating someone¡¯s name as a murder weapon? Ridiculous.¡¯

    Isaac grumbled inwardly, though he had to admit that even he would have used it that way a few times.

    [And concerning the handling of knowledge, that¡¯s not for you to know. Olkan has said that no information or knowledge should be imprisoned by anyone, even if it¡¯s knowledge that could summon a deadly future.]

    Isaac found it hard to respect this aggressive copyright pirate who didn¡¯t understand what copyright was. However, that same pirate might soon march upon them with an army of ten million.

    No matter how hard Isaac rolled and struggled, he couldn¡¯t kill ten million.

    Unless he was buried under their corpses.

    ¡®And in this situation, it doesn¡¯t seem like the Empire or the Church will help either.¡¯

    Isaac¡¯s mind went cold.

    Fine. If they wouldn¡¯t help, he would just have to find a way to survive on his own.

    Isaac had no particr patriotism or faith. He was prepared to sell out both his country and his gods if it meant protecting his people.

    ¡°Very well.¡±

    Isaac said, looking the Archangel straight in the eyes.

    ¡°I will personally go to Lichtheim and retrieve the name of the Nameless Chaos. Please dy the Great Raid until then.¡±

    The Archangel looked down at Isaac, seemingly trying to gauge his intentions.

    Eventually, she realized that Isaac was sincere and leaned closer.

    [You know what you¡¯re saying, right?]

    He knew. He might turn the Codex of Light into an enemy.

    But considering that he was the only one standing against the Olkan Code now, the Codex of Light wasn¡¯t even his ally in the first ce.

    Even if they were helping him, he¡¯d be crushed by the orcs before they arrived.

    Even if he failed, Isaac would have done his part by buying time against the ten million troops.

    ¡°I¡¯ll see you as soon as possible.¡±

    [Fine. But I¡¯ll take Seor as coteral.]

    It was expected from the start.

    The Olkan Code also likely needed time to recover from this pyrrhic victory. Their army was utterly defeated, and they had only managed to upy the city through a tenuous negotiation initiated by the angel, which would inevitably break their morale.

    Thus, an alliance was formed between the Holy Grail Knight and the Archangel.

    ***

    ¡®Damn Emperor, not sending even a single soldier? He acted like he treasured me so much?¡¯

    Isaac grumbled inwardly as he returned to Seor.

    He had no expectations from the Pope, but he had honestly expected something from the Emperor. Every rtionship needed to be give-and-take.

    If the Emperor had shown his sincerity by sending the Imperial Army to stop the Olkan Code, Isaac would have done his part to preserve the Empire, even if it meantmitting insane acts. After all, if the Emperor helped protect his estate, it was only right for Isaac to help protect the Empire.

    But no one came.

    Only a handful of soldiers Isaac had gathered through personal connections.

    When Isaac, boiling with anger, returned to Seor, he was met with some startling news.

    ¡°The Churchmanded the continuation of the Dawn Army, and the Imperial Army has set out to defend the holy city of Lichtheim?¡±

    ¡°Yes. A messenger from Duke Lyon brought a letter.¡±

    The messenger carrying Church Lyon¡¯s letter red at Gebel with some dissatisfaction before handing Isaac the already opened letter.

    He seemed keen to emphasize that Gebel had read the letter before Isaac. However, Isaac had already delegated full authority to Gebel to do whatever was necessary to defend Seor.

    Isaac had no intention of getting angry at Gebel for reading the letter first.

    On the contrary, he thought it would be advantageous to quickly discuss its contents thanks to Gebel¡¯s earlier reading.

    Isaac sighed deeply, thanked the messenger who had traveled a long distance, and sent him back with appropriatepensation. Then, he surveyed the square filled with corpses, blood, and charred remains. It was impossible to know how many years it would take for Seor to recover its former appearance.

    The Olkan Code had spilled much blood, but the Empire had lost the great city of Seor. It was impossible to gauge how many would starve and lose their livelihoods due to this. Without Isaac, the damage would have been exponentially worse, but in the end, it was a victory filled only with wounds for both sides.

    And now they were setting out to defend the holy city?

    Isaac pondered the contents of Duke Lyon¡¯s letter.

    ¡®Thank you for your prompt report. We are closely monitoring the movements of the Olkan Code. We nned to send reinforcements as soon as possible, but the Pope issued amand for the continuation of the Dawn Army, forcing us to revise our strategy. His Majesty the Emperor perceives the Olkan Code¡¯s invasion as severe and has moved to defend the holy city. Once we¡¯re confident that the Empire¡¯s rear is secure, we will send reinforcements immediately.¡¯

    ¡°What do you think?¡±

    ¡°Although it¡¯s a letter from Duke Lyon, we should see it as representing the Emperor¡¯s will. The Emperor is no fool. He¡¯s a wise man. He would have immediately recognized the Olkan Code¡¯s invasion as the Great Raid. With the nation stirred by the Dawn Army, other countries would also seize the opportunity.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right. But sending the Imperial Army to protect Lichtheim at this point is¡­ uncharacteristic of the Emperor.¡±

    They needed to read the subtext hidden between the lines.

    The Emperor wasn¡¯t one to show deference to the Order. Sending the Imperial Army to the rear to protect the Pope while the Empire was under attack?

    It didn¡¯t make sense.

    ¡°If the Emperor is wise, he would have considered dispatching the Imperial Army to Seor. However, it seems there was a disagreement with the Church.¡±

    Isaac imagined what kind of conversation might have transpired.

    ¡®The Church: So what if the Olkan Code attacks? Once we upy the Holy Land, the Millennium Kingdom will arrive! When the Millennium Kingdomes, it won¡¯t matter how much the worldly Empire gets piged because eternal rewards and the gates of heaven will open. At that time, we¡¯ll throw those barbarians into the fire and judge them!¡¯

    ¡®The Emperor: What the hell is this Millennium Kingdom, you damned fanatics! If the Empire falls, then our supply lines and resources will be cut off. Do you really think you can upy the Holy Land? Do you think the morale of the soldiers will hold? If the Empire is left defenseless, Ulsten and Lichtheim will both be overrun!¡¯

    No matter how much the Emperor argued, the Church likely threw a tantrum, mumbling about the Dawn Army and the Holy Land.

    It wasn¡¯t that Isaac harbored any resentment against the Codex of Light that led him to interpret it this way. It was genuinely how the Order was behaving.

    However, from a gamer¡¯s perspective, he could understand the Church¡¯s stance.

    ¡®¡­If I were the Pope, I might be ying like the Church is now.¡¯

    After all, the victory conditions were to upy the Holy Land and proim the advent of the Millennium Kingdom. Whether the Empire crumbled or not was of no concern to Isaac. The faith that met the victory conditions monopolized everything anyway.

    From that point of view, the Emperor, who clung to worldly matters, might indeed appear pathetic.

    But both the Emperor, Isaac, and even the Pope were all people who lived with their feet nted on the ground. They were not beings who could act like gamers, looking down from the heavens.

    If there were beings capable of doing that¡­

    Isaac let out a long sigh as he looked up at the sky.

    ¡®The angels must have instructed them to ignore the Olkan Code.¡¯

    ¡°The Emperor must be furious with the Church¡¯s directive. The Church, taking away troops and resources without even defending his Empire, wouldn¡¯t sit well with him,¡± said Gebel.

    Isaac agreed with him.

    Nevertheless, the Emperor decided to ¡®defend the holy city against external invasions¡¯ in line with the Order¡¯s decision. Isaac thought about what was happening in Lichtheim.

    The uing cardinal election.

    There was likely an election underway in the holy city to fill the vacancy of Camille, whom Isaac had killed.

    ***

    Isaac and Gebel moved to a more secluded part of the city wall. Since most of Seor¡¯s walls were reduced to rubble, it felt more like walking on a hill than a wall. Still, they weren¡¯t worried about eavesdroppers.

    After confirming no one else was around, Isaac spoke.

    ¡°It¡¯s not defense, is it?¡±

    ¡°No, it¡¯s an attack.¡±

    With bishops from all over gathered for the cardinal election, the Emperor had dispatched the Imperial Army to Lichtheim under the pretense of protecting this ¡®important event¡¯ from the threat of the Olkan Code¡¯s Great Raid.

    In other words, it was a show of force from the Emperor to elect the ¡®right¡¯ cardinal.

    The term ¡®protection¡¯ was chosen for the letter in case it fell into the wrong hands.

    The defense of the holy city was a kind of attempted religious coup d¡¯¨¦tat.

    With the Empire teetering on the brink of destruction, the Emperor could not help but feel more tempted to make a ¡®nationwide decision.¡¯

    ¡°But the Pope is still the Pope. Considering his authority and divine retribution, no matter how loyal the Imperial Army is, it seems unlikely they would dare to draw swords against the Papacy.¡±

    Loyalty and faith are separate things.

    While they sometimes ovep, loyalty is the goal of life, whereas faith is the root, foundation, and philosophy of life. A person who has the courage to deny their foundation is extraordinary.

    ¡°Instead of attacking recklessly, they¡¯ll opt for a show of force, hoping the priests will ¡®rece¡¯ the Pope.¡±

    ¡°But the Church isn¡¯t ipetent. They won¡¯t just take it lying down.¡±

    Gebel spoke worriedly.

    Like any organization, the Church had good and bad,petent and ipetent members. The Pope wasn¡¯t chosen just because he was a nice guy. If he were to summon an angel to emunicate the Emperor, people would immediately turn away from the Emperor.

    Even the Emperor was wary of challenging him too carelessly.

    The real question was, ¡®Will the angels support the Pope?¡¯

    Isaac found it hard to be certain.

    The Emperor was a saint.

    He was proof of God¡¯s miracle bestowed upon humanity.

    Inparison, the Pope was merely an ordinary human being chosen by the murmurs of priests. While angels did not object to that representative, it would be different if a fair trial were requested.

    ¡®If, for some reason, there¡¯s a divide among the angels, or they¡¯ve received some new agreement¡­¡¯

    If the Emperor¡¯s sainthood was genuinely derived from God, then this action might be due to a divine revtion. In that case, summoning an angel would be the Pope digging his own grave. The very fact that the Emperor hade this far might indicate that he had been acknowledged by the angels.

    ¡®In the end, is this something that must be resolved with earthly power alone?¡¯

    But that would mean a battle between the Knights of the Holy Grail and the Imperial Army.

    With the Dawn Army at their doorstep and the Olkan Code attacking from the outside.

    Unless one side backed down, they would all be headed toward ruin. If it went to the end¡­

    The only rational actor in the situation would be the Emperor.

    ¡°I must go to Lichtheim.¡±

    When Isaac dered this, Gebel looked shocked.

    ¡°To Lichtheim now? It could soon be a battlefield. And not just any battlefield. It might turn into a war zone filled with angels and miracles.¡±

    ¡°I had business in Lichtheim anyway. Mr. Gebel, please gather the people and soldiers of Seor with Commander Rottenhammer and return to the Issacrea estate. We¡¯ve negotiated with the Olkan Code, so they won¡¯t be attacking for a while.¡±

    Isaac looked around Seor. The forces defending Seor had focused on driving away the orcs rather than killing them all. Their numbers and training levels were too high to push too hard without risking a counterattack.

    If they regrouped andunched another organized attack, they would have no choice but to yield. There was also the promise he had made with the Archangel.

    ¡°I will try to persuade either the Emperor or the Pope to organize reinforcements. That¡¯s why we bought time. For defense, Issacrea, with its rugged terrain, would be better than Seor.¡±

    Meanwhile, Isaac had another thought.

    ¡®If Lichtheim does turn into a battlefield¡­ it might make sneaking into the Censorship Bureau much easier.¡¯

    _____________

    Rate us on <em><strong>Novel Updates</strong></em>, so this novel can reach many readers like you, and also it will motivate me to trante more chapters. (For every new rating I will release one new chapter.)

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter.

    If you want to read more than 20 advance chapters or support me, you can do it at /Akaza156

 Chapter 267:

    Chapter 267:

    At the time when Isaac decided to secretly head to Lichtheim, the situation was unfolding far more extremely than he had anticipated.

    ¡°The Emperor Waltzemer is hereby emunicated.¡±

    The atmosphere in the Holy See of Lichtheim, also known as the ¡®Holy Council,¡¯ froze the moment the Pope of the Codex of Light, Horma Kmuel¡ªhe who bore the eyes of light and was known as the Saint of Dawn¡ªsolemnly dered the sentence.

    Originally, the Holy Council chamber contained a massive triangr table with seats for countless bishops, cardinals, and the Pope. However, only four people upied the chamber now: the Pope, two cardinals, and the scribe responsible for recording the proceedings.

    With no one responding, Horma turned to look at the scribe who was taking notes. But before the scribe could jot down the fact into the record, Cardinal Juan urgently spoke.

    ¡°Your Holiness, please forgive me, but I must remind you that the Emperor Waltzemer is an indispensable talent for the grand endeavor of the Millennium Kingdom.¡±

    ¡°And are you suggesting we should just stand by and watch the Emperor manipte the holy office of the Cardinal to his liking?¡±

    Horma pointed with heavy eyes to the empty seat at the table.

    The Holy Council, which decided the most critical matters of the Church, should never be vacant. Camille should have upied that seat, but after bing a monster, even mentioning his name was forbidden.And now, the most likely candidate to upy that seat was Bishop Katyn, the Emperor¡¯s staunch supporter and nominee.

    Juan didn¡¯t particrly like Katyn any more than the Pope did.

    That stubborn old woman who couldn¡¯t be swayed by money always looked at Juan with disgust. Butpared to the nonsense that Pope Horma was spouting, Juan felt he could tolerate Katyn.

    ¡°Is there any rule that Bishop Katyn, the Emperor¡¯s nominee, must upy that seat, Your Holiness? Our rmended candidate is also an excellent person. A priest who is more than worthy of this position.¡±

    Another cardinal, Rohen Otter, spoke calmly. Unlike Juan, Rohen was a dignified priest with a thin frame and schrly demeanor. Yet, Horma red at him with a disdainful look, not much different from the one he directed at Juan.

    ¡°Do you take me for a fool, Cardinal Rohen? The candidate you¡¯re rmending iscking in every aspectpared to Bishop Katyn, except for being anotherckey of the Watcher¡¯s Council. In what aspect do you think this candidatepares to Bishop Katyn¡¯s character, learning, faith, respect, and virtues to rmend such a person?¡±

    The Pope had been using the Watcher¡¯s Council, including the wandering priest Horhel, as his right-hand tool. It was because they were useful. However, he was still uneasy about them behaving like a small order within the Church.

    Rohen didn¡¯t say that if Bishop Katyn were so respected, she should simply be appointed as a cardinal. It would solve nothing, as Bishop Katyn also disliked the Watcher¡¯s Council.

    Instead of getting angry at the Pope¡¯s childish tantrum, he sighed.

    ¡°Then is it wise to emunicate the Emperor, who is marching with a hundred thousand Imperial troops? If he is emunicated, the Emperor will not be bound by faith and will march with his soldiers.¡±

    ¡°We have the Holy Grail Knights! Just kill them all!¡±

    Rohen muttered as he looked at Horma.

    ¡°Are you a child?¡±

    Juan hurriedly spoke in shock.

    ¡°Your inner thoughts slipped out, Cardinal Rohen.¡±

    ¡°I apologize for my mistake, Cardinal Juan. I¡¯m sorry for my disrespectful words, Your Holiness. Let me rephrase. Are you a child, Your Holiness? Most of the Holy Grail Knights are currently stationed at the border of the ck Empire due to the Dawn Army. If we sh with the Imperial Army now, it would mean giving up on the Dawn Army.¡±

    Juan spoke cautiously while observing Pope Horma¡¯s twisted expression.

    ¡°That¡¯s correct, Your Holiness. Although no mere Emperor can stand against the authority of Heaven, even if we burn the Emperor with brilliant light, nothing will remain but ashes. Other nobles might fear they will meet the same fate and renounce their faith.¡±

    Horma knew this.

    It was merely an expression of his anger. However, he was irritated by the cardinals¡¯ constant rebuttals, knowing this.

    Rohen and the Watcher¡¯s Council were elites who kept their ownpany even within the Order, and Juan was an opportunist suspected of colluding with the Emperor. If the bnce of power shifted toward the Emperor, Juan would be the first to switch sides.

    Then Juan cautiously spoke.

    ¡°Perhaps appealing to the Lighthouse Keeper for a divine trial would be¡­¡±

    ¡°That won¡¯t do.¡±

    The authority of the angels carried absolute decision-making power.

    The reason the Church wielded such overwhelming power was not only because they relied on the angels¡¯ authority but also because the angels had rarely interfered in the Church¡¯s affairs since the Treaty of Lichtheim.

    Horma couldn¡¯t involve an angel in such a critical matter. One word from the Lighthouse Keeper would end everything without room for reversal. Frankly, he was not confident he would win in a ¡®fair trial.¡¯

    The cardinals also sensed the Pope¡¯s true feelings but didn¡¯t bother pointing them out.

    Rohen, detecting Horma¡¯s anger and feeling that they had sufficiently admonished him, offered some helpful advice.

    ¡°In that case, rather than making it irreparable by emunicating the Emperor, let us reprimand him using someone still under our control.¡±

    ¡°Someone under our control?¡±

    ¡°The Emperor is trying to make Bishop Katyn a cardinal, isn¡¯t he? We can strip Bishop Katyn of her candidacy. Demote her to a regr priest and order her to join the Dawn Army. It might be a difficult journey for a seventy-year-old, but it will be a glorious one.¡±

    ***

    ¡°Stripping Bishop Katyn of her position and demoting her to a regr priest?¡±

    Emperor Waltzemer¡¯s eyes widened as he read the papal decree. The Holy Grail Knight messenger tried to appear calm, but as the mes from the Emperor¡¯s horns grew hot enough to shake the tent¡¯s canopy, the messenger staggered backward.

    ¡°On top of that, ordering her to join the Dawn Army immediately? Bishop Katyn has already served as a veteran in the Dawn Army twice! Many among the bishops call her their mentor! Is this how the Church treats a saint?¡±

    ¡°Participation in the Dawn Army is a glorious trial and reward in itself¡­¡±

    ¡°Silence!¡±

    Waltzemer swung his fist, attempting to strike the messenger. But he barely stopped, thanks to Dietrich¡¯s urgent grip. The Holy Grail Knight stood straight, drenched in sweat, waiting to hear the Emperor¡¯s answer.

    Dietrich gestured to the knight.

    ¡°We have received the decree. You may leave.¡±

    ¡°I must deliver His Majesty¡¯s response to His Holiness¡­¡±

    ¡°Tell him we heard.¡±

    Though insufficient as an answer, the messenger left quietly, knowing one more word might leave him without a mouth to deliver the message to the Pope.

    There was plenty to report just from the Emperor¡¯s demeanor.

    Waltzemer mmed his fist down on the table he almost used to strike the messenger. The table shattered into pieces, scattering in all directions.

    ¡°You handled that well, Your Majesty.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    Naturally, Dietrich didn¡¯t have the strength to restrain Waltzemer¡¯s might. The power that stopped the Emperor felt weaker than holding a puppy by the scruff of its neck.

    The force that stopped Waltzemer¡¯s fist was his own self-control.

    ¡°Where is Bishop Katyn?¡± he asked.

    ¡°She¡¯s still in her tent. A separate messenger visited her as well.¡±

    She would have received a different kind of ¡°special¡± advicepared to what the Emperor had been given. Instructions not to act rashly. But the fact that messengers had been sent not only to Bishop Katyn but also to the Emperor was itself a warning message.

    Under normal circumstances, such personnel matters within the Order wouldn¡¯t require reporting to the Emperor.

    The Pope had disgraced Katyn¡¯s lifelong achievements as a means to rein in the Emperor.

    ¡°Ha.¡±

    The Emperor stepped out of the tent, kicking the p open with force.

    The bright sunlight shone upon the white city, the Holy City of Lichtheim, sprawled before him.

    The Imperial Army was arrayed in formation in front of it, ostensibly ¡®defending¡¯ the city. The soldiers still believed they were protecting the Holy City from an orc invasion.

    Lichtheim was perched on a wide in, rising abruptly without any nearby mountains. The city was shaped like a pyramid, ascending in height towards the center. This was the very ce where Luadin the Lighthouse Keeper had first spread his teachings and missionary work after leaving the Holy Land and arriving on the continent, which was then teeming with ancient gods and barbarians. Countless people hade seeking his teachings, leading to the city¡¯s current state.

    Even after Luadin had died and be an Archangel, his corpse continued to burn at the center of Lichtheim. This eternal me was now known as the ¡°Sacred Fire,¡± flickering atop the tower at the city¡¯s zenith.

    Over time, that tower had risen higher and higher, symbolizing the authority of the Codex of Light. It had now be a tower so tall that it was almost impossible to look up at it without straining. Yet, the brightest and hottest part was only at the very top; everything beneath was shrouded in darkness, earning the derogatory nickname ¡°blind man beneath themp.¡±

    By the Emperor¡¯s side, Duke Lyon approached.

    ¡°How do you see this, Dietrich, Delia?¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t this what we expected?¡±

    Delia Lyon folded her arms, remarking. She had anticipated that the Pope would not step down easily. In fact, this was one of the more defensive moves they had expected.

    ¡°I¡¯m surprised he didn¡¯t emunicate me.¡±

    ¡°That would risk invoking a divine trial¡­ It means the Pope is afraid too.¡±

    The three of them exchanged knowing smiles.

    This confirmed that the Pope dared not summon the angels haphazardly. There was no guarantee the angels would side with them. The Emperor¡¯s sainthood had disrupted their certainty. Even the Watcher¡¯s Council seemed uncertain.

    The Emperor gazed at Lichtheim and spoke.

    ¡°The time hase.¡±

    ***

    Since the Treaty of Lichtheim, heaven and earth had been divided. But they had not been separated enough.

    Greedy and ipetent priests still falsely imed divine authority, trying to interfere and shaking the Empire with their secret doctrines. While countless nations and monarchies fought tooth and nail for a handful of power on this earth, the Codex of Light sat idly above, merely watching them.

    But now, things were different.

    ¡°The priests are too ipetent to uphold the will of the Codex of Light. While the angels mercifully shielded them from their ipetence, the Church has rotted from within. Now is the time to cut away the decayed parts.¡±

    Although it was happening more suddenly than nned, the Emperor felt relieved after speaking those words.

    Recing the Pope before a war rather than during could minimize chaos. The unexpected opportunity had arisen thanks to the Holy Grail Knight¡¯s actions and the sudden death of Cardinal Camille.

    The Church was not as firmly in control as it believed.

    Many Holy Grail Knights and priests who worshipped the Codex of Light felt no need to remain loyal to a corrupt upper echelon of the Order. In demoting the well-respected Bishop Katyn to a mere priest, the Holy Council hadmitted a significant blunder. Discontent was sure to erupt.

    This opportunity could not be missed.

    As the Emperor spoke, his close aides gathered around him. He slowly looked at each of them and dered:

    ¡°From now on, we will ¡®escort¡¯ Bishop Katyn to the Holy Council. The Imperial Army must do everything in its power to ensure that the election is fair and safe.¡±

    This was the ¡®official¡¯ directive of the Imperial Army.

    But what he said next was meant only for his closest confidants.

    ¡°Immediately following the cardinal election, we will proceed with the deposition of the corrupt Horma Kmuel. He is neither our Pope nor a worthy representative to illuminate the glory of the Codex of Light. We will remove the civilian Horma Kmuel from the Holy Council and expedite the process of electing a new Pope from the Church.¡±

    Despite the shocking nature of the Emperor¡¯s deration, the reaction was theplete opposite of what had happened in the Holy Council.

    All of Waltzemer¡¯s confidants thumped their chests in affirmation.

    Duke Dietrich Brant, Chairman of the Northern Alliance, Duke Delia Lyon, Representative of the House of Nobles, Commander of the Knights of Feltren, and Commander Ethelheart of the Imperial Guard all shared determined nces with Emperor Waltzemer.

    In their eyes burned a fervent desire for a long-awaited moment.

    Waltzemer rose from his seat, mes zing from his horns.

    ¡°Let us go. It is time to bring the blind men hidden beneath themp into the light.¡±

    The Emperor took up his spear, preparing to move. His confidants swiftly followed suit.

    The Emperor paused momentarily, gazing towards the eastern sky as he thought of the one person who had helped bring them to this point.

    Without him, he would never have thought to draw in the Kingdom of Elil and the World¡¯s Forge.

    Bishop Juan would never have be a cardinal, Cardinal Camille wouldn¡¯t have died suddenly, and the secrets that undermined the Church¡¯s authority wouldn¡¯t have been discovered. Most importantly, the Emperor was able to envision reaching a level of aplishment that he previously thought unattainable.

    He showed that even the limits of what humanity could achieve were not beyond challenge.

    Heaven for the gods, earth for humanity.

    ¡®Yet here I am, unable to send even a single soldier to aid the Holy Grail Knight struggling in the east.¡¯

    The Empire¡¯s eastern regions might already be ravaged, but all the Emperor could do was hope Isaac remained unharmed. If he moved to help Isaac now, it would only continue to hold them back.

    The Emperor had to turn a blind eye to the small things.

    Only when he had the Pope in his grasp could the Empire finally be unified in strength.

    And that strength was something only he could wield.

    _____________

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 Chapter 268:

    Chapter 268:

    ¡°Why are you blocking the road?¡±

    ¡°Do I look like an orc? I¡¯m delivering supplies to the Holy City, so why won¡¯t you let me through?¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s the problem here? Sir Soldier, please tell me what¡¯s going on, and maybe I can show some appreciation. Just a little bit of what you know¡­¡±

    In a vige near the Holy City of Lichtheim, chaos reigned. Though small, this vige served as a checkpoint for merchants, priests, and pilgrims passing through. But today, an unprecedented uproar had broken out because the road, which had been open as usual yesterday, was suddenly blocked by the Imperial Army.

    The Imperial Army had posted an announcement iming they were ¡°defending the Holy City against an invasion by the Olkan Code from the east.¡± However, people couldn¡¯t understand why the Holy City¡¯s gates were being shut due to something happening so far away in the east.

    Surely those barbarians would be crushed in a single blow by thebined might of the ¡®civilized¡¯ Imperial Army and the Codex of Light?

    People began whispering in secret that something else was going on in Lichtheim.

    ¡°Hey, I told you to stop! You can¡¯t go in!¡±

    An officer of the Imperial Army shouted, shaking off the merchant¡¯s hand that had tried to slip him a coin. While it was hard for the officer to refuse a gold coin, he really had nothing to tell. If the merchant had offered two coins, the officer might have invented a story to satisfy him, but it seemed the merchant believed the officer was incorruptible and didn¡¯t offer again.Yet, those being stopped could not give up.

    Some people attempted to sell perishable goods on the spot, hoping to offload them before they spoiled since they couldn¡¯t deliver to Lichtheim. Meanwhile, wandering monks, whose pilgrimage was halted, protested, their faces flushed with anger. It was only when the officer drew his sword that the crowd reluctantly retreated.

    ¡°Silence and step back! His Majesty the Emperor is aware of the serious threat to the Holy City and has led the army himself! Anyone attempting to enter Lichtheim will be considered spies of the Red Chalice!¡±

    When the soldiers raised their spears menacingly, the crowd hesitated and scattered. Yet the soldiers themselves didn¡¯t look particrly happy. Although they hade to defend the Holy City, it felt more like a siege.

    While it was a matter for their superiors to decide, they worried they might bemitting an act deserving divine punishment.

    ***

    Isaac observed the situation unfold.

    ¡®It¡¯s the same here.¡¯

    He had traveled swiftly from Seor to the vicinity of Lichtheim on the back of Nel. Thanks to several days and nights of non-stop travel, they had arrived quickly, but as they drew nearer to Lichtheim, Nel struggled to keep flying.

    The immense holy power surrounding Lichtheim, simr to the aura around Ulsten, was derived fromyers uponyers of myth and legend. As a creature partly of Elil¡¯s angelic descent, Nel found it difficult to approach. In the end, Isaac had to leave Nel in a nearby forest and continue alone.

    But every vige he approached was already blocked by the Imperial Army. He considered summoning a Phantom Steed, but such a malevolent creature would surely melt if summoned near the Holy City.

    ¡®At this point, the Imperial Army has practicallyid siege to Lichtheim. The best oue would be if Waltzemer¡¯s show of force causes the Order to surrender on its own¡­¡¯

    But if it goes further, the Empire would destroy itself.

    Not only the Dawn Army, but even the Olkan Code could crush them. Isaac wondered about the Emperor¡¯s ultimate goal with such a risky move.

    At that moment, he overheard people murmuring as they passed by.

    ¡°Do you think His Majesty ns to take the papacy for himself?¡±

    ¡°Shh, you¡¯ll get us struck by lightning for saying that. His Majesty is devout; he wouldn¡¯t do such a thing.¡±

    ¡°Well, even so, the city¡¯s surrounded like this¡­¡±

    ¡°Hmm, that¡¯s true. His Majesty is a saint, after all. He might be better than that greedy, bald Pope. He¡¯d probably lead the Dawn Army better too.¡±

    At least, it seemed that the public opinion of the Emperor was favorable. Most dissatisfaction was directed toward the Order because of the Dawn Army issue.

    ¡®Emperor Waltzemer is indeed an extraordinary figure.¡¯

    Compared to him, the Pope was just someone anyone could be once elected. To put it bluntly, it was a poprity contest among the priests. Since the angels only cared about obedience to theirmands and didn¡¯t meddle in the Order¡¯s politics, the angels might not oppose the Emperor bing the Pope himself.

    In fact, considering the grand goal of upying the Holy Land, a Pope-Emperor might be more fitting than a mere Pope.

    It¡¯s not a strange concept.

    As with Edelred and Sahn Khan, the supreme leaders in Elil, the Olkan Code, and the Immortal Order are considered divine proxies. In contrast, the Empire is unique in having separated heavenly and earthly powers.

    Isaac found the situation extremely perplexing.

    This was a scenario that didn¡¯t exist in the game.

    Of course, the Emperor was a remarkable human with many achievements, but attacking the Pope and controlling the papacy? He had never seen anything like this.

    ¡®¡­Did my actions inspire his ambitions? He was always ambitious, but still.¡¯

    What would happen if the Emperor¡¯s coup seeded and he became Pope-Emperor?

    It would be a joyous oue for Isaac personally, but would it be purely joyful? Having never experienced such a scenario, even after eight victories in the game, he couldn¡¯t predict the oue.

    ¡®I¡¯ll think more about it when I reach the Holy City. First, I need to understand what the Emperor is nning.¡¯

    As Isaac pondered how to bypass the soldiers, he soon realized he didn¡¯t need to worry.

    He approached the soldiers standing in the middle of the road.

    The officer noticed another person approaching and frowned, but then realized this man¡¯s appearance was unusual.

    ¡°I am Isaac Issacrea. I am on my way in response to His Majesty the Emperor¡¯s summons.¡±

    ¡°A, A, Are you Isaac Issacrea? The Holy Grail Knight? Are you the Holy Grail Knight? B-But, Duke Lyon ordered that no one be allowed through¡­¡±

    ¡°Is Duke Lyon¡¯smand above His Majesty¡¯s?¡±

    Isaac¡¯s authority, demeanor, and persuasive power as a Nephilim weighed down on the officer. If he used the Eyes of Chaos here, the officer might wet himself, but Isaac didn¡¯t want to go that far. The officer felt like he might faint but struggled to respond.

    ¡°C-Can you provide some identification¡­?¡±

    ¡°Identification?¡±

    Isaac responded, realizing the absurdity of the request given the context. With his reputation preceding him and his identity obvious to anyone familiar with current affairs, he recognized that no typical credentials could prove his identity better than his presence and the aura he projected as a Nephilim and a Holy Grail Knight.

    Isaac pulled out two swords, one in each hand, from their sheaths just slightly.

    ¡°One is the Luadin Key, and the other is the Holy Sword Kaldwin. Surely these are proof enough of my identity.¡±

    Thanks to the Emperor¡¯s enthusiastic promotion of Isaac¡¯s achievements, the officer knew what Kaldwin was.

    The swords Isaac showed held two meanings for the officer.

    First, they were literal proof of Isaac¡¯s identity.

    Secondly, it implied that if the officer continued to deny Isaac entry, he might see those swords drawn¡ªthe same ones that slew an angel. An extraordinary experience, perhaps, but the officer made a rational decision.

    The Holy Grail Knight was also known to be the son-inw of Duke Brant, an influential imperial aide, and was close friends with Marquis Lyon. Simultaneously, he was a knight of the Order, so the officer concluded that there was no issue in letting him through.

    ¡°Proceed.¡±

    ¡°Oh, and I¡¯ll need a horse.¡±

    ¡°I¡­ I¡¯ll lend you one.¡±

    The Imperial officer wondered why the famous Holy Grail Knight was here without a horse or attendants, but he wasn¡¯t in a position to question him. His courage had been entirely spent when he dared to ask Isaac for identification.

    Isaac mounted the horse the officer provided and immediately rode toward the Holy City.

    ***

    Thump, thump, thump, halt! Thump, thump, thump, halt!

    Tens of thousands of troops surrounded and lined up around Lichtheim. In front of the main gate, each legion took turns marching in formation. Ten thousand soldiers moved as one, stamping their feet, pivoting at the general¡¯smand, and then marching again. As they reached the gates of Lichtheim, they shouted in unison.

    ¡°Waaaaaah!!¡±

    The roar of ten thousand voices could be heard across the entire city of Lichtheim. Once theypleted their shout, the legion returned to its original position, and a new legion took its ce.

    This was a traditional disy of military might. It was a demonstration showing the sheer number of troops they could mobilize, their excellent equipment, and the considerable training they had undergone.

    It was a performance to showcase the Emperor¡¯s power and authority.

    The legions brought by the Emperor were among the elite of the Imperial Army. The generals were equipped with unwavering loyalty, leaving no room for betrayal.

    However, the soldiers believed they were engaging in this show of force for apletely different reason. They thought that the evil and corrupt priests of the ¡°Watcher¡¯s Council¡± had taken the Pope hostage and were the cause of the Empire¡¯s decline.

    In this narrative, the Watcher¡¯s Council was depicted as an almost cult-like evil organization.

    They were even med for the monsters appearing in the capital and Rougeberg.

    The Imperial soldiers believed they were a holy army dispatched to rescue the Pope. Or at least, they wanted to believe that.

    Dietrich watched as the fifth legionpleted their shout and returned, rubbing his face with a hand. The gates of the Holy City remained firmly shut, silent as ever.

    ¡°Will this work?¡±

    Such disys of power are effective only when the enemy¡¯s morale is already low, and their training is subpar. Dietrich knew the Emperor wished to avoid bloodshed but wondered if a direct assault might be better.

    The Emperor answered with a smile.

    ¡°It will work.¡±

    Waltzemer was confident.

    ¡°The priests in there are mostly bookworms who¡¯ve never experienced war. They might shout for war from their armchairs, but when wares knocking at their door, they tremble. Rather than ming me, they¡¯ll think, ¡®How did our devout Imperial Armye all the way here? What is the Pope doing?¡¯ It¡¯s easier to me their own side.¡±

    What Waltzemer was aiming for was internal division. Although he had approached the doorstep of the Holy City of Lichtheim, he wanted to avoid spilling the blood of knights and priests. Public bacsh was a concern, as was the fact that the Church still consisted of his subjects.

    Marquis Lyon spoke up, sounding pleased.

    ¡°I can already predict the reaction. ¡®Shouldn¡¯t we summon an angel to punish this heretic? What is the Pope doing? What? Bishop Cattin was demoted to a regr priest? Wasn¡¯t she a cardinal candidate? Then the Emperor¡¯s demands are reasonable, and our Pope¡¯s stupidity caused this mess?¡¯ These people live in filth so deep they don¡¯t even realize the stench from their own behinds.¡±

    ¡°As long as this makes them realize the problem, it¡¯s enough, Lyon.¡±

    The Emperor stroked his horn as he spoke.

    ¡°There will be those with purpose inside. I hope our soldiers¡¯ shouts have bolstered their courage. All I ask is for the cardinal election to be conducted fairly.¡±

    Of course, everyone knew what was toe afterward.

    Juan would be ced as Pope following the election, and after a brief reign, he would abdicate the papacy to the Emperor. Thus, all earthly power would finally rest in human hands.

    Yet Dietrich couldn¡¯t shake off his worries.

    ¡°What if the Pope, cornered as he is, calls an angel and demands a divine trial? He¡¯s the type to choose that over being dragged down.¡±

    Without knowing the angels¡¯ intentions, a divine trial would be nothing short of a gamble.

    ¡°Hah, let him!¡±

    Lyon snorted in derision.

    The Emperor was not worried about the divine trial either.

    ¡°The goal of the Codex of Light is the advent of the Millennium Kingdom. I am confident I can achieve that better than the Pope. The Pope is only hasty. Meanwhile, I¡ªmy horns, my destiny¡ªwere born for conquest and war.¡±

    Waltzemer was confident he would stand proudly even before the angels.

    His fate was set when his entire family burned to death, and he grew those shining horns.

    Waltzemer¡¯s destiny had already begun in that smoke and fire. Now, that destiny was merely reaching its culmination.

    Creeeeak.

    As the seventh legion finished their formation march, the gates of Lichtheim began to open. Inside stood Bishop Juan with a grim expression, along with several Holy Grail Knights and priests.

    A smile spread across the Emperor¡¯s lips.

    _____________

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 Chapter 269:

    Chapter 269:

    Juan opened the door and waited for the Emperor to approach.

    However, the Emperor did not move, merely gazing at him from a distance. It was as if he were silently saying that if Juan had anything to say, he shoulde to him directly.

    Fortunately, Juan did not have to make the sweaty journey over himself, as Delia Lyon rode up on horseback.

    ¡°Do you have any messages to convey to His Majesty?¡±

    She asked with a bright smile. Juan cleared his throat several times, wearing a displeased expression, before speaking.

    ¡°Currently, we are rigorously enhancing security procedures to ensure a ¡®fair election¡¯ within the city. And¡­ His Holiness the Pope has permitted Bishop Katyn to enter the holy capital.¡±

    ¡°I apologize for the inconvenience, Cardinal,¡± Delia said with a grin. ¡°May I ask if we can assign a ¡®small escort force¡¯ to Bishop Katyn? It seems there have been some unfortunate incidents in the holy capital.¡±

    ¡°¡­Arge force would be difficult. But do as you wish, and convey to His Majesty that he should refrain from rash actions.¡±

    ¡°Haha, I shall obey.¡±It was essentially a deration of surrender.

    The mere fact that Juan could open the gates without any hindrance was evidence of that.

    However, the Emperor was not foolish enough to trust this blindly and enter the holy capital. The show of force would continue until the election results were determined.

    Even up until the moment the bishops ced their ballots into the voting box.

    At that moment, Juan added with a touch of reluctance.

    ¡°Um, and let Bishop Katyn know¡­ that I was against her demotion from the priesthood until the very end.¡±

    ¡°Pardon? Ah, haha. Of course. Everyone is well aware of the Cardinal¡¯s devout faith.¡±

    Delia smiled contentedly and nced at the other priests and pdins. None of their expressions looked particrly pleased, but there had to be a sufficient consensus internally for the gate to be opened.

    There were many within the Order who sensed the numerous problems.

    And among them, the most extreme individuals had already headed for the Holy See.

    ¡°Who has apprehended the disruptor hindering the election?¡± Juan¡¯s lips quivered slightly.

    ¡°The Watcher¡¯s Council.¡±

    ***

    ¡°Rohen, you bastard!¡±

    Crash! An explosion of me erupted in the grand meeting room of the papal pce, a sacred space known as the Holy See. The tremendous ze filled the corridor, but when Cardinal Rohen recited a short prayer, it dispersed into smoke.

    ¡°You dare betray me! Do you think the Emperor will leave you alone once he seizes power?¡±

    Rohen did not bother to reply.

    The Watcher¡¯s Council was indifferent to who became the Pope, as long as they could manipte the figurehead.

    The current Pope, Horma Kmuel, was nothing more than a puppet they had put in ce. Now his usefulness had ended.

    ¡°Calm down, Your Holiness. It is merely a cardinal election.¡±

    ¡°And if the Emperor gains control over the cardinals too, the next target will be the Pope! Then he¡¯ll appoint priests at his whim and turn all his knights into pdins, just like in the Kingdom of Elil! What heresy is this?¡±

    As the Pope ranted, Rohen quietly peeked through the door. In an instant, a sharp whooshing sound split the marble door of the Holy See.

    Rohen realized it wasn¡¯t that he had narrowly avoided it; rather, the other party had shown restraint. He spoke calmly.

    ¡°Captain Dera Heman of the Golden Lion Pdin Order. I admire your dedication to your duties, but now is not the time to protect him. Withdraw your men and help reconvene the Holy See meeting.¡±

    Dera Heman did not respond.

    As the chief guardian of the Holy See of the Codex of Light, he was onlymitted to his duty. Rohen knew of the rumor that Heman had spoken fewer than ten words in his entire life, so he didn¡¯t expect a reply.

    ¡°Your Holiness, think rationally. The priests are deeply dissatisfied. It¡¯s true the Emperor has shown insolence, but he too cannot act too aggressively. Once we resolve this on our own, what can the Emperor possibly do?¡±

    ¡°Are you saying you n to rece me?¡±

    ¡°Surely, you wouldn¡¯t prioritize personal gain over the glory of the Codex of Light?¡±

    ¡°Horhel! Where is Horhel? He won¡¯t stand by idly!¡±

    Rohen found the Pope¡¯s wordsughable.

    Why did the Pope think Horhel was loyal to him? Did he believe it was due to Horma¡¯s admirable character and worthiness of respect?

    No, it was because Horma was apliant puppet, and above all, the Pope.

    ¡°If you think the Watcher¡¯s Council will be divided, you¡¯re gravely mistaken.¡±

    The Pope cursed again and chanted a prayer. As tremendous heat and light began to gather, Rohen quickly recited a prayer to quell the miracle.

    This insane Pope was attempting to blow up the entire tower. Several times, he had nearly triggered such miracles, and Rohen had barely managed to prevent them each time.

    It was fortunate that Rohen, as a member of the Watcher¡¯s Council, had a high resistance to great miracles.

    ¡°If you are truly afraid, then demand a divine judgment, Your Holiness.¡±

    The Pope did not reply.

    ¡°Appeal to celestial authority for justice and morality, and yield all authority, begging for a fair trial. No matter how arrogant the Emperor may be, would he defy themand of the archangel?¡±

    ¡°Shut up!¡±

    The Pope had made simr demands several times before, each time refusing. He had only ever summoned angels when he needed something broken or someone killed, never to request a ¡®fair¡¯ judgment. He had never even considered it, nor did he intend to.

    He could not entrust his fate to the inscrutable embodiment of violent power.

    He considered summoning an angel to incinerate the Emperor, but the moment it refused, his position would be over. The angels were far from fair.

    They only acted in service of the celestial grand n.

    A young and powerful emperor with strong supporters and a clear sense of purpose.

    And an old, fat, morally slightly deficient Pope.

    If one were to ask the archangel who would be a more suitable leader for the Dawn Army, the answer would be as obvious as day. Moreover, the Emperor even had horns, while the Pope had no hair at all.

    Yet Rohen persisted.

    ¡°The only one who can save you is the Lighthouse Keeper.¡±

    Unfortunately, that much was true.

    As Pope, his authority was already at rock bottom. Only an angel could restore his authority, the sole lifeline left to him.

    The Pope pondered how the Order hade to this state. But upon reflection, he realized that from the very beginning, he had merely followed the directives of the Watcher¡¯s Council. Now, that very Council was urging him to die just outside the door, and the thought made his blood boil.

    ¡°You¡¯re the one who should summon the angel! Just like always!¡±

    ¡°Only Your Holiness can dere emunication.¡±

    The Pope felt like crying.

    And soon he realized he had no other options.

    He staggered toward the terrace of the Holy See.

    Below the towering height of the spire, he could see the imperial army surrounding Lichtheim.

    What a mighty army it was, what a glorious army.

    They should have been setting out to reim the Holy Land and crush the vile heretics, not surrounding the Order and persecuting him.

    Horma imagined himself as the unprecedented leader of the Dawn Army, finally seeding in reiming the Holy Land.

    Even now, a million, two million of the Dawn Army were gathering in Cielo, and countless pdin orders were assembling. If they were here, the Emperor would have already been crushed.

    But now all that remained to him were a handful of pdins.

    Those who remained not out of loyalty, but duty.

    Horma Kmuel looked up at the sky and muttered.

    ¡°Please.¡±

    In response to his whisper, it seemed a slender ray of light shone from the sky.

    ¡°May Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.¡±

    Before his prayer even finished, a blinding sh erupted across the sky.

    ***

    Isaac, riding swiftly on horseback, finally caught sight of Lichtheim. The grand majesty of Lichtheim was more magnificent than he had imagined. And around it, like tiny specks,y the imperial army.

    Upon seeing this, Isaac urged his horse on even faster.

    At that moment, an incredible light suddenly exploded above Lichtheim. The storm of light swept through the area in an instant, and Isaac was momentarily blinded. His horse reared wildly and threw him off.

    Isaac staggered to his feet. But he still couldn¡¯t see well. His whole body tingled and shook uncontrobly. It wasn¡¯t from the fall¡¯s impact. An overwhelming force was pressing down on him, even from such a great distance.

    ¡®An angel? Did the Pope actually summon an angel?¡¯

    [The Nameless Chaos is watching you.]

    [The Nameless Chaos advises you to leave this ce.]

    Isaac was sure from the Nameless Chaos¡¯s reaction.

    A powerful angel, the likes of which Isaac had never encountered, had appeared in Lichtheim. And its mere presence posed a serious threat to Isaac¡¯s safety.

    Nevertheless, Isaac continued to approach the direction where the light was pouring down.

    Towards the searing brilliance.

    ***

    The radiance that floated 1 km above Lichtheim was visible to everyone in the area.

    And everyone who looked toward it was momentarily blinded.

    A brilliant light that filled the sky. A painful radiance just to gaze upon. A searing heat that made approaching it unthinkable.

    The only thing people could do was to huddle and cower like charred pieces of meat to escape the light and heat. Yet, even in their scorched retinas, the silhouette that momentarily appeared remained burned into their corneas.

    It was surrounded by six pirs of light, each one shining like a lighthouse. In the center were sixteen wings made of mes, burning fiercely without pping.

    Four of those wings obscured the figure at the center, making it impossible to see what it was.

    That being, the Archangel Lighthouse Keeper of the Codex of Light, etched an unforgettable trauma into the minds of hundreds of thousands of people just by revealing itself on thisnd.

    And the same held true for Emperor Waltzemer.

    When the Lighthouse Keeper first appeared, he resisted, if only for a brief moment. He tried to endure as the radiance scorched his eyes and the heat pressed against his entire body. He wanted to demonstrate that he was indeed a man worthy of being chosen.

    But he couldn¡¯tst long, and like the others, like Dietrich and Brant, the valiant knights, he too bowed down.

    The Lighthouse Keeper silently observed them.

    Creak, creak, creak.

    Then came a sound like clockwork turning. But the Emperor, blinded by the light, could not discern what the noise was. Suspecting that the Pope might be attempting some vile trick to distract the Lighthouse Keeper, the Emperor stood up.

    ¡°Oh, Lighthouse Keeper!¡±

    Waltzemer stripped off his cloak and armor. It felt as if his entire body was being roasted in a desert sun, but merely standing before the Lighthouse Keeper was testament enough to his extraordinary nature.

    ¡°The child who received your divine favor has now be an emperor and stands before you!¡±

    At the Emperor¡¯s promation, his aides, as well as Bishop Juan and the priests listening from afar, were astonished. Their astonishment was justified.

    The Emperor had never revealed this fact to anyone until now.

    Of course, those around him assumed that, since he bore the Holy Form, he must have been blessed by one of the angels. But none had imagined that it was the Lighthouse Keeper.

    If that were the case, then the Pope had effectively summoned the noose to hang himself.

    ¡°I am now ready to fulfill your divine will! Share with me your mes, your light, your wisdom! I shall offer the Empire unto you!¡±

    Creak, creak, creak.

    The sound of clockwork turning echoed again. Although the Emperor still couldn¡¯t see, he sensed a change in the direction of the surrounding heat and light.

    It was the sound of the six surrounding lighthouses turning.

    Finally, a response came from the Lighthouse Keeper.

    However, it was not the answer the Emperor had expected.

    [Waltzemer¡¯s arrogant actions are deemed heretical, and he is emunicated.]

    _____________

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 Chapter 270:

    Chapter 270:

    Neither Waltzemer nor anyone present understood the words of the Lighthouse Keeper.

    Even those surrounding the papal Holy See were perplexed.

    The Pope, crushed under the Lighthouse Keeper¡¯s presence, had yet to demand the Emperor¡¯s emunication. Yet, even before the Pope could make such a request, the Lighthouse Keeper dered the Emperor emunicated, as if it had been awaiting this moment.

    It was as if this moment had been anticipated.

    Just then, through the cascade of light pouring in from outside the terrace, Cardinal Rohen stepped forward. He pushed past Dera Heman, the Pdin Order¡¯smander, who was barely kneeling, and approached Horma, who was prostrate before the Lighthouse Keeper.

    His gaze was directed downward.

    It was the gaze of one who looked down from heaven upon the earth.

    ¡°The Licht Treaty has finally been broken.¡±

    ¡°Rohen¡­?¡±Rohen looked down at the Pope with cold eyes.

    ¡°You are greedy and cowardly, ignorant of your role. Your usefulness ends here. The Empire will once again be ruled by the Codex of Light.¡±

    ***

    Waltzemer felt a chill despite the scorching heat. His mind creaked as he mulled over the Lighthouse Keeper¡¯s promation, but the Lighthouse Keeper conveyed its meaning in a more direct manner.

    ¡°Aaaaagh!¡±

    Waltzemer turned his head towards the scream he hearding from somewhere. Although he still couldn¡¯t see, the voice resembled that of Bishop Katyn. The smell of burning flesh and bone and the screams of agony etched themselves vividly into his mind.

    Waltzemer began to faintly realize what was happening.

    ¡°The Lighthouse Keeper¡­¡±

    As he tried to speak, there was a soft rustling sound, and suddenly, his head felt lighter.

    Thud, thud.

    Waltzemer gingerly touched his head.

    Those horns that used to snag on his clothes and in the carriage were gone.

    The antlers that had been a perfect symbol of authority and power, even without a crown, had fallen from his head.

    Waltzemer had never considered those horns valuable or depended on them, but the moment he realized they were gone, he felt an overwhelming sense of loss, as though he had lost a limb.

    ¡°I have been¡­¡±

    Before Waltzemer could finish his sentence, the blinding light and oppressive heat vanished. The Lighthouse Keeper, which had loomed over them, seemingly ready to crush them, was gone. Since everyone had been blinded, none of them knew how the Lighthouse Keeper had disappeared.

    ¡°¡­abandoned?¡±

    Amid the ensuing chaos, Waltzemer was consumed by the question of ¡°why?¡±

    When the Lighthouse Keeper appeared, he had offered to surrender all his authority and obey. He believed that he could be a morepetent intermediary than the foolish and inept Pope.

    But that arrogance had led to Waltzemer¡¯s downfall.

    He had sought to seize the Empire by taking control of the Church, but the angels had done the opposite, emunicating him through the Order and seizing the Empire.

    Previously, this would not have been possible.

    It was the Licht Treaty that had separated the powers of heaven and earth.

    However, the Empire had now reverted to the state it was in over 300 years ago, before the Licht Treaty.

    And Waltzemer had been used as a tool to break the Licht Treaty.

    It was all because he had surrendered his authority before the Lighthouse Keeper. Had he attacked the Holy Capital with his soldiers instead, this might not have happened.

    ***

    ¡°I can see!¡±

    The soldiers¡¯ jubnt cries rang out.

    Their sight, which they thought lost, quickly returned, and their bodies, which they feared were burning, were unharmed.

    Yet the disappearance of the blinding light made the surroundings appear as dark as night despite it being daytime, and the departure of the oppressive heat left them feeling chilled even under thete summer sun. Engulfed in overwhelming emptiness, they sought a target to fill the void.

    ¡°Heretic!¡±

    Suddenly, Waltzemer saw a soldier daring to point at him. Before he could respond to the insolence, soldiers gripped by anger and fear started charging with their weapons drawn.

    ¡°Burn the heretic Waltzemer!¡±

    Only then did Waltzemer grasp the meaning.

    Emunication.

    Until moments ago, Waltzemer had been the Emperor of the Gerthonia Empire, but now he was reduced to a barbarian. A barbarian, considered somewhere between a non-civilized being and a beast even in the Empire.

    ¡°Your Majesty! Your Majesty!¡±

    A small number of his guards, soldiers, and aides struggled to fight off the charging soldiers. In the distance, the charred corpse appeared to be that of Bishop Katyn.

    Poor soul. She had devoted her life to the Codex of Light, only to be consumed as kindling for a warning.

    ¡°You treacherous vermin¡­¡±

    Ethelheart, themander of the Imperial Guard, roared as he shed through the soldiers. But there were too many, and the soldiers were consumed by madness. Before long, numerous weapons were embedded in Ethelheart¡¯s aging body. The spears lodged in him prevented him from even falling.

    ¡°Get a grip, Your Majesty! We must escape from here!¡±

    ¡®Escape where, Delia? Where could we go?¡¯

    He was no longer an emperor. And who would take in a barbarian who defied the Pope?

    Duke Lyon attempted to drag Waltzemer by the cor but was struck down by a soldier¡¯s spear from behind.

    At that moment, someone roughly stabbed Waltzemer behind his knees. He groaned and fell. Several times he felt sharp metal piercing his body.

    His clothes were forcibly torn, and his shoes were taken off.

    ¡°Don¡¯t kill him! Don¡¯t kill him! We must take him to His Holiness for trial!¡±

    He heard someone¡¯s urgent voice. But it didn¡¯t seem to be a voice intended to save him.

    Pushing the soldiers aside, Duke Dietrich Brant approached. His face was filled with anguish, but along with other soldiers, he dragged Waltzemer away.

    They hoisted him onto a horse like a sack of goods.

    ¡°I will personally deliver the heretic to His Holiness! Surely, there has been a misunderstanding. If we convince His Holiness that we were deceived by this heretic, he will forgive our army!¡±

    ¡®Clever, Dietrich. That¡¯s how you ensure the survival of the Brant family.¡¯

    Waltzemer was inwardly impressed but said nothing. However, as Dietrich started the horse moving, he began to flee in the opposite direction instead of riding toward Lichtheim.

    Btedly, shouts of anger and curses erupted from the soldiers. A beatter, the sound of galloping hooves and orders to shoot arrows echoed from behind.

    Waltzemer looked at Dietrich¡¯s back with a sense of pity.

    ¡®You fool. Weren¡¯t we just using each other? Where did this sudden surge of loyaltye from?¡¯

    ¡°You must not die here,¡± Dietrich whispered fiercely to Waltzemer.

    ¡°I saw it with my own eyes¡ªan angel appeared and toppled the world¡¯s most powerful man with just a few words, without reason or exnation. Are we supposed to ignore this iprehensible injustice? That would be¡­¡±

    Thud, thud! A few arrows struck Dietrich in the back. He staggered but did not let go of the reins.

    Blood gushed from his back, staining it red.

    ¡°That would be¡­ something I cannot allow in the world my daughter will live in. You must have realized your mistake by now, so from now on¡­¡±

    tter, tter, tter! In that moment, a horse rapidly charged and speared through both Dietrich¡¯s back and his mount. Dietrich exhaled a long breath and toppled over with the horse.

    Waltzemer gasped for air from the shock of the fall.

    The sound of hooves galloping reached his ears.

    A knight grabbed the spear protruding from Dietrich¡¯s back as he rode by and then jumped off his horse to confront Waltzemer.

    ¡°Feltren¡­¡±

    It was Commander Feltren of the Imperial Knights.

    The man who held the Empire¡¯s secrets and had been the Emperor¡¯s covert hand was now pointing his spear at Waltzemer. Despite aiming at his former lord, Feltren¡¯s face showed little emotion. As other knights caught up, he signaled with his chin.

    ¡°Tie him up. He must look as wretched as possible when presented to His Holiness if we want to be forgiven.¡±

    ¡°Yes, sir.¡±

    The knights nced nervously at Waltzemer. However, without his antlers, he no longer seemed as imposing as he once did.

    Feltren grabbed Waltzemer by the hair, pretending to inspect him, and whispered, ¡°Humiliation is short, but revenge is long. The Pope is too arrogant to kill you outright.¡±

    Feltren tilted Waltzemer¡¯s chin this way and that as if checking hisplexion, then ced a finger inside Waltzemer¡¯s mouth. A sour taste, reminiscent of wine, filled Waltzemer¡¯s mouth, and simultaneously, he felt the pain from the fall ease.

    Waltzemer realized that this was the miracle of the Red Chalice and gave a dryugh. The Imperial Knight Commander, whom he had trusted implicitly, one who held the Empire¡¯s secrets, was secretly one of the Red Chalice¡¯s ndestine fingers.

    Why Feltren wanted to keep the Emperor alive was a mystery, but Waltzemer was too exhausted to question it. Feltren withdrew his finger after feigning a check on Waltzemer¡¯s condition and instructed the knights.

    ¡°He¡¯s not in a dying state. Drag him along. He¡¯s tough; he won¡¯t die.¡±

    Bound by the knights, Waltzemer staggered to his feet. They secured him behind a horse, nced at him briefly, and then started heading back toward Lichtheim.

    Waltzemer attempted to follow the horse for a few steps, but with his injured knees, he couldn¡¯t walk for long. Soon, he stumbled and fell. However, the knights showed no mercy and continued to drag Waltzemer behind them.

    Feltren watched Waltzemer¡¯s retreating figure before ncing back. But behind himy only a small forest, nothing more. As Feltren observed the woods, the knights approached him.

    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we present the corpses of these traitors who conspired with the heretic to His Holiness?¡± one knight suggested, indicating the fallen Dietrich. Feltren replied calmly.

    ¡°Leave them.¡±

    ¡°Sir? But¡­¡±

    ¡°Let the wild dogs and vultures feast on them. We have no time to conduct a solemn funeral for a heretic.¡±

    The knights were puzzled but dared not question Feltren, who had captured the fleeing Emperor. They soon left the bodies and vanished.

    Feltren gave a silent nod to the forest before turning back toward Lichtheim.

    Towards the holy capital of Lichtheim, where joy and terror burned together.

    ***

    Pope Horma Kmuel was still in a daze.

    Only moments ago, the shouts of a hundred thousand soldiers surrounding Lichtheim filled the air, and even the priests and pdins within the Holy City had turned against him. But now, Lichtheim was utterly silent, and everyone averted their gaze, bowing their heads toward him.

    The entire city was gripped with fear.

    However, Horma knew it wasn¡¯t because of his authority but due to the celestial being that loomed above him. Even Horma himself felt like bowing his head to someone if he could.

    But certainly not as much as the man before him.

    ¡°We have brought the heretic before you, Your Holiness!¡± The knight who had dragged Waltzemer in spoke fervently, as if trying to assert his innocence.

    Waltzemer¡¯s condition was deplorable.

    Dragged almost all the way, his clothes were torn to shreds, leaving him practically naked, and he was barefoot. The iconic antlers were gone, and he was covered in dust and possibly struck by filth along the way, emitting a foul odor.

    It was hard to believe that just half a day ago, this man had ruled from the pinnacle of the Empire.

    ¡°¡­Emperor.¡±

    _____________

    Rate us on <em><strong>Novel Updates</strong></em>, so this novel can reach many readers like you, and also it will motivate me to trante more chapters. (For every new rating I will release one new chapter.)

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 Chapter 271:

    Chapter 271:

    Horma absentmindedly murmured, ¡°Emperor.¡±

    The people beside him pretended not to hear, but Cardinal Rohen was not among them.

    ¡°It is the heretic Waltzemer, Your Holiness.¡±

    After the appearance of the Lighthouse Keeper, only those from the Watcher¡¯s Council, including Rohen, remainedposed. It was unclear how much those who regrly conversed with angels knew about the situation.

    But they had seeded in manipting both the church and the empire.

    Finally, they offered the empire up to the heavens.

    All the Lighthouse Keeper did after appearing for the first time in hundreds of years was break the Emperor¡¯s horns and burn a bishop. Compared to the terrifying feats angels could aplish, this seemed modest. However, these simple actions were enough to reveal where the true power of the empirey.

    The Pope felt a chill.

    Though their positions differed, before the authority of heaven, there was no difference between a pope and an emperor. It was merely a matter of whether one was adorned in finery or reduced to rags and filth.Such things could be easily reversed by the whims of heaven.

    ¡°Your Holiness.¡±

    At that moment, Waltzemer, who was kneeling, spoke up before the Pope.

    ¡°I acknowledge the sin of my arrogance. Burn my body, but please spare my innocent soldiers and use them for worthy purposes.¡±

    ¡°How dare you open your mouth before His Holiness grants you permission?¡±

    The knight who had brought Waltzemer, perhaps feeling a pang of guilt, stammered as he pressed down on Waltzemer¡¯s neck. Waltzemer¡¯s face was mmed into the ground, but he neither resisted nor showed anger.

    He simply awaited the Pope¡¯s judgment.

    However, the Pope also did not know what to do with Waltzemer.

    The only thing the Lighthouse Keeper did was emunicate him, not kill him. Was he left alive deliberately? Was it permissible for him toy hands on Waltzemer? Was it even right to kill this man in the first ce?

    If the miracle had been his own doing, if the pdins had been his, he would have immediately ordered Waltzemer to be burned.

    But in this situation, the emotion the Pope felt toward the Emperor was absurdly ¡®empathy.¡¯

    His gaze, which had been wandering, finally came to rest.

    The Pope could not make any decision. Unsure of what the right answer was, he deferred making a choice.

    ¡°¡­Imprison the heretic Waltzemer in the underground prison.¡±

    ¡°What? But¡­¡±

    ¡°He may have been tainted by another faith or doctrine. There could be another malevolent entity behind this apostasy. We will interrogate him over time to find out.¡±

    People seemed startled by the announcement that Waltzemer wouldn¡¯t be immediately burned. They wanted to burn the Emperor as soon as possible to dispel their fears. However, the Pope turned his back without further exnation.

    Now, apart from the Watcher¡¯s Council, there was no one left to question or challenge the Pope¡¯s words.

    To the Pope, the obedient people seemed like a flock of sheep within a pen.

    And he, too, was just a sheep wearing a crown.

    ***

    As night fell and darkness descended, Lichtheim was engulfed in a deathly silence.

    No one spoke of the angel¡¯s glory or joy. Although the appearance of the Lighthouse Keeper was a glorious experience for the priests, they first felt the heat rather than the warmth of the mes.

    Painful and frightening heat.

    That heat had plunged the mightiest in the empire into ruin.

    Only when night came did people realize that a new era, unlike anything they had experienced, had arrived. It was an era without an emperor, one in which the church alone would govern the empire.

    With the Licht Treaty broken, the emperor¡¯snds, his military, and his wealth now belonged to the church.

    In the midst of this silence and darkness, a soldier quietly slipped out of the barracks.

    He silently approached the body sprawled in the middle of the in. It was Dietrich¡¯s corpse.

    Perhaps even the beasts had fled in fear at the appearance of the Lighthouse Keeper, as the body was untouched and intact.

    As the soldier reached out to touch Dietrich¡¯s body, suddenly a sword thrust out from beneath the horse¡¯s corpse. However, the soldier reacted quickly, deflecting the sword with the edge of his hand.

    The attacker, seeing the hand engulfed in sword energy, spoke with suspicion.

    ¡°Bashul?¡±

    ¡°Isaac.¡±

    The man in soldier¡¯s attire was Bashul Norton, the chief knight of the Imperial Guard. He, too, was covered in bloodstains on his soldier¡¯s uniform, likely from the chaos within the imperial camp.

    Although Isaac recognized Bashul, he did not lower his weapon and continued to re.

    ¡°What are you doing here?¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious? I came to retrieve the body¡­ I had a long-standing rtionship with Duke Brant. I can¡¯t leave him here to rot. Isn¡¯t that true for you as well?¡±

    Indeed, until they sensed someone approaching and hid.

    Isaac stared at Bashul for a moment before lowering his sword.

    The two men focused on recovering Dietrich¡¯s body in silence. They wrapped it in a cloak as a makeshift shroud and temporarily buried it under a tree that would serve as a marker. They disturbed the ground where the bodyy, making it appear as though animals had dragged it away, and scattered more horse blood around.

    It wasn¡¯t an easy task to aplish quietly in the dead of night. But Isaac and Bashulpleted the task without exchanging unnecessary words.

    A whileter, the two men, now covered in dirt, sat in silence in the woods where Isaac had hidden during the day.

    ¡®Dietrich¡­¡¯

    Isaac realized that he had never called Dietrich by affectionate terms like ¡°father¡± or ¡°father-inw.¡± In truth, they were partners who had joined hands for mutual benefit. If Isaac had a personal connection, it was with Isolde, not Dietrich.

    Yet Dietrich¡¯s death struck Isaac with an unexpected degree of shock.

    Perhaps it was because both men loved the same person.

    Though the kind of love differed, Dietrich loved his daughter, and Isaac loved Isolde. The shock Isaac felt likely stemmed from this shared affection. Moreover, Isolde would undoubtedly mourn this news.

    Isaac mourned for his deceased father-inw.

    But he did not recite a prayer for someone forsaken by his faith.

    After a long silence, Bashul was the first to speak.

    Here is the trantion of the given text:

    ¡°There¡¯s been trouble in the east, I hear. How did you know toe here?¡±

    Isaac looked at him for a moment before responding.

    ¡°They weren¡¯t sending reinforcements, so I came to kick their asses into doing it.¡±

    ¡°That got you into quite a mess.¡±

    Isaac recalled the moment the Lighthouse Keeper appeared.

    Even in the scorching heat that seared his entire body, and the blinding brilliance that made it impossible to keep his eyes open, Isaac staggered forward. It felt like he was willingly stepping into a zing furnace. Then, he suddenly heard the deration of emunication against the Emperor. After the Lighthouse Keeper disappeared, he witnessed the chaos erupting in the Imperial army¡¯s camp.

    ¡°I saw Duke Brant¡¯s death.¡±

    ¡°¡­You saw it? Who killed him?¡±

    Isaac recalled Dietrich trying to escape the camp with Waltzemer. He hadn¡¯t gotten far before he was struck by arrows and then speared, falling from his horse. The knight who had charged forward skillfully pulled the spear from Dietrich¡¯s back.

    Isaac knew who he was.

    ¡°Commander Feltren of the Imperial Knights.¡±

    ¡°Feltren, Feltren¡­ That bastard, I always thought he was shady. I assumed it was just because he was always snooping around in others¡¯ affairs.¡±

    ¡°He also saved my life.¡±

    ¡°Saved you? How?¡±

    ¡°When Duke Brant was speared, I was about to rush out. That would have revealed my presence. But then, he signaled me not toe out. If he intended to fight, he would have drawn his sword or alerted the soldiers. It was a deliberate gesture.¡±

    Bashul remained silent. It seemed that Feltren had indeed gestured to save Isaac.

    To the Imperial soldiers engulfed in madness and fear, Isaac¡¯s identity as a Grail Knight would have meant nothing. If a battle had ensued, Isaac might have had to face not only the hundred thousand Imperial soldiers but also the entire Pdin Order of Lichtheim.

    ¡°¡­I can¡¯t understand his intentions.¡±

    ¡°Neither can I. But perhaps he follows another faith. Like you.¡±

    Bashul looked at Isaac with a puzzled expression.

    ¡°Do I seem like a traitor?¡±

    ¡°If not a traitor, perhaps you were caught up in something inadvertently. You abandoned the Elil faith for revenge against the followers of the Lighthouse and pledged loyalty to the Emperor. This civil war must have seemed like a big opportunity. But now everything¡¯s a mess.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°But Elil wouldn¡¯t have sent two knights. I suspect he might be a spy for the Red Chalice, nted to gather intelligence on the Empire.¡±

    ¡°The Red Chalice, that¡¯s possible.¡±

    The spies of the Red Chalice are everywhere.

    Even withoutpletely abandoning their faith, they can be swayed by money, temptation, and the desire for immortality. There might even be those within the Codex of Light who unknowingly work for the Red Chalice.

    ¡°But to have seduced even the Commander of the Imperial Knights is no small feat. The Imperial Knights have always been diligent in their duties. They were the first to discover that the Duke of Gulmar¡¯s daughter had infiltrated¡­ Ah, damn it.¡±

    ¡°Yes, so it makes even more sense. Utilizing the Red Chalice¡¯swork, he could perform his role as Commander of the Imperial Knights quite effectively.¡±

    It¡¯s often said that the most devout believersmit the most painful apostasy.

    The person who can leak and exploit the most information is also a spy. The possibility that the Commander of the Imperial Knights is a double agent was, in hindsight, not so surprising.

    ¡°It seems His Majesty the Emperor was captured, but what about the others?¡±

    ¡°¡­Commander Ethelheart is dead. He often said he wanted to die on the battlefield, given his old age, but he never imagined he¡¯d die at the hands of his own people. Some of his fellow guards seem to have fled like me. Oh, and Duke Delia Lyon was taken too. If she¡¯s lucky, they¡¯ll ransom her and send her to a monastery.¡±

    It was a miserable end for the once-powerful leaders of the Empire.

    Isaac had always held a grudge against the ruling ss, yet these were individuals he had personal ties with.

    He let out a long sigh and asked Bashul, ¡°What do you n to do now?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m heading to Lichtheim.¡±

    ¡°And when you get there?¡±

    ¡°I intend to rescue His Majesty the Emperor. If that¡¯s not possible, I¡¯ll kill the Pope if I can.¡±

    ¡°Are you nning to die?¡±

    ¡°Are you mad? I need to stay alive to exact longsting revenge. Taking the head of one pope isn¡¯t worth it. Judging by what¡¯s happened, the Pope is just a puppet. There are others behind him who need to be dealt with.¡±

    It was a sharp perspective on the Watcher¡¯s Council. Isaac thought for a moment before nodding.

    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go together.¡±

    ¡°What? Are you crazy? Are you trying to die?¡±

    ¡°Didn¡¯t you just say we¡¯re not going there to die? If you were going to die, I¡¯d tie you up here and go alone. I also have business in Lichtheim.¡±

    Isaac¡¯s original intention was to steal forbidden knowledge from the secret archives of the Lichtheim Censorship Bureau. Despite witnessing the shocking events, even with the Emperor¡¯s fall, the Olkan Code still stood.

    To appease them, the name of the Nameless Chaos was still necessary.

    ¡°While I¡¯m handling my business, we can also try to rescue His Majesty the Emperor and Duke Lyon. Two are better than one, aren¡¯t they?¡±

 Chapter 272:

    Chapter 272:

    ¡°You cane out now.¡±

    Isaac was the first to crawl out of the low tunnel and whispered. He was followed quietly by Bashul.

    Both of them were covered in mud.

    As is often the case with ancient cities, Lichtheim had ayered underground structure. However, the priests of Lichtheim were particrly interested in making use of the underground, where they imprisoned things that didn¡¯t need to exist in the world: criminals, forbidden knowledge, and evil relics, sealing them beneath the city.

    As a result, Lichtheim had undergone several nned redevelopments of its underground, unlike other cities.

    Naturally, the prison where the Emperor was held and the secret archives of the Censorship Bureau were also constructed underground. But with such repeated redevelopment, there would inevitably be parts that were left out or abandoned. If these spaces were not properly understood, they would be secret passages unknown even to the designers.

    And Isaac was very knowledgeable about these secret passages.

    Bashul felt overwhelmed as he emerged from the ustrophobic waterway into what appeared to be a corridor.

    It truly was one of Lichtheim¡¯s underground passages.¡°I didn¡¯t know there were secret passages like this under Lichtheim¡­¡±

    His biggest concern had been how to get through Lichtheim¡¯s high walls. The walls, protected by powerful divine forces, were not easily damaged or ovee with miracles. If they tried, they would surely be detected.

    However, Isaac had easily bypassed them using a secret passage.

    ¡°If this information had leaked to the Immortal Order or the Red Chalice, it would have been a disaster¡­ No, more importantly, how do you know about this? Who exactly are you?¡±

    ¡°Is it important for you to know that, or is it more important to rescue the Emperor?¡±

    ¡°The Emperor is more important. Let¡¯s go.¡±

    Bashul did not have deep loyalty to the Emperor. However, the Emperor was a crucial means for achieving revenge, and he did not want to sumb to the machinations of the angels.

    ¡°As I mentioned, we will go to the secret archives of the Censorship Bureau first.¡±

    ¡°Hmm, right. That. You said you had business there, and you helped us get past the walls, so I won¡¯t argue. But is it really more important than rescuing the Emperor?¡±

    ¡°My people in the Issacrea estate are more important to me than a hundred Emperors.¡±

    Isaac looked at Bashul as if he were absurd.

    Of course, he did have some personal connection with the Emperor, but it wasn¡¯t exactly a warm and friendly one. And in this situation, honestly, the Emperor¡¯s greed had yed a significant part, so he had to bear some responsibility.

    However, the residents of the Issacrea estate couldn¡¯t do without Isaac.

    It was only natural for Isaac to care more about them.

    Bashul seemed as if he wanted to say more, but Isaac boldly strode through the underground corridor. Since Isaac was the one who knew theplex structure of the underground corridors, Bashul had no choice but to follow him.

    Then, Isaac suddenly felt a strange dizziness and staggered.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are you okay?¡±

    ¡°Hmm, I¡¯m not sure. Is it because we entered the Holy City?¡±

    Isaac was puzzled by the sudden dizziness that made his vision double, but he soon felt better. Just in case, he checked his physical condition but found nothing wrong.

    Footsteps echoed, and Isaac and Bashul held their breath. Two priests wearing white hoods that covered their faces were pulling a cart along the opposite corridor. The cart was filled with various sinister tools.

    Bashul whispered.

    ¡°They¡¯re torture priests from the Inquisition. Where are they going?¡±

    ¡°There must be a lot of ¡®guests¡¯ in the underground prison today, so they¡¯ll have plenty to interrogate.¡±

    Their official title was ¡°Confessor Priest.¡±

    While inquisitors went out and acted as enforcers for the church, confessor priests were tasked with extracting confessions or inducing repentance from captured prisoners. However, since they often dealt with involuntary confessions and repentance, they were moremonly known as torture priests.

    Isaac and Bashul exchanged nces and silently approached the two priests. It was not difficult to take them out quietly in the darkness. Lichtheim¡¯s underground was designed to hide things that didn¡¯t want to be revealed, so there was little fear of being discovered.

    They dragged the bodies of the confessor priests back into the passage they hade from and changed out of their muddy clothes.

    The hoods that covered their heads were perfect for concealing their faces.

    ¡°Though I¡¯ve already apostatized, you really don¡¯t hesitate to kill a priest.¡±

    ¡°Do you think it¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve cut down a priest? Killing these kinds of people doesn¡¯t weigh on my conscience.¡±

    Isaac had previously beheaded a priest in Syracusa.

    Of course, at that time, he had acted with the confidence that the church would protect him, but whether they would do so knowing he had secretly infiltrated Lichtheim¡¯s underground and beheaded a confessor priest was uncertain.

    ***

    Bashul and Isaac had agreed that if any trouble arose, they would prioritize their own objectives rather than risk their lives to save each other.

    Of course, they made this promise because neither of them believed they would die.

    When Bashul had first entered Lichtheim, he had considered parting ways with Isaac to attend to their own business. However, after walking through the underground corridors for an hour, he changed his mind.

    Bashul couldn¡¯t do without Isaac.

    Without Isaac, Bashul would be lost in thisbyrinthine corridor forever, starving or copsing from exhaustion.

    ¡°¡­Isaac, do you know where you¡¯re going?¡±

    Isaac nced back at him, knowing what he was worried about.

    ¡°All of Lichtheim¡¯s underground is connected, so don¡¯t worry. It¡¯s not difficult to get from the Censorship Bureau to the underground prison.¡±

    ¡°Then why are we taking such a roundabout route?¡±

    Isaac paused at a fork in the path. He stared down the corridor for a moment before picking up a small stone from the ground and tossing it. The moment it entered the corridor, a low hum sounded, and the stone burst into mes, turning to ash before it even hit the floor.

    ¡°It¡¯s a Blind Sentinel trap. This ce was designed by an Archangel. Only those who have memorized the ¡®true path¡¯ can walk here. Otherwise, you need to have the power to cancel the miracles.¡±

    Isaac turned right and continued walking. Now, Bashul followed him without furtherint. Although he had no idea how Isaac knew these things or what he was seeking in the secret archives, he had no one else to rely on.

    ¡°If it were just traps, I¡¯d consider breaking through them, but there are traps that summon divine beasts or trigger rms. If there¡¯s amotion, the prison guards will tighten their security¡­¡±

    Isaac said this as he nced back at Bashul.

    ¡°If we¡¯re discovered, rescue the Emperor while I¡¯m raiding the secret archives.¡±

    ¡°What did you say?¡±

    ¡°Rescue the Emperor, rally forces, and protect the Issacrea estate. Even if I don¡¯t die here immediately, it might be difficult for me to escape for a while.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s weak talk¡­¡±

    ¡°Even if you die, I¡¯ll make sure to rescue the Emperor. I¡¯ll also take the opportunity to cut down some of the Blind Sentinels. Does that sound good?¡±

    Bashul snorted at Isaac¡¯s words. It was merely an extension of the agreement they had made before entering.

    Instead of risking their lives to save each other, they agreed that the surviving party would fulfill the other¡¯s objectives.

    ¡°I feel like I¡¯m getting the short end of the stick since I¡¯m not going to die.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re awfully confident. Ah, we¡¯ve arrived.¡±

    As they turned the corner, Bashul flinched in surprise at the sudden appearance of a massive stone door. He had felt like he had been circling the same corner repeatedly, yet apletely different structurey before him.

    Isaac spoke to the startled Bashul.

    ¡°It¡¯s a trick using the refraction of light and illusions. It¡¯s not a difficult concept once you understand it, but we won¡¯t need toe here again.¡±

    ¡°Forget what I said earlier. I wouldn¡¯t be able to escape from here if you died.¡±

    Engaging in some trivial banter, they opened the door.

    As Isaac knew, the stone door opened without any particr locking mechanism. The true security of the secret archives didn¡¯t lie in the door itself.

    As soon as the door opened, a chilly breeze carrying the scent of dust wafted out.

    Bashul swallowed nervously as he stepped into one of the most secretive ces in the Empire.

    ***

    A vast space stretched out endlessly.

    The ceiling was so high it was out of sight, and numerous boxes were stacked neatly in severalyers. As Bashul looked at the corridors formed by these boxes disappearing into the pitch-ck darkness, he realized that the same scene extended right to the space beside the door.

    He was about to mutter about the impossibility of it all when he realized that it seemed too weightless and cleared his throat.

    ¡°I guess this is also a trick using the refraction of light and illusions. It¡¯s not actually that big, is it?¡±

    ¡°Of course not. The Blind Sentinel used miracles to twist the order of time and space.¡±

    Bashul looked betrayed, but the scene before him was overwhelming even for Isaac.

    The secret archives were not merely a ce to store books, as the name might suggest. What the Censorship Bureau sought to imprison was knowledge, and books were not the only containers of knowledge.

    Forbidden miracles sealed in relics, phenomena with unknown origins, mysterious creatures, objects that shouldn¡¯t exist¡­ All these chaos-inducing items were subjects for ¡®censorship¡¯ by the Censorship Bureau of the Codex of Light. Among them, those that couldn¡¯t be erased or were too valuable to destroy were hidden in the safest and most secret ces.

    This vast space, therefore, was filled over a millennium by the dedication and sacrifices of the Pdins and inquisitors.

    Isaac began walking. As soon as they started moving, light suddenly poured down from above. Bashul was startled and almost drew his sword.

    ¡°It¡¯s just light that reacts to movement. It¡¯s a convenience feature for visitors to the archives, so you don¡¯t need to worry.¡±

    ¡°Oh, right, okay.¡±

    Bashul awkwardly tried to touch one of the boxes beside him, but Isaac warned him.

    ¡°Don¡¯t touch the boxes carelessly. They¡¯re sealed with chains and scriptures, but they¡¯re old and could be easily damaged. Especially the ones wrapped in chains¡ªthey¡¯re likely to be dangerous.¡±

    ¡°Dangerous to people? These?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯d be lucky if it only harms you.¡±

    Bashul withdrew his hand at Isaac¡¯s warning. On reflection, it was foolish to touch anything in this notoriously secure secret archive.

    Though he vowed not to do anything foolish again, it wasn¡¯t easy.

    ¡°Bashul, don¡¯t try to look closely at anything in the dark. The moment you focus, you might get pulled in. Just concentrate and follow me.¡±

    ¡°Bashul, don¡¯t hum. ¡®They¡¯ imitate the sounds of singing. Unless you want the archives filled with a choir, keep quiet.¡±

    ¡°Bashul, that¡¯s not a wall, it¡¯s a giant box. It seems like they¡¯ve moved an entire house into it.¡±

    Bashul finally gave up.

    He thought he was a seasoned warrior, but here, he felt like a newborn. The hardest thing to bear was Isaac¡¯s calm voice as he identified and warned about all these threats.

    ¡°This is driving me crazy. Can¡¯t I just wait at the door with my eyes closed until you¡¯re done?¡±

    ¡°Bashul, who are you talking to right now?¡±

    Bashul was about to retort at Isaac for whatever he was saying, but then he realized that the voice came from behind him. Isaac, holding a box in his arms, was walking toward him with a strange look.

    Bashul felt a chilling sensation as he looked back at the Isaac who had been warning and leading him earlier. Then the Isaac in front of him let out a creepyugh and ran into the darkness. From where the figure disappeared, the sound of the song Bashul had hummed earlier echoed.

    ¡°¡­A ghost?¡±

    ¡°I can guess what you saw. It¡¯s not a ghost, but it¡¯s better not to know. If you¡¯d followed it to the end, you¡¯d be trapped in the archives forever, unable to die.¡±

    Isaac said as he looked around the secret archives.

    ¡°The most powerful security feature of the Censorship Bureau¡¯s secret archives is its vastness. The absurdlyrge andplex structure prevents intruders from finding their targets. Without damaging the archives, they also release some moderately dangerous sealed items, letting them act as the archives¡¯ own wardens.¡±

    Bashul looked wearily at the box Isaac was holding.

    ¡°For all that, you seem to have found something already.¡±

    ¡°This isn¡¯t what I¡¯m looking for. It¡¯s just a box containing a mysterious dish that turns water into alcohol.¡±

    ¡°Then how are you going to find what you¡¯re looking for?¡±

    ¡°Like this.¡±

    Isaac lifted the box and threw it hard onto the ground. The sound of shattering echoed through the secret archives. Under Bashul¡¯s astonished gaze, the lights overhead flickered intensely.

    Bashul instinctively drew his sword.

    Something unusual was happening.

    _____________

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 Chapter 273:

    Chapter 273:

    As the lights above flickered violently, Bashul and Isaac felt a slight dizziness. In the strobe-like effect, everything seemed to stop and move again.

    Between existence and nonexistence. Motion and stillness, observation and concealment.

    sh.

    It suddenly appeared.

    Snap.

    Between Bashul and Isaac appeared an old man in priestly robes, holding a staff. Bashul flinched in surprise and stepped back. However, the old man, seemingly indifferent to Bashul, crouched down and began to fumble with the box that Isaac had thrown.

    ¡®Is he blind?¡¯

    Bashul was ready to draw his sword at any moment, but Isaac shook his head.

    The blind old man opened the box to check its contents. However, the shattered dish inside was beyond repair.He sighed deeply and then suddenly swung his staff at Isaac¡¯s head.

    ¡°You rascal!¡±

    Whack. Bashul, startled, half-drew his sword, but stopped when he saw that Isaac, who could have easily dodged, stood still and took the blow to his head.

    Isaac only bowed his head after being struck a couple more times.

    ¡°How could you break an item with a green seal? Are you out of your mind or not!¡±

    ¡°I apologize, Master. I made a mistake.¡±

    ¡°You!¡±

    The old man turned his head to look at Bashul.

    As soon as Bashul felt the old man¡¯s gaze, the staff struck his head with incredible speed. Bashul was shocked to find he couldn¡¯t see or react to it.

    It felt as if his getting hit was predetermined, with the intervening process skipped entirely.

    It waspletely different from what he had observed.

    ¡°You can¡¯t even manage your subordinate, what kind of person are you!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m sorry.¡±

    Only then did Bashul realize the situation.

    Whatever this being called the Master was, human or not, Isaac had deliberately summoned him. With his tall stature and the aged appearance visible through his hood¡¯s gap, the old man seemed to have mistaken Bashul and Isaac as superior and subordinate.

    Isaac then spoke to the old man.

    ¡°Master, there¡¯s actually something I¡¯m looking for.¡±

    ¡°Something you¡¯re looking for?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    Isaac nced at Bashul before asking the old man.

    ¡°I¡¯m searching for information about the Nameless Chaos. Where can I find it?¡±

    Bashul looked at Isaac in surprise. He hadn¡¯t expected that the material Isaac sought would be rted to the Nameless Chaos. Moreover, he couldn¡¯t believe that this stubborn old man would simply tell them if they asked.

    ¡°Information on the Nameless Chaos?¡±

    The old man mumbled to himself and touched the area around his eyes.

    Contrary to Bashul¡¯s worries, the old man answered straightforwardly.

    ¡°All materials on the Nameless Chaos are stored at a minimum of the purple level. Follow me.¡±

    ***

    ¡°What is that, exactly?¡±

    Bashul asked, looking perplexed as he followed the old man.

    Isaac replied nonchntly.

    ¡°That¡¯s the head librarian of the secret archives, Barteo Dolomus. He knows the location of every piece of information in the archives. You can¡¯t find anything here without him.¡±

    ¡°You know him?¡±

    ¡°No, not really. But the name Blind Sentinel is more widely known.¡±

    Bashul froze at the mention of the name of one of the Archangels of the Codex of Light, the one named immediately after Elil.

    It was precisely the reaction Isaac had expected. After seeing that Bashul was sufficiently astonished, Isaac continued speaking.

    ¡°Did you think that a being who manages the entire secret archives alone while distorting time and space was a mere human? Don¡¯t worry. ¡®This¡¯ is just a fragment of the Blind Sentinel¡¯s appearance during his lifetime.¡±

    It was a kind of self-operated machine with an inserted personality.

    You could call it a mechanical angel, created and programmed directly by the Blind Sentinel. True to its nature, it was entirely dedicated to its predetermined function. The head librarian of the secret archives focused solely on finding, managing, and preventing damage to the materials.

    This is why Isaac had spent considerable time searching for something ¡®safe to damage.¡¯

    ¡°Is it dangerous?¡±

    ¡°Well, of course, meeting the Blind Sentinel in person would be dangerous¡­ but since it typically roams around managing the Urvansus, the chance of encountering it here is extremely low.¡±

    To followers of the Codex of Light, the secret archives of Lichtheim are like a precious treasure trove. To people of other faiths, it resembles a dungeon brimming with treasures. The head librarian is like the boss of that dungeon. However, as long as you know what to look for and how to handle the librarian, there shouldn¡¯t be any trouble.

    Bashul looked at Isaac with a peculiar gaze.

    ¡°You really are¡­ I have my secrets, but you have even more. How do you know all of this¡­?¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s just say I¡¯ve prepared for a long time.¡±

    Of course, even knowing the methods, Isaac couldn¡¯t wander freely around the secret archives.

    There was no way the Blind Sentinel would maintain suchx security. Even if you obtained knowledge, getting it out was a problem. If it were an object, permission to take it out wouldn¡¯t be granted, and if it were something learned, the process of acquiring it would itself be problematic.

    ¡®Let¡¯s figure it out once we reach the area with the materials. If things go south, I¡¯ll destroy the seals and escape. That should distract everyone enough for the Emperor¡¯s guards to be less vignt.¡¯

    However, as they moved deeper into the archives, Isaac began to lose confidence, sensing that the surrounding seals were bing more menacing. The sealing paper on the boxes appeared deceptively thick, and some chains seemed robust enough to bind a ship. Some items were encased in ss containers, with unidentified masses of flesh writhing inside, wrapped in iron chains.

    ¡®If I destroy the wrong thing, surviving this might be an issue¡­¡¯

    ¡°Why does the Codex of Light keep such terrifying things? Can¡¯t they just throw them into the Sacred Fire and destroy them?¡±

    Bashul grumbled in dissatisfaction, seemingly forgetting his days as a Pdin of the Codex of Light.

    ¡°Don¡¯t say such foolish things!¡±

    Before Bashul¡¯s words could even finish, the librarian shouted in anger.

    ¡°These are all part of the history that the Codex of Light has built with blood! Do you know how chaotic and filled with unknown terrors the world was before Luadin came forth with the Dawn Tablets and before the Age of Light began? The world was full of iprehensible chaos, ignorance, and barbarism. To ovee those fears, our Censorship Bureau imprisoned and organized the things that threatened and darkened the world!¡±

    Bashul wore an awkward expression, having never expected the librarian to overhear him.

    ¡°And you want to burn them? The loss of knowledge means forgetting our experiences of oveing fear! It is our role to iste the threats to the world strictly, yet preserve them so we can ovee simr disasters if they arise again. We are preventers and warning signs!¡±

    ¡°Uh, um, but¡­¡±

    ¡°It is thanks to the efforts of our Codex of Light¡¯s Censorship Bureau and the Inquisition that humans can enjoy a stable life now. Without us, wouldn¡¯t humans still be suffering from Kaltarsis, the Um gue, or the Lunatics of the Purple Moon?¡±

    ¡°W-What are those?¡±

    ¡°The fact that you don¡¯t know about them means we¡¯ve been doing a very good job so far! No need to thank us! Just don¡¯t get in the way!¡±

    Bashul grumbled after being scolded by the librarian but had no choice but to let it go. Isaac only looked at him with sympathetic eyes. Yet, the librarian¡¯s words strangely resonated with Isaac.

    ¡®Preventers and warnings.¡¯

    To prevent a disease, one must first experience it, and to warn others, one must first walk that path. A thousand years ago, when the ancient gods still roamed, the Codex of Light must have been the savior of that era. However, now it was bing a new oppressor.

    ¡®If you hold a hammer, everything looks like a nail.¡¯

    Perhaps the Lighthouse Keeper wanted to hammer all protruding nails back in and create a perfectly circr world.

    The librarian suddenly stopped walking. The surroundings hadn¡¯t changed much, but there was one notable difference. A sweet scent was wafting through the air from somewhere. Isaac had smelled this before.

    It was the scent emanating from the ce where Urbanus of the Nameless Chaos resided.

    ¡°This is the Purple Zone. It stores documents of level 7 ¡®Knowledge That Must Not Be Known.¡¯ All materials rted to the Nameless Chaos are treated as confidential. What are you looking for here?¡±

    Isaac opened his mouth somewhat nervously.

    ¡°The name of the Nameless Chaos.¡±

    ¡°The name of the Nameless Chaos.¡±

    The librarian muttered repeatedly, as if inputting the data. He tilted his head slightly and then began walking again, but this time he stopped in front of a sarcophagus without walking far. He pointed at the sarcophagus and said,

    ¡°The one inside this coffin knows. This coffin is called the ¡®Undying Coffin,¡¯ but in reality, it was created by a mad ancient god who wished to preserve his mortal lover. However, it turned out to be a holy relic that stops time, and the ancient god¡¯s lover inside the coffin also came to a halt. Coincidentally, that lover is a priest of the Nameless Chaos. Naturally, they would know the name.¡±

    Bashul nodded, thinking, ¡®So this is how knowledge is preserved here.¡¯

    Isaac cautiously asked,

    ¡°Won¡¯t we die from the White Sand Disease as soon as we open the coffin?¡±

    ¡°It should be fine for a while. The progression of the White Sand Disease varies for each individual¡­ But yes, the disease will progress. In other words, the moment we open the coffin, the document is considered destroyed.¡±

    The librarian said while tilting his head.

    ¡°For the reasons stated above, the viewing level for this knowledge requires Cardinal level or higher. Additionally, a knowledge filter of level 5 or higher is required. Regrettably, you don¡¯t seem to be at the Cardinal level.¡±

    It seemed the librarian¡¯s kindness extended only to finding the documents. Just like in a library, finding a book is free, but borrowing it requires qualifications.

    But if he were to give up here, he wouldn¡¯t havee this far in the first ce.

    ¡°In fact, I¡¯m here on an errand for Cardinal Juan.¡±

    ¡°Cardinal Juan?¡±

    ¡°Yes. He said he¡¯s too old and fat to retrieve it himself, so he asked me to check and let him know. By the way, I¡¯m a Holy Grail Knight and have been given the title of the Saint of Resurrection¡­¡±

    As Isaac¡¯s unexpected boasting and chatter poured out, Bashul looked at him with a face that said, ¡®Who would believe such a pathetic lie?¡¯ Of course, Isaac didn¡¯t expect him to believe it either.

    What he was doing now was more like turning the key in a lock rather than deceiving.

    In his past life, Isaac had conversed with the librarian in the game.

    The librarian was equipped with a high-level A.I. By entering keywords and persuading him, one could find the desired documents. Of course, the developers set up filters to prevent absurdly overpowered skills or abilities from being found, but naturally, there were ways to bypass them.

    It was a trick known as ¡®Grandmother¡¯s Inherited Skillbook.¡¯

    If you said, ¡®I want to know the location of the overpowered skill book called <Split in Half and Die>,¡¯ the filter would catch it, and the librarian would naturally refuse.

    However, if you said, ¡®A long time ago, when I couldn¡¯t sleep at night, my grandmother would read me a storybook by my bedside. Although she has passed away now, I still sometimes think of the fairy tale she used to read to me. But I don¡¯t know where that storybook is. That fairy tale is in the skill book called <Split in Half and Die>¡­,¡¯ the librarian¡¯s reaction would change.

    In other words, ¡¯emotional appeal¡¯ could bypass the world¡¯s best security.

    Naturally, this trick was blocked not long after. But being a seasoned yer, Isaac knew of aplex trick that wasn¡¯t blocked at least until he cleared the game.

    He wasn¡¯t sure if it would work, but it was worth trying rather than killing the librarian.

    ¡°¡­That¡¯s why I¡¯vee all this way to find the name of the Nameless Chaos.¡±

    p, p, p. Bashul inadvertently pped his hands while listening intently to the story, but he stopped immediately upon receiving a sharp look. The librarian remained silent. His wrinkled face made it difficult to discern any expression.

    Soon, his mouth opened.

    ¡°Utter nonsense.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°Did you really tell such a long story just to exin that? Young people these days are such chatterboxes. Hurry up and finish your business and return to Cardinal Juan.¡±

    It worked. Isaac smiled with delight as he watched the librarian open the sarcophagus lid.

    However, his face soon contorted.

    Rustle¡­ As soon as the sarcophagus opened, white sand poured out from inside. The librarian, Isaac, and Bashul all froze, staring at the sand pouring down.

    It was immediately clear what the symptom was.

    The White Sand Disease.

    The meaning was obvious. Someone hade before Isaac and opened the coffin.

    Without the librarian knowing.

    The librarian let out a roar of anger.

    ¡°Who dared to sneak in and damage this precious document!!¡±

    _____________

    Rate us on <em><strong>Novel Updates</strong></em>, so this novel can reach many readers like you, and also it will motivate me to trante more chapters. (For every new rating I will release one new chapter.)

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter.

    If you want to read more than 20 advance chapters or support me, you can do it at /Akaza156

 Chapter 274:

    Chapter 274:

    Isaac and Bashul staggered back as the shout echoed throughout the entire secret archive. As the librarian¡¯s voice resonated here and there, boxes started to rattle and stir in various ces in the archive. Amidst the anxiety that something might burst out of the boxes at any moment, the librarian mmed his staff down onto the floor.

    In an instant, a powerful force pressed down on the surroundings, subduing the agitated boxes. Isaac held his breath and watched the librarian.

    Bashul asked urgently, ¡°What on earth happened?¡±

    ¡°Someone opened the coffin before us. The person inside sumbed to the White Sand Disease as it progressed and died.¡±

    This meant that someone had stolen the ¡°knowledge.¡±

    Whether it was the name of the Nameless Chaos was unknown. Regardless, to the librarian, it was a terrible crime of unauthorized intrusion and damage to materials, and to Isaac, it meant that the opportunity to obtain the desired information was lost.

    Besides the secret archive of the Censorship Bureau, Isaac knew of no other ce where he could learn the name of Chaos, so he was essentially at a dead end.

    However, more than that, Isaac felt a looming unease that the Blind Sentinel might arrive as a consequence of this incident.

    ¡®I should kill the librarian to buy some time¡­¡¯¡°Sir, isn¡¯t it possible that the coffin was already open from the start?¡±

    Suddenly, Bashul spoke to the librarian. The librarian¡¯s eyes rolled back as he turned to face him.

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°The secret archive isn¡¯t a ce that just anyone can enter and tamper with, right? So, could it be that the storage was faulty from the beginning? I think that if someone had opened the coffin, the person inside might havee out and wandered around¡­¡±

    Whether it was unauthorized intrusion or poor management, the librarian couldn¡¯t avoid responsibility, but he seemed to ponder the matter further. Although he took great care in managing the secret archive, he couldn¡¯t im it was perfect.

    Soon, Bashul and the librarian began whispering to each other, specting about the state of the coffin and the possibility of an intruder.

    As the worst-case scenario of the librarian summoning the Blind Sentinel to start an investigation seemed to recede, Isaac breathed a sigh of relief.

    ¡®But in the end, I didn¡¯t find out the name of the Nameless Chaos. Who on earth could have¡­¡¯

    Isaac grumbled as he looked around, hoping for any other clues. Fortunately, this was the Censorship Bureau¡¯s secret archive. There was a good chance of finding other clues.

    At that moment, Isaac¡¯s eyes fell upon a bookshelf wrapped in sacred texts.

    Books seemed more approachable than giant boxes or bizarre, unknowable creatures. Perhaps he might find something useful.

    As Isaac examined the books on the shelf, he suddenly stopped at one ce.

    To be precise, he stopped at the author¡¯s name rather than the book¡¯s title.

    White Owl.

    Isaac instinctively reached out but then paused. The librarian had just been enraged about seals being torn off carelessly; he couldn¡¯t tamper with another seal right in front of him.

    However, the tentacle seemed to have different ideas.

    Before Isaac could withdraw his hand, a tentacle crept out of its own ord and grabbed the book. Without any hesitation, the tentacle ripped the seal off the book.

    It was easier than tearing tissue paper.

    As soon as the seal was torn off, the tentacle bit into the book. It literally split its mouth wide open and tore the book apart with fangs and teeth.

    Crunch, crack, snap.

    Isaac was horrified as he tried to restrain the tentacle, but for some reason, the tentacle defied Isaac¡¯s will and forcibly consumed the book.

    It was the first time it had acted so independently since the incident at the monastery during his childhood.

    It was as if this action was something absolutely necessary for Isaac.

    In the next moment, the title of the book surfaced in Isaac¡¯s mind. It wasn¡¯t something he saw; rather, the contents of the book being consumed by the tentacle were flowing through his nerves and into his mind. The tentacle was ¡°predating¡± on the contents of the book.

    Whether or not this made any sense, it was happening to Isaac.

    The book was titled ¡°Concerning the Threads That Bind Urbanaus.¡±

    The author was White Owl.

    And the first sentence began with, ¡°I am an unpopr writer.¡±

    ***

    I am an unpopr writer. But is that really my fault? It¡¯s just that my tastes and those of the people of this era don¡¯t align. People¡¯s tastes are ever-changing and unpredictable. Simply riding the same wave as them would undoubtedly put one among the mainstream.

    It¡¯s been 170 years since I secretly snuck into the Lichtheim Secret Archive to find material and was caught by the Blind Sentinel, subsequently bing an Archangel.

    The first war I participated in as an angel, against Elil, was exhrating and fun. However, perhaps due to theck of writer angels, I found it unfortunate that they kept failing to craft coherent narratives for Urbansus. Frankly, in my opinion, if the focus is solely on revising Urbanus, a writer like me might be better suited for the job than an excellent priest or pdin.

    For example, there¡¯s Luadin.

    While I am an unpopr writer, this bastard¡­ I mean, this esteemed Archangel possesses extraordinary talent. I¡¯m convinced it¡¯s because he had a lot of time to daydream while working as a Lighthouse Keeper.

    He exined theplex and difficultws of the world so simply that even fools could understand, and through rtable metaphors, he helped people grasp the workings of the universe. Now, the priests know that lightning is not the wrath of the Thunder God but a phenomenon where the positive and negative charges of thunderclouds are drawn to different points.

    People havee to ¡®truly¡¯ believe that this is how the world is constructed.

    This world grants miracles to those who desire them.

    If you wish for this world to be ordered in a ¡®certain¡¯ way, it will be structured that way. The one who seizes hegemony is, in essence, the order of the world.

    Under the market order established by bestselling author Luadin, even other gods are busy imitating his style and prose.

    Because the people, the believers, and the market demand it.

    In other words, this entire world is a miracle of the Codex of Light.

    A world that operates under stable, solid, and sturdy ¡°physicalws.¡± A world that guarantees a future that is the same as today. A world where the hegemony of the Age of Light has seized control.

    Having tailored and carved the world by hand to create the magnificent world of today, Luadin truly lives up to his reputation as the foremost Archangel of the Codex of Light, its greatest believer, and the first Pope. Meanwhile, unpopr authors like me are busy hiding in our rooms, seething with jealousy.

    The world now doesn¡¯t understand why there are so many verses praising the beauty of the sixth season and the purple moon.

    *(Omitted)*

    However, if there is a downside to Luadin, it is that, contrary to his delusions, this work is not written alone. While Luadin might want to im thergest share, he is merely borrowing the name of the Codex of Light, and thus there are limits. At least nine manuscripts are serialized every day, and only one of them gets entangled with the present to be submitted as a single thread, bing history.

    But does it end just because it bes history? The world, humans, us, and all things are made of miracles. If the world is made ording to what people believe, it also means that people will believe in the way the world is made. People have an inertia of believing that ¡°the world is just like that.¡±

    Attempts to alter Urbansus, the collective consciousness of people, are made in the same context.

    Three people can create a nonexistent Kaltarsis.

    Consider an orphan whose parents drowned in a river. If the people around the child keep insisting that the parents were divided¡ªdevoured¡ªby Kaltarsis, the orphan will nurture false memories and emotions, harboring hatred. Since the world is made ording to beliefs, altering history brings about physical changes.

    Such methods naturally seem attractive to authorsing after him, seeking to overturn the situation. They believe that by transforming Luadin¡¯s boring, unimaginative world into one naturally overflowing with s*x, violence, destruction, immortality, and the unknown, they too can be bestselling authors.

    Yet, of course, except for that bastard filled with the world¡¯s greatest intellect and dignity¡ªLuadin¡ªthere are not many who have seeded in that endeavor.

    Indeed, there are even authors more sessful than Luadin, whom he cannot surpass.

    Praise to Chaos, who enrages Luadin every time with preposterous plots disguised as luck, coincidence, and talent.

    *(Omitted)*

    Attempting to alter established history is not easy. Many people already believe that history to be ¡°obviously true,¡± making it akin to opposing the collective will of those individuals. It is a challenging endeavor even for angels, and if that history is entangled with interests involving other angels, the situation bes far more difficult.

    Thus, the author has summarized the conditions necessary for altering Urbanus into three criteria.

    First, the author.

    First, a god-like being capable of observing and moving Urbansus is needed, in other words, an angel.

    The time and perspective of angels are multidimensional beyond ordinary humanprehension. Observing Urbansus requires the presence of an angel. To prevent interference from meddlesome angels, there must be at least one angel involved. Angels are always genuinelymitted to tripping each other up, even if they share the same faith.

    Second, usibility.

    Do not forget that altering history is fundamentally a ¡°remake of an existing story.¡± It is as challenging as iming that 1+2 was originally 4. For 1+2 to be 4, a storytelling is required that illustrates how 1 and 2 spent a beautiful and happy time together, faced a tragic separation due to the sinister ns of 3, but finally overcame hardships to be 4.

    Through this process, the author will sufficiently persuade humans that it is reasonable for 1+2 to be 4. Of course, if by then both the angel and protagonist survive.

    Third, the protagonist.

    Prepare a being capable of directly interacting with the world (a kind with sufficient intelligence is rmended).

    The protagonist is the agent of historical alteration. People are enthusiastic about the birth of heroes, so they can overlook minor errors urring during the hero¡¯s birth (like why this protagonist never goes to the bathroom and is only ever loved by those around them).

    For the same reason, angels should assist the protagonist or check other angels but should never be the main character. If an angel bes the protagonist, people will feel the alteration of history is unjust. This leads to severe usibility errors, resulting in failure.

    Additionally, the protagonist must have a sturdy mind and will capable of resisting the pressure of Urbanus. If they crumble under social pressure before altering history, they will already be incapable of anything at that point.

    As a side note, I would add timeliness as an extra factor. The more recent the history, the higher the chance of failure due to many people still having vivid memories. Also, in significant timeframes that angels are paying attention to, the likelihood of interference increases.

    In short, opportunities to alter history arise in seemingly trivial and insignificant time periods.

    By now, readers may wonder how to prevent historical corrections.

    In conclusion, there is no such method.

    While one can prevent history from going awry due to angels¡¯ interference and obstacles, there is no way to stop the intervention itself. However, methods exist to make altering history more difficult.

    First, incorporate multiple historical variables. The moreplex the interests among faiths, the harder it bes to meddle.

    Second, rify the purpose of which direction history will flow. If the narrative suddenly deviates from the intended purpose, readers experience severe confusion.

    Third, if you truly do not want it, involve Chaos. The result is unpredictable by anyone. Not even yourself.

    I excelled at these, and even the Elil could not stand as my opponent.

    Perhaps the best example of the saying, ¡°The pen is mightier than the sword.¡±

    *(Omitted)*

    Simrly, while the Lighthouse Keeper is an excellent writer among the prophets, his recent actions seem unable to transcend the fundamentals. His attempts to rece the Chaos he detests so much are doomed to fail. People want a changing tomorrow just as much as they want a stable future. They wish for tomorrow to be better, greater, grander. Yet, they do not want it to improve unconditionally.

    Honestly, I wonder if these stubborn priests even understand moderation, usibility, clich¨¦s, hardship, recognition, and reward¡­

    ***

    ¡°Isaac!¡±

    Isaac snapped back to reality at the rough hands shaking him. Looking around, he saw Bashul holding his shoulders and shaking him. Beyond those shoulders, he also saw the librarian staring at him with a stiff gaze.

    ¡°What are you doing? Did you tamper with the seal?¡±

    Before Bashul could say anything, the librarian asked.

    Isaac realized that this moment was barely different from the instant when he swallowed the book, but his mind was busy organizing the contents of the book. As he hesitated to respond, the librarian spoke coldly.

    ¡°Dera Heman, immediately to the secret archive. The purple seal has been destroyed.¡±

 Chapter 275:

    Chapter 275:

    Dera Heman, Commander of the Golden Lion Pdin Order.

    As soon as the name of the person considered the strongest among the pdins of the Codex of Light was mentioned, Isaac and Bashul froze instantly. Dera Heman was an opponent Isaac couldn¡¯t defeat without using his tentacles, and doing so would reveal his identity immediately.

    ¡®Moreover, his abilities are a terrible match for mine. He¡¯s troublesome¡­¡¯

    But the situation had already reached a point of no return once the order for his summoning had been given.

    Bashul grimaced and immediately swung his sword at the librarian. However, the moment the lights on the ceiling flickered, the librarian had already retreated far away.

    It seemed he judged there was no need for him to exert himself since Dera Heman would soon arrive. Indeed, the librarian was more concerned with preventing the destruction or rampage of other sealed items than with Isaac and Bashul.

    Bashul ground his teeth as he looked at the distant librarian and turned to Isaac.

    He hesitated for a moment but then spoke as if he had no choice.

    ¡°Isaac, escape now and go rescue the Emperor.¡±¡°Didn¡¯t you hear? Do you not know who Dera Heman is?¡±

    ¡°Of course I know. I was once a pdin of the Codex of Light myself.¡±

    Bashul growled.

    Although his practical experience inbat was minimal due to his duty to guard Lichtheim, there was no disagreement within the empire that he was the strongest among the pdins.

    The Golden Lion Pdin Order itself was the elite of the elite. And Dera Heman was at its pinnacle. He was both themander and the chief knight.

    ¡°That¡¯s exactly why I¡¯m doing this. Someone has to hold that monster back, whoever it is. It¡¯s better this way. If there were any issues during the Emperor¡¯s rescue, Dera Heman would definitely show up, so it¡¯s better to deal with him here. You¡¯re more familiar with thisbyrinthine underground structure, so it should be you.¡±

    ¡®I¡¯m curious as to who will be dealt with. Even if Bashul sold his soul to Elil, he wouldn¡¯t be able to defeat Dera Heman.¡¯

    Yet, Isaac agreed with Bashul¡¯s opinion.

    If one of them had to stay behind to draw attention while the other helped the Emperor escape, Isaac was the right person for the job due to his knowledge of theyout.

    However, Isaac doubted whether Bashul could hold off Dera Heman and the librarian for even five minutes.

    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be better if we fought together here?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t you trust me? I¡¯m not as weak as you think. I told you I had a hidden trump card thest time we fought.¡±

    Bashul muttered with a crooked grin.

    His tone wasn¡¯t boastful. He seemed to have something to rely on.

    Just as Isaac was considering using his tentacles in a battle fought with all his might.

    And Bashul was reluctant to show Isaac what he had.

    Probably for the same reasons as Isaac.

    ¡®Could it be¡­¡¯

    Isaac had one absurd possibility in mind but couldn¡¯t verify it. Because at that moment, with a loud noise, the secret archive started blinking with a red light from afar.

    Thud, thud, thud, thud. Each time the sound of doors mming open and shut reverberated, the red light approached faster and faster.

    Seeing this, Bashul shouted urgently.

    ¡°Go! Leave this to me!¡±

    ¡°Stop raising gs and keep quiet, would you?¡±

    Isaac abandoned the idea of escaping.

    Running away in this situation wasn¡¯t the answer. The librarian wouldn¡¯t let him go easily, and if a state of emergency was dered throughout Lichtheim, Isaac would find it difficult to aplish anything.

    ¡®If only this crazy tentacle hadn¡¯t acted on its own¡­¡¯

    But why did this crazy tentacle devour that book on its own?

    Suddenly, Isaac pondered that thought.

    Thud. At the same time the red light fell in front of them, a massive stone door appeared. It was simr to the door through which they had entered.

    Bang. With a tremendous sound, a blinding sh of light flooded in.

    Silhouetted against the glow, a man wearing a lion mask with seven eyes, d in pajamas and slippers, strode in.

    ***

    Bashul and Isaac were momentarily taken aback by the man in pajamas.

    A golden lion mask with seven eyes embedded in it.

    An unmistakable sign of Dera Heman. Yet there were other descriptions too: dazzling golden armor and a radiant white cape.

    There was certainly no mention of pajamas or slippers. At least he was holding the burning Luadin Key instead of a teddy bear, which was a relief.

    ¡®That¡¯s right. It is the middle of the night, after all.¡¯

    It was unclear whether to be grateful that he at least bothered to put on his mask or to criticize him for only bringing the mask in such a situation.

    Regardless, it was apparent that he was quite displeased to be summoned at thiste hour.

    However, he hesitated for a moment upon seeing Isaac and Bashul. He couldn¡¯t immediately determine whether they were allies or enemies due to the confessor¡¯s robe that obscured their faces.

    Isaac quickly pointed at Bashul and shouted.

    ¡°It¡¯s him! He¡¯s the one who destroyed the purple!¡±

    Bashul looked at Isaac in shock, and in that moment, Dera Heman sprang into action.

    Unfortunately, he wasn¡¯t stupid. Themander of the Golden Lion Pdin Order quickly deduced that a confessor had no reason to be wandering the secret archive at this hour, and he decided to cut them both down.

    His sword swung toward Isaac, who was closer. Instead of drawing his own sword recklessly, Isaac wrapped his hand in sword energy to block it. However, the sheer force and the miracle imbued in the Luadin Key cut through Isaac¡¯s sword energy with ease.

    Crack! Isaac managed to deflect the sword and retreated backward.

    Dera Heman¡¯s sword wasyered with killing miracles, allowing it to pierce through Isaac¡¯s sword energy effortlessly. As blood dripped from the wound on his hand, his tentacle twitched as if ready to spring forth.

    ¡®Stay still.¡¯

    If he hadn¡¯t deflected it with the tentacle in his left palm at thest moment, his hand might have been severed. He knew Dera Heman was strong, but not to this extent.

    It seemed there were still many strong individuals left in the world, like An.

    Dera Heman looked perplexed upon seeing that Isaac¡¯s hand, though bleeding, was otherwise unharmed. Still, he didn¡¯t immediately continue his attack. Instead, he swung his sword at Bashul.

    Bashul had no choice but to draw his sword, channeling as much sword energy as possible to block Dera Heman¡¯s attack. Yet, even with just one strike, the sheer power caused Bashul¡¯s sword energy to waver significantly.

    ¡°Oh¡­ Damn it! Just leave already!¡±

    Bashul almost called out Isaac¡¯s name but barely managed to swallow it and shouted instead.

    ¡°Just stall for a moment. Please.¡±

    However, Isaac¡¯s original goal of making Bashul draw attention and buy time had seeded, so he desperately tried to devise a way to ovee the situation. Killing Dera Heman now was impossible. He hadn¡¯t even revealed his full strength yet. Also, if the librarian controlled all the doors and paths, they wouldn¡¯t be able to find a way out.

    They were trapped in this vast prison with a beast.

    Even considering breaking the seals on the items was an option, but if he did more of that, the Blind Sentinel might actuallye this time. The situation was already dangerous enough.

    If only they hadn¡¯te to the secret archive in the first ce.

    Isaac suddenly recalled the knowledge the tentacle had consumed.

    Concerning the Threads That Bind Urbansus.

    ¡®Damn it. Do I really have to use that method?¡¯

    Thoughts of how ridiculous and seemingly forbidden it was flooded his mind. Yet, there was no other way.

    As soon as Isaac made up his mind, he cleared his head of all distractions.

    This world shows what believers believe in. If the person has doubts, ¡°miracles¡± do not ur.

    ¡°Bashul!¡±

    Isaac, unlike a swordmaster, called out to Bashul, who was struggling defensively against Dera Heman. Dera Heman, seeing Bashul hold his ground longer than expected, had even taken off his slippers to fight.

    It was surprising enough that he could fight so well with slippers on.

    With the even more intense assault, Bashul seemed unable to spare any breath for a reply, and his sword was already in tatters.

    ¡°We¡¯ve never been here! Let¡¯s go with that!¡±

    Isaac hoped Bashul would understand what he meant with just those words.

    Fortunately, as expected, Bashul immediately grasped the meaning. However, for Bashul, it was a statement that was shocking beyond disbelief.

    He turned his head towards Isaac with wide eyes.

    ¡°You¡­¡±

    Dera Heman wasn¡¯t naive enough to miss an opening. In an instant, he swung his sword, aiming to sever Bashul¡¯s neck.

    Thunk. However, the sound that came out upon striking the neck was too light and dull for having cut through flesh and bone.

    Dera Heman¡¯s eyes widened at the change urring in Bashul, who had just lost his head.

    Ssssshhh¡­

    Bashul¡¯s body crumbled into a pile of ash.

    And from the rising dust, Bashul suddenly reappeared, swinging his sword at Dera Heman.

    Boom. With a different kind of roar and a sharp sound of air being pierced, Dera Heman was forced to retreat as if being blown back.

    However, this time Bashul didn¡¯t let him go. As Bashul moved, a trail of gray ash formed, clouding the field of view.

    Bashul growled, muttering as if snarling.

    [There better be a n for whates next.]

    It was the voice of an angel.

    Elil¡¯s fourth Archangel, Ashen.

    Elil¡¯s secret sword, whose whereabouts were unknown, had taken residence in Bashul¡¯s body, preparing to deal a critical blow to the Codex of Light.

    Isaac smiled.

    Ashen could kill Dera Heman as it stood, but doing so might attract the attention of angels who favored Dera Heman, and the Blind Sentinel might also appear.

    It was more elegant to slip away cleanly here.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go rescue the Emperor.¡±

    With this, the temporary script waspleted.

    Writer Ashen. Protagonist Isaac.

    And editor Isaac.

    But the script¡¯s revision is only possible within Urbansus. So how to enter Urbansus?

    It was simple. There was a method currently only avable to Isaac.

    Above Isaac¡¯s head, a green ash tree began to form a halo.

    Lighthouse of the Watcher

    By the right of Elil¡¯s Great Warrior. Version, Elil¡¯s Battlefield.

    A green light and the scent of fallen leaves filled the surroundings, and leaves and branches began to sprout from every box and seal.

    Elil¡¯s rule started to take control of the secret archive. As Isaac forced Urbansus to be reflected here, Ashen also moved to revise history.

    In the gazes of Dera Heman and the librarian, who seemed shocked, the two began the script¡¯s revision.

    ***

    The moment Isaac entered the revision of Urbansus, his perspective shifted slightly from before.

    White Owl stated that revising Urbansus requires an angel capable of observing it. An angel can choose and view all timelines, striving to create the desired history in their selected timeline.

    However, in reality, there aren¡¯t many ¡®meaningful¡¯ timelines.

    Consider a scenario where a boy saves his brother from dying in an ident with an angel¡¯s intervention. However, if Orcs from the Olkan Code invade the city, killing all its citizens, saving the boy¡¯s brother bes significant to the boy but holds no historical importance. Just as the significance of Orcs taking over the city bes irrelevant if a meteorite suddenly falls and destroys the continent.

    Arge flow consumes small variables.

    Just as a few droplets sshing don¡¯t change the course of arge river.

    Historically significant events ur only at very few points in the entire history.

    Therefore, Ashen was contemting at which point in history they should intervene.

    Which moment in history should be corrected?

    And Isaac could see into Ashen¡¯s deliberations.

    ¡®Something¡¯s different from before.¡¯

    If observing Urbansus was like flipping through desired pages of a book for angels, Isaac was now one step beyond that. While being a character in the story, he could also observe both angels and Urbansus.

    Isaac pondered what had changed from before.

    ¡®Is it because I devoured White Owl¡¯s book?¡¯

    Isaac continued to digest ¡°Concerning the Threads That Bind Urbansus.¡±

    He hadn¡¯t fully understood all the content yet, but all the book¡¯s knowledge seeped into Isaac¡¯s inner self through predation.

    And the stored knowledge was ready to emerge when needed.

    What mattered was ¡®knowledge.¡¯

    The moment Isaac acquired forbidden knowledge, he began seeing the world with a perspective and insight different from before.

    Like the difference in view between those who know lightning as divine wrath and those who understand thunderclouds and electromaism.

    Of course, Isaac had only just gained the perspective and didn¡¯t have the power to alter history.

    Choosing what to change and how is the angel¡¯s part to decide.

    But Isaac already knew which part he would choose.

    There was a portion he had marked, like cing a bookmark in advance.

    A lucky ssh of Chaos.

    It wasn¡¯t historically significant.

    It only held meaning for Isaac.

    ¡°There¡¯s a slight issue with the usibility of this part.¡±

    ***

    ¡°What¡¯s going on, why are you like that?¡±

    Isaac opened his eyes. He still felt a slight headache and dizziness that made his vision double, but he quickly recovered. Bashul was watching him with anxious eyes nearby.

    They were in the underground corridors of Lichtheim.

    They had just exited the underground passage.

    Isaac smiled and replied.

    ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Let¡¯s go rescue the Emperor.¡±

    The name of the Nameless Chaos wasn¡¯t in the secret archive.

    Thus, there was no reason to go to the secret archive.

    But instead, Isaac had stolen a piece of even more important knowledge.

    Isaac, who was supposed to be just a character, would typically lose that knowledge if history was altered, but this time he remained a witness to the revision, so it didn¡¯t vanish.

    ¡®Thanks, Olkan Code. You band of thieves do have something worth learning?¡¯

    _____________

    Rate us on <em><strong>Novel Updates</strong></em>, so this novel can reach many readers like you, and also it will motivate me to trante more chapters. (For every new rating I will release one new chapter.)

    Hope you enjoyed this chapter.

    If you want to read more than 20 advance chapters or support me, you can do it at /Akaza156

 Chapter 276:

    Chapter 276:

    Isaac hadn¡¯t invented a convenient time-travel device that allowed him to alter history whenever he pleased.

    Just activating the Lighthouse of the Watcher consumed enormous amounts of divine power and stamina. And right now, this was merely a ¡°simple history¡± urring until it caught up to the ¡°present.¡±

    If Isaac failed to create a sufficiently usible sequence of events or made a history absurdly favorable to himself, it would instantly be dismissed as something that ¡°never happened.¡±

    That would mean he¡¯d be back facing Dera Heman in the secret archive immediately.

    ¡®It means I shouldn¡¯t use Urbansus to undo the Emperor¡¯s emunication or attempt to assassinate the Pope.¡¯

    In Isaac¡¯s view, altering Urbansus was a dangerous double-edged sword. The fact that the god of the Salt Council tried to make a change and ended up buried under the salt desert is telling enough.

    It¡¯s too easy to provoke the intervention of angels from other faiths. Isaac, who was struggling to deal with even one angel, had nothing to gain by drawing unnecessary attention. Most importantly, altering Urbansus required finding an angel whose goals aligned with his.

    What if the angel chosen as the ¡°author¡± betrayed him or didn¡¯t act as he wished? It could lead to the worst-case scenario. Therefore, Isaac could somewhat foresee what the future held.

    There weren¡¯t many opportunities to change history due to usibility and timing constraints.Crisis and hardship woulde in simr proportions.

    This time, the two disguised as confessors easily essed the underground prison. Since the ¡°confession¡± work for the Emperor¡¯s faction¡¯s nobles and knights was already underway, no one stopped them.

    ¡°¡­We¡¯ve arrived so easily. I can¡¯t believe it. Isaac, it¡¯s all thanks to you.¡±

    Bashul murmured as they descended deeper into the underground prison. As merely a possessed body for Ashen, he seemed unaware of the process of altering history. It made sense, given that he was simr to Lae from before.

    This thought made Isaac realize just how earnest Bashul was about revenge.

    ¡°Why are you suddenly looking at me so pitifully?¡±

    ¡°¡­It¡¯s just that, like Gebel and you, it¡¯s sad how old men like you have nothing left but revenge. If you had a family, you would have returned to them.¡±

    ¡°Why the sudden provocation? Are you bragging because you¡¯re married? You know pdins are usually celibate, right?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s just something I thought of. I won¡¯t stop you from taking revenge, but if you have nowhere to go after it¡¯s over,e to the Issacrea estate. Gebel is there too, so the two of you can talk it out, and maybe take care of some war orphans together.¡±

    ¡°Why orphans? I¡¯m not good with kids.¡±

    ¡°I thought the same about Gebel, but it turns out he¡¯s good at it.¡±

    Bashul scoffed at Isaac¡¯s words. Still, he seemed to be considering Isaac¡¯s words more than he let on.

    Those obsessed with revenge often think this way. They n up to the point of revenge but don¡¯t consider whates after.

    That¡¯s why avengers often suffer from emptiness afterward, saying things like ¡°revenge is meaningless.¡±

    Even while seeking revenge, one should make friends, find hobbies, and search for new connections or happiness in life to feel a sense of relief after the revenge is done, like finishing oldundry or finally relieving a week-old burden.

    How could anyone not feel emptiness after dedicating their entire life to a single task, only to have it end?

    Isaac didn¡¯t want Gebel or Bashul to end up that way.

    Both had lived their lives consumed by revenge, so he hoped they could find some enjoyment in life, even in their old age. Seeing Gebel find joy in teasing new recruits, Isaac believed Bashul might also discover new pleasures in life.

    ¡°¡­Isaac, you said you had business in the secret archive, yet you prioritized rescuing the Emperor. Thank you. If anything goes wrong, I¡¯ll hold them off, and you take the Emperor and escape. The Emperor will be at least some help against the Olkan Code.¡±

    ¡°Oh, absolutely. I¡¯m counting on you, Bashul.¡±

    Isaac replied cheerfully.

    In truth, Isaac knew that problems were inevitable.

    He knew that at least the same or more dangerous level of hardship would need to ur for it to be epted as ¡°real history.¡±

    ***

    ¡°Halt. Who goes there?¡±

    As they reached the underground prison where Waltzemer was held, two pdins bearing the Golden Lion emblem on their armor blocked their way. Unlike other prisons, it seemed they had a higher level of security, given the presence of pdins on guard.

    Isaac lifted the sleeve of his confessor robe and answered.

    ¡°We have orders to interrogate the apostate Waltzemer.¡±

    ¡°His Holiness the Pope ordered that no one is toy a finger on Waltzemer, nor is anyone allowed to visit him. We¡¯ve neither heard of nor received any orders, so leave.¡±

    As expected, the pdins responded with unyielding firmness, leaving no room for negotiation. Even the tips of their spears, aimed at them, showed no signs of wavering. Isaac sighed and pushed forward the cart filled with torture instruments.

    ¡°Can¡¯t you see here? The order signed by His Holiness¡­¡±

    The moment the pdins¡¯ gaze shifted to the cart, Isaac and Bashul simultaneously lunged forward, striking with their swords. The pdins quickly raised their spears to respond, but it was difficult to stop the two who had attacked with such preparation.

    Isaac used Kaldwin¡¯s eleration ability to instantly pierce through the gap beneath the pdin¡¯s helmet, preventing him from shouting. Meanwhile, Bashul left a trail of ash and, in the next moment, had already swung his sword, tracing a dusty arc, and beheaded the other pdin.

    It was Bashul who was more surprised than the pdins.

    He looked at his ashen hand with a shocked expression. Then he met Isaac¡¯s gaze and was even more astonished.

    ¡°You knew?!¡±

    ¡°I happened to find out.¡±

    Isaac refrained from mentioning the ¡°erased history.¡±

    Ashen, having already revealed his identity, seemed to have decided there was no need to hide and used his powers. Having an angel as an ally was reassuring, but Isaac didn¡¯t intend to use that power recklessly.

    Waltzemer¡¯s prison, of course, was sealed shut. But when they used the Luadin Key, the seal was easily broken, and the lock fell away. It was the carelessness of the order not to anticipate an infiltration by someone wielding the Luadin Key.

    Creak.

    As the door opened, the dimly lit view of the prison was revealed.

    The prison¡¯s condition wasn¡¯t as bad as expected. Though filled with straw, there was a bed and even a toilet to maintain some semnce of dignity. Yet,pared to the environment the prisoner was ustomed to, it might as well have been a pigsty.

    In the corner of the prison, a man sat crouched.

    He was a man who had nearly grasped the entire world in his hands before falling into the abyss.

    ¡°Your Majesty the Emperor.¡±

    At the sound of Bashul¡¯s voice, Waltzemer slowly lifted his head.

    ***

    Waltzemer was recalling a memory.

    He was around twenty years old.

    He fell seriously ill without any apparent reason. It wasn¡¯t unusual for him to fall sick from time to time, as his brothers often bribed the servants to poison his meals.

    Although he always survived, this fever was severe.

    His entire body felt like it was burning, and the priests and doctors who visited him several times could only shake their heads in defeat.

    In his feverish daze, Waltzemer imagined that he was being tempered by fire.

    The world¡¯s forge would someday give birth to a god from its mes, and that god would be the true Codex of Light.

    Waltzemer imagined himself as the Codex of Light being reforged within the forge to be reborn. The fire that tempered the god beneath the earth was surely much hotter and more painful. Such poison was nothingpared to that pain¡­ he thought.

    It was a sphemous thought, but his suffering left him with no room to consider such things.

    His flesh melted away, his bones disintegrated, and his spirit evaporated into the air. Then, his flesh was hammered and tempered, his bones reassembled, and his spirit condensed and flowed anew.

    In the visions of being broken and reassembled repeatedly, Waltzemer saw his body being forged into the shape of a stag.

    The stag had a mane made of mes and antlers radiating heat.

    Waltzemer was mesmerized by the beauty of the stag. But the stag was not yetplete. It was still weak and couldn¡¯t even stand on its own.

    Waltzemer eagerly awaited itspletion.

    Then, a servant entered. It was the servant he cherished most, someone who had been a friend since childhood. He could trust and consume anything given by this servant.

    The servant entered with a grim expression, spreading oil around the room and drawing a dagger.

    The servant aimed the dagger at Waltzemer, whoy on the bed stricken by fever, intending to finally end the persistent assassination target who wouldn¡¯t die from poison, and to set the ce aze. Waltzemer tried to scream, but his hoarse throat couldn¡¯t produce a sound.

    Just as the dagger touched his throat, the room was filled with a brilliant light.

    It was a dazzling radiance, as if the sun itself had descended into the room. A single brilliant pir of light quietly watched over him from the center of the room. The mere presence of this light filled the room with heat, causing the flowers to wither, and setting fire to the curtains and dry floors. The mes quickly spread throughout the room via the oil, and the assassin wielding the dagger was reduced to a pile of ash in an instant.

    Waltzemer stared at the angel amidst the mes. Instinctively, he knew who it was, not merely by the voice but by the quietly expressed will of the most renowned Archangel.

    [I will be with you.]

    The Lighthouse Keeper whispered softly to Waltzemer.

    The mes rapidly spread throughout the mansion. Screams, cries, and sounds of things shattering erupted all around. Though Waltzemer was at the center of this great fire, he felt no heat. It was as if being amidst these mes was the safest ce for him.

    That night, Waltzemer was reborn as a vessel filled with miracles, a sacred body.

    It was the day he truly decided to be Emperor.

    ***

    Waltzemer looked at Bashul with blurred eyes.

    Unlike the thoughts he had just been lost in, this dark and dismal ce made him feel weak and feeble. But he couldn¡¯t mistake the voice of Bashul, the knight-guard.

    Bashul hurriedly approached Waltzemer and helped him up.

    ¡°Can you move? We need to hurry.¡±

    ¡°Bashul¡­ it really is you. What possessed you toe here? If you were alive, you should have fled.¡±

    ¡°There are still many debts Your Majesty owes me. I won¡¯t let you die peacefully until I collect those debts.¡±

    Waltzemer was silent for a moment. Then suddenly, he shook off Bashul¡¯s support and sat back down.

    ¡°I¡­ I deceived you. I am not worthy of your help.¡±

    ¡°Your Majesty, what¡¯s wrong?¡±

    Bashul asked in surprise, but Waltzemer continued to refuse his assistance.

    ¡°I promised to help you get revenge against the Codex of Light. I epted it with the thought of exposing the sect¡¯s weaknesses and seizing some of its authority.¡±

    ¡°I know that. We only agreed because our goals aligned¡­¡±

    ¡°That was a wed purpose from the start. I said that humans should rule the earth, and gods the heavens, but I was wrong. I believed I could be the one to represent both the earth and the heavens.¡±

    What difference would it make if Bashul dealt with the blind sentinels? Perhaps if the next person in power went through continuous reform, there might be a chance.

    But Waltzemer didn¡¯t intend for that. He simply wanted to be the ultimate authority, with human and divine powerbined. He thought it was the duty and right of the human chosen by the Lighthouse Keeper.

    Of course, there might have been philosophies and ideologies for the people, for governance, and for the future in his goals. But when the Lighthouse Keeper appeared, it was revealed to be an impossible dream.

    ¡°I deluded myself into thinking I was the human chosen by the Lighthouse Keeper. But now I think the Lighthouse Keeper appeared not to guide me, but to fuel my arrogance and vanity.¡±

    Waltzemer murmured in a voice filled with destion.

    ¡°In the end, I threw away the Emperor¡¯s authority and entrusted everything to the Lighthouse Keeper. I wanted to carry the heavenly authority on my back. I effectively nullified the Licht Treaty myself.¡±

    ¡°Your Majesty.¡±

    ¡°In the end, I betrayed my servants, my subordinates, and my followers who believed in me. I merely tried to be a blind sentinel holding imperial power.¡±

    Waltzemer muttered with a despairing expression, scratching at his face.

    ¡°If I were to challenge the heavens, I should have done it with my own strength, as I have done until now¡­ I should have challenged them with my strength alone, without relying on an angel!¡±<hr>

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 Chapter 277:

    Chapter 277:

    Isaac was puzzled by Waltzemer¡¯s tearful expression of regret.

    If Waltzemer had opposed the Codex without relying on the will of the Lighthouse Keeper, could he have avoided the deration of emunication? Perhaps he could have. In fact, the Lighthouse Keeper could not emunicate the Emperor recklessly because of the Licht Treaty.

    Once the earthly power was acknowledged, there was potential for issues if it exercised its rights to directly influence that power.

    However, the moment Waltzemer entrusted that authority to the Lighthouse Keeper, he gave them grounds to nullify the Licht Treaty.

    For the same reason, it was also impossible for the Emperor to forcibly strip the Pope of power.

    This, too, would break the Licht Treaty.

    In other words, the moment Waltzemer sumbed to his arrogance and desired greater authority and power, he was ensnared in a trap he couldn¡¯t escape.

    And the path to that arrogance was likely carefullyid by the Lighthouse Keeper.

    To once again create a world where the Codex ruled over humans.¡°Because of me, so much blood has been spilled due to all the sacrifices, yet my arrogance made it all meaningless. My family, my friends, my siblings, Ethelheart, Delia, Dietrich¡­ even Rene.¡±

    Isaac¡¯s expression twitched. He revived the doubts he had dismissed due to ack of evidence and the church¡¯s suspicious behavior.

    ¡°Was it you who summoned the Apocalypse Handler in Rougeberg?¡±

    ¡°¡­Yes.¡±

    Waltzemer mumbled absently.

    ¡°I used the information and sacred relics I discovered while uncovering the foul deeds of the church. I thought I could use them as an excuse to exploit the church¡¯s weaknesses. I was too focused on undermining the church¡¯s authority and expanding its moral failings.¡±

    Both Bashul and Isaac, who were unaware, were at a loss for words.

    Waltzemer had gambled with his life.

    He must have been confident he would win since it was a gamble conducted on a board he set up. But the gamble failed, and many people died.

    Including Rene Romerque, the loyal knight who willingly sacrificed herself to protect the Emperor.

    ¡°But Isaac, thanks to you, the situation ended too quickly. Before I even faced a proper threat. So I killed Rene when she was poisoned. I wanted to create a pretext that ¡®my subordinate¡¯s blood was spilled due to the church¡¯s assassination attempt.¡¯¡±

    Isaac found himself gripping his sword without realizing it.

    He didn¡¯t know Rene well, but he knew she was a knight who dedicated herself to training yet often smiled warmly.

    Had she died fighting an enemy, he would have mourned her loss but not felt anger. But if she died because of her superior¡¯s political schemes¡­

    As Isaac fiddled with his sword, Bashul watched the situation with a tense expression. However, Isaac soon calmed his murderous intent.

    Once Rene was poisoned by the Apocalypse Handler, her chance of survival was slim. Perhaps he could have saved her if he had revealed his powers.

    Yet, could Waltzemer be the sole problem?

    The Emperor, the Pope, and everyone living on this earth were mere pawns moving ording to a celestial scheme. If they deviated from the n, they would be ¡°corrected¡± or reced through Urbanus. Rene and Waltzemer were essentially not much different at their core.

    So, who were the ones moving the pawns? The Archangels? The Nine Gods?

    What was their purpose in ying this game?

    Waltzemer sacrificed his subordinates to create a world where humans ruled the earth. It was a noble goal, one Isaac agreed with and encouraged.

    To what extent could ¡°sacrifices for a goal¡± be justified?

    Isaac felt confusion. Waltzemer¡¯s struggles, anger, and conflicts were problems Isaac had faced or would soon face.

    Now he was one of the sharp edges of the world.

    [The Nameless Chaos is watching you.]

    ¡®Shut up.¡¯

    Isaac brushed off the message angrily as the Nameless Chaos whispered its incantation to prevent over-immersion.

    The messages from the Nameless Chaos helped him perceive and adapt to this world as if it were a game. But if he continued viewing the world with that perspective, he would be no different from Waltzemer or the Lighthouse Keeper.

    Isaac suddenly spoke up.

    ¡°There are no sacrifices.¡±

    Both Bashul and Waltzemer looked at Isaac.

    ¡°I am a veteran among veterans. I can win without strategy. If sacrifices are necessary, tell them to cut off my arm. Then they can see what lies behind that arm.¡±

    ***

    After a brief silence, Bashul spoke up.

    ¡°What are you talking about?¡±

    Isaac came to his senses and looked up. He had gotten lost in deep thought, muttering to himself.

    All they heard was Waltzemer¡¯s confession about Rene¡¯s death. However, Waltzemer seemed to sense something from Isaac¡¯s words and spoke.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know what ¡®veteran¡¯ means, but your words resonate deeply.¡±

    Waltzemer smiled for the first time since he had been in this prison and muttered.

    ¡°Sometimes I had my doubts, but you are indeed an excellent pdin. If even half of the church were like you, it would be a better ce.¡±

    Though it was apliment, Isaac couldn¡¯t imagine what the church would look like if it were filled with people like him.

    ¡°Bashul, help me up.¡±

    When Waltzemer reached out, Bashul put his arm over his shoulder and helped him stand. Though his body was covered in wounds from being dragged here, it seemed they had used a healing miracle to keep him alive.

    Isaac watched and coldly remarked.

    ¡°Finally decided to escape?¡±

    ¡°I still believe I¡¯m not qualified,¡± Waltzemer said as he lowered his head. ¡°But it seems you both think it¡¯s better for me to struggle outside rather than die here, so I guess I¡¯ll have to grovel around to atone for my sins, even if it¡¯s disgraceful¡­¡±

    He tilted his head as he spoke.

    ¡°What are your thoughts? I have no horns anymore, and I¡¯ve lost the miracles bestowed upon me, the power, and the territory. I¡¯m just a useless old man. What use could I possibly be?¡±

    Isaac looked at Bashul.

    Although Isaac also agreed, it was Bashul who had enthusiastically advocated rescuing Waltzemer. But Bashul just mumbled, unable to give an answer, clearly embarrassed. Waltzemer noticed this quickly.

    ¡°Is it Elil¡¯s will?¡±

    ¡°¡­Yes.¡±

    Waltzemer chuckled weakly.

    Emunicated unterally by the Codex he had devoted his life to, he was instead saved by the unexpected Elil. It might be another pawn role, but Waltzemer decided to ept it willingly.

    For the same reason as Bashul.

    ¡°Alright. If I can strike a blow at the church, I¡¯ll take it.¡±

    On the other hand, Isaac agreed to rescue the Emperor for more practical reasons.

    ¡®If the Emperor escapes, it will be difficult for the church to swallow the empire whole.¡¯

    The church had nullified the Licht Treaty using the Emperor¡¯s emunication as a basis and was preparing to swallow up all the imperial power held by Waltzemer. With the sudden fall of Waltzemer¡¯s immense charisma, not many would resist their movements.

    But if Waltzemer escaped alive from Lichtheim?

    The vested interests within the empire who didn¡¯t want to be exploited by the church would surely question the church¡¯s authority and power. Ultimately, they would weigh their benefits, and in that process, Isaac would inevitably gain some advantage.

    It seemed Waltzemer was thinking along simr lines.

    ¡°Have you seen Delia Lyon? Last time I saw her, she was injured but not mortally wounded.¡±

    ¡°I haven¡¯t seen her.¡±

    ¡°Hmm, this might sound harsh.¡±

    Waltzemer paused briefly before speaking.

    ¡°If we can¡¯t rescue Delia Lyon, it¡¯s better to kill her. If she lives, the church will use her to control the Council of Nobles. The same goes for Dietrich. With the death of Duke Brant, it will be difficult for the church to tame the Northern Alliance. So, it would have been best if my emunication was the end of it. But¡­¡±

    The moment he decided to escape, the imperial ailment red up again, proving he was indeed an emperor. Suggesting they should kill Delia Lyon, who made him an emperor and served him for decades, seemed like a true emperor.

    Isaac kicked Waltzemer in the rear, meaning for him to get a grip. Startled by the unexpected kick, Waltzemer looked at Isaac with a surprised expression.

    ¡°Pull yourself together and focus on escaping. Stop spouting nonsense.¡±

    ¡°¡­I guess I was rambling. It seems to be a chronic issue. I¡¯ll watch my mouth.¡±

    Waltzemer walked, fumbling as if the sensation of being kicked was foreign to him. After all, who would have kicked the emperor¡¯s rear end since he was ten? But sometimes, regardless of age, having someone to kick you when you talk nonsense is necessary.

    ***

    Isaac covered Waltzemer with a rag, disguising him as a prisoner and dragging him along. It wasn¡¯t strange for confessors to transport prisoners, so they didn¡¯t draw attention.

    ¡®It¡¯s fortunate his horns are gone.¡¯

    Without his characteristic horns, Waltzemer looked oddly in.

    Even though it was the appearance of an ordinary person.

    But had his horns been present during the escape, they would have had to cut them off themselves.

    As they made their way through the mid-point of Lichtheim¡¯s underground corridor, a sudden sharp sound filled the hallway. At the same time, the lights lining the corridor began to emit a bright red glow.

    Bashul clicked his tongue and muttered.

    ¡°We¡¯ve been discovered. Let¡¯s run.¡±

    There were plenty of reasons why they might have been discovered.

    Perhaps it was because the two confessors were missing, or maybe it was because the changeover time for the pdins guarding Waltzemer¡¯s cell had arrived. Getting this far unscathed was already a miracle.

    The three of them hurriedly started running. But they had to stop shortly after when all the corridor lights suddenly went out. The underground corridor, devoid of windows, plunged into pitch darkness as soon as the lights vanished.

    The moment the suffocating darkness descended, Isaac instinctively shouted.

    ¡°Don¡¯t move!¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t move. This is Lichtheim¡¯s alert protocol. When there¡¯s an escapee, they extinguish the lights and order everyone to stop moving. Anyone moving without permission is deemed the escapee.¡±

    Waltzemer and Bashul looked at Isaac with frozen expressions.

    ¡°So we just stand here until the search party arrives?¡±

    Of course, they couldn¡¯t do that. But the moment they moved, their location would be pinpointed. In this ironic situation, Isaac desperately tried to figure out how to escape. Unfortunately, a red light began to appear from the corridor they hade down.

    Isaac felt a sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu.

    He finally realized that the past he had reverted through Urbansus had caught up with reality. And that a threat and obstacle of equal magnitude had arrived.

    Yet, he still didn¡¯t know how they could escape.

    Thud, thud, thud, thud, thud.

    A loud noise echoed with each red light flicker.

    ¡°Isaac, since you know everything, I have to ask¡­ What does a search party mean in Lichtheim¡­?¡±

    ¡°The Golden Lion Pdins.¡±

    Only then did they see a man in a golden mask striding down the corridor, enveloped in the red glow.

    Dera Heman. This time, he was fully d in armor, not pajamas.

    It was clear how urgent the librarian¡¯s summons must have been, but it was also a terrible conclusion that they had to face a fully armed Dera Hemann.

    If they stayed here, they would inevitably face Dera Hemann.

    While Isaac was still racking his brain, Bashul approached Dera Hemann with a firm expression. At the same time, a white light came on above his head.

    The bright light illuminated his body.

    ¡°Bashul!¡±

    ¡°Be quiet, Isaac. You¡¯ve done well enough. All I¡¯ve done is follow you around. From here on, I¡¯ll handle what I agreed to do.¡±<hr>

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 Chapter 278:

    Chapter 278:

    Bashul nced back at Waltzemer and spoke.

    ¡°Your Majesty, you must survive to fulfill your responsibilities. Although I am no longer an imperial knight or anything else, I can consider this as fulfilling my duty.¡±

    ¡°Bashul¡­¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t n on dying, so save the sentimental words forter.¡±

    Dera Heman noticed Bashul standing in the white light and immediately charged at him, followed by several other pdins. The situation was far worse than when they fought in the library. However, Bashul swung his sword without hesitation.

    Whoosh. A cloud of ash burst forth, filling the corridor.

    ¡°Go!¡±

    Simultaneously, Isaac and Waltzemer began to run.

    There was no reason they couldn¡¯t defeat Dera Heman if they worked together with Archangel Ashen, but Lichtheim was the headquarters of the Codex of Light. If they dyed even a little in a fight here, it would be over.And Isaac was confident Bashul wouldn¡¯t die easily.

    ¡®If he¡¯s with Ashen, he should be able to stall for time and find an opportunity to escape.¡¯

    That left Isaac with the role of getting Waltzemer out. After all, the one most likely to fail in escaping here was the former emperor.

    ***

    Bashul sensed the presence of the two swiftly moving away and was satisfied.

    The ash was thick enough to obscure the white light. Bashul didn¡¯t waste a moment to attack from within the cover of the dust. He immediately charged at the pdin who entered the ash cloud.

    ng. However, his attack was deflected with a sharp metallic sound.

    Whoosh¡­ At the same time, the ash was blown away, centering around a subtle halo. The halo expanded and contracted like breathing, but Ashen¡¯s ash dissipated wherever it touched.

    The pdin wrapped entirely in a halo was Dera Heman.

    Bashul was shocked that his surprise attack was so easily blocked by Dera Heman. The Imperial Guards¡¯ swordsmanship is known for its speed and precision. Among them, Bashul was the chief knight. He didn¡¯t expect such a distinct difference in skill, even while revealing his sword aura.

    Dera Heman, realizing Bashul was a formidable opponent, gestured for the other pdins to retreat.

    ¡°You¡¯re smart. You understand that mediocre fighters wouldn¡¯t be any help in this fight?¡±

    Dera Heman didn¡¯t reply. But in that silence, Bashul could read his focus and skill. While pdins attain their status through superhuman training, Dera Heman was beyond the norm.

    ¡°I¡¯ve heard rumors that you¡¯reparable to Kalsen Miller at his peak. But can a shelteredckey like youpare to Kalsen, who rampaged on the battlefield? It¡¯s amusing to see you boasting as the greatest pdin in such a safe ce.¡±

    Bashul attempted to provoke Dera Heman emotionally, but thetter didn¡¯t budge. He simply stood silently with the Luadin Key, aiming at Bashul, before suddenly bringing down his sword without warning.

    ng. Bashul instinctively sidestepped instead of blocking. Even so, he felt a jolt in his palm like a hammer had struck him. He couldn¡¯t believe the strength, even though he was drawing on Ashen¡¯s power.

    ¡®How manyyers of miracles is he using? Can a human withstand this?¡¯

    Bashul immediately abandoned the idea of defeating Dera Heman head-on.

    Instead, he decided to fully utilize Ashen¡¯s doctrine.

    Whoosh. Suddenly, Bashul¡¯s body vanished, dissolving into ash. Simultaneously, he reappeared beside Dera Heman from the ash cloud, swinging his sword. The strike was easily blocked, and he received a counterattack to the chest.

    But instead of screaming and copsing, Bashul vanished, leaving only an empty shell made of ash.

    This time, three Bashuls emerged from the ash cloud, attacking Dera Heman simultaneously. Dera Heman swiftly dispatched two and narrowly deflected thest Bashul¡¯s attack, beforending a blow to his face.

    However, when the third Bashul was struck, a burst of choking ash exploded into the air. Even with the halo he emitted, Dera Heman struggled to disperse the ash cloud, finding it hard to breathe.

    Bashul was the chief knight of the Imperial Guard, known as the strongest among the imperial knights. Not being able to use miracles was his only w, but now, with the power of an angel, there was no reason he should be inferior to Dera Heman.

    Amidst the thick ash, static electricity crackled. Beyond the ash cloud where Dera Heman wandered, Bashul was crouched, ready.

    The ash was his eyes, ears, and senses.

    Bashul could clearly see Dera Heman as if he were in his grasp.

    ¡®Now.¡¯

    The Imperial Guard¡¯s swordsmanship, which required the most agile movements, was activated.

    Crack! Bashul¡¯s body was enveloped in static electricity stored in the ash as he shot forward.

    A bolt of lightning flying horizontally.

    The tip of his sword was aimed precisely at Dera Heman¡¯s head.

    ¡®I won.¡¯

    Crack! The sound of metal tearing rang out, and Bashul was convinced of his victory. Guided by Ashen, his sword pierced the lion mask with seven eyes and split his head.

    So he believed.

    Bang. Bashul¡¯s vision flipped over.

    He couldn¡¯t understand what had happened. All he saw was his right handpletely shattered and his sword, which had never been scratched during his time with the Imperial Guard, lying in pieces.

    ¡°Argh¡­!¡±

    Whoosh! At the same time, a surge of heat pushed back the ash cloud. Bashul attempted to use Ashen¡¯s abilities to restore his hand, but the charred stump refused to regenerate.

    [Run.]

    Suddenly, Ashen gave amand.

    ¡®What?¡¯

    [You can¡¯t win this. No human can. Retreat.]

    Bashul was shocked to hear such wordsing from an Archangel.

    He looked back at Dera Heman.

    The halo surrounding Dera Heman zed violently, pushing back the ash as he approached. But that wasn¡¯t the most rming thing. Bashul saw Dera Heman¡¯s face beneath the cracked mask.

    Dera Heman¡¯s face was grotesque.

    His pale, featureless face bore only seven eyes. It was unclear how he ate or breathed. Bashul briefly thought Dera Heman might be wearing another mask beneath his mask. But it was undoubtedly his bare face.

    If he were human, only miracles could keep him alive.

    [He¡¯s a holy body. His constitution allows him to inhale divine power like it¡¯s air and exhale miracles like it¡¯s nothing. He¡¯s a human endlessly close to an angel. It¡¯s no wonder he can coat his entire body in miracles and remain unharmed. Now I understand.]

    ¡®A holy body? That thing?¡¯

    Its grotesque appearance indeed matched that of an angel. However, unlike the easily recognizable marks of a sacred body like Waltzemer¡¯s, Dera Heman¡¯s appearance was nothing short of sinister. Dera Heman picked up the broken mask from the floor and ced it over his face. However, the mask only covered half of his face.

    At that moment, Dera Heman drew in a breath, and the ash surrounding Bashul was incinerated, disappearing in an instant. Bashul then realized that Ashen¡¯s ash hadn¡¯t simply vanished in the halo but was absorbed.

    In essence, he was inadvertently adding strength to Dera Heman.

    ¡®Is there any way to defeat that thing?¡¯

    [He is a creature that breathes divine power to survive. He¡¯d find it hard to live outside of ces like Lichtheim or the Holy Land where divine power is abundant. Or unless he¡¯s constantly supported by a high-ranking priest or carries a dedicated sacred artifact.]

    ¡®You¡¯re saying that unless I drag him outside Lichtheim, there¡¯s no way to kill him.¡¯

    [That¡¯s why I¡¯m telling you to flee. Knowing when to retreat is also a knight¡¯s duty. Don¡¯t you understand?]

    Dera Heman was closing in on Bashul. However, Bashul didn¡¯t run away.

    He hadn¡¯t yet bought enough time for Isaac to escape.

    He switched the sword to his left hand to rece his shattered right one.

    Dera Heman tilted his head, seemingly surprised.

    ¡°I apologize for calling you someone who boasted in safety because your constitution only allows you to survive in Lichtheim. I take that back.¡±

    Instead of replying, Dera Heman simply watched him. Bashul, with a faint smile, prepared to swing his sword.

    ¡°But as a pdin who fought on the frontlines, I cannot show an unsightly side. As your senior, I¡¯ll set an example for you.¡±

    ***

    Ssh.

    In the southern marshes of Lichtheim, Isaac and Waltzemer emerged from the reeds along the riverbank. Although they were still close to Lichtheim, it seemed Bashul had done exceptionally well, given there were no pursuers.

    ¡®He probably didn¡¯t kill the Golden Lion Pdins. Perhaps he¡¯s still evading them well.¡¯

    If Dera Heman¡¯s abilities were as he remembered, Bashul couldn¡¯t defeat him. As long as the location was right, even the true form of an angel would find Dera Heman a difficult opponent.

    As Isaac wrung out his wet clothes, Waltzemer gazed toward the eastern sky where the sun was just beginning to rise. It was still dim with dawn, but no one doubted the bright sun would soon rise and paint the sky blue.

    Whether the Emperor was emunicated or trust in the Codex of Light was lost, the world simply carried on with its duties in silence.

    This indifferent, steady order gave Waltzemer a sense of both resentment and reassurance.

    ¡°What do you n to do now?¡±

    ¡°Well, what do you n to do? Didn¡¯t you say the Olkan Code had invaded?¡±

    Isaac had already filled him in on their situation during their journey. From temporarily holding back the Olkan Code to promising Archangel Manseungja to halt the Great Raid in exchange for forbidden knowledge.

    But Isaac had failed to acquire the forbidden knowledge. He had nothing to offer Manseungja.

    Isaac absentmindedly flicked away the mud stuck to his head and looked up at the sky.

    ¡°Well¡­ I promised Manseungja, so I should return to the estate. Although I¡¯m uncertain about what to do, I¡¯m not entirely without a n.¡±

    In truth, Isaac didn¡¯tpletely trust the promise with Manseungja. The army set in motion for the Great Raid was too significant to turn back for a piece of knowledge alone.

    Relying on the goodwill of the powerful is foolish. One must always have a second and third strategy prepared.

    Waltzemer gave a bitter smile at Isaac¡¯s mention of having a n.

    ¡°The empire owes so much to just one person like you. While I ruined everything with foolish ambition¡­ Honestly, I have no n. I¡¯ve lost all means and methods, and I don¡¯t know how to rise again.¡±

    Isaac discerned the underlying message in Waltzemer¡¯s words.

    ¡°Do you want to go to the Issacrea estate?¡±

    ¡°Is that possible?¡±

    Isaac pondered for a moment.

    Waltzemer was a dangerous yet powerful symbol. It could form a point of connection for alliances, not just with the Northern Alliance, which had lost Duke Brant, but also with Elil and the World¡¯s Forge.

    But he couldn¡¯t be used openly. The Codex of Light would certainly react violently.

    Isaac didn¡¯t want the Lighthouse Keeper appearing over his estate.

    ¡°Go to Rougeberg.¡±

    ¡°¡­Rougeberg?¡±

    ¡°With Dietrich Brant dead, the Brant territory will be temporarily governed by Duchess Freya. For the sake of the family, Duchess Freya will likely turn a blind eye to her husband¡¯s death. Otherwise, she might have to fight against the Church¡ªagainst the Empire.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°But she won¡¯t forget. Neither will Isolde.¡±

    Isaac pointed north.

    ¡°Go there and let yourself be used as a symbol of anti-church sentiment. Even if you¡¯re treated harshly, ept it as fate. Duchess Freya and Isolde will find a useful role for you, even without your horns.¡±

    Am I just dumping a useless and dangerous card on my inws?

    In a way, yes. But to handle a wildcard like the emunicated emperor effectively, he needs to be in the Brant territory rather than Issacrea. Isaks the rity needed to be a figurehead of the anti-church movement. His foundation is still based on being a ¡®Pdin of the Codex of Light.¡¯

    Moreover, the Freya Brant Isaac remembered would thoroughly verify and confirm several times before exposing Waltzemer.

    If Waltzemer stirs the church externally, Isaac will shake it internally.

    ¡°What if Duchess Freya hands me over to the church?¡±

    ¡°I told you, ept it as fate.¡±

    Waltzemer burst intoughter. At that moment, he showed a glimpse of his old imperial self.

    ¡°Very well. But I can¡¯t show up empty-handed when seeking their aid. I should bring a valuable gift so that Duchess Freya won¡¯t abandon me.¡±

    ¡°Do you have something to offer?¡±

    ¡°A leader must always have an emergency fund.¡±

    ¡®How proudly he says it.¡¯

    Isaac smirked internally but thought Waltzemer might be a decent leader after all.

    In this era, leaders often equate national wealth with their own. However, the very concept of an emergency fund implies a distinction between public funds and personal assets, which is quite progressive.

    Bonus Chapter for Every Review on NOVEL UPDATES

 Chapter 279:

    Chapter 279:

    Waltzemer straightened his back.

    The Empire was no longer in his hands. While he could still serve as a counterbnce, regaining his footing was now purely dependent on Waltzemer¡¯s own abilities, having lost his horns.

    ¡°So, you have been given the mission to defend the eastern part of the Empire. I trust you will do well.¡±

    Isaac chuckled at Waltzemer¡¯s tone, as if he still owned the Empire. This ambitious power-hungry man didn¡¯t seem like someone who would simply vanish after being used as a pawn.

    ¡°Of course, I have to stop the Olkan Code. But that¡¯s merely an obstacle I need to ovee.¡±

    ¡°An obstacle? Is there a more important goal than that?¡±

    Isaac gazed at the rising dawn in the east.

    ¡°I must reim the Holy Land.¡±

    Waltzemer wore a somewhat sour expression at Isaac¡¯s answer. It was as if he was saying, ¡°So you¡¯re just another pdin of the Codex of Light after all.¡±To him, who had lost everything due to his faith, the Holy Land and the Dawn Army might seem like bitter enemies.

    Despite the setbacks and twisted motives, Isaac¡¯s goal had never changed.

    His goal was still the remation of the Holy Land.

    However, if the Codex of Light tried to recklessly seize the Holy Land, Isaac nned to thwart them.

    ¡°Take care. If you face any hardships because you¡¯re a Barvari, there is a faith that wees everyone without discrimination, even if you¡¯re a Barvari. Perhaps you should hear about it.¡±

    ¡°Is there such a thing within the Empire?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s thetest trend. If you¡¯re interested, I can introduce you to someone.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure if I can have faith again, but alright.¡±

    ***

    ¡°The Emperor has escaped?¡±

    Pope Horma Kmuel, upon receiving news of Waltzemer¡¯s escape by lunchtime the next day, asked in disbelief.

    It was hard to believe that Waltzemer, who had been securely imprisoned beneath Lichtheim, had escaped, and even more so that he was only informed of it by lunchtime.

    ¡°Wasn¡¯t the Golden Lion Pdin Order guarding him? Who¡¯s responsible for this?¡±

    ¡°ording to Dera Heman¡¯s report, the Archangel Ashen of Elil appeared, got injured, and then vanished. However, it¡¯s unclear if Ashen acted independently again or if it was truly Elil¡¯s intervention.¡±

    Turning Elil into an enemy amid this would be dreadful. Frankly, the Pope preferred to believe it was yet another of Ashen¡¯s independent actions, as usual.

    ¡°The angels will handle it as they see fit. If the Emperor escaped from the heart of Lichtheim, isn¡¯t that also part of the grand scheme?¡±

    The Pope replied with a hint of sarcasm.

    ¡°He¡¯s not the Emperor but the apostate Waltzemer, Your Holiness.¡±

    Cardinal Rohen Otter patiently emphasized.

    Rohen had demonstrated, with the appearance of the Lighthouse Keeper, that the true power of the Churchy not with the Pope but with the Watcher¡¯s Council, yet he still showed respect to the Pope. The Pope was aware he was merely a scapegoat but could do nothing about it.

    His reaction to Waltzemer¡¯s escape was also subdued.

    ¡°Very well, I understand.¡±

    ¡°¡­Is that all, Your Holiness?¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t he just an emunicated Barvari anyway? I don¡¯t understand why he was allowed to escape. Handle it as you see fit. Wasn¡¯t that your n all along?¡±

    With a hint of sarcasm in the Pope¡¯s voice, Rohen quietly nodded and stepped back. In fact, a search party had already been dispatched, and notices dering the Emperor¡¯s emunication had been sent to nobles across thend. The Pope merely listened to post-factum reports after all arrangements werepleted.

    ¡®Maybe it was the Watcher¡¯s Council that let Waltzemer escape in the first ce. With Dera Heman guarding him, could he have escaped so easily?¡¯

    The Pope considered this possibility but had no way of knowing the truth. Every procedure was conducted through the Watcher¡¯s Council.

    As Rohen exited the conference room, he mentioned in passing before closing the door.

    ¡°Oh, by the way, the cardinal election took ce this morning. Fortunately, Bishop Am Ende was chosen. Congrattions.¡±

    Am Ende was another priest rmended by Cardinal Rohen from the Watcher¡¯s Council. Initially, when the Lighthouse Keeper appeared and incinerated hispetitor, it was expected that no one else would be chosen.

    Now, two cardinals were from the Watcher¡¯s Council. Although the Pope himself had been appointed with the Council¡¯s support, the situation had now be irretrievable.

    Cardinal Juan was trembling in his room after having opposed the Pope and opened the gates. Yet the Pope didn¡¯t feel inclined to punish him.

    More than half the priests in Lichtheim had harbored dissatisfaction against him from the start. Punishing them all was impossible, and with the angels¡¯ will confirmed, there was no reason for the priests to rebel. The Pope¡¯s authority was now higher than ever.

    However, the Pope also wanted to cower in his room.

    Horma gestured dismissively to send Rohen away. Rohen left without bowing.

    ¡®The escaped Emperor.¡¯

    The Pope gazed past the terrace with cloudy eyes. Somewhere beyond the ins, the emperor who had lost both power and his horns would be on the run. He couldn¡¯t know where Waltzemer would flee. The Brant territory, which had lost its duke? The Elil kingdom, where suspicions of receiving Elil¡¯s help arose? Or perhaps he might flee to the ck Empire entirely. Many power-hungry individuals had be undead with revenge and anger in their hearts.

    But regardless of the path he chose, the Pope felt that if Waltzemer ever returned to Lichtheim, he would be a far more dangerous and terrifying entity than before.

    ¡®Whatever you choose, Waltzemer, survive at all costs.¡¯

    Horma thought this unconsciously, then was startled by his own feelings.

    He was rooting for the Emperor.

    The man who had been abandoned by God and fallen into the abyss, he was hoping for his return and revival. The Pope felt his heart race upon realizing his own emotions.

    It was like the mischievous thoughts of a child imagining a bad prank.

    If he finally saw Lichtheim burn and Cardinal Rohen¡¯s head crushed underfoot, he felt he could smile even amid the inferno.

    ***

    Emunication of Emperor Waltzemer.

    This news spread rapidly through the words of the Church¡¯s messengers and the mouths of priests in cathedrals, churches, and monasteries across thend. The shock among the popce, whethermoners, nobles, or pagans, was substantial. Emperor Waltzemer was not unpopr, and he bore the stigmata of a sacred body, a sign of being chosen by God. Emunication for such a man?

    Yet, the countless people who had been stuck around Lichtheim due to the imperial army¡¯s blockade became witnesses. They all testified in unison. For the first time in 300 years, the Lighthouse Keeper had manifested, and amidst blinding, scorching agony, the Emperor was emunicated. The Emperor had lost his horns and was dragged away by his subordinates like a ve.

    The consistent testimonies left people in shock.

    And they muttered the old adage:

    ¡°The most painful apostasyes from the most devout believer.¡±

    The most stunned were the nobility.

    They were well aware that the Emperor leading troops to ¡®defend¡¯ Lichtheim was actually an ¡®attack¡¯. Delia Lyon was the head of the Noble Assembly, a bodyprised of the central nobles. The same was true for Dietrich Brant.

    Internally, they coveted the Church¡¯s power and wealth, quietly supporting and backing the Emperor. Yet, they hadn¡¯t expected such a crushing defeat and now worried about the repercussions. Those with quick reflexes hastily donated considerable wealth to nearby churches, gauging the situation, while nobles without such resources scrambled to send their children to monasteries or churches to secure future backing.

    With these developments, evenmoners who dismissed it as mere power struggles among the elite began sensing change.

    The Empire was entering an entirely new era.

    Now the Empire would be governed by the Church. The Pope was effectively the Emperor, and priests indisputably ruled as the foremost ss, governing the faithful. All acts of governance would be carried out through the Church, with the nobility merely acting as its limbs.

    To survive in this new age, people donated vastnds and wealth to the Church. This frenzy finally swept beyond the central regions to the north.

    With the Empire¡¯s leader, the Emperor, having fallen, and the second inmand, Duke Brant, dead, people watched the Brant family, expecting some response due to its enduring strength.

    Yet, the Brant family offered no notable reaction to Duke Dietrich¡¯s death. Duchess Freya neither dered vengeance nor submitted to the Church. She maintained silence, merely reiterating their longstanding devotion to the Codex of Light and their intention to remain so.

    The Church likewise had no desire to unnecessarily wage war against the impregnable Rougeberg.

    However, peace came at a price. Under the pretext of ¡®Dawn Army Donations,¡¯ the Brant family was coerced into surrendering a substantial portion of theirnd and wealth. Nevertheless, a small number of individuals dissatisfied with this unjust exploitation began rallying around the Brant family.

    Despite the Brant family bowing to the Church¡¯s authority on the surface, the Codex of Light had effectively bridled the beast known as the Empire. Now, no one could oppose the Church. The Church was also confident that the Brant familycked the power to mount any significant resistance and refocused its efforts on the Dawn Army.

    The key issue was the Holy Land. Under the leadership of Ciero, the Dawn Army aggressively recruited, and the Church poured enormous resources into it. Zealots who believed angels were their patron saints began to spread their madness across the Empire.

    Within this frenzy, the Empire directed all its weapons eastward.

    And from the east came the ominous sound of hooves aimed at the Empire.

    ***

    ¡°Phew.¡±

    As Nel descended upon the outskirts of the Issacrea monastery, a cloud of dust rose. Having enteredte autumn, fallen leaves fluttered across the northern Issacrea territory, part of the Empire.

    Isaac, looking exhausted, assessed the state of his domain upon his return.

    ¡°Sir Grail Knight! You¡¯re back?!¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s going on here¡­?¡±

    Jacquette, who had been anxiously awaiting Isaac¡¯s return, approached with a face that seemed on the verge of tears. It seemed her umted stress was significant, more than any joy at seeing him.

    At first nce, Issacrea appeared bustling, but upon closer inspection, it was a mess.

    ¡°Not only are there refugees from Seor, but people are flocking from farther away to escape the raids by the Olkan Code. And there are those fleeing the Church¡¯s tyranny. I thought we only had to defend the east, but people are pouring in from every direction.¡±

    In Isaac¡¯s absence, Issacrea¡¯s poption seemed to have tripled. It was a number that couldn¡¯t help but cause problems. It was clear how much the head of security had struggled.

    ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard. But don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t be going anywhere for the time being.¡±

    Jacquette¡¯s expression brightened slightly at Isaac¡¯s words. His presence or absence made all the difference to the territory¡¯s atmosphere.

    Since the Emperor¡¯s emunication, Isaac had been busy recovering assets left by Waltzemer. Not just simple treasures, but connections, information, and secret agreements. It was work that needed to be done discreetly and was neither simple nor easy. However, thanks to the information provided by Waltzemer, he managed to recover a considerable amount.

    Among those assets were also talents. Isaac persuaded those fearing retribution from the Church to stay in Issacrea. As a result, many former Imperial knights had taken refuge there, concealing their identities.

    In truth, indiscriminately gathering people could cause issues. But Isaac was in a position where he had to face the Olkan Code. He needed people, no matter what.

    Fortunately, Manseungja seemed to have kept her promise, as there were no invasions of Issacrea, allowing Isaac to fortify the territory into a city akin to a fortress. The rugged terrain and prior preparation for rebellion made it less challenging.

    ¡®If Khan himselfes, this will be like a sandcastle¡­¡¯

    Having failed to fulfill his promise to Manseungja, a confrontation was inevitable.

    Isaac couldn¡¯t defeat the entire Olkan Code but was confident he could drag them into the mire. Though help from the Codex of Light Church might eventually arrive, it seemed a distant possibility.

    ¡°Oh, by the way, Sir Grail Knight. A messenger from the Church came by.¡±

    ¡°A messenger? What for?¡±

    Jacquette¡¯s next words did not disappoint Isaac¡¯s expectations.

    ¡°They demanded supplies and soldiers for the Dawn Army expedition. They also ordered you to join the Dawn Army personally.¡±

    Bonus Chapter for Every Review on NOVEL UPDATES

 Chapter 280:

    Chapter 280:

    Isaac entered the monastery chapel and saw a young priestess, likely just over twenty, praying. She turned her head when she heard the clinking sound of armor.

    ¡°You must be the Holy Grail Knight.¡±

    Isaac momentarily lost his words when he saw the priestess¡¯s eyes, which were so clear they seemed to gleam like ss. Rather than being genuinely clear, this was a phenomenon that had be noticeable after the promation of the ¡°Gerthonia Holy Empire.¡± The more religiously devout the priest, the more pronounced this phenomenon seemed to be.

    ¡®She¡¯s young, but with eyes like those, she¡¯s probably a fanatic who¡¯s burned more than a few people.¡¯

    The appearance of the Blind Sentinel and the paradigm shift to a Holy Empire may have sparked some change in the priests. Frankly, it was a bit creepy to look at, but they seemed to take pride in their eyes.

    ¡°My name is Isaac Issacrea, an unworthy servant. And you are¡­?¡±

    ¡°I am Yurie Otter. I may becking, but I havee here to deliver a message from Cardinal Rohen.¡±

    Her surname was the same as Cardinal Rohen Otter¡¯s. Isaac didn¡¯t know how closely they were rted, but given her age, it seemed unlikely she was part of the Watcher¡¯s Council.

    The priestess named Yurie, eyes shining like marbles, immediately took out a decree.¡°Please, Isaac Issacrea, the Resurrected Saint, ept this message from the House of Light with reverence. The heavenly authority has finally illuminated thend with light and shade under the name of the Gerthonia Holy Empire, and we bring the Sentinel¡¯s message to all who stand in the sunlit order¡­¡±

    ¡°Wait, wait.¡±

    ¡°Yes, why do you interrupt?¡±

    Yurie seemed displeased at the interruption of her recital.

    Isaac sighed and crossed his arms.

    ¡°In truth, I have already heard the contents of the decree. Didn¡¯t you recite it thrice already? Once in the streets, once in the monastery, and once more in the chapel as soon as you arrived? You must have been quite excited to y the role of a messenger.¡±

    Yurie¡¯s face flushed slightly at Isaac¡¯s words.

    ¡°This is my first dispatch assignment, and I thought the more people who heard the voice of the Sentinel, the better.¡±

    ¡°Normally, the addressee is the first to hear a decree. I won¡¯t make an issue of it, but since I¡¯ve already heard it, let¡¯s skip ahead, shall we? No problem with that, right, Priestess?¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­ If you insist.¡±

    Yurie seemed to have hoped to deliver the message to ¡°the¡± Grail Knight personally, but Isaac had no intention of listening to that long decree in its entirety.

    Besides, there was much to be done in Issacrea.

    ¡°The decree is to dispatch soldiers and supplies to the Dawn Army, correct, Priestess Yurie?¡±

    ¡°Yes. It is the Holy Father¡¯s judgment that if all the believers of the Codex of Light unite and march toward the Holy Land, the struggles of the Immortal Order will be decisively crushed. And with the famed Resurrected Saint participating¡­¡±

    ¡°Understood. I will do so.¡±

    Yurie¡¯s face broke into a radiant smile at Isaac¡¯s straightforward answer, nodding eagerly.

    It seemed she hadn¡¯t considered the possibility of refusal. To her, joining the Dawn Army must be a glorious duty.

    However, Isaac agreed merely to avoid the hassle of arguing with a fanatic.

    ¡°However, as you know, the Issacrea estate is monasterynd. As I understand it, the supplies and soldiers are to be gathered at various monasteries and temples before deployment, correct?¡±

    ¡°Oh? Yes, that¡¯s correct.¡±

    ¡°Then I suppose there¡¯s no need to send them elsewhere immediately, right?¡±

    ¡°Well, I¡¯m not entirely sure, but perhaps that¡¯s the case?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a truly honorable duty. I was nning to depart soon, and now, with this sacred message from the Holy Father urging me on, I must run like a horse whipped. However, it just so happens that there are issues on the eastern routes, causing dys in departure. Perhaps Priestess Yurie could assess the situation in the east?¡±

    ¡°Well, I am just a messenger¡­¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m just a humble and weak knight. I wish to rely on a steadfast and devout guide like yourself. If youmand, ¡®The east is fine! Go forth!¡¯ I shall obey without hesitation.¡±

    Young, impulsive zealots typically act on a singr drive: the desire for recognition.

    When the renowned Grail Knight lowered himself and said, ¡®I will follow,¡¯ Yurie seemed ted, clenching her fists in excitement. The Nephilim¡¯s allure yed its part in stoking the zealot¡¯s fervor.

    ¡°Understood! It would be an honor to be part of a Dawn Army expedition with the Resurrected Saint! I shall go ahead as a scout of the light!¡±

    ¡°Thank you. I trust only you, Priestess Yurie.¡±

    Yurie babbled on about religious zeal a few more times before leaving the chapel. A little whileter, Hesabel slithered over.

    ¡°Who was that creepy girl? Just making eye contact with her made me scared enough to want to run away.¡±

    ¡°She scares me every time I see her too. Prepare yourself, as the Empire is full of strange priests like her now.¡±

    Isaac strode out of the chapel, and Hesabel followed.

    ¡°But the east is crawling with the Olkan Code, isn¡¯t it? Is it okay to send her there?¡±

    ¡°She wouldn¡¯t havee alone; she probably has a knight escort. If she¡¯s captured and killed, it¡¯s fate. If she returns alive, she¡¯ll be a witness to testify how messed up things are in the east. Judging by her eyes, she¡¯s burned more than a few people. I don¡¯t feel much sympathy for her.¡±

    Isaac had seen priests who, under the guise of enlisting for the Dawn Army, would hand weapons to anyone who could walk. No, some would send people east without weapons, telling them just to go.

    In these insane times, a fanatical priestess in her twenties being killed somewhere is just dying of natural causes.

    ***

    Isaac¡¯s next concern was the sentiment and stability of the refugees.

    A sudden poption surge was bound to cause incidents. Fortunately, beingte autumn and with the refugees bringing some food supplies, there seemed to be no immediate threat of starvation. However, if a riot broke out, Issacrea would copse from within rather than from the Olkan Code.

    ¡°That shouldn¡¯t be much of a worry.¡±

    The one who responded to Isaac¡¯s concern was ire.

    Of the changes in Issacrea during Isaac¡¯s absence, the revival of the Nameless Chaos faith centered around ire and Neria was the most unexpected.

    Though referred to as the ¡°Issacrea Morning Prayer Group¡± instead of the Nameless Chaos, nearly a quarter of the estate¡¯s poption seemed to attend. Including those influenced but not attending, the numbers would be even higher, especially among the refugees and immigrants rather than the original residents.

    Initially, the priests of the estate suspected the Morning Prayer Group was a dubious folk religion. However, since their teachings didn¡¯t deviate much from what Isaac often said and because ire, a cleric from the capital, joined, they began epting it as a ¡°different interpretation.¡±

    In particr, priests and the Knights of Briant who were repelled by external fanaticism found the ¡°rational¡± doctrines of Issacrea attractive.

    ¡®Hmm, I thought the doctrine was too in to gain any real traction.¡¯

    ¡°You¡¯re thinking it¡¯s unexpected, aren¡¯t you?¡±

    ire¡¯s amusedment prompted Isaac to conceal his surprise and avert his gaze. Isaac had been touring the streets with ire to bolster the stability the Morning Prayer Group brought to themunity, helping with the distribution of supplies. He realized anew the extent of ire¡¯s poprity, as people expressed gratitude to her as much as they did to him.

    ¡°To be honest,pared to faiths that burn enemies and emit sword energy, or turn people into undead, Neria¡¯s stories are rather in.¡±

    Though if you delve deep enough, it could emit tentacles, but Isaac preferred to keep that a private affair.

    ¡°But most of the refugees have fled from or been disappointed by the Codex of Light. They found it hard to continue believing but were more frightened by the absence of faith itself.¡±

    ¡°So they sought something to believe in and leaned on you?¡±

    ¡°Vulnerable people open their hearts easily to small acts of kindness. But I think your reputation yed a significant role. Without that backing, we wouldn¡¯t have grown this much.¡±

    ¡°Yet you show no miracles.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean there are no miracles?¡±

    ire replied with a smile.

    ¡°You said instead of grand miracles, we should be miracles for each other, didn¡¯t you? We aimed to be that miracle, and it seems the refugees experienced their own ¡®miracles¡¯ through each other.¡±

    ire then ryed various experiences of the refugees collectively.

    They would have faced numerous crises and hardships during their escape. But each time, it wasn¡¯t a miracle or an angel that saved them but their neighbors who traveled with them. When the Great Raid hit Soer, they experienced the miracle of banding together to resist formidable foes.

    Already, they were no longer mere beneficiaries of miracles but participants performing them.

    ¡°After the emperor¡¯s emunication, people realized that relying on divine mercy wasn¡¯t enough, and they needed to control and protect themselves. They also learned that when they fall, the ones they can truly rely on are their neighbors and friends¡­¡±

    In essence, the more fanatical the Codex of Light became, and the more the Olkan Code plundered, the more ordinary people grew stronger in their solidarity.

    Isaac found it intriguing that the currents were flowing in

    the exact opposite direction as they did 300 years ago. Back then, religious fanaticism was rampant, and many were oppressed. But why did people then desire destruction, and now they seek unity?

    ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to you that we have this refuge.¡±

    Isaac thought for a moment, then shook his head at ire¡¯s remark.

    ¡°No, I am not that kind of person.¡±

    He had merely pursued his interests while trying to stay on a reasonable path. Of course, he might have instilled some motivation, but he was not someone to be admired.

    ¡°But¡­¡±

    ¡°Even so, if people are helping and uniting with one another, it¡¯s simply because they inherently enjoy doing so. It¡¯s not because I set an example.¡±

    Isaac stated with conviction.

    He was not someone worthy of being emted and had never attempted to be. But if such phenomena arose, it¡¯s because people naturally enjoy helping each other.

    ¡°Humans are inherently weak, and the only way to survive in the ecosystem, formmunities, or build structures is through cooperation. That¡¯s what faith is about. Many believers praying together can achieve miracles that one alone cannot.¡±

    Isaac murmured, as if the knowledge he had gained over time was spilling from him.

    ¡°However, this also creates a strong division between ¡®us¡¯ and ¡®them,¡¯ leading to guilt-free massacres and wars. That conflict ultimately culminates in what we see now.¡±

    ¡°Isaac¡­¡±

    ¡°And this ce has be a sump for those fleeing madness, war, and ughter. People are painfully awakening to the most basic concepts of faith: that it was created to survive and unite in a world full of fear and terror.¡±

    He exined calmly that what was happening wasn¡¯t due to anyone¡¯s exceptional actions but rather a natural urrence.

    He didn¡¯t assume only good things would happen. The Issacrea Morning Prayer Group was iplete and fragile. As it grew, there was no guarantee it wouldn¡¯t end up like the Codex of Light.

    ire gazed at Isaac with a bewildered expression.

    ¡°Isaac, I never imagined you had such profound thoughts.¡±

    ¡°What? Wait, what did you think of me¡­¡±

    Isaac was about to protest but stopped as he realized something strange. Though he had been mulling over simr thoughts, he hadn¡¯t expected them to spill out so smoothly.

    Yet, as he spoke, it seemed like someone had organized the ideas in his mind, making them flow effortlessly, even changing his tone.

    Suddenly, a chilling sensation ran through Isaac.

    He realized that the words he had spoken stemmed from the knowledge of the book written by the White Owl. The digested knowledge was being naturally ingrained into his mind.

    ¡®Damn it, is this thing brainwashing me?¡¯

    Though Isaac felt an unsettling sense of rm, he calmed down, noting that the contents aligned with his thoughts.

    He thought of the Urbansus. The umted time, knowledge, and history incessantly pressured the modern human mind, filling it.

    Isaac pondered how much of his identity as a modern person remained.

    As long as he retained his modern identity, the messages from the Nameless Chaos would continually remind him that he was a stranger in this world, urging him to view the world objectively. But there mighte a time when those messages would hold no meaning for him.

    Only then could he genuinely embrace this world.

    ¡°¡­Anyway, I¡¯m d the estate is running smoothly. Now I can focus on other tasks.¡±

    Isaac dusted himself off and stood up, and ire looked up at him.

    ¡°Where are you going?¡±

    ¡°To meet Manseungja. She must already know I¡¯ve arrived, so if I hesitate any longer, she¡¯ll send her army.¡±

    Bonus Chapter for Every Review on NOVEL UPDATES

 Chapter 281:

    Chapter 281:

    Isaac was wrong. Manseungja had no intention of summoning Isaac hastily.

    She already knew for some time that Isaac had been in and out of the Issacrea estate.

    And she was aware of the unbelievable series of events that urred shortly after Isaac left for Lichtheim: the appearance of the Lighthouse Keeper, the emunication of the Emperor, the breaking of the Licht Treaty, the Emperor¡¯s escape, and the birth of the ¡°Gerthonia Holy Empire.¡±

    ¡®Is he some kind of walking bomb?¡¯

    Having mastered the eptance of knowledge through countless reincarnations, Manseungja easily understood the concept of a ¡°bomb.¡±

    She also knew that some orcs were fascinated by explosions and loud noises.

    From the first time she heard of Isaac to his actions now, it truly seemed like bombs went off everywhere he went.

    So, despite knowing that Isaac had returned to Issacrea, Manseungja deliberately refrained from calling him. She was unsure if this bomb would go off in her hands.

    Of course, there was a more practical reason as well.Though she had seized Seor, the vanguard forces, who had suffered their first defeat since the Great Raid began, had to be reorganized from scratch. Newmanders and shaman generals were assigned, and Khan also began paying close attention to the northeastern part of the Empire where Issacrea estate was located.

    She knew that Issacrea was building walls and obstacles, but Manseungja wasn¡¯t concerned. Such small stone walls would be swept away by Khan¡¯s tide. What worried her more was what the newly reformed nation, now named the ¡°Gerthonia Holy Empire,¡± might do.

    ¡®Honestly, an empire ruled by an angel is scarier than one ruled by a human emperor.¡¯

    Many countries in this world had simr political systems.

    It was just that the Gerthonia Empire had been in an odd situation due to the Licht Treaty. Even the Olkan Code had their supreme leader, Khan, act as a proxy for Olkan, moving based on the advice of the Archangel, ¡°Netherworld.¡±

    Fortunately or not, the Gerthonia Holy Empire still seemed interested only in the Holy Land.

    So Manseungja was contemting how to treat Isaac, who suddenly showed up.

    ***

    With rough hoofbeats, An and three Keshik galloped toward the riverside near Seor. Across the river stood Isaac and a red-winged woman, her hood pulled down to her head.

    The Keshik knew they were within arrow range and were tempted, but any decision was up to An, dispatched as Khan¡¯s representative.

    ¡°An.¡±

    ¡°Isaac.¡±

    They called each other¡¯s names as if they were old friends meeting after a long time. But soon, An¡¯s provocation began.

    ¡°I saw your subordinates building a small stone wall. It looked even smaller than the walls of Soer, almost like you could jump over it. Are you ying house?¡±

    ¡°Yeah.¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°I was ying house. It wasn¡¯t a wall. Thanks for noticing.¡±

    Isaac dismissed the provocation with a wave of his hand.

    An realized he had thrown away a diplomatic card by provoking. He could have pressured Isaac, saying, ¡®You promised knowledge but are building walls. Are you nning to break your promise?¡¯

    ¡°Are your wounds healed? I heard you got quite hurtst time when you got chewed up a bit¡­¡±

    ¡°You monstrous bastard¡­¡±

    Isaac, on the other hand, targeted An¡¯s personal pride. An had been overwhelming Isaac with his skills and physicality but felt aggrieved when caught off guard by the tentacles. He believed that he could have blocked the tentacles if he had been prepared.

    An swallowed his anger and shot back.

    ¡°By the way, a priest from the Codex of Light crossed over to our side. Our soldiers caught her observing from a distance. What¡¯s your scheme?¡±

    It seemed like it was Yurie. She was caught right after crossing. She must have tried to escape, but it¡¯s no easy feat to evade the Olkan Code¡¯s cavalry, especially for a young priest.

    ¡°Did you kill her?¡±

    ¡°We killed the knights. The priest is¡­ unusual, so the shamans are interrogating her. After the interrogation, we might try to make her apostatize for fun.¡±

    An watched Isaac¡¯s reaction, hoping he would show weakness at the mention of torturing and forcibly converting a young priestess. But Isaac showed no reaction.

    ¡°We¡¯re not here to chat, An. Is Manseungja here?¡±

    An kept his mouth shut for a moment and looked up at the sky. A hawk was circling the same spot. He then spoke.

    ¡°She¡¯s listening. Did you bring the ¡®knowledge¡¯?¡±

    ¡°First, let¡¯s rify. If I share the knowledge, the Great Raid will stop, right?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t y word games, Holy Grail Knight.¡±

    An snapped irritably.

    ¡°The Great Raid will spare only your little vige. You know this. Why ask such a pathetic question?¡±

    Of course, Isaac expected this.

    The Olkan Code had already moved too far. Even if the archangels agreed, the interests of those on earth weren¡¯t that simple. If they didn¡¯t loot properly after starting the raid before winter, many tribes would starve.

    One way or another, the Empire wouldn¡¯t avoid war.

    ¡°Well¡­ Fine. Not my concern.¡±

    Isaac shrugged, showing he wouldn¡¯t be greedy. An, sensing Isaac was ready to speak, nced at the sky again and prepared to cover his ears.

    He knew some knowledge could be dangerous just by knowing it.

    But Isaac waved his hand.

    ¡°No need to cover your ears. You can listen.¡±

    As An felt puzzled, Isaac spoke to the sky.

    ¡°The name of the Nameless Chaos is me, Isaac Issacrea. I am the only proxy, pope, priest, and believer designated by the Nameless Chaos. I am the only one who can wield the power of the Nameless Chaos, so I am the name of the Nameless Chaos.¡±

    Beside him, Hesabel looked at him with eyes filled with reverence and admiration, while An and the Keshik looked at him in shock and disbelief, ncing at the sky to see if it was true.

    At that moment, An¡¯s body twitched, and his eyes zed with fury.

    An shouted, embodying Manseungja, Orus Maktu¡¯s rage.

    [That¡¯s not true!]

    ***

    ¡°Damn it. It didn¡¯t work. Let¡¯s go, Hesabel.¡±

    ¡°What a pity, Sir Isaac!¡±

    Isaac and Hesabel immediately turned and fled without hesitation. As soon as they turned, a horse with red muscles and tendrils extending like roots appeared from the saddle.

    Isaac mounted the Phantom Steed and fled.

    [Pursue them!]

    An and the Keshik, who had been dumbfounded by Isaac¡¯s sudden turn, urgently leaped into the river at Manseungja¡¯smand. An also dashed forward as Manseungja left his body.

    Thundering hoofbeats echoed as they pursued Isaac¡¯s party relentlessly.

    At the start of the chase, the Keshik thought Isaac was a fool.

    Although there was a river in the middle, it wasn¡¯t deep. Beyond that was an open field. Evading mounted Keshik in such terrain was aughable notion.

    But the Keshik soon had to reconsider.

    Isaac was faster than expected. Fast enough to rival them.

    The speed was unimaginable for an ordinary horse, prompting the Keshik to chant prayers urgently.

    ¡°Ancestors, show your wrath!¡±

    In response to their prayers, the spirits of orcs infused the Keshik¡¯ legs and hooves. With a surge of strength and firm hooves pounding the ground, they quickly doubled their speed. The distance between them and Isaac closed rapidly. The lead Keshik nocked an arrow.

    Thud! The leading Keshik suddenly toppled over. Falling at full speed, his legs shattered horribly.

    The unprecedented event of a Keshik falling while running shocked the others. But only An, further behind, understood the situation.

    ¡°They¡¯ve tangled the weeds! Watch your steps!¡±

    In truth, Hectali, Isaac¡¯s follower, had already prepared the field long ago. She manipted vines and roots underground to sprout unexpectedly.

    While the Keshik could avoid them, they were running too fast. They had no choice but to slow down after another Keshik tripped.

    Only An and one Keshik remained.

    ¡®How are they running like that?¡¯

    An watched Isaac¡¯s unnaturally fast pace in astonishment. Then he realized Isaac¡¯s horse wasn¡¯t running but flying. It couldn¡¯t fully fly like the Phantom Steed created by the Immortal Order¡¯s miracle, but it ran lightly as if flying, with tendrils and muscle fibers extending like centipede legs.

    An had no choice but to stop.

    ¡®If one of us falls, he¡¯ll definitelye back to attack.¡¯

    Considering they were evenly matched in a one-on-one fight, Isaac would attack confidently in a two-on-one scenario. Even Manseungja had said, ¡®If not for the tentacles, I wouldn¡¯t have intervened,¡¯ implying Isaac would fight purely on skill this time. An wasn¡¯t confident he could win.

    [Isaac!]

    Suddenly, Manseungja shouted through An¡¯s mouth. Her voice echoed across the field and into the mountains.

    [That¡¯s not your name! Are you breaking your promise?]

    An felt confused by Manseungja¡¯s outburst.

    What was she pointing out? Isaac¡¯s name wasn¡¯t Isaac? Why was she emphasizing that?

    Wasn¡¯t she looking for the name of the Nameless Chaos?

    However, despite Manseungja¡¯s shout, Isaac returned to hisir at high speed without answering. What remained on the now silent field were the groans of the wounded Keshik and the gaze of one uncertain Keshik.

    Realizing Manseungja had left his body, An sighed and turned his head.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go back.¡±

    ¡°Huh, like this?¡±

    ¡°We must treat the wounded and return to the camp. We¡¯ll be at war soon.¡±

    An wondered if Isaac truly understood the meaning of his escape.

    He had escaped this encounter, but it didn¡¯t matter.

    Now, Khan¡¯s army, carrying Manseungja¡¯s fury, was set to attack his estate.

    ***

    ¡°We¡¯re doomed.¡±

    Isaac clicked his tongue as he watched An retreat. He had deliberately provoked them, even riding on a horse to make them give chase, but An had wisely discerned his ploy.

    He regretted not fighting when only Keshik remained, but that might have prolonged the battle. The cavalry of the Olkan Code could arrive swiftly from beyond the horizon, so he couldn¡¯t ignore the threat of reinforcements.

    ¡°What should we do, Sir Isaac? I could sneak in and cut his throat.¡±

    Hesabel offered confidently, but Isaac shook his head. He had no fantasies about sneaking into a camp and assassinating themander at night. It might work with ordinary people, but the opponent was a Keshik, the Olkan Code¡¯s holy knight, and the camp would be teeming with shamans.

    ¡°Let¡¯s prepare for war. Your skills will shine more on the battlefield.¡±

    Hesabel was well-suited for the role of a sniper.

    Isaac understood the significance of his actions.

    It was now war. The Olkan Code was poised to invade Issacrea. And it would be the main force led by Manseungja.

    ¡®This is all I can do.¡¯

    Drawing as many troops as possible toward himself meant fewer would head south. It was the only way Isaac could protect people beyond his reach.

    ¡®Emperor, I did my best. Now we leave it to fate.¡¯

    Bonus Chapter for Every Review on NOVEL UPDATES

 Chapter 282:

    Chapter 282:

    The day after Isaac effectively dered war against the Olkan Code.

    The war machine from the East began to move.

    ¡°I expected it, but the scale is overwhelming.¡±

    Isaac released animals infected with the Parasite from Beyond throughout the mountains surrounding the Issacrea estate to monitor the movement of the troops.

    Once a group reaches a certain size and begins to move, it no longer resembles the movement of people but instead resembles the movement of a wave. Especially the Olkan army, which plundered everything in their path, appeared like a tidal wave approaching.

    Indeed, nothing but wastnd was left behind where they had passed, so it wasn¡¯t much different.

    The approaching army was estimated to number in the hundreds of thousands, and the line of troops seemed endless to the horizon.

    This force was not onlying toward the Issacrea estate but was also splitting into two additional routes toward the south, making it seem less like an invasion and more like a migration of an entire people.

    ¡°They probably think that dying isn¡¯t a big deal because they¡¯ll just reincarnate.¡±Reincarnation not only eradicates the fear of death but also prevents the disruption of knowledge. For the Olkan Code, who value knowledge greatly despite their appearances, this is of utmost importance.

    As long as they preserve their knowledge, it doesn¡¯t matter how many talents they lose; they can quickly return to their original level of civilization.

    At that moment, Isaac spotted An.

    An paused briefly and made eye contact with Isaac. He drew his bow and swiftly shot down a squirrel infected with a parasite.

    As his vision was cut off, Isaac clicked his tongue in frustration.

    In fact, simr incidents had already happened several times. Parasite-infected creatures had been detected and eliminated throughout the mountains by shamans and Keshiks.

    ¡°Now it truly feels like I¡¯m fighting against a faith.¡±

    Until now, Isaac had made efforts to gain the favor of other faiths or engaged in localized guerri warfare. The angels had shown little interest in him or deemed him useful, refraining from unleashing their followers against him.

    But now it was different. A full-scale war was unavoidable. The various tricks and tactics Isaac had been using would be easily countered by a far greater number of priests and holy knights.

    The eastern sky was darkened by countless flocks of birds. As the enormous number of troops entered, all kinds of wildlife were fleeing westward. It was as if a disaster was approaching. The impending events wouldn¡¯t be much different from that.

    The anxious atmosphere was palpable among the residents of the estate.

    Some were burning with determination to fight, relying on the fame of the Holy Grail Knight, while others were contemting whether to flee.

    Isaac crossed the middle of the square, appearing unaffected by the anxious gazes of the estate¡¯s residents. At that moment, Gebel quickly caught up to him. Gebel was still the swordsmanship instructor, but after seeing him split an orc cavalryman in half with one strike, everyone treated him like a deputymander.

    ¡°Isaac, shouldn¡¯t we at least send the children away to safety?¡±

    ¡°No. Given the scale of the army, the west won¡¯t be safe either. It¡¯s better to send the children to the abandoned mines.¡±

    Isaac had worked hard to protect the Issacrea estate, but the Gelipold Mountains surrounding the estate were vast, making it challenging to monitor everything. However, there were settlements of sh-and-burn farmers and sometimes even barbarian viges hidden there.

    This meant that while it would be difficult for the Olkan Code¡¯s main force to cross the mountains, small raiding parties could bypass them.

    ¡°With this kind of army, it wouldn¡¯t be surprising if Khan himself were here to oversee the battlefield. They probably have forces preparing to break through the mountains and either surround or attack us.¡±

    But he couldn¡¯t afford to send troops into the mountains to defend against them. Troops were already in short supply.

    As Isaac walked, more and more people gathered behind him. Themander of the Brient Holy Knights, Rottenhammer, and the Issacrea estate¡¯s guard captain, Jacquette, approached him.

    Isaac first addressed Jacquette.

    ¡°Jacquette, let¡¯s go over the number of troops we have avable again.¡±

    ¡°Yes. We have 560 soldiers who have been regrly trained by Instructor Gebel, and 7,815 militia members who were hastily conscripted. Among the militia, about 400 are proficient with bows. Many of them are from sh-and-burn farming backgrounds, so they¡¯re quite capable.¡±

    Rottenhammer followed with his report.

    ¡°The Brient Holy Knights, including squires, number 24. Seventy knights from the Imperial Army have agreed to join us. They aren¡¯t Holy Knights, but they can ride horses and are proficient in swordsmanship, so they should be able to coordinate with us.¡±

    Isaac nodded and summarized.

    ¡°We have fewer than ten thousand soldiers and fewer than a hundred knights to stop at least a hundred thousand orcs. These are orcs who use cannons, ride horses, and don¡¯t fear death.¡±

    It wasn¡¯t just a simple 10:1 ratio. Each orc was a veteran, umting experience through countless reincarnations, and their racial trait of superior stamina couldn¡¯t be ignored. Honestly, Isaac estimated that it would take at least three militia members to match up against one orc.

    Moreover, the orcs would be reinforced nearly endlessly, with Khanmanding and angels providing blessings to boost their morale.

    On the other hand, what did they have? Refugees fleeing religious fanaticism and knights who fell into ruin after the emperor¡¯s emunication.

    ¡°Even for me, this level of difficulty is tough.¡±

    Honestly, Isaac believed that the oue of a war was often decided before the fighting even began. Objectively, he assessed how this battle would end.

    It wasn¡¯t a difficult question.

    Isaac smiled as he looked around at the others.

    ¡°It¡¯s a battle we can¡¯t afford to lose. Let¡¯s do this.¡±

    Thud, thud, thud, thud.

    The footsteps of the advancing orcs echoed across the mountains like a heartbeat. Crakshal, the banner captain leading the vanguard, did not bother sending out scouts. It wasn¡¯t because he was careless or underestimated the enemy.

    Crakshal was actually one of the more cautious orcs.

    He knew well that sheer numbers could be a form of violence. The reason Banner Captain Koral failed to capture Seor was simple.

    They didn¡¯t have enough numbers.

    ¡°Left nk, you¡¯re pushing out too far. Tell the 3rd Thousand-man unit to stop rushing just because they¡¯re bored and to match their pace with the rest of the formation. They need to align with the other banner units.¡±

    Crakshal¡¯s orders were promptly carried out, ryed through the horn signals by his lieutenant. Satisfied with the restoration of a proper formation, Crakshal resumed the advance.

    The Olkan Code was not simply following mountain paths; instead, they were ¡°carving¡± three routes through the mountains as they advanced. Crakshal¡¯s banner unit was responsible for controlling the pace of the advance. Naturally, this made their progress painfully slow, but the sheer number of orcs passing through was slowly turning the mountains into a packed mass of dirt.

    Watching the army move with the force of bulldozers, his lieutenant, Commander, spoke with concern.

    ¡°Aren¡¯t we being overly cautious? While minimizing damage is good, I worry the Khan will be displeased with our pace.¡±

    However, Crakshal merely scoffed.

    ¡°Cautious? You can say that after witnessing the humiliation we faced at Seor?¡±

    ¡°But I heard the enemies were nothing more than a handful of militia and a few holy knights. That alone should be easily crushed by our advancing army.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s exactly how the thousand-menmanders under Banner Captain Koral were destroyed.¡±

    Crakshal found Commander¡¯s words ridiculous but began to exin to boast about his experience and insight.

    ¡°As you said, the enemy is nothing more than a small group. Indeed, a fundamental principle of warfare is that the side with more numbers defeats the side with fewer numbers. While individual skill differences can create some variables, it is meaningless at the army level. But there are cases where the side with fewer numbers wins. When do you think that is?¡±

    ¡°¡­I¡¯m not sure.¡±

    **¡°It¡¯s not different here. The side with fewer numbers merely creates a situation where they temporarily gain a numerical advantage. This rugged terrain makes it easy to create such variables.¡±**

    Crakshal spoke as he surveyed the view of the Geliperth Mountains surrounding the Issacrea estate.

    It was a mountainous terrain that was sufficient to serve as a natural fortress.

    Although there were traces of the road being expanded due to frequent passage of wagons recently, it was still difficult for arge army to prate. To maintain supply and support without being cut off at the waist, thorough clearing was necessary.

    ¡°Despite facing this massive army, the enemy shows no signs of losing morale and instead continues to build up their defenses. I¡¯ve also heard that some of the enemies are highly skilled. In this case, there¡¯s only one strategy the enemy can employ.¡±

    ¡°Gueri warfare.¡±

    ¡°Yes. When the enemy is small and elite, especially in such mountainous terrain, guerri warfare can be tremendously powerful. If we send out scouts, they will inevitably be destroyed. I¡¯ve seen An Kesik fight simrly in a past life.¡±

    Crakshal shuddered slightly, shaking his shoulders as he murmured.

    ¡°With the archery skills of someone like An Kesik,bined with their strong physical abilities and the blessings of their ancestral spirits, they¡¯re nearly impossible to catch in this mountainous terrain. If we approach normally, our numbers be meaningless here.¡±

    However, by advancing in formation, Isaac¡¯s side would be unable to engage in guerri warfare. Guerri warfare relies on exploiting weak points, but a formation presents a uniformly defended and equally powerful front wherever it is attacked.

    ***

    In truth, Isaac couldn¡¯t find a way to prate this thick, brute-force advance method. Descending on Nel without drawing attention would be nothing short of a shy s*****e.

    But the advance of the Olkan Code wasn¡¯t something that could be sustained indefinitely. The Geliperth Mountains, which had deterred the expansion of the Gerthonia Empire, weren¡¯t to be underestimated.

    And Isaac added a little twist to it.

    No matter how brazen Crakshal was, he couldn¡¯t possiblymand his troops to climb steep cliffs and advance.

    Eventually, orders were given to bypass certain treacherous terrains.

    ¡°Enemy ahead!¡±

    In the only viable route through such treacherous terrain stood a series of fortifications Isaac had constructed. Archers positioned there were taking half-hearted shots to harass the advancing troops.

    ¡°Crush them.¡±

    Upon Crakshal¡¯smand, four orcs quickly lifted cannons onto their shoulders and prepared the explosives. Seeing this, the archers quickly fled. Soon, with a loud explosion, the fortifications were obliterated. Watching the shattered fortifications, Crakshal wore an incredulous expression.

    ¡°Again? Do they really think they can stop our advance with such trivial obstacles?¡±

    The cannon-destroyed fortress had be a steep slope, difficult to climb. It seemed the enemy had focused on creating terrain that could triggerndslides when the structures were destroyed, rather than building solid fortifications.

    Given that this area was already steep, the falling rocks could smash the heads of unfortunate orcs at the bottom of the hill. With no other choice, Crakshal had to order a cautious clearing operation.

    Watching the orcs clearing the path, he fell into thought.

    ¡°Do they really think they can stand against Khan¡¯s army with just this level of resistance?¡±

    They had already encountered such fortifications three times on their way here. Each time, Crakshal had prepared cannons to st through them, fearing potential traps. But nothing happened, and they continued to encounter mere dy tactics.

    Crakshal wondered if he had been overly cautious in his strategy, but he also considered that this might be Isaac¡¯s way of making himcent.

    ¡°Increase the density of our forces and clear the path. Once we¡¯re through, immediately set up defensive positions for the following units.¡±

    ¡°Banner Captain Crakshal.¡±

    At that moment, someone approached him. It was Kima, the shaman general assisting Crakshal¡¯s unit.

    With a grave expression, Kima offered his advice.

    ¡°I think we should hasten our advance.¡±

    ¡°¡­Hasten our advance?¡±

    To Crakshal¡¯s question, Shaman General Kima nodded heavily.

    Crakshal¡¯s strategy was devised after consulting with Kima. Changing his stance now would undoubtedly put Kima in a difficult position.

    However, no banner captain would ignore the counsel of a shaman general. The ancestors connected to Urvanus assisted them with perspectives and abilities entirely different from their own.

    ¡°I¡¯ve felt strange energies several times since entering the mountains. Too weak to harm our soldiers, yet too irregr to be mere scouting. But take a look at this.¡±

    Kima presented a leather pouch to Crakshal. Crakshal opened it and was immediately met with a foul stench and a writhing mass of insects, causing him to frown.

    ¡°It seems you didn¡¯t preserve it well.¡±

    ¡°No, this is military provisions I gathered just a few days ago. Supplies everywhere are infested with insects and rats. Not those infected rats we¡¯ve encountered before, but real rats and real insects. The decay is elerating.¡±

    At that moment, Crakshal recalled the blind spot of numbers.

    An overwhelming number of soldiers also meant overwhelming consumption.

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 Chapter 283:

    Chapter 283:

    Crakshal had a look of disbelief.

    ¡°Does the Codex of Light have a miracle like that?¡±

    elerated decay sounded like something moremonly associated with the Immortal Order, where stripping flesh to the bone might be intentionally attempted. But this was the Codex of Light they were dealing with, known for its sanctity.

    ¡°Well, there are rumors that the Holy Grail Knight is actually a monster, and considering the mishmash of individuals they¡¯ve gathered over there, it wouldn¡¯t be surprising if there are those with unique talents. In any case, if their strategy is to dy us, it¡¯s working.¡±

    ¡°Is it not possible for the shamans to use their powers to counteract this?¡±

    It was a reasonable question, so Kima shook his head without anger.

    ¡°Decay and vermin are natural phenomena. They aren¡¯t within Olkan¡¯s power to control. The enemy is merely elerating a natural process. We could prevent the effect from taking hold at the moment of activation, but it¡¯s so sporadic, and with other threats to consider, we can¡¯t focus solely on this. For the same reason, it¡¯s hard to directly me the enemy.¡±

    Kima added his advice.

    ¡°I¡¯ve already issued orders for pest control. But remember, if it rots, everything in the same container has to be thrown out too. It¡¯s best to n for a food consumption rate that¡¯s 20% higher than usual.¡±A massive army consumes an equally massive amount of supplies.

    Typically, some loss is ounted for when provisioning, but an additional 20% consumption rate is staggering for anymander. At this rate, even if they did upy the Issacrea Estate, they wouldn¡¯t be able to make up for what they¡¯d lose. They were an army that consumed and scorched everything in their path.

    Crakshal had no choice but to significantly adjust his strategy, even if it meant epting some sacrifices.

    ***

    ¡°They¡¯ve changed their strategy,¡±

    Isaac noted, quickly sensing the shift in the orc army¡¯s tactics centered around Crakshal. The orcs began to focus on breaking through pre-existing roads swiftly. Meanwhile, Crakshal seemed to have changed his strategy to send out numerous scouts first to quickly respond if attacked.

    ¡°He¡¯s a smart one. He already figured out I would employ guerri tactics.¡±

    From a high mountaintop, Isaac watched the movements of the orc forces. The sheer number of orcs was enough to make the ground appear to change color, so tracking their movements wasn¡¯t difficult.

    Yet, Hesabel responded to Isaac¡¯s words with a sly grin.

    ¡°So what if he knows? What can he do about it?¡±

    ¡°Indeed, let¡¯s begin.¡±

    Isaac gave orders to his minions.

    His forces were not limited to the troops of the Issacrea Estate. He had also gathered minions, relics, and rituals that couldn¡¯t be disyed in the estate. Thus, they were bound to shine in guerri warfare.

    Atst, the battlefield conditions Isaac desired had been set.

    Isaac¡¯s minions began to prepare to make their moves from their respective positions.

    ***

    That night, the Olkan Code army upied the first ridge of the Geliperth Mountains. Crakshal¡¯s decision to switch to a speed-focused strategy led to a swift breakthrough, albeit at the cost of significant forced marches. Although they faced minimal resistance during the process, the number of casualties was still under double digits.

    ¡°If we keep up this pace, the Issacrea Estate will be within reach in two days.¡±

    A fast horse ride would cover the distance in a day. However, Crakshal still hadn¡¯t encountered Isaac or the estate¡¯s army. The two days were considering the likelihood of shes along the way. It would still involve substantial forced marches.

    Crakshal discussed the newly revised strategy with Kima. The map obtained from Seor made the assault on the Issacrea Estate much easier. Although the map was somewhat dated, they had no choice but to believe it hadn¡¯t changed much.

    ¡°The key areas of concentrated resistance are expected at the bridge in the valley and a ce known as the Perse Valley. If a few knights stand their ground, they could hold back an entire unit. However, if Deron¡¯s forces on the right can hit the upper Perse Valley on time, passing through shouldn¡¯t be difficult.¡±

    ¡°What about the bridge?¡±

    ¡°The bridge is the issue. It¡¯s a wide, sturdy stone bridge capable of supporting carts, but they might destroy it. The valley is deep enough that repairs could take a while.¡±

    ¡°Should we assume they¡¯ll destroy it?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s hard to say. The bridge essentially represents the value of the Issacrea Estate itself. Without it, the estate would fall from a strategic hub connecting east and west to a remote frontier of the empire. On the other hand, we can simply build a temporary bridge and only experience a slight dy.¡±

    Kima nodded.

    ¡°The enemy is desperate. Expect them to destroy it. It¡¯s wise to have carpenters prepared to construct a temporary bridge. Remember, the enemy is filled with fanatics of the Codex of Light. Look at that priest we captured in the camp. I¡¯ve lived about 400 yearsbined over my past lives, and I¡¯ve never encountered such a lunatic before¡­¡±

    ¡°I heard they bit off the fingers of their torturer, didn¡¯t they?¡±

    ¡°Not only that. They thought its eyes were made of ss and tried to gouge out its left eye, only to get burned because it was so hot. Turns out it was imbued with miracles. If all Codex of Light priests are like this, I¡¯d advise the Khan to reconsider fighting them.¡±

    Crakshal didn¡¯t respond.

    He knew Kima¡¯sment wasn¡¯t just idle talk. However, if the enemy¡¯s morale was truly that formidable, there was a possibility that the Olkan Code¡¯s forces could be demoralized before achieving their objective.

    Suddenly, Kima jerked his head up and stood. He stared intently into the void before urgently gesturing to Crakshal.

    ¡°Warlord, it would be wise to prepare for an attack. I sense a miracle approaching.¡±

    Crakshal quickly armed himself and rushed outside the barracks. What greeted him was a thick fog that had appeared out of nowhere, a fog he hadn¡¯t seen before setting up camp. Though it wasn¡¯t unusual for a thick mist to settle on a mountain, Kima¡¯s warning made it clear that this was no ordinary phenomenon.

    ¡°Get up! Prepare for an attack and stand ready for an assault!¡±

    The orcs, having just settled down after their forced march, grumbled but promptly got into formation like the veterans they were.

    Kima immediately sat down and began preparing his ritual, while Crakshal patrolled with a grim expression, peering into the mist.

    The forest, abandoned by even beasts and insects, was eerily silent. Only the rustling of branches brushing against one another in the wind could be heard. If regr conscripts could maintain this level of stealth, Crakshal would willingly acknowledge the entire Empire¡¯s military as elite knights.

    Swoosh, thunk!

    As a sharp whistling sound cut through the air, Crakshal narrowly deflected an arrow with his hand. The arrow pierced through his palm but did no further harm.

    Crakshal snapped the arrow and pulled it from his hand.

    ¡°A red feather?¡±

    He recalled seeing simr arrows lodged in the heads of numerous thousand-man and hundred-manmanders who died in Seor. It signified that there was a possessed sniper on the other side.

    More arrows flew from beyond the mist.

    Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!

    This time, the arrows struck the faces or necks of orcs staring nkly into the mist, unable to see anything.

    ¡°It¡¯s a sniper! Return fire!¡±

    Crakshal ordered a counterattack in the direction from which the arrows came. But in the dense fog, even the best marksmen among the orcs couldn¡¯t find their mark. The enemy seemed to be shooting from the treetops, rapidly changing positions while picking off orc heads. The orcs¡¯ morale plummeted as they were struck down without even seeing their attacker.

    ¡°Damn it, what kind of demon is that¡­? 5th and 6th Centurions! Prepare for a raid and conduct a search! Shamans, track the arrows¡¯ origin!¡±

    Crakshal ultimately decided to risk deploying his troops.

    Conducting a search at night, especially in such thick fog, was risky. The Issacrea army could ambush them. However, they couldn¡¯t leave the sniper unchecked, and he doubted they¡¯d lose even if there was an ambush.

    Once the search party was deployed, the sniper stopped firing, likely unable to continue under such circumstances.

    Before long, a faint greenish light emanated from the main camp, dispersing the fog. Kima had sessfullypleted his ritual. Crakshal somberly counted the orcs who had been shot. There were 27 casualties, mostly ordinary soldiers or centurions, a negligible loss.

    However, out of the 28 arrows, 27 had struck their targets in the head or neck, decimating their morale. Even arrows guided by ancestor spirits, shot by the finest of the Keshik, could not guarantee such uracy.

    ¡°Recall the search party.¡±

    Crakshal ordered the return of the troops sent to find the sniper. Fortunately, there were no sounds of battle, indicating no ambush had taken ce.

    Although it was puzzling, Crakshal understood what had happened once the search party returned.

    About 100 orcs from the search team hadn¡¯te back, including the 5th and 6th cent

    urions.

    Within just 30 minutes of searching, such a massacre had taken ce, leaving Crakshal with his head in his hands.

    The following day, as the sun rose, the full extent of the previous night¡¯s events became apparent.

    All over the forest, orc bodies hung like ripe fruit. The impaled orcs were strategically disyed so that, although their heads weren¡¯t touched, they were in in sight. Some seemed to have been devoured, their rough remains and missing body parts visible.

    Among the corpses were the heads of the 5th and 6th centurions.

    It was unclear if they were devouring one another or simply locked in a grotesque kiss, but their mouths were mped onto each other. Seeing this scene, Crakshal began to fundamentally question what he was dealing with.

    What kind of madness had spawned this?

    ¡°Shaman General Kima, are we really facing the Codex of Light?¡±

    ¡°¡­I¡¯m not sure. But one thing is certain. Everything we brought to prepare against the Codex of Light seems useless in this battle.¡±

    But Crakshal¡¯s despair was only just beginning.

    ***

    ¡°Huff, huff¡­!¡±

    The orc panted heavily as he ran along the mountain path.

    His lungs burned and a metallic taste filled his mouth, but he couldn¡¯t stop running. Each time he nced back, he confirmed that no one was pursuing him, yet he wasn¡¯t confident he¡¯d truly escaped his pursuer.

    But his constant backward nces led him to miss the tree root in his path.

    ¡°Ugh, oof!¡±

    Tumbling forcefully, the orc hastily righted himself and drew his sword. Fortunately, there was still no sign of pursuit. It was only then that he felt certain he had evaded his hunter, allowing himself to catch his breath.

    ¡°Caught your breath? Then let¡¯s get to work.¡±

    A chilling voice suddenly emerged from behind, followed by a face popping out of nowhere. The orc tried to scream, but his lungs were too exhausted to do more than emit a metallic rasp.

    The man before him was strikingly beautiful, even to the orc¡¯s eyes. He leaned in close, pressing the orc down, bringing their faces mere inches apart. However, writhing tentacles slithered out of the man¡¯s left eye, a grotesque contrast to his handsome features.

    ¡°Spill everything you know.¡±

    Crunch, squelch.

    Without the orc needing to speak, tentacles burrowed between the orc¡¯s eyes, piercing deep into his skull. As the brain filled with tendrils, splintered fragments and brain matter oozed through the punctured eyes.

    Momentster, Isaac withdrew the tentacles, wiping away bloody tears¡ªwhether his own or the orc¡¯s, he couldn¡¯t tell. The orc had been in possession of some high-value information.

    ¡°It was worth the chase.¡±

    That morning, Crakshal received a report that the forces under the right nk¡¯s Deron Warlord had been halted due to a suddenndslide. It was also reported that the isted Deron Warlord was inexplicably found in the middle of the forest, with his brain and eyes melted.

    Without hesitation, Crakshal sent messengers to the main force.

    Before long, the Khan¡¯s elite guard, the Keshik, began appearing at the front lines.

    This meant that Sahn Khan, the Great Chief of the Olkan Code, had arrived on the battlefield and begun personally leading the army.

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 Chapter 284:

    Chapter 284:

    The Horse King, the Terror of the East, the Thief of Fortresses and Cities, the Collector of Crowns, the Master of Ten Thousand Beasts.

    As is often the case with those of great renown and power, Sahn Khan was known by many titles.

    Like the Khans before him, Sahn was a leader with formidable strength, intelligence, and ambition. Even if he had not been, the wise Archangel of the Netherworld, who had guided and counseled the Khans throughout history, would have molded him into one.

    However, if there was one w that even the Netherworld could not fix in Sahn, it was his somewhat distorted love for horses. His affection for horses extended far beyond the usual fondness of a trainer or breeder and reached into a realm that was difficult toprehend.

    Of course, Sahn was neither the first nor thest orc with such an inclination. The fact that a significant number of Keshiks were born only from the Olkan Code showed that this preference was not exactly a minor one.

    Since horses couldn¡¯t speak and testify about their fathers, all the Khans throughout history had epted and raised every Keshik as their own children. Even Olkan himself had been rumored to harbor an excessive fondness for horses, so no one dared to question Sahn¡¯s sexual preferences.

    Thus, when Sahn brought his warhorse to the top of the mountain, An furrowed his brow but was not surprised.

    ¡®No matter how much of a Khan he is, bringing his lover to the battlefield? Is he out of his mind?¡¯

    Though others might have found such a thought absurd, it wasn¡¯t particrly strange to the orcs.As was customary, the Keshiks knelt when the Khan approached, waiting for him to pass. An did the same, watching as Sahn¡¯s warhorse left hoofprints in the ground before him.

    Sahn was an ordinary orc, but he possessed a giant physique simr to that of the Keshiks, enough to be called a giant without any sense of irony.

    He was nearly in his sixties, a remarkably old age for an orc who treated life so carelessly. Yet his muscles remained solid and strong, like those of a robust warhorse.

    ¡°Is that the Issacrea estate?¡±

    Sahn asked, gazing down from the slopes of Mount Geliford. Below the steep ridges, the low-lying fog twisted in an unnatural manner. Small farnds, viges, and a fortress stretched out between the sheer valleys along the winding mountain paths.

    Sahn nced at An and muttered.

    ¡°I never imagined that in such a rural vige, there would be someone even you couldn¡¯t defeat.¡±

    ¡°¡­That one is a monster. I mean it literally.¡±

    ¡°I heard. He used tentacles?¡±

    An nodded.

    He had reported everything he had experienced to Sahn. Additionally, a few souls who had narrowly escaped being hunted by Isaac had given simr reports.

    The implication was clear. Isaac was not a Pdin of the Codex of Light. He was some kind of bizarre creature from an iprehensible realm.

    But there was no way to use this information. Spreading it among their allies would only incite fear, and the enemies wouldn¡¯t believe it even if they tried. They had even told a captured priest as a test, but the priest hadn¡¯t believed it at all.

    Sahn tilted his head slightly, as if pondering Isaac¡¯s true nature.

    ¡°If that thing is what I think it is¡­ just a monster wearing human skin, its inner self is no different from a beast. The Codex of Light wouldn¡¯t tolerate such a creature, so why would it go to such lengths to stand on their side?¡±

    ¡°It might be trying to destroy them from within.¡±

    ¡°Perhaps. But it¡¯s a futile effort. The Codex of Light is not a faith that can be toppled by some petty scheme. Among the settlers, they are like the most solid bedrock.¡±

    The warhorse beside Sahn snorted, and Sahn patted its neck. This horse, named Orthea, was old, considering the lifespan of horses, yet Sahn¡¯s undying affection for it was evident. It was also An¡¯s biological mother, though he consciously chose not to dwell on that fact.

    ¡°Yes. As Orthea suggests, the only thing that can bring them down is overwhelming power. Not some unknown monstrosity.¡±

    ¡°¡­Indeed.¡±

    Sahn surveyed the Issacrea estate, then scoffed and withdrew.

    ¡°I thought my adversary would be a warrior like Emperor Waltzemer or Dehra Heman. I expected to meet them deep within the Empire, not in some remote corner like this.¡±

    As he spoke, he retrieved arge bow from Orthea¡¯s back. It was a greatbow, asrge as an average orc. This bow, crafted by Olkan himself after ying the dragon of the East, was so immense that ordinary orcs couldn¡¯t even draw its string.

    In fact, only a Khan was permitted to wield it.

    And this bow bore a name thatmanded reverence from anyone within the Olkan Code, a name that even the Khan himself had to treat with utmost respect.

    Sahn Khan drew a steel arrow on the string of the bow named ¡°Netherworld.¡± As he pulled it back, the string emitted a chilling scream.

    The ancestors dwelling within the Netherworld were not ordinary beings. Khans were not allowed reincarnation. Instead, they were bound to the Netherworld to advise and lend strength to their sessors.

    If the Archangel Manseungja was a being who had experienced thousands of lives, the Netherworld was a collective of over a hundred Khans.

    As the Netherworld let out an eerie wail, the Keshiks hurriedly retreated. Sahn Khan did not wait for them to fully prepare before releasing the bowstring.

    A violent gust of wind swept through.

    ***

    In exchange for rummaging through the mind of Derren, the Manho Chief, Isaac learned the strategy and tactics that the Olkan Code had devised. With this valuable military intelligence in hand, Isaac could formte a more effective n to thwart the Olkan Code.

    However, he noticed that the Olkan Code¡¯s movements had begun to change starting fromte noon.

    ¡®What is this?¡¯

    The previous night¡¯s raid had exhausted the orcs, yet the enemy hadn¡¯t budged from the ridgeline since the morning. Considering the ongoing decay, they should have been in more of a hurry, but their behavior was strange.

    And Isaac didn¡¯t like this inexplicable movement.

    ¡®Hesabel, do you see anything unusual among the enemy?¡¯

    Hesabel was observing the orcs¡¯ movements from the sky, riding on Nel in Isaac¡¯s stead. While her daytime vision wasn¡¯t the best, thanks to the ¡°Rat in the Wall¡± that had been nted, Isaac could share her view.

    ¡®No, they¡¯ve beenpletely still sincest night. But¡­ there is some movement on the northeastern peak¡­¡¯

    ¡®Movement?¡¯

    ¡°Those orc-horse hybrids, you know? Keshiks? A lot of them are gathering over there. And¡­ there¡¯s also a massive orc with them¡­ Wow, he¡¯s almost as big as someone riding a horse!¡±

    Isaac¡¯s senses sharpened instantly. There weren¡¯t many orcs of that size, and only one orc was ever guarded by Keshiks.

    Sahn Khan¡ªhe had appeared on the battlefield.

    ¡°Hesabel, immediately pull back with Nel.¡±

    ¡°Got it.¡±

    Without questioning Isaac¡¯smand, Hesabel prepared to retreat, though she continued her reconnaissance as she did so.

    ¡°Ah, he¡¯s drawing something like an arrow now¡­ Wait, is he nning to shoot it all the way to the city? Is that even possible?¡±

    Isaac started running as fast as he could. At the same time, hemanded all his servants to move and vacate the area immediately. However, no matter how fast Isaac ran, he couldn¡¯t outrun the speed of an arrow.

    He saw trees being shredded before his eyes, followed by a cloud of dust and shockwaves splitting the mountain ridges repeatedly. Somewhere in the mountains, an explosion erupted.

    A thunderous boom echoed across the Geliford mountain range.

    The arrow, which had pierced through the sound barrier at an unimaginable speed, exploded upon impact with the ground, uprooting dozens of trees and flinging them into the air. It was no ordinary arrow. The earth trembled as the ground rippled from the impact point, triggering a localized earthquake.

    Landslides erupted across the Geliford mountain range.

    Isaac quickly climbed up the ridge to find where the arrow had struck. What he saw was a crater, devastated as if a mortar shell had exploded. It was exactly where the fortress in Purth Valley had been established.

    The narrow pass that could have been defended by just a few Pdins was now a gaping, open road.

    Isaac knew instinctively that the shock from this impact had likely obliterated the makeshift barriers and obstacles he had spent weeks constructing.

    ¡°Isaac, what is that? Wait, is that¡­?¡±

    Hesabel¡¯s frantic voice trailed off abruptly. Isaac looked up at the sky. Nel was flying at an altitude where it appeared like a tiny bird, but even at such a height, it was meaningless in the face of this catastrophic force.

    As Nel suddenly veered off its course, a red dot rapidly descended from the sky. Clouds were torn apart in its unseen trajectory. Once again, the deafening sound of the projectile pierced the mountain range.

    ¡°Hesabel, get a grip!¡±

    Nel fluttered its wings a few times before plummeting towards the ground at a speed close to freefall. Hesabel barely regained herposure, struggling to stabilize her flight. However, she ended up crashnding somewhere in the forest.

    There was only one weapon capable of creating such devastation.

    Netherworld¡ªthe Archangel of the Netherworld, currently embodied as a weapon.

    Of course, it had its true form within Urvansus, but the Netherworld in the form of a bow was one of the few top-tier relics that could harness the power of an angel.

    If Sahn indiscriminately unleashed the power of Netherworld, it would have no problem tearing the entire Issacrea estate to shreds.

    Isaac felt a burning sensation in his head, but thankfully, there were no more arrows from Netherworld.

    ¡°There¡¯s a limit to how many times Netherworld can be used. It also ces a heavy burden on its wielder. It¡¯s more of a tactical weapon than a regr bow.¡±

    But that also meant that Sahn believed he could handle Isaac with just this much. Isaac struggled to suppress the unpleasant feeling that he had survived thanks to the enemy¡¯s overconfidence and carelessness.

    Yet at the same time, the realization that Sahn had personallye filled him with a thrill that more thanpensated for his irritation.

    ¡°This means he considers me a worthy adversary.¡±

    Isaac gritted his teeth, a sinister smile spreading across his face.

    ¡°Fine, then. I¡¯ll be the bait that¡¯s too tempting to resist.¡±

    If Sahn thought he could win by just deploying a few soldiers, curses, and minions, he was gravely mistaken.

    The Issacrea estate had already been transformed into a massive trap meant to devour the Olkan Code. Now, the question was whether this trap could capture the unprecedented tiger that was Sahn Khan.

    ***

    Bwoooo¡ª Bwoooo¡ª

    Shortly after Sahn Khan¡¯s steel arrow struck the mountain range, the sound of horn trumpets red from all directions. The orcs, who had been lying in wait, slowly began to advance once more. Their steps down the slopes were now much quicker and lighter than before.

    Manho Chief Kraxal smirked as he observed the crude traps along the slopes, which had copsed due to the earthquake caused by Netherworld.

    So, is this the extent of his strategy? Trying to lower our morale and obstruct our supplies?

    It¡¯s clever, but such tactics are meaningless against overwhelming power. The shamans were already preparing a full-scale retaliation ritual.

    High up in the mountains, three shaman generals were gathered, performing the ritual.

    The earthquake caused by Sahn Khan was a kind of ceremony to cleanse thend of its Syahn energy. The positioning of the arrow just added a practical aspect to it.

    Teherma, the shaman general who directly served Sahn Khan, danced while waving a staff adorned with feathers and paper strips, chanting invocations. On thecquered red table before them, fruits from the region were piled high.

    Before long, the fruits suddenly bore teeth marks.

    Crunch, snap, gnash. The fruits were devoured rapidly, leaving only their cores.

    Teherma, drenched in sweat, chanted the invocation even faster, then suddenly swung the staff toward the west.

    Thud, thud, thud. Out of nowhere, footprints began to appear in the sweat-soaked ground. And the effect was immediately felt in the Issacrea estate.

    ¡°What¡­ What the hell!¡±

    A resident who had just fetched some freshly smoked meat from the warehouse was horrified to see the food being devoured by something invisible right before his eyes. He tried to tear away the meat, only to have his fingers bitten off. Screaming in pain, he retreated. It was only then that he realized this was the work of some malevolent force. He ran to the monastery, seeking a priest for help.

    But he wasn¡¯t able to get assistance in time. A simr phenomenon was urring within the monastery itself, with the priests preupied with defending against it.

    Throughout the Issacrea estate, bread, meat, cheese, and even unharvested wheat were being chewed up and swallowed whole.

    The Hungry Horde of the Olkan Code.

    It was a miracle created by harnessing the souls of orcs who had starved to death. These malevolent spirits wouldn¡¯t touch anything alive, but if they recognized something as food, they would devour it and send it to Urvansus.

    In response to the miracle of decay, the Issacrea estate was now being looted of its food supplies by these evil spirits.

    Bonus Chapter for Every Review on NOVEL UPDATES

 Chapter 285:

    Chapter 285:

    Isaac could clearly sense the abnormal events urring within the Issacrea estate. Fortunately, the miracle of the Orc Horde was something he had somewhat anticipated, so he had already requisitioned most of the food supplies and stored them in the monastery.

    The food stored in the monastery was protected by the priests and sacred artifacts. However, just like everyone else, they couldn¡¯t prevent people from stashing away extra food in their own pockets. As a result, any food that the residents had hidden away for emergencies waspletely looted.

    ¡®It can¡¯t be helped.¡¯

    If they had tried to confiscate even what was hidden in private stashes, the residents¡¯ morale would have hit rock bottom. Some might have even tried to flee before the battle began. However, having seen the orcs loot their food right before their eyes, that anger would now be directed squarely at the Olkan Code.

    The monastery had more than enough food, even when considering distribution to all the residents. Compared to the rapidly rotting food under the Olkan Code, they could hold out much longer.

    Sh-sh-sh-sh¡­ At Isaac¡¯smand, Hectali began to move the forest, twisting the terrain. The goal was to make the orcs lose their way and head off in the wrong direction. However, the shamans of the Olkan Code were not so easily deterred as to leave the miracles happening in real-time unchecked.

    As Hectali was intricately weaving the paths of the forest, she suddenly snapped her neck 180 degrees and stopped moving.

    ¡®An evil spirit has attached itself to me, Isaac.¡¯

    ¡®Alright. Take a break.¡¯The shamans had keenly sensed where the miracle was being performed and had sent an evil spirit to cast a deadly curse.

    If it had been a typical human priest, they would have died the moment their neck snapped, but Hectali¡¯s form, closer to a nt than a human, didn¡¯t even have a clear ¡°neck¡± to speak of. However, since it was difficult to remove such a powerful curse, Isaac ordered Hectali to rest.

    ¡®Traelgul? Still can¡¯t move?¡¯

    ¡®¡­¡¯

    There was almost no will to respond from Traelgul, the lord of the castle. When Sahn Khan had fired the Netherworld into the Pers Valley, Traelgul had been nearby. Perhaps he had been shattered into pieces by that strike. Although he wasn¡¯tpletely dead, it didn¡¯t seem like he would be of any help. The mist he had summoned was also naturally dissipating.

    In the meantime, Isaac was heading to the location where Hesabel had fallen. He had sent Zihilrat to Nel, who had fallen far away, but in this situation, Nel might actually be safer.

    There were too many shamans, too many armies, and too many miracles being unleashed all at once.

    In fact, this was the normal course of events. No matter how hard Isaac tried, his opponents were nations, religions, and peoples. No amount of tricks by a single individual could overturn that power.

    Cutting off supplies and food spoge? The orcs of the Olkan Code considered the corpses of theirrades as emergency rations. It wasn¡¯t something they preferred, but in dire situations, they could eat them. It was an efficient use of resources.

    More dead orcs meant more food.

    Sniping and lowering morale? With just Hesabel, effective sniping was impossible. Given the disparity in power, expecting a significant drop in morale was unrealistic. Assassinating the shamans to instill fear, as had been done in Soir, was also not feasible due to their sheer numbers.

    Isaac¡¯s minions? The ancient gods were nothing more than slightly stronger monsters. While Isaac himself was strong enough topete for rank even within the Olkan Code, his subordinates were not on the same level. Moreover, there were plenty of powerful beings even within the Olkan Code.

    For example, An, who was currently holding Hesabel by the throat.

    ***

    ¡°Isaac, you¡¯re here.¡±

    An spoke as he coldly stared at Isaac. Hesabel, with her neck gripped tightly, struggled to scratch and pinch An¡¯s hand, but she didn¡¯t seem to have the strength to do more. Her wings were broken, likely from wrapping them around herself to shield from the fall.

    ¡°She¡¯s a sharp woman. It¡¯s not easy to avoid the Netherworld, but your winged pet managed it as well. Is she your woman?¡±

    ¡°No. I¡¯m a married man.¡±

    ¡°I figured. A woman from the Red Chalice isn¡¯t a good wife material.¡±

    Isaac didn¡¯t bother asking since when they had be close enough to discuss girlfriends. There were more provocative words to use.

    ¡°Still, it¡¯s better than bedding a horse.¡±

    An¡¯s expression hardened.

    Isaac¡¯s remark hit An¡¯s onlyplex¡ªthe great and powerful warrior of the Olkan Code. While most orcs didn¡¯t see it as a major w, An was particrly conscious of it.

    An tightened his grip on Hesabel¡¯s throat. Her face flushed red.

    ¡°Do you want to watch your subordinate die before your eyes?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re not going to kill her.¡±

    Isaac responded calmly.

    ¡°If you were going to, you would have done it before I got here. You¡¯ve been waiting because you want to fight me again, haven¡¯t you?¡±

    An bared his fangs in a grin.

    The Olkan Code didn¡¯t obsess over honorable duels like Elil did. However, they did respect blood-soaked battles that showcased each other¡¯s valor. Of course, they were more rational than the knights of Elil in that they had no qualms about using dirty tricks if things went south.

    ¡°Yes. I¡¯m d you understand. Let¡¯s settle the score fromst time!¡±

    An flung Hesabel aside and charged at Isaac with two scimitars.

    Boom. The ground trembled as his four hooves thundered forward, and An charged with incredible speed.

    Isaac had no intention of taking the charge of a nearly one-ton behemoth head-on. He swiftly dodged, slipping into An¡¯s blind spot. Though he avoided the swords, he was still in a position to be trampled underfoot, but Isaac didn¡¯t hesitate. He instead inflicted a wound on An¡¯s leg and quickly moved to Hesabel¡¯s side.

    An snorted, looking slightly disappointed. Isaac checked Hesabel¡¯s condition.

    ¡°Hesabel, can you escape?¡±

    ¡°I can fight, Sir Isaac.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s worse for me if you get taken hostage. I¡¯ve already invested too much in you. I believe your future value will steadily increase, so don¡¯t put on a brave front here. If you escape, I¡¯ll have a better chance to run myself.¡±

    Hesabel understood roughly what Isaac meant and nodded. Her earlier im to be able to fight had been just to make a good impression.

    Hesabel red at An for a moment before quickly fleeing. As expected, An didn¡¯t pursue her. Instead, he turned his warning to Isaac.

    ¡°If you run, next time, I¡¯ll kill everyone around you to make sure youe to me yourself.¡±

    ¡°Do I owe you a grudge? What do you want? To y a monster and prove your valor?¡±

    ¡°I just feel like I¡¯ve met a worthy opponent. The Olkan Code no longer has anyone who can challenge me.¡±

    He must have been excluding Sahn Khan. The Kheshig couldn¡¯t retaliate even if the Khan attacked. Isaac sighed and raised his sword. An spun his scimitars in a flourish before charging again.

    Boom, boom, boom! The two scimitars shed at Isaac with blinding speed. The tremendous weight, power, and speed behind the swords made even Isaac¡¯s arms go numb. Though Kaldwin withstood the impact, the damage steadily umted in Isaac¡¯s bones.

    ¡°Is this all you¡¯ve got, the famous Grail Knight of the West!¡±

    At that moment, An suddenly lowered his body and then sprang forward like aunched arrow. It was one of An¡¯s advanced sword techniques. Isaac quickly employed his Eight Branches Strike to narrowly deflect the iing scimitars.

    Boom! Boom! Boom! An reappeared far behind him, as if he had pierced right through Isaac. Thick trees along his path were sliced cleanly and toppled over. Isaac could only imagine the countless soldiers that would have been cut down if this had been a battlefield.

    An bared his teeth and spoke.

    ¡°Bring it out.¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°That thing. The tentacle. I was caught off guardst time. Manseungja won¡¯t be intervening this time, so bring it out. I¡¯ll show you my true power.¡±

    It seemed that being knocked out by the Abyssal Graspst time had been a severe blow to his pride. Isaac wondered just how far An¡¯s arrogance would go. But now that Hesabel was far away, Isaac decided to teach him a lesson in humility.

    Isaac raised his left hand as if to grant An¡¯s wish. The Color from Beyond began to ooze out, enveloping him. An, sensing the shift, braced himself, raising his swords. The Color from Beyond swelled like a tall tree. Then suddenly, it formed a writhing vortex, from which an enormous tentacle burst forth. This tentacle was farrger and thicker than the one that had struck An before, and it came down on him in a single blow.

    At that moment, An let out a fierce roar and shed at the tentacle with his scimitars.

    Thud! Thud! The two scimitars shredded the tentacle into three pieces in an instant. The gushing fluids drenched An¡¯s body as the tentacle let out an eerie wail and retreated back into the Color. Covered in the hot

    , viscous liquid, An roared in triumph.

    ¡°You look pleased.¡±

    Isaac¡¯s voice echoed from beyond the Color. An, still high on his victory, pointed his scimitars at Isaac. Now that he had ovee the tentacle, Isaac was no longer a match for him.

    However, as the Color dissipated and revealed Isaac¡¯s figure, he didn¡¯t seem at all diminished in spirit. In fact, he looked at An with a faintly amused expression, as if he found the situation ridiculous. Moreover, something about him had subtly changed.

    ¡°I acknowledge it. You are the strongest warrior of the Olkan Code.¡±

    Isaac was now wrapped in crimson tentacles around his neck, shoulders, and even parts of his face. An, seeing that even Isaac¡¯s eyes were covered with fine, glistening tendrils, realized that Isaac was up to something. He hurriedly raised his scimitars.

    ¡°But you¡¯re not the strongest here.¡±

    Isaac quietly took a step forward.

    ***

    Isaac recalled his duel with Elil.

    Someone like An was, of course, nothingpared to Elil. But focusing and gathering his strength as he did during that fight would make it difficult for Isaac¡¯s body to hold out even for a brief moment. That duel had been possible only because it was with Urbansus.

    But having witnessed Elil¡¯s light-swallowing sword that could cause a nuclear explosion, Isaac had wondered how he could possibly counter it.

    It was not an easy question.

    Even a genius like Isaac could only fumble with vague concepts, trying to piece them together. However, today, at this very moment, while facing the Olkan Code, Isaac finally obtained aplete image.

    A sword that could swallow light.

    The fact that An reminded him of Elil was enough for Isaac to acknowledge his strength.

    Therefore, Isaac decided to show An a sword deserving of reverence.

    Isaac¡¯s Swordsmanship: Event Horizon.

    An felt his vision distort.

    The world caved in around Isaac¡¯s sword. The most ferocious predator, one that even devoured light, with an insatiable hunger, had opened its maw.

    An couldn¡¯t recognize orprehend what it was.

    He instinctively tried to retreat but soon realized it was impossible.

    Isaac was still far away. Yet, his sword was already slicing him in half. It was a predetermined oue, an inevitable result, and An was merely lingering in the past.

    It was a phenomenon that should have been impossible, but here, it was.

    In this ce, inside the event horizon, no one could escape, and no one could observe what was happening. They could only wait for the moment when they would be devoured by that monstrous predator.

    Calmly, as if following a predetermined script, Isaac¡¯s sword approached. An, as if performing in a y, raised his scimitars to block. The two scimitars, blessed by angels and imbued with holy power, shattered like they were being chewed up before Isaac¡¯s de. An¡¯s arms broke under the strain.

    And then¡­

    Boom! The gust of wind created by the impact sent An¡¯s body flying. The air, which had briefly gathered in one ce, dispersed all at once, creating a near-explosive shockwave. An tried to stand up but copsed again.

    He had clearly seen his own future of being split in half. Yet, he couldn¡¯t understand why he was still alive.

    In the center of the clearing stood Isaac. Around him, the trees, rocks, and ground seemed to bow toward him, as if worshiping.

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 Chapter 286:

    Chapter 286:

    Isaac was also utterly exhausted. Blood streamed from his eyes, nose, and mouth.

    ¡°Ah¡­ This is brutal. I¡¯ve really overdone it.¡±

    ¡°What¡­ what is this?¡±

    An, gasping for breath, tried to grip his sword, only to realize it was already shattered, and his arms were broken. In contrast, despite his insides being torn to shreds, Isaac was still standing, holding his sword.

    At this point, the oue was clear.

    What Isaac had visualized to create his new advanced sword technique was a ck hole.

    If the opponent was as fast as light, then all he had to do was devour that light. It was an absurd conclusion, but Isaac, in true Codex of Light Pdin fashion, had reached it.

    Isaac wiped away the blood from his nose and licked it with his tongue.

    Given that Isaac¡¯s swordsmanship consumed only satiety and imposed minimal physical strain, it was clear just how reckless his endeavor had been. Fortunately, thanks to the Intestines of the Dead God, his internal injuries were healing rapidly, but if something had gone wrong, he might have copsed from hunger right in front of An.¡®Isaac¡¯s Swordsmanship: Event Horizon¡¯ was not all that different from Elil¡¯s swordsmanship.

    If Elil¡¯s sword was overwhelmingly fast, then Event Horizon was overwhelmingly heavy.

    At its core, it was just a simple downward sh.

    But the unique reality-warping effect of advanced swordsmanship,bined with Isaac¡¯s experience as the Nameless Chaos, wasyered onto it.

    However, Isaac was confident that the only beings capable of blocking this downward sh would be angels.

    Of course, the power was far less than Isaac had expected.

    ¡®Maybe¡­ 2% of the power I hoped for?¡¯

    In any case, it was a sess, 1% for managing to execute it and another 1% for surviving the attempt.

    It was a sword technique conceived to face angels or gods, not mere mortals.

    Although its performance had a long way to go, it was a first step.

    Isaac struggled to stand, ring at An.

    ¡°What now, An? Do you still think this fight isn¡¯t over?¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    An¡¯s fighting spirit hadpletely vanished.

    If he still had the will to fight after witnessing that, Isaac would have admired him. But Isaac was also out of energy to continue the battle.

    Finally, An spoke.

    ¡°Did you spare me on purpose?¡±

    Isaac shrugged.

    ¡°Maybe?¡±

    ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°Come on, An. I¡¯m being vague on purpose. If I say I spared you, it¡¯ll hurt your pride, and if I say no, I¡¯m afraid you¡¯lle after me againter. As you can see, this technique isn¡¯t something I can just throw around anytime. I¡¯m exhausted.¡±

    An remained silent at Isaac¡¯s chiding.

    He epted the oue and chose to retreat gracefully. Before withdrawing, An addressed Isaac one more time.

    ¡°Isaac, surrender.¡±

    ¡°Again with this nonsense?¡±

    ¡°If you surrender, I will personally ask the Khan to guarantee you the rank of Manho, no, a general. It¡¯s an honor and position hard toe by for an apostate. Besides, you¡¯re not really a Pdin of the Codex of Light anymore, are you? You could even prevent the destruction of the Issacrea estate if you make the decision.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    Isaac merely smiled, giving no answer. An found this frustrating.

    Despite Isaac¡¯s impressive disy of power, as he himself admitted, the sword technique was not something he could use at will. At most, he might use it once or twice more before being crushed by the Olkan army. Wouldn¡¯t it be better to surrender?

    An couldn¡¯t understand Isaac¡¯s stubbornness.

    ¡°Let me put it the other way, An. Surrender.¡±

    ¡°¡­What did you say?¡±

    ¡°Surrender, and I¡¯ll offer you the position of our vige¡¯s chief guard. The current chief would step down willingly for you. We don¡¯t have a standing army of a thousand, and in peacetime, it¡¯s usually about five hundred, but still, it¡¯s a respectable title in these parts. Plus, we don¡¯t discriminate against different faiths.¡±

    ¡°What kind of nonsense is this¡­!¡±

    ¡°Alright, understood. Take care.¡±

    Leaving those words behind, Isaac disappeared into the forest.

    An stood there with a baffled expression, staring nkly at the spot where Isaac had vanished.

    ***

    Isaac managed to rescue Hesabel and Nel safely, but that was all.

    The shamans, the Keshik, Sahn Khan, and the Netherworld had utterly neutralized the resistance of the Issacrea forces. Having reached the point where he could no longer fight, Isaac abandoned his guerri tactics and retreated to the Issacrea estate. Though news of An¡¯s defeat spread, the Khan merely judged it as a mutual defeat and ordered him to recover.

    With the guerri forces wiped out, Isaac ordered the remaining troops in the fort to withdraw as well. A final stand could only be made at the Issacrea estate.

    Only within the monastery, where all the priests and Pdins offered protection, could they avoid the shamans¡¯ curses and sorcery.

    ¡°As expected.¡±

    Sahn advanced, swiftly upying the copsing Issacrea territory. Now, only the bridge crossing the valley remained between them and thend known as the Issacrea vige. As expected, the bridge had been destroyed.

    ¡°They¡¯re desperate, so this was inevitable. Construct a makeshift bridge.¡±

    Sahn Khan, without much emotion, ordered the carpenters to build a temporary bridge. With the thick trees growing in abundance, finding timber was not difficult. The destruction of a centuries-old bridge bought the Issacrea estate only half a day¡¯s time.

    Finally, the orcs set foot on the Issacrea estate.

    Exactly two days.

    Within the time that Kraxal had predicted, the Khan¡¯s army had entered the Issacrea vige. No matter how skilled Isaac was, he couldn¡¯t hold back a flood by himself.

    ¡°If the left wing¡¯s nking maneuver is timely, aplete encirclement will be established. Even the Grail Knight will find it hard to escape.¡±

    Sahn was quite impressed with Isaac¡¯s resistance.

    He hadn¡¯t expected such a small force to dy the massive army of the Olkan Code for several days. He was even more surprised when he heard that An had challenged Isaac again but failed to defeat him.

    Now, the army was marching toward the adversary who dared to defy the Olkan Code. Sahn was eager to see what the Grail Knight would do next.

    The vige was already deserted. As a result, the orc army marched into Issacrea without any resistance, making it seem more like a triumphant procession than an upation.

    There were no roars, no bloodshed, no plunder, or arson. This ce was to be used as their forward base, so it was only natural.

    Sahn Khan watched the advancing army, then shifted his gaze further ahead. On a position overlooking the valley where the vige was located, there was a castle. He knew it had been converted into a monastery, but it was clearly a formidable fortress.

    Of course, a few cannon shots would reduce it to rubble.

    ¡°All the remaining forces must be inside.¡±

    A powerful holy presence could be felt from the castle. It was no surprise, given that all the sacred artifacts, Pdins, and priests Isaac had gathered were likely holed up in there.

    Sahn Khan nced at his general shaman, Teherma.

    Teherma stared at the monastery for a moment, then shook his head in disbelief.

    ¡°The miracles and sacred artifacts of various faiths are intricately interwoven. I cannot unravel it alone.¡±

    ¡°Is it thatplex?¡±

    ¡°Miracles of the Codex of Light, the Shield of the Protector from Elil, the White Purification Doctrine of the Salt Council, and even runes engraved by the World¡¯s Forge. To mix all this without causing conflict, it¡¯s incredibly rare, even worldwide. The castle itself could be considered a sacred artifact.¡±

    Teherma¡¯s eyes sparkled with interest and excitement as he spoke. There was a mix of reverence as a priest, curiosity as a schr, and greed as a plunderer.

    However, Sahn had no choice but to betray those emotions.

    ¡°Given that the food is still rotting, we cannot stay here long. Prepare the cannons.¡±

    ¡°Ah¡­¡±

    Teherma sighed regretfully, but there was no helping it.

    They hadn¡¯t brought many heavy cannons due to the need to quickly cross the rough mountains. However, the five cannons they had were enough to destroy the fortress. Sahn briefly considered using the Netherworld but decided to save it.

    ¡®If we pound the fortress with cannon fire, the Grail Knight will respond. I¡¯d like to see if the sword technique that brought An to his knees can withstand the Khan¡¯s arrows.¡¯

    The cannons lined up, all aiming at the monastery.

    Just then, the monastery door opened slightly. And from within, a lone figure walked out.

    ¡°Cease fire.¡±

    ¡°Hold fire!¡±

    Sahn gave the order to halt and watched the approaching figure. He walked neither too fast nor too slow, as if he were out for a stroll, heading straight toward the orc army. With his keen eyesight as a nomad, Sahn immediately recognized the man as the famously handsome Grail Knight.

    ***

    Isaac walked slowly, but Sahn did not rush him, nor did he send soldiers.

    In this situation, when amander stands alone before an army, the meaning is clear. To the Grail Knight, who was practically crawling to them in submission, Sahn generously allowed the time to approach.

    Finally, Isaac stood alone before the orc army.

    Despite the countless orcs Isaac had killed and tormented, no one hurled insults or threats at him.

    Partly because he stood before the Khan, but also because Isaac exuded an unusual sense of intimidation.

    Two figures on horseback rode up to Isaac. They were Kraxal, the Manho, and General Shaman Kima. They red at Isaac, who hade out unarmed, with stern expressions.

    Kraxal, acting as the Khan¡¯s envoy, spoke first.

    ¡°You seem quite bold for someone surrendering, but it¡¯s toote. You¡¯ll have to surrender your life. In return, we¡¯ll spare the vigers. They¡¯ll have to work as ves for the Khan for a while, though.¡±

    Isaac tilted his head, looking at Kraxal and Kima with a derisive expression. Then, as if losing interest, he turned his gaze behind them.

    ¡°If you¡¯re not the decision-maker, bring me someone higher.¡±

    ¡°What did you say?¡±

    ¡°I have an offer for the Khan. You¡¯d just have to run back and ask him anyway, right? Don¡¯t waste time; bring someone who can answer with a ¡®yes¡¯ or ¡®no.¡¯¡±

    Kraxal wondered if Isaac had lost his mind from fear and despair. It was so absurd that he couldn¡¯t even ask if Isaac could see the tens of thousands of orc troops bearing down on him.

    Kima spoke up instead.

    ¡°If it¡¯s surrender, we can make that decision.¡±

    ¡°Really? You can decide on surrender? That¡¯s great.¡±

    Isaac cleared his throat and then shouted loudly.

    ¡°The Olkan Code will surrender immediately. I will ensure you all return safely to your wastnd. However, Sahn Khan muste forward, kneel, and apologize to the destroyed cities and the murdered residents. He must also promise adequatepensation, and¡ª¡±

    ¡°Enough, enough!¡±

    As Isaac began to spout nonsense, Kraxal, horrified, cut him off. But despite his interruption, a low chuckle echoed from behind.

    It was the sound of Sahn Khan¡¯s satisfiedughter.

    The Grail Knight had not disappointed him. There was only one more thing to confirm. If Isaac could prove he hadn¡¯t lost his mind, Sahn nned to keep him around for a long time.

    Stifling hisughter, Sahn waved his hand.

    Thud, thud.

    Suddenly, eight Keshiks moved forward past Kraxal, approaching Isaac like shadows. Though they weren¡¯t on the level of An, they were among the elite of the Keshiks.

    One of the Keshiks spoke.

    ¡°We have orders to teach you manners by cutting off your knees and arms.¡±

    At the same time, the orcs notched arrows on their bowstrings, and the shamans began chanting spells. Kraxal expected to witness the brutal annihtion of Isaac, feeling a pang of regret.

    Why had he spouted such madness, leading to a pointless death? It would be an unfortunate end for a great warrior, a worthy adversary of the Khan.

    ¡°Did you really think you could stop the Khan¡¯s millions-strong army with mere pebbles and a handful of troops? Did you think stuffing madness into that tiny head of yours would aplish anything?¡±

    As Kraxalmented Isaac¡¯s fate, Isaac scrunched his face as if he was listening to utter nonsense.

    ¡°What are you talking about? When did I ever say I¡¯d stop you with just those troops?¡±

    ¡°Then how¡ª¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m brave, not insane.¡±

    At that moment, Kima suddenly flinched.

    Kraxal recognized that reaction well. It was what happened when someone suddenly received an overwhelming influx of souls. Just as Kraxal was about to ask what was wrong, Kima began to move his lips, turning his gaze to the west.

    ¡°The army nking from the left wing¡­¡±

    Thud, thud¡­ The ground began to rumble softly.

    While everyone¡¯s attention had been focused on Isaac, a massive dust cloud had risen from the western side of the Issacrea estate¡¯s valley. It was a new force charging forward after crushing the Olkan Code¡¯s army, which had been circling to cut off the retreat.

    Ba-ba-ra, ba-baam!

    A resounding trumpet st echoed, throwing the orcs into confusion. Only the shamans, well-versed in other religions, understood the meaning of that trumpet.

    ¡°¡­Elil?¡±

    Knights of Elil were charging forward with fierce speed. Finally recognizing the situation, Kraxal urgently ordered his troops to prepare for battle.

    But then, another thunderous roar plunged them into deeper chaos.

    Boom! A thunderous sound, like the boiling of hell, echoed from deep within the earth. As the shockwave rippled through the ground, the orcs found themselves involuntarily copsing.

    Soon, frantic shouts and screams began to echo from behind.

    ¡°The World¡¯s Forge! The Dwarves and Lycanthropes of the Forge Order are emerging from the caverns!¡±

    The basics of strategy never change. The only way to wisely confront a massive army is with an evenrger one.

    Isaac had been well aware of that fact.

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 Chapter 287:

    Chapter 287:

    Kraxal hadn¡¯t fully grasped the situation unfolding before him, but he understood what needed to be done immediately.

    ¡°Get the Holy Grail Knight! Capture the Holy Grail Knight!¡±

    He had no idea how many reinforcements had arrived or how powerful they were. However, judging by Isaac¡¯s demeanor, it was clear that he had anticipated this situation and deliberately involved the Olkan Code.

    Isaac needed to be captured and used as a hostage.

    The Keshiks had already reached a simr conclusion and attacked Isaac before Kraxal even gave the order. Their attacks were more intent on tearing him apart than taking him hostage, but Isaac moved just a bit faster than they did.

    *Thunk! Crack!*

    Isaac deflected the Keshik¡¯s curved de and thrust his left hand into the beast¡¯s horse¡¯s torso. His hand, wrapped in sword energy, easily prated the chest, and Isaac released a tentacle inside, shredding the Keshik from within.

    ¡°Guh¡­!¡±

    Although the wound seemed smallpared to the Keshik¡¯s massive body, the internal damage was devastating. It was as if a blender had been thrust inside him. The Keshik copsed helplessly after a single blow, leaving the other Keshiks stunned in shock. Taking advantage of this, Isaac quickly withdrew.¡°You scum!¡±

    The Keshik swiftly pursued Isaac.

    With his back exposed, Isaac seemed like easy prey.

    *Swish! Thunk! Rattle, rattle!*

    But just then, arrows began to rain down from the monastery. The arrows showed no distinction between friend or foe.

    Though both Isaac and the Keshiks had the skill to deflect blind arrows, it was enough to make them hesitate.

    And that brief moment was all that was needed.

    ¡°Don¡¯t chase him! Fall back!¡±

    Kraxal¡¯s frantic scream didn¡¯t reach the Keshik, whose focus had narrowed. But even if it had, it was already toote.

    If anyone in the world rode better than the Olkan Code¡¯s light cavalry, it was the Knights of Elil.

    Reyna Hilde, one of Elil¡¯s knights, charged down the slope at an unbelievable speed, impaling a Keshik¡¯s torso with hernce in a single thrust. *Boom.* The immense collision should have slowed her down, but Reyna showed an incredible feat. She lifted the Keshik, horse and all, and hurled him at another Keshik.

    ¡°Ha ha ha! Holy Grail Knight, here¡¯s a gift for you!¡±

    Reyna burst into a heartyugh and charged again at the Keshiks. Behind her, the other Elil knights followed closely, shouting insults like ¡°Are you mad?!¡± and ¡°Have you lost it?!¡±

    The Elil knights smoothly split into two groups around Isaac and surged toward the Keshiks.

    *Crunch, snap.*

    The stationary Keshiks couldn¡¯t withstand the fierce momentum of the charging Elil knights. Like grains of sand swept away by a river, they were quickly shed and trampled under the knights¡¯ swords,nces, and hooves.

    ¡°Lord Isaac, it seems we¡¯re not toote.¡±

    The Swordmaster of Elil and Guardian of the Holy Land, Lianne Georg, appeared beside Isaac. Despite it having been a long time since theyst met, Isaac hadn¡¯t expected to be so relieved to see her face.

    ¡°No. You¡¯ve arrived right on time.¡±

    Isaac felt a sense of relief as their arrival matched the time he had anticipated.

    Isaac had intentionally timed the arrival of Elil¡¯s reinforcements at Norden Port and their advance to this location to coincide with the Olkan Code¡¯s entry into the Issacrea estate. Whether Sahn Khan intervened or not, Isaac had nned for them to arrive around this time.

    However, the Olkan Code had arrived a bit earlier than expected, forcing Isaac to stall by deliberately walking slowly and pretending to negotiate with empty words.

    Risking his life to buy time had somehow seeded without a single cannonball striking him.

    Once enemies, Lianne and Isaac now exchanged an awkward nce. Lianne chose the battlefield over staying by Isaac¡¯s side.

    ¡°Emperor Edelred is approaching from the rear with the rest of the forces. I¡¯ll take my leave.¡±

    She immediately spurred her horse and charged toward the orc army.

    As Isaac watched her join the ranks of Elil knights cutting through the retreating orcs, a chorus of cheers erupted.

    ¡°Holy Grail Knight! Holy Grail Knight! Holy Grail Knight!¡±

    Soldiers and pdins, who had been waiting in the monastery, poured out. Hearing the trumpet of Elil and the drumming of the World¡¯s Forge, they chanted the Holy Grail Knight¡¯s name as if they couldn¡¯t afford to lose in spirit.

    Isaac locked eyes with Rottenhammer, who was leading the charge.

    It seemed like Rottenhammer had rushed out in a fit of emotion, but it was actually under Isaac¡¯s orders.

    The vanguard that arrived with Lianne consisted of knights prioritizing offensive power and mobility. Their numbers weren¡¯trge. The Issacrea forces needed to fill this gap.

    ¡°Exterminate the intruders!¡±

    With Rottenhammer¡¯s roar, the soldiers charged all at once.

    Of course, besides the pdins, the other soldiers could only do cleanup work. But Isaac had intentionally pushed them into battle.

    They must not feel like this victory was handed to them.

    Isaac¡¯s people had to spill blood and sweat on thisnd.

    They needed to develop attachment and pride in thisnd. That was the only way to blend the sudden influx of foreigners and those of different religions.

    And Isaac didn¡¯t want them to see this battle as a miraculous victory.

    He wanted them to ept it as a victory they had achieved.

    ***

    Isaac¡¯s first strategic goal was to *¡°hold out until the Knights of Elil arrive.¡±*

    Since he roughly knew the marching speed of the Elil knights, enduring within the time limit wasn¡¯t too difficult.

    This meant that ¡°they hadn¡¯t waited for the arrival of the World¡¯s Forge Sect.¡±

    The reason was simple.

    They had already arrived before the Olkan Code even set foot in the Geliphard Mountains.

    Thud, thud, thud, thud, thud.

    The deep drumming of the World¡¯s Forge Sect echoed like a hammer striking an anvil. This heavy bass, expressed as music, filled the hearts of their warriors with vigor and life, while instilling difort and fear in their enemies. The drumming echoed through the mountain valleys, reverberating without end.

    ¡°They¡¯reing.¡±

    At the Dwarf¡¯s curtmand, warriors wielding axes surged out from deep within the tunnel.

    The World¡¯s Forge Sect decided to move south almost simultaneously with the Olkan Code¡¯s invasion. Originally, they had nned an independent assault separate from the Issacrea estate. However, Ulsten, a Forge artisan from Issacrea, proposed an appealing strategy.

    He suggested they lie in ambush within the abandoned mines that wove through the Geliphard Mountains like an anthill, and thenunch a surprise attack.

    Ulsten was somewhat of a radical priest within the World¡¯s Forge Sect, bordering on heretical, but everyone agreed that it was a n capable of killing many orcs.

    The harsh mountain terrain and the abandoned mines were environments that the World¡¯s Forge favored. Moreover, having the cooperation of the local lord was a significant advantage.

    As a result, the World¡¯s Forge Sect had spent nearly two weeks lying in wait inside the mines.

    They waited until the orcs passed over their heads.

    The Olkan Code couldn¡¯t bring their vast numbers into the Issacrea estate all at once, so the soldiers formed long columns, divided into multiple groups.

    They noticed something strange happening at the front, but most of themanders were concentrated there, making it difficult to discern exactly what was happening. The orcs began moving higher up or tried to bypass the congestion.

    And then, warriors d in wolf pelts charged at them.

    *Crack! Split!* With a single axe strike, shoulders were cleaved, and another blow split skulls vertically. The warrior swiftly withdrew the axe and kicked the orc off the cliff. The orcs were horrified at the sight of the wolf pelts and the bizarre tattoos etched into the warriors¡¯ faces.

    ¡°Lycanthropes! It¡¯s the Lycanthrope Warband! The World¡¯s Forge Sect bastards are here!¡±

    ¡°Awoooooo!¡±

    The warrior, mimicking a wolf¡¯s howl, hurled his axe into the face of the shouting orc. The orcs, btedly drawing their bows, began shooting at the warriors. A few warriors staggered from the arrows, but they quickly threw their axes back, striking down the archers without mercy.

    And then they began to howl.

    ¡°Awoooooo!¡±

    ¡°Awooooo!¡±

    The real battle for the Lycanthrope Warband begins once they discard all their weapons.

    Wolf howls echoed from all directions.

    Simultaneously, the wolf pelts on the warriors¡¯ heads began to fuse with their skin. Their skeletal structure swelled unnaturally, hair sprouting along the tattooed patterns on their skin, transforming them into beings half-wolf, half-human. Their hands grew ws like daggers, and their mouths filled with teeth like saw des.

    The values worshiped by the World¡¯s Forge Sect are birth and transformation.

    As the Holy Knights of the World¡¯s Forge Sect, the Lycanthrope Warband could perform the miracle of transforming from human form into beast form.

    In an instant, the Lycanthrope Warband turned into massive wolf-men, towering at 2.5 meters, and continued their fight anew. The orcs¡¯ ranks quickly crumbled under the onught of these suddenly appeared berserkers.

    This wasn¡¯t an isted incident; simr skirmishes erupted wherever orcs were found throughout the Geliphard Mountains.

    As the orcs¡¯ lines began to break in various ces, their units splintered into groups led by Centurions and Decurions. Some were ordered to retreat, others to reinforce, and still others to advance, all while theirmand structure fell into disarray. But soon, a cmity struck, pushing countless orcs to decide on retreat.

    *Rumble!*

    Many orcs witnessed lightning bolts erupt from the ground, reaching up to the sky.

    All that remained in the area were several trees, ckened and charred.

    Seeing the scene, symbolic of a particr being, the orcs screamed in terror.

    ¡°Tuhalin! Lightning Hammer Tuhalin has appeared! It¡¯s the Soul Crusher Tuhalin!¡±

    ***

    ¡°It¡¯s a mess.¡±

    Sahn could feel everything happening around him through the Netherworld.

    The Khan¡¯s eyes were everywhere. He saw the orcs crushed by Elil¡¯s knights at the front, the orcs ughtered by Issacrea¡¯s rabble, and the ones copsing under the sudden attack of the World¡¯s Forge Sect in the rear.

    These were all threats Sahn had considered.

    But he hadn¡¯t expected to face all these threats simultaneously, especially in such a remote ce. Thisnd held no value other than being a key point to cross the Geliford Mountains.

    ¡®Wasn¡¯t it said that the original lord of this ce had intended to rebel? We tried to turn him to our side by providing him with weapons, but we failed.¡¯

    At the time, thisnd was known as Hendrak. To Sahn, it held no more significance than that.

    He couldn¡¯t understand why these fanatics were willing to risk their lives for thisnd.

    Then, suddenly, Sahn raised his eyes and looked at a man in the distance.

    Whether by chance or because he had been under watch from the beginning, that man also met Sahn¡¯s gaze.

    [It¡¯s because of that one.]

    The Netherworld clearly pointed out that the root cause of what was happening now was Isaac Issacrea, the Holy Grail Knight.

    While Sahn was stalling the Manseungja, Isaac had been executing this cunning scheme.

    Of course, the fact that the Olkan Code also needed time to regroup their forces was conveniently ignored.

    What mattered was one thing: at the very least, the Holy Grail Knight needed to be eliminated here.

    ¡°Khan, you must retreat! Elil¡¯s rear guard is on its way!¡±

    General Teherma, the shaman, advised, sweat dripping from his brow.

    He wasn¡¯t sure if Elil¡¯s knights were incredibly fast or if they had been holding onto their souls in some special way. But through the countless souls continuously pouring in, Teherma knew that the army nking from the left had suffered near-total annihtion.

    Not only were Elil¡¯s forces unusual, but they were also incredibly powerful.

    The vanguard that had just arrived was merely the literal vanguard.

    ¡°Pull the soldiers back.¡±

    Teherma sighed in relief. But Sahn showed no intention of retreating. Instead, he drew the Netherworld and notched an arrow.

    Before Teherma could react, Sahn aimed the arrow directly at Isaac.

    ¡®I heard you were injured quite badly in your fight with An.¡¯

    As long as the direction was right, pinpoint uracy wasn¡¯t necessary.

    Sahn loosed the arrow as soon as he raised the Netherworld.

    The iron arrowhead tore through the air with a terrifying force.

    The ripping gale pierced through two of Elil¡¯s knights, skewering thempletely. Even then, the arrow, imbued with the wrath of the Khans of the past, continued its descent like a lightning bolt toward Isaac.

    *Boom.*

    But at that moment, someone leaped forward and decisively deflected the arrow. A crystal barrier appeared for a brief moment, shining brilliantly before shattering and dispersing into the air.

    [Who dares to threaten the Great Warrior sent by Elil?!]

    It was Lianne. But the presence within her was not Lianne.

    Her golden eyes glowed as she pointed her sword at Sahn.

    Isaac smiledzily as he watched.

    ¡®Good, if the angels get involved, it gives other faiths a reason to bring out their angels too.¡¯

    Isaac was pleased with the situation.

    There was no reason to feel bad when others stepped in and fought the battle for him, allowing him to win for free.

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 Chapter 288:

    Chapter 288:

    Isaac had no angels at hismand. However, since other faiths had been drawn into the battle, even the Archangels wouldn¡¯t abandon their cherished warriors.

    The Archangel possessing Lianne¡¯s body was Nimloth, the Lady of the Lake.

    Upon realizing that the Lady of the Lake had descended, the morale of the Elil Knights soared even higher, and they began to fight with fierce intensity. The Lady of the Lake was revered in the Elil faith as the guide who led fallen knights to heaven. The battlefield blessed by her presence was guaranteed to be a gateway to paradise, leaving the knights with no reason to hold back.

    One of the distinctive traits of the Elil Knights was that they grew stronger the more they were consumed by the frenzy of battle.

    ¡°Nimloth, witness my battlefield!¡±

    One of the Elil Knights, consumed by madness, let out a ferocious roar and, with a single strike, cleaved a Keshik warrior in two.

    The sight of an ordinary knight¡ªneither a Swordmaster nor anything of the sort¡ªslicing through the thick bones of a Keshik left the orcs in shock. However, the Elil Knights, as if this were an expected oue, charged forward with unyielding ferocity, as if they refused to ept anything but victory.

    Inevitably, the battle lines began to copse much faster than before.

    ¡°Khan!¡±Teherma urged once more.

    Sahn clicked his tongue in frustration. He could rely on the blessing of Manseungja, so facing the Lady of the Lake here wasn¡¯t necessarily a bad idea. But during that time, both the front and rear lines would be utterly decimated.

    ¡®What a waste.¡¯

    Sahn had the manpower and resources to crush the Elil Knights, no matter how many of them came, or how many emerged from the World¡¯s Forge. But the battlefield was unfavorable.

    Had he known he would be fighting against three faiths simultaneously, he would havepletely revised his strategy. Perhaps he would have started by setting the mountains aze, for instance.

    ¡°We retreat.¡±

    Sahn quickly withdrew amidst the troops who had already started pulling back. A disciplined march was simple, but an orderly retreat was several times more challenging, especially in a situation where knights, driven mad by the frenzy of battle, were charging in.

    In the end, by the time Sahn had crossed the makeshift bridge they had barely constructed, he had no choice but to make a decisive order.

    ¡°Destroy the bridge.¡±

    Even Sahn felt bitter as hemanded the destruction of the bridge they had constructed to achieve their strategic objectives, especially considering there were still soldiers fighting for their lives on the other side.

    He considered waiting until the enemy was about to cross, but with an Archangel on the other side, there was a high possibility they would fiercely defend it or reim the bridge with a sudden assault.

    The best way to protect the remaining soldiers was to destroy the bridge now.

    *Bang, bang!* As the axes began to fall to destroy the bridge, the Elil Knights, realizing the situation, pressed forward with even greater intensity. Nimloth, in particr, led the charge at the forefront, smashing through the orcs like a sharp spearhead.

    But the orcs, in turn, fought desperately to block the knights. Believing that even if they died, they would be reincarnated, they did not think their Khan had abandoned them.

    In the end, the Elil Knights reached the bridge only to watch it copse into ruin.

    Countless orcs, pushed by the advancing Elil Knights, screamed as they plummeted into the deep valley below. Teherma¡¯s face twisted in pain as he struggled to ept and guide the countless souls that were dying once again.

    ¡®This should halt their pursuit. Now, to deal with the dwarves¡­¡¯

    At that moment, Sahn locked eyes with Nimloth¡¯s golden gaze.

    Despite the copsed bridge, Lianne, now possessed by Nimloth, didn¡¯t slow her charge at all. Neither did the knights following her. As Sahn doubted their sanity, Lianne unleashed the Holy Sword, Lumiarde, releasing a burst of icy energy into the air.

    From the crumbled stone bridge, white crystals began to grow with a deafening roar. The crystal bridge that formed grew at an unbelievable speed, bing sturdy enough to support dozens of knights charging across at once without copsing.

    Seeing this, Sahn let out a nervousugh and spurred his horse forward. This location was unfavorable for facing such war-crazed opponents. His n was to return to Soir, regroup his forces, and wait for the right opportunity.

    However, luck was not on his side.

    Rumble!

    A sudden bolt of lightning struck from the ground, causing Sahn to lose consciousness for a brief moment. But thanks to his resilient horse, Orthea, which maintained its bnce and stood firm, he didn¡¯t fall.

    Even as dozens of orcsy charred and fallen, their devotion remained unwavering.

    Sahn recognized the man who had summoned the lightning from the earth. He was an annoying opponent for an old warrior like Sahn to face. Before him stood an elderly one-eyed dwarf wielding a hammer asrge as a human head.

    The dwarf grinned, revealing his yellowed teeth.

    ¡°It¡¯s been a while, Sahn.¡±

    ¡°Tuhalin. I didn¡¯t expect you to survive after having your head split in two.¡±

    Tuhalin rubbed therge eyepatch covering his left eye.

    ¡°Today, I¡¯ll roast that old horse of yours.¡±

    Sahn was enraged by this shocking statement.

    The two veteran warriors let out fierce roars and shed together with unyielding ferocity.

    ***

    The battle involving the Olkan Code, Codex of Light, World¡¯s Forge, Elil, and even the Nameless Chaos¡ªknown only to a select few¡ªraged on for days.

    The followers of the World¡¯s Forge moved through the abandoned mines like they were their own domain, traversing the entire mountain. The Olkan Code was shattered as dwarves and lycanthrope warriors emerged from ces where no enemy should have been able to appear.

    Meanwhile, the Knights of Elil tore through the orcs with brutal efficiency, pushing forward without hesitation. They acted as if retreat, evasion, or negotiation were foreign concepts, ughtering every orc they encountered. Though a few orc heroes put up heroic resistance, it wasn¡¯t enough to bring about any meaningful change with the entiremand structure in shambles.

    However, in Isaac¡¯s assessment, the mostmendable faith was the Olkan Code.

    Despite facing Elil¡¯s hammer from the front and the World¡¯s Forge¡¯s anvil from behind in the Geliphurd Mountains, they managed to retreat sessfully.

    Sahn Khan had led a significant portion of his forces to safety.

    ¡°Not fearing death is quite the advantage in warfare,¡± Isaac mused.

    Isaac grimaced as he looked down at the valley, where the bodies of orcs were piling up in vast numbers.

    As the chain ofmand within the Olkan Code copsed and defeat loomed, they chose the path of ¡®dying in battle.¡¯ They judged that the Great Raid was lost and opted to return through death. This posed a serious threat to Isaac.

    Strategically, they had the upper hand, but the sheer number of orcs under the Olkan Code was overwhelming.

    ¡°Still, thanks to Sir Issacrea¡¯s advice to create an escape route while pushing them back, we were able to minimize our losses. If we had faced all 200,000 orcs head-on, our casualties would have been enormous.¡±

    The young king of Elil, Edelred, expressed his gratitude to Isaac. It had been half a year since theyst met, and Edelred seemed much more mature, likely due to the experiences from that time.

    ¡°I¡¯m just grateful those stubborn dwarves listened to reason,¡± Isaac replied, though that was what troubled him the most.

    The World¡¯s Forge harbored a deep grudge against the Olkan Code, akin to the Codex of Light¡¯s hatred for the Immortal Order. However, the leader of the warriors of the World¡¯s Forge, ¡®Thunderhammer¡¯ Tuhalin, had inexplicably agreed to Isaac¡¯s request to create an escape route for the orcs.

    Isaac still couldn¡¯t understand his intentions.

    Regardless, the result was that while the orcs suffered enormous losses, their own side¡¯s casualties were minimal.

    While thebined forces of Elil, the World¡¯s Forge, and the Issacrea army barely exceeded a thousand in losses, over 150,000 orcs under the Olkan Code had been killed or injured. If they included those who fell to their deaths or got lost in the Gelford Mountains, the number could be increased by another 20,000.

    This meant they had achieved a staggering 170:1 casualty ratio, securing a massive victory.

    Militarily, Sahn¡¯s army was virtually annihted. Although there were still many more forces in the rear, they could not match the quality of the troops led by the Khan.

    Throughout history, such an unbelievable victory was unheard of, except in cases where angels had intervened. But Isaac thought that it wasn¡¯t due to his own brilliance but rather because the gamble of involving two other faiths in this battle had paid off.

    The World¡¯s Forge wouldn¡¯t have intervened if not for the Olkan Code, and if it weren¡¯t for the imperial emunication, Edelred would have gone to Ultenheim instead of the Issacrea estate.

    A series of historical coincidences led to this overwhelming victory.

    However, the stain on this victory was the Khan¡¯s escape. Given Tuhalin¡¯s deep grudge against Sahn, this oue had been unforeseen even by Isaac.

    Yet, the hero of that escape was eventually captured by the Issacrea army.

    Isaac and Edelred were on their way to where he was being held.

    ***

    At the edge of the cliff, a Keshik warrior knelt, his arms twisted behind him and his body copsed forward.

    For a Keshik warrior who neithery down easily nor satfortably, this was a humiliating posture, though his expression appeared peaceful. Sitting above him was Tuhalin.

    ¡°The Holy Grail Knight has arrived.¡±

    Tuhalin merely nced at Isaac while polishing his bloodstained hammer. Since Tuhalin¡¯s status within the World¡¯s Forge was simr to that of Dera Heman in the Codex of Light, Isaac offered the first courtesy.

    ¡°Tuhalin Ede Pada, I once again thank you for joining this unfamiliar battle in a foreignnd.¡±

    ¡°Hah, it¡¯s not so unfamiliar. I crushed orc skulls here 360 years ago. Wherever the scent of orc blood lingers, that¡¯s my battlefield.¡±

    Edelred¡¯s face showed surprise at the mention of 360 years.

    Even considering the lifespan of dwarves, 360 years made Tuhalin an elder on the verge of death. What¡¯s more, Tuhalin had already been notified of his impending ascension as an Archangel and had even received his posthumous name, ¡®Thunderhammer,¡¯ which he would assume in the afterlife.

    Yet, Tuhalin was still active as a warrior, refusing to die just yet.

    ¡°I heard you pursued Sahn Khan to the end. This one interfered at thest moment.¡±

    ¡°Indeed. Sahn, that damned orc warlord. He kept acting like he¡¯d fight to the death, but each time he was about to lose, he¡¯d flee. Even cursing his wife didn¡¯t work after a while. It seems that the younger orcs nowadays value their lives more.¡±

    At Tuhalin¡¯s words, the Keshik warrior lying on the ground twitched.

    Tuhalin raised his hammer briefly, then let it fall. The sound of bones breaking was followed by the Keshik groaning in pain.

    Isaac touched his face, then spoke.

    ¡°His name is An.¡±

    ¡°Is he someone important enough to remember?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s considered a warrior of the Olkan Code. He¡¯s also Sahn Khan¡¯s son and might have be the next Khan if circumstances had allowed.¡±

    One of the reasons Isaac had spared An was precisely that.

    If Sahn died, An, indebted to Isaac, could be the next Khan, potentially leading to more favorable negotiations. Even if Sahn survived, the Netherworld might choose to appoint a young Khan instead of an ¡®ipetent¡¯ one. In that case, An would be the best candidate.

    But now, Isaac¡¯s trump card, An, was pinned under Tuhalin¡¯s heavy frame.

    Tuhalin looked surprised at the notion that An could have be Khan.

    ¡°His skill didn¡¯t seem that impressive.¡±

    ¡°The wounds he sustained in our battle a few days ago are likely the cause.¡±

    Tuhalin pondered for a moment before speaking.

    ¡°Now that you mention it, something strange did happen when I fought this guy.¡±

    ¡°Something strange?¡±

    ¡°It was when I nearly had Sahn. Suddenly, this one charged at me, unarmed. I quickly broke his leg, but by then Sahn had already escaped.¡±

    Tuhalin grumbled as he continued.

    ¡°So, I was going to smash his skull in out of frustration. But then, out of nowhere, Sahn¡¯s horse¡ªthe one he treats like his wife¡ªsuddenly threw Sahn off and charged at me. I¡¯ve never seen a horse go so mad before. I thought, ¡®This must be worthy of an orc warlord,¡¯ and then I smashed its skull in.¡±

    Tuhalin pointed at An with a hint of unease.

    ¡°At that moment, this guy started mumbling something about his mother.¡±

    ¡°Ah, um.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve heard rumors that orcs get aroused by horses, but is that really true? Can they really have offspring from that?¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ I¡¯m not sure about the details.¡±

    ¡°Anyway, after seeing all that, I didn¡¯t feel right killing him too. So, I brought him along and have been giving him some life lessons. A man should dream of revolution and fight against the world, not just think aboutzily stealing and piging¡­¡±

    After grumbling on for some time, Tuhalin finally turned away, as if leaving An¡¯s fate to Isaac. It was clear he didn¡¯t care whether An lived or died.

    Only after the talkative old man had left did Isaac let out a sigh and sit down in front of An.

    An looked up at Isaac with calm eyes.

    There was no anger or despair in his expression.

    It was An who spoke first.

    ¡°Was all of this your n, Holy Grail Knight?¡±

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 Chapter 289:

    Chapter 289:

    Isaac hadn¡¯t intended for An¡¯s mother to die.

    From the start, Isaac didn¡¯t care what happened to Orthea, and he hadn¡¯t factored it into his calctions.

    But he never imagined he would end up with achievements such as driving Sahn Khan to flee, sparing An¡¯s life, and instilling a subtle sense of guilt in Tuhalin.

    However, everything else had gone ording to Isaac¡¯s n.

    ¡°To some extent.¡±

    ¡°¡­You deliberately lured our army deep into the estate?¡±

    ¡°Essentially, it was a repeat of what happened in Seor. The only difference was that this time, it was on a muchrger scale.¡±

    Of course, the details were significantly different.

    In Seor, he had removed the shamans, which drastically lowered the orcs¡¯ morale. In the Isaacrea estate, he had lured the enemy so deep that it would be difficult for them to retreat, and then revealed the allied forces.Seizing the opportunity, Isaac began exining to Edelred as well.

    ¡°The World¡¯s Forge had already arrived here long ago. The Isaacrea estate was originally famous for its mines, and for dwarves, mines are like home. They stayed there, waiting for you to pass overhead.¡±

    As he spoke, Isaac pointed eastward.

    ¡°Even if Manseungja is listening, my promise to bring the desired knowledge was not a lie. It¡¯s just that I couldn¡¯t obtain it myself. You must¡¯ve heard of the chaos that erupted in Lichtheim. It happened during that process. But since I failed anyway, I thought I might as well use it to provoke you.¡±

    ¡°¡­You¡¯re insane.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not every day you get a chance to provoke an angel. Naturally, they took the bait right away. I didn¡¯t expect Khan to show up, so the breach happened faster than anticipated¡­ I had to spout nonsense while pretending to negotiate in front of you all.¡±

    Had the Elil Knight Order arrived just half a dayter, the vige would have burned, and the monastery would have copsed. Although the vige had already suffered considerable damage due to the battle, far worse oues could have urred.

    An, after a long silence, finally spoke.

    ¡°Why did you go to such lengths?¡±

    ¡°Why? Because this was the way to win.¡±

    ¡°You said the World¡¯s Forge arrived early. Without even a fight, if the World¡¯s Forge Order had simply barricaded themselves in the mountains, we would¡¯ve taken a long detour south or abandoned the Isaacrea estate altogether. Even if Manseungja had been furious, she wouldn¡¯t have wasted her followers on meaningless revenge.¡±

    Isaac nodded in agreement with An.

    An was correct. Instead of risking and gambling by dragging in the Olkan Code and endangering the residents, it would have been far more advantageous for everyone to simply barricade themselves in the mountains.

    But Isaac had deliberately drawn in the orcs, forcing significant losses.

    ¡°Did you want to be a war hero?¡±

    An¡¯s sarcastic tone made Isaac chuckle. A few years ago, he might have indeed sought such a thing. Back then, he had been desperate to gain fame and social standing. But not anymore. Isaac now had more than enough fame.

    Isaac¡¯s answer was simple.

    ¡°So that your forces heading south would be reduced, even if just a little.¡±

    ¡°¡­What did you say?¡±

    ¡°You anticipated that upying this ce wouldn¡¯t be easy, and Manseungja was waiting here. Even An, an unparalleled hero, was watching over the situation. I¡¯m sure many of your forces were preparing for battle here.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°If we repelled you without even fighting, wouldn¡¯t you have gone straight south? Then, the people in the south would have to face your crazy orc raiders. I couldn¡¯t let that happen.¡±

    So Isaac had decided to fight in their ce.

    While he couldn¡¯t physically run over and assist, he could draw in as many enemies as possible and force them to suffer losses here.

    It would have been ideal if he could have killed Khan as well, but the bastard managed to escape. However, the nearly 200,000 casualties and the immense loss of resources were irreparable damage. And most importantly, the loss of the archangels¡¯ trust would make the Great Raid itself far more difficult.

    An remained silent for a while, processing Isaac¡¯s exnation, before speaking again.

    ¡°You¡¯re a Holy Grail Knight.¡±

    ***

    Isaac shrugged as if he didn¡¯t understand the out-of-context statement. Then he turned his gaze to Edelred.

    Edelred, who had been watching with a look of admiration, flinched and quickly adjusted his cloak.

    ¡°What should we do, Your Majesty Edelred?¡±

    ¡°Huh? W-What?¡±

    ¡°What should we do with this orc? An is an unparalleled hero who¡¯s difficult to match. He¡¯s strong now, but if he continues to grow, he could be a figure like Tuhalin or Dera Heman. We hold the power of life and death over such a hero.¡±

    Edelred looked at Isaac as if to ask why he was being asked such an important question, but Isaac calmly waited for his response. After some hesitation, Edelred spoke up.

    ¡°If he¡¯s such a great hero, surely there must be an angel watching over him?¡±

    Isaac smiled.

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°Could we perhaps ask that angel to swear an oath? In exchange for releasing this hero, they would stop the Great Raid and retreat.¡±

    It was the answer Isaac had expected. From the moment he asked the Elil devotee Edelred, the oue was predetermined.

    As long as the orc hadn¡¯t done anything particrly dishonorable, they revered and respected great warriors. Even if that warrior had rescued their king (khan) and been captured, it was the epitome of chivalry. The fact that their enemy might be a powerful threat in the future didn¡¯t concern them much.

    If it had been Hesabel, she would have suggested imnting a worm in his brain, drugging him, or something simrly insidious before sending him back as a ve. But Isaac, being a model Holy Grail Knight (tentacles included), couldn¡¯t imagine doing something so horrific.

    However, An poured cold water on Isaac¡¯s righteous intentions.

    ¡°Olkan ordered the Great Raid through Manseungja and Netherworld to obtain knowledge from the secret archives of Lichtheim. Do you think an army of ten million would retreat just because of a few losses?¡±

    Isaac snorted at thement.

    ¡°That¡¯s why you need to return.¡±

    ¡°¡­What?¡±

    ¡°I know that the ten million number is exaggerated. Even if it¡¯s true, that number must include children, the elderly, and everyone else. If all of them die, Olkan¡¯s Code itself might be destroyed, don¡¯t you think?¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°Even if that¡¯s not the case, you now have to face not only the Codex of Light but also Elil, the World¡¯s Forge, and most importantly, ¡®me.¡¯ Are you confident? At this point, shouldn¡¯t you start considering other options besides the Great Raid?¡±

    Now that Khan had suffered a crushing defeat and retreated, the orcs would inevitably begin to question the very premise of the Great Raid.

    Isaac hoped that An would be the leader of the ¡®opposition faction.¡¯

    Convincing Manseungja and dealing with Sahn Khan¡¯s rage over losing his wife would be An¡¯s responsibility. If the Great Raid continued, both sides would certainly bleed.

    ¡®Even if nothinges of it and the Great Raid goes on¡­ if An¡¯s followers can cause internal strife, that would be a victory in itself.¡¯

    An seemed deep in thought.

    Like most pdins, An, a Keshik, was a devout follower of the Olkan Code. But as a warrior, he was clearly beginning to question the very nature of this expedition. More than anything, oveing hisplex regarding his mother and his battle with Isaac had undoubtedly sparked some change in his mindset.

    ¡°¡­I will consult Manseungja.¡±

    Isaac considered even this much progress in swaying An¡¯s opinion a significant achievement.

    An closed his eyes briefly, whispering as if in prayer. However, there were no signs that Manseungja would manifest.

    Perhaps, as a warrior who had faced continued failures, Manseungja might have abandoned An, withdrawing her blessings. If that were the case, Isaac would have no choice but to question Manseungja¡¯s judgment.

    However, instead of burdening her injured and wounded agent by descending herself, Manseungja appeared in a different form.

    A grasshopper jumped onto An¡¯s body. The insect, after grooming its antennae, emitted a chirping sound that, for some reason, took on the form ofnguage.

    [I know that your name is a false one.]

    From her very first words, Isaac privately mused that even as a lofty archangel, Manseungja seemed petty enough to harbor resentment.

    ¡°Oh, really? My real name is Isaac. Is that what you wanted to know?¡± Isaac responded, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

    Manseungja remained silent for a moment before replying, her tone tinged with displeasure.

    [That is not your name either. Holy Grail Knight, you must find your true name. If you do not, you will lose.]

    ¡°I¡¯d appreciate it if you could provide a bit more context.¡±

    Isaac found the often disconnected and contextless speech of the angels annoying. Did she mean that he was losing now? From Isaac¡¯s perspective, losing at this point would be more challenging, regardless of how many forces Olkan¡¯s Code sent his way.

    But Manseungja didn¡¯t seem inclined to borate further.

    [The victory you¡¯ve gained from us is meaningless. In the end, everyone loses.]

    She murmured as ifmenting.

    [Knowledge is not something to be hoarded alone. It is something that everyone must know. You must find the name of the Nameless Chaos. If not, we will all be defeated¡­]

    Manseungja trailed off, falling silent. The grasshopper, as if its business was concluded, quickly leapt away into the grass. Isaac briefly wondered if the shock of defeat had caused the archangel to lose her mind, but upon reflection, he confirmed that none of her words had been explicitly hostile.

    She just sounded like a senile prophet, muttering iprehensibly.

    ¡®Isaac isn¡¯t my real name?¡¯

    If neither Isaac nor Izek is his real name, then what could it be?

    The only other possibility was the name of the body he had first possessed. When he initially inhabited this body, the name Isaac had been attached to it, but whether that was his true name was uncertain.

    [Nameless Chaos is watching you.]

    However, he didn¡¯t have the luxury to dwell on this enigmatic prophecy.

    At the moment, the Isaacrea estate was swarming with an enormous number of forces, and there was a mountain of work to be done.

    ***

    As for An¡¯s fate, it was decided that he would be treated and then released.

    Tuhalin silently agreed with the decision, and the Elil knights had no objections to Edelred¡¯s suggestion. In fact, it was An who seemed most reluctant about returning to Olkan¡¯s Code, which was now in a position opposite to his own.

    However, it seemed An was contemting Manseungja¡¯s words more deeply than Isaac had.

    ¡°Isaac, I n to seek the answer to Manseungja¡¯s question, regardless of the Great Raid.¡±

    ¡°Hmm, the ck Empire¡¯s territory has yet to be thoroughly searched by the Codex of Light Order, so it might indeed be easier to find clues about Nameless Chaos there.¡±

    ¡°Yes, if we can find the answer without raiding Lichtheim, it would also give us a reason to halt the Great Raid. The loot we¡¯ve already gathered should be enough to get us through the winter.¡±

    Isaac had somewhat dismissed the Olkan Code, but they had already plundered numerous cities and small countries on their way to the Isaacrea estate. To obtain more, they would need to push beyond the Gerthonia Empire, but by now, everyone must have realized that such a feat wouldn¡¯t be easy.

    ¡°And if we find the answer before you, we might be the ones who ¡®win.¡¯ When that happens, the roles of victor and vanquished will be reversed. The Codex of Light is fortunate. If not for you, we would have already burned Lichtheim to the ground.¡±

    An spoke confidently, but Isaac could only look at him with disbelief. He couldn¡¯t fathom how An could be so confident about finding a name before him.

    ¡°Does the Gerthonia Empire seem so trivial to you? Does Emperor Waltzemer look like a pushover? That man is a warrior on par with Sahn Khan. If he hadn¡¯t been emunicated and if he hadn¡¯t been so greedy, the imperial army might already be decorating orc heads with spears.¡±

    Isaac¡¯s words were partly sincere.

    It was a pity that the emperor had been more wary of internal threats than those from the east. In the end, it was that arrogance that had brought the emperor down.

    ¡°Oh, right. Speaking of that, there¡¯s something I¡¯ve been curious about.¡±

    An asked, his expression serious.

    ¡°Is it true that the emperor was emunicated?¡±

    Bonus Chapter for Every Review on <strong><em>NOVEL UPDATES</em></strong>

 Chapter 290:

    Chapter 290:

    Isaac had an incredulous expression.

    ¡°What do you mean, ¡®Is it true the Emperor was emunicated?¡¯ What nonsense is that? Do you think emunication is some kind of joke or prank? You people have emunication too, don¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°No, I was certain that the Codex of Light was up to some strange trick again. Like breaking the Licht Treaty to create a nation ruled by angels once more.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s what ended up happening, though. This is now the Gerthonia Holy Empire.¡±

    ¡°Something doesn¡¯t add up.¡±

    ¡°What doesn¡¯t?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know exactly what the Licht Treaty entails. I just vaguely understand it as dividing power between the earth and the heavens. Because of that, angels couldn¡¯t directly rule a country, but the treaty was broken when the Emperor relinquished his power, right?¡±

    ¡°You seem to know quite a bit. No need to exin how you came to know it.¡±

    Isaac felt a twinge of pity for the priests who had likely been captured and tortured under the Olkan Code, forced to reveal the ¡®truth behind the Emperor¡¯s emunication.¡¯An¡¯s questions continued.

    ¡°So, if the Emperor were made a Khan, wouldn¡¯t that break the Licht Treaty? Why was it necessary to emunicate the Emperor?¡±

    Though it would be more urate to call him a regent or pope, An seemed to understand the general idea.

    Isaac was about to dismiss the notion with disdain when he suddenly realized that it did sound strange.

    The Emperor had handed over his power to an angel, which led to the breaking of the Licht Treaty.

    At that point, the Lighthouse Keeper could have made Waltzemer the pope¡ªor emperor¡ªwithout issue. Since the Licht Treaty had already been broken, they could have used Waltzemer as a figurehead.

    Waltzemer, as a divine entity, would be far more effective than an ipetent pope.

    ¡®Did they exclude Waltzemer because his ambitions were too dangerous?¡¯

    If that were the case, they should have burned him to death instead of merely emunicating him.

    That would have been a far safer method.

    However, they chose to emunicate him and imprison him, even giving him a chance to escape. As a result, the Codex of Light created atent threat behind the scenes.

    Making the Emperor the pope, or killing him outright, would have been the wise choice.

    ¡®But if they emunicated him¡­ does that mean there was a need to keep Waltzemer alive?¡¯

    A disturbing suspicion shed through Isaac¡¯s mind.

    Perhaps Waltzemer¡¯s escape was orchestrated by the Lighthouse Keeper.

    ***

    By the time An returned, an early winter had arrived in the Gelford Mountains.

    Though many orcs still roamed the mountains, most chose the efficient method of s*****e over bing prisoners or suffering in the cold.

    They would likely be dealt with before winter fully set in.

    While the remaining orcs took their own lives one by one, they seemingly couldn¡¯t bring themselves to kill their horses and simply released them into the wild.

    A significant number of those horses returned to the Olkan Code¡¯s encampments on their own, but Isaac was able to capture a fair amount of quality warhorses from the mountains. As a result, the Issacrea estate suddenly became the territory within the Gerthonia Empire with the most warhorses.

    Of course, having many horses wasn¡¯t necessarily a good thing. Warhorses required specific food, consumed enormous amounts, and had limited uses. More importantly, it wasn¡¯t possible to feed them all when even food for people was scarce.

    Unable to impensation from the Olkan Code, Isaac faced the grim prospect of going bankrupt before winter ended.

    He needed to take action before that happened.

    ¡°Sell them to our guild.¡±

    Caitlin, the head of the Golden Idol Guild¡¯s Issacrea branch, who had swiftly returned upon hearing that the war was nearly over, made the proposal with a confident smile.

    ¡°The Golden Idol Guild is expanding its mercenary force in both scale and quality. Warhorses from Mount Sahar, specialized in bombardment and marching, have significant value. We¡¯ll pay a good price for them!¡±

    ¡°Is it wise for merchants to expand their mercenary forces so much? Aren¡¯t you worried your hand will be bigger than your body?¡±

    ¡°With so few religions hiring mercenaries, what¡¯s the big deal? All those mercenaries are part of the Golden Idol Guild. They¡¯re true devotees, willing to risk their lives for the jingle and gleam of gold.¡±

    In these tumultuous times, even the Golden Idol Guild had to adapt. Though there was a brief moment of panic when their strong backer, Waltzemer, disappeared, the guild continued to wield money to control priests and pdins without hesitation.

    If they couldn¡¯t raise pdins or priests themselves, they¡¯d simply create them with money.

    Indeed, they were a group that embodied the spirit of plutocracy.

    Some had remarked, during the period when the Emperor and the Church were at odds, that they had to pay both sides, but now they only needed to pay the Church¡ªan ungrateful but quintessentially Golden Idol Guild sentiment.

    After some deliberation, Isaac decided to sell half of the warhorses he owned.

    Though Caitlin had her eye on more, Isaac had his own use for the remaining half. Even with just that portion, Isaac managed to secure enough funds that he no longer needed to worry aboutckingpensation.

    ***

    After concluding negotiations with Caitlin, Isaac ascended a dry mountain path.

    The trees, as if preparing for the impending winter, had dried up and scattered their leaves. Beneath the countless fallen leaves, the Gelford Mountains concealed the scars of war, pretending as if nothing had ever happened.

    ¡°Pdin of the Holy Grail, you¡¯ve arrived.¡±

    But standing before him were those who had yet to end their battles.

    Including Isaac himself.

    As he stepped into the clearing in front of the abandoned mine entrance, Isaac greeted Tuhalin and Edelred, who had arrived earlier.

    ¡°Thank you both foring. While the monastery might have been a more fitting location, I thought this ce might be morefortable for you, given your different faiths.¡±

    Tuhalin stroked his beard with a smile.

    ¡°This Holy Grail Knight seems to understand etiquette and consideration. The pdins I¡¯ve met before were all insane. But I like it here¡ªit feels like my own little retreat now.¡±

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have minded the monastery either, Sir Isaacrea. Elil has never denied the light. But the view here is indeed refreshing.¡±

    It seemed that Tuhalin appreciated the old mine, while Edelred favored the magnificent, openndscape of the mountains.

    Judging that he had shown enough courtesy, Isaac skipped the formalities and got straight to the point.

    ¡°I understand both of you have been busy with your own matters. However, I believe you might now be considering your next steps.¡±

    Tuhalin had been roaming the Gelford Mountains all day, leading his Lycanthrope warriors to hunt down the remnants of the orc forces scattered throughout. Edelred, meanwhile, had been scouting the area near Seor, keeping watch for any suspicious movements.

    Though the Olkan Code had not fully withdrawn and was still licking its wounds, there were no immediate signs that the Great Raid would resume. All they could do was hope that An would fulfill his role before that beast went berserk again.

    But the objectives of both Elil and the World¡¯s Forge were, in the end, war.

    Tuhalin licked his lips with a grin.

    ¡°So, the next n, is it? Are we finally going on the offensive?¡±

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t mind if it gave my knights a chance to earn military merits.¡±

    It seemed both were in favor of war. Tuhalin hade down from his istion to kill orcs, and Edelred was here to carry out Elil¡¯s grand war.

    But Isaac began by disappointing them.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I believe fighting the Olkan Code here is unnecessary.¡±

    ***

    A brief silence followed, after which Tuhalin raised his voice.

    ¡°What do you mean, Holy Grail Knight? I helped you first, believing you¡¯d assist us in return. Is the Codex of Light betraying our trust?¡±

    ¡°I have no intention of denying the debt I owe, Tuhalin. But let me be clear. If you had charged directly at the Olkan Code on the ins, it would have been nothing more than a glorious death.¡±

    ¡°You insolent¡­.¡±

    ¡°I provided you with food, supplies, safe drinking water, and maps. As a result, thanks to Elil and my help, you were able to crush more orc skulls. Am I wrong?¡±

    When on an expedition, local cooperation is crucial.

    Though Tuhalin had visited before, 360 years had passed, making it not much different from visiting for the first time. Even the Issacrea estate had changed significantly from just two years ago.

    The fact that the World¡¯s Forge greatly aided in containing the Olkan Code was undeniable. But the alignment of their goals meant that Isaac had also provided significant help, not merely owing a debt.

    Isaac wanted to make that clear.

    Before Tuhalin could say anything more, Edelred spoke up.

    ¡°Sir Isaacrea is a man who understands honor. Let¡¯s hear him out first, Tuhalin.¡±

    As Tuhalin closed his mouth, Isaac gave Edelred a grateful nod before continuing.

    ¡°That said, I do not intend to ignore the warmth the World¡¯s Forge has extended to its neighbors. I n to set a different location as our battlefield, not Seor.¡±

    Isaac unfolded a map he had brought with him.

    It was a roughly hand-drawn map of the continent. However, it marked all the important locations, from the Kingdom of Elil to the Sahar ins, the Svalbard Archipgo, Lichtheim, and the Holy Land upied by the Immortal Order. Edelred tilted his head in curiosity at the unfamiliar style of the map, while Tuhalin¡¯s expression stiffened as he noticed that even the Svalbard Archipgo¡ªpractically unknown to the Empire¡¯s citizens¡ªwas urately depicted.

    ¡°The shape is somewhat different from the maps I¡¯m familiar with. Was this newly surveyed?¡±

    ¡°It might be the most urate map in the world, Your Majesty.¡±

    Because it was a map Isaac had drawn from memory, based on the game¡¯s map.

    Though he had drawn it from memory, Isaac had made every effort to replicate the in-game map as closely as possible. While precise scaling wasn¡¯t feasible, by the standards of this era¡¯s technology, it was one of the best. Especially the key regions were depicted with great uracy.

    Isaac first pointed to the northeastern part of the Gerthonia Holy Empire, the Issacrea estate, and the mountain range extending southward. To the west of the mountain range was a depiction of the sun, and to the east were orcs.

    ¡°The west is territory upied by the Codex of Light, and the east is under the control of the Olkan Code. Manynds of the Gerthonia Holy Empire and smaller nations have been trampled by them.¡±

    Just as the White Empire wasn¡¯t particrly friendly with each other, the ck Empire wasn¡¯t necessarily on good terms either. The Olkan Code had proven this by piging even nations that followed the Red Chalice and the Immortal Order during this Great Raid. While the Immortal Order and Red Chalice hadn¡¯t made a fuss about it, given that the Dawn Army was moving eastward, there was surely some invisible power struggle between them.

    Tuhalin murmured with a wry smile.

    ¡°In the midst of all this, instead of protecting their believers, the Codex of Light proceeds with the Dawn Army towards the Holy Land. They¡¯re out of their minds. So, what¡¯s your point?¡±

    Isaac traced the line of territory upied by the orcs to the east with his finger.

    ¡°So, let¡¯s do the Codex of Light¡¯s job for them. We march south along this line.¡±

    The smile began to fade from Tuhalin¡¯s lips.

    ¡°On our way, we kill, plunder, and burn any orcs we encounter.¡±

    But Isaac¡¯s hand didn¡¯t stop as he traced the line down the map. He continued to draw his hand downward, passing through various famous cities, historic sites, and sacrednds.

    ¡°Even if we don¡¯t encounter orcs, we keep going.¡±

    Edelred noticed that the ces Isaac¡¯s finger brushed over were not chosen at random but were strategically important for supply, strategy, and rest. Realizing this, Edelred found Isaac¡¯s n even more shocking.

    When Isaac¡¯s hand finally crossed the sea, Tuhalin felt an urge to tell him to stop.

    But Isaac¡¯s hand stopped at a spot precariously close to the edge of the map.

    The ce where the Lighthouse Keeper was burned at the stake, where the Immortal Emperor Beshek pulled the Netherworld into the living world.

    The final destination of the Dawn Army.

    ¡°This ce, the Holy Land, is where I intend to make our final stand. I n to reim the Holy Land before the Codex of Light.¡±

    ¡°You¡­.¡±

    ¡°Tuhalin, Your Majesty Edelred. Thank you foring all this way across the sea to help. Since you¡¯vee this far, could I trouble you to go just a bit further?¡±

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 Chapter 291:

    Chapter 291:

    The Holy Land is a region imbued with deep sanctity, intricately linked with gods or angels. Each Holy Land holds a unique significance, such as Elyon, where Elil¡¯s tomb lies, believed to be the birthce of a new sun in the future; Lichtheim, where the Lighthouse Keeper¡¯s body still burns; and Miarma, where the god of the Salt Council is buried. Many Holy Lands exist, each with its own level of importance and reverence.

    However, when someone speaks of ¡°the Holy Land¡± without specifying a name, everyone thinks of one ce.

    Lua, the Holy Land where countless faiths originated and where saints and angels are buried¡ªa cold desert city now turned into an impregnable fortress by the dead.

    It¡¯s a ce that every believer of the Codex of Light, as well as anyone interested in theology or history, wishes to visit, yet no one alive has ever reached.

    Isaac was suggesting they go to the throne where the living god, the Immortal Emperor Beshek, reigns.

    After a moment of silence, Tuhalin clicked his tongue loudly in disapproval.

    ¡°So that¡¯s what you were getting at¡ªtalking nonsense with a straight face.¡±

    He picked up his hammer, looking as if he might leave immediately.

    ¡°I thought we finally had a sane pdin from the Codex of Light, but it turns out you¡¯re just another fanatic talking about the Dawn Army and whatnot. Seize the Holy Land, restore order, and bring about the Millennium Kingdom? Even if I conceded that your n was sound, why should I be the one to clean up after the Lighthouse Keeper?¡±Edelred, however, nodded calmly.

    ¡°I shall join you. That is the very reason why my knights crossed the sea in the first ce.¡±

    ¡°Well, damn.¡±

    Tuhalin clicked his tongue again in disbelief, but Edelred continued undeterred.

    ¡°The great war has already begun. Elil wishes for his followers to regain their honor and glory on this battlefield. Raising Elil¡¯s banner high in the frozen deserts of that Holy Land would bring us no greater joy.¡±

    Edelred smiled, touching his lips.

    ¡°Can you imagine anything more satisfying than if Elil¡¯s knights were to set foot in Lua before the Codex of Light? The Kingdom of Elil does not shy away from this battlefield.¡±

    This was expected. Although it wasn¡¯t the grand conquest Elil had dreamed of, the World¡¯s Forge had finally set foot on the continent, meaning all the faiths had now entered the war. It was no exaggeration to call it the greatest war in centuries.

    The Codex of Light fought to reim the Holy Land, Elil for honor and glory, the Salt Council to resurrect their god, the Golden Idol Guild for the scent of money, the Olkan Code for the Great Raid, the Red Chalice to find a way to survive this chaotic struggle, and the Immortal Order, as always, for eternal life.

    The only uncertainty was the World¡¯s Forge.

    From Tuhalin¡¯s perspective, there was no reason to expend the lives of his people and believers on a distantnd across the sea. However, choosing not to fight meant staying stagnant while everyone else chased after change¡ªan implicit refusal to adapt in a world that was rapidly evolving.

    ¡°Are you sure about this, Tuhalin?¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°No matter what you say, the Lighthouse Keeper has broken the Licht Treaty and transformed the Empire into a Holy Empire. They¡¯re even saying this is thergest Dawn Army since the first one. The Olkan Code has staked its faith on the Great Raid, and other religions are gradually changing too, all preparing for whates next.¡±

    Tuhalin¡¯s face twitched.

    He was aware that all faiths were undergoing rapid transformations, each pursuing their own objectives. Even on the isted ind of the reclusive hermits, these changes were noticeable.

    ¡°Are you nning to remain cold and indifferent while everyone else is fervently evolving?¡±

    ¡°You bastard¡­.¡±

    The World¡¯s Forge, despite its old-fashioned image, actually emphasizes change and futuristic values.

    Their most important doctrine is that ¡°The Codex of Light has entered the World¡¯s Forge, and the current Codex of Light is a falsehood. The Codex of Light yet to be born will bring about a new order.¡±

    ¡°Up until now, you¡¯ve been waiting by the side, warming yourself by the embers, hoping the Codex of Light would be reborn. But surely, by now, you must realize that waiting endlessly is meaningless?¡±

    This was why extremists like Ulsten, who believed in ¡°creating a god instead of waiting for the rebirth of a god,¡± had emerged.

    And Isaac, having seen the World¡¯s Forge ending, knew that Ulsten was right.

    In the World¡¯s Forge victory deration, the yer, having grown powerful, throws themselves into the Forge to awaken the flesh of the god¡ªa savior who will break the shell of this iplete world and establish a new order.

    The Forge Masters are the midwives and caretakers of this god, who is still in its infancy.

    ¡°You arrogant brat, how dare you speak so insolently!¡±

    Tuhalin finally lost his temper, unable to hold back his anger. Isaac stared back at him calmly, saying nothing.

    ¡°Do you think the Forge Masters have been sitting idle, just enjoying the warmth of the Forge? While you primitive savages were shing swords like barbarians, we were uncovering the secrets of the world and divinity! So that when the god emerges, we can adorn even his fingertips with rings!¡±

    Isaac, of course, knew this. The technology of the World¡¯s Forge was so advanced that it bordered on over-technology, even by modern standards. The only reason Tuhalin hadn¡¯t brought it out was that its use was strictly prohibited.

    That technology was meant to be wielded by the god alone.

    ¡°Do you think a few pretty baby clothes will guarantee a healthy birth? We¡¯re in a time of great upheaval. If you do nothing, you¡¯ll be forced to watch as the false Codex of Light pretends to uphold order forever.¡±

    Edelred looked at Isaac in shock at his bold words. While the provocation was intentional, it was hard to believe that suchnguage wasing from a pdin of the Codex of Light. However, Tuhalin was more enraged by the implications of Isaac¡¯s words than by the words themselves.

    He roared in fury, raising his hammer, and brought it down right in front of Isaac.

    Boom!

    Thunder erupted from several dozen paces behind Isaac, striking the ground and scattering in all directions before dissipating.

    Isaac didn¡¯t flinch, continuing to stare at Tuhalin.

    The two red at each other for a long time, until Tuhalin finally turned and walked away.

    As Tuhalin disappeared into the forest, Edelred felt a pang of anxiety.

    ¡°¡­Teacher, I trust your abilities, but wasn¡¯t that a bit too provocative? What if Tuhalin leads his warriors back to the Svalbard Archipgo?¡±

    ¡°He won¡¯t go back.¡±

    Isaac spoke with certainty.

    ¡°A proud warrior like Tuhalin would never leave his duties to someone else. If I had coddled him instead, he would have thought, ¡®What is this deceitful brat talking about?¡¯ and left for sure.¡±

    ***

    Had Tuhalin heard this, he would have mmed his hammer down again in outrage, but Isaac¡¯s assessment was urate.

    As Tuhalin descended the rugged slope with heavy strides, he felt himself wavering in the wake of Isaac¡¯s words.

    ¡®Damn Pdin.¡¯

    Tuhalin was an old dwarf, a devout believer who had never doubted that he would witness the breaking of the world¡¯s shell in his lifetime. But only after hearing Isaac did he realize that, despite waiting so long for the birth of a god, he had never truly imagined what it would look like when it happened.

    Even considering the long lifespan of dwarves, he was well into his twilight years. The odds of him witnessing the birth of a god were growing slimmer with each passing day.

    Yet, whenever those more radical, extremist voices mored for awakening the god, or even creating one by force, he had never hesitated to swing his hammer at them.

    The world is an egg, and beneath that shell, a god is growing.

    ¡®Don¡¯t they understand what happens if you forcefully break an egg¡¯s shell?¡¯

    The mother bird¡¯s only task is to keep the egg warm and care for it. Anything beyond that is presumptuous and harmful, even to the god destined to be reborn.

    But Isaac¡¯s words had shaken Tuhalin nheless.

    Everything must be heated, hammered, and cooled. All births happen within the crucible of change.

    Why should it be any different for a god?

    Luadin had been an ordinary Lighthouse Keeper until he ascended the pyre and burned to be the first Archangel. Elil had to rebel to be a god, and the Thunder Smith only became the Archangel of the World¡¯s Forge by burning himself with lightning and etching his divine name into iron.

    ¡®It¡¯s not as if a god will just wake up one day, without warning, and cry out, ¡°Here I am!¡±¡¯

    The thought almost brought a smile to Tuhalin¡¯s lips, but he quicklyposed himself, his expression hardening like that of a stern Forge Master.

    Suddenly, Tuhalin came to a halt.

    With a deep sigh, he sat down on the ground, gathering the surrounding dirt and pebbles. He formed a small, shallow pit, which he then filled with leaves, creating a simple, makeshift hearth. With a few flicks of his fingers, mes began to flicker to life.

    It was a modest altar.

    ¡®This isn¡¯t something I can decide on my own. The duty I received from the Thunder Smith was to repel the Olkan Code and exact a bloody price for the stolen technology. If I wish to pursue another course, I¡¯ll need to seek permission.¡¯

    Tuhalin stared into the small, crackling fire and quietly listened to the whispers of the Forge.

    ***

    Time passed, but the World¡¯s Forge did note to smash Isaac¡¯s head in, nor did they flee back to the inds. The fact that they were still deliberating brought Isaac some relief.

    In truth, Isaac knew that his proposal was utterly absurd. Asking the dwarves who had crossed the sea because of the Olkan Code, ¡°Since you¡¯re here, why not join me in conquering the Holy Land?¡± was oundish at best.

    If the World¡¯s Forge feltpelled to do something, they could certainly find their own way to go about it. They had no particr reason to join Isaac in his endeavors.

    ¡°By the way, Your Majesty Edelred, if you¡¯re nning an expedition to the Holy Land, won¡¯t you be leaving the kingdom unattended for quite some time? Are you sure that¡¯s wise?¡± Isaac asked.

    Edelred responded with a slightly embarrassed expression.

    ¡°General Mors Gideon has expressed simr concerns. However, the kingdom is more unified now than it has been since the days of Elil. Thanks to you, the Witch Hectali has been hiding in the marshes for some time, the Georg family is cooperative, and Lady Rosalind even lent us ships for the expedition.¡±

    From Elil¡¯s perspective, this was a rare period of peace, one that hadn¡¯t been seen for centuries. Moreover, the one who had brought this peace was the young king who had personally traveled to Urbansus to face Elil. Support and loyalty to Edelred were strong and unwavering.

    Despite this, Edelred looked at Isaac with a worried expression.

    ¡°To be honest, I¡¯m more concerned about the Gerthonia Empire¡ªor rather, the Holy Empire¡ªthan the Kingdom of Elil. Originally, the expeditionary force was going to pass through Rougeberg and head to Ultenheim. It seemed wise, given that we would be a foreign army entering another nation¡¯s territory. But just before we were set to depart, news came that Emperor Waltzemer had been emunicated.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    Hearing Edelred¡¯s words, Isaac couldn¡¯t help but think, *Who¡¯s worrying about whom here?*

    Was he really in any position to worry about the Kingdom of Elil?

    Right now, the Gerthonia Empire was in far worse disarray than Elil had ever been during its civil war.

    With the Emperor ousted, much of the system had copsed, and as the power of the priests grew, the influence of the nobility weakened. The priests tried to take over the roles of the administrative officials who had awkwardly fled, but aside from the Dawn Army, nothing was functioning properly.

    ¡®I repent for my arrogant attitude in mocking Elil¡¯s struggles¡­¡¯

    Isaac had once mocked his neighboring kingdom, thinking it was on the brink of copse, only to find that it was actually his own country that was falling apart. He almost felt like crying.

    Still, there was a silver lining¡ªthanks to the chaos, foreign armies numbering in the thousands could cross the border without anyone batting an eye, a fortunate oue for Isaac.

    In fact, with the orc raiders threatening to pige the Empire, no one cared about Elil¡¯s knights or the dwarf craftsmen. They¡¯d likely be treated more like angels (as long as they didn¡¯t cause trouble).

    ng, ng.

    When Isaac and Edelred returned to the monastery, the sound of metal being hammered echoed from a forge that hadn¡¯t seen use in a long time.

    Isaac thought it might be Ulsten working, but as he approached, he saw Tuhalin at the anvil, hammering away.

    Ulsten was standing nearby, watching the work with a humble demeanor.

    Despite his age, Tuhalin was forging a sword with swift, decisive strokes.

    There was no need to heat the metal in the forge¡ªTuhalin¡¯s hammer alone was enough to heat the de until it glowed red, allowing him to shape it like y. Even as Isaac arrived, Tuhalin did not nce up from his work. Finally, satisfied with the shape, he grasped the hot de with his hand, smoothing it down.

    As he did, impurities followed his touch, rapidly cooling the de into its final, perfect form.

    Even to Isaac, who had no particr eye for swords, it was clear this was a masterpiece.

    Tuhalin casually thrust the sword into the ground beside several others just like it.

    Finally, Tuhalin looked at Isaac and spoke.

    ¡°I have a question about something in the depths of your estate. Whether or not I join this battle depends on your answer.¡±<hr>

    TL Note: Readers, I have not dropped this novel; I am just changing the tform. From Here to My Patreon

 Chapter 292:

    Chapter 292:

    Isaac nced back at Ulsten. It was information he couldn¡¯t have known without being told.

    However, Ulsten shook his head.

    If he were human, it might have been a lie, but straightforward dwarves, while they may act boldly, don¡¯t bother with lies.

    ¡°There¡¯s no need to doubt Ulsten. I asked the Thunder Artisan directly and confirmed it.¡±

    ¡°I was merely trying to verify it.¡±

    Isaac responded, feigning calmness. If the information came from an Archangel, then it clearly wasn¡¯t about a mere fragment of a fallen angel.

    It had to be a story epassing the thousands of fallen angels buried beneath the earth.

    ¡®Or perhaps, it was pointing to something even deeper.¡¯

    Isaac thought it was just as well.The Thunder Artisan was the oldest Archangel associated with the World¡¯s Forge. If he was somehow connected to those fallen angels, Isaac would have ess to even more information. After all, Isaac was just as curious about the fallen angels.

    ¡°This isn¡¯t a matter to discuss in a crowded ce, so I¡¯d appreciate it if everyone else could leave. I¡¯d also like to politely ask the King of Elil to do the same.¡±

    Tuhalin addressed Edelred with respect.

    When a dwarf twenty times his age made such a polite request, Edelred could only nod in bewilderment and step back. Soon, only Tuhalin and Isaac remained in the forge.

    The only sound that filled the silence was the crackling of embers leaping from the roaring forge.

    Tuhalin¡¯s face flickered in the dancing shadows cast by the mes. Isaac didn¡¯t know what conversations Tuhalin had with the Thunder Artisan or what secrets he had overheard. But the dozens of swords embedded in the ground reflected his inner turmoil.

    Even Isaac could deduce that they symbolized preparations for war.

    Suddenly, Tuhalin spoke.

    ¡°The Thunder Artisan is listening.¡±

    ¡°What are you curious about?¡±

    ¡°Do you know what it is?¡±

    Isaac shook his head.

    ¡°All I know is what Ulsten knows. That an enormous number of fallen angels from the Codex of Light are buried beneath thisnd. I may have used fragments of fallen angels here and there, but I didn¡¯t know what I was doing.¡±

    In response to Isaac¡¯s words, the mes in the forge hissed. Tuhalin, listening to the sound, spoke again.

    ¡°They aren¡¯t fallen angels of the Codex of Light.¡±

    ¡°Excuse me? But they had the basic form of an angel from the Codex of Light. A body made of mes with six to eight wings and eyes. Isn¡¯t that the basic appearance of an Archangel from the Codex?¡±

    ¡°More precisely, they¡¯re Archangels of ¡®All Faiths.¡¯ In the past, all angels had that same form. Over time, as their personalities became more distinct and their purposes diverged, they each took on different forms. The Thunder Artisan captured the original form of those Archangels.¡±

    Isaac looked at the forge in shock, but he knew there was no way to see any expression on the mes. The mes continued to hiss iprehensibly.

    ¡°An angel capturing the form of an angel? That seems¡­ out of order.¡±

    ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, you¡¯ve visited Urvansus several times. Then you should know that the order of time is irrelevant.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    True, angels primarily operate in Urbansus rather than the present. Even now, fierce battles are being fought in Urvansus as angels struggle to fix or alter the course of current history.

    That¡¯s why Archangels can¡¯t solely focus on the present.

    Isaac understood what Tuhalin was implying. It was possible that those angels were evidence of an attempt by almost all the faiths, not just the Codex of Light, to seal something away.

    At the very least, the World¡¯s Forge was definitely involved.

    ¡°What exactly is beneath us?¡±

    At this point, Isaac had a hunch, but he asked the question to confirm it.

    ¡°That¡¯s why I said I would decide on my participation based on your answer.¡±

    Tuhalin looked at Isaac with somber eyes.

    ¡°Do you know why the gods sealed the corpse of the Nameless Chaos deep beneath the earth? As the only one who inherits his will, do you perhaps dream of resurrecting the Chaos slumbering deep within?¡±

    ***

    Isaac Issacrea was a Pdin of the Codex of Light. That¡¯s how he was publicly known.

    But in truth, he was a devotee, an apostle, a pope, and a proxy of the Nameless Chaos. He was the only being in the world permitted to share the power and spread the will of the Nameless Chaos.

    However, to be more precise, Isaac was an atheist. It wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t believe in existing gods, but rather that he didn¡¯t see the need to rely on them.

    ¡°No.¡±

    Isaac looked at Tuhalin, appearing incredulous.

    ¡°It¡¯s true that the Nameless Chaos grants me power. Sometimes, I feel like a monster when I use that power. But I can¡¯t stand the thought of a chaotic monster running amok in the world. Isn¡¯t it evident by my insistence on being associated with the Codex of Light?¡±

    No matter how much Isaac disliked or found the Codex of Light distasteful, it was still better than warmongers, recluses, plutocrats, pirates, vampires, skeletons, or marauders.

    Of course, the Codex of Light has been veering into madness recently.

    That¡¯s why Isaac attempted to conquer a Holy Land on his own, thinking he had to do something.

    But even those entities were better than tentacled monsters that devoured people. That was an unwavering belief.

    Tuhalin didn¡¯t respond to Isaac¡¯s answer.

    To be honest, suspicion was warranted. If Isaac wasn¡¯t aiding in the resurrection of the Nameless Chaos, why would Chaos grant him power? Was it because it had plenty of time being dead? Or simply because it was Chaos and didn¡¯t need a reason?

    ¡®Hmm, that does sound usible.¡¯

    It would be stranger if Chaos had a reason. Just as it¡¯s possible to love without a reason, Chaos might have killed all its followers out of sheer dislike. But as someone loved by Chaos, Isaac hoped there was some reason behind it.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t even know that what¡¯s buried beneath us was the Nameless Chaos. But is that even possible? I never thought the Nameless Chaos would have a physical form. And the idea of sealing a god by burying it¡­¡±

    ¡°The Nameless Chaos isn¡¯t something like that¡­¡±

    Tuhalin was about to say something but closed his mouth at the hissing sounding from the forge. After a moment, he seemed to realize the awkwardness of his silence and resumed his exnation.

    ¡°The fallen angels aren¡¯t there to defeat something, but rather to act as a sort of lid. Their powerful bodies and divine energy were used to ¡®patch up¡¯ what lies beneath, to keep it from ¡®seeping out.¡¯¡±

    ¡°And that¡¯s the Nameless Chaos?¡±

    ¡°There isn¡¯t a precise term in thenguage of the living. To be exact, they¡¯re more like maggots¡­ or something simr, crawling within the corpse of the Nameless Chaos. Creatures that have feasted on the flesh and marrow of Chaos.¡±

    Suddenly, an image shed in Isaac¡¯s mind¡ªthose who offered sacrifices, transformed into monsters, or sang hymns of destruction. The devotees of the Nameless Chaos. And the man in yellow standing atop a pyramid.

    It was an image that hadn¡¯t faded even with the passage of time.

    As soon as Tuhalin mentioned ¡®the maggots crawling upon the corpse of Chaos,¡¯ that image resurfaced.

    Tuhalin noticed the look on Isaac¡¯s face, as if he had recalled something, and stared at him quietly.

    He muttered as if speaking to himself, ¡°You must know some of the mysteries of the divine, given your position as a guardian of future gods. Tell me, do you think gods can truly rule over humanity?¡±

    ¡°¡­Can¡¯t they?¡±

    While impersonal gods might be different, personal gods like Elil, the Dancer, Olkan, and Beshek certainly conveyed their will to their followers. Even impersonal gods made their intentions clear by appointing or casting down angels. Faced with their overwhelming power, no human dared to challenge them.

    But Tuhalin shook his head.

    ¡°People only think that because of the gods¡¯ immense power. In truth, gods are more entangled with their followers than anyone else. In fact, angels often disguise their authority and power to prevent themselves from being dragged down.¡±

    Gods are the order of Urvansus itself. But the faith that shapes Urvansus is something that humans create, gathered from their individual beliefs.

    Gods are merely representatives of unified will, capable of projecting power on behalf of humanity.

    ¡°The Nameless Chaos is a faith as old as the Codex of Light, or perhaps even older. It represents the iprehensible, the unknown, the awe-inspiring, the darkness, the horizon beyond¡­ Everything beyond human understanding bore the name of Nameless Chaos. What people couldprehend, they attributed to the Codex of Light, and what they couldn¡¯t, they deemed the domain of Chaos.¡±

    The forge hissed, releasing a sound like escaping steam.

    Isaac realized that Tuhalin was merely conveying the words of the Thunder Artisan. Despite being the greatest warrior of the World¡¯s Forge, Tuhalin humbly fulfilled his role as a mere messenger.

    ¡°With the dawn of the Age of Light, time passed, and allnds and seas, except the Apocrypha, were charted. The Codex of Light sought to inscribe immutablews across the world. But¡­ there were those who didn¡¯t like the idea of the ing paradise.¡¯¡±

    ¡°Is it possible not to like paradise?¡±

    ¡°Let me put it this way. Imagine I¡¯m a wealthy man whomands thousands with a mere nod, and you¡¯re the one who cleans mytrines. Now imagine the world remains frozen in that state forever. Would you be content?¡±

    ¡°¡­Ah, it makes me want to burn the house down. And then?¡±

    ¡°Those who wanted to burn down the house found a source of unimaginable terror within the name of Chaos. There¡¯s no force as powerful and limitless as the fear of the unknown. Even though they themselves didn¡¯t know what would happen or what kind of destruction it would bring, they must have thought it was better than their current situation.¡±

    Isaac suddenly remembered that Tuhalin was likely at least 400 years old. He would have witnessed the days when the cult of the Nameless Chaos roamed the world. He had seen the devotees of Chaos with his own eyes.

    ¡°And it was through them that Chaos became heavily corrupted.¡±

    Tuhalin spoke with certainty, but Isaac found it hard to ept immediately.

    ¡®Can a god be corrupted so easily?¡¯

    Isaac suspected that either Tuhalin was hiding something, or there were unknowable circumstances even Tuhalin couldn¡¯t grasp. But he decided to keep listening without interruption.

    ¡°Whether the Nameless Chaos was pleased with that process, we can¡¯t know. But considering it ultimately killed all its followers, it wasn¡¯t exactly a positive oue. Then again, since death itself is an unknown, maybe they got what they wanted. But there¡¯s something that¡¯s not widely known.¡±

    Tuhalin pointed a finger at Isaac as he spoke.

    ¡°One of the Archangels from the Codex of Light helped facilitate its spiritual s*****e. Why or for what reason, I don¡¯t know. But that Archangel defied even the orders of the Lighthouse Keeper to aplish it.¡±

    At Tuhalin¡¯s words, Isaac recalled an Archangel. The list of candidates who could have done something so outrageous was very short from the start.

    ¡°She was called the White Owl.¡±

    Tuhalin looked around as he murmured.

    ¡°This ce is where she assisted in the euthanasia of the Nameless Chaos. For the followers of the Nameless Chaos, there couldn¡¯t be a more sacred ce. The gods have sealed the breach in Urbansus here, ensuring that the maggots don¡¯t seep out.¡±

    ***

    Once upon a time, thisnd was known as the Hendrake Estate.

    Back then, it was nothing more than a remote, insignificant rural area, but thete lord of the estate, Lisfen Hendrake, and the Saint of the Sword, Kalsen Miller, who had visited on some mission, harbored grand ambitions.

    Their n was to create a new god and, in the process, dere independence from the empire¡ªa n that sounded like the delusions of a madman. Unsurprisingly, the attempt failed, and Kalsen fled in a panic, seeking refuge with the Immortal Order, where he became theirckey.

    This was the official history Isaac had uncovered.

    In the new history Isaac had crafted, Kalsen had disappeared¡ªin reality, he had taken up long-term residence inside Isaac¡¯s stomach. Unless Kalsen was capable of resurrecting from excrement, he would never appear in history again.

    For the record, Isaac, who possessed the power of the ¡°Intestines of the Dead God,¡± never needed to use the bathroom. It was a miracle befitting his handsome appearance. So, Kalsen had no chance ofing back to life from atrine.

    But today, Isaac had learned something new.

    ¡®It wasn¡¯t such a far-fetched idea after all.¡¯

    A Holy Land is deeply connected to Urbansus.

    In other words, it¡¯s a ce where the boundary between Urbansus and reality is thin.

    Kalsen Miller¡ªor more urately, the Archangel who had undoubtedly sponsored him¡ªhad likely intended to use the sanctity of this ce to transform him into a god to rece the Nameless Chaos.

    It was almost certainly a scheme concocted by the Lighthouse Keeper, who despised the Nameless Chaos, but in any case, the n had failed. This time, they hadn¡¯t even had a chance to attempt it.

    As Isaac considered this, he understood why Tuhalin was wary of him.

    Tuhalin didn¡¯t know Kalsen, but he suspected that Isaac might be trying to be someone like Kalsen.

    [End of Serialization] Pdin of the Dead God

 Chapter 293:

    Chapter 293:

    ¡®Bing a god, huh.¡¯

    Isaac knew that Kalsen¡¯s n had already failed, so there was no reason for him to follow in those footsteps. However, the key difference between Kalsen and Isaac was that Isaac was already favored by the Nameless Chaos.

    Of course, when ites to tampering with someone else¡¯s corpse, the permission of the deceased is rarely considered important. This was clearly the case with the maggots writhing in the Nameless Chaos¡¯s corpse.

    But it¡¯s a different story when one uses the power of the Nameless Chaos.

    In some sense, Isaac had effectively inherited all the legacy left behind by the Nameless Chaos.

    The idea that a pdin, working as an intern for a rivalpany, is actually the full-fledged proxy, heir, new chairman, and undercover boss of the Nameless Chaos Corporation was rather fitting.

    Even if he didn¡¯t n to create a new god, the conditions were certainly sufficient to resurrect the Nameless Chaos.

    ¡°Let me be perfectly clear. I won¡¯t do it. I¡¯m not going to do it. I won¡¯t.¡±

    Isaac¡¯s firm tone made Tuhalin quietly observe him.¡°As I said, I believe the Codex of Light is meant to rule the world. I may not be pleased with the current state of things and intend to make some changes, but that¡¯s all. If it ever looks like tentacled monsters might start swarming around, well¡­ I¡¯d rather move far away.¡±

    Even saying something like ¡®I¡¯d rather kill myself¡¯ was a bit much, as he valued his life too much for that.

    Back when he lived a monastic life with nothing, it might have been a different story, but now he had many people following him.

    Isaac wasn¡¯t sure if Tuhalin would ept his reasoning, but fortunately, it seemed Tuhalin had a grasp of Isaac¡¯s inner thoughts.

    ¡°You yourself said it, didn¡¯t you? That gods are swayed by their followers. They¡¯re not omnipotent beings. Why would I want to be one of them? I¡¯d rather be an emperor.¡±

    ¡°A fair point.¡±

    Tuhalin gave a somber smile.

    ¡°But no one bes a god simply because they want to rule others and wield absolute power. Everyone who has made that choice did so because they had no other option.¡±

    Isaac let out a long sigh. He didn¡¯t know how else to persuade him.

    ¡°My settling in thisnd was purely coincidental. Lord Hendrake invited me in the first ce. You can ask Kyle Hendrake if you don¡¯t believe me.¡±

    Of course, that was a lie. Isaac knew from the start that the Hendrakee Estate was valuablend.

    Though he hadn¡¯t realized just how valuable it would turn out to be.

    Its value was rising every day, and while he felt like he had made the right choice in settling here, it also felt like he was standing on a precarious manhole cover floating in midair.

    ¡°I believe in your character. But I find it hard to believe that you won¡¯t be a god.¡±

    ¡®Isn¡¯t it the opposite?¡¯

    Even Isaac himself felt that his character was somewhat questionable, yet he had no desire to be a god.

    After all, he had already struggled with the difort of being offered the status of an Archangel and had failed to refuse it; the idea of bing a god was even more daunting.

    ¡°If those who believe in you were unjustly ughtered and oppressed by the Codex of Light, and the only way to protect them was by bing a god, could you say with certainty that you wouldn¡¯t choose that path?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡±

    Isaac was at a loss for words.

    Elil had be a god for that very reason.

    To win the war against the Codex of Light.

    Although he ultimately failed, if protecting people was the only option, Isaac wouldn¡¯t have many choices either.

    And given that he might one day have to confront the Lighthouse Keeper, Tuhalin¡¯s words felt more like a prophecy with a high chance ofing true.

    As Isaac remained silent, the hissing sound from the forge grew louder.

    Tuhalin stared at the forge for a moment, then nodded. He stood up, signaling the end of their conversation. Isaac¡¯s face twisted in frustration, thinking the situation had taken a turn for the worse.

    Tuhalin extended his hand to Isaac as if bidding farewell.

    ¡°You¡¯ve given a good answer, Isaac. I look forward to working with you.¡±

    ¡°Pardon?¡±

    ¡°The World¡¯s Forge will stand with Issacrea.¡±

    ***

    ¡°Do you still hold the same thoughts, Thunder Artisan?¡±

    After Isaac had left, Tuhalin stared into the embers that remained in the forge and murmured to himself.

    ¡°To be honest, I still don¡¯t fully trust that Holy Grail Knight. He is selfish, cunning, and secretive. The positive reputation he has seems to be due to the misguided admiration of those enthralled by the fact that he¡¯s a Nephilim.¡±

    The embers crackled softly in response. Tuhalin chuckled as if amused by the reply.

    ¡°All gods are like that, you say? Well, that could be true. All gods are bound to be selfish, cunning, and secretive for the sake of their followers.¡±

    Tuhalin absentmindedly stroked the handle of his hammer.

    With this hammer, there was nothing he couldn¡¯t repair, nothing he couldn¡¯t destroy. He had created and annihted with it.

    And now, he was faced with the most extraordinary material he had ever encountered.

    The mes in the forge whispered. Tuhalin bowed his head, eyes heavy with guilt.

    ¡°I understand why you oppose this campaign, Thunder Artisan. But¡­¡±

    He clenched the hammer tightly and continued speaking.

    ¡°But even without me, that young man will undoubtedly be something in the future. Perhaps something terrible, as you fear. But it is the duty of the old to forge, discipline, and persuade, to ensure that doesn¡¯t happen.¡±

    Lightning crackled from the hammer, sparking between the nearby swords and tools.

    ¡°And if it can¡¯t be fixed, it will be my burden to destroy him with my own hands before he bes something monstrous.¡±

    ***

    Isaac was ecstatic at the unexpected boon of the ¡°World¡¯s Forge cooperation,¡± a trump card he hadn¡¯t anticipated.

    Of course, as a lord and Holy Grail Knight, Isaac expressed his joy in the most dignified and humble way possible¡ªby rolling around on the bed in his room. He was so delighted that he momentarily forgot that Hesabel was hanging from the ceiling.

    After rolling around for a good while, Isaac finally noticed Hesabel looking down at him from the ceiling. He quickly straightened his clothes and stood up with as muchposure as he could muster.

    ¡°It was a ritual to give thanks for the victory.¡±

    ¡°Oh, if you hadn¡¯t said anything, I would¡¯ve pretended not to see it. But it turns out it had such a deep meaning. Could you share the exact steps of the ritual with me?¡±

    ¡°Then just pretend you didn¡¯t see it. Anything unusual happen?¡±

    Hesabel descended from the ceiling.

    Having been caught in the fallout of the Netherworld¡¯s barrage, Hesabel had long recovered from any injuries caused by the fall. As long as she could replenish her blood, she could use the miracle of healing as much as she needed, so the battlefield littered with orc corpses had served as a free field hospital for her.

    Thus, she had spent her time under the guise of convalescing, keeping an eye on the estate, mainly focusing on areas where significant figures were present.

    Currently, the Issacrea estate was overrun with high-ranking individuals from both Elil¡¯s side and the World¡¯s Forge. It was on the verge of oversaturation.

    It would have been strange if no problems had arisen.

    As expected, Hesabel spoke with a serious tone.

    ¡°King Edelred and Lianne Georg seem to have finallye to an understanding just a couple of days ago. But honestly, with how clueless they are, when do you think they¡¯ll get around to sleeping together and having a child? Edelred is young, so it would be better if Lianne took the lead, but she seems disinterested in anything that isn¡¯t a battlefield.¡±

    ¡°Alright, next.¡±

    ¡°A warrior named Raulok from the Lycanthrope Warriors confessed his love to Reyna Hilde. He said he was smitten by her arms, the way she effortlessly won at arm wrestling.¡±

    ¡°Okay, next.¡±

    ¡°Priest Kless had ate-night rendezvous with Miss Neria¡­¡±

    ¡°Hold on, Hesabel. What exactly are you doing right now? Are you gathering gossip? Why is all your information so skewed?¡±

    ¡°This is my specialty. Is there a more important topic?¡±

    ¡°Aren¡¯t there any plots about someone grinding their teeth, nning to kill someone? Or any suspicious individuals sneaking in and being harbored? I want to get this expedition underway before these hot-blooded warriors kill each other. As soon as we¡¯re ready!¡±

    ¡°Oh, of course there is. Someone who¡¯s likely to kill you has snuck in, and King Edelred is the one hiding him.¡±

    ¡°What did you say?¡±

    ***

    ¡°¡­It¡¯s been a long time, Sir Cedric.¡±

    The ¡®Mercurial¡¯ Cedric.

    Elil¡¯s Swordmaster, who had once almost killed Edelred with the help of Lady Rosalind, stood at the opposite end of the alley.

    Cedric froze, unable to respond as Hesabel stood before him.

    Isaac strode toward Cedric and spoke.

    ¡°Never would I have imagined that His Majesty King Edelred would harbor someone who once tried to kill him. What were you thinking, sneaking in here? Have you taken up another contract?¡±

    It had been easy to lure Cedric out of the room Edelred had arranged for him. All it took was for Hesabel to show herself outside his window, pacing the alley a few times.

    The Swordmaster, who was undoubtedly told to stay hidden, had been caught so easily.

    ¡°Ah, uh. It¡¯s good to see you, Holy Grail Knight. It¡¯s not what you think¡­ I was just passing through, but His Majesty insisted that I see you before leaving. I wasn¡¯t ready, so I hesitated, but I didn¡¯t expect to meet you so suddenly.¡±

    It seemed Edelred, in his consideration, had decided to wait until Cedric was ready to meet Isaac.

    There was no longer any sense of animosity or grudge emanating from Cedric. Given that they hadn¡¯t parted on terrible terms before, Isaac assumed Cedric wasn¡¯t here with any malicious intent.

    ¡°Passing through? Where were you headed?¡±

    ¡°Well¡­¡±

    Cedric hesitated, ncing briefly at Hesabel. Isaac paused for a moment, feeling a strange sense of disbelief.

    It was as if the topic of conversation tonight would never stray from this subject.

    ¡°Were youing here to see Hesabel?¡±

    ¡°No, no. You misunderstand. I was on my way east. I just happened to remember an old acquaintance and decided to stop by.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re not exactly what you¡¯d call acquaintances. Where exactly in the east?¡±

    ¡°Well¡­¡±

    ¡°Surely not the Kingdom of Wachia?¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    Cedric averted his gaze. Hesabel stifled augh.

    Isaac couldn¡¯t help but feel sorry for the aging Swordmaster.

    Even though Hesabel asionally acted like a fool around Isaac, she was, in reality, a member of the Duke¡¯s family from the Kingdom of Wachia.

    To someone like her, wrapping someone as naive as Cedric around her finger would be child¡¯s y. Despite having once been defeated because of Hesabel, Cedric still didn¡¯t seem to have learned his lesson.

    With a sigh, Isaac opened his mouth, thinking he might as well rescue the man.

    After all, he had been looking for Cedric to take him along before leaving Elil¡¯s Kingdom.

    ¡°Instead of hiding in an inn, stay at the monastery. While you¡¯re there, let¡¯s discuss our future.¡±

    He couldn¡¯t let such a valuable asset as a Swordmaster slip through his fingers now that Cedric had walked right into hisp.

    Even though Cedric might seem a bit pathetic, he had demonstrated surprising wit and skill when needed, like during the incident where he helped Lady Rosalind.

    As Hesabel brushed her hand lightly against Cedric¡¯s as she passed by, she smiled.

    ¡°It¡¯s good to see you again, warrior of Elil.¡±

    That is, as long as it didn¡¯t involve a woman.

    Since he was easily swayed, it seemed wise to bring him to their side early on.

    ***

    With the World¡¯s Forge now integrated into the new n, Isaac began the process of selecting who would stay behind at the estate and who would join the expedition.

    Not everyone could leave for the expedition. There was a risk that the Olkan Code might resume the Great Raid, the Codex of Light couldn¡¯t be trusted, and if the Immortal Order felt their Holy Land was threatened, they might resort to guerri tactics.

    ¡®There¡¯s no shortage of forces ready to oppose me.¡¯

    And considering the nature of the mission, which involved deep pration into enemy territory, a small, elite strike force would be more effective than arge army. Isaac already had a suitable route in mind for that.

    Naturally, all of Elil¡¯s knights would be joining the expedition. They hade prepared to die on the battlefield.

    Half of the Lycanthrope Warriors and the artisans from the Forge would also join. The Pdin Order of Gebel and Rottenhammer, along with soldiers from the Issacrea estate, would also participate. A small, elite force still required logistics, so there had to be people responsible for supplies and maintenance.

    However, there was one unexpected addition to the group that Isaac hadn¡¯t anticipated.

    ¡°What do you mean we can¡¯t cancel the death insurance? How is that possible?¡±

    Isaac was taken aback when he learned that they couldn¡¯t undo the miracle attached to Ang, the orphan girl they had brought from Syracusa to Issacrea.

    The death insurance miracle wasn¡¯t supposed to be difficult to lift; even a local priest could cancel it. But despite the efforts of numerous priests at Issacrea and even the artisans of the Forge, the miracle stubbornly resisted dispelling.

    A priest, who had finally managed to decipher theplex structure of the protective doctrines surrounding Ang, wiped the cold sweat from his brow as he exined.

    ¡°It¡¯s not an ordinary contract. Multiple protective doctrines have beenyered, each preventing the disclosure or revtion of any specific knowledge.¡±

    (Continued)

 Chapter 294:

    Chapter 294:

    ¡°Protective doctrines? On a child, of all things¡­¡±

    After listening to the exnation, Isaac realized that the issue wasn¡¯t the death insurance at all.

    Ang was under a miracle of protective doctrines designed to seal specific knowledge. This protection didn¡¯t just prevent her from speaking about the knowledge; it also blocked any mental ess, including thinking or considering that knowledge.

    The reason Ang couldn¡¯t speak was because of a miracle cast by the Immortal Order.

    ¡°What kind of knowledge could a child have that they¡¯d go to such lengths to block it?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure. It¡¯s quite an advanced doctrine. At least bishop-level or higher. It¡¯s impossible for her to speak about the knowledge, and we can¡¯t extract it either.¡±

    Isaac didn¡¯t think the Immortal Order had gone mad from living too long and decided to pull off something crazy.

    Even the oldest member of the Order, the Immortal Emperor Beshek, was only about 300 years old. While there were certainly insane undead, there was still amon understanding among members of the Order.

    Children were to be protected and safeguarded.It would be nice to think this was the minimum level of conscience that any human should have, but in reality, they believed that the souls and bones of children were too immature to be undead.

    When one bes undead, their personality and skeletal structure remain as they were at the time of death. Unless someone has a distasteful hobby of cultivating young bones, it¡¯s more like an angler releasing a young fish with the sentiment of ¡°grow up ande back.¡±

    ¡®Regardless of their intentions, it¡¯s still a sort of benevolence on their part. Protecting children is a basic decency that anymunity should uphold, after all.¡¯

    The Immortal Order¡¯s approach just happened to be more obsessive.

    Isaac considered the possibility that Ang had somehow essed secret knowledge rted to the Immortal Order. Something had gone awry during this process, catching the attention of a high-ranking member¡ªlikely a lich. Instead of killing the child, the lich opted for rigorous protective measures and sent her back.

    It was entirely usible.

    Still, Isaac needed to figure out how Ang had gotten involved in such matters.

    He thought it unlikely that Ang had gone to such a ce alone, and considered the possibility that her parents might have been with her.

    ¡®Ang was found in Syracusa, at the site where they were about to burn a group of death insurance holders¡­¡¯

    Most death insurance holders were people who had illegally crossed into territories controlled by the Immortal Order. Contrary to the terrifying rumors spread by the Codex of Light, simply stepping foot in those deserts doesn¡¯t cause people to freeze to death or have their souls devoured.

    In areas not dominated by undead, thend could be surprisingly fertile, with an abundance of flora and fauna. Some people lived there in a semi-wild state, akin to being left to graze under the protection of a benevolent undead.

    Naturally, all these inhabitants were death insurance holders.

    Even if one did encounter members of the Immortal Order, the interaction could be as simple as exchanging a casual greeting. Not every member of the Codex of Light is a fanatic who burns people, just as not every walking skeleton is a deranged individual eager to strip flesh from bones.

    In some ways, it was even safer than dealing with vampires or orcs¡ªcreatures driven by scarce desires.

    Surprisingly, the Immortal Order¡¯snds were still ces where people lived.

    ¡®Let¡¯s assume Ang¡¯s original parents crossed into the Immortal Order¡¯s territory and then returned together to Syracusa¡­¡¯

    There were many possible professions, but one stood out as both the mostmon and the most likely toe and go.

    Isaac, following a hunch, instructed the priest to bring someone in. People were confused when they heard the name of a person who seemedpletely out of ce, but they did as they were told.

    Soon, Caitlin arrived, delivering the response Isaac had expected.

    ¡°Yes, this child belongs to the Golden Idol Guild.¡±

    ***

    Like many faiths, the forms of doctrines and beliefs vary ording to region, culture, and tradition. Among these, the Golden Idol Guild has no fixed home country, and most of its members are traders who constantly travel.

    ¡°There are people known as Selmons. Originally from a family belonging to the Salt Council, these disced individuals never settled in one ce, instead wandering endlessly. Over time, they came to believe that no faith could be trusted, and that money was the only means of protection, leading them to devote themselves to the Golden Idol as a family unit.¡±

    ¡°Selmons? You¡¯re talking about Selmon traders?¡±

    The priest questioned, and Caitlin nodded.

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s what many people call them. Thus, they¡¯ve earned a reputation for being willing to do anything for money.¡±

    Isaac, who had been quietly listening, suddenly spoke up.

    ¡°They¡¯d go as far as smuggling into the Immortal Order¡¯s territory.¡±

    Caitlin nodded in agreement.

    It wasn¡¯t necessarily dangerous or a death sentence to enter the Immortal Order¡¯snd, nor were they forced into death insurance contracts, but trading still required meeting members of the Order.

    Negotiating with a skeleton exuding an icy chill was not something that could be done by anyone without a strong constitution. After all, the undead always had the option of ¡°killing the troublesome merchant, taking their goods, and using the body as a ve to polish my ribs.¡±

    In other words, it was a task only those utterly consumed by the pursuit of money could undertake.

    Of course, even the Immortal Order wouldn¡¯t resort to such measures easily, as they needed certain goods. And considering the Dawn Army¡¯s own raids on Golden Idol merchants, it was a case of the pot calling the kettle ck.

    ¡°Selmon traders mark the inside of their wrists with tattoos from a young age to identify themselves as belonging to the same bloodline wherever they go. They usually hide these marks with bracelets or bindings¡­¡±

    As she spoke, Caitlin flipped Ang¡¯s wrist to reveal a small tattoo of a broken anchor. Because they often traveled in family units, Ang¡¯s family had also ventured into the Immortal Order¡¯s territory.

    Isaac nodded.

    ¡°Ang¡¯s parents were Selmon traders, then. That exins the death insurance; it¡¯s not unusual if the Immortal Order requested it as a condition for trading.¡±

    It was an easy option to agree to, as it could be canceled without much difficulty.

    However, something went wrong, resulting in Ang having her knowledge sealed and being expelled to Syracusa.

    Isaac was curious about what had happened, but with the protective doctrines in ce, finding a way to uncover the sealed knowledge wouldn¡¯t be simple.

    He decided to ask a slightly roundabout question to gauge how much Ang could speak about.

    ¡°Ang, can you tell me who you met from the Immortal Order?¡±

    Ang looked at Isaac with a puzzled expression, but she neither wrote anything down nor made any gestures. It seemed she didn¡¯t evenprehend the question, let alone answer it. The miracle cast on her was incredibly thorough.

    ¡®No wonder the kid can¡¯t talk.¡¯

    Just then, Caitlin opened up Isaac¡¯s map and asked Ang a question.

    ¡°Ang, where did your parents stay?¡±

    Ang responded to that question. It seemed information about her parents wasn¡¯t restricted.

    Her finger stopped on a corner of the map. Everyone fell silent as they saw where she was pointing.

    Isaac asked again.

    ¡°The Holy Land? You¡¯re saying they stayed in Holy Land Lua?¡±

    Even the Immortal Order only allowed trade in their capital city, Ushak, which served as their administrative center.

    Holy Land Lua was so thoroughly fortified and protected that even undead couldn¡¯t easily enter.

    A fortress protected by undead who could endure without food or sleep for centuries was beyond ordinary imagination.

    ¡°That¡¯s impossible. Even Selmon traders would find it difficult to visit Holy Land Lua¡­¡±

    ¡°She might be perceiving incorrect information due to the protective doctrines. Strong protective miracles often warp the truth rather than just concealing it; it¡¯s safer that way¡­¡±

    Amidst the murmurs of doubts and spections, Ang¡¯s finger moved again.

    She traced a route from Bines, a hub of the Golden Idol Guild, to Mirrmia, then circled her finger over Holy Land Lua again. Finally, her finger pointed to Syracusa.

    It was clear she was describing the path her family had taken.

    This was evidence that her cognitive abilities were intact.

    After a long silence, Isaac finally spoke.

    ¡°Let¡¯s assume Ang did visit Holy Land Lua.¡±

    All eyes turned to Isaac.

    ¡°What could this child have seen or learned there that warranted making her unable to speak for the rest of her life?¡±

    A priest, perhaps eager to uncover valuable information, leaned forward and looked at Ang.

    ¡°Should we attempt to break the doctrines, even if it¡¯s risky?¡±

    ¡°Risky?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s a relic at Lenheim Cathedral that can break heretical miracles. With that, perhaps¡­¡±

    ¡°No, I know the one you¡¯re talking about. Isn¡¯t that the relic that risks turning someone into a fool if it goes wrong? Forget it. If that¡¯s our only option.¡±

    ¡°But¡­¡±

    Isaac responded firmly.

    ¡°It might be valuable information, but we¡¯re not desperate enough to harm a child over some unknown secret. If risks need to be taken, they should be taken by adults. We can manage without resorting to that.¡±

    It wasn¡¯t bravado. Isaac had nned to attack the Holy Land without any information from Ang. If the information she held were indeed crucial, it could reduce casualties and increase the chance of sess, but that wasn¡¯t a reason to drag a child into a warzone.

    Even whoever ced the protective doctrines on Ang from the Immortal Order had sent her back unharmed; it would be absurd for Isaac to harm her now.

    ¡°But Sir Isaac, Ang can¡¯t live as a mute for the rest of her life. Moreover, we don¡¯t know exactly what kind of miracle she¡¯s under. There could be additional dangerous doctrines we haven¡¯t yet discovered.¡±

    Caitlin¡¯s words left Isaac momentarily speechless.

    She continued, seemingly trying to find a middle ground.

    ¡°I¡¯ll consult with the upper echelons of the guild. The Selmon traders wouldn¡¯t have done something like this on their own, so the higher-ups might know something.¡±

    Isaac nodded.

    The Golden Idol Guild might not have a direct way to lift the bindings on Ang, but at the very least, they might know why her family had ventured to Holy Land Lua in the first ce.

    ***

    While Caitlin dispatched the fastest messenger to report to the Golden Idol Guild, Isaac resumed preparations for the expedition. If everything went ording to n, they would be able to depart before the start of the new year.

    Coincidentally, it aligned precisely with the timing of the Dawn Army¡¯s campaign in the game.

    ¡®We¡¯re much ahead, really. The Dawn Army had practically started much earlier¡­¡¯

    At that moment, good news also arrived.

    ¡°Khan Sahn¡¯s army is leaving only minimal forces in Seor and is moving south.¡±

    Elil¡¯s knights, who had been constantly scouting to ensure the Olkan Code¡¯s army didn¡¯t make any unnecessary movements, had finally observed a change. Whether the Khan was retreating because of An or due to his own losses, no one could say.

    But it was clear that Issacrea¡¯s estate was now a difficult target, so their focus had shifted elsewhere.

    ¡°Heading south means they haven¡¯t abandoned the Great Raid, it seems.¡±

    Lianne nodded as well.

    ¡°I heard many cities in the south have already been overrun. The imperial borders are shifting in real-time.¡±

    It was quite the chaotic sight, especially with the Dawn Army supposedly gathering.

    However, Isaac didn¡¯t think the Olkan Code¡¯s maneuvers wouldst much longer. Eventually, they would sh with the Pope¡¯s ¡°true¡± Dawn Army, which was marching toward the Holy Land. Those forces likely tried to breach Issacrea because they wanted to avoid that confrontation, but it was ultimately impossible.

    ¡®Then again, I suppose I¡¯ll be seeing a lot of orc faces all the way south. So¡­¡¯

    Just as Isaac was about to delve deeper into his thoughts, a sudden notification sound interrupted him.

    [The Nameless Chaos is pleased with your victory over other faiths.]

    [The Nameless Chaos is satisfied with your achievement of enhancing its renown.]

    This was a new type of message.

    ¡®What? I increased the Nameless Chaos¡¯s renown?¡¯

    If it were Isaac¡¯s own name, that would make sense, but what did it matter for the Nameless Chaos?

    Even the sect itself had essentially evolved into the Issacrea Dawn Prayer Group, withpletely different doctrines.

    Isaac was bewildered, but the Nameless Chaos seemed content with it. And the next message made Isaac feel indifferent.

    [A Reward from Chaos has been granted.]

    [The Nameless Chaos bestows upon you the ¡®Hidden Rite¡¯ perk.]

    Isaac leaped up from his seat the moment he saw the skill¡¯s name.

    Lianne, standing nearby, looked at him with curious eyes, but Isaac paid her no mind.

    Even before reading the skill description, Isaac knew exactly what it was.

    It was the same overpowered skill he had repeatedly cursed and resented every time he encountered a Chaos-rted boss-level monster.

 Chapter 295:

    Chapter 295:

    At first nce, ¡°Hidden Rite¡± might seem like some ceremonial skill or passive ability, akin to a ¡°Dark Communion,¡± but it was far from that. This skill was closer to something forbat.

    Isaac opened the skill description to confirm.

    [Hidden Rite]

    *Is the candle behind the veil extinguished, or is it still burning? Forms a domain of the Color Beyond centered around the caster. Within the veil, chaos-rted relics and miracles are greatly amplified. Sacrificial targets caught within the veil cannot escape, and the veil can only be destroyed by external interference unless the caster chooses to release it. Events within the veil cannot be observed from the outside, and the veil¡¯s interior is likewise isted from external events.*

    ¡®It¡¯s almost identical to the skill I know.¡¯

    Isaac thought to himself as he touched his lips. While the description was vague, he was already familiar with the skill, and he had a good idea of its potential.

    In the game, bosses with this ability would randomly appear and engulf yers or theirpanions without warning.

    If apanion was pulled in, there was a high chance they wouldn¡¯t survive. If the yer was drawn in, they¡¯d find themselves in a brutal survival scenario, cut off from any support.

    The game was already difficult enough, but losing a painstakingly trainedpanion or being forced into a solo survival event could be devastating.As such, every time a boss wielding the ¡°Hidden Rite¡± skill appeared, Isaac couldn¡¯t help but grit his teeth.

    In essence, this skill allowed Isaac to challenge anyone in the middle of a battlefield without worrying about being observed. He could freely use miracles and powers rted to the Nameless Chaos without fear of being discovered.

    It meant he could fight under circumstances heavily skewed in his favor.

    The skill¡¯s greatest strengthy in its versatility. If Isaac had possessed this skill, he could have defeated An without resorting to using Isaac¡¯s Swordsmanship: Event Horizon.

    ¡®The best part is¡­ angels can¡¯t intervene.¡¯

    The veil¡¯s severance effect was incredibly potent.

    An angel, being an external observer, couldn¡¯t interfere with what was happening inside the veil unless it was already summoned. They would first need to break the veil, which was one of the reasons Isaac had despised the skill so much.

    ¡®And now they¡¯re giving it to a yer?¡¯

    Skills meant for monsters were bnced with the assumption that only monsters would use them. In a game context, this waspletely broken, but¡­

    ¡®Then again, why should I care?¡¯

    Isaac¡¯s recent feat of holding off the Olkan Code was nothing short of extraordinary. In any other game, this would have been worthy of an ending.

    And despite such a monumental aplishment, Isaac himself had received nothing, so it was only fitting that the Nameless Chaos would grant such a reward.

    Isaac shamelessly epted it.

    Of course, this power wasn¡¯t without its limitations.

    Given its potency, the activation time was short, and it couldn¡¯t be used frequently. If Isaac recklessly expended his skills within the veil only to emerge surrounded by enemies, he would be in trouble.

    The veil¡¯s blind spots applied to the caster as well.

    ¡®I¡¯ll be facingrge-scale battles soon, so this skill is timely. Or perhaps it¡¯s because of those battles that I was given this power.¡¯

    Either way, Isaac was satisfied with the reward from the Nameless Chaos.

    Then, a thought struck him.

    ¡®Wait, does this mean I¡¯m basically a boss monster of the Nameless Chaos now?¡¯

    It was a long-overdue realization.

    ***

    Since ancient times, whenever two or more people gathered, the question inevitably arose: who was the strongest?

    Currently, the Issacrea estate was hosting some of the most formidable individuals it had ever seen.

    While the potential for conflict was always present, everyone was maintaining decorum for now. Beneath that courtesyy a shared arrogance¡ª¡®Of course, I¡¯m the strongest.¡¯

    ¡°For now, there¡¯s no issue, but once the expedition starts, themand structure might copse. They¡¯re all used to calling their own shots, and this is a coalition of differing faiths.¡±

    Gebel voiced his concerns to Isaac.

    Isaac agreed.

    ¡°You¡¯re right. To ensure the expedition runs smoothly, we need a clearermand hierarchy.¡±

    Currently, the Issacrea estate was hosting representatives of the Codex of Light, Elil, the World¡¯s Forge, the Red Chalice, the Golden Idol, and even the Nameless Chaos. If there were a coastline nearby, the Salt Council would have probably joined too.

    It was a situation that could fall apart at any moment, yet the only thing keeping it together was the powerful charisma of one individual.

    ¡°I figured I could take my time because I¡¯m the strongest here, but it looks like I need to get the lower ranks in order.¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°Sorry?¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    Gebel looked like he had a lot to say but ultimately nodded.

    When it came to the question of who was the strongest, the simplest answer was to test it.

    However, this was not just about determining personal strength; it was also about gauging how each individual¡¯s skills would trante onto the battlefield.

    ¡®But if they end up injured from fighting each other, the whole exercise would be pointless.¡¯

    Isaac contemted ways to assess strength without causing injuries.

    First, he gathered the top fighters likely to sh: Lianne, Edelred, Cedric, Rottenhammer, Tuhalin, and Raulok, the leader of the Lycanthrope Warriors.

    Hesabel was also included.

    ¡°So, among us, who do you think is the second strongest?¡± Isaac asked.

    His question was met with a mixture of snickers and incredulous looks, as if they couldn¡¯t believe he¡¯d ask something so childish. It was then that Edelred, who seemed to think himself the weakest in raw skill, raised his hand.

    ¡°Why are we starting with second ce?¡±

    ¡°What? Well, that¡¯s because the first ce is already decided, Your Majesty,¡± Isaac replied confidently.

    His words were met with moreughter and curious nces¡ªexpressions mixed with confidence and pride. But as thesepeting gazes crossed, those smiles started to turn sour.

    Rottenhammer was the first to break the silence, looking at Cedric as he spoke.

    ¡°The young man of Elil seems pretty confident in his skills.¡±

    ¡°I was taught that excessive humility can insult the weak. But what about you, Sir Pdin? You¡¯re quite old; do you still want topete with young folks?¡±

    Cedric¡¯s rebuttal prompted a reaction from Tuhalin.

    Naturally, there was no one in the room older than Tuhalin.

    ¡°Old? What¡¯s wrong with being old? You whelps keel over and die long before you get to be like me. You should know that an old weapon is sturdy.¡±

    Raulok burst intoughter at Tuhalin¡¯s remark.

    ¡°Haha! We all know that the Thunderhammer is half-senile. But what I¡¯m curious about is the gaze of that Holy Land guardiandy. Didn¡¯t she lose to His Majesty Edelred over there?¡±

    It wasmon knowledge that Edelred¡¯s skills were the weakest among the group unless he used the power of the Holy Sword Kaldbruch. Raulok¡¯s jab was suggesting that Lianne, who had lost to Edelred before, had no right topete.

    Lianne, however, didn¡¯t react with anger or ridicule. She simply looked down at him calmly and fired back.

    ¡°I once fought the Holy Grail Knight to a draw.¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    Isaac was the one taken aback, but Lianne responded nonchntly.

    ¡°The match was interrupted by a third party before it was decided, so it¡¯s a draw.¡±

    ¡°My apologies¡­¡±

    Edelred muttered an apology in a small voice. Watching this, Hesabel leaned close to Isaac¡¯s ear and whispered.

    ¡°It¡¯s amusing to see these people scrambling at your feet, Isaac. Should I leave a dagger by their pillows at night as a warning? Clearly, the second-inmand should be me.¡±

    However, Hesabel¡¯s voice was loud enough for everyone present to hear.

    ¡°What kind of vulgar threat is this?!¡±

    ¡°Seems like she can¡¯t escape her Red Chalice upbringing!¡±

    ¡°What was that?¡±

    Everyone except for Tuhalin, who was slightly hard of hearing due to age, heard her remark.

    Isaac had to press Hesabel¡¯s head down to force an apology and restore order.

    ¡°I apologize. Hesabel¡¯s loyalty sometimes overrides her sense of decorum. I will make sure she receives proper guidance.¡±

    ¡°Decorum, you say?¡±

    The tension red again, as the heated atmosphere began to spread. Finally, Edelred, who had initially asked why they were picking from second ce, stepped in to diffuse the situation.

    ¡°Wait, wait. Let¡¯s all calm down for a moment. I know that my skills are the least impressive among the heroes gathered here. But we are all about to go to war. We won¡¯t be fighting fair duels on the battlefield, will we?¡±

    The sight of the youngest person in the room trying to calm everyone down seemed to embarrass the others into silence.

    And Edelred¡¯s words hit home.

    The uing battles would be wars between faiths, conflicts where angels and gods shed. When angels were involved, individual strength became irrelevant.

    ¡°With that in mind, I propose that Sir Isaac Issacrea be appointed as the Supreme Commander. Elil¡¯s forces are here because of their trust and honor in the Holy Grail Knight, so we will follow hismand.¡±

    Edelred nced at Isaac, as if to say this was what he had wanted to bring up all along. Lianne and Cedric nodded in agreement.

    Before Isaac could respond, Rottenhammer followed Edelred¡¯s lead.

    ¡°Our Order of Pdins has already dered our intent to rebrand as the ¡®Issacrea Pdin Order¡¯ with Sir Issacrea as our patron saint. Sir Issacrea may still be modest, but I, too, havee this far under his guidance, and I have no objections to appointing him as Supreme Commander.¡±

    Now, everyone¡¯s gaze turned to Tuhalin. He did not look at Isaac with the same reverence as the others, but he chuckled and replied.

    ¡°If the youngsters have decided, then this old man will just cheer from the sidelines. Do as you wish.¡±

    ¡°Oh, as for the Lycanthrope Warriors, we have some obje¡ªurk!¡±

    Raulok began to voice an objection but was silenced when Tuhalin jabbed him in the gut.

    With everyone¡¯s eyes now on Isaac, they began pping, Edelred leading the way. It was a solemn and earnest atmosphere, and Isaac found himself feeling a mixture of gratitude and something moreplex.

    ¡®Wasn¡¯t I already the Supreme Commander? Why all this ceremony?¡¯

    But Isaac knew that voicing such thoughts would ruin the moment. He swallowed his words and spoke.

    ¡°¡­Thank you.¡±

    However, despite Edelred¡¯s consideration, what he wanted to address wasn¡¯t the appointment of the Supreme Commander, which he had assumed was already settled.

    ¡°So, who do you think should be the second strongest, or rather, the Deputy Commander? We need someone to lead when I¡¯m unavable or engaged in battle.¡±

    The respectful atmosphere shattered once again as sharp gazes were exchanged. Just as it seemed another round of provocations and power ys would begin, a voice interrupted the flow.

    ¡°The representatives from the Golden Idol Guild have arrived.¡±

    ***

    As the door to the reception room opened, Isaac saw Caitlin, Ang, and the representatives from the Golden Idol Guild.

    The room was filled with a warm, almost celebratory atmosphere.

    Caitlin was chatting happily with some high-ranking members of the guild, and behind them, piles of luxurious-looking chests were stacked, enough to lift anyone¡¯s spirits.

    Isaac couldn¡¯t help but feel the warmth of the season, akin to a festive atmosphere.

    ¡®Indeed, kindness often flows from a full granary.¡¯

    Isaac approached Caitlin and the woman she was talking to.

    The young woman with silver hair and striking beauty froze upon seeing Isaac.

    Caught up in the mood, Caitlin shouted loudly.

    ¡°Isaac Issacrea, the hero of our era!¡±

    ¡°Looks like you¡¯ve had a drink, Caitlin.¡±

    Isaac muttered, ncing at the empty wine bottle nearby.

    It wasn¡¯t a great look in front of a child, but by the standards of this era, it was hardly something to be concerned about¡ªas long as they weren¡¯t feeding it to her.

    Isaac turned his attention to the silver-haired woman. Typically, introductions would be in order at this point, but the woman hadn¡¯t said a word yet.

    Eventually, Isaac extended his hand and spoke first.

    ¡°I¡¯m Isaac Issacrea. And you are¡­?¡±

    Only then did the woman snap out of her daze, her trembling hand reaching out to meet his. Isaac briefly wondered if they had met before, but the reddening of her cheeks and the rapid pulse in her grip quickly gave away the situation.

    ¡®Could it be that she¡¯s instantly smitten by my looks? Guess being a Nephilim has its perks.¡¯

    Isaac thought this would make the conversation easier.

    ¡°I-I¡¯m Leonora Bessia. I am the Deputy Guildmaster of the Golden Idol Guild. It¡¯s an honor to meet you.¡±

    Isaac was about to respond with a smile when her name struck him.

    ¡®Wait a second, Leonora Bessia? The second daughter of Guildmaster Belman Bessia? The sociopathic monster capitalism created?¡¯

    Isaac¡¯s heart began to race as quickly as Leonora¡¯s, albeit for slightly different reasons.

    [To be continued]

 Chapter 296:

    Chapter 296:

    On the surface, Leonora Bessia wasn¡¯t a figure that particrly stood out to yers of other faiths. After all, she was just a merchant and merely the second-inmand.

    But the story was entirely different when ying as part of the Golden Idol Guild.

    The Bessia family had maintained their leadership of the guild for five generations, and under the current head, Belman Bessia, there were three sisters.

    Of these, the second daughter, Leonora, was the most exceptionally talented.

    She manipted yers like chess pieces, ruthlessly devouring allies and enemies alike, whether they were her own sisters or rivals. She led the Golden Idol Guild to victory, carving a path through the narrow spaces others overlooked.

    However, her actions were not a demonstration of faith but a relentless pursuit of her own ambitions.

    She was a monster crafted by capitalism, a figure more than worthy of being called a hero of the Golden Idol Guild.

    Working alongside her, yers often found themselves in moral dilemmas, facing gut-wrenching decisions.

    The Golden Idol Guild¡¯s gamey was riddled with the question, ¡°Even in a game, do we really have to go this far to win?¡±¡®Why is Leonora here?¡¯

    And why was she holding his hand and acting embarrassed?

    Isaac suddenly realized that even this embarrassed reaction could be a calcted move.

    It was an act meant to lower his guard.

    Isaac quickly withdrew his hand and bowed his head.

    ¡°I¡¯ve heard much about your reputation, Miss Leonora.¡±

    ¡°Pardon? When would the Holy Grail Knight have ever heard my name?¡±

    Isaac realized his slip-up. Their spheres of activity didn¡¯t ovep, and any notoriety Leonora had would only be infamous.

    ¡°I heard from Caitlin that the Golden Idol Guild has an outstanding heir. She said you were the most likely to inherit the guildmaster¡¯s position.¡±

    Caitlin gave Isaac a look, as if wondering when she had ever said such a thing, but she wasn¡¯t clueless. She quickly borated, recounting her enthusiastic praise for Leonora.

    Despite Caitlin¡¯spliments, Leonora only managed a faint, awkward smile, unable to tear her eyes away from Isaac, seemingly entranced.

    ¡®If that¡¯s an act, the Golden Idol Guild must possess the miracle of theater as well.¡¯

    Isaac averted his gaze and took a seat, dismissing the notion.

    To Isaac, who knew Leonora¡¯s true nature, her gaze was as serpentine as a snake¡¯s.

    ¡°It¡¯s an honor to meet the famed Holy Grail Knight¡­ or rather, the beautiful knight. Our guild has heard of your esteemed reputation from many sources. I¡¯ve brought a few humble gifts.¡±

    At Leonora¡¯s gesture, the attendants began to bring forward the stacked chests. Isaac, thinking it would be unwise to get involved with her, was about to politely refuse but fell silent at the sight of the first chest.

    ¡°I¡¯ve heard that Holy Grail Knights consider collecting sacred relics and returning them to their gods one of their highest virtues.¡±

    Inside the chest was what appeared to be a relic of the Codex of Light, an incense burner.

    Just from a nce, it was the sort of relic that should belong to a bishop.

    Though it had no special abilities, most relics didn¡¯t. They simply held immense sacred power. Whenbined with a priest¡¯s miracles, this power could greatly amplify their effects.

    Isaac opened the other chests one by one. Though none quite matched the incense burner, each held relics of considerable value. Even Isaac, who had sworn not to be swayed, was momentarily captivated by the sheer array of treasures.

    Then, something else caught his eye.

    ¡°This¡­ is dye?¡±

    Five ss jars were filled with a mysterious purple powder.

    The intriguing, almost magical hue of the purple dye captivated Isaac¡¯s attention. It was an odd gift, given the practical nature of dye, making it all the more curious.

    Leonora smiled and exined.

    ¡°You have a keen eye. This dye was painstakingly scraped from ancient ruins now lost to time. We nearly ground down an entire temple to collect it. There were nobles who offered a chest of gold for a single jar.¡±

    After hearing her exnation, Isaac could almost see five chests of goldid out before him.

    It was hard to find anything with better transport efficiency than this¡ªgold condensed into a light and portable form.

    Each item was a treasure that was difficult to look away from, so Isaac said something he didn¡¯t mean, if only to show restraint.

    ¡°¡­These are too extravagant.¡±

    ¡°They are modest giftspared to the grace you have shown the world and our guild, Sir Holy Grail Knight.¡±

    Leonora¡¯s smile was warm and inviting. Isaac knew the Golden Idol Guild possessed immense wealth, but for them to part with such sacred relics as mere gifts was unnerving.

    The Golden Idol Guild never engaged in losing trades, especially not someone like Leonora.

    ¡°Thanks to your efforts, we¡¯ve been able to establish cooperation with Elil, the Salt Council, and even the World¡¯s Forge on the continent. We¡¯ve made substantial profits from that alone. Please don¡¯t feel burdened.¡±

    The World¡¯s Forge had only recently set foot on the continent. Yet it seemed the Golden Idol Guild had already found ways to conduct business during that brief time. Even if not, their generosity suggested they had made quite a fortune recently.

    ¡°You¡¯ve made quite a lot of money off this war, haven¡¯t you?¡±

    Isaac posed a question that could have cooled the mood, but Leonora only responded with an ambiguous smile.

    In that smile, Isaac caught a fleeting glimpse of her sociopathic nature.

    ¡°Yes. Normally, when war breaks out, trade routes are disrupted, and the economy grinds to a halt. That¡¯s why the Golden Idol Guild doesn¡¯t particrly favor wars. But this time, things yed out differently.¡±

    Leonora took a sip from her wine ss, her lips curling into a shy smile as she continued.

    ¡°The Emperor granted us a monopoly on supplying certain goods to the military. The profits more than made up for any downturn caused by the economic slump.¡±

    ¡°You must be disappointed by Emperor Waltzemer¡¯s downfall?¡±

    ¡°Oh, of course, some ¡®ruffians¡¯ attacked merchants at that time, causing problems. But when the Church took full control, the situation improved. Priests suddenly found themselves running state affairs, butcking administrative skills, they sold off some of the empire¡¯s businesses for ¡®management efficiency.¡¯¡±

    ¡°Oh? And what kind of businesses would those be?¡±

    ¡°Hmm, just to name a few: the existing military supply contracts, tax collection, transport of goods, road maintenance, port fees, exclusive mining rights¡­ The sort of things we could never have dreamed of under the Emperor¡¯s rule. And those priests? When ites to anything rted to the Dawn Army, they spend money like there¡¯s no tomorrow. May the blessings of the Codex of Light be upon them.¡±

    This was a horrific privatization fantasy¡ªan apocalypse in the making.

    Isaac could confidently say that the ¡°exclusive military supply contracts¡± probably involved items managed by none other than Leonora Bessia herself, and the ¡°merchant attacks by some bandits¡± were most likely orchestrated against caravans operated by her rival sisters.

    The business rights granted by the religious order were surely ripped from the hands of others by Leonora¡¯s ruthless tactics.

    Isaac knew because these were the types of activities he engaged in while ying the Golden Idol Guild.

    Leonora spoke with pride, but she eventually reined in her overly self-satisfied expression and continued.

    ¡°But the profits from war are always fleeting. The clergy may find themselves missing the stability they once had, so it¡¯s in everyone¡¯s best interest that this war ends quickly, with peace restored. The Golden Idol Guild wishes for nothing less than a swift and victorious conclusion to this conflict.¡±

    Leonora spoke as if the sacrifices, the demonstrations of faith, and derations of victory mattered little to her. Isaac had once scorned Huon for being a materialistic capitalist, butpared to Leonora, Huon seemed almost noble.

    Leonora truly was on a different level.

    Isaac could also see the meaning behind Leonora¡¯s gifts.

    She intended to invest in him.

    When the war was over and the spoils were distributed, she was betting that Isaac would be a significant contributor to the victory. In truth, Isaac was confident in his ability to conquer the Holy Land, so her foresight was impressive.

    However, it seemed she was still unaware that Isaac was essentially a heretic.

    Or maybe she was blinded by infatuation.

    ¡®The Golden Idol Guild is desperate.¡¯

    Leonora may have been boasting, but Isaac could see her true intent. Her disy of achievements was ultimately a plea not to abandon the Golden Idol Guild.

    In this age of rampant religious zeal, the Golden Idol Guild¡¯s faith was the weakest among the major powers. To survive, they clung tightly to stronger faiths, striving not to be cast aside.

    If the Codex of Light decided to cut ties with the Golden Idol Guild, it would be like severing an arm.

    It was a symbiotic rtionship, to put it lightly.

    ¡®She may be a sociopath, but this is the only way the Golden Idol Guild can survive¡­¡¯

    ¡°And there¡¯s one more significant favor you¡¯ve done for our guild, Sir Holy Grail Knight.¡±

    Leonora¡¯s voice softened as she turned her gaze toward Ang, who sat beside Caitlin like a doll.

    ¡°I¡¯ve heard she¡¯s a surviving child of the Selmon merchants. Such pitiful souls. We usually protect, sponsor, and invest in merchants, but when ites to the Selmon traders¡­ it¡¯s hard to know how to safeguard them. Is earning money really so important that they¡¯d leave their child behind?¡±

    As Leonora¡¯s eyes moistened while looking at Ang, Isaac felt a jarring sense of cognitive dissonance.

    The same woman who blushed at the sight of a handsome knight and teared up over an orphaned child was supposedly the real Leonora?

    But Isaac quickly grounded himself.

    Leonora was the kind of person who could cry today and sign papers selling the children of debtors into very tomorrow.

    ¡°It¡¯s a tragic urrence in these maddening times.¡±

    ¡°Fortunately, after receiving Branch Manager Caitlin¡¯s report, I did some checking and found that Ang has a great-aunt living in Bessia. The Selmon merchants asionally gather, so they¡¯ve probably met before.¡±

    The news that Ang had living rtives brought Isaac an unexpected sense of relief. He hadn¡¯t thought to search for any family, assuming all her kin were dead, but it was a small miracle in this insane era to find that she still had blood ties.

    ¡°Well¡­ that¡¯s fortunate.¡±

    ¡°Yes, it is. The Selmon merchants often support one another, given the dangerous nature of their trade. Even if she¡¯s only a distant rtive¡¯s child, they¡¯ll dly adopt and care for her, so there¡¯s no need to worry.¡±

    Isaac felt a strange pang of regret but nodded in agreement.

    They still hadn¡¯t uncovered whatever secrets or knowledge Ang held, but that didn¡¯t matter. The task of reiming the Holy Land belonged to priests, pdins, and angels¡ªnot a ten-year-old girl.

    If there was anything left for Ang, it would be finding a lich from the Immortal Order to threaten into removing the death insurance and other curses on her.

    Leonora, after all, wasn¡¯t likely to sell Ang off somewhere after saying all this. Such a betrayal would earn Isaac¡¯s wrath tenfold, so it was more likely she intended to do the opposite.

    She would show Ang great kindness, keeping her close and supporting her to strengthen her bond with Isaac.

    ¡®Not a bad oue.¡¯

    To have the backing of a Holy Grail Knight and the support of the deputy leader of a major merchant guild was no small boon. For a mute girl, it was an exceptional environment in a harsh world. And with Isaac¡¯s imminent departure on the expedition, sending Ang to her rtives was certainly preferable to leaving her behind in the Issacrea territory.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be counting on you.¡±

    Unlike his half-hearted refusals of thevish gifts, Isaac genuinely entrusted Ang to Leonora with a sense of gratitude.

    ***

    Leonora left with Ang the very same day.

    Despite offers to stay the night, Leonora insisted on the urgency of guild matters and hurried away. Isaac repeatedly tried to decline the gifts Leonora had brought, but she left them behind with a flimsy excuse about the horses being too tired from carrying them.

    Suddenly, Isaac found himself with a surplus of funds and sacred relics.

    It should have been satisfying, but he couldn¡¯t shake a feeling of emptiness.

    ¡®Is it because of Ang?¡¯

    Isaac hadn¡¯t spent much time bonding with the girl. Rescuing her had been an impulsive decision, and since then, he had only shuffled her from ce to ce, looking for someone to care for her. She couldn¡¯t even speak, so they hadn¡¯t exchanged many words.

    ¡®It feels simr to the sense of loss when a pet goes missing¡­¡¯

    It dawned on Isaac that he knew almost nothing about Ang. She had filled a space for a while, but now she was gone, leaving only a void.

    Isaac suddenly realized that he didn¡¯t even know Ang¡¯s real name.

    ¡®Come to think of it, Ang isn¡¯t her real name. It was given to her at the orphanage in Wulthenheim.¡¯

    Isaac bolted upright from his seat on the sofa.

    ¡®¡­So what record did Leonora look at to find Ang¡¯s rtive?¡¯

    A chilling thought crept up his spine.

    Without wasting another moment, Isaac dashed out of the monastery. He didn¡¯t even have time to respond to Hesabel¡¯s questions about what was going on.

    Leonora¡¯s party couldn¡¯t have gotten far.

    There was still time to undo this foolish mistake.

    [To be continued in Pdin of the Dead God]

 Chapter 297:

    Chapter 297:

    The carriage carrying Leonora sped along so fast that dust trailed behind it. As she watched the passing scenery, her thoughts lingered on the Holy Grail Knight she had just met.

    ¡®I¡¯ve never encountered someone like that in my life.¡¯

    When she thought of Isaac¡¯s face, Leonora felt a renewed sense of awe. He was as handsome as the rumors had said, but what captivated Leonora wasn¡¯t his superficial good looks.

    Handsome men could be lined up with a bit of gold. But unless she intended to sell them as consorts, she had no interest in handsome men.

    What she valued was ¡®worth.¡¯

    The value of treasures, the value of real estate, the value of a business¡­

    Leonora had a natural talent for assigning a price to everything she saw.

    Things that others considered trash often appeared to her as something valuable, and ordinary haunted houses looked like prime real estate to her.

    Her instinct was almost always spot on.Whether it was a miracle granted by the Golden Idol, innate intuition, or merely a lucky illusion, the Golden Idol¡¯s blessings were the most unclear and ambiguouspared to other faiths.

    Thus, Leonora believed that this talent was a miracle granted to her.

    Thanks to this, she held overwhelming influence among her three sisters. Many merchants believed that the future of the guild belonged to Leonora, not her straightforward older sister or her bratty younger sister who thought pouting and begging would get her everything.

    Leonora also believed this. But today, her belief wavered.

    ¡®I don¡¯t even know what to call it¡­¡¯

    The moment she saw Isaac, Leonora felt as though she was watching gold in motion.

    It wasn¡¯t just a statue of golding to life.

    Wherever Isaac touched, wherever he stepped, even in his sighs, the world turned to gold, treasures rippled like waves, and rare dyes and spices appeared as if on disy.

    ¡®If that Holy Grail Knight had been born an orc, he would have be a Khan. If he were undead, he would have vied for regency within the Immortal Order. If he had been born a merchant¡­ he would have be the grand merchant controlling all the world¡¯s goods.¡¯

    Leonora couldn¡¯t help but think this, and then she was startled by her own thoughts.

    Isaac was already a grand warrior of Elil in the Elil Kingdom, and had received the status of a saint within the Codex of Light. Rumor had it that he even held sway over the Red Chalice and the Salt Council.

    Leonora had believed she could be the grand merchant leading the Golden Idol Guild. But now, that belief was shaken.

    Before such an overwhelming existence, talent, effort, and cunning did not matter.

    Whoever could hold on to Isaac would be the grand merchant.

    So Leonora couldn¡¯t bring herself to face Isaac for long. If she stayed any longer, she felt she might be drawn into his allure. If she stayed close, she might end up bing part of his golden procession, turning into the Holy Grail Knight¡¯s ¡®asset¡¯ in an instant.

    ¡®I can¡¯t let that happen.¡¯

    Fortunately, Leonora was aware of Isaac¡¯s value and managed to keep her distance.

    Leonora didn¡¯t want to be anyone¡¯s asset. She was someone who moved gold, not gold itself.

    Isaac was a treasure she had to acquire.

    The fact that he was married didn¡¯t matter. A married man, in some ways, was already a proven asset. And if the one who had validated him was the daughter of the Brant duchy, all the better.

    Those who only saw his looks would never realize Isaac¡¯s true worth. Only she could see what Isaac truly was¡­

    Kurururu¡­ The carriage suddenly slowed down, interrupting her thoughts. Leonora opened the window toward the driver¡¯s seat. The carriage had stopped at a fork in the road.

    ¡°Why did we stop?¡±

    ¡°Miss, it would be best to detour toward the Norden Port instead of going through Lenheim.¡±

    The coachman spoke calmly.

    Leonora needed to head urgently to southern Audry, so taking a major detour north was absurd. But she didn¡¯t ignore the coachman¡¯s advice.

    ¡°Is it a major threat?¡±

    ¡°We could die.¡±

    The coachman replied firmly.

    The coachman was another valuable person Leonora had discovered. He was one of the few people she trusted with her life.

    He had a simr gift to Leonora¡¯s¡ªa talent for sensing ¡®threats.¡¯

    The coachman¡¯s answer made Leonora¡¯s expression grow serious.

    The coachman and the mercenaries guarding her were more than capable of dealing with a gang of bandits. If he was speaking like this, it meant something truly dangerous was approaching.

    Leonora¡¯s gaze shifted to the girl sitting across from her in the carriage, Ang. Leonora no longer saw the warmth from Isaacrea Manor in her eyes but rather the cold calction of a merchant¡¯s gaze assessing value.

    ¡°It seems we¡¯ve picked up some troublemakers. Let¡¯s do as you suggested.¡±

    ¡°Yes. We¡¯ll keep moving even after dark, just in case.¡±

    The coachman turned the carriage in the direction Leonora had instructed.

    ***

    But the carriage didn¡¯t get far before it had to stop again.

    When Leonora opened the window to the driver¡¯s seat, she saw the coachman standing with his sword already drawn. It meant escaping by pushing the carriage onward was no longer an option.

    ¡°It¡¯s the Holy Grail Knight, Miss.¡±

    ¡°Isaac of Isaacrea?¡±

    Leonora couldn¡¯t understand how Isaac, who should still be at the castle, had arrived ahead of her. Was there some secret route?

    Leonora was about to step out of the carriage, but the coachman gestured for her to stay. Only then did she realize the significance of the drawn sword.

    ¡®The Holy Grail Knight is the threat?¡¯

    Leonora found herself in a troubling situation, but instead of panicking, she calmly began to prepare for what was toe.

    Meanwhile, Isaac, who had quickly flown in on Nel, approached the carriage with a weary expression. He had expected them to head toward Lenheim, but when they suddenly veered north, the situation became even more exhausting.

    The coachman had drawn his sword, but the sheer presence of ¡®threat¡¯ radiating from Isaac made him sigh deeply.

    No matter what, this was an opponent he could never hope to defeat.

    Oblivious mercenaries had encircled the carriage with their horses, but Isaac showed no sign of tension.

    ¡°What brings the renowned Holy Grail Knight here in the dead of night, sneaking around like a thief?¡±

    The coachman¡¯s words wereced with hope that Isaac would act as the honorable knight he was reputed to be, but Isaac¡¯s focus was more on thetter half of the statement than the former.

    ¡°Is Ang inside?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s with Lady Leonora. The conversation went well, and we agreed to return her to her rtives. What changed your mind? Even so, sneaking around like this¡­ it¡¯s not right¡­¡±

    Isaac smirked at the mention of her ¡®rtives.¡¯

    ¡°Rtives, you say? Ang isn¡¯t even her real name. The only thing we know is that she¡¯s a Selmon merchant¡¯s child. How did youe across a lead that would lead you to her rtives?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s enough. I¡¯ll exin.¡±

    Leonora, who hadpleted her preparations, stepped out of the carriage. The coachman positioned himself where he could jump into action if necessary.

    Once more, Leonora was struck by the sensation of awe as she faced Isaac under the moonlight.

    How could this man manage to drag treasure along even in this destend? But the unfortunate truth was that this time, the treasure he sought was already in Leonora¡¯s possession.

    ¡°You¡¯ve grown suspicious, Holy Grail Knight. You must have grown quite attached to the child.¡±

    ¡°Tell me quickly. Why are you trying to take Ang?¡±

    ¡°As I said, Ang¡¯s true identity is still unclear. But Selmon merchants are not numerous, and they tend to live together in family units, so investigations are swift. A 10-year-old girl who recently lost her parents, based in Syracusa, and who has traveled through the ck Empire. With these clues, we can narrow it down quite precisely.¡±

    Leonora answered without hesitation. Even Isaac, who had charged in confident that something was amiss, found himself at a loss.

    ¡°The investigation showed her father¡¯s name was Tamil, and her mother¡¯s was Osha. Tamil¡¯s older sister remembered she had a niece, though she didn¡¯t know her name. Even if it¡¯s not exact, Selmon merchants are a small enough bloodline that we can trace her rtives eventually.¡±

    Isaac was momentarily speechless.

    Leonora responded as if she had anticipated Isaac¡¯s doubts. Now, the only reason Isaac had left to suspect her was rooted in game lore: ¡°You¡¯re a sociopath molded by capitalism.¡±

    Taking an orphaned girl to safety with her rtives in the rear lines.

    Leonora¡¯s exnation had all the justification and rationale needed.

    All Isaac could do was object.

    ¡°I¡¯ll take her myself.¡±

    Leonora¡¯s lips twitched.

    ¡°That would be¡­ problematic, Sir Knight.¡±

    ¡°Is that so?¡±

    The moment Leonora answered, Isaac drew Kaldwin. If she had simply said, ¡°Go ahead,¡± he would have apologized and let her leave.

    But her response confirmed what he had suspected all along.

    The very suspicion he had been unable to fully verify.

    ¡°Does Ang know the location of the ¡®Midas¡¯ Hand?¡±

    For the first time, Leonora¡¯s calm demeanor cracked.

    ***

    Isaac had always suspected it.

    Why would Ang¡¯s parents, affiliated with the Golden Idol Guild, risk their lives to reach Holy Land Lua?

    What were they seeking there?

    Most people wouldn¡¯t easily answer that question, but Isaac could make an educated guess¡ªhe had seen the ending of the Golden Idol Guild route.

    Somewhere within that cey the greatest relic of the Golden Idol: the Midas¡¯ Hand.

    The victory condition for the Golden Idol Guild¡ª¡®The Midas¡¯ Hand.¡¯

    It was the final ending Isaac had seen in Nameless Chaos, and also the most difficult and convoluted. Winning with the Midas¡¯ Hand was challenging not because of its inherent significance, but because the Golden Idol Guildcked power and could not expect significant divine buffs.

    It was apletion task for those deliberately ying ¡®weak characters,¡¯ nothing more and nothing less.

    Moreover, the ultimate conclusion of this route was to turn the entire world into gold¡ªa tasteless pursuit if there ever was one. There might be deeper meaning behind it, but Isaac didn¡¯t care about that right now.

    What mattered was that the Midas¡¯ Hand was located in Holy Land Lua.

    However, the Midas¡¯ Hand wasn¡¯t a tangible relic; it existed as a nebulous concept. It was a kind of anomaly that had emerged when the Immortal Emperor Beshek broke the boundaries between heaven and earth.

    To manifest it in reality required a specific ritual.

    Isaac suspected that Ang and her family might have discovered how to locate the Midas¡¯ Hand.

    ¡°I have no idea what you¡¯re talking about. The Midas¡¯ Hand?¡±

    Leonora forced herself to keep her voice calm. It was natural for her to deny it, as hardly anyone knew about the Midas¡¯ Hand. Even the coachman and the mercenaries exchanged puzzled nces.

    ¡°Pretend all you like, but I know the truth. The Midas¡¯ Hand is¡­¡±

    He was about to reveal that it was the only way for the Golden Idol Guild to overturn the entire game, when Leonora hurriedly raised her hand.

    ¡°Wait, wait. I get it, so please stop talking. If you blurt that out, I¡¯ll have to kill everyone here.¡±

    The mercenaries¡¯ shocked gazes flickered as she spoke, and only the coachman, who would likely be the executioner, readied his sword.

    Leonora nced briefly at the mercenaries and said, ¡°Your escort duties areplete. Go wait for me in Lenheim.¡±

    Without a word of protest, the mercenaries turned their horses and left. Seeing Leonora reduce her guards, Isaac couldn¡¯t help but admire her boldness, but it was a prudent move; a few mercenaries wouldn¡¯t change the oue of what was toe. Once the mercenaries had gone far enough, Leonora turned back to Isaac.

    ¡°¡­Yes, the Midas¡¯ Hand is in Holy Land Lua. And the Golden Idol Guild, especially the Selmon merchants, have spent considerable time and effort to pinpoint its exact location.¡±

    ¡°And Ang was the first toe back with something close to a lead.¡±

    ¡°A remarkable result indeed. Though why they returned to Syracusa instead of Audry, I cannot say.¡±

    ¡°Why do you think?¡±

    Isaac spoke coldly, fixing Leonora with a piercing gaze.

    ¡°Because they knew you¡¯d rip that girl¡¯s head open if you thought it would get you what you wanted.¡±

    Even the monastery¡¯s priest had suggested using a relic that could risk Ang bing catatonic to break the protective miracle. Leonora could have taken even more drastic measures in her pursuit of precise information.

    Isaac¡¯s words elicited no denial or outrage from Leonora. She only offered a sad yet chilling smile.

    Isaac felt a surge of anger as he looked at that smile.

    ¡°Is gold really that important to you? You¡¯d rip open a kid¡¯s mind just to get a hand that makes gold?¡±

    ¡°¡­Making gold? Why would I need something like that?¡±

    Leonora¡¯s expression turned genuinely perplexed. Isaac wondered if this was yet another one of her deceitful acts, but Leonora stared back at him with a strange, unreadable look.

    Then she broke into a bright smile, as if she had realized something.

    ¡°Aha, so the Holy Grail Knight doesn¡¯t actually know what the Midas¡¯ Hnad is!¡±

 Chapter 298:

    Chapter 298:

    Isaac¡¯s knowledge of the Midas¡¯ Hand was limited to it being a relic with the power to turn everything it touched into gold. He still remembered the scene that unfolded when he acquired the Midas¡¯ Hand. He became an agent of the Golden Idol, and the whole world turned to gold.

    However, Leonora pointed out that he was ¡°mistaken¡± about this fact.

    So, Isaac responded firmly.

    ¡°Mistaken? You¡¯re the one who¡¯s got it wrong.¡±

    Isaac didn¡¯t know where Leonora had gotten her information, but he had experienced it firsthand. How could she dare to contradict him?

    But Leonora replied confidently.

    ¡°If there were a relic that could produce gold, the Golden Idol Guild would be the first to do whatever it takes to destroy it. Think about it. If a relic that mass-produced gold existed, what would happen to the value of gold?¡±

    ¡°That would¡­¡±

    Leonora continued before Isaac could respond.¡°The market would crash, and the gold we have would be treated like grains of sand¡ªor perhaps sand would be more valuable since there¡¯s no relic that produces it. The Golden Idol Guild, which holds the most gold, would go bankrupt, don¡¯t you think?¡±

    ¡°¡­True.¡±

    ¡°Why would we waste time and resources to find something like that?¡±

    Isaac had been asking himself that very question.

    The answer ¡°because it¡¯s required to win¡± didn¡¯t apply here. In the game, it might lead to an ending, but in this world, life continued beyond that point.

    This meant that the Midas¡¯ Hand had something far more valuable than merely overwhelming other faiths.

    ¡°Then what exactly is the Midas¡¯ Hand?¡±

    Leonora smiled at Isaac¡¯s question.

    ¡°Would you like to join the Golden Idol Guild?¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°What I¡¯m about to tell you is known only to the inner circle of the Golden Idol Guild¡¯s upper echelons. Sir Isaac, you¡¯re more than qualified. If you join us, I¡¯ll share it with you immediately.¡±

    [The Nameless Chaos is watching you.]

    A warning followed, as if to say it was observing closely. Isaac had no intention of joining, and the fact that even the Nameless Chaos reacted like this left him both exasperated and amused.

    Isaac bared his teeth and scattered Kaldwin.

    ¡°No thanks. I don¡¯t need you to tell me. I¡¯m taking Ang.¡±

    ¡°This¡­ this is troublesome¡­¡±

    Leonora bit her nails and looked at Isaac with desperate eyes. She was facing someone she didn¡¯t want to antagonize over someone she couldn¡¯t afford to lose.

    Leonora didn¡¯t like this situation at all.

    ¡°Sir Holy Grail Knight, why don¡¯t we cooperate? If you join hands with me, the Golden Idol Guild can provide your Dawn Army with far more resources and support, equipping them better for the expedition.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t need it.¡±

    ¡°Please, reconsider. Think about what it means to receive support from the Golden Idol Guild. More abundant supplies mean a safer and more sessful campaign, which also means fewer casualties. Isn¡¯t it our duty to send as many young men home alive and whole?¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°Would you really ignore the cries of all the orphans, widows, and children who¡¯ve lost their parents just because of one little girl? Isn¡¯t that hypocrisy?¡±

    Leonora whispered seductively, exploiting Isaac¡¯s sensitive conscience.

    Isaac never considered himself a kind person, but he did feel guilty about dragging people into war for his own goals. He felt it was his responsibility to bring as many of them back safe and sound.

    Save the one girl before him, or save countless children from losing their parents somewhere else.

    ¡®Here we go again¡­¡¯

    Isaac felt his nerves fraying at this all-too-familiar conflict.

    This was Leonora¡¯s usual tactic. She always presented a seemingly obvious choice, pushing her target toward her desired oue.

    What made it so frustrating was that her words often sounded right.

    Isaac¡¯s conscience began to twist painfully. After all, this was just one girl, whose real name he didn¡¯t even know and with whom he had no deep bond.

    If he let go of this one girl, he could return countless soldiers¡ªmen who trusted him¡ªto their families whole and unharmed.

    ¡°I¡­¡±

    However, at that moment, something shook Isaac to his core.

    [The Nameless Chaos is watching you.]

    [The Nameless Chaos wants you to ¡®take Ang to Holy Land Lua.¡¯]

    [A reward of Chaos awaits you.]

    ***

    ¡°Sir Holy Grail Knight?¡±

    Leonora called out, suspiciously, as Isaac, who had been on the verge of speaking, stared nkly into space. But Isaac, after a long moment of gazing into the void, burst intoughter.

    Leonora worried that he might suddenly lose his mind and start swinging his sword, but thankfully, that didn¡¯t happen.

    ¡®Has the Nameless Chaos ever given a mission for someone else¡¯s sake?¡¯

    So far, the Nameless Chaos had only ever assigned missions for Isaac or for itself. A mission to protect someone, especially one that could be a long-term task, was a first.

    Isaac didn¡¯t delude himself into thinking that the Nameless Chaos had suddenly grownpassionate.

    This mission was for Isaac¡¯s own inner turmoil.

    Isaac stoppedughing and looked at Leonora.

    ¡°Well, it seems I¡¯ve received a divine message. I have no choice. I really wanted to take your advice for the sake of my soldiers, but unfortunately, I have to take Ang. I¡¯m truly conflicted.¡±

    Until now, Isaac had refused the Nameless Chaos¡¯mands whenever he found them disagreeable.

    But this time, he had no inclination to refuse.

    ¡°A divine message?¡±

    Leonora¡¯s face contorted.

    She clicked her tongue as if she suddenly understood Isaac¡¯s erratic behavior.

    ¡°Damn these gods¡­ Huffis!¡±

    Leonora pulled out a relic she had prepared for emergencies from her coat. As the golden scroll unfurled with a sharp snap, waves of golden threads spread out like a flood.

    Isaac realized that Leonora intended to summon a divine beast with the relic.

    ¡°Huffis? The Happy Cat Huffis? How troublesome.¡±

    The surging golden threads coalesced into a massive, six-legged golden cat. True to her efficient nature, Leonora immediately climbed back into the carriage and fled the scene. The coachman quickly turned the carriage and sped toward Renheim.

    The moment Isaac moved to follow, Huffis swiped at him with one of its six legs.

    Bang! It was just a cat¡¯s soft paw, but when it was ten meters long and weighed several tons, the impact it left on the ground was devastating. Huffis watched Isaac with curious eyes, asionally raising and lowering its paw as if ying with a mouse.

    Isaac couldn¡¯t help but smile wryly at his sudden role reversal, now feeling like a trapped mouse.

    ¡°Meow?¡±

    Isaac tried tomunicate, though he wasn¡¯t sure if it was catnguage for ¡°Come at me.¡± Huffis let out a sharp cry and extended its ws to sh at Isaac.

    Isaac countered the ws with Kaldwin, but the sheer weight of the attack struck him with massive force.

    Huffis¡¯s assault didn¡¯t stop there. Frustrated that its attacks weren¡¯t effective, it began to shake its body, releasing countless strands of golden threads that enveloped Isaac.

    Isaac swung his sword desperately, but the threads didn¡¯t cut; they felt soft, like striking feathers. Only when he enveloped his de in sword energy did he manage to sever some.

    However, where the threads touched, he began to feel his limbs grow numb, and his wariness and tension toward Huffis gradually faded. Even his sword energy waned.

    The threads had the power to absorb hostility and anger.

    This was an extreme disadvantage against Isaac¡¯s sword aura, which bristled with killing intent.

    ¡°They neutralize even sword energy? This is ridiculous.¡±

    Huffis was a divine beast summoned not to kill but to subdue. Like a cat, it would often bat its prey around until it was near death, and if the opponent was particrly troublesome, it might kill them. But typically, it just toyed with its target.

    Isaac, however, had no intention of meekly allowing himself to be caught like a mouse.

    ¡°Let¡¯s see who¡¯s got the fluffier fur.¡±

    Muttering nonsense to himself, Isaac unleashed the new ability he had recently gained.

    The moment ¡°Hidden Rite¡± activated, a curtain of chaos softly enveloped the area.

    ***

    Huffis didn¡¯t immediately realize something was amiss.

    It was nighttime, and the darkness made it difficult to sense the changes. Soon, the stars in the sky, the fresh scent of the forest, and the hoots of owls vanished, reced by a tepid, sticky atmosphere.

    More than anything, the sensation of being connected to Urvansus was severed.

    A disquieting feeling set in, akin to being submerged in water.

    Realizing this, Huffis sprang up in a frantic leap, iling the threads it controlled as they scattered in all directions.

    Isaac seized this moment to escape, watching Huffis thrash around violently.

    He felt a twinge of regret at tormenting the creature after always telling his followers not to harm animals.

    ¡°Then again, Huffis has six legs, so maybe it¡¯s more of an insect than an animal?¡±

    The thought seemed fitting. It was better to frame it that way given the awful things Isaac was about to do.

    Rather than struggling to cut Huffis with Kaldwin, this seemed the more sensible approach.

    Isaac raised his hands, positioning them to encircle Huffis.

    ¡°Touch of Chaos.¡±

    The tentacles of the Nameless Chaos extended from the darkness, starting with a few strands but quickly multiplying.

    This battle was an experiment for Isaac. How effective would chaotic miracles be within this space filled with colors from beyond, and how powerful could they be?

    Testing the power of the darkness was as simple as seeing whether the cat inside the box would survive when the curtain broke.

    As expected, the tentacles extended fluidly as if they were Isaac¡¯s own limbs. In this ce, the colors from beyond felt like extensions of Isaac himself. Here, Isaac could unleash miracles and devour his opponent freely.

    Huffis sensed the abnormality and iled desperately, batting away the tentacles. But as their numbers increased, more and more tentacles began to wrap around Huffy¡¯s limbs.

    A horrifying scream echoed through the darkness.

    ***

    Leonora repeatedly leaned out the carriage window, peering anxiously behind her. The coachman warned her to stop, fearing the danger, but she couldn¡¯t help herself.

    Huffis had never let her down before, but she had never deployed it against the Holy Grail Knight, a man who could even y angels.

    Boom!

    Suddenly, a heavy thud resounded atop the speeding carriage.

    The coachman, feeling the shock, quickly drew his sword and swung it, only for pain to shoot through his wrist as his de was knocked into the woods.

    ¡°Stop the carriage if you don¡¯t want to end up crashed in the forest.¡±

    Isaac, somehow having caught up and climbed onto the carriage roof, stared down at them with a chilling expression.

    The coachman gritted his teeth and reluctantly brought the carriage to a halt. Isaac leapt down, wrenching the door open to reveal Leonora, biting her lip.

    Isaac ignored her and reached for Ang, gently helping her down.

    Leonora muttered as she watched the scene.

    ¡°No persuasion or threats work on you, do they?¡±

    ¡°Not true. Persuasion works on me sometimes¡ªespecially when apanied by bribes.¡±

    Leonora thought Isaac was joking, but he was dead serious.

    If the Nameless Chaos hadn¡¯t assigned this mission, even Isaac couldn¡¯t say where his heart would have leaned.

    ¡°Did you kill Huffis?¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    Isaac tossed the battered scroll back at her.

    ¡°But it might be a little stressed after losing some fur. Make sure to give it a dark space and some wet food.¡±

    ¡°What on earth are you¡­?¡±

    Before Leonora could finish, Isaac grabbed her face, and golden hairs sprouted from his hand, embedding themselves in her skin.

    It was a benefit gained after devouring Huffis¡¯s fur.

    [You have devoured ¡®Fur of Happy Cat, Huffis (A).¡¯]

    [Efficiency of consumption increases with the ¡®Intestines of the Dead God¡¯ perk.]

    [You have acquired the ¡®Anger Reduction (Temporary)¡¯ perk.]

    [Temporary perks are maintained until digestion isplete.]

    Isaac sensed Leonora¡¯s defiance dim and whispered to her softly.

    ¡°Keep your temper down, just for a little while. Please.¡±

 Chapter 299:

    Chapter 299:

    ¡°Ugh¡­ Sniff.¡±

    Leonora¡¯s face contorted as if resisting, but the moment her eyes met Isaac¡¯s, her expression immediately softened. She had clearly sumbed to the overwhelming allure of the Nephilim.

    Just then, the coachman saw Leonora being restrained and rushed forward. Isaac effortlessly stopped him with the activation of his Eyes of Chaos.

    The moment Isaac¡¯s eyes turned a violet hue, the coachman was seized by an inexplicable terror that could neither be described norprehended. He could do nothing but cling desperately to the carriage, struggling to keep himself upright. In the pitch-ck darkness, it was as if only Isaac¡¯s violet eyes were left floating.

    Isaac looked down at the coachman and coldly spoke.

    ¡°Take your master back to the city. If you value your life, don¡¯t think abouting back. I will handle Ang.¡±

    His voice sounded like that of a demon crawling up from the depths of the underworld. The coachman could only gasp for air, unable to respond. It wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t want to speak; he simply found it hard to breathe.

    His heightened sense of danger had amplified Isaac¡¯s power to an unbearable level. Isaac, believing his threat to be sufficiently conveyed, disappeared into the darkness with Ang.

    It was only long after Isaac had vanished that the coachman and Leonora regained their ability to move. The coachman managed to gather his strength and stand up. All that upied his mind was getting Leonora to the city before she fully regained her senses.Then, Leonora, who had already stepped out of the carriage, tossed something to the coachman. It was a medicine that restored stamina and cleared the mind. After taking a swig of the potion, Leonora came back to her senses. The coachman smiled bitterly and followed her lead, drinking his own share.

    The coachman wanted to advise Leonora not to chase after Isaac, but before he could, she made a decision.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go back to Renheim.¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°The Holy Grail Knight has decided topete with us, so we need to change our strategy. From now on, consider the Holy Grail Knight as an adversarial group to the Golden Idol Guild and execute a strategy ordingly. We cannot entrust the future of the guild to an outsider.¡±

    Leonora muttered this while staring into the darkness where Isaac had disappeared. The coachman thought her fighting spirit had been reignited, but it was quite the opposite.

    Leonora was experiencing an intense emotion she had never felt before: love. It was a fervent, consuming love.

    ¡°A man who can¡¯t be swayed by money, recognition, or honor? And he possesses the innate talent of a king who can wield all the world¡¯s resources?¡±

    Her heart pounded wildly.

    Ang was no longer Leonora¡¯s goal. She now coveted Isaac Issacrea¡ªthe man himself. She wanted to possess him, to have him under her control. But Isaac was an arrogant Pdin who was bound by nothing.

    If so, she would teach him what it meant tock, to hunger, to feel deprived and desperate.

    She would show him that without her, he could not aplish anything. Then, she would be the one to embrace him and care for him, proving her worth in his life.

    ¡®Ang doesn¡¯t matter anymore. To im Ang, I must first defeat Isaac.¡¯

    The day Isaac came under her control would be the day Leonora seized everything she had ever dreamed of.

    She was sure of it.

    ***

    Unaware that he had caught the attention of a capitalist sociopath with an obsessive personality, Isaac returned to his territory.

    ¡®She won¡¯t give up that easily.¡¯

    Although Isaac didn¡¯t know Leonora¡¯s current state of mind, he was sure she would not let things go so easily. Leonora was the type who would obtain what she needed andplete deals that had to be made.

    This did not mean she was stubborn; rather, it meant she hadplete confidence in her own judgment. She never pursued reckless or overly greedy ns. But this time was different.

    ¡®If it¡¯s Midas¡¯ Hand¡­ it¡¯s not a deal she can just walk away from. She¡¯ll be back.¡¯

    Isaac still did not fully understand the powers of Midas¡¯ Hand beyond its ability to create gold, but whatever its powers were, it was enough to be the winning condition for the Golden Idol Guild. There was no way she would ever abandon it.

    If the Golden Idol Guild seriously started to interfere, it was impossible to predict how much trouble they would cause. Even if the flow of supplies to Issacrea¡¯s territory was cut off and funds were halted, trade disruptions alone would severely limit what they could do.

    He had to act before it was toote.

    ¡°Master! You¡¯re back.¡±

    Edelred, who had juste out into the courtyard, spotted Isaac and approached him with a surprised look.

    ¡°We heard you suddenly left the monastery, so everyone has gathered again. Did you receive some kind of intelligence?¡±

    ¡°Everyone¡¯s gathered?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Ah, and this is Ang. I heard she left with the Golden Idol Guild; did something happen? Was there an attack?¡±

    Isaac shook his head. Instead, he indicated he would exin inside and followed Edelred into the reception room. The people gathered were almost the same as those present at the evening meeting, but this time Gebel was also in attendance.

    Isaac recalled the contents of the meeting from earlier that evening.

    ¡°We still haven¡¯t decided who will be the second strongest among us, have we?¡±

    ¡°Are we still talking about that?¡±

    Tuhalin scoffed in disbelief and asked, ¡°What are you trying to say? Are you suggesting we hold a mock battle?¡±

    ¡°We don¡¯t have time for that,¡± Isaac replied, smirking as he spread out a map on the table.

    Isaac¡¯s finger pointed to the southern continent, thend of spices and wealth¡ªOdryf Port, the city of pearls and the headquarters of the Golden Idol Guild.

    ¡°Each of you will lead your forces and head to Odryf Port as quickly as possible. Along the way, help others, defeat enemies, and build your reputations. When we arrive at Odryf, we will select a deputymander that everyone can agree upon.¡±

    Isaac¡¯s suggestion, which sounded like a race, caused some to chuckle.

    Everyone present already held prominent positions within their own factions and didn¡¯t need Isaac¡¯s validation to prove themselves. They had little to lose.

    Yet, it was precisely because of this that they felt no burden epting Isaac¡¯s proposal. The tedious wait while preparing in the territory had frustrated them, and this challenge offered a wee change of pace.

    ¡°A bold strategy. The Kingdom of Elil epts,¡± Lianne said confidently, exchanging nces with Edelred. Tuhalin and Raulok also nodded in agreement, smirking.

    ¡°If you think our short legs mean slow speed, you¡¯re mistaken. I¡¯ll be waiting at Odryf with a mountain of Orc heads,¡± Raulok boasted.

    Rottenhammer also mmed his hammer onto the table with a loud thud. ¡°We¡¯ll show you what a rapid advance by the Pdins looks like. We¡­¡±

    ¡°Oh, the Brient Pdins will travel with my troops. To be exact, they will lead the Issacrea Army,¡± Isaac interrupted.

    Rottenhammer looked flustered, realizing that his ns topete against the other heroes were disrupted.

    Isaac had no intention of sending them off alone. Elil and World¡¯s Forge were moving with their armies, and Rottenhammer¡¯s attempt to travel with just a handful of knights was neither fair nor strategic.

    ¡°I will move separately. I¡¯ll use Nel to scout and coordinatemunications for everyone,¡± Isaac continued.

    Unbeknownst to the others, there was a fourth faction at y¡ªthose loyal to the Nameless Chaos, secretly serving Isaac. They would form an unseen fourth front alongside him.

    ***

    However, the idea of the Supreme Commander moving separately didn¡¯t sit well with everyone, especially Rottenhammer.

    ¡°But shouldn¡¯t themander of the Issacrea Army be you, Isaac, not us outsiders¡­?¡±

    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, let¡¯s rename the Brient Pdins to the Issacrea Pdins. Their base will be Issacrea Cathedral, and if your heart hasn¡¯t changed, I¡¯ll allow myself as the patron saint.¡±

    Rottenhammer¡¯s jaw dropped.

    Realizing this was the founding moment of the Issacrea Pdins, he hurriedly knelt before Isaac, not wanting to miss this historic opportunity.

    The decision might seem sudden and unexpected, especially just to establishpetition, but Isaac had considered it for a long time. It was a necessary move, given the suspicions that might already be circting. Establishing a dedicated order under hismand would also lessen the attention on him from the Dawn Army and the church.

    Isaac took out the Luadin Key, and the gentle warmth it emitted transformed the reception hall, which had hosted a raucous party earlier, into a solemn chapel.

    Rottenhammer instinctively knelt, bowing his head, signaling his eptance before Isaac could change his mind.

    ¡°My soul is already dedicated to the Codex of Light, but my body still walks the thorny path left by the divine. To ovee these trials, I seek to take Isaac Isacrea as the guiding light of my soul.¡±

    The founding of a Pdin Order required four key elements: a high priest to give the blessing, permission from a noble who owned thend, the presence of another Pdin to act as a witness, and the Pdin epting the role of patron saint.

    Isaac fulfilled the first three roles himself. He ced his hand on Rottenhammer¡¯s head and dered:

    ¡°I, Isaac Issacrea, Saint of Resurrection, bless your path and grant you the right to name me as your patron saint.¡±

    He continued seamlessly:

    ¡°I, Isaac Issacrea, Abbot of Issacrea Monastery and Count of thend, bless your path, offering you bread, shelter, and salt.¡±

    Then the next deration:

    ¡°I, Isaac Issacrea, Holy Grail Knight, witness this oath as your fellow Pdin. Any who stand before Rottenhammer¡¯s de shall also face mine.¡±

    Typically, the patron saint, often deceased, would have words spoken on their behalf, but since Isaac was alive, this was omitted. Isaac might have been the first living patron saint of a Pdin Order.

    Though some onlookers were baffled by how smoothly the ceremony flowed, everyone eventually apuded, recognizing it as a moment worth celebrating.

    Gebel, observing the ceremony, approached Isaac with a wry smile, patting him on the shoulder.

    ¡°To think that brat would be the patron saint of a Pdin Order, not just amander.¡±

    ¡°Would you consider rejoining?¡± Isaac asked, smirking.

    ¡°I think teaching idiots suits me better than being in a Pdin Order.¡±

    Their fighting styles were too different to harmonize anyway.

    Though it seemed like all issues were resolved, one more problem remained. Lianne raised her hand, pointing out thest concern.

    ¡°Sir Isaac, I apologize, but we are still foreign forces. If we move separately, there¡¯s a high chance we could be mistaken for enemies when facing the Gerthonia Holy Empire¡¯s forces. How do we handle that?¡±

    Proper identification was crucial, especially given that the foreign troops had entered without explicit permission from the now-leaderless Empire. Even as invited guests, eptance was not guaranteed, particrly against the Dawn Army.

    Isaac had an idea and answered simply, ¡°Let¡¯s make a banner.¡±

    He retrieved a bundle of white cloth and sliced it into appropriate sizes with a swift sh of Kaldwin. He then fetched the purple dye stored in the corner of the reception hall, sprinkling it generously over the cloth.

    Tuhalin, horrified by the apparent waste, began to protest, but Isaac paid no heed.

    The purple dye, valued at five chests of gold, wasvishly used to color the cloth. Despite the rough dye job, the fabric took on a rare, mysterious sheen. The dye seemed to exude a faint sense of divinity, likely because it was scraped from a temple.

    Isaac waved the g to let it dry and then painted a simple white cross over the purple background.

    ¡°This will be the symbol of the Issacrea Army from now on. Please fly my banner beside yours.¡±

    Wouldn¡¯t theck of recognition be a problem since it was just made?

    That wouldn¡¯t be an issue.

    Because soon, this banner would be known far and wide, driven forward by the army rampaging southwards.

 Chapter 300:

    Chapter 300:

    The expedition began the very next day.

    Since preparations for departure were already underway, no one was surprised by the sudden mobilization. Each faction took off in different directions, as if they had been waiting for this moment.

    The Elil Army moved east, opting for a direct assault on the remaining forces of the Olkan Code. Though still a formidable threat, the open ins suited their mobility, offering a perfect battleground to earn glory.

    The World¡¯s Forge chose a path that crossed the mountain range.

    The treacherous terrain posed no challenge for the Lycanthrope warriors and Dwarves. In fact, their route straight through the mountains meant they might even arrive faster than the knights. For the foreseeable future, Orcs would have nightmares about the Dwarves descending from the mountains.

    Lastly, the Issacrea Army, although not as elite as the other two, was filled with high morale under the banner of the ¡°Issacrea Pdins¡± and ¡°Saint Isaac.¡±

    Rottenhammer took a unique route, choosing to travel through the southwestern regions still under Imperial control.

    Isaac quickly grasped his intent.

    ¡°You n to bring the Dawn Army into the fold?¡±¡°Winning glory is important, but this is war. If our forces grow by the time we arrive, that¡¯s a victory in itself,¡± Rottenhammer replied with a grin.

    His n wasn¡¯t to recruit ragtag forces like the Ciero Dawn Army or conscripts. Instead, he aimed to draw in hesitant Pdin Orders and Imperial knights who were still weighing their options. Saving them before they were swept up in the fanaticism of the Church was a crucial mission.

    Isaac epted Rottenhammer¡¯s strategy with a smile, acknowledging that his path might be the most difficult.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be visiting you often,¡± Isaac assured.

    Ang was ordered to travel with the Issacrea Army, with Gebel looking after her. Although Isaac considered taking her directly via Nel, the risk of being targeted by enemies was too great.

    After seeing Rottenhammer off, Isaac inspected the territory with Hesabel. With the bulk of their forces deployed, Issacrea¡¯s defenses were considerably weakened.

    Therefore, they needed to prepare for any eventualities.

    ***

    Underground, beneath the Issacrea Monastery, in the Sanctuary of the Nameless Chaos.

    Isaac¡¯s heart pounded as he prepared for the ritual. Beside him stood two new figures: a young priest named ire, who hade from the capital, and Neria, who had transitioned from a rogue cultist to a true follower.

    Both were now deeply connected to the Nameless Chaos.

    Isaac had considered integrating these members of the ¡°Issacrea Dawn Prayer Group¡± into the Dawn Army but ultimately decided against it. In the vtile mix of faiths within the Dawn Army, anything could happen.

    While Isaac had repeatedly dodged danger thanks to his utility to the gods, there was no guarantee other followers would be so fortunate. Managing his own survival was challenging enough, so he determined they were best suited to guard the sanctuary.

    Both ire and Neria looked nervous as they took in the blood vessels and flesh that decorated the underground chamber.

    ¡°What is this, Sir Isaac?¡± ire asked in a frightened voice, staring at the grotesque scenery of the sanctuary. Neria, on the other hand, seemed to have some inkling of what was going on. After years of studying the Nameless Chaos and being emunicated, this setting was familiar to her.

    ¡°A sanctuary of the Nameless Chaos¡­ I¡¯ve never seen one in person before.¡±

    ¡°A sanctuary of chaos? This has been beneath the monastery all this time?!¡±

    Isaac quietly regarded ire.

    Neria seemed to understand the situation. The person Isaac needed to persuade was ire, who, having grown up as a candidate priest of the Watcher¡¯s Council under his corrupt grandmother, was now standing at a crossroads as a priestess of the Nameless Chaos.

    Having been broken down and rebuilt on his journey to this ce, Isaac needed to ensure that ire was ready to ept this new truth.

    ¡°Yes. This is the sanctuary I dedicated to the Nameless Chaos.¡±

    Isaac ced his hand over the beating heart that dominated the room and pulled out the ¡°Crawling Fear¡± mask from his pocket. The moment Neria saw it, she instinctively knelt and bowed her head in worship.

    ¡°I greet the cult leader.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve known for a while, haven¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t certain, but I could feel the teachings were the same. I suspected it was the same teachings or perhaps the same person.¡±

    Meanwhile, ire was visibly shocked by Neria¡¯s use of the title ¡°cult leader.¡± In the Codex of Light, the cult leader was akin to the Pope, so to call Isaac by such a title was akin to calling someone else king¡ªit was an act of rebellion.

    Isaac gave ire time to process and ept. Eventually, he found his voice.

    ¡°Sir Isaac, are you a follower of the Nameless Chaos?¡±

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t my choice, but yes.¡±

    Isaac answered calmly.

    ¡°But nothing has changed. My teachings haven¡¯t wavered, and my actions remain true. I will continue as I have, and so should you. The reason I¡¯ve shown you this sanctuary is that you are the only ones who can defend thisnd when I am away.¡±

    ¡°Who would dare threaten thend of the Holy Grail Knight, the one who even repelled the Khan¡¯s forces?¡±

    Neria asked, bewildered. Isaac smirked bitterly.

    ¡°Not right now. But it could happen.¡±

    Isaac was thinking far ahead.

    The oue of the Dawn Army¡¯s campaign was uncertain. If things went ording to n, they might seize the Holy Land of Lua before the Codex of Light. But unforeseen mistakes or interference could lead to failure.

    If that happened, someone else would im victory.

    Who that might be was unknown, but the Issacrea territory could very well be at risk.

    ¡°I¡¯ll leave you with some holy relics, my followers, and a few miracles. It may not be enough, but it should suffice for now. But if that timees, we may no longer be able to keep my true nature hidden.¡±

    Isaac was prepared to reveal some of the miracles of the Nameless Chaos to protect the territory and its people. If the worst came to pass, not just the citizens but those who followed him¡ªlike Edelred, Tuhalin, or Isolde¡ªmight also seek refuge here.

    In that case, there would be no need to hold back or conceal his powers.

    ¡°When that timees, people may fear you, mock you, and spit on you. But you must endure it. Even if that¡¯s what it takes to protect ¡®us.¡¯¡±

    ¡°Ah¡­¡±

    ¡°Even in those moments, your role remains the same as it is now: show miracles. No matter what lives you¡¯ve led before or what forms you¡¯ve taken, demonstrate how you can be miracles to each other. That¡¯s all I ask of you.¡±

    ire realized that Isaac¡¯s notion of ¡°us¡± extended beyond just the Nameless Chaos; it epassed a much broader range. It even included those who didn¡¯t necessarily support Isaac¡ªanyone who could be a neighbor to lean on in times of need.

    ire and Neria understood that Isaac had kept this secret hidden his entire life.

    The calm revtions Isaac shared now had been the rules he had lived by all along. He had always feared that those closest to him would discover his true nature and respond with fear, scorn, or contempt.

    But Isaac had revealed this secret to them¡ªnot to anyone else¡ªto create a ce of refuge when his people were under attack.

    ¡°Master.¡±

    The horrifying scenery of this sacred sanctuary was both Isaac¡¯s weakness and his divine aspect.

    ire knelt in reverence, seeking a way to repay the trust he had shown them.

    ¡°I will follow your words.¡±

    ***

    Leaving the defense of the territory to Neria and ire, Isaac finally felt secure enough to depart.

    The Issacrea territory still had Commander Jacquette, who had received special training from Gebel, along with the soldiers and Ulsten.

    Though not outwardly visible, Isaac¡¯s bound servants would remain in the territory as well. However, they were always on call, and Isaac intended to summon them whenever necessary, making it unpredictable who would be present at any given time.

    In this sense, the st resort¡± Isaac had taught Neria and ire provided him with a small measure of reassurance.

    ¡°Those two down there looked ready to tear their hearts out for you, Isaac.¡±

    Hesabel recalled ire and Neria in the underground sanctuary, whistling in admiration.

    Isaac grimaced, remembering the unholy rituals of the Nameless Chaos.

    ¡°Don¡¯t say things like that.¡±

    ¡°Huh? Offering one¡¯s heart is one of the most sacred rites of the Red Chalice.¡±

    Isaac was about to retort but was reminded of the moment when the Dancer had extracted Elil¡¯s heart. Imitating divine actions, especially emting the birth of a god, was the highest form of praise and worship.

    Hesabel wasplimenting Neria and ire for their deep devotion in her own way.

    ¡°They must have recognized the goodness in you, Isaac.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s probably just the Nephilim charm working its magic.¡±

    Isaac scoffed, but he was grateful that Neria and ire had agreed to stay in the territory.

    Hesabel smiled faintly.

    In her days as a follower of the Red Chalice, she had seduced and ruined countless devotees and knights, turning them away from their faith. So, she could quickly assess how resistant someone might be to temptation.

    Neria and ire were beyond temptation or betrayal.

    Quite literally, they would rip their hearts out first.

    Isaac, sensing something off about Hesabel¡¯s words, continued the conversation.

    ¡°And I¡¯m not a good person. If I were, I wouldn¡¯t have practically kidnapped Ang for my own satisfaction. Thanks to that, the Golden Idol Guild has be an enemy, and now we have to deal with their interference. Not to mention the ck Empire is already a problem.¡±

    ¡°Is there any more righteous act than saving a young girl?¡±

    ¡°I was just following amand.¡±

    Isaac muttered bitterly.

    Unable to make a decision himself, he had effectively ceded judgment to the Nameless Chaos.

    ¡°Ang is just a tool to find Midas¡¯s Hand, nothing more. Once the job is done, I¡¯ll return her to her Selmon kin.¡±

    ¡°I see.¡±

    Hesabel answered with a broad smile.

    Isaac didn¡¯t understand why she was smiling, which made his irritation slowly rise. But he couldn¡¯t quite grasp why he was annoyed, so he couldn¡¯t express his frustration.

    Isaac didn¡¯t realize that Hesabel had been watching him from a step back.

    ¡®In essence, he¡¯s rescuing Ang from what amounts to human trafficking and intends to lift the curse bound to her. There¡¯s no need to find Midas¡¯s Hand, but he¡¯s preemptively looking for it to keep the Golden Idol Guild from tormenting her.¡¯

    In Hesabel¡¯s view, Isaac¡¯s actions could be considered virtuous.

    While the Red Chalice¡¯s standards for good deeds were exceedingly low, even by average standards, Isaac was truly a saint among saints.

    ¡®So, he believes anyone drawn to him is only swayed by his Nephilim charm, and that any good he does is merely the result of divinemands or calcted self-interest? No wonder he can¡¯t stand being unexpectedly praised or admired.¡¯

    Was there ever a hero with such low self-esteem? How could someoneck such self-awareness? Did he think the world was incapable of discerning between genuine affection and maniptive miracles?

    Thinking of people that way was an insult in itself.

    Thus, Hesabel found endless enjoyment in observing Isaac.

    ¡®As expected, the greatest deceiver of all.¡¯

    She held back augh, contemting her thoughts.

    ¡®To deceive not just the world and the gods but even oneself¡­ Indeed, my master stands apart from all the mediocre hypocrites and liars.¡¯

 Chapter 301:

    Chapter 301:

    ¡°The performance of Ciero¡¯s Dawn Army has been utterly disappointing.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡­¡±

    Pope Horma Kmuel red at Cardinal Rohen Otter with a displeased expression. Beside him, newly appointed Cardinal Am Endec clung close, openly disying his allegiance.

    Juan had been absent from meetings for weeks, using a medical leave as an excuse, but no one paid attention. After all, the Codex of Light Church was merely a puppet of the Watcher¡¯s Council, so it hardly mattered whose side you were on. Even the Pope was no more than a mere essory to the Council¡¯s will.

    Previously, they had at least maintained a facade of respect, but now it seemed they no longer bothered.

    ¡°I had hoped that Ciero¡¯s momentum suggested the potential of a ¡®false prophet,¡¯ but at this rate, even naming him would be an embarrassment. We¡¯d better incorporate them into the main Dawn Army before they copse.¡±

    ¡°¡­Weren¡¯t you the one who proposed using Ciero?¡±

    The Pope finally lost hisposure and snapped. Rohen smirked in response.

    ¡°I¡¯m willing to use anything for the Codex of Light.¡±¡°So that¡¯s why you sent your nephew to his death?¡±

    The story of Rohen Otter¡¯s nephew being captured by the Orcs of the Olkan Code was well known. It had served as a perfect example of how even high-ranking officials were willing to sacrifice their kin for the cause of the Dawn Army.

    ¡°You needn¡¯t worry about my nephew. Oveing trials like these is necessary if one wishes to step into the Watcher¡¯s Council. I believed Ciero could ovee simr trials too.¡±

    Ciero had a unique talent for inciting crowds and spreading falsehoods. A priest who could sway the masses with his inexplicable charm was just what the Church needed to stoke the mes of fanaticism.

    But charisma in incitement did not trante to tactical skill.

    The moment the Dawn Army began its campaign, this became painfully evident, and Ciero¡¯s poprity plummeted.

    ¡°I intended to ¡®rece¡¯ him before things went south.¡±

    Rohen sighed and covered his mouth with his hand.

    ¡°But Ciero was more cunning than expected. He evaded every attempt. Because of that, the person I nned to position in his ce moved first.¡±

    Rohen moved a piece on the celestial table. A piece bearing a white cross on a purple background advanced rapidly southward day by day.

    The Pope¡¯s expression twitched.

    ¡°The Holy Grail Knight? You intended to put him in charge of the Dawn Army?¡±

    ¡°No ordinary charisma canmand a horde of hundreds of thousands of misfits. The Holy Grail Knight possesses the talent to do so, with an added penchant for valuing human life. I hoped that as the bodies piled up around him, he might grow desensitized.¡±

    By modern standards, Isaac¡¯s moral code was at best average¡ªslightly worn down but still virtuous by the era¡¯s standards. For a pdin, such morality was not necessarily required; both the Pope and the Cardinals agreed on this. Yet the Pope found it difficult to reconcile with the idea that the tens of thousands of troops from Ciero¡¯s Dawn Army could have been handed over to Isaac.

    ¡°He doesn¡¯t have a good reputation. Isn¡¯t there talk of him following the teachings of the Owl?¡±

    ¡°Did Your Holiness not learn from it as well?¡±

    ¡°That was when I was young, foolish, and without power. But if someone like the Holy Grail Knight, who has influence, power, and fame, were to follow those teachings while leading an army, it would endanger the Church, wouldn¡¯t it?¡±

    Rohen chuckled.

    ¡°No angel would ever allow that.¡±

    The catch-all phrase that refuted all logic left the Pope speechless.

    ¡°And binding the Holy Grail Knight to the Dawn Army has another interesting effect. It also binds the Brant Duchy in the north.¡±

    Rohen had already half-figured that the Waltzemer throne had fallen into the hands of the Brant family. Only the Brant family could hide something so securely. Although they were currently lying low, who knew when they would show their ws again?

    But what if Isaac were embedded within the tens of thousands of the Dawn Army?

    Even as themander of the Dawn Army, a single ¡°You¡¯re emunicated¡± from an angel would be enough to bring upon Isaac the same fate that befell the Emperor.

    The Holy Grail Knight, who values human life, would be forced to surrender. The Brant family, not wanting their son-inw to suffer such a fate, would bepelled to remain subdued.

    ¡°Duchess Freya Brant. The heroine from the Kingdom of Elil. She has managed to bind the northern alliance back together, which I had worked so hard to tear apart. It¡¯s necessary to ensure she continues ying chief there.¡±

    ¡°I see. But hasn¡¯t the Holy Grail Knight already established his own Dawn Army? Doesn¡¯t thatplicate things?¡±

    Isaacrea¡¯s rapid march had already echoed throughout the Empire.

    The sight of the Kingdom of Elil and the World¡¯s Forge advancing under the Codex of Light banner brought back memories of the legendary first Dawn Army.

    Ciero¡¯s pitiful and disorganized army only entuated the contrast.

    Elil¡¯s knights had torn through the Orcs of the Olkan Code, while isted viges and cities in the mountains, cut off from aid, were liberated by the Dwarves. Following that, the army that proimed itself the ¡°Isaacrea Holy Knights¡± continued to rescue and support those in danger, growing in strength along the way.

    ¡°Yes, it seems the Holy Grail Knight has now built his own independent power.¡±

    Currently, the Dawn Army was divided into three main forces.

    First, Ciero¡¯s Dawn Army, which departed first and had the most troops. However, it was weak due to the low presence of pdins and priests.

    Second, the main Dawn Army led by the Pope, which was set to be bolstered by all the resources the Codex of Light could muster. The Pope was confident this force alone could shatter the core of the Olkan Code.

    Lastly, the newly established Issacrea Dawn Army, the smallest, most unstable forceprising a multinational and multi-faith coalition. Yet its momentum was unmistakable, and nobles disillusioned by the religious zeal were beginning to view it as an alternative.

    ¡®Many of the forces that served the Emperor before his emunication have already taken refuge under Issacrea¡¯s banner.¡¯

    But this wasn¡¯t something they could openly attack Isaac over.

    Outwardly, Isaac was still obeying the Church¡¯s orders.

    The infighting between the Emperor and the Pope had already scarred the Empire deeply. They couldn¡¯t afford to create more unnecessary conflicts within the Church.

    ¡°So, what¡¯s your next move?¡±

    ¡°As mentioned, it would be best to merge Ciero¡¯s Dawn Army into the main force¡­.¡±

    Rohen stared at the map of Isaacrea¡¯s divided forces and fell into thought.

    ¡°And we need to figure out how to separate the Holy Grail Knight.¡±

    A cold wind blew in through the open window, rustling the chess pieces on the board. Though protected by blessings, they did not feel the chill of the winter breeze.

    But the Pope alone felt an inexplicable sense of dread.

    ***

    Who¡¯s the most awkward person to run into at work?

    ¡°An ill-tempered boss? A subordinate who defies you despite being ipetent?¡±

    Not quite. Those would be strong contenders, but Isolde had a more peculiar answer.

    The answer was ¡°a former Emperor who once ruled the Empire, now emunicated by an angel, who drove her father to his death, and now crawls in as a guest.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s done, mydy.¡±

    Jemer, formerly known as Emperor Waltzemer, now reduced to a dependent of House Brant, bowed his head before Isolde.

    Isolde nodded with a reluctant expression.

    ¡°Good work, Sir Jemer.¡±

    Jemer had shaved his beard and cut his hair short, altering his appearance so drastically that Isolde hadn¡¯t recognized him at first. The glowing horns were gone, casting his face in different shadows. Still, for safety reasons, he wore a helmet when outside, following the good example set by Dera Heman.

    Any sense of loyalty vanished when Isolde learned how Waltzemer lost his power.

    He had gambled and lost everything, essentially handing over his power to an angel. Important details were omitted, but that was the gist of it. What remained was a fugitive, a ticking time bomb that could go off at any moment.

    ¡°There seem to be more soot creatures than before.¡±

    The courtyard of Rougeberg was piled with the ckened carcasses of beasts Jemer and his knights had hunted. These creatures, stuck between human and beast, were corrupted animals transformed by a phenomenon called ¡°soot.¡± Once rare, their numbers had recently increased, posing a threat to civilians.

    Isolde was particrly concerned about this phenomenon.

    As a former Inquisitor, she knew the true nature of the soot creatures. They were low-grade divine beasts associated with Urbansus, the light deity of the Codex of Light. Though called divine beasts, they were more akin to evil spirits, unable to withstand the deity¡¯s intense light and leeching off other souls.

    They were vicious by nature but powerless against the Codex¡¯s miracles, making them disposable tools. However, to ordinary people, they were a menace.

    Typically residing in Urbansus and rarely seen on the surface, except in ces like Lichtheim, the increase in their numbers across the Empire was rming, even in Rougeberg, far from Lichtheim.

    ¡°It¡¯s not just the soot creatures; there are reports of divine beasts appearing everywhere. It¡¯s unclear whether it¡¯s due to the religious madness of the Dawn Army or merely the fevered hallucinations of the afflicted.¡±

    ¡°It sounds like things are worsening.¡±

    ¡°One can only hope it¡¯s a temporary phenomenon caused by the appearance of the Lighthouse Keeper.¡±

    Jemer spoke casually, despite being indirectly responsible for the Lighthouse Keeper¡¯s emergence.

    But Isolde couldn¡¯t me him. The entire Brant family had beenplicit in the n; ming him alone was impossible.

    ¡°¡­I truly hope all these events are just temporary.¡±

    Not just the appearance of the soot creatures but the entire situation¡ªthe alignment of forces, the unfolding chaos¡ªshe wished it was all fleeting. The Emperor and her father, who had once dreamed ofplete separation from religion, were now ruined. The Brant family was merely lying low, waiting for the storm of madness to pass. Had the Church¡¯s spearhead not been pointed solely at the Holy Land, the Brant family would have been destroyed.

    Had it not been for guilt and a thirst for vengeance, even Freya wouldn¡¯t have taken Waltzemer in.

    ¡°Regrettably, the soot creatures are like shadows cast by the increasing light of Urvansus, so they might grow more numerous as the Dawn Army advances. If the Dawn Army seeds, they could be a permanent fixture.¡±

    Isolde felt a surge of irritation at Jemer¡¯s casual remark.

    ¡®Does he think I don¡¯t know that? Did he forget I¡¯m a former Inquisitor?¡¯

    But seeing Jemer¡¯s eyes through his helmet, she realized he wasn¡¯t just making naivements.

    He was implying that someone needed to disrupt or halt the momentum of the Dawn Army.

    Isolde thought of the terrifying march happening in the eastern Empire and the person most frequently mentioned as the one who might conquer the Holy Land.

    She recalled a face she hadn¡¯t seen in a long time.

    She never imagined when they parted ways outside Isaacrea that it would be this long before seeing him again. He seemed to be moving further away with each passing moment.

    Meanwhile, she remained hiding within this sturdy fortress.

    Isolde was wracked with a sense of shame at the realization.

    ¡°My Lady Isolde.¡±

    One of the guards from the main gate approached Isolde.

    ¡°A priest hase to see you.¡±

    ¡°A priest? Again? What are they nning to stir up this time¡­?¡±

    Isolde was about to lose her temper once more, but the guard¡¯s next words quickly quelled her anger.

    ¡°He¡¯s from Issacrea. A priest named ire.¡±

    ¡°From Issacrea? What did he want?¡±

    The guard hesitated at Isolde¡¯s question.

    If anyone else had made such a im, they would have been dismissed immediately. But this was a priest from Issacrea, the domain of the Holy Grail Knight and Isolde¡¯s husband. They couldn¡¯t be treated carelessly.

    ¡°He said he came to deliver some good words¡­¡±

    Unconsciously, Isolde¡¯s gaze drifted southeast, where the wind blew.

    The wind tousled her hair roughly.

    ***

    Isaac opened his eyes.

    A sudden gust of wind shook the snow that had umted on his head while he had dozed off. As Isaac brushed the snow off and stood up, Hesabel, who had been keeping watch, descended from a tree.

    The surroundings were still littered with orc corpses. If anything, the number seemed to have increased since he¡¯d fallen asleep.

    Hesabel approached with a puzzled look.

    ¡°Why are you already up? You haven¡¯t slept in a while.¡±

    Isaac hadn¡¯t been able to sleep properly for days. To be able to nap in a hidden forest was a rare opportunity. But Isaac stretched contentedly, looking northwest.

    ¡°I thought Isolde was here.¡±

    [To Be Continued]

 Chapter 302:

    Chapter 302:

    ¡°Isolde? Thatdy?¡±

    Hesabel asked back, puzzled by the randomment, but Isaac mumbled and dodged the question.

    He didn¡¯t know why Isolde suddenly crossed his mind. Perhaps it was because he was being tormented by another woman.

    ¡°What about the orcs?¡±

    ¡°They seem scared. They¡¯re slowly regrouping and preparing to run away. I guess killing their shaman snapped them back to their senses.¡±

    Isaac stood up.

    Though it was a short rest, his body felt a bit better after some sleep.

    ¡°Now, let¡¯s chase them down and kill them properly. They¡¯ve been tormenting me for days.¡±

    Hesabel chuckled at Isaac¡¯s words.¡°Oh, have you found a clue, then?¡±

    Isaac nodded silently.

    A few days into the expedition, Isaac had started getting ambushed at unexpected ces and lodgings. At first, it was bandits or mercenaries, but as time passed, they were joined by private soldiers of local nobles, Ciero¡¯s Dawn Army, and even orcs.

    It didn¡¯t take long to realize that these baseless attacks were orchestrated by Leonora. The assants were all forces that could be controlled with money.

    Initially, Isaac retaliated and defeated them without mercy, but as their numbers increased, it became increasingly difficult. Rumors could easily spread about a Pdin who left the Dawn Army swinging his sword at imperial citizens within the empire.

    ¡®So, when I tried to travel with Nel, they started targeting the Issacrea Knight Order¡­¡¯

    Whenever Isaac showed himself, Leonora redirected the attacks back onto him.

    Leonora¡¯s intentions were clear: her sole target was Isaac. It seemed she realized that Ang¡¯s whereabouts no longer mattered. Even if she managed to take Ang, Isaac would certainly retaliate.

    Isaac decided to ept the rules and fight ordingly. As long as he kept showing up, the Golden Idol Guild wouldn¡¯t cross any uneptable lines, like touching the Issacrea estate.

    ¡®The odd thing was that they seemed to know exactly where I was.¡¯

    This was especially true of the orcs¡¯ recent persistent assaults.

    The eastern part of the empire was currently in chaos due to countless orcs swarming in from beyond the Gilford Mountains. Among them, several White Tiger units, apparently bought by the Golden Idol Guild, began pursuing Isaac.

    For days, Isaac had dragged them across the mountains, engaging in guerri warfare without rest. He wished he could use the Touch of Chaos to drain information from their minds, but the enemy was thorough. The only information he could glean was how much they had been paid.

    And today, Isaac finally figured out what scheme was at y.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±

    Isaac¡¯s eyes, bloodshot fromck of sleep, flickered with a purple hue.

    ***

    ¡°Only half have gathered?!¡±

    Uchiura, the White Tiger Captain of one of the Olkan Code¡¯s vanguards, screamed in rage at the devastating losses.

    Sahn Khan waged an overwhelming conquest while sending in a few highly mobile vanguard units to create chaos within the empire.

    While Khan¡¯s army had met an unexpected obstacle somewhere in the north, Uchiura and most of the vanguard units were reaping considerable achievements. When they were offered a substantial sum to capture someone, they thought of it as easy pocket money.

    They had heard that Pdins were strong. So what? They had three groups, each numbering over a hundred. They had experience fighting Pdins before. Their conclusion was simple: even a Pdin was no match against a coordinated charge of mounted archers. If things got tricky, they could always lure them into an area rigged with bombs.

    That was until they met Isaac.

    ¡°Is that guy a monster?! How could fifty men be killed overnight without a sound?¡±

    Among the fifty in was the shaman who had been traveling with them. Realizing the shaman was dead, Uchiura decided to retreat, but the loss of half his forces was painful.

    The orcs lowered their heads in silence, but their expressions seemed to me Uchiura for leading them into a death trap.

    ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry, Uchiura Captain. That guy really is a monster. Some of our men said he¡­ changed into some indescribable form.¡±

    ¡°A-And there was also a witch with blood-red wings. I clearly saw her biting into a corpse¡¯s neck.¡±

    Fear was evident in the subordinate¡¯s voice.

    Uchiura quickly shouted before panic could spread.

    ¡°Enough!¡±

    The orcs fell silent, but by the time they had gathered here, the rumors about Isaac and Hesabel had already spread widely.

    Some said the Pdin¡¯s fingers stretched out to crush entire bodies and that mouths on his palms devoured the living. Others spoke of a darkness that tore them apart when he chanted unholy incantations. Some imed that orcs under his control sprouted tentacles from their eyes, noses, and mouths, attacking theirrades.

    It was impossible to know what was true and what wasn¡¯t.

    If the rumors were true, then the Pdin was a monster with tentacles sprouting from his hands, devouring orcs whole, spewing darkness, and imnting brain worms. But if such a creature existed, the Codex of Light would have exterminated it long ago. Why would it appear before them now?

    ¡°Could that Pdin be¡­ the Soul Devourer who stopped Khan?¡±

    Fear rippled through the orcs once more.

    The tale of the Soul Devourer who had halted Sahn Khan had reached even those deep within the empire. He was known for ruthlessly hunting shamans, tearing apart souls, or enving them.

    To the orcs who waged war, trusting in their rebirth, there was no greater nightmare. Some even whispered that Sahn Khan¡¯s son, An, had his soul stolen and was turned into a ve.

    One thing was clear: whether the rumors were true or not, this was not an enemy they could handle.

    ¡°¡­Enough. Consider the remaining forces lost and retreat.¡±

    Not all fifty might have been killed. Some could have been left behind, frozen to death in the cold, or merely dyed in returning. But Uchiura could no longer hold out. He would have to endure the mockery of hisrades and retreat.

    It was unfortunate that he wouldn¡¯t be able to collect the remaining payment from the client, but he could always make up for it by looting more.

    As Uchiura and his crippled White Tiger unit began to descend the mountain in a gloomy mood, someone suddenly appeared, walking up from below. The moment Uchiura saw that face, his expression froze.

    ¡°What the¡ªwhy are you guys sote?¡±

    ¡°W-What, w-why, how are you here?!¡±

    The Pdin they had desperately pursued for days stood right before them, his entire body stained with blood.

    Isaac spun his sword to shake off the blood and spoke.

    ¡°I saw a bunch of them gathered down there, so I assumed everyone had arrived and went to kill them. It¡¯s only natural to hunt them down when they¡¯re retreating, right?¡±

    Below them, not only Uchiura¡¯s White Tiger unit, but also the allied Keteli and Zarha White Tiger units were waiting. They, too, had suffered significant damage from Isaac and had been the first to descend the mountain. Isaac attacked when their morale was at its lowest, when they were tired and wounded.

    Although Uchiura finally encountered the target he had been seeking so desperately, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to give the order to attack. His subordinates would not obey.

    Meanwhile, behind Isaac, orcs began to appear, moving in twisted, grotesque motions, their joints contorted. Just as the rumors said, they swung eerie tentacles from every opening in their bodies.

    Seeing this, Uchiura shouted without hesitation.

    ¡°Run!¡±

    Some orcs were already fleeing before themand was given. Unlike the scattering orcs, Uchiura let out a roar and charged straight at Isaac.

    Isaac smiled, pleased with the sight.

    ¡°Useful guy. You must know a lot.¡±

    Muttering to himself, Isaac snapped his fingers.

    ¡°Zihilrat, Hectali. Come here.¡±

    With a sickening sound, tentacles burst forth explosively from inside the orcs, tearing apart their flesh as monstrous forms emerged. Zihilrat, having adapted to the orc¡¯s body structure, began sprinting on two legs, while Hectali swung its tentacles skyward, moving through the forest.

    Had it been a straightforward battle, some resistance might have been possible. But now that it had turned into a hunt, there was no fight to be had.

    The ughter that had begun with Uchiura falling at Isaac¡¯s hand repeated itself against the Keteli and Zarha White Tiger units.

    ***

    There was a vige with a long,plex name: Rihnonachche tavow. Due to its length, it was simply called ¡°ta.¡±

    This area had already fallen to the orcs under the Olkan Code, but the vige had surrendered swiftly without resistance, allowing it to remain intact.

    A week ago, when it seemed the vige would see no joy for a while, a group of mercenaries arrived. The mercenaries were generous spenders and, for some reason, had no problems with the orcs, which made the vigers fond of them.

    However, one morning, both the mercenaries and the orcs hastily left the vige without exnation.

    Isaac arrived at this small vige an hourter.

    ¡°They fled? Left their belongings behind?¡±

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s what it looked like.¡±

    The vige chief, too old to be taken as a ve, was at a loss for how to handle Isaac.

    The moment he saw Isaac, he knew he was the famous Pdin of the Holy Grail from the rumors.

    If Isaac had engaged in gloriousbat or arrived with an army, the chief would have weed him as a liberator. But the Isaac he saw looked more like a weary wanderer.

    So, the chief hadn¡¯t even considered that Isaac was the reason the orcs had fled.

    ¡°Hmm, I see. Very well.¡±

    Isaac nodded calmly and gestured behind him.

    The chief jumped in shock when he saw what looked like a walking pile of minced meat behind Isaac. Upon closer inspection, he recognized it as Uchiura, the White Tiger Captain of the orc squad that had upied the vige. Isaac had ensured Uchiura couldn¡¯t kill himself and had dragged him here, half-dead.

    Having already tasted Isaac¡¯s terror, Uchiura couldn¡¯t even think of escaping; dying was his only wish.

    There was no better description than a ¡°prison of flesh.¡±

    ¡°Chief, could you provide us with some food and a ce to sleep? I¡¯ll pay for it.¡±

    ¡°Y-Yes! Of course! Ah, you don¡¯t need to pay!¡±

    Finally realizing that Isaac was their savior, the chief hurried off. Isaac followed him to an inn and sat Uchiura in a chair. The inn was still warm from the firece, and food was prepared, as the mercenaries had abruptly left.

    Isaac casually picked at the leftover food. Though it had cooled, it had been a long time since he had the pleasure of eating something ¡®cooked¡¯ with his ¡®mouth.¡¯

    ¡°You¡¯re Uchiura, right? You met him here?¡±

    Uchiura mumbled something iprehensible. With his teeth and tongue mangled, coherent speech was impossible.

    ¡°That¡¯s okay. You don¡¯t need to speak. To be honest, there was nowhere else he could have been.¡±

    Isaac hadn¡¯t spent days in the mountains hunting orcs for no reason.

    He had noticed that when he used Nel, the enemy couldn¡¯t track him.

    That meant they could only find him when he was within a ¡®specific range.¡¯

    Isaac had pushed the boundaries during the pursuit, carefully observing the orcs¡¯ reactions and identifying the coordinates of the ¡®observer¡¯ tracking him.

    The result had led him to this vige. One of the mercenaries staying here was the culprit.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. If they know my location, it means they¡¯ll move in the opposite direction, right? That¡¯s why I¡¯ve already sent my subordinates ahead to intercept them. Remember my subordinates? They¡¯ll capture that mercenary and bring him here.¡±

    Uchiura let out another eerie noise.

    Isaac surmised it was probablyughter.

    Soon, the mercenaries who had driven Uchiura and his men into a death trap would be caught and brought back. Uchiura, knowing what awaited them, could hardly contain his twisted glee.

 Chapter 303:

    Thud, thud, thud.

    As Isaac was finishing his third bowl of soup, prepared by the vige chief¡¯s daughter, amotion erupted at the entrance of the dining hall. Isaac nced over to see a middle-aged man, dressed in a mboyant cape and adorned with peacock feathers on his hat, sprawled across the floor.

    ¡°Wait, wait, wait! There¡¯s no need to be so rough! I said I¡¯d walk on my own!¡±

    Regardless of his protests, Hesabel pointed her feathered, knife-like wings at him.

    Thunk.

    A feather shot out, narrowly embedding itself between the man¡¯s fingers.

    Hesabel coldly remarked, ¡°If someone points a de at you, you should be ready to lose a finger before you start talking.¡±

    ¡®She¡¯s got a point.¡¯

    Isaac agreed inwardly, so he didn¡¯t bother stopping her. The man had kept him from getting any sleep, and Isaac had no intention of engaging in a conversation on equal terms. Starting by cutting something off didn¡¯t seem like a bad idea.¡°Hold on! If you¡¯re going to cut something, take the ring finger!¡±

    It wasmon to choose the pinky when threatening to cut off a finger, so Hesabel was surprised by his choice. She hadn¡¯t nned on giving him a say, but her curiosity got the better of her.

    ¡°Why the ring finger?¡±

    ¡°Sometimes absence holds more meaning than presence. The single point of your de will linger far longer than the five rings that once graced my finger. By receiving your cut, I shall leave my love eternally empty.¡±

    Isaac almost spat out his soup at the unexpected nonsense that came out of the man¡¯s mouth.

    However, it seemed that Hesabel was somewhat pleased with his answer.

    ¡°Hah, I never expected to hear something so romantic from someone in the realm of the Codex of Light. To say you¡¯d bind yourself to one person is foolish. But you still only know half the story.¡±

    ¡°You think I¡¯m missing something?¡±

    ¡°Having an affair with your married partner is the most thrilling¡ª¡±

    Isaac intervened quickly before Hesabel¡¯s madness could further damage the reputation of the Issacrea Dawn Army.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t expect such lunacy would spread to those around you. Shalok.¡±

    ¡°You are¡­.¡±

    The man called Shalok looked up at Isaac and promptly shut his mouth.

    The captured man was someone Isaac knew well.

    ***

    Shalok. A mercenary captain of the Golden Idol Guild and a ywright.

    Though he usually worked as a ywright, his poor skills constantly led him to squander his family¡¯s fortune.

    However, Shalok had talents outside of writing ys¡ªhe was an outstanding bounty hunter and mercenary.

    Thus, Shalok lived a cycle of making a quick fortune as a mercenary, squandering it on his ys, and then returning to mercenary work once more.

    The nonsense he spewed to Hesabel had no particr meaning; it was just words pouring out of his mouth.

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure who you are, but¡­¡±

    ¡°Not recognizing Isaac Issacrea when you see the famous Pdin and hisdy with blood-red wings? Which finger should I cut off, Isaac?¡±

    ¡°The tip of his right ring finger.¡±

    Without hesitation, Hesabel pinned Shalok¡¯s right hand to the table and swiftly sliced off the nail of his ring finger with a feather. The shrill scream that escaped was not what one would expect from a seasoned mercenary captain.

    Isaac sighed and dragged a chair over.

    ¡°Next time, there will be blood. Keep that in mind, ywright.¡±

    ¡°Ow, ow¡­ Huh? You didn¡¯t actually cut it off? Truly merciful, Sir Holy Grail Knight¡­¡±

    ¡°No. If you¡¯re uncooperative, I won¡¯t bother myself. I¡¯ll just hand you over to the orc back there who¡¯s desperately waiting for his turn.¡±

    Shalok¡¯s gaze shifted behind Isaac to Uchiura, the White Tiger Captain, who was ring furiously at him.

    Seeing Uchiura¡¯s mangled state, Shalok drew a sharp breath.

    Isaac wouldn¡¯t hesitate to put Shalok in a simr condition. The only reason Isaac kept him alive was because of his connection to Leonora and the Golden Idol Guild.

    ¡°You¡¯ve been tracking me, haven¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°What do you¡ªOh, yes, yes! It was me! I found you!¡±

    As the tip of Hesabel¡¯s wing hovered over his finger, Shalok¡¯s words quickened.

    This time, Hesabel asked, ¡°How?¡±

    ¡°Shalok has a talent for seeing the ¡®value¡¯ of people. It¡¯s a skill that determines whether someone is worth the money. He can even perceive those who aren¡¯t physically present as faint halos. He uses this skill in his bounty hunting.¡±

    Knowing that Shalok would try to hide this, Isaac answered in his stead.

    Shalok¡¯s mouth gaped open.

    Of course, it did. He had never disclosed his ability to anyone.

    While Leonora¡¯s talent judged the overall value, considering future potential, Shalok¡¯s ability was more akin to seeing a ¡®price tag.¡¯

    In the game, when recruited as an ally, Shalok¡¯s ability allowed the yer to see a ¡®price¡¯ above the heads of other characters. The higher the price, the more borate and noticeable it became, even to the extent of pinpointing their locations.

    Isaac revealed this information to crush Shalok¡¯s spirit.

    ¡°So, how much is the bounty on my head?¡±

    In Shalok¡¯s eyes, Isaac¡¯s ¡®value¡¯ would be visible.

    Shalok hesitated for a moment before responding.

    ¡°¡­A hundred thousand gold coins.¡±

    Uchiura suddenly leapt from his seat, shouting angrily. He seemed on the verge of lunging at Shalok but was too terrified of Isaac to do more than raise his voice.

    ¡°Why¡¯s he so upset?¡±

    ¡°I told him there was a bounty of twenty thousand coins on you. I said we¡¯d split it fifty-fifty if we seeded in capturing you.¡±

    So Shalok had nned to pocket 90,000 coins for himself after the partnership. Truly fitting behavior for a mercenary of the Golden Idol Guild.

    But Shalok shrugged indifferently.

    ¡°Not that it matters; those idiots would never have seeded anyway. And even if they had, they wouldn¡¯t have split it with me. They¡¯d have cut me down and kept the 20,000 coins for themselves.¡±

    ¡°You negotiated my head so easily? Sure. Weren¡¯t you scared, going after a target worth 100,000 coins?¡±

    Shalok nced nervously at Hesabel.

    ¡°To be honest, I was more scared of her, so I decided to surrender.¡±

    ¡°¡­Hesabel? Why her?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s a bounty of 200,000 coins on her¡­¡±

    ¡°200,000? On Hesabel? Who put that up?¡±

    ¡°Duke Heinkel Gulmar of the Wachia Kingdom¡­¡±

    Hesabel let out a deep sigh.

    There was no need to ask who Heinkel Gulmar was¡ªhe was her biological father. Although he hadn¡¯t raised her, he was still a man she called father and followed. He had put a bounty on her head.

    Isaac decided to see it positively.

    ¡°¡­Putting a bounty means he¡¯s not nning toe in person.¡±

    It was humiliating that Hesabel¡¯s bounty was higher, but given that Wachia saw her as a national traitor and a turncoat, it made sense.

    ¡°Anyway, ywright, let¡¯s take a little walk.¡±

    ***

    As soon as they stepped outside, Isaac draped an arm around Shalok¡¯s shoulders, pulling him close. Shalok¡¯s expression stiffened again, and Isaac whispered into his ear.

    ¡°Your mercenary unit has surrounded the vige, hasn¡¯t it? Tell them to stand down.¡±

    ¡°Oh,e on, what are you talking about?¡±

    Even as Shalok said this, he subtly raised his hand, signaling something. Nothing visibly changed, but Isaac could sense the murderous intent around him subside.

    The mercenaries directly hired by the Golden Idol Guild were not ordinary. Shalok¡¯s mercenary group, known as the ¡°Troupe,¡± wasposed of individuals with unique talents.

    In other words, Shalok hadn¡¯t simply surrendered without a n. He was a man who had ventured into the tiger¡¯s den to catch a tiger.

    No extraordinary individual could be captured by ordinary means.

    ¡°The Golden Idol Guild couldn¡¯t openly ce a bounty on a Holy Grail Knight within the Empire, so they outsourced it to you. So, our dear ywright, have you got a script ready to capture me?¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ truth be told, with our hands tied, it¡¯s a bit difficult.¡±

    ¡°With your hands tied?¡±

    ¡°Yes. If you were just another high-ranking noble, we¡¯d take hostages, burn down your house, or bribe the church to socially iste you. But we¡¯re restricted; we can only go after you directly. That puts us at a disadvantage.¡±

    ¡°Sounds like you¡¯re saying you¡¯ve been holding back.¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t that the case?¡±

    ¡°Idiot. Leonora¡¯s doing this to save her own neck. What do you think will happen if I end uppletely isted with no societal constraints?¡±

    Though Shalok was old enough to be Isaac¡¯s father, Isaac¡¯s scorn was merciless.

    It was justified to treat a man who squandered his wealth on his so-called art and swapped wives like changing clothes as a fool. It was practically written in the Codex of Light itself.

    ¡°As long as you keep your limits, I¡¯ll keep mine.¡±

    ¡°¡­Understood.¡±

    Shalok¡¯s response was less than convincing. He still seemed to think, ¡®What could one Pdin possibly do against the entire Golden Idol Guild?¡¯

    ¡°But what are you nning to do? Lady Leonora always gets what she wants. If she pushes Odryf through the Issacrea Dawn Army, she won¡¯t hesitate to use any means. I know the Holy Grail Knight is not just some myth, but in the end, both sides will only end up hurt.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s why I need your cooperation, Shalok.¡±

    ¡°Me?¡±

    Isaac nodded.

    The reason he hadn¡¯t killed Shalok on sight was to gain his cooperation. Threatening him was merely a way to gain leverage.

    ¡°Leonora is the likely candidate for the next head of the guild, right?¡±

    Shalok hesitated at the sudden change in topic, but then nodded reluctantly.

    ¡°Yes, well, no one else has achieved what she has.¡±

    Unlike other faiths, the Golden Idol Guild was monopolized by the Bessia family.

    Originally, several families would gather to elect a leader, but a century ago, the Bessia family eliminated all their rivals, establishing their monopoly. They justified this by iming that other leading families were aligning with rival faiths and nations,promising the guild¡¯s overall interests¡ªan unmistakably Golden Idol Guild kind of decision.

    This monopoly allowed the guild¡¯s neutrality to endure to this day.

    The Bessia family¡¯s primary goal was to grow the guild¡¯s total assets.

    As long as this goal was met, no one cared if the Bessia siblings fought bloody battles amongst themselves for dominance.

    ¡°But Leonora¡¯s actions are her own and not in line with the guild¡¯s collective will, right?¡±

    ¡°¡­That¡¯s true.¡±

    ¡°I n to go to Odryf and confront the head of the guild, Belman Bessia, directly. I¡¯ll warn him that Leonora is taking a dangerous gamble, and her reckless actions could diminish the guild¡¯s profits.¡±

    Shalok¡¯s mouth hung open, searching for words. After a long pause, he finally managed to speak.

    ¡°If that¡¯s possible, it would indeed be the best peaceful solution. But I heard the asset you hold is one of the Golden Idol Guild¡¯s long-standing ambitions. The issue isn¡¯t just about cost.¡±

    ¡°Cost is always an issue. It¡¯s just a matter of whether it¡¯s bearable.¡±

    ¡°Huh, I never expected to hear such sensible words from a Pdin. Fine, let¡¯s say you can pull it off. So, what do you want from me?¡±

    ¡°Just keep doing what you¡¯ve been doing.¡±

    ¡°Sorry?¡±

    Isaac smiled and patted Shalok on the shoulder.

    ¡°Continue hiring mercenaries and bribing local nobles or bandits to attack me. Report that I¡¯m wearing down, that I¡¯m running out of steam. Keep it up until I reach Odryf.¡±

    ¡°¡­You¡¯re bribing the mercenary captain of the Golden Idol Guild? Do you even know how much Leonora is paying me?¡±

    Isaac wasn¡¯t nning to threaten him over his life.

    Shalok might believe he could escape from Isaac or even fight back.

    Whether his n was feasible didn¡¯t matter. What mattered was that a living Shalok was far more useful in dismantling Leonora¡¯s scheme than a dead one. Therefore, it was worth coaxing and ttering him just enough.

    ¡®For a mercenary, money is the only master.¡¯

    ¡°I¡¯ll grant you the right to nominate the next head of the guild.¡±

 Chapter 304:

    ¡°That¡¯s ridiculous¡­ Do you think you can just appoint the next head of the guild as you please?¡±

    ¡°epting or not is up to you. But if I go straight to Belman Bessia and undermine Leonora¡¯s standing, who do you think will be the next head? Naturally, I¡¯d have a say in it.¡±

    Isaac¡¯s words were no different than saying, ¡°I¡¯ll let you choose the next Pope of the Codex of Light.¡± It was absurd, but a ridiculous deal was sometimes needed to shake the opponent¡¯s resolve.

    For Isaac, a poor and penniless Holy Grail Knight, this was the kind of bait he had to dangle to buy Shalok.

    ¡®If I kill Shalok, I¡¯ll earn the grudge of his mercenaries and the displeasure of the Golden Idol Guild. Leonora might resort to even more drastic measures¡­ It¡¯s best to just bribe someone like Shalok.¡¯

    Whether Shalok could deceive Leonora into thinking he was on the verge of sess was crucial, but that was up to him.

    Shalok had already been calcting how much he could sell the ¡°next guild head nomination¡± for.

    As soon as he figured out a sum that would let him livefortably even if he spent his life writing ys that never sold, Shalok nodded with feigned difficulty.

    ¡°An unjust contract with evil is annulled before a righteous and noble Pdin. Well, if I can just keep doing what I¡¯ve been doing¡­¡±Trust as a mercenary? Shalok never had any of that to begin with.

    Moreover, with the expected sum, he wouldn¡¯t have to do the distasteful work of a mercenary ever again. Although he might have to share it with his troupe members, the risk seemed worth taking.

    Had Isaac demanded Shalok outright join his side, he wouldn¡¯t have epted. But since he could simply continue his current actions without crossing any more lines, there was no reason to refuse.

    ¡°I can swear before the Golden Idol, right?¡±

    It was a warning that breaking the contract would bring misfortune: choking on water or breaking one¡¯s nose while sleeping.

    Isaac shrugged nonchntly.

    ¡°Go ahead. Just don¡¯t forget that the deal only goes into effect once I reach Odryf.¡±

    Isaac could run off before reaching Odryf, but doing so would only ensure the Golden Idol Guild kept hindering him. Defying the merchants responsible for supplying the expeditionary forces would benefit no one but the enemy.

    ¡°Fine. Let¡¯s put on a convincing show, then.¡±

    ¡°Then consider the contract sealed¡­ There¡¯s just one more thing to settle.¡±

    ¡°One more thing?¡±

    As Shalok turned in confusion, Uchiura, the White Tiger Captain, came growling out of the vige chief¡¯s front yard.

    Despite being bloodied, his muscr build and the intimidating presence typical of a White Tiger Captain remained intact.

    Shalok hesitated, taking a step back.

    ¡°You need to resolve the conflict with your friend there.¡±

    ¡°Wait, what¡­?¡±

    Before Shalok could say anything, Uchiura let out a wild roar and charged.

    Isaac shoved Shalok forward.

    Both Shalok and Uchiura were unarmed, but an orc¡¯s bare hands could easily kill a grown man. If that orc was a White Tiger Captain, it was even more dangerous.

    As Isaac pushed him, Shalok stumbled and rolled across the yard, dodging Uchiura¡¯s grasp by a hair¡¯s breadth. Shalok slid past Uchiura, knocking his legs from under him.

    The moment Uchiura fell, Shalok sprang up and stabbed his hand into the back of Uchiura¡¯s neck.

    The hand that had been empty now wielded arge dagger. Uchiura gurgled blood from the back of his throat before going limp.

    He was finally free from his body, returning to his homnd.

    ¡°What? I swear I confiscated his weapons¡­¡±

    Hesabel, who had seized his weapons before bringing him in, looked shocked. Hiding a weapon from an assassin like her was no small feat.

    But Isaac, who had half-expected this, was unfazed. Shalok probably had a few more hidden weapons up his sleeve.

    Shalok shot Isaac a weary re before sighing heavily. Then he casually addressed Hesabel.

    ¡°A man always carries a sturdy weapon or two.¡±

    ¡°Hmm, something to keep in mind.¡±

    ¡°Hesabel, that¡¯s a sexually inappropriatement. If he makes another like it, feel free to cut something off.¡±

    Isaac didn¡¯t specify what to cut. Inwardly, he thought to himself, ¡®With lines like that, no wonder his ys don¡¯t sell¡­¡¯

    Shalok flinched and averted his gaze.

    ¡°Oh, right, now that we¡¯re on the same side, I should tell you¡ªI¡¯m not sure if the Issacrea Dawn Army heading to Odryf is the best move.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°Lichtheim has officially announced the Dawn Army¡¯s eastward march. The Pope¡¯s entourage, along with bishops and priests, is quite the spectacle. They¡¯ve already shed with the ck Empire. You might lose all your credit.¡±

    ¡°Hmm, I¡¯d better hurry, then.¡±

    Odryf was originally just a waypoint for Isaac.

    Lichtheim¡¯s actions didn¡¯t alter his ns. However, the main force of the Dawn Army had far superior strength and suppliespared to the Issacrea Dawn Army. Isaac couldn¡¯t maintain their relentless pace, so he needed to move quickly.

    ¡°But it might not be that bad. I heard that while the Holy Grail Knight was hiding in the mountains, Ciero¡¯s Dawn Army attempted an overly ambitious operation in this area and suffered heavy losses.¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°There were quite a fewparing Ciero¡¯s priest to the Holy Grail Knight. But since thepetition tripped up first, it¡¯s good news, right?¡±

    ¡°¡­I really need to hurry.¡±

    Isaac didn¡¯t rejoice at his rival¡¯s self-destruction. Instead, a cold sweat ran down his back.

    The enemies Ciero¡¯s Dawn Army faced were undead. A failure in their tactics didn¡¯t just mean a lost battle; it meant the enemy¡¯s strength would increase immediately.

    That meant more undead for Isaac to deal with.

    ***

    After the negotiations concluded¡­

    As soon as Shalok exited the vige, he signaled with both hands to indicate that all his fingers were intact.

    Before long, people began emerging from the seemingly empty forest, one by one. Not a single one of them wore matching attire, giving them the appearance of a dubious group, rather than mercenaries. Still, each was capable of snapping the neck of an adult man with bare hands.

    ¡°Commander, nobody understands that signal, so why do you keep using it?¡±

    ¡°If you want to perform on stage, you should at least memorize hand signals! You still haven¡¯t learned them?¡±

    ¡°You change the signal every time because you forget it yourself, so why bother? Anyway, how was the Holy Grail Knight everyone¡¯s been talking about? Thest time you saw him from a distance, you said, ¡®We can¡¯t beat that. Let¡¯s just run,¡¯ and this time, you went in person. We thought you¡¯d given up.¡±

    ¡°I thought I¡¯d misjudged him since he kept running away.¡±

    ¡°Since you came back alive, you must have been wrong, huh?¡±

    Shalok stared into the distant sky and let out a deep sigh.

    ¡°No, I was right.¡±

    Shalok¡¯s talent for ¡°valuing¡± things was more refined than Isaac realized.

    He didn¡¯t just measure bounties; he assessed various prices, such as how much someone would fetch as a ve, the value of selling off body parts, or the ransom if held hostage. His talent became more urate the closer and more carefully he observed his target. He could even assign a price to each individual finger if he wished.

    When Shalok finally got close enough to Isaac, he was able to evaluate him more precisely.

    The result? Unmeasurable.

    It meant no one could pay the price. It could be interpreted as ¡°the price is whatever you can get,¡± but before that, it meant there wasn¡¯t a single buyer or anyone willing to pay.

    This usually happened in two cases:

    One was when the person had no value whatsoever, a worthless existence. But Isaac, the famous Holy Grail Knight, certainly wasn¡¯t that.

    The second case was when the individual was under the divine protection of an absurdly powerful, godlike being. In such cases, no earthly entity could afford the price or deal with the consequences, making them unmeasurable. The only other beings Shalok had ever evaluated this way were Dera Heman and, from a distance, the Immortal Emperor Beshek.

    And Leonora¡¯s bounty?

    Shalok didn¡¯t think Leonora genuinely believed she could capture Isaac. She was merely using him as bait to torment Isaac.

    ¡®Does this woman think I¡¯m a pushover?¡¯

    If Shalok didn¡¯t have his valuing talent, he might have ended up as just another thug caught in the snare, mindlessly harassing Isaac until he met his end.

    But ying dead saved his life.

    Of course, Shalok had his own trump cards, but when Isaac immediately recognized his talent, Shalok dropped the idea. He was convinced that Isaac would crush any secret weapon he might use and decapitate him without hesitation.

    ¡°So, what do we do now?¡±

    The troupe members asked with concern.

    They had doubted Shalok¡¯s sanity when he proposed capturing a hero who had repelled Khan¡¯s army, an esteemed warrior of Elil, and the Holy Grail Knight blessed by the Codex of Light. Now that they realized the reputations were no exaggeration, they were worried about going into the red.

    Nothing was more valuable than life.

    After a brief silence, Shalok finally spoke.

    ¡°Yeah, 100,000 coins aren¡¯t enough to bnce the books.¡±

    ¡°So, what¡­?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m going to ask Lady Leonora for a little extra fee.¡±

    Shalok smirked.

    Isaac had said he could continue as he was as long as he didn¡¯t cross any lines. That meant he could carry out Leonora¡¯s orders, get paid, and then settle ounts with Isaac afterward.

    A business where he could extort money from both sides¡ªnothing could be sweeter.

    ¡°You mentionedst time that a skilled Swordmaster from Elil joined, right? I¡¯ll tell them I need some funds to recruit that guy.¡±

    ***

    Isaac adjusted his course, veering slightly east instead of heading directly to Odryf.

    It was a bit of a detour, but not far enough to be inconvenient. Especially since he figured Elil¡¯s forces would be arriving around this time, it was worth checking in.

    After crossing a long stretch of snow-covered mountains, a barren wastnd suddenly spread out before him.

    Even from the sky, the stench of burning reached his nostrils: the acrid smell of burning crops, wood, and bodies.

    Isaac directed Nel to lower their altitude.

    The cold wind sliced sharply at his ears. The Galford Mountains blocked the southern moisture, leaving the air dry. Since there was no snow, the horrors were clearly visible.

    Soon, Nelnded, kicking up a thick cloud of dust. Isaac surveyed the surroundings and frowned. It was a battlefield. There had clearly been a massive battle here, but surprisingly, the bodies were spaced at regr intervals, not piled up as expected.

    ¡®Which means¡­¡¯

    As Isaac dismounted, just as he anticipated, the bodies around him began to twitch and move.

    They were dormant zombies.

    The zombies, instead of immediately attacking, let out a chorus of screams.

    What began as one or two cries soon turned into the roars of dozens, then hundreds, echoing through the wastnd. Feeling annoyed, Isaac cut down one of the nearby zombies.

    ¡®Siren Zombies.¡¯

    These were corpses captured by the Immortal Order and nted as a kind of living minefield. Their role was simple: rise when the living approached, alert the surroundings, and attack. There were hundreds of them scattered across this wastnd.

    ¡®Which means there are living people nearby.¡¯

    Where there were rm systems, there were intruders.

    ¡°Ooooooo!¡±

    The zombies continued to howl as they charged. Isaac pulled out the Luadin Key, which was more effective against undead than Kaldwin.

    The flickering ze from the Luadin Key¡¯s de cut through the zombies like straw.

    The mes emanating from the Luadin Key spread rapidly, consuming the zombies like a living creature, biting and burning them.

    From somewhere beyond the horde, a scream echoed.

    In the middle of the wastnd, a lone shack was under assault by the zombies. Whoever was inside seemed to have been hiding from the Siren Zombies, only to be attacked when Isaac triggered them.

    The shack, which looked ready to copse at any moment, drew Isaac¡¯s attention. He signaled to Nel.

    ¡°Krrrraaaa!¡±

    Nel inhaled deeply and unleashed a bolt of lightning. Half of the zombie horde crumbled under the lightning¡¯s impact, unable to withstand its power. Isaac sprinted along the newly formed path.

    As he burst through the door, another scream rang out. Inside, ragged people, looking like defeated stragglers, huddled together. A pitchfork jabbed toward Isaac, but it couldn¡¯t even scratch his armor.

    ¡°A¡­ A Pdin?¡±

    One of them finally recognized him and spoke up. Just as Isaac was about to suggest they leave the zombies behind and escape, he noticed a man dressed in a priest¡¯s robe hiding in the back.

    Isaac immediately recognized who it was.

    ¡°Ciero?¡±

    <em><strong>Read Next 30 Chapters Here ¨C /Akaza156</strong></em>

 Chapter 305:

    Chapter 305:

    They were filthy and covered in grime, but Isaac recognized them instantly. It was a matter of instinct.

    Ciero, too, recognized Isaac the moment he saw him. Yet, both remained silent about each other¡¯s identities and started moving immediately for the same reasons.

    Isaac gestured hurriedly, leading the ragtag group of survivors outside.

    ¡°Get out! Are you nning to stay here until you¡¯re all dead?¡±

    ¡°But¡­¡±

    Despite Isaac¡¯s orders, they froze and nced back. Even in this dire moment, they waited for Ciero¡¯smand. Meanwhile, Ciero had already dashed to the door.

    ¡°Move! The Codex of Light promised that if we endure, our path will be revealed! The trial is over, so follow me and the messenger sent by the Codex of Light!¡±

    ¡°Ooh!¡±

    Only then did the remaining soldiers of Ciero¡¯s Dawn Army cheer and follow. Isaac found it absurd but led them regardless.For a moment, he considered that a dead Ciero might be more valuable than a living one. But that would mean killing all the survivors here as well.

    ¡°Grrrr!¡±

    Nel spewed out her breath at the zombies that began to swarm again. The Dawn Army was awestruck by the sight of the translucent dragon they had never seen before, but they focused solely on following Ciero¡¯s steps. Isaac continued to fend off the zombie horde as he ran alongside them.

    Then, a piercing shriek echoed from above¡ªthe sound of a Phantom Steed taking flight.

    It seemed the rms hadn¡¯t been installed in vain. The noise had alerted the Immortal Order¡¯s Death Knight. Fortunately, it appeared to be just one.

    Isaac clicked his tongue and entrusted the fleeing Dawn Army to Nel.

    The Death Knight also seemed to recognize that Isaac was a more valuable target than a bunch of fleeing beggars, and immediately charged at him.

    Whoosh! The Phantom Steed hurtled toward Isaac with immense force.

    The Death Knight seemed eager to stage an epic sh with the pdin, but Isaac had no intention of ying along foolishly.

    Isaac swiftly sidestepped and used the Swordsmanship of the Drowned: The Hand of the Drowned.

    An intangible force violently twisted the Death Knight¡¯s trajectory. Feeling as though space had suddenly contracted, the Death Knight¡¯s head mmed into the ground at full speed.

    Boom! Isaac retrieved the Hand of the Drowned, twisting the Death Knight¡¯s waist in the process. For an ordinary knight, this would have been less a finishing move and more an act of desecration, but Isaac never thought for a second that this was the end.

    Instead, he aimed another sword strike at the fallen Death Knight to crush it further.

    Crack, snap. The armor quickly disassembled and reassembled in ce, reforming into theplete battle-ready shape of the Death Knight as its skull finally clicked back into ce.

    ¡°Most young pdins fall for that trick. You must have more experience than you appear.¡±

    ¡°Do I look that young? I¡¯ve got the soul of a guy in his thirties in here.¡±

    ¡°Oh, really? I¡¯ve got a hundred and six-year-old grandpa in here. Come back after you¡¯ve tripled your years.¡±

    Though it seemed like a minor defeat, Isaac decided to help the old man go to the afterlife first, in ordance with the unwrittenw of respecting one¡¯s elders. By now, Ciero¡¯s Dawn Army was far enough away that he didn¡¯t have to worry about being watched.

    Swoosh, thunk! Isaac closed the distance in an instant and swung the Luadin Key. The Death Knight, surprised by Isaac¡¯s unexpected speed, sneered at hisck of finesse.

    The undead neither eat nor sleep. People often say of dedicated individuals, ¡°They train all the time except for eating and sleeping.¡± But the undead can train during those times too, without the need for rest or conditioning.

    The Death Knight deflected Isaac¡¯s sword with a move so precise it would have impressed even a sword instructor of the Empire. The slightest misalignment could have shattered the de or fractured Isaac¡¯s skull, but for the Death Knight, it was as easy as breathing.

    ¡°It¡¯s time to pay for your arrogance, boy.¡±

    The Death Knight instantly tried to unleash his secret technique, honed over a century, to strike Isaac down.

    But Isaac had another trick up his sleeve that the Death Knight hadn¡¯t anticipated.

    Isaac never intended to engage in a pure sword fight with the Death Knight.

    Crack! The colors from beyond surged along the Luadin Key and wrapped around the Death Knight¡¯s de. Although it wouldn¡¯tst long, it was enough to destabilize the Death Knight in its current precarious state. Then, Isaac¡¯s left hand darted into the Death Knight¡¯s helmet.

    Tentacles seized the Death Knight¡¯s spine and yanked it out.

    Ripping out a few bones wouldn¡¯t kill a Death Knight, which moves with spiritual force. However, to mimic living movements, it still required a form simr to its living state. One couldn¡¯t suddenly expect it to crawl on all fours or walk on its hands.

    The neck bones are essential for holding the head up. Without them, the Death Knight would lose its bnce, unable to discern where its hands or the ground were.

    With a single bone fragment removed, Isaac reduced the formidable Death Knight to a iling infant before swiftly fleeing.

    ¡°Killing a Death Knight quickly isn¡¯t easy¡­¡±

    He had no desire to fight on enemy turf with other Death Knights or Liches potentially arriving any moment. Isaac left the elderly undead for the others to deal with and dashed in the direction where Ciero¡¯s Dawn Army had fled.

    ***

    Isaac finally caught up with Ciero near the foot of the mountain. They had run until they were gasping for breath, all exhausted and copsed on the ground. Ciero, too, was no exception, his face turning a ghastly blue as if he were on the verge of death.

    Isaac looked at Ciero with a pitiful expression and was about to speak, but Ciero spread his arms wide and shouted first.

    ¡°My savior, my guide, my brother! I thank you for your helping hand. Would it be eptable to take a moment for a consecration prayer?¡±

    Since it wasmon for a priest to offer a consecration prayer to a pdin on the battlefield, Isaac nodded reluctantly. Under the guise of performing the prayer, Ciero led Isaac to a quiet spot, constantly checking to ensure they were alone.

    Eventually, Isaac couldn¡¯t bear watching him any longer and spoke first.

    ¡°We¡¯re alone, so you don¡¯t have to worry.¡±

    ¡°Are you sure? I really need to be certain¡­¡±

    ¡°If your identity is exposed, do you think I¡¯ll be spared? Let¡¯s just be honest.¡±

    Only then did Ciero finally exhale in relief. He scrutinized Isaac with keen eyes, his interest clearly piqued.

    ¡°When I heard the rumors, I thought it might be possible¡­ but I never truly believed it. A pdin, no less. You must have had a hard time growing up; how did you endure?¡±

    ¡°I just worked hard.¡±

    ¡°You think I didn¡¯t try? But, you know, there¡¯s only so much you can do with your natural limits. Honestly, it¡¯s still hard to believe even when I¡¯m looking right at you. The famous Saint of the Resurrection from the Codex of Light, Elil¡¯s Grand Warrior¡­ and you¡¯re a Nephilim.¡±

    Ciero whispered thest part as if seeking confirmation from Isaac. Isaac nodded.

    ¡°I never imagined that the famous Priest Ciero would be a Nephilim either.¡±

    It was a lie. In fact, Isaac had known, but he hadn¡¯t expected it to be so instinctively clear upon meeting him in person. Nephilim seemed to resonate with one another on some level.

    ¡°Ciero¡­¡±

    But Isaac¡¯s gaze toward Ciero was anything but kind.

    Ciero was the one who had sparked the madness and incitement before the Dawn Army even began.

    With his terrifying charisma, Ciero had quickly risen to a pivotal position within the army, mobilizing tens of thousands, even millions, of followers.

    But how many had been burned at the stake, sacrificed to foolish strategies, or caught up in insane acts because of this man? The truth was, Isaac wouldn¡¯t have hesitated to cut his head off right then and there if it weren¡¯t for one thing: Ciero¡¯s madness wasn¡¯t entirely his own fault.

    The Dawn Army was a product of the spirit of the times and the angels who stoked the mes of fanaticism.

    Ciero was just a convenient tool.

    Still, his ability to incite such events was rooted in his Nephilim bloodline.

    Despite his Nephilim heritage, which endowed him with strikingly handsome looks, Ciero appeared slightly older than his age due to the hardships he had endured. However, with some grooming, he could once again be a charismatic figure capable of rallying the masses.

    ¡°So why were you here in such a state? This isn¡¯t even Immortal Order territory. What¡¯s with the undead and the Death Knight?¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ it¡¯s a ratherplicated story.¡±

    Ciero exined the situation with a sullen expression.

    ***

    Ciero¡¯s Dawn Army could be described as a spontaneous militia born from the masses who had gathered under Ciero¡¯s incitement.

    An enormous number had joined, deluding themselves into believing they were more powerful than the army led by the Pope.

    Eventually, they began marching with the ambitious goal of reiming the Holy Land ahead of the main force of the Dawn Army.

    ¡°For the record, I tried my best to dy that march. I swear it. The Immortal Order isn¡¯t a bunch of fools; they wouldn¡¯t fall to a militia without pdins or priests. But at some point, it was beyond my control¡­¡±

    No matter how overwhelming a Nephilim¡¯s charisma might be, it only extended to those nearby, those within earshot.

    Tens or hundreds of thousands of people? That was akin to an animalistic tidal wave.

    The countless armies of the Olkan Code were disciplined andposed of soldiers trained through numerous reincarnations, making it feasible. But for ordinary people, control was impossible.

    By this point, Ciero was merely being swept along by that tidal wave. Surviving was all he could manage. In the midst of it all, their first chosen destination was here¡ª¡®Kran,¡¯ a small neutral fortress city between the Gerthonia Empire and Immortal Order territory.

    ¡°Kran¡¯s king was a follower of the Codex of Light. He weed me, but¡­ not the Dawn Army.¡±

    Not even Luadin himself, if he hade back to life, would have weed nearly a million starving refugees. At that number, they ceased to be humans and became a gue of locusts.

    ¡°Kran¡¯s king tried to provide food and lodging, but, well¡­ a bit of a scuffle broke out. An incident urred, and I offer my condolences to the king.¡±

    ¡°¡­Did you attack Kran?¡±

    ¡°My subordinates called it ¡®active resupply.¡¯ But what you call it doesn¡¯t matter, right? From that moment on, the Dawn Army waspletely unhinged. They looted and burned Kran¡­ and then, a few days ago, the king of Kran returned.¡±

    ¡°Returned? What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°Well, it seems Kran¡¯s king was a policyholder of some kind of death insurance. A follower of the Codex of Light, yet he had death insurance! Does that make any sense?¡±

    Isaac held his head in his hands.

    Kran was a small and neutral city. Despite being a follower of the Codex of Light, the king had tried to maintain neutrality, likely by canceling his insurance before death.

    But this time, he hadn¡¯t had the chance, as his own brethren had ughtered his domain.

    Thus, Kran¡¯s king returned from the afterlife, this time leading his fellow followers.

    This was the ssic way the Immortal Order expanded its influence beyond its borders. It was no surprise, considering they had used simr tactics to try to overthrow the Kingdom of Elil.

    What was shocking was the carnage wrought by Ciero¡¯s Dawn Army.

    ¡®¡­Then again, even in real history, Crusaders sacked Constantinople. There¡¯s nothing surprising about a hungry, frenzied mobmitting atrocities anywhere.¡¯

    Isaac sighed and continued his questioning.

    ¡°So, does this mean the entire Dawn Army is dead and only this handful remains?¡±

    ¡°No, of course not! Most of them seem to have fled, but a significant number are still in Kran. They¡¯re bravely holding their ground, fighting off the undead forces.¡±

    Isaac could bet that the ¡°undead forces¡± they were fending off were, in fact, the Dawn Army members Ciero had led there. Yesterday¡¯s allies, now fresh zombies, were crashing upon them, and the ones left in Kran could not have been in their right minds.

    ¡°Wait a minute. Then why are you here?¡±

    ¡°Oh, well, that¡¯s¡­¡±

    Seeing Ciero trail off, Isaac reflexively swung his fist.

    Ciero copsed with a scream, his nose bone crushed instantly. Isaac was a bit surprised at how fragile the Nephilim¡¯s nose was, but it didn¡¯t make him think twice about holding back.

    ¡°You abandoned your subordinates and got trapped in that warehouse, didn¡¯t you? Am I wrong?¡±

    Isaac¡¯s words were nowpletely devoid of any courtesy.

 Chapter 306:

    Hearing the scream, Ciero¡¯s followers rushed over, but upon seeing Isaac¡¯s terrifying expression, none of them dared to approach. If Ciero¡¯s charisma worked on them, then it was only natural that Isaac¡¯s did too.

    ¡°You led all those people to their deaths, and instead of dying alongside them, you ran away to save your own skin? Is your life really that precious? How valuable is that body of yours?¡±

    Isaac grabbed Ciero by one ear and yanked hard.

    The top of Ciero¡¯s ear tore slightly, and blood trickled down. Isaac could have ripped it off entirely, but he held back just enough to inflict pain.

    Ciero screamed and pleaded for help from his subordinates.

    Finally, one man couldn¡¯t take it anymore and tried to step forward.

    ¡°Sir Holy Grail Knight, Priest Ciero only¡ª¡±

    ¡°If you keep talking, I¡¯ll rip something off and shove it in your mouth each time you open it.¡±

    Unable to imagine what part of Ciero Isaac might rip off next, the man quietly shut his mouth and backed away. Ciero called out the names of his followers several more times, begging for help, but no one dared to intervene.¡°You may have been followed by a bunch of simpletons, but they were your followers all the same! If you pointed the way, you should¡¯ve gone with them, not run off on your own!¡±

    Isaac was already seething over how Ciero had incited religious fanaticism across the empire and led countless people to their deaths.

    But he hadn¡¯t initially nned on killing Ciero. It wasn¡¯t solely Ciero¡¯s fault. Isaac himself had contributed to the momentum that pushed the Dawn Army forward, making him just as guilty.

    However, if Ciero had stoked the mes of others¡¯ madness, then he should have been willing to perish in that very same fire.

    Not run away like this.

    ¡°W-wait! I was only trying to call for reinforcements from outside to help them¡ª¡±

    Isaac¡¯s eyes turned a deep shade of violet. With the Eyes of Chaos, Isaac saw through Ciero¡¯s lie and tore off a piece of his ear.

    Blood spurted as Ciero let out another scream.

    Isaac didn¡¯t stop. He was so furious that he couldn¡¯t even bother to conceal the violet hue in his eyes.

    Isaac grabbed Ciero¡¯s other ear. Ciero, who had relied on his Nephilim charm to get through most of his troubles, was at a loss, unable toprehend the situation. No matter how much he begged, his pleas were drowned out by the sheer terror Isaac exuded.

    And finally, in this desperate situation, Ciero managed to speak the truth.

    ¡°If I hadn¡¯t done this, I would¡¯ve been dead!¡±

    Isaac froze.

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°If I hadn¡¯t done this, I would have been discovered by the Codex of Light and killed! You know it, too! This was my only way to survive! Surrounding myself with people who liked and worshipped me was my only protection!¡±

    Isaac felt a sharp pain in the back of his head. Ciero¡¯s desperate cries hit ufortably close to Isaac¡¯s own past.

    Isaac, too, had fought to be an important figure within the Codex of Light just to survive in this world.

    ¡°There was nothing else I could do! In an era where everyone was going mad, I had to use that madness, or I would have been swept away and killed too! I just tried to survive with the talents I had within my circumstances!¡±

    ¡°Then you should have died there!¡±

    ¡°Why should I? I just wanted to live! Didn¡¯t you kill people to survive too? Haven¡¯t you done insane things? At least I never killed anyone with my own hands! What about you? You¡¯ve probably killed so many that their bodies piled up like mountains!¡±

    Isaac could feel his anger boiling over.

    Ciero¡¯s words were painfully urate, but fundamentally wrong. Is it only murder if you do it with your own hands? A few words or a single signature can kill hundreds of thousands, and Isaac had only ever faced those who aimed a de at him.

    He had never driven his own people to death and then turned his back on them.

    But it wasn¡¯t about how many people one killed. Isaac found himself rting, even slightly, to Ciero¡¯s desperate attempts to survive, and he acknowledged the good fortune he¡¯d enjoyed in his own journey.

    ¡®I could¡¯ve ended up just like this piece of trash.¡¯

    If Isaac had only focused on finding the easiest way to livefortably in this world, he could have ended up like Ciero.

    Unlike Ciero, Isaac had been chosen by the Nameless Chaos, had cleared the game, and knew how history would unfold, giving him the upper hand.

    But Ciero had nothing but a bloodline that marked him for death the moment he was discovered. In a time overflowing with madness, Ciero had simply learned to use it.

    Isaac understood Ciero.

    But that didn¡¯t mean he was convinced.

    ¡°That¡¯s your excuse? After dragging your followers into a death trap and running away? You piece of garbage. With that kind of mindset, no wonder Ciero¡¯s Dawn Army ended up like this!¡±

    Isaac tore off the remaining ear and punched Ciero hard enough to knock out several teeth. Ciero, now a bloody mess,y sprawled on the ground, unable even to scream. Only faint, rasping breaths escaped from his split throat.

    Though Isaac wanted nothing more than to kill him right then, this was not where Ciero should die. His death woulde at the very site where his followers were being ughtered.

    After ensuring Ciero wouldn¡¯t bleed out, Isaac forced him upright.

    ¡°From now on, you¡¯ll take responsibility for your choices. I¡¯ll make sure of it. You won¡¯t escape. Even if you die, I¡¯ll bring you back to life just so you can face your consequences.¡±

    Ciero¡¯s zed eyes held a faint trace of confusion. Isaac, irritated by the look, pped him again before exining.

    ¡°We¡¯re going to Kran to rescue your scum who are trapped there. Your fate will be decided based on what you do when we get there.¡±

    ***

    Isaac grabbed Ciero by the scruff of his neck and marched toward the scorched wastnd once more. Ciero staggered behind him, following Isaac¡¯s lead with a resigned expression, as if he had given uppletely.

    Isaac was displeased.

    He had never felt such intense disgust since arriving in this world. He wanted nothing more than to unleash his full power and raze the city of Kran to the ground.

    He wanted to erase every trace of Ciero and the legacy he had left behind.

    [The Nameless Chaos watches you.]

    The Nameless Chaos, as if chastising Isaac for his emotional turmoil, sent him a message. Isaac took a deep breath and acknowledged that his anger was irrational.

    The repulsion he felt toward Ciero was like seeing an unforgivable w in his own reflection.

    Isaac understood all too well that Ciero¡¯s only way to survive had been to walk this path, that this was the only way he could utilize his talents.

    And it was precisely because he understood that he was so furious.

    If he hadn¡¯t received the blessing of the Nameless Chaos, if he hadn¡¯t had a kind mentor like Gebel, if the Abbot hadn¡¯t taken care of him and the other orphans with integrity and diligence, Isaac knew he might have ended up just like Ciero.

    Perhaps he was angry because he wanted to deny that possibility.

    [The Nameless Chaos watches you.]

    That was why Isaac was dragging Ciero along¡ªto set things right.

    If Isaac had been given a chance, then it was only fair that this trash had a chance, too.

    Isaac was determined to help Ciero, life or death, just as the Nameless Chaos, Gebel, the Abbot, and all the kind people in his life had done for him.

    He intended to show Ciero that goodwill still existed in this world. That kindness was just as prevalent as malice. The world wasn¡¯t as terrible as it seemed; it just happened to pass him by.

    And in the process, Isaac hoped Ciero would finally disy some sense of responsibility.

    Otherwise, Isaac would be left with an uneasy feeling for the rest of his life.

    ***

    Thump.

    Isaac came to a stop before a massive rocky cliff and the towering ck fortress that loomed above it. Below, a sea of zombies surged and writhed. To the mindless zombies, the walls of the fortress were an insurmountable barrier. Thanks to this, the fortress of Kran was still holding out despite being heavily outnumbered.

    ¡®The real threats are those up there.¡¯

    Isaac carefully observed the few Phantom Steeds hovering in the air. Raising so many undead was usually the work of a Lich, so there was likely one nearby.

    Ciero, who had been shuffling along in resignation, immediately doubled over when he saw the sheer number of undead swarming the area.

    ¡°W-wait a second. Surely you¡¯re not nning to break through the front?¡±

    ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t I?¡±

    ¡°Wait, the dragon¡¯s not here, and your Issacrea Dawn Army isn¡¯t around, and you¡¯re just¡­ Aaargh!¡±

    Isaac dragged Ciero along as he charged straight into the zombie horde. The Luadin Key cut through a handful of zombies like they were scarecrows with the first strike.

    Isaac¡¯s initial attack was immediately detected by the force controlling the zombie horde. As if a single willmanded them all, the zombies surrounding the fortress turned and rushed toward Isaac.

    ¡°Ahhh! Aaaah! Agh!¡±

    Ciero screamed as he unleashed a burst of mes at the zombies charging at him.

    It was a basic ignition miracle. Isaac had expected that if Ciero were impersonating a priest, he¡¯d be capable of performing some miracles.

    Nephilim could steal their parents¡¯ miracles. This confirmed that one of Ciero¡¯s parents, either on his mother¡¯s or father¡¯s side, was an angel associated with the Codex of Light.

    ¡®Let¡¯s hope he¡¯s not my sibling. Oneplicated history is enough for me¡­¡¯

    In any case, Ciero¡¯s frantic resistance and Isaac¡¯s sword aura tore through the undead horde like a hot knife through butter. The mes left a zing trail as they ripped apart the zombie horde.

    But of course, this reckless charge couldn¡¯tst.

    ¡°Graaaargh!¡±

    The zombies, using their overwhelming numbers, began to press down on Isaac. Even if they were weak, the mass of their bodies was no small thing. And no matter how skilled Isaac was, once the pressure of several tons began to weigh on him, he would be reduced to nothing more than a bloody pulp.

    Isaac knew of a particr sword technique suited for just such situations.

    Crack, crunch.

    Forcing his limbs to move against the bone and flesh pressing down on him, Isaac followed a specific sword movement. In an instant, an explosive sound erupted, and the surrounding zombies were shredded apart.

    Boom! The distinctive thunder of Avnche Swordsmanship echoed as if andslide had struck, causing the zombies to ripple like waves in response. The deafening noise not only ruptured Ciero¡¯s eardrums but also attracted the attention of the nearby Death Knights.

    ¡°Ah¡­ ugh¡­¡±

    ¡°Stop acting like an idiot and keep up.¡±

    Isaac grabbed the staggering Ciero, whose eardrums were still ringing, and marched forward. A burning pain had already spread through his palms. And now, even more zombies were swarming toward him, far more than those he had just obliterated with his Avnche Swordsmanship.

    But that thunderous noise had been a clear signal.

    To everyone within earshot.

    Whoosh! A Phantom Steed screeched sharply as it dove toward Isaac. Once again, Isaac used the Hand of the Drowned, but the creature dodged by sharply ascending at thest moment. It seemed the Death Knight that had previously faced Isaac had dutifully reported back.

    ¡°The Holy Grail Knight! It¡¯s really him!¡±

    ¡°The description matches. Report this to Lord Al Retma.¡±

    One of the Death Knights quickly flew off. However, Isaac had no intention of letting it get away.

    Isaac activated the Hand of the Drowned again, faster and with more precision this time. The fleeing Death Knight tumbled out of the air, crashing from its Phantom Steed.

    The Death Knights were stunned by the unprecedented maneuver. The Hand of the Drowned was a technique meant to pull distant foes closer. Although its power was reduced, toppling an opponent was simple enough.

    The fallen Death Knight, its blue mes flickering in fury within its helmet, tried to shout something, but a sudden spear thrust pierced through its abdomen.

    ¡°Priest Ciero!¡±

    It was the remnants of Ciero¡¯s Dawn Army, charging out from Kran¡¯s fortress. They had been holed up inside, but seeing Ciero running toward them and Isaac fighting had spurred them to rush out.

    ¡°Priest Ciero, are you unharmed?¡±

    ¡°We knew you¡¯de back, Priest Ciero!¡±

    Ciero, deafened, couldn¡¯t hear their voices. But he could clearly see them risking their lives to charge forward.

    The Death Knight grabbed the head of the militiaman who had thrust the spear into its side, though it had only managed to pierce its cloak, as no mere militiaman could breach the Death Knight¡¯s armor.

    But before the Death Knight could retaliate, Isaac¡¯s de sliced silently and swiftly, cutting through the creature¡¯s skull vertically.

    Isaac then grabbed Ciero by the scruff and shoved him toward his approaching followers, whispering as he did.

    ¡°There they are¡ªyour subordinates. They¡¯re yourst chance.¡±

    Though Ciero couldn¡¯t hear the words, he could clearly grasp their meaning as he watched the militia throw themselves into battle to protect him.

 Chapter 307:

    Chapter 307:

    ¡°Excuse me, but who might you be, Pdin¡­?¡±

    ¡°Hurry up.¡±

    Isaac urged them to move quickly instead of introducing himself. It was a touching reunion, but this was no ce for sentimentality, surrounded as they were by zombies on all sides. Finally, the Dawn Army huddled around Ciero and began retracing the path they had just cleared.

    Going back through the route they had already fought through wasn¡¯t too difficult, but suddenly Isaac felt an ominous sensation near his heart.

    [The Nameless Chaos watches you.]

    Instinctively, Isaac twisted his body to evade.

    He felt an intangible force gathering where his heart had been and then violently shifting¡ªa death curse aimed at his heart.

    Isaac immediately skewered a nearby zombie with his sword and looked toward the source of the attack.

    A Lich had somehow snuck in among the zombies. To cast a death curse, you needed a clear sight of your target, which meant the Lich had gotten dangerously close.The Lich, shocked by how Isaac had dodged the curse, and even more so by how Isaac had immediately pinpointed him among the countless zombies, hesitated.

    The Lich quickly gave up wasting his precious curse and mounted his Phantom Steed, taking to the sky.

    Isaac scoffed at the sight and continued toward Kran Fortress with the Dawn Army.

    Despite showing his back, there were no further attacks.

    The Death Knights and the Lich, uncertain about how to deal with the sudden appearance of the ¡°Holy Grail Knight,¡± hesitated and watched from above. The pressure from the zombies hadn¡¯t increased; in fact, it had weakened.

    ¡®They think I didn¡¯te alone.¡¯

    Isaac smirked. That was exactly what he wanted them to think.

    A heated and anxious debate was likely unfolding among the Death Knights and the Lich.

    ¡®That¡¯s the Holy Grail Knight of the Issacrea Dawn Army! He couldn¡¯t havee alone!¡¯

    ¡®But we only see him! If we¡¯re going to capture the enemymander, we should strike when he¡¯s isted!¡¯

    ¡®Didn¡¯t you see the Death Knight¡¯s head get split in one strike? That monster dodged a death curse. Who among us can take him down quickly?¡¯

    Isaac imagined this was the kind of conversation they were having.

    And his guess wasn¡¯t far from the truth.

    The undead of the Immortal Order preferred long-term strategies that were careful, sturdy, and sure. In such a sudden situation, it was wise to assess the scenario rather than take risks.

    More importantly, this location was far from the Immortal Order¡¯s territory. They wouldn¡¯t want to engage in an unnned battle.

    ¡®The Immortal Order deploys elite forces in small numbers.¡¯

    For a human army, deploying small elite forces is no simple task.

    If there¡¯s a knight, there¡¯s also a horse, squires, and a supply unit to carry provisions.

    But the Immortal Order is different.

    There is no concept of ¡°supply,¡± and their numbers can be easily bolstered by ¡°local recruitment.¡±

    It¡¯s convenient, but it also means that if the few elite units¡ªnamely, the Death Knights and the Lich¡ªare defeated, the battle ends immediately.

    Zombies that lose control be sluggish and less aggressive. It would be absurd for them to risk being overpowered while trying to capture Isaac. And if they drove the zombie horde into battle, they would lose their wall of protection against the potential threat of the Issacrea Dawn Army lurking nearby.

    In other words, they couldn¡¯t recklessly attack Isaac.

    No one in their right mind would charge into this mass of undead.

    But the madman was right in front of them.

    As a result, Isaac gained easy ess to Kran Fortress.

    The Death Knights quietly watched him.

    ¡®Well, it¡¯s not foolish.¡¯

    If Isaac had trulye alone, it would only add the strength of one pdin, but if arger force was hidden, it was wise to conserve their strength. Adding Isaac alone wouldn¡¯t change much in this overwhelming sea of undead.

    Kran Fortress still seemed like a small boat caught in a raging storm.

    ***

    After finally reaching the fortress, Ciero, overwhelmed by relief, copsed in the middle of the path, gasping for breath. Ciero¡¯s Dawn Army surged forward at the sight of their leader.

    They gathered around Ciero, touching his hands and feet as tears streamed down their faces.

    ¡°Priest, you were hurt so badly for our sake¡­¡±

    ¡°We knew you¡¯de back, Priest! I kept saying you would bring reinforcements!¡±

    ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m sorry for doubting you. Priest, you¡¯re so badly injured¡­¡±

    Of course, most of Ciero¡¯s injuries were from Isaac beating him. When they charged into the zombie horde, the worst Ciero had suffered was torn clothes. But to his followers, the wounds looked like injuries Ciero had sustained while trying to bring back a savior to help them against the undead.

    Ciero, whose eardrums were still damaged, couldn¡¯t hear their words, but he could sense the atmosphere. At the very least, it wasn¡¯t one of resentment.

    And so, Ciero couldn¡¯t lift his head.

    ¡®So he does know shame.¡¯

    Once the crying and wailing subsided, some members of the Dawn Army turned their gaze toward the ¡°savior¡± who had fought valiantly among the countless zombies. The first to approach was a scruffy, hardened old man who didn¡¯t seem to have lived an ordinary life.

    ¡°Pardon me, but are you Isaac Issacrea?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°I thought so. I¡¯ve heard much about your great deeds and reputation.¡±

    The old man bowed deeply, showing his gratitude. Others around him also quickly offered thanks to Isaac, some even kneeling and crying.

    They seemed to view him as their savior.

    ¡®Can¡¯t imagine they¡¯ve heard much good about me.¡¯

    Isaac hadn¡¯t been particrly kind to those who joined Ciero¡¯s Dawn Army. He saw them as a group willingly marching to their deaths, and they often caused trouble around his territory.

    There were more than a few times that Ciero¡¯s followers were beaten down by the Traelgul in the mist, so their reputation was more infamous than famous. Rumors had spread that the territory harbored demons because of them.

    But the old man showed none of that suspicion. Instead, he courteously led Isaac further into the fortress, tended to the wounded Ciero, andmanded the fortifications with a practiced hand.

    ¡®This old man must be the second-inmand or the real power behind the group.¡¯

    Ciero clearly didn¡¯t have the capability to manage the organization, so it seemed likely that this old man was the one wielding real control.

    ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡±

    ¡°Call me Devan.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s the situation in the fortress?¡±

    Isaac asked as they walked. Devan, looking weary, mumbled under his breath.

    ¡°It¡¯s not good. Our food storages were burned, zombies fell into the wells¡­ and with Death Knights flying overhead all night, many haven¡¯t slept properly.¡±

    Devan pointed beyond the walls of the fortress.

    ¡°The zombie horde out there was originally half that size. It grew after those who tried to escape were turned into zombies. Ever since Priest Ciero went to¡­ ask for reinforcements, the numbers have surged.¡±

    Since Devan had been close to Ciero, he likely knew that Ciero had fled, and he could see that Isaac had forcibly brought him back. But seeing Isaac as a ¡®savior¡¯ was still hard to fully believe.

    Devan stopped briefly to ask.

    ¡°¡­Pardon me, but did youe here alone, Holy Grail Knight?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°And where is the famed Issacrea Dawn Army¡­?¡±

    ¡°They are each carrying out their assigned tasks.¡±

    ¡°¡­Then, could you perhaps use your renowned ¡®Angel-ying Swordsmanship¡¯ to deal with the zombies out there¡­?¡±

    Where in the world did they get that sacrilegious and sphemous title? It was undoubtedly the work of some malevolent figure intending to nder Isaac. It wouldn¡¯t be surprising if it were part of the Red Chalice¡¯s schemes.

    ¡°There¡¯s no such crazy swordsmanship. And I can¡¯t take them all on by myself.¡±

    ¡°¡­I see. Then why did youe here?¡±

    Though Devan didn¡¯t directly ask if Isaac hade to die, his question carried a simr implication. Isaac pointed at Ciero, who was being dragged along, and answered.

    ¡°I¡¯m here to find a grave for him.¡±

    He then turned to Devan with a cold expression.

    ¡°To be honest, I don¡¯t particrly like any of you.¡±

    Devan¡¯s face stiffened. He knew all too well that their reputation was poor, not just with Isaac but with most people in the empire.

    But knowing it and hearing it said to your face were two different things.

    ¡°You probably know why. Neither you nor Ciero are worth saving. Frankly, it wouldn¡¯t matter if you died here. In fact, it might be more beneficial if you did. But if you leave behind corpses, it¡¯ll be a hassle, so maybe burn yourselves andmit mass suicide. Jump into the well. I¡¯ll even put the lid on for you.¡±

    ¡°What are you saying¡­?!¡±

    ¡°But I¡¯ve already decided to give Ciero a chance. If that¡¯s going to happen, you¡¯ll have to help as much as possible.¡±

    Isaac nced around at Devan, Ciero, and the surrounding Dawn Army members.

    ¡°You¡¯ll either all die together or live together. It¡¯s one or the other. I¡¯m just a neighbor who happened to stumble upon you. But this coincidence will only be a brief stroke of luck unless you make it your own miracle. Whether this bes a miracle or not is now up to you.¡±

    ***

    The feared ¡®Codex of Light army that the Holy Grail Knight might have brought¡¯ never arrived. Realizing they had been deceived, the Death Knights grew furious, and their air raids became more aggressive than before. That very night, the Dawn Army was introduced to the unfamiliar concept of ¡°bioweapon airstrikes.¡±

    Boom, boom! Zombies rained down from the sky, crashing onto roofs and the ground with deafening noises. Most were smashed to pieces upon impact, but those that survived were barely capable of moving. The uracy was poor, and they didn¡¯t manage to hit any of the soldiers on the walls.

    But morale was certainly plummeting. And it was stirring up anger among the remaining residents of Kran.

    ¡°At this rate, we¡¯ll have a revolt on our hands.¡±

    Ciero¡¯s Dawn Army had killed Kran¡¯s king and seized the fortress, but they hadn¡¯t resorted to mass ughter against the residents, even though they had looted them.

    The residents were terrified of Ciero¡¯s army and had kept quiet, but now that the undead were attacking relentlessly, it was likely that some would suggest killing the Dawn Army and surrendering instead.

    ¡°So, what do we do?¡±

    Ciero, who had regained his hearing through a miracle, looked at Isaac for guidance.

    He watched the Death Knights flying overhead, tossing zombies from their corpse-filled sacks like twisted versions of Santa us.

    ¡°Why aren¡¯t theying down? It¡¯s not like they¡¯re scared of our soldiers.¡±

    If the Death Knightsnded their Phantom Steeds on the walls, they could crush the defenders in an instant. They didn¡¯t need toy siege; just killing a few of the Dawn Army would bolster their ranks without any need for encirclement.

    Isaac looked at Ciero incredulously and exined.

    ¡°The fortress of Kran is under a protection miracle. If you don¡¯t enter through an authorized gate, you¡¯ll suffer severe damage.¡±

    Ciero¡¯s expression suggested he had no idea this protection existed.

    He had upied and defended Kran Fortress without even realizing it? Then again, the protection miracle on Kran Fortress was especially powerful, yet obscure, given that it wasn¡¯t in Codex of Light territory. Had he known, Ciero might not have risked his life fleeing.

    It seemed that the chaos each time a zombie crashed to the ground was not just from the impact but also due to the protection miracle. Thus, unless the undead broke the protection or conducted a traditional siege, the fortress would be difficult to breach.

    Both options were hard for the small, elite group of Death Knights. Zombies weren¡¯t exactly skilled in constructing siege equipment.

    ¡°So we¡¯re not easily conquered. But they¡¯re trying to incite a revolt¡­ Devan, how is the Dawn Army managing supplies?¡±

    ¡°Well, we¡¯re using what we initially stole from the warehouses¡­¡±

    ¡°Distribute it all.¡±

    ¡°What? But if we¡¯re to hold out, we must consider a prolonged siege¡­¡±

    ¡°This battle will never be a prolonged siege. The main Dawn Army of the Church forces is approaching, and the Immortal Order knows it. They¡¯ll try to end this before that happens. Release all the hoarded supplies, return what you looted, and punish any wrongdoers. Apologize to the residents.¡±

 Chapter 308:

    Chapter 308:

    Devan¡¯s expression hardened.

    He knew Isaac¡¯s orders were right, but following them could cause Ciero¡¯s Dawn Army to copse. Just as Devan was about to voice his objections, Ciero spoke up.

    ¡°Do it.¡±

    ¡°Pardon? But Ciero, if we do that¡­¡±

    ¡°I said do it. If we do nothing, we¡¯ll die at the hands of the residents likemon thieves. If we do as the Holy Grail Knightmands, at least we¡¯ll die as the vanguard of the Dawn Army he leads.¡±

    Devan¡¯s face was full of reluctance. He asked cautiously.

    ¡°Do you think this will cleanse us of our sins?¡±

    ¡°Who the hell is trying to cleanse their sins here?¡±

    Ciero snapped at Devan, sounding both incredulous and exasperated.¡°This isn¡¯t about survival for all of us! You all need to live for me to live!¡±

    Ciero¡¯s outburst silenced Devan. Isaac noticed the troubled look that flickered across Devan¡¯s face.

    Devan finally nodded, seeming to realize that Isaac and Ciero were right.

    ¡°Understood. I¡¯ll round up those who caused trouble first.¡±

    From Devan¡¯s perspective, it wasn¡¯t an easy decision to make.

    After all, the ones who had caused trouble were the very people defending Kran Fortress. If they saw their own being apprehended, morale could plummet once again. In that case, a rebellion could erupt among the Dawn Army before the residents even got the chance.

    Ciero, aware of this, rose unsteadily to his feet.

    ¡°No, if you go around doing it, there will be problems. Just tell me who they are, and I¡¯ll handle the persuasion.¡±

    Devan nodded, his face still sour.

    After all, they were Ciero¡¯s followers. These were the same people who had rushed out to save him when he was isted in the middle of the undead horde. If anyone could minimize resistance, it would have to be Ciero.

    But Isaac, wary of the situation, apanied Ciero just in case.

    Isaac whispered to Ciero.

    ¡°You¡¯re doing well.¡±

    ¡°¡­I don¡¯t even know if I¡¯m doing the right thing. To the soldiers, it might feel like I¡¯m stabbing them in the back while they fight. That¡¯s probably what Devan¡¯s worried about.¡±

    ¡°The stricter the discipline, the stronger the elite. If they call themselves an ¡®army,¡¯ they must know that militaryw is sacred. And there won¡¯t be as much bacsh as you think. People feel guilt, and when discipline is restored, they findfort even in punishment.¡±

    ¡°¡­You really have a lot of faith in people, don¡¯t you? But you know as well as I do that Nephilim magic doesn¡¯t work all the time. ¡®Persuasion¡¯ needs a pretext. If you force results without any basis, you¡¯ll get pushback.¡±

    Isaac felt that Ciero¡¯s argument resembled how Urbanus manipted people.

    Ciero was right. If you punish soldiers during a battle without giving them a reason, other soldiers will feel that theirrades are being treated unfairly.

    ¡°Then make the pretext. Besides, the troublemakers likely haven¡¯t caused problems just once.¡±

    Isaac rubbed his palm as he spoke.

    ¡°I¡¯m not aiming for petty thieves, anyway.¡±

    ***

    In an isted fortress surrounded by zombies, there were only so many ces to hide looted goods or criminals.

    Devan identified the looters, and Ciero either persuaded or intimidated them into handing over hidden assets. Naturally, there were those who resisted, but with Ciero¡¯s scathing reminder that there was no point in hoarding treasures while on the brink of death, they eventually surrendered.

    Since the Death Knights had no proper siege engines beyond the zombies they dropped from the sky, returning the stolen goods to the residents wasn¡¯t too difficult. By morning, the zombie bombardments had slowed down, giving them some breathing room.

    Of course, some damage was beyondpensation. In such cases, Isaac ordered severe punishment for the offenders.

    ¡°Next.¡±

    The za in front of the fortress gate was crowded with residents who hade after hearing that the Dawn Army would return the stolen goods and punish those who hadmitted crimes. The soldier being called out was bound and dragged forward by Devan. The man looked at Isaac with a dazed expression.

    ¡°Hendrik. Charged with murder, rape, and arson against civilians. His actions have brought great dishonor to the Dawn Army and are crimesmitted against our fellow brothers of the Codex of Light. As such, he is sentenced to death ording to thew.¡±

    Isaac was both a noble and a pdin, so he had the authority to carry out the sentence under imperialw and religiousw.

    And with no ¡°real¡± priests or pdins present, there was no one to contest Isaac¡¯s authority. Even Ciero, who was the only one with the right to object, nodded solemnly.

    ¡°May the Codex of Light guide this lost soul from the darkness into the light.¡±

    As soon as Ciero¡¯s words, which were practically a death sentence, fell, the man realized his situation and began to struggle.

    ¡°Wait, wait! How can you do this?! I worked so hard for you!¡±

    Ciero desperately avoided looking at him. In his mind, he was executing someone who had followed him faithfully, and the turmoil was clearly written on his face.

    When Ciero continued to ignore him, the man turned and screamed at the other soldiers.

    ¡°You¡¯re all the same! How many of you are without sin?! You all came here thinking you¡¯d get a piece of the action, didn¡¯t¡­ Ugh!¡±

    Devan punched the man, who was still being dragged, across the face. Once, twice¡ªthe man¡¯s face quickly became a bloody mess, silencing his protests.

    Isaac stopped Devan before he killed the man. Execution had to be carried out without personal feelings involved. The man looked at Isaac and mumbled something.

    But Isaac didn¡¯t bother to listen to his words. Instead, he prepared to swing his sword. Turning to Ciero, who stood beside him, Isaac whispered.

    ¡°Ciero, keep your eyes open. Whatever happens, you have to witness this.¡±

    ¡°¡­Does it really have to be this way? Couldn¡¯t we at least let him die fighting¡­?¡±

    ¡°Do you want to add one more enemy to our ranks? There must be a clear distinction between those executed under militaryw and those who die gloriously on the battlefield. Penal units and convict units are trash. Such practices make honorable service feel like a punishment.¡±

    Isaac was neither a warmonger nor a military enthusiast.

    His words were closer to a philosophy of governance. Those who risk their lives for others deserve respect. If soldiers are reduced to paying for their crimes, the soldiers beside them will feel they, too, are there simply because theyck connections or power. It¡¯s disastrous for morale.

    As soon as Ciero finally lifted his head and met the man¡¯s eyes, Isaac swung his sword, beheading the man in a single stroke. The lifeless body was quickly collected by other soldiers and set aside to be burned before it could rise again as undead.

    This was thest execution. More than twenty soldiers were executed that day alone. The soldiers silently moved the bodies, and Ciero himself set them aze.

    Fwoosh!

    The oil that had been generously spread around caught fire, fueled by the miracle Ciero had performed, and zed fiercely.

    The burning mes and intense heat etched themselves into the eyes of the soldiers and the residents.

    It was a kind of signal fire.

    This fire dered that Ciero¡¯s Dawn Army would now move in apletely different direction, severing ties with their past.

    ***

    Of course, Isaac didn¡¯t entertain any fantasies that burning some criminals would suddenly transform these ragtag soldiers into elite troops. Ciero might be imagining such things, but the world doesn¡¯t work that way.

    ¡®At the very least, they should realize they¡¯re not just a band of thieves.¡¯

    Isaac hoped they could revive the spirit they had when they first joined the Dawn Army, the sense of noble purpose and the dreams of glory that had driven them. That alone would be the best oue Isaac could hope for.

    Isaac secretly observed the soldiers through the Eye of Chaos. There were about 5,700 soldiers within the fortress. While he couldn¡¯t check all of them, roughly one in six appeared to resent Isaac¡¯s ruthless executions.

    From their perspective, a stranger had rolled in and disrupted what they had thought was a ¡°good¡± journey.

    Two out of every six, however, seemed to anticipate a new and ¡°real¡± Dawn Army, just as Isaac had hoped.

    These were the ones who had tried to maintain some level of decency, even when the Dawn Army had descended into little more than a band of brigands. Despite being overshadowed by those who said, ¡°Everyone¡¯s doing it,¡± and ¡°Who¡¯s without sin?¡± there are always those who strive to keep their conscience intact in any group.

    The remaining three soldiers were¡­ well, they simply had no strong opinions. They just wanted this damned campaign to end so they could go home, were too scared, or were just too exhausted to care, behaving ording to the situation around them.

    They might seem the most pathetic, but they were the mostmon.

    Isaac staged this not-quite-a-show for these ordinary people. If their environment turned virtuous, they would follow suit.

    ¡®Is it time yet?¡¯

    Isaac continued to watch the group that led the Dawn Army¡¯s atmosphere. Though possibly the smallest faction, they were the most extreme and barbaric, often muddying the overall mood with their actions.

    Isaac¡¯s true target was them.

    However, he also needed to keep an eye on external threats. The Immortal Order, aside from its undead bombardments, still hadn¡¯t made any significant moves. That could only mean they were hiding something, waiting to spring it at the right moment.

    ***

    ¡°Have you not made up your mind yet?¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    Lich Al Retma pressed Batenna Kran, the new follower of the Immortal Order and former king of Kran.

    Batenna Kran had be a member of the Immortal Order ording to his contract, which stipted that his soul would be surrendered after death. With his decaying body falling apart, the human part of him was all but gone.

    Nevertheless, Batenna had not fully embraced the Immortal Order. He had not converted by choice but had been murdered unexpectedly, losing his chance to break the contract.

    ¡°We¡¯vee from afar to help you reim yournd and exact revenge because of the contract you made with His Majesty the Immortal Emperor. Yet you still treat us like invaders,¡± the Lich said, clearly frustrated.

    ¡°The ones who killed you and invaded your territory are the beggars of the Codex of Light. They act righteous but will use any means against those not on their side. Judging by their recent actions, they¡¯re merciless even to their own followers. And yet, you still wish to protect them?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t care how many of those scumbags die,¡± Batenna Kran snapped, clearly displeased.

    ¡°What worries me is that revealing the secret passage will make Kran a permanent territory of the Immortal Order. The Order could upy the fortress anytime through that passage.¡±

    Kran Fortress was protected by a powerful blessing, but like all fortresses, it had hidden passages for discreet entry and exit. This secret passage was also marked as a ¡°permitted path.¡± Batenna Kran had escaped through it after being resurrected through his death insurance.

    The Lich gave a dry, spectral chuckle.

    ¡°The king of Kran has joined the Immortal Order, so it¡¯s naturally Immortal Order territory, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°My child is still alive. The heir of Kran is now that child, so thend doesn¡¯t belong to the Immortal Order yet.¡±

    The Lich tapped his bony fingers against his jaw. As a priest of the Immortal Order, he could forcefullypel this arrogant king who had already pledged his soul to the Immortal Realm.

    But the Lich had once been a follower of the Codex of Light. Out of respect for the devout former king of Kran, he chose not to use coercive means. Instead, he recalled an old saying:

    The most painful apostasyes from the most devout followers.

    The Lich opened a book created by a miracle, the pages emitting a cold, blue aura.

    Flipping through the pages of the ¡°List of the Doomed,¡± the Lich caught Batenna¡¯s eye. Pointing to a specific line with his thin finger, he murmured.

    ¡°Lehena Kran. Scheduled for death.¡±

    Batenna¡¯s sole remaining eye widened, trembling. With no facial muscles left to betray his emotions, the Lich casually continued.

    ¡°The time is tomorrow. Cause of death¡­ burns.¡±

    It was a statement that left no room for choice.

    As Batenna was not a priest, he couldn¡¯t read the book, leaving him unable to confirm the truth of the Lich¡¯s words. But if he didn¡¯t reveal the secret passage, the Lich could easily ¡°fulfill¡± that prophecy. After all, it didn¡¯t specify who would do the killing.

    Ultimately, Batenna Kran had no choice but to speak.

 Chapter 309:

    Chapter 309:

    Isaac managed to stabilize the public sentiment in Kran Fortress by returning the looted goods and severely punishing the criminals. However, there was an even simpler and more effective method: aligning with the legitimate local leadership.

    People have a psychological inertia; they don¡¯t want the established order to copse.

    If Kran had a leader that Isaac could have persuaded to join his side, he wouldn¡¯t have had to work so hard to control the public¡¯s anger and prevent a revolt. Unfortunately, the king of Kran was now an undead outside the fortress, so Isaac had to bring in some moral justification.

    Isaac had considered alternatives.

    ¡°Kran¡¯s royal bloodline?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Batenna Kran must have had sons or daughters, right? Don¡¯t tell me they were all captured and killed. Or perhaps they escaped with their father?¡±

    Ciero looked puzzled at Isaac¡¯s question.

    ¡°Well, I haven¡¯t heard of anything like that, but I think there was a brother and sister.¡±

    In the game, Kran Fortress was just a minor waypoint, only memorable because of its unique blessings, not because it was a significant strategic location.Isaac remembered the king but not his children in detail.

    After pondering for a moment, Isaac spoke up.

    ¡°If the children aren¡¯t dead, Batenna Kran wouldn¡¯t have taken them to the Immortal Order. Very few people are brave enough to bring their living children to that ce.¡±

    Isaac quickly changed his phrasing; he had almost said ¡°no one¡± but remembered Ang, and the thought of her caused him to adjust. After all, it was because of her that he had rushed toward Odrif.

    Isaac suddenly found himself missing the mercenaries and bandits that the Golden Idol Guild had sent relentlessly. If they were here, they could easily disrupt the Immortal Order.

    ¡°There¡¯s a chance that someone among the residents is hiding them. Check with the servants, maids, or soldiers who worked at the pce.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re nning to take them as hostages?¡±

    Ciero looked at Isaac as if he were contemting something monstrous, and Isaac felt a gap between them.

    He shook his head.

    ¡°That¡¯s not my intention, but¡­ it¡¯ll inevitably look that way. But if we want to prevent the undead from swarming in through the secret passage, we need to catch them and show, ¡®Your children are safe.¡¯ We need to keep Batenna Kran from crossing the line.¡±

    ¡°A secret passage?¡±

    Isaac, who was about to dismiss Ciero¡¯s question with a briefmand, felt a headache when he saw Ciero¡¯s perplexed expression.

    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you haven¡¯t checked for secret passages?¡±

    ¡°Do those¡­ even exist?¡±

    ¡°Of course, they exist! How do you think Batenna Kran escaped after he was assassinated? Did he sneak past the main gates, teeming with Dawn Army members? Fortresses like this always have at least one or two secret passages. Dammit, you didn¡¯t seal them, did you? Move!¡±

    Ciero sprinted off like a horse whipped into action but hesitated and returned.

    ¡°Do we find the children first or the secret passage?¡±

    ¡°¡­Look for the heirs first! This is your chance to use your Nephilim charm to persuade them. I have a hunch where the secret passage might be.¡±

    Ciero ran off again, with Devan following closely, looking conflicted. Isaac quietly watched their retreating figures before turning away.

    ¡®It was worth mentioning the secret passage.¡¯

    It was time to make his move.

    ***

    ¡°Brother, this situation isn¡¯t going well. What do we do?¡±

    ¡°Shut up. Dammit, if he¡¯s a Holy Grail Knight, he should just fight monsters quietly. Why does he have to meddle with small folks like us¡­¡±

    Devan anxiously chewed his nails as he paced around the room. He wasn¡¯t pleased with the current situation.

    When he first discovered Ciero, he found it intriguing. Some of his brothers had dismissed Ciero as a mere fanatical priest, but Devan didn¡¯t think that way.

    Ciero wascking in many aspects, but he had a remarkable talent for incitement.

    Devan, who considered himself adept at reading the times, foresaw that an era of madness and agitation was on the horizon.

    Faith, nations¡ªit didn¡¯t matter. Those who couldn¡¯t band together would be the first to die.

    Devan became a fervent follower of Ciero and willingly joined his cause.

    ¡®It was like that in the beginning. But then¡­¡¯

    Things took an unexpected turn.

    Even Devan found himself influenced by Ciero.

    It was as if he¡¯d tried to deceive others, only to be deceived by his own lies.

    Listening to Ciero¡¯s impassioned speeches, Devan sometimes thought the man might genuinely mean what he said. As the Dawn Army¡¯s madness swept through the empire, Devan even entertained the illusion that Ciero¡¯s Dawn Army was invincible.

    ¡®Things started to go awry from then on.¡¯

    Reality did not unfold ording to Ciero¡¯s eloquent speeches.

    Ciero¡¯s excellent rhetoric did not trante into the ability to manage an organization ormand intelligence. Had Ciero been left to manage the Dawn Army alone, it would have been a sandcastle of a group, gathering people only to copse repeatedly.

    Devan, who had some experience in organizational management, took it upon himself to hold things together with sheer willpower and increasingly desperate measures.

    It started with intimidation, then robbery, followed by looting¡­ It quickly escted to murder, justified by eliminating witnesses or preventing retaliation.

    By then, Ciero¡¯s Dawn Army had turned into an unstoppable monster.

    People incapable of taking responsibility were controlling an organization that was too powerful for them.

    Devan, and even Ciero, were terrified.

    But there was no stopping now.

    If they faltered here, the main Dawn Army would catch up and chastise them, asking, ¡°Why haven¡¯t you moved on?¡±

    After hearing rumors of an angel appearing and annihting an emperor, theirpulsions only worsened.

    But they lost battle after battle.

    Facing Olkan Code¡¯s orcs and undead was far different from extorting the meek and poor in the safe confines of the empire.

    At that point, the Dawn Army began to crumble beyond Devan¡¯s control.

    And that¡¯s when the tragedy urred.

    They killed the king of Kran.

    ¡°We never should have killed the king of Kran¡­¡±

    Someone muttered bitterly, and Devan¡¯s bloodshot eyes red at him.

    ¡°Shut up!¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    The man fell silent, but the resentment in his eyes did not disappear.

    The killing of the king of Kran was not an idental event¡ªit was a deliberate murder.

    Even in a small country, targeting royalty, especially a follower of the Codex of Light, made even Devan¡¯s long-time brothers ufortable. After all, they were still part of the Dawn Army.

    But Devan was desperate.

    He had struggled to secure a base of operations, believing that having a stronghold would allow the army to regroup even if it temporarily fell apart. An organization with a base was fundamentally different from one without.

    However, it was unthinkable to touch the Gerthonia Holy Empire, which was practically territory owned by the Codex of Light.

    Kran Fortress appeared to be the perfect opportunity for Devan. It was a foreign country, a key location along the Dawn Army¡¯s route, and protected by powerful blessings. If Ciero could lead the Dawn Army from this stronghold, it would be much safer to operate the organization. In some ways, it seemed like a secure escape fund for retirement.

    But who could have anticipated that the king had a death insurance contract?

    Afterward, the Death Knights and Lich of the Immortal Order attacked. Most of the Dawn Army, which had been camped outside the city walls, either fled or became zombies. Devan and his faction, who had been relieved to have taken the throne, were now trapped inside the fortress.

    When Priest Ciero fled with a handful of his followers, the charm that had held Devan waspletely shattered, especially when he realized that Ciero hadn¡¯t taken him along.

    ¡®Still, when Ciero returned with the Holy Grail Knight, I thought it was a chance to start over properly¡­¡¯

    Devan bit his lip and struck the wall.

    Isaac already suspected him. Devan had thrown a few of the more extreme members of his group to Isaac as bait. Although he had silenced thest executed soldier before he could say anything incriminating, it hadn¡¯t changed the suspicious looks directed at him.

    Now, there was only one option left.

    ¡°¡­What about the children?¡±

    ¡°Ciero went to find them with some of our men. They¡¯ll be found soon.¡±

    In truth, Devan had already located the secret passage long ago, thanks to the bloodstains that Batenna Kran couldn¡¯t hide when he fled. He hadn¡¯t revealed it for fear that Ciero would run away again.

    Devan muttered with bloodshot eyes.

    ¡°Bring them to me as soon as they¡¯re found. Negotiating with King Kran outside the fortress is our only option.¡±

    ***

    ¡°Yes. You must be Lehena Kran, and you are Helga Kran.¡±

    Ciero whispered as he looked at the small siblings before him. The young girl, Helga, was hiding behind her older brother, but Lehena was ring fiercely at Ciero. Yet both were still cowering behind their maid.

    They looked about twelve and nine years old¡ªold enough to understand everything. The maid had stubbornly denied hiding the royal children, but she eventually relented under Ciero¡¯s calm persuasion.

    ¡°If King Batenna Kran learns that the prince and princess are safe, will he withdraw?¡±

    ¡°Why do you think he hasn¡¯t attacked outright? He¡¯s afraid of hurting the royal heirs. Even if he pledged his soul to the Immortal Order, he wouldn¡¯t want Kran to fall to the undead. Neither do the residents.¡±

    The only way Ciero¡¯s side could sway the residents was with the argument: ¡°Humans are still better than the undead.¡± While some people are drawn to the allure of the undead, it¡¯s still a niche fascination. Most people naturally feel a visceral revulsion toward the undead.

    Ciero extended his hand toward Lehena, but the boy only red and muttered.

    ¡°Murderer.¡±

    Ciero had never killed a living person with his own hands¡ªexcept maybe zombies¡ªbecause he didn¡¯t have the guts. But upon hearing the child¡¯s harsh usation, Ciero found himself unable to utter a single defense. The boy was right.

    Only then did Ciero truly understand.

    The blood on the hands of the Dawn Army was also on his own.

    He was already one of the empire¡¯s most notorious murderers, robbers, rapists, and arsonists.

    ¡®I can¡¯t undo what¡¯s been done, but if I can¡¯t even protect this child, I won¡¯t be able to atone at all. Even having this opportunity is a miracle bestowed upon me¡­¡¯

    Ciero bowed humbly, assuming a reverent posture.

    ¡°I cannot undo my sins, Your Highness.¡±

    Lehena continued to re, skeptical of Ciero¡¯s words.

    ¡°But I swear I will protect both of you with my life.¡±

    Ciero resolved to protect the two siblings no matter what.

    It might be a momentary whim, or perhaps arrogance, but Isaac had risked his life to show kindness to people he had never met before. Surely, Ciero could do at least this much.

    Lehena was still trapped between fear and hatred. But the sincerity of a Nephilim¡¯s appeal was too much for the emotional depth of a child to withstand. In the end, Lehena hesitated, but under the pretense of protecting his sister, he took Ciero¡¯s hand.

    The maid and attendants watching them finally let out a sigh of relief.

    ***

    Ciero led the Kran siblings back toward the fortress.

    Now that the heirs were secured, there might be a chance to negotiate with King Kran. Ciero was already considering releasing the heirs in exchange for a safe escape route for the Dawn Army. As Isaac had pointed out, it might look like they were hostages, but it was better than letting the children get caught in the chaos of war. Zombies wouldn¡¯t spare them just because they were royalty.

    Then, Ciero suddenly realized that the path they were taking back to the fortress was different from the one they had used before. Ciero turned to the two men escorting them and asked.

    ¡°Is this the right way? It¡¯s getting narrower and darker.¡±

    ¡°Ah, this route is quicker.¡±

    Not yet familiar with theyout of Kran, Ciero epted the answer, though he still felt uneasy. It wasn¡¯t a suitable path for escorting children.

    ¡°We should stick to arger road. This one¡¯s too messy.¡±

    ¡°If you prefer, we can take the children. Priest Ciero, you can take the main road¡­¡±

    Ciero¡¯s sense of unease intensified. He subtly pushed the children behind him and spoke.

    ¡°You two have been sticking to my side all this time, and now you want me to go separately? What¡¯s your n? If you don¡¯t exin, I¡¯ll report this to Devan¡­¡±

    The two escorts exchanged awkward nces before suddenly lunging forward and striking Ciero¡¯s face. The nose Ciero had only just managed to mend was smashed again, and he copsed. One of the men drew a dagger and pressed it against Ciero¡¯s throat, whispering.

    ¡°Don¡¯t think about using any miracles. The kids will burn with you if you try anything.¡±

    The children, who had tried to run, were already in the hands of the men. Ciero¡¯s body froze, unable to do anything, and the manughed mockingly as they prepared to leave. In a desperate impulse, Ciero lunged and grabbed the men¡¯s legs.

    ¡°What the¡ª!¡±

    ¡°Take me too!¡±

    The man, startled by Ciero¡¯s sudden move, kicked him away, but Ciero, rolling in the dirt, still clung tightly to his leg.

    ¡°You¡¯re trying to escape! You know the secret passage, don¡¯t you? You¡¯re nning to take the kids as hostages and run! Take me too, you bastards! Take me with you!¡±

    The men exchanged bewildered looks, some of them visibly disappointed. Finally, the one whose leg Ciero clung to spat on him. Ciero remained unmoving, even as the spit hit his face.

    ¡°Well, whatever. Having the priest and poster boy around won¡¯t hurt. Let¡¯s do that.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, thank you!¡±

    Ciero staggered to his feet, following the men. His position among them was now drastically different, but Ciero, covered in filth, didn¡¯t care.

    His eyes remained fixed on the two siblings, his fingers scratching nervously at his ears.

    Praying that Isaac would understand what was happening.

 Chapter 310:

    Chapter 310:

    ¡°What is this¡­? Wait, Priest Ciero?¡±

    Devan¡¯s initial delight at seeing the Kran royal heirs quickly turned to shock when he saw who hade with them. The key was to bring the children without Isaac or Ciero knowing, but Ciero had ended uping along. One of the men who led the abduction hurriedly exined the situation to Devan.

    Devan¡¯s expression shifted from surprise to one of disdain.

    ¡°Of course. This is exactly the kind of person you are. I thought you might have changed after running away anding back, but¡­ ha.¡±

    Ciero, ashamed, kept his head down. He knew that whatever was said, staying near these children was the most important thing. However, Devan still did not trust him and ordered a search of Ciero¡¯s belongings. Finding nothing that could reveal their location, Devan clicked his tongue.

    ¡°If we run into church officials after we get out, it might be useful to have a priest around. As long as he doesn¡¯t get in the way, bring him along.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, thank you!¡±

    Ciero expressed his gratitude, bowing down at Devan¡¯s feet. Devan kicked at Ciero¡¯s hands with disdain still painted on his face.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±¡°We should at least tie his hands, just in case¡­¡±

    ¡°If we run into zombies outside, even a fool like him might be useful. He¡¯ll work hard to survive.¡±

    Devan trusted what he had seen of Ciero¡¯s character.

    Selfish and desperate for self-preservation¡ªthat was Ciero.

    Ciero didn¡¯t bother to deny it. He simply kept his head down, nervously rubbing his ears.

    Devan led the group toward a stairway leading down to the fortress¡¯s inner well.

    There was only one secret passage connecting Kran Fortress to the outside. However, there were multiple paths branching off from that single passage. Even if Isaac guarded the entrance, it was just one of many.

    The well, one of the few not contaminated, was directly connected to the secret passage.

    The aqueduct created alongside the secret passage was dark and damp. Every time groundwater dripped, Devan shuddered from an eerie sensation. His mind was as dark and murky as the tunnel around him.

    As he had expected, the secret passage eventually led to the region where the undead army was stationed. Until they could negotiate with a sentient undead, they would have to fend off the zombies by themselves. Negotiating with zombies was not an option.

    Even if they managed to move to a safe location and escape, what then?

    Joining up with the main Dawn Army at the Holy See was impossible. The Holy Grail Knight had already seen him. Though Isaac was currently trapped in Kran Fortress, based on the knight¡¯s earlier disy of strength, Devan doubted Isaac would be easily defeated.

    They would have to flee to a ce far from the church¡¯s reach. Above all, Devan was sick and tired of the Dawn Army.

    ¡®¡­Is bing a barbarian the only option?¡¯

    A heretic who betrayed his faith finds no sanctuary. To survive where no one knew him, Devan would have to be a barbarian. Ironically, the region most friendly to barbarians in the empire was Isaacrea, ruled by the Holy Grail Knight.

    From the inner circle of Ciero¡¯s Dawn Army to a barbarian in one fell swoop.

    It was a catastrophic fall.

    But Devan soon realized that he could sink even lower.

    ***

    *Swish¡­*

    After walking for some time, Devan noticed that it had be unusually dark. The damp walls that had glistened in the torchlight now reflected nothing, and even the man holding the torch ahead of them was obscured by shadows.

    It wasn¡¯t just darker.

    The sounds of crackling mes, running water, and the faint whimpers of the children were muted, hidden in the darkness. In their ce, strange, profane whispers filled the air. A chill ran down Devan¡¯s spine, and goosebumps prickled his skin.

    ¡°What the hell is this¡­?¡±

    Sensing something wrong, Devan drew his sword. It was an instinctive move that showed his sharp senses, but it waspletely pointless in this situation.

    ¡°Put the sword down.¡±

    Devan felt a sharp pain in the back of his hand and dropped the sword. It ttered loudly as it fell into the aqueduct. His hand bore marks as if it had been bitten by arge beast.

    It was as if the darkness itself had bitten him.

    *Step, step.*

    Footsteps echoed loudly, unnaturally so, in the absence of all other sounds but the eerie whispers. Devan¡¯s heart pounded in his chest. He didn¡¯t need to see the figure to know who it was. Only one person in this city couldmand such a presence.

    A pale face emerged from the darkness, its violet eyes burning.

    Isaac appeared before Devan and his followers.

    Instinctively, Devan¡¯s men drew their weapons¡ªswords, axes¡ªonly to drop them with cries of pain, their hands bitten or even partially severed.

    ¡°I said, put the weapons away in front of the kids.¡±

    After disarming every weapon that could be used for intimidation, Isaac began to approach.

    As faith in Isaac and his abilities grew stronger, so too did the power he could imbue into the Colors Beyond. For ordinary people without holy power, even being surrounded by the colors was enough to shred them like a blender, especially in such a confined space.

    Devan had no idea how Isaac had tracked them down. His eyes btedly fell on Ciero, who, despite being caught in a dire situation, looked ecstatic.

    Realizing that Ciero had done something, Devan lunged desperately at Lehena Kran.

    ¡°Holy Grail Knight!¡±

    Devan seized Lehena by the jaw, and Isaac stopped in his tracks.

    ¡°I might not have a weapon, but I can still twist this brat¡¯s neck! Back off, now!¡±

    Isaac grinned from the shadows. Instead of retreating, he motioned with his chin as if daring Devan.

    ¡°Go ahead.¡±

    ¡°What did you just say?¡±

    ¡°I told you clearly. I don¡¯t care if you live or die. So go set yourselves on fire or throw yourselves into the well. And now, you¡¯ve conveniently gathered in this well to die?¡±

    ¡°Are¡­ are you saying you don¡¯t care if the child dies?¡±

    ¡°If the eldest of the Kran family dies, then the fortress loses its rightful heir. Hmm, how tragic that the legitimate sessors and the scoundrels upying the fortress would disappear together. So, who would be responsible for our fortress now? Oh, look, the Holy Grail Knight happens to be passing by to save us! Holy Grail Knight, please, have mercy on us¡­¡±

    Isaac mocked them, pretending to beg for mercy in a mocking tone before wiping the smirk from his face and ring at Devan.

    ¡°Why would I refuse that? If there¡¯s a reason, please enlighten me.¡±

    Devan¡¯s teeth ttered. It was a response he never expected from the Holy Grail Knight.

    But to Isaac, it was nothing new. The method he used to seize control of the Isaacrea estate wasn¡¯t too different.

    The royal bloodline of Kran was murdered by ruffians, and those ruffians were defeated by the righteous Holy Grail Knight. Thend, left without a ruler, and the residents, left without their lord, turned to the knight for protection with tears in their eyes, and everyone lived happily ever after. Perfect, isn¡¯t it?

    It was only then that Devan realized they had been yed. Perhaps Isaac hade alone for this exact reason. Without cursing or shouting, Devan grabbed Lehena Kran and immediately turned, trying to flee. His movements were so swift that even his ownpanions didn¡¯t immediately realize his intentions.

    ¡®There¡¯s only one way out!¡¯

    To survive against a mad Holy Grail Knight who would kill a child to take Kran Fortress, Devan would have to turn to the Immortal Order. He thought he might have a better chance of survival if he presented Lehena Kran to King Batenna and begged for mercy.

    However, his escape did notst long.

    ¡°You bastard!¡±

    Bang! Devan slipped and fell backward as a hand grabbed him suddenly from behind. His head hit the stone floor hard, and Lehena managed to break free from his grasp.

    ¡°You damned fool, you won¡¯t escape!¡±

    The one who had grabbed Devan was none other than Ciero. With a grip on Devan¡¯s neck, Ciero began to siphon off his power with a miracle, stealing the heat of Urvansus¡ªa miracle he could use somewhat effectively.

    ¡°Aaaaagh!¡±

    Unable to endure the unbearable pain, Devan screamed and thrashed about. Instinctively trying to escape the agony, he jumped into the water-filled channel. But Ciero held on tightly, dragging Devan into the water with him. Even submerged, Ciero¡¯s hands continued to burn with bright heat.

    At some point, Ciero saw a strange hallucination. It felt as though someone gently sped his hands, interlocking their fingers with his. At that moment, the heat intensified even further.

    Devan¡¯s mouth opened and closed as if shouting something, but Ciero couldn¡¯t hear a word.

    The water in the channel bubbled and boiled, evaporating into steam. Within the cloud of vapor, Devan¡¯s body slowly cooked like a pig in a stew.

    ***

    *Fsssshh¡­*

    Ciero finally stood up from the channel after some time, his entire body burning and aching.

    The area was filled with steam, so thick it was difficult to even breathe. At his feet, Devan¡¯s thoroughly cooked corpse sank into the water.

    Remembering the Kran siblings btedly, Ciero looked around in a panic. He worried they might have been scalded by the steam, but fortunately, the two children were safe, standing beside Isaac.

    ¡°Th-thank goodness. I thought someone might have kidnapped them¡­¡±

    Ciero had been so focused on capturing Devan that he had gotten carried away. Isaac said something to him, but Ciero couldn¡¯t make out the words.

    ¡°What did you say?¡±

    Isaac tilted his head, then tapped his ear as if realizing something and spoke louder.

    ¡°It¡¯s the heat. Your ears are gone. Without your outer ears, it seems the sound doesn¡¯t gather properly.¡±

    In fact, Ciero had a safety feature of sorts courtesy of Isaac. Or, perhaps it was more urate to call it a surveince device.

    Since Ciero¡¯s miracles weren¡¯t particrly strong, he couldn¡¯t regenerate his lost ears. Instead, Isaac had given him something¡ªthe Parasite from Beyond.

    Utilizing his ¡°Rat in the Wall¡± ability, Isaac could create bodily organs on his followers. He had used this to give Ciero new ears. They didn¡¯t rece his actual ears but acted as a shell that could help capture sound.

    Naturally, whatever Ciero heard and said could be monitored by Isaac whenever he wanted. This allowed Isaac to keep an eye on Ciero, even when he was leading Devan¡¯s group toward the secret passage.

    But it seemed that the boiling water had cooked the Parasite from Beyond, killing it.

    Ciero knew the miracle was not from the Codex of Light, but he said nothing. His own status as a Nephilim meant he couldn¡¯t question it too deeply. Just as his bloodline tied him to the Codex of Light, he assumed Isaac was connected to some other faith.

    What concerned Ciero more were the children standing next to Isaac.

    Ciero hesitated, thinking it couldn¡¯t be true, but cautiously asked anyway.

    ¡°Are you¡­ going to kill them?¡±

    Isaac looked at him with incredulity.

    ¡°Do you really believe that nonsense I just spouted? Even the kids didn¡¯t buy it. I¡¯m busy enough managing my own estate. I don¡¯t have the time or resources to expand my reach into this distant wilderness.¡±

    Frankly, Isaac would dly ept treasure, but the thought of managing new territory and its people was exhausting. Keeping the residents of Isaacrea fed and secure was already taking a toll on him.

    ¡°More importantly, what¡¯s happened to your hands?¡±

    ¡°Huh¡­? Oh.¡±

    Ciero finally noticed his own hands, now scorched ck as if they had been dipped into a furnace, with veins and nerves glowing like embers.

    rmed, Ciero moved his hands, but fortunately, they still functioned without issue.

    When he raised his hands, the light emanated softly, spreading around him.

    ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m not sure. Miracles seem easier to perform, but¡­¡±

    ¡®Did Ciero have this kind of feature? It¡¯s like¡­ the Eucharist.¡¯

    Even Isaac was baffled by what he was seeing. In all his eight paths to victory, Ciero had never disyed such an ability.

    While it wasmon for devout followers to undergo intense religious experiences that led to miracles or awakenings, Ciero was a Nephilim¡ªnot a true believer¡ªmaking this transformation difficult to exin.

    ¡®Could it be that an angel has intervened?¡¯

 Chapter 311:

    Chapter 311:

    From Isaac¡¯s perspective, angels were creatures utterly devoid of responsibility. They abandoned their offspring like cuckoosying eggs in another¡¯s nest and flying away. But perhaps the angel that sired Ciero noticed what had transpired this time and decided to intervene. There wasn¡¯t time to investigate right now.

    ¡°Speaking of which, where did those thugs go? I don¡¯t see any bodies.¡±

    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s¡­¡±

    Isaac was about to say there was no need to worry. Those men had tried to flee but were killed by the Colors from Beyond on the other side of the secret passage, out of sight of the children. However, he couldn¡¯t say, ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry anymore,¡± because an intense chill began to emanate from the opposite side of the corridor.

    ¡°Ciero, get out.¡±

    ¡°Oh, right! Ah! Agh!¡±

    *Crack, crack!* The waterway began to freeze over from the dark depths, reversing the flow as ice surged back, freezing everything in its path. The freezing cold, smashing and shattering underground water, surged forward and reached Ciero¡¯s location in no time. Ciero barely managed to roll out and onto the passageway above. But the bone-chilling cold persisted.

    *Crack, crunch.* The source of the cold finally revealed itself, breaking through thin ice with a sharp sound.

    ¡°Ack, kaaahh!¡±The corpses of Devan¡¯s gang, who had been killed by Isaac, began to approach, limbs twisted grotesquely. Fresh muscles made them surprisingly fast as they charged forward.

    Ciero, panicking, summoned heat in his hands. To his surprise, a much more intense me erupted than he anticipated, causing him to flinch and fling the fire away reflexively.

    Like a methrower, the wave of fire incinerated the zombies instantly, reducing them to ashes. However, the sudden heat st caused a gust of wind to blow through the underground waterway, filling the passage with acrid smoke.

    ¡°Ciero, don¡¯t use that anymore.¡±

    Isaac hastily stopped Ciero. Uncontrolled intense mes in an enclosed underground space could turn it into an oven or fill it with toxic gas, killing not just Ciero but also the children.

    Despite Ciero¡¯s efforts, the groans of the undead could still be heard from the opposite side of the passage.

    Isaac immediately grasped the situation.

    ¡°It seems King Kran has finally surrendered. Ciero, take the kids and head back. I¡¯ll hold them off here.¡±

    ¡°Ah, got it.¡±

    Realizing he would be of no help, Ciero quickly took the children and fled. Staying would only hinder Isaac.

    Now that he was free of any prying eyes or risk of being nked, the secret passage was the ideal battleground for Isaac.

    ¡°If they shove all the zombies in here, it¡¯s a blessing for me.¡±

    A fierce cold swept toward Isaac once more, but he could fend it off with the options attached to the Luadin Key. Reforged by the Sword of May, the Luadin Key granted its wielder perpetual warmth and vitality.

    ¡°Graaaah!¡±

    Zombies spotted Isaac and charged, screaming. Isaac didn¡¯t even need to swing his sword; he just directed the Colors from Beyond to pierce their skulls with invisible spears. Decayed and weakened bones were even easier to pierce than those of the living.

    ***

    While Isaac was dispatching the zombies with ease, a voice echoed from the darkness.

    ¡°Heh, I suspected, but you really are the Holy Grail Knight. I didn¡¯t expect you to be entrenched in the secret passage already.¡±

    A bluish light glowed from the eyes of a figuremanding the undead¡ªa lich.

    Instead of a greeting, Isaac extended a tentacle from the Colors Beyond, aiming straight for the lich¡¯s head.

    Just as the tentacle lunged, a Death Knight lurking behind the lich moved like lightning, shing the tentacle with a sword. Isaac couldn¡¯t help but be slightly impressed at how skillfully the tentacle, normally resistant to damage, had been severed.

    ¡®Trying to take the easy way out with just a few tentacles was greedy, I admit.¡¯

    The lich, seeing the writhing tentacles dissolving into the Colors, appeared bewildered.

    ¡°What is this¡­ Is this your power? Are you drawing from the remnants of Chaos?¡±

    Isaac saw no need to answer. Now that things hade to this, these undead had to die here and now¡ªagain, this time for good.

    Using this secret passage as their grave would suffice.

    Isaac gathered the Colors Beyond, summoning the ¡®Grasp of the Abyss.¡¯

    A tremendous surge of holy power and a sense of fullness drained away. From beyond the Colors came a bizarre wailing, like the eerie sound of a flute mixed with the ringing of a bell.

    A massive tentacle burst from the Colors,rge enough to fill the secret passage entirely, from top to bottom, left to right.

    Isaac knew this tentacle wasn¡¯t his own. No matter how much it devoured, his own sense of fullness didn¡¯t change.

    He only knew that somewhere beyond, there was an unimaginable, unthinkable creature with countless limbs, and whenever Isaac called, it lent him one of those arms.

    The vast, indescribable predator opened its maw, rushing toward the lich and the Death Knights. The ensuing copse of the tunnel sounded like Kran Fortress itself was screaming.

    ¡°¡­Weep, O Reaper with the Scythe!¡±

    But the lich managed to finish his incantation just before the monstrous entity could devour him. It was a miracle he had prepared to face a powerful opponent like the Holy Grail Knight, but he hadn¡¯t expected to use it so soon.

    As the lich concluded his prayer, something translucent appeared before him. Though its form was barely visible, a giant scythe made of white bone stood out clearly. Without hesitation, it swung the scythe at the charging tentacle.

    *Crack, crack!* The scythe¡¯s de cleaved effortlessly through the Grasp of the Abyss. Teeth, bones, and tough sinew were cut apart with a violent sound. Realizing the pain toote, the creature from beyond the Colors let out a wail and retracted its arm.

    The secret passage was left sttered with a sticky, purplish fluid¡ªthe remains of the Abyssal creature.

    The ¡®Reaper¡¯ summoned by the lich wavered as it surveyed its surroundings, seemingly searching for its summoner. Though it had sessfully severed the Grasp of the Abyss, such a blow was far from sufficient to stop the attack entirely.

    Splitting a bullet in half would still mean the person behind gets hit twice instead of once.

    Among the viscous fluid, the mangled and crushed forms of the lich and Death Knights struggled to reconstitute themselves. However, the thick, gooey substance made it difficult for them to do so quickly.

    The Reaper, swaying, searched for instructions from its summoner. The lich, barely moving a finger, pointed feebly toward Isaac.

    The Reaper¡¯s scythe moved in Isaac¡¯s direction.

    Isaac watched it all unfold.

    [The Nameless Chaos watches you.]

    [The Nameless Chaos warns you.]

    [The Nameless Chaos wishes for you to ¡®survive the Reaper.¡¯]

    [A reward from Chaos awaits you.]

    ¡°Damn it.¡±

    Even before the warning from the Nameless Chaos appeared, Isaac had already cursed under his breath and turned around, fleeing without hesitation.

    ¡®That thing¡¯ was not a monster one could confront. As befits a notoriously difficult and unfair game, asionally there would be an absurd instant-kill event like this.

    This was the miracle known as ¡°Taxes and Death Are Inevitable.¡±

    ***

    ¡°Taxes and Death Are Inevitable¡± is a miracle of the Immortal Order that imposes the two unavoidable aspects of life¡ªtaxes and death. The lich consumes immense faith to summon a ¡®Reaper,¡¯ a designated archangel of death.

    If it were merely a strong and durable creature, Isaac wouldn¡¯t be as terrified. But the Reaper, with its ludicrously overwhelming attack power, was an ethereal entity, impervious to direct attacks. Miracles could temporarily affect it, but trying to fight it was like attacking mist¡ªit had little effect.

    It was an insanely powerful miracle, but it came with three major drawbacks.

    The first condition was that the target had to pose a significant threat to the Immortal Order. Summoning an angel required an opponent of equal standing.

    Unfortunately, there was no way Isaac could argue against this.

    As a Nephilim and a follower of Chaos, he fit the first condition perfectly.

    ¡°Isaac!¡±

    Waiting atop the stairs, Ciero panicked as Isaac emerged, his face pale.

    ¡°Ciero, gather the townsfolk and everyone else¡ªprepare to evacuate immediately.¡±

    ¡°W-wait, are the undead that strong? Maybe if we copse the passage or set it on fire¡­¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not the undead. The zombies aren¡¯t the problem anymore. The lich has been crushed inside, so the zombies will be out of control. We need to get out now.¡±

    ¡°Even if we evacuate¡­¡±

    Ciero looked troubled.

    There were thousands of soldiers and nearly ten thousand residents. Even if Ciero had little knowledge of strategy, he understood it wasn¡¯t easy to move such arge group suddenly.

    ¡°Hurry up! Once we¡¯re out, we¡¯ll figure it out!¡±

    At the moment Isaac shouted, the sealed well cover shattered into pieces, scattering into the sky. From above, a gigantic scythe emerged, dancing in the air as it lunged toward Isaac.

    Isaac reflexively pulled out Kaldwin and blocked the attack.

    *Boom.* Isaac blocked it, but his body was lifted and nearly mmed into a part of the fortress wall. Barelynding on his feet, he gritted his teeth against the tingling pain that coursed through his body.

    ¡®If it weren¡¯t for Kaldwin, my weapon would¡¯ve shattered for sure.¡¯

    Even the Luadin Key wouldn¡¯t have withstood such a blow.

    The only saving grace was that it was possible to block it because the Reaper¡¯s attacks were, thankfully, ¡®physical.¡¯ But he couldn¡¯t keep this up forever.

    Isaac resumed his sprint, running away from the Reaper, which was thankfully slower than his own pace.

    Ciero quickly caught up, asking frantically.

    ¡°Isaac! What is that thing? Is it some kind of new undead? Or is it an angel of the Immortal Order?¡±

    ¡°¡­Something like that!¡±

    The miracle ¡°Taxes and Death Are Inevitable¡± is not something that can be prepared quickly.

    It was likely a miracle that had been prepared over a long time, just in case they ever encountered a crucial figure from the Codex of Light.

    Isaac couldn¡¯t tell whether to be happy or sad that his reputation had spread beyond the desert.

    ¡°Is there any way to deal with that thing? Can¡¯t you use that so-called ¡®angel-ying sword technique¡¯ of yours?¡±

    ¡°Please stop saying things that might offend any angels who might hear. I don¡¯t want to get on their bad side even more.¡±

    ¡°¡­Alright, alright. I¡¯ll start getting everyone ready to evacuate.¡±

    Ciero, noticing that the Reaper was only targeting Isaac, quickly dashed aside to find his escape route. His survival instincts remained sharp.

    The second drawback of the Reaper was precisely what was happening now¡ªit could not make calcted or rational decisions.

    It would simply approach its target and swing its crazily overpowered scythe, indiscriminately attacking without strategy. The pursued would have to keep running until they copsed from exhaustion.

    ¡®But it¡¯s the third drawback that¡¯s the real problem¡­¡¯

    The third drawback was Isaac¡¯s only way to survive the Reaper.

    If the target offered the ¡®tax¡¯ that the Reaper demanded, they would be released from the Reaper¡¯s pursuit. But what the ¡®tax¡¯ was could only be decided by the summoner; the target had no way of knowing.

    It could be something as valuable as the target¡¯s own life, or it could be something unexpectedly mundane if all the summoner desired was the target¡¯s demise.

    The demand couldn¡¯t be impossibly high, so the hinty within the current situation.

    ¡®The Immortal Order wants to take over Kran Fortress.¡¯

    Isaac figured the first potential ¡®tax¡¯ was the fortress itself. His interference had led to this mess, making it a prime candidate.

    Once he managed to escape with the refugees and the Dawn Army, Isaac would test his theory by surrendering Kran Fortress to the Immortal Order.

    Of course, he had no intention of seeking anyone else¡¯s consent for this decision.

 Chapter 312:

    ¡°Everyone, evacuate! Now is the time to escape from Kran Fortress!¡±

    Ciero¡¯s shout echoed as he began running, prompting the people around him to swarm in confusion. It wasn¡¯t just the residents who were caught off guard by his sudden actions. The Dawn Army members, especially those who had acted as Devan¡¯s henchmen, were also disoriented by the abrupt disappearance of their leader and his inner circle.

    ¡°Ciero Priest! What¡¯s going on? Evacuate? But the zombies outside¡­¡±

    ¡°The vile undead attempted to infiltrate through a secret passage and were annihted! However, we cannot know when those rejected by the earth might rise again. Now is our chance to escape from Kran Fortress!¡±

    Ciero¡¯s battered appearance lent his words a convincing edge, and the stigmata-like marks on his hands from dealing with Devan added an eerie, mysterious aura. Yet, rushing out of the fortress where zombies still lurked wasn¡¯t an easy choice.

    ¡°B-but the zombies are still¡­¡±

    As Ciero resisted the urge to p the hesitant soldier, a moment of persuasion arrived without warning¡ªa deafening crash shattered the air as one of Kran Fortress¡¯s towers was severed and copsed.

    The sight of a tower crumbling¡ªsomething that had never happened in the fortress¡¯s long history of enduring wars¡ªsent people screaming and fleeing in terror. Seizing the moment, Ciero shouted once more.

    ¡°Those forsaken by heaven are rising! Run for your lives!¡±The soldier who had been talking to Ciero had already bolted, spurred by the chaos. But Ciero knew he couldn¡¯t simply ignore the threat of the zombies.

    ¡°Dawn Army! Lead the way and clear a path! The zombies have lost their control and are no longer a threat! Everyone, evacuate now!¡±

    The danger of zombiesy in their numbers and coordinated actions. Without control, they were little more than slow-moving, uncoordinated sacks of bones and flesh. Even the ragtag Dawn Army could handle them. However, as Ciero approached the fortress gates, reality started to sink in.

    ¡®Breaking through a wall of thousands of zombies? Even without control, that¡¯s¡­¡¯

    Isaac had insisted that once they got outside, they would be fine, but could Ciero really trust him enough to lead everyone into a horde of zombies?

    ¡®If nothing happens once we¡¯re out there, I¡¯d be leading all these people straight into a death trap.¡¯

    Ciero nced at his scarred hands and the two children clinging to him, trembling.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±

    Now, it wasn¡¯t just the children in Ciero¡¯s hands¡ªit was the lives of everyone in Kran Fortress. If Isaac couldn¡¯t help, he would have to do it himself.

    ***

    *Shiiiiing! Crash!*

    The Reaper¡¯s scythe sliced through the air, tearing apart the fortress wall without mercy. The Kran Fortress, which had stood for centuries through countless wars, was experiencing unprecedented destruction.

    Even withstanding catapults, battering rams, and miraculous bombardments, the walls had never crumbled. But faced with the relentless force from within, they could no longer hold. Isaac could only imagine his neck in ce of the disintegrating walls.

    ¡®This is insane.¡¯

    True to its name as the ¡°Inescapable Death,¡± the Reaper steadily advanced, relentlessly pursuing Isaac. The Reaper moved slightly slower than Isaac at full sprint, so staying ahead wasn¡¯t difficult. But unlike Isaac, who maneuvered around obstacles, the Reaper only focused on the shortest path to its target, demolishing anything in its way¡ªwalls, trees, or people.

    Isaac chose to run along the fortress walls, minimizing civilian casualties. Though it was regrettable to see the historic site destroyed, he had already decided to surrender it to the Immortal, so it wasn¡¯t his concern.

    ¡®Have they evacuated yet?¡¯

    Isaac watched the massive crowd of people spilling out of the city, contemting his next move. Only once everyone was out could he consider surrendering the fortress. Right now, he couldn¡¯t even if he wanted to; the fortress wasn¡¯t his to surrender.

    That¡¯s why he had pressured Ciero to flee. Once the Dawn Army and the respectable townsfolk were out, Isaac would be the only one in control of the fortress.

    ¡®But who do I surrender it to? If I offer it to the Reaper, will that even work?¡¯

    *Shiiiiing! Crash!* Isaac¡¯s brief distraction allowed the Reaper¡¯s scythe to sh right at his feet, cutting off his escape route. Despitecking reason, the Reaper¡¯s pursuit demonstrated a deadly precision,parable to a master swordsman with one single-minded goal.

    The fortress wall began to crumble.

    Isaac lost his footing and fell. The Reaper swung its scythe toward Isaac as he hung suspended in the air. Gritting his teeth, Isaac activated Issac Swordsmanship: The Eight Branches mid-air.

    Without solid ground, his swordsmanship was little more than desperate iling. Yet, miraculously, Isaac¡¯s sword unleashed three shing auras, colliding with the Reaper¡¯s scythe.

    *Scrrrrritch!* A chilling sound echoed as metal scraped against metal. Though the scythe shook off the sword aura, it still managed to strike at Isaac¡¯s head. The sickening crunch of flesh and bone followed, sending a spray of blood into the air.

    Debris and rubble poured down on Isaac as he crashed to the ground.

    Anyone watching would have predicted death, but the Reaper hovered in confusion, failing to understand why it hadn¡¯t yet imed its target.

    Cold air dispersed the dust, revealing the crumbled stone and dirt. Amidst the debris stood Isaac, still alive.

    But his silhouette in the swirling dust appeared subtly different.

    ¡°Hah¡­ I was hoping to just keep running and buy some time.¡±

    The scythe of the Reaper had grazed Isaac¡¯s left face, leaving it half-split open. From the gap, countless tendrils slithered out as if monstrous creatures hidden inside him were seizing the chance to crawl out through the wound.

    Isaac¡¯s eyes, now closer to crimson than purple, were stained with blood-red tears. His emotions¡ªrage, pain, fear, and ambition¡ªall mingled into an iprehensible excess even to himself.

    It was a sight that would terrify anyone, but the Reaper simply moved toward Isaac mechanically.

    Isaac mumbled as if he had expected this.

    ¡°Can¡¯t avoid it? If it can¡¯t be avoided¡­ then, fine.¡±

    In that instant, dark hues surged violently from Isaac¡¯s body. They quickly spread, enveloping both the Reaper and Isaac, creating a ck pir that seemed to obscure them from the eyes of the world.

    Inside, everything was concealed, unobserved, and unrecorded¡ªa ce where even death existed only as a probability.

    The Reaper hesitated in the face of Isaac¡¯s intense, newly unleashed aura. Isaac, no longer hiding his power, began to unleash it without restraint.

    His silhouette twisted and distorted, releasing a strange and overwhelming force.

    ¡°Mr. Tax Collector, would you like to have a chat with my boss?¡±

    ***

    ¡°What is that?!¡±

    The people gasped in horror at the sight of the towering ck pir that suddenly appeared in one part of Kran Fortress. Ciero was equally stunned, but he knew escaping was the priority.

    Besides, the area was where the walls had copsed just moments ago. It was clear Isaac had done something.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it! The Holy Grail Knight is conducting a sacred ritual to cleanse the wicked enemy!¡±

    ¡°A-Are you saying the Holy Grail Knight is using such an ominous darkness?¡±

    ¡°You fool! Darkness is merely the absence of light; shadows are the servants of light, and ashes are but the remnants of a fallen me! Of course, the Holy Grail Knight of the Codex of Light wouldmand darkness as his servant!¡±

    Ciero¡¯s words flowed easily when it came to making excuses, lies, and inciting the crowd.

    While some still found it strange, Ciero¡¯s exnation was convincing enough. After all, this was the knight who had charged in to save them. As long as tendrils didn¡¯t start appearing right in front of them, they had little choice but to believe.

    ¡°C-Ciero Priest!¡±

    A soldier from the Dawn Army, visibly flustered, ran over from the front lines. He was one of those who had gone out first to deal with the zombies outside the opened gates.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on? If it¡¯s the ck pir, the Holy Grail Knight is¡ª¡±

    ¡°T-The ck pir isn¡¯t the problem! The resistance from the zombies is stronger than expected! Escape might be impossible!¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    Isaac had said that the zombies would no longer be under control after the destruction of the Death Knights and the zombies underground.

    ¡®Could it be that some of the Liches or Death Knights survived?¡¯

    It made sense, Ciero thought. It was unlikely that the enemy would throw all their key forces into the underground passage. Keeping one or two behind for emergencies would be the logical move.

    Just as Ciero started to think it was over, a thunderous crash erupted from the gate.

    ¡°Ciero!!¡±

    The voice was so loud it didn¡¯t seem human, reverberating through the entire Kran Fortress.

    Ciero was shocked and confused. Who would be calling for him? The Immortal Order must have known by now that he was nothing more than a figurehead. So, why would they be holding a grudge?

    Then, Lehena Kran, who was standing beside him, started to move forward. Ciero instinctively grabbed him, but he seemed entranced, whispering softly.

    ¡°Father.¡±

    Only then did Ciero realize the one who could control the zombies and have a grudge against him.

    King Batenna Kran of Kran.

    ¡°Ciero,e out! You were weed as a guest, but you pointed your de at me. Now, you will pay for your crime!¡±

    The deafening voice echoed once more, and the zombies outside the gates seized the open opportunity to push forward. Ciero considered closing the gates, but doing so would prevent their escape, as Isaac had instructed.

    Gritting his teeth, Ciero stepped forward. This was his responsibility to resolve.

    All the debts he had ignored and deferred until now were finally catching up with him, with interest. Just as Isaac was facing his own reckoning, Ciero now realized that taxes, like death, were unavoidable.

    Pushing through the Dawn Army soldiers, Ciero positioned himself at the forefront of the zombie horde.

    ¡°Stand back!¡±

    As soon as he stood before the zombie wave, Ciero called forth celestial heat and scattered it in all directions. The Dawn Army soldiers, caught off guard by his sudden appearance, stumbled back from the intense heat.

    Ciero had never once stood at the front lines before. He had always remained at the rear, giving speeches and showing off small miracles of fire.

    But now, he was the unmistakable priest of the Dawn Army.

    Roar! A wave of mes swept over the zombies, reducing more than a hundred of them to ashes on the spot. But in no time, even more zombies filled the gap.

    ¡°Ciero Priest!¡±

    ¡°I will handle this!¡±

    Though his legs trembled with fear, Ciero shouted at the massive horde of undead.

    ¡°King of Kran! Your Majesty Batenna Kran, the jester Ciero has arrived! Weren¡¯t you looking for me?¡±

    Jester Ciero. Ciero knew that discerning, cultured people referred to him as such, mocking his smooth talk and his parlor tricks that captivated the masses.

    Perhaps they were right. Or maybe it was the truth, which was why Ciero wasn¡¯t even angry.

    The jester¡¯s feast was over. Now it was time to clean up the dirty table.

    Thud. Armored from head to toe, Batenna Kran made his appearance.

    The betrayed king.

    For the Immortal Order, the nature of one¡¯s undead form is determined by when and how they joined, as well as their deeds in life.

    A knight bes a Death Knight, a priest bes a Lich.

    So, what does a king be?

    The vast horde of zombies advancing toward Kran Fortress was proof of Batenna Kran¡¯s status.

    ¡°I was betrayed, defiled, and humiliated,¡± Batenna Kran hissed, his rotting breath seething with fury.

    ¡°I will make you just like me. You, who forced me to defile my own kingdom with my hands, will be brought low alongside your followers. You will suffer the same fate as them!¡±

 Chapter 313:

    Ciero gritted his teeth.

    He couldn¡¯t bring himself to say, ¡°It wasn¡¯t me, it was that scum Devan who did it. I knew nothing.¡± Not because of some noble thought that themander bears the sins of his subordinates, but simply because Devan was already buried down in the underground waterway. Besides, it was likely that his excuse would fall on deaf ears.

    Thud, thud. Batenna Kran, now undead, had grown significantlyrger than in life, his body grotesquely swollen. The noise of his footsteps grew louder with every step, and the menacing spiked mace he wielded closed in, ready to smash Ciero¡¯s skull.

    ¡°W-Wait.¡±

    Instead of summoning a grand miracle tobat the undead monster, Ciero opened his mouth to speak. But Batenna only sped up, charging faster. Ciero knew that being bludgeoned to death by that mace might be one way to atone for his sins.

    But he couldn¡¯t let that happen.

    ¡°I-I have your children with me!¡±

    Just as the mace was about to crush his skull, Ciero¡¯s desperate shout made Batenna pause. His rotting eyes, ring through his helmet, bore into Ciero with a fiery intensity.

    ¡°You bastard¡­ Are you using my children to threaten me?¡±The watching Dawn Army soldiers were horrified by Ciero¡¯s words. Even after all their past atrocities, none of them had ever considered something as vile as killing a father, stealing his wealth, and then, when he returned as an undead, using his children to threaten him.

    Ciero realized btedly that his words had given the wrong impression and frantically waved his hands.

    ¡°No, no! Your children are still alive! They¡¯re inside the fortress!¡±

    ¡°What? Then¡­¡±

    ¡°I¡¯vemitted crimes worthy of death, and I¡¯ll pay for them if I must! But the inside of Kran Fortress is in chaos! Do you see that ck pir over there?¡±

    Ciero pointed to the dark pir visible even from outside the fortress. Batenna Kran, already disturbed by the ominous sight, listened more intently to Ciero¡¯s words.

    ¡°A creature summoned by the Immortal Order is wreaking havoc. The Holy Grail Knight is fighting it off, but he¡¯s not confident it can be contained. If that creature destroys the fortress walls, will your children be safe? Help us get them out first.¡±

    ¡°¡­I¡¯ll smash your skull first, then consider it.¡±

    Batenna red at Ciero with terrifying eyes, and just as Ciero bit his lip again, one of the Dawn Army soldiers stepped in front of him.

    Batenna¡¯s face twisted with anger.

    ¡°What are you doing? How dare you stand in my way!¡±

    ¡°P-Please don¡¯t harm Priest Ciero,¡± the young soldier stammered, trembling as he spoke.

    ¡°If Priest Ciero were truly evil, he would have brought your children here to force you to clear the path. Or he could have used the mes that just swept away the zombies to fight you. But he couldn¡¯t bring himself to do it, which is why he¡¯s trying to talk to you.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re telling me Priest Ciero is a good man?¡± Batenna burst into a derangedugh, the sound dark and pitiful.

    ¡°I have fourteen stab wounds on my back, one on my neck, and seven on my legs from your daggers! Do you judge morality by how many times a guest can stab their host?¡±

    The young soldier fell silent, unable to respond. Yet, one by one, other soldiers timidly stepped forward to stand beside him.

    Another soldier spoke up.

    ¡°There must be some misunderstanding. Those whomitted atrocities inside the fortress have returned the stolen goods and been punished. Some have even been executed. So¡­¡±

    Batenna Kran stared at the young soldiers before letting out another low, mocking chuckle.

    ¡°Now that I think about it, why am I even talking to you? You¡¯re all part of the Dawn Army, the same ones who killed me. It¡¯s criminals defending criminals. Fine, then¡ªdie with your precious Priest Ciero.¡±

    As Batenna Kran raised his mace high once again, Ciero summoned mes to his hands.

    He felt guilty, but on second thought, it wasn¡¯t worth dying for sins he hadn¡¯t directlymitted.

    Thunk! But before Ciero could use his mes, a crimson feathered arrow shot through the air and pierced Batenna Kran¡¯s hand. The mace fell with a deafening crash, and a massive, mottled shadow loomed overhead.

    ¡°It¡¯s a dragon!¡±

    One of the Dawn Army soldiers cried out in terror.

    Ciero recognized the dragon immediately. A momentter, the earth-shaking roar of trumpets filled the air.

    From the distant rear, knights tore through the ranks of the zombie horde, cleaving them apart. Their banners, fluttering above their heads, were among the most talked-about in recent times.

    They were the banners of the Kingdom of Elil and the forces of Issacrea.

    ***

    Thud-thud-thud!

    The Elil knights¡¯ horses pounded the wastnd like drums, charging so fiercely that even those far away could feel the ground tremble.

    A bit behind the frontline, Edelred, guarded by the Knights of Aldeon, spotted the people gathered outside Kran Fortress. He quietly lowered his visor and grasped the royal sword, Kaldbruch, in his hand.

    ¡°Rescue the Ciero Dawn Army.¡±

    His voice was soft, barely audible amidst the thunder of hooves, but Commander Delfric Hilde, who apanied him, amplified the king¡¯smand with a powerful shout.

    ¡°Rescue the Ciero Dawn Army!¡±

    ¡°Advance! Reach the Ciero Dawn Army at once! Push forward immediately!¡±

    Themander¡¯s order was repeated by the knights, each putting their unique spin on it, and by the time it reached Reyna Hilde, it had morphed into, ¡°Kill everything but the living ones!¡± Her subordinates found themand somewhat contradictory, but it wasn¡¯t hard to understand¡ªzombies surrounded them on all sides.

    Edelred could feel the power of Kaldbruch coursing through him, seeping into his veins as the angelic force surged within. His breath carried the scent of the forest, and his eyes burned with the radiant heat of the sun.

    Without hesitation, Edelred spurred his horse forward.

    Crash! The power flowing through Kaldbruch seemed to extend to his mount, crushing zombies underfoot as if they were nothing more than twigs. To Edelred, cutting through the horde felt no different from slicing through air.

    Despite Edelred¡¯s sudden rush, his escorting knights quickly adjusted, moving in to cover him and maintain formation.

    With Edelred at the spearhead, the Elil forces sliced through the zombie horde like scissors tearing through paper. King Kran, caught off guard by the rear attack, had no time to prepare.

    Edelred pushed forward, not with a battle cry, but with the memory of Isaac¡¯s request that had brought him here.

    ¡°Master, I¡¯ve arrived.¡±

    The Kran Fortress was not originally part of the nned route for the Elil Kingdom¡¯s advance. They had not yet heard of the impending destruction of the Ciero Dawn Army.

    However, a few days earlier, Hesabel had arrived riding Nel and delivered Isaac¡¯s message. Isaac had requested that theye to Kran Fortress and, curiously, asked them not to intervene until the people inside the fortress emerged on their own.

    Edelred found the request strange, but it was from his mentor, so he didn¡¯t hesitate and changed his advance route.

    Within a day of arriving near Kran Fortress, a ck pir had risen, and the fortress soldiers were voluntarily opening the gates and rushing out¡ªa turn of events that confirmed to Edelred that this was the moment Isaac had spoken of.

    ¡°Repel the unholy ones!¡±

    At the king¡¯smand, the knights charged forward with fierce shouts. The advanced swordsmanship of the knights grew stronger when used en masse. As Elil¡¯s distinctive battle fervor and miracles spread across the battlefield, the Immortal Order was reminded of Elil¡¯s formidable might for the first time in a long while.

    Regrettably, the only ones experiencing this power were the zombies, mere fledglings in the ranks of the undead, and those outside Kran.

    ¡°These damn elf-loving kingdom dogs!¡±

    Batenna Kran shifted his focus from Ciero to Edelred. Ciero was stunned by the sudden change in events but realized that this was the ¡°it will work out somehow¡± moment that Isaac had foretold.

    ¡°Stop those war-crazed invaders!¡±

    Batenna Kran turned his attention from Ciero to the Elil Kingdom¡¯s army. Perhaps it was easier for him to deal with the straightforward choice of fending off ¡°foreign invaders¡± than to confront the moreplex and unsettling matter of Ciero. Still, he forced himself to deny this truth.

    ¡®I¡¯ll crush the Elil Kingdom forces first, then Ciero.¡¯

    But deep down, Batenna knew.

    His pitiful zombie horde wouldn¡¯t be able to topple even a single one of Elil¡¯s elite knights. Thus, without hesitation, he hefted his mace and charged.

    At the forefront, Edelred noticed the hulking, heavily armored figure charging toward him. Recognizing the opulent armor that a king would wear, Edelred adjusted his posture and came to a halt. As Edelred suddenly stopped, Batenna also came to a stop and stared at him.

    Edelred lifted his visor and spoke first.

    ¡°I am Edelred Aldeon, son of Alfred, lord of knights, bearer of Kaldbruch, and king of Elil. And you are?¡±

    Introducing oneself on the battlefield was a customary practice among those of noble birth. This tradition was clearly defined in Elil¡¯s code of conduct.

    Batenna Kran found it odd but couldn¡¯t help but smirk.

    ¡°I am Batenna Kran, ruler of Kran Fortress, master of the Rehe ins, and king of Kran. It¡¯s an honor to meet the king of Elil.¡±

    ¡°The honor is mine as well.¡±

    Edelred dismounted to match his opponent¡¯s status. If Isaac had seen this, he would have sighed, but Edelred had no way of knowing that. Despite his disdain for chivalry, Edelred had grown up observing and practicing these formalities, so he found nothing strange about them.

    To Batenna Kran, though, all of this felt strangely refreshing.

    Having been betrayed, disgraced, and meeting a miserable end, Batenna felt as if Edelred¡¯s actions were rewriting his final moments into something noble.

    No longer was Batenna Kran the betrayed and backstabbed king meeting his end. Now, he was a valiant defender of his fortress, dying gloriously on the battlefield.

    Locking eyes with Edelred, Batenna charged at him with a heartyugh.

    Edelred couldn¡¯t simply cut down such a worthy adversary. With all due respect, he unleashed the most powerful strike he could muster.

    Combining the swordsmanship of Aldeon, known for cleaving and shattering anything in its path, with the ferocious predatory power of Isaac¡¯s swordsmanship, the sh between sword and mace resounded with a deafening roar.

    But for Batenna, it didn¡¯t feel like a sh of weapons. Instead, it felt as though he¡¯d been thrown into a meat grinder.

    Batenna couldn¡¯t even withstand Edelred¡¯s first strike. His vision tilted slowly. In his dizzying view, he caught sight of the people standing at the gate: Rehena Kran and Helga Kran, held in the arms of the soldiers.

    Ironically, Batenna found himself left with no choice but to trust Ciero.

    He had to hope that Ciero would protect his children from the ominous force lurking within the ck pir beyond the fortress.

    ***

    The Reaper felt no pain. But it was not without sensation.

    The moment Isaac¡¯s ¡°Hidden Rite¡± activated, the Reaper was overwhelmed by an unfamiliar feeling. Though normally invisible, its body draped over Urvansus sensed the anomaly, signaling that this was a miracle¡ªa powerful one at that.

    It felt as if each strand of darkness was licking its form, yfully nibbling and sniffing, like a massive predator rolling its prey around in its mouth.

    Fortunately, the Reaper didn¡¯t feel fear. But that didn¡¯t mean it was devoid of emotions.

    Fear and anger are neural responses designed to navigate dire situations¡ªfear warns one to flee, while anger triggers adrenaline, preparing one for battle. The Reaper simultaneously felt both conflicting emotions.

    To resolve this contradiction, the Reaper concluded that it must eliminate Isaac.

    Of course, no matter what ¡°thoughts¡± it might have, the Reaper¡¯s conclusion would always be the same.

    Swoosh, thud!

    The Reaper¡¯s attacks became more relentless, bearing down on Isaac with even greater fury.

    The Reaper¡¯s scythe brutally tore through the space shrouded in the colors of the beyond. However, Isaac, now moving with far greater speed and agility than before, evaded the Reaper¡¯s attacks effortlessly.

    Every inch of ground, every breath of air, every fleeting moment seemed to aid Isaac.

    His form, distorted beyond recognition, only added to his advantage. Even when shed, only a few tendrils were cut.

    The Reaper, growing increasingly agitated, swung at Isaac with frantic aggression.

    Crack! Kaldwin shed with the Reaper¡¯s scythe, roaring like a beast. But Isaac understood fully that this shapeless entity could neither be cut down nor killed.

    There was only one usible attempt he could make.

    To entrust it to another being of Urbansus.

    ¡°Then let¡¯s try this again.¡±

    Isaac nted Kaldwin into the ground and twisted his fingers into an intricate shape. With tendrils sprouting from every knuckle, it was impossible to tell how many fingers he had. Isaac used the tendrils to trace and define the Reaper¡¯s position.

    It wasn¡¯t a grand ritual. Just setting coordinates and direction.

    ¡°¡­This is round two. Eat him up.¡±

    Isaac summoned the ¡°ws of the Abyss¡± once more.

    A dreadful wail erupted from within the shrouded rite¡¯s veil.

 Chapter 314:

    A deep, eerie sound echoed, simr to the sound of a horn or bubbles bursting. At the same time, a warm, unpleasant wind swept through, like being atop a warm-blooded creature.

    The Grasp of the Abyss¡¯s size can be adjusted by Isaac, but it can never berger than the extent of the Color Beyond. So, within the space enveloped entirely by the Color, just how massive of a creature from the depths could be summoned?

    Isaac felt vibrations as if an earthquake was shaking the ground. It was the sound of the atmosphere trembling.

    The Reaper, sensing the anomaly, ceased its attack on Isaac and began to assess the situation. With the Color surrounding it on all sides, it was impossible to predict where the Grasp of the Abyss would emerge from.

    ¡®Where¡¯s iting from? The walls? The ground?¡¯

    It was neither.

    The sky was opening up.

    For a moment, Isaac thought the Concealed Rite¡¯s veil had been broken, but that was not the case. Instead, a massive eye had simply opened its eyelid in the sky. A soft yellow eye, tinged with an ominous red light, appeared like a second moon, its mere presence vibrating the atmosphere.

    ¡®What in the world¡­?¡¯Isaac realized that this eye belonged to the owner of the Grasp of the Abyss.

    Even though he was the one who had summoned it, making eye contact with it caused his heart to feel crushed by the sheer pressure of its presence.

    It was at least an angel, or something equivalent to an angel.

    [The Nameless Chaos observes you.]

    The Nameless Chaos forcibly neutralized Isaac¡¯s psychological pressure, allowing him to regain hisposure.

    ¡®So the Grasp of the Abyss was borrowing the power of an angel?¡¯

    An angel affiliated with the Nameless Chaos?

    Considering its immense power, it made sense. Even if it was only borrowing a limb or a single finger rather than the entire angel, it was still a terrifying power.

    But this time, it seemed like the shoulder or even the head had been summoned.

    Then, enormous tentacles began to slide out from the sky.

    KWA-RRRR! Each tentacle was as thick as a tower and as long as a lightning bolt.

    They were countless, and it was nearly impossible to discern their forms as each tentacle possessed its own lips, fingers, eyes, teeth, and ws, ripping and tearing everything in sight as they descended.

    It was a terrifying storm of tentacles.

    Have you ever tried to catch a mosquito with your bare hands?

    That was precisely how the Reaper appeared. Except, from the mosquito¡¯s perspective.

    Catching a mosquito with your hands isn¡¯t easy, but once caught, it¡¯s crushed instantly. In the same way, the frenzied iling of the Reaper¡¯s scythe cut through a few tentacles, but it was like a mosquito bitepared to the sheer size of the creature.

    And finally, the Grasp seeded in snatching the Reaper.

    Whether or not killing an unavoidable death was possible was unknown. However, as the Abyss finally seized the Reaper¡¯s scythe, the Reaper¡¯s ethereal body was also caught in the tentacles.

    The Reaper thrashed desperately with its scythe.

    Isaac didn¡¯t miss the opportunity. He quickly wielded Kaldwin, sprinting along the tentacles that had reached the ground. The eleration feature of Kaldwin activated, propelling Isaac to the Reaper¡¯s face in an instant.

    Isaac mustered every ounce of strength, unleashing his most powerful sword technique against the vulnerable Reaper.

    Psst, psss! A cracking sound resounded, and Kaldwin momentarily turned jet-ck. The energy from the sword seemed to absorb all colors from its surroundings, enveloping the area in monochrome shades. The ominously burning de split the world.

    Cedric¡¯s Swordsmanship: Horizon of Death.

    KWA-D-R-R-R-RK! A sound unlike anything Isaac had ever heard tore through the air. Isaac watched as the Reaper¡¯s scythe shattered before his eyes. Agonizing feedback wracked his body as he barely managed tond.

    With its scythe lost, the Reaper was left utterly defenseless.

    The sound of something being torn and crushed came from the Reaper as it waspletely ensnared by the tentacles.

    ***

    The Grasp of the Abyss lingered for a moment, writhing at the spot where the Reaper had been.

    Isaac was reminded of a sea anemone.

    Sea anemones appear to sway aimlessly with the current, but in reality, their tentacles capture and consume nkton and other nutrients. It moved in much the same way.

    ¡®Did it¡­ eat the Reaper?¡¯

    Exhausted, Isaac could only think about how he wished the creature would share some of what it consumed.

    The Horizon of Death was a powerful technique, but every time he used it, the aftermath left his entire body¡¯s muscles and nerves on the verge of being torn apart.

    For an ordinary person, it was essentially a suicidal move. Isaac only attempted it because he trusted his regenerative abilities to handle the consequences.

    ¡®Once I get out of here, I¡¯ll need to replenish myself.¡¯

    As the battle ended, the veil of the Concealed Rite slowly lifted, allowing sunlight to filter in.

    Isaac managed to stand by leaning on Kaldwin, having recovered just enough strength to move. His legs still trembled, but he couldn¡¯t be sure if the Reaper was truly defeated.

    Or if it could even be killed at all.

    ¡®Huh? Kaldwin?¡¯

    At that moment, Isaac realized that Kaldwin¡¯s appearance had changed.

    When the Reaper¡¯s scythe was shattered, fragments of it had embedded themselves into Kaldwin, transforming its once elegant form into something resembling a vicious saw de used by mercenaries.

    Isaac quickly checked Kaldwin¡¯s status:

    [Corrupted Holy Sword Kaldwin (EX+)]

    [A practical sword wielded by Elil himself on the battlefield. Made of a unique metal not found in this world, it never breaks or dulls no matter what. Can elerate its wielder up to three times a day for a short period. If held by anyone other than Elil¡¯s champion, it will impale its wielder¡¯s neck.]

    Up to this point, everything seemed the same except for the name change, but additional descriptions followed.

    [When Holy Grail Knight Isaac destroyed the Reaper¡¯s scythe, Kaldwin absorbed fragments of the scythe. The sword¡¯s aura has grown stronger, with added effects: life drain against the living and soul damage against the dead.]

    Isaac had never seen an item with his name on it before. To think it would be attached to Elil¡¯s holy sword, even if it was ¡°corrupted.¡± Isaac¡¯s actions had etched his name into Kaldwin¡¯s history.

    But instead of feeling exhrated, Isaac was struck with a sudden dread.

    ¡®What if that crazy inbred elf gets angry and asks what I did to his sword?¡¯

    He decided it was best not to draw attention to Kaldwin or mention it publicly for the time being. Although the sword¡¯s unintentional upgrade was a wee improvement, it was best kept quiet¡ªespecially with more battles against the Immortal Order on the horizon.

    Isaac tried to sheath Kaldwin, but the jagged edges made it impossible to fit back into its scabbard. Frustrated, he wrapped the de in a scrap of cloth instead.

    He then headed toward the site where the Reaper¡¯s scythe had shattered, still uncertain if the Reaper was truly dead.

    ¡®I haven¡¯t received a missionpletion message yet.¡¯

    If he had killed the Reaper, the mission from the Nameless Chaos to ¡°survive the Reaper¡± should have been marked asplete. As Isaac approached the spot where the scythe had been destroyed, the scattered fragments began to wriggle and reassemble.

    ¡°Damn it.¡±

    At the earliest, it would take half a day; at most, a full day for the Reaper to recover.

    From the partially restored pieces alone, it was clear the Reaper would never fully regain its original form or size. Still, even a partial recovery would mean Isaac would never sleep soundly again.

    Isaac briefly considered taking one of therger shards as a keepsake but didn¡¯t want to risk it stabbing him in the back when he least expected it.

    Ultimately, the Reaper would undoubtedly return to pursue him.

    Isaac knew he couldn¡¯t afford to keep facing off against the Reaper every time, no matter how spectacrly he managed to destroy it.

    In the end, he would have to pay the tax.

    ***

    Isaac was lost in thought as he walked, eventually finding himself at the castle gate.

    Coincidentally, he locked eyes with Edelred, who was just entering.

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    ¡°Oh?¡±

    Both were startled by the sudden encounter, but Edelred quickly approached with a bright smile.

    ¡°Master, as expected, you¡¯ve already finished! I thought maybe it was you when that ominous ck pir vanished. You never cease to amaze me! I wonder what kind of evil summoned something like that.¡±

    ¡°Oh, if you mean that ck pir, I was the one who summoned it.¡±

    ¡°Oh, is that so? To wield even such sinister powers with ease¡ªyou truly are remarkable, Master. For one so righteous, even evil can be as useful as a kitchen knife.¡±

    Edelred epted this exnation without a shred of doubt.

    Only then did Isaac take a good look around. He had been too absorbed in his thoughts to notice, but Edelred¡¯s presence at the fortress suggested their n had seeded.

    ¡°Were all the civilians safely evacuated?¡±

    ¡°Yes! Following your orders, Ciero¡¯s Dawn Army and the residents have sessfully evacuated. On the way here, I heard rumors that the Dawn Army was nothing more than a ragtag group of beggars, but they were surprisingly passionate, and Ciero himself seems like a decent man. I was shocked by how different he was from the rumors.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    Isaac decided not to mention Ciero¡¯s past misdeeds for now.

    It seemed that Ciero¡¯s trial hade to an end. He had finally managed to turn the stroke of luck that was Isaac into a miracle.

    ¡°Oh, and we¡¯ve captured what I guess you could call a prisoner. The leader of the enemy.¡±

    ¡°Their leader?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Batenna Kran. He called himself the Lord of Rehe ins and King of Kran. We beheaded him, but he¡¯s still¡­ alive? Or moving, at least. It¡¯s hard to tell with an undead. Normally, we¡¯d burn them, but Ciero requested that we keep him alive for now.¡±

    Isaac¡¯s eyes widened as he quickly spoke up.

    ¡°Would it be alright if I met with him?¡±

    ***

    Elil¡¯s soldiers and knights continued mowing down the zombies like brittle straw. They had to be burned before they could spread disease or cause further damage elsewhere. Leaving them would risk their reanimation by other undead forces.

    Isaac went to the tent where Batenna Kran¡¯s head was being kept. Since he was royalty, they couldn¡¯t simply toss his body aside, so they had set up a temporary shelter.

    Inside the tent, Batenna Kran¡¯s headless corpsey to one side, while his severed head rested on a desk. He looked slightly older than Isaac remembered from the game, perhaps due to decay or the shock of betrayal¡ªit was impossible to know.

    Despite the putrid stench of decay, Isaac approached without flinching and respectfully bowed. Only then did Batenna Kran¡¯s eyes slowly open.

    ¡°A Holy Grail Knight. I¡¯ve heard of your reputation.¡±

    Even without lungs, speech was not an issue. Undeadmunicate not with vocal cords but through a power akin to a miracle. Involuntarily turned undead, however,ck even the ability to speak.

    ¡°I am honored to meet the King of Kran.¡±

    ¡°The King of Kran? Are you mocking me? My fortress was stolen by rogues, who have now been chased out. And now foreigners and heretics are fighting like scavengers over what¡¯s left. Kran Fortress is nothing but an empty house now¡ªhow can a king without territory still be a king?¡±

    ¡°I will return it to you.¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    Isaac spoke calmly.

    ¡°The King of Kran still stands here, albeit in a slightly different form. You are still the rightful king. Kran Fortress is yours.¡±

    Isaac was desperate to pay his dues in full.

 Chapter 315.1

    Batenna Kran was silent for a long time, seemingly lost for words, before finally speaking.

    ¡°Do you know that I am now affiliated with the Immortal Order?¡±

    ¡°Well, given that your torso is not resting on that desk, I think that assumption would be correct,¡± Isaac replied, biting back a sarcasticment about Batenna¡¯s unnaturally elongated limbs.

    Batenna remained silent for a while longer before he spoke again.

    ¡°I refuse.¡±

    Isaac was not surprised; he had anticipated this response.

    ¡°The main force of the Dawn Army is approaching. My soul, bound by my contract with the Immortal Order, demands loyalty to the Immortal Emperor Beshek and requires me to prove my faith. This means I must rally the people of Kran Fortress to fight against the main force of the Dawn Army. A futile and foolish endeavor.¡±

    ¡°I can evacuate the residents,¡± Isaac countered.

    ¡°And what of my children? Will they live their lives as exiles in foreignnds? It would be better for me to be incinerated and Kran Fortress passed on to my heir. Do you intend to persist with this foolish suggestion, Holy Grail Knight?¡±Isaac sighed.

    He knew his proposal sounded foolish. His sole reason for offering to return the fortress to Batenna Kran was that it seemed like the only way to fulfill the ¡°honest payment¡± required to stop the inevitable death that hunted him.

    Batenna Kran rolled his eyes before fixing them back on Isaac.

    ¡°You must have apelling reason to insist on returning the fortress to me.¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°Was there a curse ced on you by the lich?¡±

    ¡°In a manner of speaking.¡±

    Batenna Kran was silent, seemingly processing Isaac¡¯s response, before finally making his own proposal.

    ¡°If you ept one condition, I might reconsider.¡±

    ¡°What is your proposal?¡±

    ¡°Be the guardian of my children.¡±

    In this context, a guardian would officially act as a supporter or protector for a family that had lost its head or for promising young individuals needing backing. For thest remaining members of the Kran family, having a guardian would be invaluable, but it would also be a burden¡ªespecially for a foreigner caught between powerful factions at a strategic location.

    However, Batenna seemed aware of this potential burden and rified.

    ¡°I don¡¯t expect money, mentorship, military support, or protection. All I ask is for your reputation as a Holy Grail Knight to act as a warning¡ªa message to the Codex of Light and the Immortal Order that thesends and my family are under your auspices.¡±

    Essentially, Batenna wanted to ensure the Dawn Army had no legitimate cause to plunder or attack Kran Fortress again, emphasizing that thend had already been tarnished by his association with the Immortal Order.

    Isaac pondered this before realizing the demand was manageable, but he added one condition.

    ¡°Let Ciero be established as a guardian as well.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡­¡±

    ¡°I understand what you¡¯re thinking. He may seem like a treacherous and ridiculous jester. But I can keep him under control. And in some ways, he might be more capable of protecting thesends than I am.¡±

    Isaac was serious.

    Given that the angels were already aware of his true nature, relying solely on his reputation was dangerous. Ciero, now newly awakened, might prove more attentive to thesends than Isaac himself.

    ¡°¡­Fine. If that is your wish, I will ept your proposal.¡±

    ¡°Will you ept Kran Fortress?¡±

    ¡°I will. And as Lord of Kran, I dere that Kran Fortress shall be passed down to Lehena Kran. May the gods have mercy.¡±

    The moment the fortress was transferred, Batenna immediately carried out the session ceremony. The conditions were now met.

    Isaac had returned Kran Fortress to the Immortal Order, and if his assumption was correct, his honest payment should beplete, meaning the unavoidable death that hunted him would be nullified.

    ¡°¡­It¡¯s not working.¡±

    No notification of missionpletion appeared. This meant that Kran Fortress was either not the required payment or that this mere formality was not enough.

    ¡°It¡¯s not going well, is it?¡±

    ¡°No, but we¡¯ll move on to n B.¡±

    Isaac turned his gaze south.

    His short detour was over. Before the Reaper could reawaken, he nned to head south quickly. There were people there who could reveal the tax that had been ced on Isaac¡¯s head.

    ¡®If anyone can figure out what tax I¡¯m supposed to pay, it would be Shalok and Leonora.¡¯

    ***

    ¡°What? The Holy Grail Knight has already left?¡±

    ¡°Yes. He asked for your understanding as he departed hastily due to pressing matters.¡±

    Isaac left in a hurry, flying off on Nel the moment his tax payment was rejected. He left behind instructions through Hesabel.

    He first asked Edelred for understanding. Summoning the King of Elil here and then leaving without so much as a proper farewell was inexcusable, after all.

    Even though Edelred likely bore no ill will towards Isaac, it was necessary to prevent any rumors or misunderstandings from spreading.

    ¡°Sir Isaac was afflicted by a severe curse while battling the Immortal Order. He must travel to Odryf to find a way to break it.¡±

    ¡°What¡­¡±

    ¡°A curse is something unavoidable.¡±

    The knights who had harbored misgivings about Isaac were now more understanding at the mention of a curse.

    The knights of Elil, long gued by the Witch Hecatli, regarded curses as objects of fear and resentment. They had seen many great knights sumb to curses over the years.

    ¡°He also asked His Majesty King Edelred to handle the aftermath of Kran Fortress. As the highest-ranking noble present, you possess the authority that no one else here can challenge.¡±

    ¡°Hmm. When he spoke of handling the aftermath, what exactly did he mean?¡±

    ¡°First, since the sessors of King Kran are still alive, Sir Isaac asked you to officially acknowledge their right of session. He stated that he would vouch for their status in the name of Issacrea.¡±

    In and disconnected from its ruling house, it would be easy to bring in any random person and dere them an heir. Therefore, the identity and integrity of the guarantor were critical, and Isaac¡¯s reputation was impable.

    Edelred had the power to enforce this, so it was a simple request.

    ¡°Understood. I¡¯ve seen those children. They¡¯re young and will need guidance, but I was not much older when I became king. I¡¯ll assign a trustworthy knight to look after them.¡±

    ¡°Thank you. The second matter concerns Priest Ciero.¡±

    ¡°M-Me?¡±

 Chapter 315.2

    (Continued)

    ¡°Thank you. The second matter concerns Priest Ciero.¡±

    ¡°M-Me?¡±

    Ciero looked up in shock, his name suddenly brought up. Though Ciero was well-known among themon folk and lower sses, he felt small in the presence of the ¡®true elites¡¯ like the King of Elil, the Holy Grail Knight, and the daughter of the Duke of Gulmar. Confidence was his greatest asset, but here, he felt it slipping.

    Hesabel smiled and addressed Ciero.

    ¡°Sir Isaac said: ¡®The Ciero Dawn Army is over. Priest Ciero died in the boiling water underground. The Ciero who was reborn in that boiling water should not run toward death but instead return to protect the living.¡¯¡±

    Edelred tilted his head, puzzled, but Ciero immediately understood the message.

    Isaac was telling him to disband the Dawn Army and return.

    The further Ciero, who had no talent for managing an organization or waging war, marched toward the Immortal Order, the closer he would be to his death. Isaac hoped Ciero would channel his talent into suppressing religious fanaticism rather than inciting it.¡®But isn¡¯t that even more likely to get me killed?¡¯

    This meant Ciero would be politically opposed to the very factions that were egging on the Dawn Army. Inquisitors were bound to be lurking at his door, and there were still the vulnerabilities that came with being a Nephilim.

    But then Ciero remembered the part Isaac said about being ¡®reborn in boiling water¡¯ and nced at his hands.

    Hands filled with flickering light.

    Ever since he dipped them into the heavenly mes in the underground waterway, his hands were marked undeniably as stigmata and proof of a holy body.

    ¡®If I¡¯m a holy body, even the church wouldn¡¯t dare to act recklessly.¡¯

    Given the enormous damage caused by the Dawn Army¡ªmany lives lost, and massive societal disruption¡ªCiero would undoubtedly face severe bacsh. But that, too, was his penance to bear.

    ¡°¡­I¡¯ll ept,¡± Ciero finally replied, seeing no other choice. Edelred nodded in agreement.

    ¡°I¡¯ll allow the Ciero Dawn Army to regroup and retreat safely, but I can¡¯t guarantee the order will be smoothly executed. The main force of the Dawn Army is approaching, and I doubt they¡¯ll just let the remnants of your army walk away.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll have to find a way to handle that myself¡­¡±

    With the second matter resolved, Hesabel smiled and moved on to the third message.

    ¡°And the third message concerns the disposition of Batenna Kran. He has requested a burial in the style of the Codex of Light. Although his soul will return to the Immortal Order¡¯s domain, he asks that his body be given proper respect through cremation.¡±

    Hesabel turned her gaze back to Ciero.

    ¡°The chief mourner will be Lehena Kran, and Priest Ciero will oversee the ceremony.¡±

    Ciero felt the weight of responsibility grow heavier.

    This wasn¡¯t a favor because Isaac liked him. He wanted Ciero to feel even more guilt while witnessing the grieving family during the funeral, adding more to his emotional debt. It was also likely because Ciero was the only avable priest of the Codex of Light nearby.

    ¡°That concludes Sir Isaac¡¯s messages. Thank you for your cooperation, and special thanks to His Majesty Edelred for bringing the army here. We shall meet again at Odryff Harbor.¡±

    ***

    Courage is stepping forward to do what others avoid.

    But greater courage lies in admitting you¡¯ve taken the wrong path and choosing to turn back¡ªespecially when countlessrades and subordinates lie behind you like mountains of corpses.

    ¡°¡­Therefore, I deeply repent for my mistakes and failures. I overreached beyond the abilities granted to me by the Codex of Light and dared to challenge trials far beyond my calling. Many followers have lost their lives due to my dreadful failures, and I intend to seek the Holy Father¡¯s forgiveness by asking to pay for my sins with my life.¡±

    The followers of the Ciero Dawn Army began to murmur.

    They had heard all about Ciero¡¯s foolish blunders and idiotic missteps with their own eyes and ears.

    However, recently, the atmosphere hadn¡¯t been bad.

    Ciero had shown signs of remorse, actively trying to reform the Dawn Army, and the troublemaking faction that had disrupted things in the past was nowhere to be seen. Moreover, Ciero had be close with the famed Holy Grail Knight, transformed into a mysterious holy body, and even received recognition from the King of Elil.

    ¡°No, Priest!¡±

    A young follower suddenly stood and shouted.

    ¡°Your mistakes were the work of evil men who blocked your eyes and ears. Don¡¯t let yourself fall victim to the schemes of demons who tried to tarnish your name!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right, Priest! Please reconsider! We cannot stop the Dawn Army now!¡±

    The uproar from the Dawn Army soldiers quickly spread.

    Those who had grown tired of Ciero had already fled, and those remaining were either his fervent supporters or had nowhere else to go. The fervor for Ciero¡¯s defense rapidly reached a boiling point.

    Ciero smiled gently.

    ¡®Just as nned.¡¯

    Of course, Ciero still valued his own life immensely. He had no intention of repeating past mistakes, nor of willingly offering his head to the Pope.

    Tearing up, Ciero spoke.

    ¡°I am deeply humbled by your care and love. But given that the tasks before me far exceed my abilities, we cannot continue to charge forward as we are.¡±

    ¡°Are you saying you¡¯re disbanding the Dawn Army?¡±

    One follower shouted in shock. Ciero quickly raised his hand to calm the restless crowd.

    ¡°What I mean is¡­¡±

    He was about to exin that he intended to return to the Holy Gerthonia Empire to deliver a message of peace and reconciliation when he noticed someone hurrying towards him through the crowd.

    Ciero paused his speech, wondering what was happening.

    A breathless follower with a pale face struggled to catch his breath as he finally spoke his first words to Ciero.

    ¡°The Inquisitors! The Inquisitors are looking for you, Priest Ciero!¡±

    In that instant, Ciero decided to abandon all thoughts of a reversal movement and immediately nned his escape.

 Chapter 316.1

    Naturally, there was no way Ciero could have evaded the Inquisitor.

    When Ciero said he would ¡°prepare to receive the Inquisitor¡± and went to gather his belongings, the Inquisitor was already waiting there.

    The only saving grace was that Ciero¡¯s actions were so dyed that it looked as if he hade to meet them, rather than being caught while attempting to flee.

    ¡°Priest Ciero, it¡¯s an honor to meet you. My name is Saltna Culvain.¡±

    The man who greeted him politely was a man in his thirties with a broad build and an ordinary, gentle appearance¡ªhardly what one would expect of an Inquisitor.

    However, the moment Ciero saw the red raven insignia on his shoulder, he felt as if his breath had been taken away.

    Among Inquisitors, those who belonged to the central branch and worked directly under the Holy See were known as the executioners of the Church. This insignia was their symbol.

    When Ciero froze and couldn¡¯t even greet him properly, Saltna pped his hands with a gentle smile. It was only then that Ciero snapped back to his senses and managed to catch his breath.

    ¡°It seems I startled you bying unexpectedly. But there¡¯s no need to be tense. We did note here just to see you, Priest Ciero. Well, I suppose I can¡¯t say ¡®not at all.¡¯ We¡¯re also here tomend your excellent character and achievements.¡±¡°My character¡­ and achievements?¡±

    ¡°Amidst the chaos caused by the Immortal Order¡¯s wicked schemes, which scattered the Dawn Army like lost sheep, it was you alone who, like a steadfast lighthouse, defended Kran Fortress from the storm of death and cold. It is an achievement worthy of praise. Even the angels must be pleased.¡±

    Ciero wondered how these rumors had be so distorted.

    He had been dragged along by Isaac, and it was Isaac who had defended the fortress. Ultimately, it was the army of Elil, summoned by Isaac, that had saved the fortress. All Ciero had done was cry and be dragged along.

    He quickly realized that his thoughts didn¡¯t matter.

    Once the Inquisitor spoke, the truth was irrelevant.

    It meant that the Church had concluded, ¡°This is the truth.¡±

    ¡°I am grateful for the Church¡¯s holy grace.¡±

    A few days ago, Ciero would have been pleased with such easy-earned merits. However, now, every word felt like he was spitting out prickly chestnut burrs.

    Saltna folded his hands neatly, his smile faint.

    ¡°Furthermore, with the miracle manifesting upon your body, no one can question your authority any longer, Priest Ciero. If you continue to umte such achievements, I expect that when the Millennium Kingdom is finally established, you, too, will have your name called near the high throne. I feel excited just imagining that.¡±

    ¡°Thank, thank you¡­¡±

    When the Holy body was mentioned, Ciero reflexively sped his hands together, fidgeting with them. The Holy body was the only part of him that he could stand tall before the Inquisitor.

    Even as the praise continued, Ciero couldn¡¯t rx for a moment. Words ofmendation like these could easily be conveyed by sending a messenger priest. The fact that an Inquisitor, especially one from the central branch, had been dispatched meant that someone was almost certainly going to be brought down.

    ¡°By the way, I heard you recently met an esteemed figure.¡±

    Ciero, who had been tensed, expecting Saltna¡¯s eyelids to shoot needles or his fingers to spray poison at any moment, was startled by the unexpected words.

    It was clear whom he was referring to.

    ¡°Are you talking about His Majesty Edelred?¡±

    Saltna paused briefly before continuing with a smile.

    ¡°Yes. I heard you met Sir Isaac Issacrea.¡±

    Once again, Ciero¡¯s words were corrected by the Inquisitor.

    If he denied it here, the Inquisitor might use his bizarre methods to extract the ¡°truth¡± from him, so Ciero nodded fervently.

    ¡°Yes, yes! That¡¯s right. The Holy Grail Knight visited me¡­¡±

    Ciero had been about to praise Isaac when he suddenly wondered, ¡®Why are the Inquisitors looking for him?¡¯

    Come to think of it, the events here were clearly Isaac¡¯s achievements, yet they were trying to bury that fact and give the credit to him instead.

    Realizing this, Ciero suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.

    If his suspicion was correct, then Isaac wasn¡¯t an ordinary Holy Knight. No, he was something even more unsettling. He had merely covered for Isaac because they were both Nephilim.

    ¡°Me? What was I about to say? Priest Ciero?¡±

    ¡°¡­He helped me! He ¡®assisted¡¯ in defending Kran Fortress.¡±

    But Ciero didn¡¯t dare correct the ¡°truth¡± in front of the Inquisitor, so he offered a reasonablepromise. He defended Kran Fortress. Isaac only assisted.

    ¡®Could the Church be trying to keep Isaac in check?¡¯

    Ciero, who had a knack for scheming and maniption, quickly grasped the situation.

    Isaac¡¯s Issacrea Dawn Army was making great strides and doing well. Meanwhile, Ciero¡¯s Dawn Army had suffered an absurdly devastating defeat.

    It was likely the Church wasn¡¯t pleased with this situation.

    ¡°I see. But I don¡¯t think itpares to Priest Ciero¡¯s exploits. How could the achievements of one who borrowed the power of heretics be worthy of praise?¡±

    There was a strange sense of containment in his words. Ciero felt as if he had been struck by lightning.

    ¡®Could it be¡­ the Holy See is trying to pit the Ciero Dawn Army against the Issacrea Dawn Army?¡¯

    The absurdity of the situation sent chills through Ciero. If that was the case, then he would have to dive even more zealously into the anti-Immortal Order movement that Isaac had instructed him to lead, setting aside the ¡®resistance movement.¡¯

    However, Saltna¡¯s subsequent questions pointed to an even more dangerous area.

    ¡°While observing the Holy Grail Knight, did you notice anything unusual? Like reciting unknown prayers, having suspicious familiars, or possessing umon knowledge?¡±

    As soon as the overtly targeted questions came out, Ciero wanted to run away. For an Inquisitor to ask such questions meant, ¡°Just give us anything, before we squeeze the truth out of you.¡±

    Saltna¡¯s eyes began to widen little by little as he questioned Ciero. It was only then that Ciero looked Saltna directly in the eyes for the first time.

    Eyes gleaming unnaturally, like ss marbles.

    The pupils that were said to appear only in the most devout fanatics of the Codex of Light.

    ¡°I-I¡¯m not sure. It seems improper to associate with a Holy Knight who mingles with heretics, as you said.¡±

    ¡°Is that so? But I heard that Priest Ciero had a rather unique interpretation of the ominous ck pir that appeared in Kran Fortress. Weren¡¯t you quite close to the Holy Grail Knight?¡±

    Ciero felt as if his knees were about to give out.

    Had they already interrogated the other soldiers?

    Saltna advanced a step toward Ciero, his ssy eyes glinting. Ciero involuntarily recoiled, only to realize that other Inquisitors had surrounded him at a short distance.

    If he so much as muttered a single prayer, they would draw their daggers and plunge them into his throat.

    ¡°Did it bleed? What color was the blood? The reports on the color of the iris were all different; which one is correct? There¡¯s also a report that you had a private meeting with the heretic Batenna Kran¡ªwhat did you talk about? I heard you were afflicted with a powerful curse. Do you know what kind of curse it was?¡±

    A torrent of questions rained down upon him. It felt as if each word pierced through Ciero¡¯s heart, gouging it out.

    He realized he had been under a grand illusion. The Holy body alone couldn¡¯t protect him from the Church. After all, what had happened when the Emperor tried to ram the Holy See with his horn?

    Ciero felt the urge to vomit up not blood, but sphemous truths.

    TL Note: Want to Read Advance Chapters? <em><strong>CLICK HERE</strong></em>

 Chapter 316.2

    (Continued)

    Ciero felt the urge to vomit up not blood, but sphemous truths.

    This level of pressure was the lightest and most basic of the Inquisition¡¯s interrogation techniques. If they took it a step further, he knew he would not be able to endure.

    ¡°Enough!¡±

    At that moment, Ciero¡¯s instincts awoke.

    A talent for deception, seduction, agitation, and maniption, all grounded in survival absolutism.

    ¡°Who do you think you¡¯re daring to nder right now? The Holy Grail Knight is a noble figure who single-handedly broke through the army of the undead, rescued the believers, and disappeared without seeking any reward! And instead of praising his noble character and achievements, you¡¯re attempting to smear his name? Is the Church jealous of the Holy Grail Knight¡¯s aplishments?¡±

    At Ciero¡¯s sudden outburst, Saltna flinched. However, his eyes narrowed even more.

    Regardless, Ciero turned his desperation into a passionate plea for the persecuted faithful, as if he were spitting out his very soul.¡°Of course, defending Kran Fortress was due to the united faith of the believers of the Codex of Light. I simply gathered their light, and the Holy Grail Knight merely expressed their anger and faith through his sword! Is there any reason to argue about who deserves more credit?¡±

    ¡°It seems there¡¯s been a misunderstanding, Priest Ciero. We were merely trying to rify our many doubts about Isaac¡­¡±

    ¡°A misunderstanding? A misunderstanding, you say? Then why ask such suspicious questions? And heretics? Elil¡¯s followers are also brothers in faith under the Codex of Light! Are you undermining the beliefs of those who joined the Dawn Army to serve the Light?¡±

    When Ciero looked ready to fire off more questions in return, Saltna nced around. Due to Ciero¡¯s loud voice, a crowd of Dawn Army members had gathered, wondering what was happening.

    There were too many people for the Inquisitors to control, and they were, after all, on the verge of bing fanatics themselves after Ciero¡¯s earlier speech.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on? What¡¯s all this about?¡±

    ¡°These raven bastards. What are they trying to do to our priest now that the war is over!¡±

    When Ciero heard those voices, he felt relieved. Of course, he had never intended to try to defeat the Inquisitors with words. He had simply hoped that his voice would draw people in. It seemed he had managed to buy some time.

    Ravens flee when people gather.

    The Inquisitors seemed to deem this public ce unsuitable for an interrogation, deciding to back down.

    ¡°It seems I made some inappropriate remarks. I apologize, Priest.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fine. But I hope there won¡¯t be such unpleasant incidents again.¡±

    ¡°Of course. Next time, we should discuss things in a more suitable ce and setting.¡±

    Ciero realized that was a threat, but he didn¡¯t have time to be angry.

    The Inquisitors quickly turned away and left the procession of the Dawn Army. The soldiers who had arrivedte hurried over to Ciero¡¯s side.

    ¡°Priest Ciero, are you alright?¡±

    ¡°Who were those rude people¡­¡±

    ¡°No, no. It¡¯s fine.¡±

    Ciero caught his breath and thought about the encounter that had just taken ce. In the end, he couldn¡¯t discern the purpose of the meeting. There was no way the Inquisitors would make such contact and retreat so easily.

    There must be some kind of scheme.

    ***

    ¡°Chief Saltna, are we leaving even though the interrogation isn¡¯tplete?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s enough. We¡¯ve gotten everything we could from that clown.¡±

    Saltna Culvain, the head of the Inquisition, and the leader of the Inquisitors, answered nonchntly. Ciero himself was insignificant, but given his notoriety, they had to approach him carefully. They had to be especially cautious regarding his newly acquired Holy body. He whispered the truths he had just uncovered to the raven perched on his arm.

    ¡°To His Holiness the Pope. As previously reported, Ciero is confirmed to be a Nephilim. Judging by the awakened state of the Holy body, his lineage likelyes from the World¡¯s Forge or the Codex of Light. I will submit a separate report on the expected Archangel. If the execution order has not been rescinded, one Inquisitor should remain behind to carry it out. I will continue to pursue Isaac. End.¡±

    As soon as he finished speaking, the raven flew up, bing a ck dot in the sky within moments. It would arrive at the Dawn Army¡¯s main body faster than any other messenger or missive, reciting Saltna¡¯s words to His Holiness.

    As he watched the raven fly away, one of the Inquisitors spoke up.

    ¡°Should I stay behind to carry out the execution?¡±

    ¡°No, it¡¯s fine. The execution order will likely be rescinded.¡±

    ¡°Rescinded?¡±

    Saltna nodded.

    ¡°Ciero has been too ipetent and uncontroble up to now. He was only useful in raising the atmosphere of the Dawn Army. We should have absorbed the Dawn Army into the main body before itpletely copsed, but interference from the Emperor and the Olkan Code ruined that.¡±

    Saltna recalled the passionate demeanor of Priest Ciero during their earlier conversation.

    ¡°But it seems he has improved somewhat. Moreover, he has awakened the Holy bodyF. The Lighthouse Keeper holds even a single tool in high regard. This, too, is probably part of the grand scheme arranged by the Lighthouse Keeper. After being integrated into the main body of the Dawn Army, he will likely be used as a propaganda priest for the Holy See. It¡¯s a fitting conclusion for that clown.¡±

    Ciero and his soldiers joined the main body of the Dawn Army, along with the remnants of the scattered stragglers, barely a weekter.

    ***

    The sea breeze tousled Isaac¡¯s hair as it swept past.

    Gazing at the distant blue sea and the countless white sails and ships, Isaac found himself feeling a rare sense of tranquility. The city, surrounded by white stone walls and overlooking the blue bay, seemed vibrant, as if war and winter had passed it by.

    This was Odryf.

    A major city in the southern part of the Empire, it was home to the main branch of the Golden Idol Guild.

 Chapter 317.1

    Naturally, no other members of the group were found in Odryf.

    Although he had fought several battles, Isaac, who didn¡¯t have to worry about leading troops or managing supplies, was the first to arrive. After all, he had death on his back and hade down practically as if he were being chased.

    Even Nel was so irritated by exhaustion that Isaac, too, couldn¡¯t help but feel drained.

    At one point, he even thought about pretending to die and activating the ¡®Agent of Chaos¡¯ ability.

    However, after seeing the Reaper¡¯s scythe get shattered into pieces only to be restored again, it seemed that such an action wouldn¡¯t be effective. There are times when killing is impossible. The Reaper, who embodied the very concept of ¡®death¡¯ that the Immortal Order sought to control, was one of those beings.

    ¡®Besides, I don¡¯t know what risks the Agent of Chaos might entail¡­¡¯

    It wasn¡¯t toote to resort to such a high-risk measure after trying every other possible method. He could find out the true nature of the tax imposed on him through Shalok and Leonora.

    ¡®First, I need to find Shalok.¡¯

    Bringing a dragon into a bustling city like Odryf would cause chaos, so Isaac had Nel stay at the coastal cliffs near Odryf. Even if Nel were to be spotted a few times from the sea, it would be dismissed as sailors¡¯ tall tales.***

    Isaac headed to a tavern on the outskirts of Odryf.

    The tavern was called ¡®The Laughing Octopus.¡¯ He hadn¡¯t chosen it at random; it was a well-known establishment mentioned in the game, famed for its food.

    Not only was he curious about the dishes that had only been mentioned in the game¡¯s lore, but it was also a ce frequented by notable figures, making it easy to pick up on rumors about them.

    Isaac ordered the famous octopus stew and started listening to the conversations around him.

    Since he had pulled his hood low over his face, no one recognized him. The allure of a Nephilim could draw people in, but it could also evoke fear.

    All he had to do was keep his hood down and nce around in a foreboding manner.

    Sure enough, no one turned their gaze towards Isaac. Anyone who did look his way would freeze as if hitting an invisible wall before quickly turning away.

    ¡®By now, Shalok should have arrived in Odryf, right?¡¯

    It was almost certain that Leonora would be somewhere in Odryf, but there was no certainty about Shalok. Nevertheless, it was likely that he woulde to Odryf, even if only to make a show of trying to stop Isaac.

    Isaac¡¯s only concern was that he might have arrived too early.

    ¡°Hey, did you hear? Captain Shalok has withdrawn all the bounty posters.¡±

    ¡°Oh, that. It¡¯s probably because it was revealed that the target was the Holy Grail Knight, so they pulled them down before anyone could raise a fuss. I mean, how could you expect to take down a Holy Grail Knight with just 10,000 gold pieces? The Order would go berserk.¡±

    Isaac perked up when he heard his name and Shalok¡¯s being mentioned at the table next to him. The two men, who appeared to be merchants, were discussing a very sensitive topic.

    ¡°No, no, it¡¯s because the Holy Grail Knight got angry about the bounty on his head and is now marching south. That¡¯s why they took them down.¡±

    ¡°Really? I heard it was to cut costs because they hired some big-shot. But is that even possible? The Dawn Army from Issacrea is supposed to be unstoppable, right?¡±

    ¡°They wiped out the orcs that were besieging the Ariet Monastery, cleared out the bandits of the Seor in, and even dealt with the Imperial rebels who were being backed by the Immortal Order. Meanwhile, I heard the C iero Dawn Army was annihted at the Kran Fortress, but Issacrea¡¯s situation is theplete opposite.¡±

    Because Isaac had arrived faster than the rumors could spread, the events at the Kran Fortress hadn¡¯t yet reached this ce. The merchants, leaning in closer, were discussing the sensitive topics with caution.

    Of course, it all still reached Isaac¡¯s ears clearly.

    ¡°Wait, hold on. What if the Issacrea Dawn Army marches to Odryf and puts pressure on it? What happens if Odryf¡¯s port gets isted?¡±

    ¡°Oh,e on, that¡¯s absurd. If they do that, it¡¯ll choke the Empire¡¯s lifeline. The nobles and clergy will lose their minds and try to crush the Holy Grail Knight.¡±

    ¡°No, think about it. Do you think Captain Shalok would try to take down the Holy Grail Knight on his own? It must have been a directive from the Guild Leader or one of his daughters. And the Holy Grail Knight wouldn¡¯t just take that lying down. If he marches his troops to threaten Odryf¡¯s port, the merchant guild might start criticizing the Bessia family.¡±

    ¡®Naturally.¡¯

    Isaac thought as he listened.

    Besieging Odryf¡¯s port would be madness. It was, after all, a part of the Gerthonia Holy Empire¡¯s territory, and it had a significant number of Codex of Light adherents, well within the Church¡¯s influence. It was also the reason why the Codex of Light couldn¡¯t easily act against the Golden Idol Guild.

    That¡¯s why Isaac hadn¡¯t even considered a siege; he only nned a silent show of force.

    His intention was to subtly suggest that while he had no intention of attacking, he couldn¡¯t guarantee what the army would do if he were killed.

    The merchants¡¯ expressions grew more serious as they spoke.

    ¡°So, the upper echelons of the Golden Idol Guild might have to force the Bessia family to step down?¡±

    The Bessia family had ruled over the Golden Idol Guild for almost a century.

    It was hard to imagine them stepping down, let alone the aftermath if they did. Some liked the Bessia family¡¯s rule, but many harbored resentment against them.

    ¡°Exactly. Maybe targeting the Holy Grail Knight was part of some n. I heard they¡¯re hiring incredibly powerful people to defend against him¡­¡±

    ¡°Here¡¯s your food.¡±

    Just as the conversation was getting interesting, the server brought arge te of octopus stew to Isaac¡¯s table. Although the spicy aroma made his mouth water, he was momentarily speechless at the sight of a whole octopus, its head as big as his own, staring up at him.

    ¡®This isn¡¯t something one person should be eating¡­¡¯

    It was enough food for at least eight people.

    Isaac, who had intended to avoid drawing attention, now found himself cutting up the enormous octopus alone, which naturally attracted some stares. He nonchntly picked up a knife and fork and started slicing through the octopus.

    Although his fingers felt sore, it was probably just his imagination. Beneath its fearsome appearance, the dish was a seafood stew filled with ms, abalone, squid, and various other ingredients in a spicy sauce.

    ¡®¡­Should I say it reminds me of home? It really is delicious.¡¯

    Before long, Isaac had devoured all eight servings of the octopus stew. Despite appearing lean and slender, he consumed the massive meal with ease, leaving onlookers in stunned silence. It was only after he licked thest bit of sauce clean that Isaac noticed the stares. He casually wiped his mouth with a napkin, pretending nothing had happened.

    ¡®I must have been really hungry.¡¯

    It had been a while since he¡¯d properly filled his stomach or savored the taste of food. While he tried to eat regrly to avoid losing his humanity, it wasn¡¯t always possible in the midst of his busy schedule.

    For the first time in a while, Isaac felt truly content.

    ***

    ¡°Young man, you¡¯ve got quite the appetite. Still hungry? Want more?¡±

    As soon as Isaac finished eating, the merchants at the next table gathered their tes and drinks and came over. Before Isaac had a chance to respond, they even ordered more food.

    It was almost impossible to fill Isaac¡¯s stomach, but since there was no reason to refuse, he just let it happen.

    ¡°You don¡¯t seem like you¡¯re from around here. Where are you from?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m from the north.¡±

    Isaac answered vaguely without being specific. The merchantsughed heartily.

    ¡°Yeah, the north. Where else would someonee from to Odryf Port at the southern tip of the Gerthonia Empire? The undead-infested east? The sea to the south?¡±

    Isaac simply looked at them without replying. Sensing something off in his gaze beneath the hood, the merchants quickly shut their mouths.

    But they hadn¡¯t approached Isaac out of simple charity.

    TL Note: Want to Read Advance Chapters? <em><strong>CLICK HERE</strong></em>

 Chapter 317.2

    (Continued)

    Isaac simply looked at them without replying. Sensing something off in his gaze beneath the hood, the merchants quickly shut their mouths.

    But they hadn¡¯t approached Isaac out of simple charity.

    When new dishes were ced on the table and Isaac resumed eating, the merchants started talking again.

    ¡°Actually, some strange people have been gathering at Odryf Port recently. You don¡¯t seem like an ordinary person either. Could you tell us who called you here?¡±

    Isaac hesitated for a moment before speaking nonchntly.

    ¡°Leonora Bessia.¡±

    It wasn¡¯t a lie.

    After all, he was here because of her.The merchants exchanged nces filled with shock and disbelief. There was no way someone summoned by the most likely heir of the merchant guild could be ordinary. Hadn¡¯t they also said that Shalok, the mercenary captain, was a talent discovered by Leonora?

    ¡°Could it be that you¡¯re the big shot hired to deal with the Holy Grail Knight¡­?¡±

    One of the merchants muttered in surprise, but the other merchant next to him quickly jabbed his side with an elbow.

    ¡°No, that can¡¯t be! The rumor said it was a tall swordmaster from Elil. This guy is too young and too small, isn¡¯t he?¡±

    Isaac wasn¡¯t particrly tall by the standards of this era. In Rougeberg, he had even been able to pass for a woman.

    ¡®A swordmaster from Elil? Could it be¡­?¡¯

    Isaac was intrigued by the mention of this swordmaster, but the merchant next to him immediately rebutted.

    ¡°The Holy Grail Knight is a great warrior chosen by Elil. A single swordmaster couldn¡¯t be enough. Of course, they must have hired people from all over the ce. I even heard they hired human hunters from Wachia!¡±

    Isaac nearly choked on his food and almost spat it out.

    The merchants hurriedly handed him a ss of water, which he barely managed to swallow down. But he couldn¡¯t understand why Wachian human hunters were being mentioned here.

    ¡°You seem surprised. Well, we still can¡¯t quite believe it either. But there are rumors that vampires were spotted near that disaster of a theater run by Captain Shalok.¡±

    Shalok had tried to capture Isaac by bribing orcs, bandits, and nobles. The human hunters of the Red Chalice would be no exception. Who could be better at hunting humans than human hunters?

    ¡°And there¡¯s been an increase in ravens around the cathedral. Some are saying that they might have even bribed an Inquisitor.¡±

    ¡°No way! How could they bribe an Inquisitor?¡±

    ¡°If the Golden Idol Guild is determined enough, what can¡¯t they do? They wouldn¡¯t need to bribe an Inquisitor directly; they could just bribe a corrupt bishop or priest above them.¡±

    ¡°Well, I¡¯ll be damned. The world¡¯s going to hell, and all sorts of things are happening.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    Isaac carefully pieced together their conversation.

    So, it seemed Leonora Bessia might have hired mercenaries from the Golden Idol Guild, a swordmaster from Elil, human hunters from Wachia, and even an Inquisitor from the Codex of Light to stop him.

    Thest part was dubious, but if there had indeed been an increase in ravens, it was worth considering.

    And Isaac added one more thing to the list.

    The Reaper from the Immortal Order was likely finishing his restoration and would be tracking Isaac soon.

    ¡®The charm of the Nephilim is unavoidable, but this is a bit too much poprity to handle.¡¯

    The merchants, noticing Isaac¡¯s interest in their conversation, kept a close eye on him. He¡¯d said that Leonora had called him, so he certainly wasn¡¯t an ordinary person, but they still couldn¡¯t discern his true identity.

    ¡°No matter how powerful the Holy Grail Knight is, he¡¯s going to get crushed for daring to stand in the way of the Golden Idol Guild¡¯s carriages.¡±

    ¡°Right, so what kind of person are you? With all these legendary figures gathering to capture the Holy Grail Knight, you must be quite the skilled individual yourself, right?¡±

    ¡°Oh, yes. In fact, I am that Holy Grail Knight.¡±

    The merchants stared nkly for a moment, not quite understanding what he meant.

    Isaac, deciding he had heard enough, stood up. It was only then that the merchants noticed his face beneath the hood, and their mouths fell open in shock.

    cing payment for the meal on the table, Isaac asked one of the merchants.

    ¡°So, where is this theater of Shalok¡¯s? I¡¯d like to go and get crushed to death.¡±

    ***

    ¡°Oh, Laante, have you been hiding your true identity from me all this time¡­?¡±

    ¡°No, put more emotion into it!¡±

    In Shalok¡¯s theater, which had no audience, Shalok was enthusiastically engrossed in his distasteful hobby of creating a terrible yte into the night. With the money he¡¯d received from histestmission and his previous experience, he hade up with the idea for a new y.

    He was already thinking of Leonora¡¯smission as a near-failure. Hiring the swordmaster from Elil was more for show than anything else. Whether it seeded or failed didn¡¯t matter. He had time to kill, so he decided to indulge in his hobby and blow through some money.

    But the actors, unable to endure the abysmal script, finally snapped.

    ¡°How am I supposed to convey emotion with a line like this?¡±

    Other actors were alsoining. They weren¡¯t happy with the y for various reasons.

    However, Shalok, determined to keep the newly hired actors in line, remained firm and pressed them even harder.

    ¡°Why can¡¯t you? You were paid to do it, weren¡¯t you? The female lead has just spent her first night with the beautiful Nephilim male lead, only to discover he is actually a hybrid¡ªpart octopus and part angel! Isn¡¯t that heartbreaking? And as for Laante¡¯s role, you should make your performance more¡­ fluid¡­¡±

    Whoosh. Just then, a sudden gust of wind blew, extinguishing the lights on the stage. Annoyed by the interruption while already dissatisfied with the actors¡¯ performance, Shalok dered a break.

    He sat down and started reading his own script, imagining the scenes in his head.

    ¡°Oh, Laante, have you been hiding your true identi¡ª¡±

    ¡°What identity?¡±

    As soon as he entered his office, a de pressed against Shalok¡¯s throat. A rough, saw-like de was held under his chin.

    Shalok, realizing immediately who the hidden figure in the dark was, whispered without any hint of surprise.

    ¡°Sir Holy Grail Knight, I knew you woulde!¡±

 Chapter 318.1

    ¡°You knew I¡¯de? Well, of course you did.¡±

    Isaac lowered Kaldwin with a look of exasperation.

    Shalok could pinpoint Isaac¡¯s location within a few kilometers. Since Isaac had arrived near Odryf Port a day ago, he had expected Shalok to know by now.

    The fact that he hadn¡¯t run away meant he hadn¡¯t betrayed him, at least.

    Shalok ced his script on the desk and perched on the edge.

    ¡°I expected you toe with your army. I¡¯ve heard of the reputation of the Issacrea Dawn Army. On the other hand, the Ciero Dawn Army is said to be in a stalemate at Kran Fortress. I wonder if they¡¯ll survive until the main force arrives.¡±

    ¡°If you¡¯re talking about Kran Fortress, it¡¯s already been liberated. The Ciero Dawn Army has retreated.¡±

    Shalok¡¯s face showed surprise, then he quickly adopted a calcting expression.

    He had suspected as much after seeing Isaac head southeast, but now he was thinking about how to profit from this information.But Isaac didn¡¯t intend to let him stray off topic.

    ¡°I brought back a bothersome curse from there.¡±

    ¡°A bothersome curse? Wait, you mean a curse from the Immortal Order?¡±

    ¡°Right. The curse is called ¡®Taxes and Death are Unavoidable.¡¯ Do you know it?¡±

    Shalok stared at Isaac, stunned. He realized why Isaac hade to find him. However, after scanning Isaac up and down, Shalok scratched his cheek awkwardly.

    ¡°Uh, well¡­ I don¡¯t really know.¡±

    ¡°There should be a bounty on my head. Haven¡¯t you seen any changes or signs?¡±

    ¡°How do you know so much about my abilities¡­? Well, to be honest, the 100,000 gold pieces Lady Leonora put on you isn¡¯t the whole story.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not?¡±

    ¡°Yes. To be precise, it¡¯s incalcble. There are those who want to pay and those who want to prevent payment, but none can settle on a proper price. If it were a matter of cutting off a few fingers and setting a price, that might be possible, but¡­¡±

    Isaac realized that Shalok had lied to him the first time they¡¯d met. But he couldn¡¯t me him. It was Isaac who had spoken roughly, guessing from the game¡¯s knowledge before Shalok could fully exin his abilities.

    It was understandable that Shalok had hidden the full extent of his abilities.

    ¡°So, it¡¯s still incalcble?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s been a slight change. But it¡¯s such an abstract concept that I can¡¯t decipher it.¡±

    ¡°Any guesses?¡±

    Shalok hesitated for a moment before speaking cautiously.

    ¡°People.¡±

    Isaac thought for a moment.

    A life for a life. It was a reasonable standard for a tax.

    The critical question was whose life the Immortal Order demanded. If it were specific lives, their faces would likely have appeared, but since it was abstract, it was probably humans who fit a certain criterion.

    ¡®That¡¯s troublesome.¡¯

    Killing innocent people to save his own life was a tough pill to swallow for Isaac, too.

    When the time came, he might find it hard to go through with it, but for now, he didn¡¯t feel inclined.

    It was possible that the Immortal Order had set the tax with this in mind, exploiting his reluctance.

    But regardless, he needed to know the exact tax standard to make a decision.

    ***

    After a brief moment of contemtion, Isaac realized there wasn¡¯t much else he could do.

    ¡°Well, I guess I have no choice. Where is Leonora?¡±

    ¡°Lady Leonora? She¡¯s at the Bessia estate, the headquarters of the Golden Idol Guild¡­ Are you really nning to go there?¡±

    Shalok didn¡¯t know about Leonora¡¯s abilities. Despite having simr talents, the two had led their lives inpletely different directions, which was fascinating in its own way.

    ¡°I just want to say hello.¡±

    ¡°Ah, well¡­ if you just stride into the Bessia estate like that, what does that say about me? Not that my reputation matters much, but I¡¯ve still done my part as a mercenary captain.¡±

    ¡°Your mission has already failed. Don¡¯t worry; you won¡¯t be kicked out. They¡¯ve even given you the right to nominate the next guild leader.¡±

    After all, the role Isaac had expected from Shalok was simply to keep Leonora from crossing the line until he arrived in Odryf.

    Now that he was in Odryf, all he had to do was pay her a visit and make his point directly.

    Isaac was about to give Shalok a polite warning not to overestimate himself when he noticed the odd ending to his words.

    ¡®He said he has *done* his part, not that he will do his part?¡¯

    Knock, knock. Just as he was about to ask what he meant, there was a knock on the door.

    ¡°Captain, the lights are ready. Should we resume the rehearsal, or should we just be sent home?¡±

    The actors, tired of waiting, hade to find Shalok themselves.

    When Isaac gestured to just send them away, Shalok sighed, nced at Isaac for permission, and turned the door handle.

    Bang! The moment the door cracked open, a female actor burst in, nearly knocking the door off its hinges.

    Isaac thought Shalok¡¯s atrocious script must have finally caused a problem when he saw the stiletto in the actress¡¯s hand. But from the moment she entered, her gaze was fixed on Isaac. The point of the de and her footsteps were both aimed directly at his heart.

    Crack! With no time to draw his sword, Isaac quickly blocked the stiletto with his left hand. The de pierced through his palm, but there was almost no pain.

    Before his tentacles could reveal themselves, Isaac broke the actress¡¯s wrist.

    But by then, she already had another stiletto in her other hand.

    Whoosh, whoosh! The stiletto cut through the air, slicing towards Isaac¡¯s throat with precision.

    Professional skill. Isaac barely managed to kick the actress in the chest and send her flying backward.

    ¡°Shalok, you crazy bastard¡­¡±

    Isaac was sure he¡¯d kicked her hard enough to break her ribs. But the actress was quickly restoring her broken bones.

    Leaning against the wall, Shalok wore an awkward expression.

    ¡°Haha, didn¡¯t you say I could keep attacking the way you did, Holy Grail Knight?¡±

    ¡°That doesn¡¯t mean hiring Wachian human hunters! Are you out of your mind?¡±

 Chapter 318.2

    Leaning against the wall, Shalok wore an awkward expression.

    ¡°Haha, didn¡¯t you say I could keep attacking the way you did, Holy Grail Knight?¡±

    ¡°That doesn¡¯t mean hiring Wachian human hunters! Are you out of your mind?¡±

    Isaac had heard about it at the ¡®Laughing Octopus¡¯ tavern, but he hadn¡¯t actually thought Shalok would go that far. It was too much of a burden. Not only were they hostile heretics, but how could anyone trust a group of bloodsucking cannibals and keep them nearby?

    He had considered it might just be a nasty rumor, but just in case, he had searched the theater beforehand, looking for any dark, damp, and cramped ces that Hesabel would frequent.

    ces simr to where cockroaches lived.

    But there had been no one.

    Shalok hadn¡¯t hidden the human hunters; he had openly cast them as actors.

    When Isaac saw more actors charging at him, he didn¡¯t hesitate to jump out the window.The followers of the Red Chalice were generally beautiful, so they¡¯d make decent actors.

    However, Shalok was probably the only lunatic within the Gerthonia Holy Empire who would think to use vampiric cannibals as actors.

    Bang! Thud! Human hunters followed Isaac, running along walls and leaping onto rooftops, starting a nightmarish chase that would be the talk of Odryf for a long time.

    ***

    Isaac sprinted through the streets at breakneck speed.

    He knew exactly where the Bessia estate was, so he knew the route well. The problem was that Odryf was one of the Empire¡¯srgest cities, and even at a full sprint, it would take nearly half a day to reach the estate from the outskirts.

    Especially with pursuers popping out of nowhere.

    Swoosh, thunk! Several arrows whizzed by, barely missing Isaac. The moment the arrows embedded themselves into the walls and ground, crimson spears burst forth like an explosion. Isaac quickly enveloped himself in the color beyond, shielding his vital areas, but he was still left with several wounds.

    Gritting his teeth, Isaac cursed under his breath.

    ¡®These aren¡¯t ordinary human hunters. They¡¯re at least on par with the Royal Guard!¡¯

    The Kingdom of Wachia was a society of unparalleled elitism. Bloodline was the determinant of rank and strength. The Royal Guard, in particr, wasposed of individuals who, though not officially in line for session, came from the three royal bloodlines.

    In other words, while there were individual differences, each one was at least on par with the Hesabel he had first met.

    Of course, the current Hesabel had grown immensely stronger since then, but even when they first met, she wasn¡¯t weak. Isaac had no way of defeating her back then without using his tentacles. And now he was facing professional hunters in a pack, not a pampered noblewoman.

    ¡®How the hell did they manage to hire these people? They don¡¯t move for money.¡¯

    Boom! Boom! Blood droplets scattered in the air, and dozens of spears rained down on Isaac. Swearing under his breath, he swung Kaldwin, slicing through the spear des. While they were sharp, they weren¡¯t durable and broke easily. But the human hunters had aplished their goal.

    They had seeded in halting Isaac before he could escape to the street.

    Tap, tap, tap. The walls, windows, rooftops, and alleyways were quickly filled with dozens of glowing red eyes. All of them were beautiful men and women, their faces expressionless, emanating a strong scent of blood.

    ¡°You wouldn¡¯t stop me unless you had something to say. What is it?¡±

    Isaac figured these people wouldn¡¯t have been hired by Shalok without a reason.

    There had to be a purpose beyond money, and Isaac had a rough idea of what it might be.

    Just as expected, a middle-aged woman with a sunken expression and a fur coat stepped out of a nearby alley.

    Among the followers of the Red Chalice, those of high rank rarely looked visibly aged or tired.

    Appearance was tied to status in Wachian society. For her to appear like this meant she was under immense pressure and was of a high enough rank that it didn¡¯t matter.

    ¡°Where is Hesabel?¡±

    The moment she spoke, Isaac felt a chill run down his spine.

    He recognized who she was.

    ¡°Duchess Hastel Gulmar?¡±

    The reclusive duchess, who almost never left her castle, had crossed not just her own territory, but even hostile religiousnds.

    The reason was obvious.

    The Gulmar family had likely lost all face due to Hesabel working as the ¡®hand and foot¡¯ of the Codex of Light¡¯s Holy Grail Knight. They hadn¡¯t even managed to retrieve the Rite of Division, and the angel that once blessed them had fallen silent.

    In the end, the Duchess had been forced to step in personally.

    ¡°Hesabel, the Rite of Division. Just give me those two, and I¡¯ll let you go.¡±

    Hastel Gulmar spoke as if she didn¡¯t have the energy for more, her tone filled with irritation. Isaac tilted his head.

    ¡°If you wait, I was nning to bring them to you anyway¡­ How about going back and waiting?¡±

    He meant it sincerely.

    That was what Elil had tasked Isaac with, after all. But Hastel seemed to take it as mockery.

    She waved her fingers dismissively, as if too tired to even get angry. The human hunters who were there to protect herunched themselves forward like arrows.

    Isaac was about to fight back when someone else suddenly descended from the sky.

    ¡°Amidst the thousand des, flowers scatter!¡±

    Crack! Countless petals of steel suddenly bloomed in the alley. The human hunters had unknowingly thrown themselves into a storm of des. The myriad des, stained with blood, shimmered like jewels in themplight.

    The human hunters hastily retreated, rapidly healing their wounds. It was nighttime, and they had only sustained cuts and stabs, so their recovery was swift. The real problem was the new presence that had appeared.

    Isaac looked up at Cedric, who had dropped from the sky, with disbelief.

    ¡°So, the swordmaster from Elil Shalok hired was you?¡±

    ¡°Well, I was paid, so I guess that makes us enemies for now. This one¡¯s life is mine. Do not bare your fangs, do not covet what is mine! You beautiful beasts!¡±

    Isaac had noticed Cedric¡¯s absence from the army Edelred had brought along.

    Then again, Cedric had always been a wanderer. It would be difficult for him to suddenly join a structured army. Isaac had half-expected this when he heard rumors of a swordmaster. Meeting him at this troublesome time was almost wee.

    Hastel, however, red at Cedric with a displeased expression.

    ¡°Sir Cedric, I overlooked you flirting with my subordinates because I heard you knew the Holy Grail Knight well. But didn¡¯t you suggest to Shalok that he hire us? And now you want to be greedy like this? If you wanted to take him alone, you should¡¯ve fought alone from the start.¡±

    Isaac shot a re at Cedric, but he only averted his eyes.

    Isaac had wondered how Shalok managed to hire human hunters; it turned out his ¡°confidence¡± was Cedric. And Cedric had rmended it.

    Finally unable to bear Isaac¡¯s gaze, Cedric muttered an excuse.

    ¡°The human hunters were already in the city. Honestly, I also wanted to meet Lady Hesabel. She¡¯s mentioned some interesting things.¡±

    ¡°Please, just die quietly somewhere out of sight.¡±

    ¡°Please don¡¯t tell Lady Hesabel.¡±

    Isaac clenched his teeth and ground them in frustration.

    He had briefly hoped that Cedric might have infiltrated the city to secretly turn the tide, but then he remembered that Cedric wasn¡¯t the type to be that clever.

    Isaac, Cedric, and the human hunters were locked in a tense standoff, with none daring to make the first move.

    But that bnce didn¡¯tst long. Isaac heard a horrific wail echo from the night sky.

    He didn¡¯t need to look to know what it was.

    Isaac decided on his course of action. He¡¯d run away in the opposite direction of wherever that sound wasing from.

    It didn¡¯t matter if there were human hunters in that direction. Anything was better than that.

    Screeee¡­

    A massive scythe, freshly restored, sliced through the air above Odryf with a sharp whistle, emerging from a crack in the sky. The Reaper was back.

 Chapter 319.1

    ¡°What the hell is that?¡±

    Duchess Hastel Gulmar squinted up at the sky. The sound was sharp, but the source was too distant to see clearly. Only Isaac, who knew exactly what it was, responded immediately.

    He turned on his heel and started running. The human hunters who had been blocking his path simultaneously drew their stilettos and charged.

    ¡°Get out of my way!¡±

    Isaac drew Kaldwin and swung it in one swift motion.

    The thin stilettos shattered the moment they made contact with the hefty longsword, Kaldwin. But that was exactly what the attackers intended. The stilettos, made from the human hunters¡¯ blood, twisted and melted upon breaking, wrapping around Kaldwin like restraints.

    At the same time, other human hunters thrust their des toward the gaps in Isaac¡¯s armor, exploiting the openings. It was a method specifically designed for hunting knights well-versed in swordsmanship. However, Isaac was already familiar with this style of hunting.

    Fortunately, Kaldwin now had a new function, perfect for this situation.

    Crunch! Isaac exerted light pressure on his wrist, and the blood restraints gripping Kaldwin shattered and crumbled instantly.The restraints broke and turned ck from within, drying up and cracking.

    The human hunters, caught off guard, hesitated. But they were too deep in to retreat.

    Isaac immediately swung the now freed Kaldwin, shing two human hunters in rapid session. One received a long gash across the chest, while the other was cut from shoulder to waist. Though they staggered and fell, such wounds were not fatal to beings like them, as long as they had blood left in their bodies to regenerate.

    ¡°Guh, aaargh¡­!¡±

    Contrary to expectations, their recovery wasn¡¯t happening quickly. The wounds, ckened and shriveled, continued to bleed profusely instead of healing. For vampires, bleeding out was more dangerous than the injuries themselves, so the other human hunters paled at the sight.

    This was the ability of the ¡®Corrupted Kaldwin¡¯ that Isaac had acquired after destroying the Reaper¡¯s scythe at Kran Fortress. The weapon¡¯s new power, ¡®Life Drain for the Living, Spiritual Damage for the Dead,¡¯ was devastatingly effective against the followers of the Red Chalice.

    Isaac had hoped Kaldwin would instill enough fear to make them back off, but the human hunters were elite warriors.

    ¡°Fall back and fire the crossbows!¡±

    Hastel shouted sharply from the sidelines. The human hunters quickly scaled the walls and distanced themselves from Isaac. But that was exactly what Isaac had hoped for.

    He turned and ran without looking back.

    ***

    ¡°Cut off his limbs and impale him on a spear! He¡¯s tough, so he probably won¡¯t die!¡±

    Watching Isaac flee, Hastel screamed hysterically.

    But another annoying interruption intruded upon her focus.

    ¡°I told you, he¡¯s mine, Duchess!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s ¡®Duke¡¯!¡±

    Cedric swiftly struck down the human hunters with his rapier as they attempted to pursue Isaac. The human hunters tried to block him, but it was nearly impossible to counter an Elil swordmaster, especially one whose forte was speed.

    Thwack, crunch, thud! The human hunters staggered and fell, each pierced by the rapier. A small wound from a rapier wasn¡¯t normally enough to seriously harm them. However, Cedric¡¯s attacks were surgically precise, targeting only the most critical areas.

    ¡°Heart, liver, lungs! These are your weak points, are they not?¡±

    The followers of the Red Chalice, despite their pursuit of immortality, still relied on their organs. No matter how grotesquely they altered their bodies, they could not tamper with these vital parts.

    Because of this, they had a few vulnerabilities even with their formidable regenerative abilities. Namely, the heart that circted their blood, the liver that purified the miracles within their blood, and the lungs that supplied oxygen to it.

    How they handled damage to these organs determined their rank and skill as human hunters. But when all of these organs were damaged at once, it was difficult for anyone to react.

    The human hunters didn¡¯tck regeneration, but they copsed on the spot, losing consciousness before they could heal. Watching this, Hastel gritted her teeth.

    ¡°You¡¯ve been observing us!¡±

    ¡°Haha, did you think I was hanging around you vampires just to waste time?¡±

    In truth, Hastel had underestimated Cedric.

    Although he was called Elil¡¯s swordmaster, he had seemed too easily tempted and full of openings.

    She had even considered converting him into a follower of the Red Chalice, but now she realized that Cedric had been analyzing their weaknesses all along.

    Hastel had no choice but to step in herself.

    Cedric wasn¡¯t the issue. Her target was Isaac. While some human hunters had already circumvented Cedric to chase after Isaac, it wouldn¡¯t be enough to capture him.

    As a duchess, she had to intervene personally. She couldn¡¯t let herself be dyed by someone like Cedric.

    Hastel moved her fingers as if conducting a symphony. The human hunters who had fallen to the ground suddenly rose, their joints twisting grotesquely as they charged at Cedric. Though he quickly aimed for their weak points again, it was useless.

    Their organs were still as destroyed as before.

    ¡°Zombies? No, it can¡¯t be¡­¡±

    Hastel was manipting the blood within the human hunters¡¯ bodies, using them as puppets. They moved awkwardly, ignoring their twisted joints and muscles, but they were still able to walk, run, and attack in this monstrous state.

    When one of the human hunters got close to Cedric, Hastel mimed twisting her hand. The hunter¡¯s body exploded, transforming into hundreds of daggers that flew toward Cedric.

    ¡°You wicked creature!¡±

    Cedric hurriedly deflected the blood daggers, but he couldn¡¯t block them all. Some of the daggers, fused with the human hunter¡¯s bones and muscles, twisted into grotesque shapes that pierced Cedric. Despite his best efforts, he was forced back, wounded in several ces.

    It had all happened in a split second, but Cedric¡¯s body was now covered in injuries. The daggers had expanded upon impact, worsening the wounds.

    ¡°Do you think the Duchy of Wachia is a joke, you dog of Elil? I have Elil¡¯s blood flowing through my veins, purer than any of yours.¡±

 Chapter 319.2

    It had all happened in a split second, but Cedric¡¯s body was now covered in injuries. The daggers had expanded upon impact, worsening the wounds.

    ¡°Do you think the Duchy of Wachia is a joke, you dog of Elil? I have Elil¡¯s blood flowing through my veins, purer than any of yours.¡±

    The royalty of Wachia, the three ducal houses, alternated as kings, but they all shared onemonality: they drank the blood of the Dancer. The Dancer was a child of Elil, and their blood flowed through the dukes, making it no exaggeration to say they carried Elil¡¯s lineage.

    Hastel sneered, preparing a final strike to finish off Cedric.

    At that moment, the eerie wail she had been ignoring in the heat of the fight grew too loud to dismiss. She looked up with a frown to see the Reaper¡¯s giant scythe, gliding closer to the ground, its de gleaming in the moonlight.

    ¡°What in the world¡­? Stop that!¡±

    Sensing the overwhelming threat, several human hunters wove a of blood and hurled it at the scythe. The was as tough as steel, but the scythe sliced through both the and the hunters with terrifying ease.

    Swish! As the scythe continued its path, Hastel snapped out of her shock and wed her palm to draw blood. Her blood was mixed with the blood of the Dancer, making it as potent as a holy relic on its own.

    She swung a sword made of blood at the Reaper¡¯s scythe.Crack! For a moment, it seemed as though the scythe hesitated, but then her vision spun.

    Hastel btedly realized that the blood sword had shattered, and at the same time, the scythe had cut through her waist.

    ¡°Duchess!¡±

    The human hunters screamed and ran to her. But the scythe paid no attention to Hastel and flew off in another direction.

    It was headed where Isaac had disappeared.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine. It¡¯s just a minor wound.¡±

    Her words sounded like a jokeing from someone whose upper and lower halves were separated. But in truth, Hastel was already transforming her severed lower body into a mist of blood and reconnecting it to herself. It had been a terrifying moment. In her hundreds of years of life, she had never experienced such humiliation.

    ¡®That was¡­ an Immortal Order miracle?¡¯

    The scythe radiated the sanctity of an angelic weapon and the immense power of death. It had to be an Immortal Order miracle. Hastel¡¯s blood, imbued with her own sanctity, couldn¡¯t withstand the deathly aura.

    For some reason, the miracle was targeting Isaac.

    She had survived only because the miracle was entirely focused on Isaac. If she had been the target, she would have died instantly.

    ¡°Cedric¡­ has already fled.¡±

    While Hastel was cut by the Reaper¡¯s scythe, Cedric had vanished as well. She no longer concerned herself with him. The important target was Isaac.

    However, she hadn¡¯t forgotten about Cedricpletely.

    ¡°Cedric is not an ally; he is an enemy. He approached us from the start to monitor and counter us. Consider him an enemy if you encounter him.¡±

    It was an obvious statement, but Hastel made it clear nheless.

    Her head throbbed. She had thought she just needed toe to Odryf and hunt Isaac. But now she couldn¡¯t grasp how many forces were targeting or protecting Isaac at the same time.

    ¡°Shall we continue pursuing Isaac?¡±

    One of the human hunters asked. Hastel was about to respond affirmatively, but then she changed her mind.

    Chasing him down and catching him honestly wasn¡¯t efficient. It also wasn¡¯t in line with the doctrine of the Red Chalice.

    ¡°Did you say Isaac has a grudge against Leonora Bessia?¡±

    Hastel had an idea of where Isaac was heading.

    Rather than chasing the prey, setting a trap and waiting was the way of the Red Chalice.

    ***

    The majority of human hunters who hadn¡¯t been caught up in the fight with Cedric continued to pursue Isaac. Isaac found it difficult to run straight toward the Bessia estate due to theplex alleys of Odryf, the Reaper¡¯s pursuit, and the human hunters blocking his way.

    Individually, they weren¡¯t a problem. But when many small problemsbined into one, they became a difficult knot to untangle.

    Isaac was starting to get genuinely annoyed.

    ¡®The Red Chalice¡­ Didn¡¯t they say they¡¯d cooperate with me and sent Hesabel to assist? How the hell are these small fry still tagging along? What are they doing?¡¯

    At that moment, his surroundings suddenly brightened. He had emerged from the dark alleys of Odryf into a bustling main street. Despite thete hour, the city was still teeming with people.

    A street vendor, startled by the sight of Isaac rushing out with a sword, stumbled backward in shock. Isaac tried to retreat back into another alley to avoid involving the citizens, but a human hunter on the roof fired a crossbow at him.

    The arrow flew towards the vendor without any regard for who it might hit.

    Before the arrow could pierce the vendor, Isaac blocked it with his left hand. The fury he had been holding back finally erupted from his eyes.

    ¡°You bastard.¡±

    In an instant, Isaac propelled himself up onto the roof as if he had been shot out of a cannon. He had activated Kaldwin¡¯s eleration ability. While he was reluctant to use one of his three daily activations on theseckeys, he rarely had the chance to use all three in a day anyway.

    Since he had neverunched himself onto the rooftops before, the human hunters were taken aback and quickly aimed their crossbows. But Isaac cut them down with such blinding speed that they were torn apart faster than they could regenerate.

    The human hunters, trying to avoid getting shed, scattered in all directions like cockroaches. But Isaac still managed to catch another one, grabbing him by the back of the head. This time, instead of slicing him, he mmed the hunter¡¯s head into the roof.

    Crack. The roof shattered, and Isaac and the human hunter tumbled into the attic below. Isaac, holding down the struggling hunter, nted a Parasite from Beyond into his brain.

    Crunch. The parasite burrowed through the skull and devoured the brainstem, making the hunter¡¯s body convulse violently before going still. Isaac then activated his ¡®Offspring of Chaos¡¯ ability on the hunter.

    Snap, crackle.

    In an instant, the parasite devoured the hunter¡¯s flesh, bones, and fluids, transforming him into something entirely different from before.

    Rustle¡­ Finally, tearing through a thin husk, Hesabel emerged. She straightened her hair with a slightly fatigued expression.

    ¡°This doesn¡¯t feel particrly pleasant.¡±

    Isaac had always wondered whether this ability to summon minions of Chaos would work on Hesabel. Unlike the other monstrous followers, Hesabel was still close to being human. But after several experiments, the conclusion was clear.

    Regardless of their origin, what mattered was how much the subject was influenced by Chaos¡ªIsaac¡¯s choice.

    A new yer had entered the dreadful night in Odryf.

 Chapter 320.1

    ¡°You already know what¡¯s happening, don¡¯t you?¡±

    Isaac had already expressed his intent to Hesabel.

    ¡®Stop or kill the human hunters and Hastel Gulmar.¡¯

    To an outsider, it might seem like an impossible request.

    He was, after all, asking her to fight against those who shared the same faith, were from the same country, and were of the same blood. But Isaac already knew that she would ept without hesitation, even before she responded.

    Hesabel smiled brightly.

    ¡°I always wanted to kill my mother with my own hands. Thank you for the opportunity, Isaac.¡±

    With a soft sound, two stilettos slid into her hands as if by magic. She pped her wings and shot out through the hole in the ceiling. The human hunters, who had regrouped after scattering, were startled by the sudden appearance of the crimson-winged beauty.

    Without giving them time to reform their ranks, Hesabel spun and stabbed her stilettos into the chest and neck of the two nearest hunters.She wasn¡¯t trying to merely wound them.

    The two stilettos served as both ¡®straws¡¯ and ¡®spouts.¡¯

    Modified through Hesabel¡¯s enhanced bodily mutation ability, the stilettos were equipped with numerous tiny holes and channels. The moment they pierced the human hunters, they began to rapidly draw blood into Hesabel¡¯s body.

    ¡°Hesabel! It¡¯s Hesabel Gulmar!¡±

    One of the hunters, recognizing her face, shouted urgently. As soon as Hesabel felt she had absorbed enough blood, she withdrew the stilettos and swung them at the other hunters.

    The human hunters gathered here were the direct guards of the Gulmar Duchy. They had watched over Hesabel since she was a child, and some had even been her instructors. However, Hesabel didn¡¯t hesitate at all.

    It wasn¡¯t that she was particrly cruel orcked empathy.

    It¡¯s an unspoken but well-known fact that the ones who kill the most human hunters in the Red Chalice Club are often other human hunters. And most murders ur within the same family.

    It¡¯s alsomon for a sessor to suddenly inherit a title due to the sudden disappearance of the head of the family, and it¡¯s just asmon for sessors to disappear as well.

    To say it¡¯s horrific simply means one doesn¡¯t understand their society.

    Vampires continue to grow stronger until they are killed. If even this cycle of murder and conspiracy isn¡¯t acknowledged, Wachian society would stagnate in an instant.

    The tacit encouragement of assassination and schemes is to prevent such stagnation. Thus, when a child kills a parent, the appropriate emotion isn¡¯t betrayal but pride.

    Hesabel was merely behaving like a typical follower of the Red Chalice.

    However, during her journey with Isaac, she learned that the world wasn¡¯t solely driven by daggers and blood. Instead of killing them, she drained just enough blood to incapacitate the human hunters before knocking them out.

    Watching her, Isaac prepared to move again. He could now leave his back to Hesabel and head straight for the Bessia estate.

    Swish!

    ¡°Damn it¡­¡±

    Before Isaac could leave, the Reaper¡¯s scythe suddenly tore through the wall and roof of the building, shing at Isaac.

    His body was flung through the air and out of the building in an instant. The human hunters, seeing their chance, prepared to attack again.

    But Hesabel shouted sharply.

    ¡°Stop!¡±

    ***

    Hesabel currently had no authority to give orders to the human hunters.

    However, she was still the designated heir of the Gulmar family and carried some of the Dancer¡¯s blood. The human hunters hesitated involuntarily.

    During that brief pause, Isaac disappeared from their sight.

    Hesabel, relieved that hermand had still held some weight, pressed them further.

    ¡°Under whose orders do you dare raise your des against me? Do you not know who I am?¡±

    The human hunters realized they weren¡¯t being ¡®controlled¡¯ by Hastel as they usually were. But one of the human hunters, staying calm, spoke to Hesabel.

    ¡°Young Lady, the Duke is very angry. Please, return now.¡±

    ¡°Return? What do you mean, return? Why now, of all times?¡±

    ¡°Are you really nning to betray the Red Chalice? The Duke has ordered you to return.¡±

    Despite the desperate plea, they had already received orders to eliminate Hesabel. Their words were nothing more than a ruse to lure her into a vulnerable position so they could kill her. They nned to return with her, chopped into dozens of pieces, inside their bellies.

    However, Hesabel simply smiled condescendingly.

    ¡°Betray the Red Chalice? You¡¯re just spouting nonsense without knowing anything.¡±

    Hesabel reached behind her back. The human hunters, expecting her to draw a new weapon, tensed, but what Hesabel pulled out was somethingpletely unexpected.

    ¡°You foolish wretches. Only now do you realize your eyes are being scorched by the sun.¡±

    What she pulled out was none other than the Rite of Division.

    It was the dagger with which the Dancer had torn out Elil¡¯s heart. It was a relic revered even among the highest echelons of the Red Chalice Club. Seeing the relic before them, the human hunters felt a wave of confusion.

    Hesabel had been sent to retrieve the Rite of Division. They had heard she had failed and had been captured by the Holy Grail Knight, enved, and stripped of her ¡®tainted¡¯ blood. Their mission was to eliminate her and retrieve the desecrated ¡®blood.¡¯

    But Hesabel already possessed the Rite of Division. They had no idea what was going on.

    ¡°Then why didn¡¯t you return?¡±

    ¡°Do you really not understand what I¡¯m doing?¡±

    Hesabel didn¡¯t give a clear answer and stared at the human hunters with a haughty gaze. For a moment, they felt a chill run down their spines.

    Hesabel had clearly grown much stronger since she left the Kingdom of Wachia, had seeded in retrieving the relic, and, despitemitting an unforgivable sin, had not faced any condemnation from the angels.

    The human hunters began to think that perhaps the rumors circting among themon folk might bepletely different from the truth.

    ¡°Could it be that you¡¯ve seeded in seducing the Holy Grail Knight?¡±

    ¡°Do I need to prove anything more to you?¡±

    Hesabel ced the Rite of Division back at her waist.

    She hadn¡¯t explicitly confirmed anything, but the way she spoke in veiled terms was typical of Wachian nobility. The human hunters felt a chill as they considered this shocking turn of events.

    Perhaps it wasn¡¯t Hesabel who had be the ve, but rather the Holy Grail Knight Isaac of Issacrea.

 Chapter 320.2

    She hadn¡¯t explicitly confirmed anything, but the way she spoke in veiled terms was typical of Wachian nobility. The human hunters felt a chill as they considered this shocking turn of events.

    Perhaps it wasn¡¯t Hesabel who had be the ve, but rather the Holy Grail Knight Isaac of Issacrea.

    Perhaps the princess of Wachia had seduced and nowmanded the saint of the Codex of Light, the Holy Grail Knight, chosen by the Archangel.

    Of course, this was all spection. The human hunters weren¡¯t foolish enough to be swayed by such conjecture alone.

    After all, their life and death were still under the control of the current Duke, Hastel Gulmar. But the evidence of the Rite of Division in Hesabel¡¯s hands was toopelling.

    In other words, if Hesabel were to be the head of the Gulmar family, there would be no problem.

    Hesabel knew this well and maintained her arrogant demeanor as she spoke.

    ¡°The current head is old and decrepit. She¡¯s been holed up in her estate for hundreds of years due to her delusions, sending her sessors to harshnds and devouring them, refusing to leave. The sorry state of the Gulmar family now is because of her, is it not?¡±

    The human hunters thought privately that the downfall of the Gulmar family had begun with Hastel Gulmar stealing the Rite of Division, but they remained silent on the matter. That silence indicated their tacit agreement to Hesabel.In the Wachian society, the session of titles was often a result of internal consensus and conspiracy. This was why even dukes with powerful personal guards were assassinated, and why most murders weremitted within families rather than by outsiders.

    Whatever the truth was, only one thing mattered:

    Whether Hesabel was truly fit to be the head of the Gulmar family.

    A human hunter, bowing respectfully, asked Hesabel.

    ¡°Family matters should be resolved within the family, don¡¯t you agree, My Lady?¡±

    Hesabel¡¯s lips curled into a satisfied smile.

    Isaac truly was a master of deception and intrigue.

    Just by being by his side, she could deceive everyone like this.

    ***

    While things seemed to be going smoothly for Hesabel, Isaac found himself in a far less pleasant situation.

    Crack, smash! The Reaper¡¯s scythe shed and gouged through walls, trees, and any obstacles in its path, relentlessly pursuing him. Thankfully, it was now much smaller than before. Its reduced size also meant a smaller range of destruction.

    But it was faster and sharper. It seemed that the condensed power had altered its strategy.

    ¡®This is a bit troublesome.¡¯

    If only he could see the Reaper itself, it would have been better. At least then he could attack the scythe-wielding figure. But with just the weapon moving on its own, it was difficult to predict or counter its movements.

    He couldn¡¯t summon the Hidden Rite and call forth his tentacles to destroy it as he did at Kran Fortress.

    Using his abilities in a prosperous city like this would draw far too much attention.

    Moreover, the Hidden Rite didn¡¯t transport him to apletely different world.

    It merely created a veil that prevented external observation or interference. Everything caught inside that veil¡ªbuildings, people¡ªwould suffer real damage.

    ng! Kaldwin shed with the scythe again, producing a deafening sound. The one relief was that, unlike before, the impact didn¡¯t send him flying.

    ¡®Is this thanks to Kaldwin¡¯s transformation?¡¯

    It had the property of inflicting spiritual damage on the dead. Perhaps it was helping mitigate the Reaper¡¯s attacks. It might have even taken on some properties simr to the Reaper¡¯s scythe.

    Boom, crash! As Isaac blocked another attack and was pushed back, he was suddenly greeted by the cool sound of waves and a refreshing breeze.

    It was the sound of the ocean. He had reached the southern harbor.

    If he could just run along the coast, he would reach the Bessia estate and find Leonora. But he wasn¡¯t sure if he could talk to her while the scythe continued to dance on his back.

    Just then, several things happened to solve Isaac¡¯s doubts.

    ¡°Who¡¯s there? What¡¯s all thismotion?¡±

    A group of soldiers in borate armor came running.

    At the center of the group was none other than Leonora.

    The disturbances throughout Odryf had naturally been reported to the Bessia estate. The quickest to respond had been Leonora, who was already on high alert. She immediately mobilized her troops and personally tookmand.

    And now, she had arrived at the scene.

    ¡°Isaac?¡±

    Despite thete hour and the distance, Leonora recognized him instantly. She couldn¡¯t see his face, but she couldn¡¯t forget the aura of golden energy that surrounded him. However, she also noticed something different.

    ¡°What on earth have you brought with you¡­?¡±

    Isaac tried to speak to Leonora, but the Reaper gave him no such chance.

    Screeeech! The scythe tore through the night sky with a shriek, slicing toward Isaac. The horrifying sound made even the soldiers falter, but Leonora was the only one who remained unfazed. She recognized the nature of the unholy curse and stepped forward confidently.

    In her hand was a white coin engraved with a goat. It wasn¡¯t made of metal but of processed bone, a relic containing a power that shouldn¡¯t exist in the territory of the Codex of Light.

    As the Reaper¡¯s scythe swung toward Isaac again, Leonora flicked the white bone coin into the air.

    ¡°Not today.¡±

    In an instant, as if snatched away by an invisible hand, the coin and the Reaper both disappeared with a soft swoosh. Isaac, who had been bracing for another attack, was stunned by the sudden turn of events. He immediately understood what had happened.

    ¡®Death¡¯s Reprieve? She used such a precious item on me?¡¯

    ¡®Death¡¯s Reprieve¡¯ was a relic that could remove the source of death for anywhere from half a day to a full day. It could only be created by the Immortal Order, and its paradoxical nature meant it was produced in limited quantities.

    The Golden Idol Guild, which traded with the Immortal Order without hesitation, possessing such an item wasn¡¯t surprising. But to obtain one, the guild must have paid a significant price.

    Yet Leonora had used this precious relic, herst resort for saving her own life, without hesitation.

    Leonora, however, showed no regret or hesitation as she looked at Isaac.

    ¡°You¡¯ve finally made it.¡±

    The words weren¡¯t from Leonora or Isaac.

    As if falling from the sky like a raindrop, Hastel appeared behind Leonora.

 Chapter 321.1

    Isaac hadn¡¯t sensed Hastel¡¯s presence at all, which meant she must have been hiding in some strange form. Before anyone could react, Hastel had already wrapped a thin, crimson thread around Leonora¡¯s neck. The thread was so sharp that a thin line of blood immediately oozed out where it touched her skin.

    ¡®Is she trying to take a hostage?¡¯

    Isaac looked at Hastel in disbelief.

    It was surprising that Leonora had saved him, but that was all it was¡ªa surprise. There was no real connection between them. Isaac didn¡¯t care about Leonora, so taking her hostage wouldn¡¯t work on him.

    Moreover, Isaac didn¡¯t negotiate with hostage-takers.

    Hastel knew this as well.

    Instead of addressing Isaac, she shouted loudly, making sure everyone around could hear her.

    ¡°I¡¯m taking Leonora Bessia. The Golden Idol Guild should prepare Hesabel, the Rite of Division, and the head of the Holy Grail Knight by sunrise. I¡¯ll return when it¡¯s ready.¡±

    As soon as she finished her deration, a thick blood mist enveloped them. By the time people rushed in and cut through the mist, Hastel and Leonora were gone.The soldiers, having lost their charge right before their eyes, exchanged pale, panicked looks.

    Their eyes quickly turned toward Isaac.

    ***

    ¡°How ridiculous.¡±

    Isaac clicked his tongue at Hastel¡¯s cunning move.

    Taking a hostage wouldn¡¯t work on him. After all, he and Leonora were enemies. But Hastel wasn¡¯t trying to pressure Isaac; she was threatening the entire Golden Idol Guild. Instead of shouldering the burden of dealing with Isaac herself, she was attempting to mobilize the whole city of Odryf, the guild¡¯s stronghold.

    The idea that one should never give in to hostage demands wouldn¡¯t matter here. If Leonora, the most promising candidate for the next guild leader, were to die, countless people who depended on her would be ruined. For those whose livelihoods were at stake, ideals and principles didn¡¯t mean much.

    ¡°Sir Holy Grail Knight, we must rescue the Vice-Guild Master.¡±

    The man who spoke was pale with anxiety. It was the coachman who had been apanying Leonora earlier.

    For now, he didn¡¯t seem to be thinking, ¡®Let¡¯s kill the Holy Grail Knight and meet her demands.¡¯ But as sunrise approached, that option would likely cross their minds.

    ¡°Excuse me, but the Rite of Division and Hesabel¡ªthose are the Red Chalice relic and the Red Chalice woman traveling with you, correct?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    The coachman hesitated before speaking cautiously, visibly anxious.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but it seems like this problem arose between the kidnapper and you, Sir Holy Grail Knight. It¡¯s not really our guild¡¯s concern, so could you possibly make some concessions?¡±

    Isaac didn¡¯t retort by pointing out that they had hired mercenaries and assassins to attack and threaten him. Even without that, as long as Isaac had the Rite of Division and Hesabel in his possession, Hastel Gulmar would have pursued him sooner orter. Shalok had just been used.

    Despite this, Isaac felt annoyed by the guild¡¯s tant audacity.

    ¡°Your Golden Idol Guild hired mercenaries and assassins to attack and threaten me. And now you¡¯re asking me to hand over what I have and rescue the Vice-Guild Master? How brazen.¡±

    ¡°But didn¡¯t Vice-Guild Master Leonora just help you?¡±

    ¡°I have no reason to y along with Leonora¡¯s whims.¡±

    He understood that. Yet Isaac still couldn¡¯tprehend why Leonora, after cornering him so relentlessly, had suddenly chosen to save him.

    A mere whim? A change of heart? He had no idea. Not knowing why she had such a change of heart meant she could change it again at any moment.

    Isaac wanted to avoid being swayed by the whims of others.

    The atmosphere grew tense, but then a loud p echoed through the air.

    ¡°Phew, phew¡­ I thought I was going to die running here. I¡¯m not toote, am I?¡±

    It was Shalok. Arge group of mercenaries followed behind him. It was unclear whether they were here to help Isaac or subdue him.

    Isaac decided to update him on the situation first.

    ¡°Leonora has been kidnapped.¡±

    ¡°What? By who¡­ Oh, the Duchess Gulmar?¡±

    ¡°Yeah. She wants the Rite of Division, Hesabel, and my head by sunrise.¡±

    Hearing this, Shalok quickly assessed the tense standoff between the guild soldiers and Isaac. He tilted his head, as if it wasn¡¯t a difficult problem.

    ¡°Then you should go rescue her, shouldn¡¯t you?¡±

    Isaac didn¡¯t respond. Shalok turned to the coachman with a puzzled expression.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t Lady Leonora rescind the order to subdue the Holy Grail Knight?¡±

    ¡°She didn¡¯t say anything about that before she was taken. But we saw her personally dispel the shadow of death cast over the Holy Grail Knight.¡±

    ¡°Then it means she has no intention of subduing him, doesn¡¯t it? It means the order is canceled, right?¡±

    ¡°She didn¡¯t explicitly say that¡­¡±

    ¡°Do you only deal with what¡¯s written in contracts? Is that really what matters right now? Do you not know how to do business?¡±

    Before the coachman could retort, Shalok turned to Isaac with a bright smile.

    ¡°The Golden Idol Guild is not hostile to the Holy Grail Knight. I guarantee it, as the Commander of the Mercenaries. So, the problem is resolved, right?¡±

    Isaac found his assessment of Shalok improving slightly as he watched him sort out the situation quickly.

    As he said, Isaac now had to rescue Leonora.

    Because the Reaper hadn¡¯t truly disappeared.

    Leonora had paid the price of a ¡®Death¡¯s Reprieve,¡¯ meaning it was only postponed¡ªit wouldn¡¯t happen today. To settle the debtpletely, Isaac needed to meet Leonora and uncover the nature of the debt. Addressing the issue with Ang could wait until afterward.

    One way or another, Isaac had no choice but to save Leonora.

    It was just that it was difficult to move forward with his enemies at his back. Fortunately, Shalok had cleared the path.

    ¡°But how do you n to rescue her if you don¡¯t know where she is?¡±

    At this, Shalok grinned.

    ¡°Why do you think I hired those human hunters, who aren¡¯t exactly pleasing to the eye? I couldn¡¯t just let them roam freely around Odryf. By keeping them confined to one area, it was easier to monitor and control them. Of course, I know where they¡¯re hiding.¡±

    ***

    A cold night breeze blew through the cracks in the walls, making a haunting sound.

    Leonora knew exactly where she was. It was an abandoned lighthouse on the outskirts of Odryf Harbor. As soon as Hastel arrived at the lighthouse, she left Leonora in a corner and ignored her.

    This didn¡¯t mean Leonora was free to escape. The thin red thread was still wrapped around her neck, and Hastel was ready to decapitate her if she moved faster than a crawl.

    Hastel didn¡¯t forget to give her a warning.

    ¡°The miracle of the Red Chalice can heal wounds very quickly. You understand what that means, right?¡±

    ¡°It means you could chop off my limbs to keep me confined if necessary.¡±

 Chapter 321.2

    ¡°The miracle of the Red Chalice can heal wounds very quickly. You understand what that means, right?¡±

    ¡°It means you could chop off my limbs to keep me confined if necessary.¡±

    Leonora responded nonchntly.

    Hastel thought she was bluffing and scoffed, but Leonora wasn¡¯t nervous at all. This wasn¡¯t the first time she had been threatened by a Wachian Duke.

    The Golden Idol Guild dealt with the Immortal Order.

    Which, of course, meant they also did business with the Kingdom of Wachia.

    And true to their faith of indulging in physical pleasures, Wachians were sensitive to all manner of luxuries, hedonism, spices, and trends. They were among the guild¡¯s most valuable VIP customers.

    ¡°Are you sure you¡¯ll be alright?¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±¡°I¡¯m very close with Her Majesty Sageya Roanoke of Wachia. I give her advice on her quarterly wardrobe designs. I¡¯ve also been invited to Duke Luetta Ere¡¯s parties.¡±

    Being extremely wealthy meant being very well-connected with the upper echelons of society, who desired that wealth. And while she had no intention of doing so because it wasn¡¯t profitable, Leonora could potentially buy the entire Gulmar family with her private funds alone.

    A miracle only the Golden Idol Guild, with its financial power, could achieve.

    Leonora subtly hinted that she wouldn¡¯t be an easy target, and Hastel¡¯s expression stiffened. As a skilled assassin, she could tell when someone was lying, and Leonora didn¡¯t seem to be bluffing.

    Leonora tilted her head slightly and looked at Hastel.

    ¡°It¡¯s my first time meeting the renowned Duchess Gulmar. I¡¯ve always wanted to, but I heard you never leave your castle. You don¡¯t attend banquets, balls, or tea parties. How do you entertain yourself?¡±

    ¡°¡­You can have plenty of fun at home without going out.¡±

    Hastel shuddered as if the mere mention of banquets and balls gave her the chills.

    ¡°Wasting time on such pointless activities is far less productive than doing something constructive.¡±

    ¡°Constructive? Like what?¡±

    ¡°Reading, chess, music, painting, sculpture, theater. There¡¯s so much, I can¡¯t even list it all.¡±

    ¡°Oh, you have a deep appreciation for the arts! I thought there was something different, a more intellectual and mature aura about you. It alles from your years of experience.¡±

    ¡°Hmph, are youparing me to those empty-headed fools? True pleasure lies in the fullness of the senses. The vacuous aristocrats of Wachia focus only on the most primal of the senses¡ªsight and taste. But can they understand the feeling of admiring a sculpture that captures the texture of rough stone, or the foreign music yed by an orchestra? Do they¡­ Why am I chatting with you?!¡±

    Hastel snapped, turning away from Leonora with irritation. Leonora clicked her tongue, disappointed. She had almost secured a new client.

    ¡°Talking to me won¡¯t change the situation. If I¡¯m in trouble, you¡¯ll be in trouble too, so let¡¯s just continue our conversation.¡±

    ¡°Talk about what? I have nothing to say.¡±

    ¡°Large banquets and balls deal with many items and are valuable markets. But the ¡®real¡¯ luxury is in the hobbies of people like you, Duchess Gulmar.¡±

    ¡°¡­What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°People mine stones from deserts roamed by undead to create beautiful sculptures. They spend a fortune to buy instruments made by artisans centuries ago. What about paintings of Elil or the Dancer, captured by ancient artists?¡±

    Leonora¡¯s eyes sparkled as she leaned closer to Hastel.

    ¡°Have you ever seen such ¡®real¡¯ works of art? Standing before a masterpiece crafted by a true genius can make your whole body tremble. But that¡¯s a feeling only those with a discerning eye can experience¡­ I¡¯m guessing there are very few in Wachia who possess such discernment.¡±

    Hastel silently stared at Leonora.

    Leonora couldn¡¯t see Hastel¡¯s expression hidden in the darkness, but she imagined she was filled with anticipation. It helped her sales pitch to think that way.

    ¡°If you¡¯re interested, Duchess, I would love to introduce you to part of the Golden Idol Guild¡¯s collection someday. If I¡¯m selling to someone with refined taste like yourself, I can offer it at a very good price.¡±

    ¡°¡­Quiet.¡±

    Hastelmanded silence, but her tone was noticeably less cold than before.

    Leonora decided to obey and keep her mouth shut. It was better to let Hastel¡¯s imagination run wild with happy thoughts and expectations rather than apply more pressure.

    ***

    Isaac didn¡¯t trust Shalok.

    It wasn¡¯t a matter of not trusting him personally, but rather disbelief that the human hunters of the Red Chalice, experts in assassination and conspiracy, could be so easily tracked by mere mercenaries. This was a matter beyond trust.

    But Isaac could easily solve this mystery.

    ¡°¡­You memorized the bounty on Duchess Gulmar?¡±

    ¡°I make sure to memorize all bounties on significant figures.¡±

    Shalok, along with his mercenaries, had surrounded the old lighthouse outside the city. They couldn¡¯t approach any closer due to the human hunters patrolling the area.

    Wachia often sent expeditions outside its borders to replenish its depleted blood supply. While they sometimes bought ves, they usually resorted to abduction. There was a reason why they were called ¡®human hunters.¡¯ Their mostmon job was kidnapping, not assassination.

    Like most Wachian nobles, Hastel Gulmar also had a bounty on her head. Shalok had memorized it and tracked her movements.

    Isaac realized just how frightening Shalok¡¯s talent could be when applied as a bounty hunter.

    ¡°Well, this is as far as I can go. To be honest, I can¡¯t guarantee the youngdy¡¯s safety if we rush in head-on.¡±

    He was implying that Isaac should take the lead. Isaac had already nned to do so since he trusted Shalok¡¯s abilities, but not hisbat skills.

    He first gave instructions to Hesabel, who seemed a bit more confident than before.

    ¡®Hesabel, go in first and prepare for an ambush. Make sure you¡¯re not detected.¡¯

    ¡®Aye, aye.¡¯

    Isaac then sent a rat, infected with a parasite, inside the lighthouse. The human hunters were on high alert, but they weren¡¯t so vignt that they would notice a single rat. If they did notice and eat it, that would be even better. He could take over their brains.

    The rat reached the lighthouse window safely and peeked inside.

    After a moment, Isaac cautiously projected his thoughts to Hesabel.

    ¡®¡­It seems friendlier than expected in there.¡¯

    Isaac, the Holy Knight of the Dead God.

 Chapter 322.1

    ¡®What are you talking about?¡¯

    ¡®No, seriously¡­¡¯

    Isaac projected his thoughts with a sense of indignation. He was genuinely confused.

    Leonora didn¡¯t show any signs of being tied up or tortured, and there was no trace of the thread that had been around her neck. Instead, she seemed to be engaging Hastel in conversation, trying to extract answers from her.

    On the contrary, it was Hastel who looked flustered, yet she was still entertaining the conversation.

    ¡®Is this a trap?¡¯

    Isaac¡¯s first instinct was to suspect a trap. After all, the two were in a client-employee rtionship. It was usible enough to warrant caution, so he decided to tread carefully.

    ¡®Can you snipe her?¡¯

    In a hostage situation, the safest approach was negotiation, but the next best option was sniping. However, Hesabel expressed reluctance.¡®I can snipe her, but it won¡¯t work. My mother has exceptional blood control abilities.¡¯

    Isaac had thought that might be the case. He had hoped that Hesabel¡¯s enhanced abilities might give them an edge. But seeing that even she was hesitant, it was clear that Hastel was indeed formidable.

    Just then, Hastel¡¯s gaze shifted towards the window. Isaac quickly moved the rat back, but his action only served to arouse Hastel¡¯s suspicion.

    With a swift motion, a crimson threadshed out, slicing the rat in half.

    ¡°What is this?¡±

    Luckily, Hastel didn¡¯t seem to suspect that the rat was one of Isaac¡¯s minions. Instead, she thought of someone else.

    ¡°Hesabel? Hesabel! You¡¯re here, aren¡¯t you?¡±

    The Red Chalice also had miracles that allowed them to control animals, simr to how Isaac imnted parasites. Instead of imnting parasites, they used a form of hypnosis. Hastel was convinced that the rat was one of Hesabel¡¯s minions and sharply expanded her senses. A thick cloud of blood-red mist spread from her body.

    In an instant, the lighthouse was shrouded in a red mist. Hesabel was in the midst of it.

    Hastel¡¯s eyes glowed with an eerie light as they scanned the mist.

    ¡°There you are!¡±

    With a crash, massive blood-red spears erupted from the old lighthouse. When a surprise attack fails, the best move is a safe retreat. But Hesabel did the exact opposite. She leapt through the hole in the lighthouse as if she had been waiting for this moment.

    ¡°Damn it.¡±

    Isaac clicked his tongue and dashed towards the lighthouse. A smooth rescue mission was out of the question now. While Hesabel kept Hastel upied, he would have to quickly move in and extract the hostage. As he sprinted forward, countless arrows rained down on him. The human hunters who had been on watch were attacking.

    Isaac deftly evaded the arrows, parrying some with Kaldwin.

    It wasn¡¯t a particrly threatening volley, but it seemed to be intentional.

    Isaac quickly realized that their attack was not meant to subdue but to hinder him.

    ¡®Their master is fighting inside, and they¡¯re only focused on me?¡¯

    Perhaps they saw him as the greater threat. But theirplete disregard for what was happening inside the tower and their singr focus on Isaac reminded him of Wachia¡¯s deep-rooted tradition of betrayal.

    Shalok, who had followed behind, looked puzzled as he noticed Isaac had stopped.

    ¡°W-what¡¯s happening? Why are the human hunters not trying to kill us?¡±

    ¡°Session.¡±

    ¡°Pardon?¡±

    The human hunters seemed reluctant to engage inbat with Isaac. It was clear that they weren¡¯t motivated by any religious zeal or sense of duty but were merely obeying Hastel out of fear. Hastel could reduce them to a puddle of blood in an instant if they disobeyed.

    But what if Hesabel, Isaac¡¯s subordinate, were to defeat their master?

    There would be no need for unnecessary conflict.

    ¡°The title of Duke Gulmar is being contested.¡±

    ***

    In truth, Isaac¡¯s statement wasn¡¯t entirely urate.

    No one knew who would emerge victorious in the end.

    But as Hastel watched Hesabel leap into the tower without hesitation, she realized that Hesabel had already achieved the minimum condition for session¡ªwinning over the inner circle. Despite being away from the ducal house for so long, she had managed to sway the personal guards within a single day. Hastel felt both rage and a sense of admiration at the feat.

    ¡°How dare you!¡±

    With a crash, Hastel unleashed her specialty¡ªcrimson threads¡ªaiming to shred Hesabel to pieces. While this wasn¡¯t effective against well-armored opponents, Wachian nobles typically didn¡¯t wear armor. Hesabel was no exception.

    ¡°You dare plot rebellion? After I picked you up from the gutter, you ungrateful wretch!¡±

    ¡°Gratitude?! You just raised me enough to consume me, just like my siblings!¡±

    Though she was breathless with tension, Hesabel¡¯s voice was icy.

    The rtionship between the master and the sessor in the Red Chalice Club wasplicated. Just as the Dancer valued vitality and procreation, it was an essential doctrine to always have a sessor prepared.

    Thus, the nobles of Wachia would raise a talented child as their sessor. Rarely would they choose their own children. The rtionship between a master and a sessor in the Kingdom of Wachia was different from what was perceived in other countries.

    Vampires didn¡¯t die unless they lost a significant amount of blood. In other words, a sessor couldn¡¯t simply wait for the master to die of old age. Without taking active steps, they would remain a sessor forever¡ªor end up being devoured.

    The master, after all, had also devoured their predecessor to gain their position. They knew that their sessors harbored discontent. So, it wasmon for a sessor to disappear once they had ¡°ripened¡± enough. The longer a master lived, the more often their sessors would change.

    And Hastel Gulmar was the oldest living vampire among the three dukes of the Red Chalice Club.

    ¡°You¡¯re still too young to bare your fangs at me, Hesabel!¡±

    Hastel sent threads flying, causing cuts to appear on Hesabel¡¯s skin. Her wings blocked most of them, but wounds still formed all over her body, only to heal rapidly. Hastel¡¯s power, imbued with the blood of a god, was immense.

    Hesabel had inherited a fraction of that power, but only a very small part of it.

    However, she had the experience and newfound strength gained from her time with Isaac.

    Swish! Hesabel blocked the threads trying to bind her with her wings. Feathers scattered and shot towards Hastel. The crimson threads couldn¡¯t block all the feathers. Several feathers embedded themselves in Hastel¡¯s shoulder and arm. The blood at the tips of Hesabel¡¯s feathers tried to solidify Hastel¡¯s blood and take control, but they dissolved instantly, disappearing into Hastel¡¯s body.

    A mocking smile spread across Hastel¡¯s face.

    ¡°You think you can defeat me with a few drops of blood from me?¡±

 Chapter 322.2

    ¡°You think you can defeat me with a few drops of blood from me?¡±

    Hesabel didn¡¯t bother replying. Instead, she pushed forward, holding a hidden trump card. Threads shot out from Hastel¡¯s fingertips, forming a crimson web. Just before she was turned into minced meat, Hesabel drew the Rite of Division.

    ¡°What?!¡±

    Hastel¡¯s eyes widened. The Rite of Division instantly unraveled and severed the crimson threads like cotton candy. The power of the Red Chalice couldn¡¯t withstand the Rite of Division.

    At that moment, Hastel also brought out a new weapon. From the blood she drew from her palm, she formed a sword¡ªthe very sword she had used to try and block the Reaper¡¯s scythe, the one that had been broken.

    Crack! Surprisingly, Hastel¡¯s sword blocked the Rite of Division.

    It was a natural result. Hastel¡¯s sword was hastily forged by condensing the iron content in her blood. Ironically, it was perfectly suited to counter the Rite of Division. The Rite of Division was less effective against anything other than miracles or angels, reducing it to a mere kitchen knife.

    ¡°You think I rely solely on miracles, you fool?¡±

    Hastel fiercely brandished her sword, driving Hesabel back. Like most of Wachia¡¯s old nobles, Hastel possessed top-tier swordsmanship skills within the Kingdom of Wachia. In contrast, Hesabel was barely managing to defend against her attacks.She began to feel anxious.

    She had thought that her journey and the experiences she had gained would allow her to surpass her godmother. However, Hastel was far stronger than she had imagined. It was hard to believe this was the same person who had been secluded for decades.

    ¡°If you repent even now, I¡¯ll pretend this never happened!¡±

    Hastel shouted sharply.

    It was a lie.

    There were cases where a failed sessor fled, but they were never spared on purpose. Hastel had no intention of setting a precedent, and Hesabel didn¡¯t believe her.

    But the very fact that Hastel was making such an offer showed Hesabel that Hastel was also feeling anxious.

    The fight had gone on too long.

    Session fights were supposed to end in an instant.

    Under the strict guard of the personal guard, betrayal, shock, and silence all happened in a sh. The personal guards almost never got directly involved.

    Usually, the master¡¯s dominance was so overwhelming that unless the sessor ended it with a sudden attack, it was rare for the sessor to win. After a brief death struggle, only the victor and the silence of the aplices remained.

    In other words, the fact that the fight was dragging on meant that the power difference between the master and the sessor was not significant.

    For the royal family, who drank the blood of the god, to be pushed back by a mere person who had drunk diluted blood was a disgrace in the Red Chalice Club. Hastel was certainly feeling the pressure, knowing that the personal guards were watching the battle.

    This situation could be a problem for the entire Gulmar family.

    Neither Hastel nor Hesabel found this advantageous.

    They tacitly agreed to stop fighting and make a more strategic decision.

    ***

    ¡°Should we release the hostage first?¡±

    Hesabel nodded towards Leonora, who was crouched in the corner. Despite the countless feathers, crimson threads, and blood sttered around, Leonora was unscathed. While Hesabel had been trying to protect her, it was surprising that even Hastel hadn¡¯t harmed her.

    Hastel bared her teeth and red.

    ¡°Release the hostage? On whose authority?¡±

    ¡°The Rite of Division you were looking for and I, Hesabel, are both right here. We also found the Holy Grail Knight¡¯s head, but frankly, it¡¯s not that important, is it? You don¡¯t really care about that.¡±

    Hesabel was right.

    The only reason Hastel had left herfortable home was for the Rite of Division and her sessor, Hesabel. Demanding Isaac¡¯s head was merely a pressure tactic with no real significance. She hadn¡¯t even expected it to happen.

    After a moment of silence, Hastel gestured towards Leonora with her chin. Leonora then dusted herself off and politely bowed to both of them.

    ¡°I hope you resolve this matter amicably. Since we¡¯ve met under these circumstances, I hope to see you again, no matter who remains standing.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    A rtionship between a kidnapper and a hostage is certainly no ordinary bond. Hesabel and Hastel both felt a sense of incongruity at Leonora¡¯s calm tone, but Leonora walked out of the tower without a care in the world.

    Then, the fight between Hesabel and Hastel resumed. This time, however, it wasn¡¯t a rough and brutal battle, but a sophisticated exchange of schemes and conspiracies.

    Hesabel struck first.

    ¡°You must be wondering why the Rite of Division is in my hands, aren¡¯t you, Mother?¡±

    ¡°¡­Did you seduce the Holy Grail Knight?¡±

    Like the other human hunters, Hastel harbored such suspicions. Perhaps Hesabel had not only seeded in retrieving the Rite of Division but also seduced the legendary hero Isaac Issacrea, possibly even controlling him.

    The second-inmand to a hero, the chancellor to a king, the strategist to a general.

    This was the ideal form of proselytism the Red Chalice Club aspired to. In that sense, Hesabel¡¯s current position seemed reasonable.

    But for Hastel, the story was different.

    ¡°If that were true, you should have returned the Rite of Division to the family long ago. The very fact that you¡¯ve kept it hidden and carried it around means you were plotting something all along, doesn¡¯t it?¡±

    Hesabel¡¯s sess posed a threat to Hastel. It would have been different if she had simply returned the Rite of Division, but she had been on the run, growing stronger. It was only natural to assume she had been harboring ulterior motives. For a master, the right move would be to eliminate this powerfulpetitor and recover the Rite of Division.

    ¡°If you have no other intentions, return the Rite of Division ande back to Gulmar Castle. I won¡¯t hold you ountable for anything else. I¡¯ll even grant yound.¡±

    It was the most generous offer Hastel could make. Offeringnd meant that while she couldn¡¯t keep her as a sessor, she would allow her to continue serving as a retainer. It was the only way to coexist with a powerfulpetitor.

    But Hesabel chuckled at her words.

    ¡°Oh, Mother¡­ Have you be so narrow-minded from staying cooped up in that tiny room?¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°Do you think I would wander around this far, under the scorching sun, just to im a mere duchy? For that tiny nation¡¯s meagernd, how pitiful and pathetic of you.¡±

    Hastel almost burst into rage but managed to hold it back. But Hesabel was right; the Kingdom of Wachia was a small country. Even the entire kingdom was smaller than thends held by Duke Brant. Naturally, the Gulmar Duchy was even smaller.

    But after traveling with Isaac, seeing vastnds, powerful people, and the sea, the narrow territory seemed insignificant to Hesabel.

    ¡°I¡¯m thinking about ultimate victory, Mother.¡±

    Hesabel¡¯s eyes gleamed with a deep crimson as she whispered.

    ¡°I n to join forces with the Holy Grail Knight and seed in the ¡®Crimson Grave¡¯¡­¡±

 Chapter 323.1

    As soon as Hastel heard the words ¡°Crimson Grave,¡± a chill ran down his spine. It was a kind of prophecy, one that spoke of the beginning and the end of the existence of the Red Chalice.

    The Red Chalice, in other words, was the story of the blood that flowed from Elil¡¯s heart. The prophecy foretold that this blood would one day be reimed, and whoever swallowed that heart would be a new god.

    It was an utterly sphemous story, but the one who left this prophecy was none other than the Dancer.

    The blood that flowed from the Red Chalice referred to the blood that turned the noble families of Wachia into immortal vampires. The notion of reiming this blood meant that all the Wachian nobles would die. In a broader sense, even the angels were not exempt.

    To bring about such a result, it was clear that countless corpses and rivers of blood would flow. Hence, the ominous name attached to the prophecy: ¡°Crimson Grave.¡±

    It could be seen as a kind of apocalyptic prophecy for the Red Chalice Club.

    ¡°Do you know what that means?¡±

    Hesabel smiled.

    ¡°The old are too fearful. I think that prophecy is highly exaggerated. In reality, it¡¯s probably just something like ¡®the unification of the three dukedoms.¡¯¡±¡°¡­The unification of the dukedoms?¡±

    ¡°Roanoke, Ere, and Gulmar. These three ducal families rule the Kingdom of Wachia and determine the royal session. But the strongest bloodline, the Roanokes, almost always take the throne, while the Eres control most of the fertilend.¡±

    The House of Gulmar was rtively weak. Although they had strong blood, they couldn¡¯tpare to the other two houses. Hesabel thought to herself that this sense of inferiority must have driven Hastel to retreat into the fortress.

    ¡°And so?¡±

    ¡°Think about it, Mother. Do you think there will evere a day when we can defeat those two houses?¡±

    The idea that there was no need to care about winning or losing among believers of the same faith was meaningless.

    Once the prophecy of the Crimson Grave had been made by the Dancer, it was clear that someone would devour all the bloodlines and unify them. And none of the three families had any intention of being devoured¡ªthey all sought to devour the others.

    From the moment the prophecy became known, the dukes had been covertly checking each other, resorting to assassinations and intrigues.

    The increasing disparity between the three houses, which had once been evenly matched, was the result of these covert actions.

    ¡°Weren¡¯t you also trying to overturn this order, Mother? That¡¯s why you cooperated with the Immortal Order using the Rite of Division, wasn¡¯t it?¡±

    Hesabel thought about her brother, Heinkel Gulmar, who had attempted to use the Rite of Division. He had sought a reversal of fortunes through cooperation with the Immortal Order. However, the sudden appearance of Isaac had resulted in the disastrous loss of the Rite of Division instead.

    ¡°So what are you plotting, then? Are you nning to bring the Holy Grail Knight to Wachia and kill all the other dukes?¡±

    Hastel asked, and Hesabel smiled. She moved closer to Hastel, so close that he could see her eyes. Although they were close enough to tear each other apart, Hesabel showed no hesitation.

    ¡°How could you be so simple, Mother?¡±

    In Hesabel¡¯s crimson eyes, Hastel saw swirling purple waves. They exuded a thick stench of blood, one so intense it was rare even among vampires.

    ¡°I¡¯ll tell you about the great assassination that the most cunning deceiver shall carry out.¡±

    ***

    Isaac watched the old lighthouse.

    In truth, Isaac didn¡¯t care about the session or anything like that. There was no rule stating that an outsider couldn¡¯t intervene in the session. All he had to do was kill Hastel Gulmar by any means necessary, and then Hesabel would consume all the blood,pleting the session.

    However, there were human hunters present. And not just any hunters¡ªthese were elite guards. The moment Isaac intervened, they too would be forced to interfere with the session ritual. This was entirely different from a fight between Hesabel and Hastel.

    In such a case, Leonora, who was being held hostage, could get caught in the crossfire.

    Of course, the fact that Hesabel had not shown any desire for help yed a part in Isaac¡¯s decision not to intervene. Although Hesabel did not exude confidence, she had enough assurance not to be overwhelmed easily.

    ¡®If Hesabel can grow from this event¡­ I should give her the chance.¡¯

    Hesabel¡¯s potential for growth was limitless. If she was indeed the one mentioned in the victory conditions of the Red Chalice, her future was boundless.

    ¡°Hm?¡±

    At that moment, the interior of the lighthouse fell silent, and then the door opened. A woman stepped out.

    It was Leonora. She walked out calmly, showing no signs of distress. Aside from a scratch on her neck from when she had been kidnapped, there were no other visible injuries.

    The silence of the lighthouse and the release of the hostage.

    It looked like the oue had been decided, and the human hunters were visibly shaken. But Isaac could sense that Hesabel hadn¡¯t let her guard down, and he realized that this was merely a temporary truce.

    The battle was far from over.

    And so was Isaac¡¯s part in it.

    ¡°You¡¯vee to rescue me, Holy Grail Knight?¡±

    ¡°¡­You look like you would¡¯ve been freed even if I hadn¡¯te.¡±

    ¡°Few have desires as clear as the people of Wachia. When desires are evident, it¡¯s easier to predict their moves. The Red Chalice followers aren¡¯t as secretive or inscrutable as others might think.¡±

    ¡®Compared to you, they¡¯re probably as straightforward as country folk.¡¯

    Isaac was reminded again that innocence was a rtive concept.

    After all the twists and turns, he was once again face to face with her.

    Isaac felt his thoughts growplicated.

    Initially, Isaac had invaded this ce to protect Ang and exclude Leonora from the Golden Idol Guild. But along the way, he had found himself needing Leonora¡¯s help. To make matters worse, she had even assisted him.

    Isaac couldn¡¯t figure out what was going through Leonora¡¯s mind or what motivated her actions.

    ¡®If desires are clear, you can predict how someone will act?¡¯

    **What is Leonora¡¯s desire?** Isaac sought to understand it.

    He had many questions to ask, but the one he asked first was the most perplexing to him.

    ¡°Why did you save me from the Reaper?¡±

    The first thing she did was use *Death Reprieve* to separate the Reaper from Isaac. This was what Isaac couldn¡¯tprehend. Leonora had previously seemed intent on eliminating him. So why was she helping him now?

    ¡°I never thought a Holy Grail Knight would die to something like *that*,¡± Leonora murmured with a crooked smile. ¡°It¡¯s just¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­I didn¡¯t want to be interrupted?¡±

    ¡°Didn¡¯t want to be interrupted?¡± Isaac repeated.

    ¡°You traveled all this way to find me, Sir Grail Knight. If something as trivial as a curse got in the way, it would have annoyed me. That¡¯s all. But I¡¯m d you feel indebted to me. That makes me feel quite good,¡± Leonora said with a sly smile, lightly poking Isaac with her finger.

    ¡°Well, consider your debt repaid by your subordinate rescuing me. After all, it was our side that attracted those human hunters in the first ce.¡±

    ¡°¡­Right. You initially wanted to eliminate me because of Ang, didn¡¯t you? It would have been easier if you¡¯d just let the Reaper finish the job. The Reaper was far more dangerous than those bumbling mercenaries or assassins you hired.¡±

    ¡°I never intended to kill you, Sir Grail Knight,¡± Leonora replied coyly, as if she were shy.

    ¡°I just wanted you to need my help. I wanted to put you in a difficult position where you would have no choice but to turn to me for assistance.¡±

    TL Note: Read Next 3o Chapter Here ¨C Click Here

 Chapter 323.2

    ¡°I just wanted you to need my help. I wanted to put you in a difficult position where you would have no choice but to turn to me for assistance.¡±

    Isaac felt even more conflicted.

    Leonora¡¯s exnation boiled down to something like a wealthy noble orchestrating a situation where a woman is ced in danger by thugs, only for the nobleman to heroically swoop in and save her. Considering the sheer number of nobles, knights, bandits, mercenaries, orcs, and assassins Leonora had hired, Isaac realized that if it weren¡¯t for his skills, he would have died many times over.

    However, Isaac now understood her desire. Leonora wanted him to be dependent on her. For someone who could walk their path entirely alone, there was nothing to want or need.

    In short, Leonora wanted to *create* a desire within Isaac. She wanted to be the one who could fulfill that desire.

    And to some extent, her n had worked.

    ¡°So, what is it you came all this way to ask of me?¡± Leonora inquired with a yful tilt of her head.

    ¡°¡­I need your help,¡± Isaac admitted, feeling a bit pathetic. As much as he disliked it, Leonora¡¯s scheme had seeded, and he now needed her assistance to pay off the ¡°tax¡± demanded by the Reaper.

    However, Isaac also realized that this situation wasn¡¯t as bad as it seemed.The reason Isaac disliked Leonora was that she was a ¡°monster born of wealth,¡± someone whose thoughts and motivations were difficult to grasp. But if she wanted him to depend on her, there was no reason he couldn¡¯t use that to his advantage.

    Leonora¡¯s face lit up with joy. It was the first time Isaac had seen her so genuinely happy. She grinned, as if she had just heard that Isaac would pay her a fortune, and her lips twitched with amusement.

    ¡°A request, huh~? What could the Holy Grail Knight possibly want to ask of me~?¡±

    What Leonora desired was control.

    She pretended to hold the reins, but in reality, she held nothing at all. As long as Leonora was satisfied with this illusion of control, Isaac was more than happy to y along. After all, he had no intention of conceding anything substantial.

    No matter what anyone said, the one holding the de always held the true power.

    Isaac yed the part of the vulnerable Grail Knight in distress.

    ¡°To break the curse the Immortal Order ced on me, I need to know what *tax* has been imposed on me. Do you know what it is? Shalok hinted that it¡¯s a person.¡±

    Leonora narrowed her eyes and stared at Isaac. He had given her the clue that Shalok was a person, and now Leonora would likely offer a more concrete hint.

    After all, she had a keen ability to assess human value.

    Leonora smirked knowingly, as if she had already expected this.

    ¡°The tax¡­ is something I can pay.¡±

    ¡°¡­You can pay it? What is it?¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t tell you that just yet. But I can tell you that it is something of equal value to you. While the Immortal Order might be cunning, the curse they ced on you, ¡®Taxes and Death are Unavoidable,¡¯ has its limitations.¡±

    Leonora smiled brightly.

    ¡°And even if I told you, Sir Grail Knight, you wouldn¡¯t be able to pay it. Only I can.¡±

    Isaac frowned.

    Did she really want to hold that much control over him? Was her desire simply to keep him within the palm of her hand? What benefit did that bring her?

    Isaac hesitated for a moment but eventually locked his gaze with Leonora¡¯s. His violet eyes bore into her as he used the *Eyes of Chaos* to peer into her mind. However, what he found wasn¡¯t the answer he was looking for. Instead of focusing on the nature of the tax, Leonora¡¯s thoughts were consumed by Isaac.

    ¡®Isaac is someone who can grasp the world in his hands,¡¯ she mused internally, a bitter sentiment hidden deep within her mind.

    ¡®In the end, he will slip from my grasp. But if I can leave a deep enough mark on his heart, maybe I can stay longer.¡¯

    ***

    While Isaac was still navigating his negotiations with Leonora, the negotiations between Hesabel and Hastel hade to a conclusion.

    Neither of them had expected things to end this way when the fight began, but both Hesabel and Hastel had reached a mutually eptable agreement.

    ¡°Everyone, stand down,¡± Hesabel ordered.

    At hermand, the human hunters assumed the battle had been decided and entered the lighthouse. But what they saw stunned them. The head of the family and the heir were standing together in harmony.

    Since the beginning of the *Session,* no head of the family and heir had ever walked out side by side like this, so the hunters froze in shock. However, there were no penalties for the royal guard due to the trouble caused by the session.

    ¡°¡­We¡¯ll consider this ¡®discipline¡¯ for Hesabel¡¯s long wanderings,¡± Hastel dered.

    Discipline? The human hunters quickly realized that Hastel had decided to sweep the whole incident under the rug. But had Hesabel really epted that?

    Now that Hesabel had bared her fangs, Hastel would surely try to eliminate her at some point. In Wachia, reconciliation was just an excuse to wait for a better opportunity to strike.

    However, Hesabel looked more radiant and healthy than ever, casting her eyes downward, while Hastel, pale and weary, raised a dagger in his hand.

    It was the *Rite of Division.*

    ¡°¡­I have retrieved the Rite of Division. Now that one of the three sacred relics has fully returned to Wachia, I will go back and seek forgiveness from the Dancer.¡±

    The two had struck a deal.

    Hesabel had returned the Rite of Division to Hastel, and in exchange, Hastel had ceded a significant portion of the *Blood of the Chalice* to her. While this left Hastel severely weakened, it was a better oue than returning empty-handed without the Rite.

    Most importantly, to realize her ambitions, Hesabel needed Hastel¡¯s cooperation.

    ¡°Hesabel, fulfill the task given to you.¡±

    ¡°I will,¡± Hesabel replied, her gaze briefly flickering with a thought. In Hastel¡¯s weakened state, she considered whether now might be her chance to defeat him. But ultimately, she realized that keeping him alive was more beneficial for her, at least for now.

    Hesabel couldn¡¯t return to Wachia just yet.

    Hastel would return with the Rite of Division and prepare for the eventual rebellion.

    Until then, Hesabel would remain with Isaac.

    ¡°We¡¯re leaving. I hope we can meet again soon,¡± Hastel said as she leaped away, not waiting for Hesabel¡¯s farewell. In the blink of an eye, he and the human hunters melted into the night breeze by the harbor.

 Chapter 324.1

    Chapter 324.1

    [You have returned the ¡®Rite of Division¡¯ relic to the Red Chalice Club.]

    [The Dancer blesses your noble journey.]

    [Your regeneration ability has significantly increased.]

    [Your physical abilities have significantly increased.]

    Isaac turned his head at the sudden messages.

    ¡°Returning the Rite of Division, huh? It seems Hesabel has chosen n B.¡±

    It wasn¡¯t surprising. n A was for Hesabel to devour Hastel, but if that didn¡¯t work out, they had agreed to tempt her with the Rite of Division instead. After all, the Rite of Division was intended to be returned sooner orter, so there was nothing to regret.

    Of course, the Rite of Division was a highly useful relic in many ways. But in exchange, Hesabel had gained something equally valuable. She now had enough of the ¡®Blood of the Red Chalice¡¯ that it wouldn¡¯t be strange for her to aim for the title of Duchess.

    Isaac, too, had gained his fair share of benefits.[The Dancer is watching you.]

    [¡®Crimson Supplication¡¯ has been strengthened.]

    [You can now use ¡®Crimson Supplication¡¯ to devour opponents.]

    Isaac recalled the time when Hastel Gulmar had dissolved his human hunters into a mist of blood, absorbing their essence. Perhaps it would feel something like that.

    ¡°¡­I¡¯m acquiring more and more abilities that make me less human.¡±

    Still, Isaac was more surprised by the fact that the Red Chalice had ¡®officially¡¯ granted him a miracle.

    Up until now, when relics were returned, the rewards were limited to physical, mental, or spiritual enhancements. asionally, they would bless the relic itself.

    But allowing a miracle was apletely different matter.

    Miracles were only bestowed upon true believers.

    ¡°They said they¡¯d treat me as a coborator and share hardships and rewards with me, didn¡¯t they? Is this part of that?¡±

    Isaac didn¡¯t particrly care. The Crimson Supplication was already an impressive miracle in itself, and how powerful it would be whenbined with the new predation ability remained to be seenter.

    Right now, there were more pressing matters.

    Isaac and Leonora stood at the edge of a stormy dock.

    Dawn was breaking. The horizon beyond the sea was already glowing with a bluish hue.

    ¡°The reprieve from death will end soon. We can¡¯t hold the Reaper for much longer.¡±

    Once the Reaper was released, Leonora would pay her due. Isaac still didn¡¯t understand how Leonora nned to pay her ¡®taxes.¡¯ Especially since he couldn¡¯t, but only she could.

    Yet Leonora showed no intention of exining.

    ¡°The curse, ¡®Taxes and Death are Unavoidable,¡¯ is powerful but not omnipotent. If it were, the heads of the upper echelons of other orders would all have been lopped off by now.¡±

    ¡°I suppose that¡¯s true.¡±

    Isaac was well aware of the curse¡¯s limitations. It only activated against those who had caused explicit harm to the Immortal Order. Its sole function was to bring death, and in some cases, a tax could be offered as a substitute for death.

    And there was another limitation.

    ¡°Also, the curse cannot affect beings who are immune to the Reaper¡¯s ¡®harvest¡¯ from the start. That¡¯s why those protected by powerful angels or gods are immune to the curse¡¯s activation in the first ce.¡±

    This wasn¡¯t exactly a weakness¡ªit was more a matter of power against power. No matter how strong the Reaper was, they couldn¡¯t be stronger than the most renowned archangels. Of course, Isaac was also under the protection of a powerful god, but the extent to which that power manifested in the world was limited.

    Leonora then revealed yet another limitation.

    ¡°The tax must be something the target is capable of paying. You cannot demand something of greater value than the target possesses. Death must always be fair.¡±

    This, too, wasn¡¯t so much a weakness as it was a fundamental truth¡ªone that made perfect sense. The saying ¡°Taxes and Death are Unavoidable¡± was rooted in the belief that everything in the world has a price. To vite that basic doctrine would be absurd.

    Isaac pondered what he could offer that he both possessed and valued less than himself. Shalok had said it was a person, and Leonora had stated that Isaac couldn¡¯t pay it.

    In other words, even if Isaac learned the nature of the tax, he wouldn¡¯t be able to pay it.

    ¡°¡­What exactly is this tax?¡±

    The sea breeze whipped Leonora¡¯s hair into a wild dance. As the sun rose, its rays engulfed her. Bathed in the intense backlight, Isaac couldn¡¯t see Leonora¡¯s face clearly.

    ¡°Shall we discuss the terms of our deal now, Holy Grail Knight?¡±

    Isaac nodded.

    He hadn¡¯t expected lifting the Reaper¡¯s curse toe without a price. But he wasn¡¯t about to let himself be manipted just because his life was on the line.

    ¡°What¡¯s the price? And for the record, Ang is non-negotiable.¡±

    ¡°¡­I¡¯m so happy that the Holy Grail Knight hase to me, asking for help, depending on me, and risking his life with this request. Overwhelmed, even.¡±

    Leonora responded with irrelevant remarks instead of answering.

    Isaac frowned.

    ¡°But once this deal is over, we¡¯ll be nothing to each other, right? You might forget about me entirely or just ignore me.¡±

    ¡°¡­Just tell me what the price is.¡±

    Leonora sighed deeply before finally speaking.

    ¡°A special rtionship.¡±

    Isaac sat in brief silence, only managing to spit out a few awkward words.

    ¡°I¡¯m married, you know.¡±

    ¡°Ha, what nonsense are you spouting? Do I look like a woman who would stoop to wanting that sort of thing? A woman who craves love and affection, groveling at the feet of a man?¡±

    Leonora turned and strode toward Isaac, rapidly closing the distance between them until he could see the fire in her eyes.

    Crack, crack. A splitting noise echoed from the air as if reality itself was being torn apart. Isaac saw a pale scythe starting to emerge through the rift in space, illuminated by the sunlight.

    His expression tensed.

    But Leonora paid no attention to the sound, as if she didn¡¯t even hear it, continuing to direct her sharp words at Isaac.

    ¡°Lovers? Husband and wife? You can¡¯t define us by such shallow, confused, and misguided rtionships. We must be bound by something much deeper and stronger than that.¡±

    Finally, the Reaper¡¯s scythe began to manifest fully, tearing through its invisible restraints. Isaac shouted at Leonora.

    ¡°What the hell do you want?!¡±

    ¡°A partner!¡±

 Chapter 324.2

    ¡°What the hell do you want?!¡±

    ¡°A partner!¡±

    Leonora shouted back at the same time. Her eyes were aze with intense ambition.

    ¡°A partner in a world-shaking venture! That¡¯s what I want! You take hold of the world however you wish, and I¡¯ll help you do it. In exchange, I want the status of a partner.¡±

    Isaac felt a sense of absurdity at her words.

    A partner?

    But then, Isaac realized what Leonora truly wanted¡ªit wasn¡¯t him personally, but the value he held.

    Leonora didn¡¯t care about Isaac as a person. She had no interest in what he ate or what he liked.

    What mattered to her was what Isaac possessed and what he could aplish. And she wanted to identify what Isaked and how she could fill that void to achieve victory.That was the only thing Leonora cared about.

    She only saw Isaac as the key to fulfilling her ambitions. If Isaac were to grow weak or lose his value, she wouldn¡¯t hesitate to abandon him.

    But as long as Isaac remained valuable, betrayal wasn¡¯t something he had to worry about.

    Indeed, as Leonora had said, their rtionship couldn¡¯t be defined by something as shallow as romance.

    With her eyes burning with determination, Leonora extended her hand toward Isaac.

    Isaac reached out and sped it.

    ¡°The deal is done.¡±

    Leonora smiled, her face glowing as she turned away.

    The Reaper¡¯s scythe, now fully freed from its constraints, gleamed ominously in the morning sunlight as it flew toward Isaac. And standing directly in its path was Leonora.

    ncing over her shoulder, Leonora spoke.

    ¡°You asked about the nature of the tax, didn¡¯t you, Holy Grail Knight?¡±

    As she walked toward the oing scythe, she muttered,

    ¡°The answer is ¡®someone you love.¡¯¡±

    Isaac was jolted awake by her words. To escape the curse of death, you had to destroy someone you loved¡ªa cruel and ancient form of tax that dripped with malice.

    Even if one survived, living with that guilt would be impossible for most.

    But at the same time, confusion surged within him.

    ¡®Then how is Leonora supposed to pay that tax?¡¯

    In the moment Isaac realized the dreadful possibility, he instinctively tried to leap forward. But it was already toote. The Reaper¡¯s scythe swept toward Leonora, and a powerful gust overturned the dock. The sails pped violently, while Isaac stood frozen in ce, unable to run or even move properly.

    Just as the scythe came to a halt in front of Leonora.

    Leonora stood unflinching before the Reaper¡¯s scythe, which had been slicing through buildings and people alike without distinction. She gazed into the empty air with no trace of fear.

    Then, sharply addressing the unseen Reaper, she said,

    ¡°Please check Special use 4, Section 6 of the insurance contract I signed with Immortal Emperor Beshek.¡±

    The Reaper gave no reply. However, the scythe did not seem poised to move any further. Crossing her arms, Leonora patiently awaited the Reaper¡¯s response. Soon, a grim voice echoed from the void.

    [Insurance holder: Leonora Bessia. As per Special use 4, Section 6, tax exemption concerning the soul is recognized. ordingly, the Reaper¡¯s im is immediately voided.]

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    They exchanged formalities before turning away. The Reaper dissolved into dust under the sunlight, while Leonora casually approached Isaac.

    Isaac muttered incredulously,

    ¡°So¡­ you¡¯re insured against death?¡±

    ¡°If you don¡¯t have that, you can¡¯t do business with the Immortal Order. And thanks to the special contract I signed with Immortal Emperor Beshek, the Order can¡¯t kill me until I die of natural causes. Think of it as a kind of tax exemption.¡±

    Isaac had just learned yet another unspoken rule of the world.

    Taxes and death may be unavoidable.

    But the rich are an exception.

    Despite knowing that the tax was ¡°someone you love,¡± Isaac still couldn¡¯t understand how Leonora could be his tax.

    No matter how he looked at it, his feelings toward Leonora were about 10% disgust, 20% confusion, and 40% fear.

    The remaining 30%? That was simply gratitude for now.

    The answer was straightforward.

    ¡°Ah, that¡¯s because it¡¯s not ¡®someone Isaac loves,¡¯ but ¡®someone who loves Isaac.¡¯¡±

    Leonora answered nonchntly.

    ¡°There are many forms of love. The love of money, the love of one¡¯s parents, and the love of a romantic partner are all different. But finding someone willing to offer their life voluntarily for someone they love? That¡¯s rare.¡±

    Leonora¡¯s attitude of smug superiority stemmed from the fact that she was one of the few capable of doing exactly that. Of course, she was confident that she wouldn¡¯t die in the process, but still.

    ¡®So, money can buy life after all.¡¯

    To have seduced both Duke Gulmar and the Immortal Emperor Beshek¡­

    Considering how much the Golden Idol Guild poured money into the White Empire, Leonora was likely under the protection of the Codex of Light¡¯s clergy as well.

    If one really thought about it, Leonora might be one of the safest people in the world.

    ¡®¡­Well, that¡¯s the advantage of the Golden Idol Guild, isn¡¯t it? No pdins or priests of their own, but they can employ the faith of others like mercenaries.¡¯

    It was only natural for Leonora, one of the Guild¡¯s most powerful members, to unt the ¡°power of money.¡± Most of the key members of the Bessia family were probably under simr protection.

    If a rich person can¡¯t avoid taxes and death, perhaps they¡¯re just not rich enough.

    ¡°But enough of that. How about some tea? The leaves are expensive, imported from across the sea.¡±

    ¡°Hmm.¡±

    Isaac nodded while looking at the untouched teacup in front of him. They were currently at the Bessia Estate, the first destination of the Dawn Army¡¯s advance on Issacrea, a movement Isaac himself had instigated.

    Originally, Isaac had intended to pressure Leonora by targeting Belman Bessia, but things had turned out strangely.

    Just as Isaac managed to take a sip of tea, the door to the reception room swung open, and a man with a cold expression and ash-gray beard appeared.

    The leader of the Golden Idol Guild, the man who held more gold than anyone on the continent.

    It was Belman Bessia.

    Isaac rose from his seat to greet him properly, but Belman¡¯s icy gaze immediately swept over Isaac from head to toe.

    ¡®¡­Was he always this intimidating?¡¯

    In the game, the version of Belman Isaac had seen and spoken with was more approachable, at least outwardly. He had always maintained an air of warmth, presumably to lull his business partners into a false sense of security.

    But now, Belman radiated an aura of murderous intent, as if he might stab Isaac at any moment. Just as Isaac was about to formally greet him, Belman abruptly spoke.

    ¡°Are you the married man who seduced my daughter?¡±

 Chapter 325.1

    Isaac tried hard to remain calm before answering.

    There were countless titles people used to refer to him, but never once had he thought of himself as a ¡®married man.¡¯

    In fact, Isaac hadn¡¯t even had an official wedding ceremony with Isolde yet.

    After a moment of appropriate silence, Isaac calmly answered to avoid making Belman feel awkward.

    ¡°I have no interest in Miss Leonora Bessia.¡±

    ¡°¡­Father, I¡¯ve exined it to you already. The Holy Grail Knight and I aren¡¯t in that kind of rtionship.¡±

    Leonora also added her own excuse, but Belman still looked unconvinced.

    ¡°From the way you always talk about him, it sure seems like it.¡±

    Isaac couldn¡¯t help but wonder what Leonora had been saying about him while he was here. But he had no interest in wasting time on such unproductive conversations.¡°I believe I¡¯ve exined my position clearly. If you need more convincing, please ask your daughter.¡±

    Whether Belman was convinced or not was his business. Isaac had no intention of pleading for his understanding. Seeing Isaac¡¯s firm attitude, Belman frowned but seemed to soften a little as he spoke again.

    ¡°It seems I¡¯ve misunderstood. My second daughter does have an unusual way with words and ideas.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s understandable. It¡¯s an easy misunderstanding to have.¡±

    Isaac nodded in agreement, forming a small bond of sympathy with Belman. After all, the best way to form a bond is to criticize the person caught in the middle.

    But Belman furrowed his brows again.

    ¡°Why is it a misunderstanding? Are you really not interested in my daughter at all? Do you not find her attractive?¡±

    ¡°¡­As I¡¯ve said, I have no interest in Miss Leonora Bessia aside from a business rtionship. I¡¯m already married, so I have no interest in her appearance.¡±

    Isaac wondered how many times he would have to exin this, but it seemed to be the model answer Belman was looking for. Finally, a slight smile appeared on Belman¡¯s lips, and the atmosphere lightened.

    ¡°Business, is it? Yes, my daughter is good at business. I¡¯ve heard much about the reputation of the Holy Grail Knight, and I like that you keep personal and professional matters strictly separate.¡±

    Belman sat down opposite Isaac.

    Isaac began to think that maybe Belman was a bit of a doting father. It must be difficult to care for such a psychopathic woman, but in his own way, Belman had his merits.

    ¡°I apologize for doubting your character, Holy Grail Knight. You see, my second daughter is of marrying age, but she hasn¡¯t shown any effort in finding a match. Then, suddenly, all she talks about all day is you, so naturally, it made me curious.¡±

    ¡°I understand.¡±

    It would have been even more concerning considering the fact that Isaac was a married man. That was why Isaac had been holding onto his patience as well. He needed to maintain a good rtionship with the Golden Idol Guild.

    ***

    Belman leaned back on the sofa and looked back and forth between Leonora and Isaac. He tapped the armrest of the sofa and asked in a probing tone.

    ¡°I heard that there was an issue between you two, but it has been resolved. You¡¯ve decided to partner up in business, right?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s correct.¡±

    ¡°Do you know what business Leonora has been most interested in recently? I heard that¡¯s where the issue came from.¡±

    ¡°Yes. In fact, that¡¯s the reason I¡¯vee to see you. Miss Leonora is¡­¡±

    At that moment, Leonora suddenly stood up and, without a word, dismissed all the waiting servants and maids. Then she began drawing the curtains around the reception room herself. Belman waited quietly until she had finished closing the curtains. Once Leonora returned to her seat, Belman gestured with his teacup, signaling for Isaac to continue.

    ¡°¡­Looking for ¡®Midas¡¯ Hand,¡¯ correct?¡±

    Belman set his teacup down on the table. After a brief silence, Belman spoke.

    ¡°Where did you hear about that? I¡¯m not interrogating you, I¡¯m genuinely curious. Very few people even within our own faith know about it, and we¡¯ve never had any dealings with other faiths.¡±

    ¡°I heard it through a revtion.¡±

    Isaac brought out the excuse of divine revtion, the catch-all exnation for everything in this world. After all, he couldn¡¯t exactly exin that he had already achieved the Golden Idol Guild¡¯s victory condition in the game.

    Belman gave a wry smile at Isaac¡¯s response. Even though it was the perfect excuse, to Belman¡¯s ears it clearly tranted to, ¡®I can¡¯t tell you.¡¯

    ¡°If the gods themselves are involved, then it must be true. Does the Codex of Light clergy know about this as well?¡±

    ¡°No. I am the only one aware of it.¡±

    On this, Isaac could be confident. His answer seemed to relieve Belman somewhat.

    In truth, the Golden Idol Guild had no real military power. If they were to engage inpetition with other religious orders, there wasn¡¯t much they could do. This meant that their ns had to be carried out even more quietly than those of the Red Chalice.

    ¡°Father, as I mentioned, the Holy Grail Knight doesn¡¯t know exactly what Midas¡¯ Hand is. Even if others knew, that¡¯s all they would know as well.¡±

    Leonora added an exnation.

    Isaac knew that Midas¡¯ Hand was a relic that turned things into gold. However, Leonora had told him that this was not entirely correct. Belman seemed to have heard the same story, nodding in agreement.

    ¡°Very well. But before I exin what Midas¡¯ Hand truly is, we need to go over some formalities. It may be just a formality, but since you¡¯ve formed a business partnership with our Vice Guild Leader¡­¡±

    Belman removed one of the many rings from his fingers and handed it to Isaac.

    It was a simple tinum ring without any gems, but upon closer inspection, intricate patterns and inscriptions were engraved all over it. Isaac realized this ring wasn¡¯t made by human hands.

    ¡°¡­I extend an invitation to you to join the ¡®tinum Society.¡¯¡±

    The tinum Society was the top-secret inner circle within the Golden Idol Guild. It was the ndestine organization that allowed the Guild to go beyond being a mere merchant association, manipting world events and faiths for profit.

    They would go so far as to incite famine in a city or instigate war if it meant securing their objectives. But their ultimate goal was singr.

    To secure Midas¡¯ Hand.

    ¡®This is like the modern Illuminati or Freemasons¡­ and now I¡¯m being invited in. How touching.¡¯

    When Isaac had yed as a member of the Golden Idol Guild in the game, he had only ever been used as a pawn by the tinum Society. That eventually led to internal strife, and the Society was wiped out. After that, he had be little more than Leonora¡¯s personalckey.

    ¡®Not that it mattered, I ended up parting ways with her due to her inhuman actions and reached the game¡¯s ending.¡¯

    Ironically, one of Isaac¡¯spanions back then had been Shalok. It didn¡¯t seem like they would get that close this time around.

    But now, here he was, being handed a ring by the Guild Leader himself. Even though Isaac followed a different faith, Belman had trusted Leonora¡¯s partnership enough to offer him the ring. This showed just how much trust Belman ced in his daughter.

    ¡°I ept with gratitude.¡±

 Chapter 325.2

    ¡°I ept with gratitude.¡±

    Feigning ignorance about the tinum Society, Isaac epted the ring. In reality, receiving this ring wouldn¡¯t drastically change anything. The ring held value as a relic, but it didn¡¯t grant any special powers. It simply meant that Isaac would have the Guild¡¯s unrestricted support.

    It was like receiving a ck card with no spending limit.

    ¡®For most people, this might be better than any miracle. Honestly, I kind of prefer this myself.¡¯

    When Isaac slipped the ring onto his finger, it fit perfectly, as though it had been custom-made. Belman smiled with satisfaction at the sight.

    ¡°Normally, when one joins the tinum Society, there¡¯s a special ceremony, and you¡¯re given a new title. But since you already know about Midas¡¯ Hand, we¡¯ll skip all that.¡±

    The moment he epted the ring, Belman¡¯s tone shifted from addressing him as ¡®Holy Grail Knight¡¯ to ¡®Isaac.¡¯ Isaac couldn¡¯t tell whether this newfound familiarity was a good thing or a bad thing.

    ¡°Now, before we exin what Midas¡¯ Hand truly is, allow me to first exin about our tinum Society. It was established 455 years ago by then-Guild Leader Roheret¡­¡±

    ¡°Father.¡±Leonora ced her teacup down with a loud tter. Belman flinched, closing his mouth, only to open it again with a displeased expression.

    ¡°¡­We skipped the ceremony and even the title naming, as you said. But do we also have to skip exining the history of our Society?¡±

    ¡°The burden of listening to such pointless stories is a pain that only our family should bear. Isaac wouldn¡¯t be the least bit interested, so just get to the important part.¡±

    ¡°Tch.¡±

    Isaac, who had been preparing to zone out as soon as Belman started talking about dates and history, felt grateful for Leonora¡¯s sharp intervention.

    In the end, Belman cut out all the preliminary exnations and got straight to the point.

    ¡°Midas¡¯ Hand is a relic that grants wishes.¡±

    ¡°¡­Wishes?¡±

    Belman nodded.

    Isaac was caught off guard by the unexpected truth of Midas¡¯ Hand.

    ¡°I thought it was a relic that creates gold.¡±

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s understandable. Someone could certainly wish for a lot of gold. But if that¡¯s all it was, would we really need to form a secret society to hunt it down? No, in that case, we¡¯d be hunting it down just to destroy it.¡±

    Isaac already knew why the Golden Idol Guild wouldn¡¯t need a relic that simply created gold.

    Though surprised, he understood.

    ¡®Now that I think about it, whenever I yed as the Golden Idol Guild, I always chose rewards rted to financial gain. Those choices must have umted and influenced the result.¡¯

    The result was a world made of gold.

    As Isaac recalled that scene, he suddenly realized how powerful and overwhelming a relic that could simply grant wishes would be.

    There are countless legends about wish-granting relics, and in many faiths, there are relics with simr properties. However, they alle with limitations or severe penalties. But Midas¡¯ Hand was a relic that, just by possessing it, held the power to trample the world.

    A chill ran down Isaac¡¯s spine.

    ¡®Is it really okay for such a relic to be unrestrained? With such great power, there must be an equally significant penalty or counterbnce.¡¯

    At that moment, Belman spoke again.

    ¡°In fact, when you mentioned Midas¡¯ Hand, I was quite surprised. You see, that name is just a ceholder we used to hide the true name of the relic. We didn¡¯t want any other faiths or legends to match the clues and figure it out.¡±

    ¡°The true name of the relic?¡±

    And as soon as Belman said the following words, Isaac realized the immense penalty attached to Midas¡¯ Hand.

    ¡°Yes. The true name of Midas¡¯ Hand is ¡®The Monkey¡¯s Paw.¡¯¡±

    Once upon a time, there was a man.

    One day, the man happened to acquire a Monkey¡¯s Paw that would grant three wishes. The man wished for a small sum of money. The next day, his son died in a horrible ident, leaving the man with insurance money that matched the amount he had wished for.

    Devastated, the man used his second wish to bring his son back to life. Soon, someone began knocking on his door. Overjoyed, the man rushed to open it, but then he remembered the terrible state his son¡¯s body had been in.

    Panicking, the man used his third wish to send his son back to the grave. When he finally opened the door, the street outside was quiet and empty¡­

    This was the rough outline of the story Isaac remembered about the Monkey¡¯s Paw¡ªa thing that grants wishes but twists them in the most undesirable ways.

    ¡®This Monkey¡¯s Paw might not be the same as that one.¡¯

    But for Midas¡¯ Hand to hold such tremendous power, it would need a penalty of that magnitude. Looking back, it was obvious that no character in the game would have truly wanted to turn the entire world into gold just for the sake of acquiring wealth.

    That was probably the result of the Monkey¡¯s Paw effect.

    ¡®In fact, even the myth of Midas itself is about a man destroyed by his own greed. It was practically a direct hint.¡¯

    Isaac found it curious that such a relic shared the same name in a world devoid of Greece. Then again, he couldn¡¯t exactly understand why he had been dragged into this world either.

    Perhaps there had been some philosopher from Greece in this world before him. Isaac didn¡¯t think too deeply about it.

    ¡°You seem to be deep in thought.¡±

    Outside the walls of Odryf, Leonora was walking alongside Isaac.

    Behind them, countless people were cutting down trees, trimming grass, and leveling the ground. They were preparing to wee the famous Dawn Army of Issacrea. Since the entire army couldn¡¯t enter the city, they were setting up a military camp outside as a sign of hospitality.

    Leonora, observing thend being prepared, spoke.

    ¡°Ever since you heard about ¡®the Hand,¡¯ you¡¯ve seemed lost in thought. May I ask what¡¯s on your mind?¡±

 Chapter 326.1

    Isaac wore a grim expression.

    After learning in his meeting with Belman that the true identity of Midas¡¯ Hand was actually The Monkey¡¯s Paw, Isaac took a more cautious stance on retrieving the relic. This naturally left Belman somewhat frustrated.

    ¡°The ¡®Hand¡¯ you¡¯re searching for may not be as convenient as you think.¡±

    ¡°Why do you say that?¡±

    This was what drove Isaac crazy.

    The legend of The Monkey¡¯s Paw clearly wasn¡¯t known in this world. If Isaac kept refusing to search for it, people would simply think he was stubbornly refusing just because he didn¡¯t want to give up Ang.

    ¡°Does a powerful relic that grants wishes really just lend its power with no restrictions?¡±

    Isaac slightly unsheathed Kaldwin from its scabbard. The new scabbard was custom-made to fit the unique de that had absorbed the Reaper¡¯s scythe. This too had been a gift from the Golden Idol Guild.

    ¡°This sword was used by Elil on the battlefield. But even a powerful relic like this has its limits. I even once held the dagger that was used to extract Elil¡¯s heart. It was useful when dealing with miracles, but when used against ordinary people, it was no better than a kitchen knife.¡±Even relics used by gods were not omnipotent. Not even the gods themselves.

    No god, no matter how powerful, could control their believerspletely or wield absolute power in the world without resistance. They were always kept in check by other gods and angels.

    So, could an unknown relic really have the power to overturn the world?

    Leonora looked at Isaac with amusement.

    ¡°Hm, how curious.¡±

    ¡°What is?¡±

    ¡°You believe in the power of the ¡®Hand,¡¯ Isaac. When my father first told me about it, I thought he was just an old man going senile. To be honest, I still don¡¯t fully believe in it. But if it does exist, I believe no one but me should possess it.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    That made sense, Isaac thought. Leonora¡¯s reaction was actually quite rational, the response you would expect from a sensible adult. If there was only one sword in the world, even if you had no intention of using it, it would still be safer to possess it to ensure no one else could.

    But Isaac had already seen The Monkey¡¯s Paw grant wishes, so he couldn¡¯t argue.

    ¡°There¡¯s no need to think too deeply about it right now. It¡¯ll be a long time before we retrieve the Hand, and the journey to get there will be full of challenges.¡±

    Isaac nodded. He suspected that Midas¡¯ Hand, or rather, the Monkey¡¯s Paw, was located in Holy Land Lua.

    Why would it be there, of all ces? Perhaps it was because Immortal Emperor Beshek had shattered the barrier between heaven and earth at that location. The past, present, and future had copsed there, creating a bizarre space where anomalies like the Monkey¡¯s Paw could appear.

    ¡°Let¡¯s talk about something lighter. If you had the ¡®Hand,¡¯ what would you wish for?¡±

    Isaac had no intention of ever making a wish to the Monkey¡¯s Paw, but Leonora¡¯s question made his mind spin.

    ¡®A wish, huh¡­¡¯

    When Isaac first took over this body, his sole goal had been survival. That wish was still ongoing, but now his objectives had branched out and grown moreplex.

    ¡®To be stronger,¡¯ ¡®to protect my people,¡¯ ¡®recognition, honor, wealth¡¯¡­ But none of these are things I would desperately wish for, not yet at least.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you go first? Why is the tinum Society so determined to find the Hand?¡±

    ¡°Leonora.¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°Call me Leonora. And if you keep using formal speech, I¡¯ll start using it too. I don¡¯t know how old you are, but you¡¯re definitely younger than me, aren¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°Yes, older sister.¡±

    Isaac replied sarcastically, but somehow Leonora seemed to like it.

    ¡°Do you have a wish, Leonora?¡±

    Rather than addressing her casually, Isaac chose to maintain some distance by using formal speech. Leonora still seemed like someone he didn¡¯t want to get too close to. She smiled softly as she answered.

    ¡°I wish for no one to be able to make any wishes.¡±

    ¡°Excuse me?¡±

    ¡°I wish for no one in the world to be able to make any wishes. If I were to get my hands on the ¡®Hand,¡¯ that¡¯s the wish I would make.¡±

    Isaac found her wish deeply paradoxical. But then he realized that she wasn¡¯t just talking about the Golden Idol Guild.

    She meant everyone.

    Followers of other faiths prayed to their gods, each with their own desires and wishes.

    They were making wishes to their gods.

    Leonora wanted all of that to be impossible.

    Just like the Golden Idol Guild, where no prayers are answered, and no wishes are granted.

    Leonora¡¯s wish sounded like a call for the downfall of all gods.

    ***

    ¡°Isaac! My Holy Grail Knight! You¡¯re the first to arrive, as expected!¡±

    ¡°Tuhalin, it¡¯s been a while.¡±

    Isaac smiled as he greeted the World¡¯s Forge army, who had arrived first in Odryf.

    It was strange that the dwarves and werewolves, who had trekked through the mountains on foot, were the first to arrive. But Isaac, knowing the hidden strength of the World¡¯s Forge, wasn¡¯t surprised.

    ¡®There¡¯s an enormouswork of underground roads and cities built beneath the Gelliford Mountains, isn¡¯t there?¡¯

    These roads and cities were built hundreds of years ago, back when the World¡¯s Forge still held significant influence across the continent, and much of it was still usable. They used those underground roads to suddenly appear in various ces throughout the Gelliford Mountains, ambushing orcs.

    Some of the people they saved had close ties with Isaac.

    ¡°I heard you defeated the orcs surrounding Ariet Monastery. That¡¯s the monastery where I spent much of my childhood. I¡¯m deeply grateful to you.¡±

    Ariet Monastery was a ce Isaac had debated visiting for a long time.

    But at the time, Isaac had been on the run from Shalok, and when he finally had a moment of peace, he was quickly drawn into the issues involving the Dawn Army of Ciero and the Reaper, leaving him with no time to spare.

    Thankfully, Tuhalin had stopped by the monastery and saved them.

    ¡°The abbot there talked a lot about you. He said you were quite the promising child back then. Though he did mention your ability to perform miracles was rather¡­cking.¡±

    Isaac smiled wryly.

    During his time at the monastery, Isaac had earned the recognition of Abbot Evhar, giving him the status of an apprentice priest¡ªthough now, it meant nothing.

    ¡°The abbot had a message for you.¡±

    ¡°What did he say?¡±

 Chapter 326.2

    ¡°The abbot had a message for you.¡±

    ¡°What did he say?¡±

    ¡°Well, I¡¯m not sure what it means, so I¡¯ll just tell you as it was told to me. ¡®If you walk through a confusing night, focus only on the distantntern and move forward.¡¯ ¡­That¡¯s what he said.¡±

    Tuhalin scoffed, muttering under his breath.

    ¡°Old men are always like this. They mutter grandiose proverbs, expecting the listener to figure out what it all means on their own.¡±

    Compared to Tuhalin¡¯s age, even Evhar was practically an infant, but the straightforward dwarf wasn¡¯t one to appreciate cryptic sayings. Isaac shared Tuhalin¡¯s sentiment to some degree, but he couldn¡¯t help but ponder Evhar¡¯s intentions.

    ¡®Gebel knew I ate rats. He didn¡¯t know why or for what purpose, but he knew. Maybe Evhar also realized that I wasn¡¯t an ordinary being.¡¯

    After all, Evhar had tried to test Isaac with the miracle of ¡°Proof of Faith¡± and lost his hand for it. He must have known Isaac wasn¡¯t just a regr person, but had he also realized that Isaac wasn¡¯t a model follower of the Codex of Light?

    There was no way to know Evhar¡¯s thoughts now.But it seemed clear that he wished for Isaac to walk the path ¡°focusing only on the light, no matter what dark road he walked.¡±

    ¡®I suppose I pieced it together well enough.¡¯

    Isaac interpreted Evhar¡¯s advice in this way and helped Tuhalin¡¯s army settle into ce.

    The army dispatched from the World¡¯s Forge set up camp outside the outskirts of Odryf. Their numbers weren¡¯trge, but it was best to keep a heavily armed force outside the city to avoid intimidating the people of the trade city.

    The second army to arrive was Elil¡¯s forces.

    Edelred was surprised to see Tuhalin had arrived before him, but he couldn¡¯t deny the reality in front of him. Through Edelred, Isaac learned more about the Dawn Army of Ciero.

    ¡°Ciero has been incorporated into the Dawn Army?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right. I heard they¡¯re recruiting new soldiers, simr to an enlistment officer. The scattered remnants of the Ciero Dawn Army have all regrouped under the banner of the main force. It¡¯s good news, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    As a member of the White Empire alliance, Edelred sincerely congratted them. The soldiers had escaped ipetent leadership and joined arger, stronger army. Ciero also avoided harsh punishment and even gained a position, so it all looked like good news.

    But Isaac could see the deeper truth.

    ¡®So they¡¯ve caught him, after all.¡¯

    Isaac had hoped that Ciero would hinder the main Dawn Army, but it seemed that possibility was gone. Now, he could already see Ciero¡¯s future¡ªsinging the Codex of Light¡¯s propaganda like a canary trapped in a cage.

    ¡®It¡¯s unfortunate, but it was probably his only option after being captured. If he had tried to resist, he might have been killed, and the ragtag remnants of the Dawn Army could have been crushed. Marching with therger army might be his best chance of survival¡­¡¯

    Looking on the bright side, it also meant the Immortal Order would have to devote more forces to deal with the main Dawn Army, which would relieve the pressure on Isaac¡¯s Issacrea Dawn Army.

    Isaac still didn¡¯t like Ciero, but he found himself curious to see how he would fare after some time had passed. Thest time they met, Ciero had shown some signs of wanting to change. Isaac wondered if that spark would have died out or if it still burned within him.

    Thest to arrive was the Issacrea Pdin Order, led by Commander Rottenhammer. Rottenhammer clicked his tongue when he saw the other armies had already set up camp, but he epted it withoutint.

    From the start, Rottenhammer hadn¡¯t prioritized speed.

    Instead, he focused on gathering scattered imperial troops, retired pdins, and priests along the way. As a result, his forces had grown considerably by the time they arrived.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about their skill or character. They said they would rather rally under the banner of the Holy Grail Knight than follow ipetentmanders.¡±

    Rottenhammer introduced the newly joined pdins and knights. Isaac warmly shook each of their hands, expressing his gratitude for their decision to join.

    ¡°Thank you all so much. Your presence will be a great help.¡±

    Among them were retired pdins, priests disillusioned with the Order, and knights who had lost their lords. Their armor and equipment were mismatched, and their insignias weren¡¯t uniform, making them look more like a mercenary band than a proper order. Compared to them, even the deserter Gebel barely stood out.

    But Isaac was genuinely thrilled by their arrival.

    What Isaked was legitimacy as a Pdin of the Codex of Light.

    Though he was gathering forces under the broad banner of the White Empire, his army was essentially a coalition of foreigners and heretics. The more pdins and priests of the Codex of Light that joined, the better.

    Especially those discontent with the Church.

    ***

    ¡®They¡¯ve arrived in the order I expected.¡¯

    Isaac mentally ranked and organized the forces based on their arrival and strength.

    The strongest among them was Tuhalin. Isaac knew that if he were to face Tuhalin one-on-one, the oue would be uncertain. And since this wasn¡¯t technically an army of the Codex of Light but rather the White Empire Alliance, it made sense for a non-Codex follower like Tuhalin to be in a leadership role, such as a deputymander.

    With Tuhalin¡¯s experience, he wasn¡¯t a bad choice as a chief strategist ormander. He was also old enough that he could mediate conflicts with other faiths.

    Of course, it would be a problem if Tuhalin¡¯s fiery temper red up, but for now, Isaac was content.

    ¡®Good. Now that things are in ce, it¡¯s time to move on to the next step.¡¯

    There was a reason Isaac hade south while the main Dawn Army moved east. It was time to move to the next phase.

    But Isaac¡¯s ns didn¡¯t proceed as smoothly as he had hoped.

    An unexpected message came his way.

    ¡°Isaac.¡±

    One day, Gebel urgently sought out Isaac.

    ¡°The Inquisitors are looking for you. Someone named Soltnar Culvain.¡±

    Isaac felt a wave of d¨¦j¨¤ vu. But this time, unlike before, he sensed that events were moving in a far more ominous direction.

    A flock of ravens cawed fiercely in the skies above Odryf.

    TL Note: Read s Here ¨C /Akaza156

 Chapter 327.1

    The image of the Inquisitor as an executioner is actually a rtively recent development.

    Originally, the role of the Inquisitor was focused on investigating historical records, interpreting doctrine, and acting as prosecutors in religious trials. Their purpose was to identify cults or heretics who distorted doctrine or followers who had been influenced by other faiths.

    However, much changed after the Licht Treaty.

    The Codex of Light clergy had to lower their lofty gaze and adapt to the new world order. Having relinquished much of their power and authority to themon people, the only domain where they could still exert influence was faith.

    And the Inquisitors became an effective weapon.

    When the clergy made political decisions, the Inquisitors would find the justification to back them up.

    In that process, anyone who stood in their way wasbeled a heretic.

    It became the role of the Inquisitors to first create the problem and then prove it.

    As with any such organization, Inquisitors eventually gained overwhelming authority within the clergy, to the point where they could carry out summary executions if the situation concerned internal matters.Soltnar Culvain was a talented individual who had be the head of the Inquisition at the age of thirty. It wasn¡¯t a position he could have attained without exceptional talent, but his rapid ascent also reflected the short lifespan of Inquisitors, who easily made enemies.

    ¡°Isaac Issacrea, it¡¯s a pleasure to finally meet you.¡±

    Isaac met Soltnar near the Issacrea Dawn Army¡¯s camp. Even though it was a ce where allies could quicklye to his aid if trouble arose, Inquisitors weren¡¯tbatants; they were like ravens cawing before the real fight. The real problem arose after they left.

    Isaac forced a smile as he locked eyes with Soltnar. The Inquisitor¡¯s clear, ss-like eyes had a chilling effect.

    ¡®Soltnar Culvain¡­ So I finally meet this obnoxious character.¡¯

    Isaac knew Soltnar Culvain very well. In every campaign Isaac had yed as part of the Codex of Light, Soltnar was the paranoid, suspicious figure who constantly sabotaged his side. In fact, Isaac encountered Soltnar more often when ying against the ck Empire faction than when ying for the Codex of Light itself.

    About 90% of Isaac¡¯s negative image of Inquisitors came from this guy. When Isaac first met Isolde, he¡¯d even debated killing her on the spot because of the trouble Inquisitors had caused him in the past.

    ¡°I never thought I¡¯d meet the hammer of heresy in a ce like this. If there¡¯s anything I can do to assist, I¡¯ll dly cooperate.¡±

    Despite his internal frustration, Isaac responded calmly. After all, if anyone wanted to make a real case against Isaac, it would need to be at the angelic level.

    ¡®I¡¯ve worked with the Sword of May on joint operations. So, what can you really do?¡¯

    If the angels had decided to eliminate Isaac, there wouldn¡¯t be much he could do except run.

    But if it was the Inquisitors who took issue with him? Isaac had plenty of connections to resist.

    More importantly, Isaac was still useful to the Codex of Light clergy.

    Without Isaac, the Dawn Army¡¯s expedition had little chance of sess.

    Soltnar gave Isaac a small smile in response to his confident stance.

    ¡°I¡¯ve heard much about the formidable strength of the Issacrea Dawn Army. Your reputation precedes you, Sir Isaac.¡±

    ¡°Ah, well, thank you.¡±

    Isaac couldn¡¯t help but wonder what Soltnar was getting at with all thesepliments. But Soltnar, still smiling, continued.

    ¡°I understand that my visit might make you ufortable. No one ever wees us. So, I¡¯ll get straight to the point and leave quickly.¡±

    With that, Soltnar presented a box he had prepared in advance. After tearing open the wax seal, a scroll of golden paper was revealed, tightly rolled. Recognizing the papal insignia, Isaac knelt, ready to receive the decree.

    But instead of reading the scroll, Soltnar began talking about something entirely unrted.

    ¡°I hear there¡¯s an old monastery nearby.¡±

    ¡°¡­?¡±

    Isaac gave him a puzzled look, wondering what he was on about. But Soltnar narrowed his eyes and gazed out eastward toward the sea. In the distance, a small fortress-like ind could be seen, resembling a lone rock.

    Isaac stared at it for a moment before something clicked.

    ¡°That¡¯s the Monastery of Saint Millisar. I¡¯ve heard it¡¯s the monastery where Kalsen Miller grew up.¡±

    Isaac hadn¡¯t immediately recognized it because it was nothing more than a ruin. Kalsen had offered all the knights from his monastery to the Immortal Order, and then he had defected. Here, Isaac had consumed him, but in the game, Kalsen had be a Death Knight of the Immortal Order.

    After the knights left and both the Codex of Light and the Immortal Order found the ce unmanageable, the monastery was abandoned. Exposed to the wind and salt, it had decayed quickly.

    ¡®Why is he bringing up Saint Millisar Monastery now?¡¯

    Isaac¡¯s suspicion grew, but he answered diplomatically.

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t aware there was such a sphemous ce nearby. I¡¯ll be sure to avoid it.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ve heard it¡¯s now just a ruin, where only the wind and ghosts wail.¡±

    Soltnar smiled faintly and continued.

    ¡°Come to think of it, Sir Isaac, you remind me quite a bit of Kalsen Miller. A brave and excellent pdin, a young man who aplished great feats, received a holy name, and nowmands a strong military force.¡±

    ¡°¡­You tter me.¡±

    Isaac, sensing that the conversation was dragging on, stood up from his kneeling position. He suspected that Soltnar had pulled out the scroll just to see him kneel.

    ¡°They say that long ago, Dera Heman, the leader of the Golden Lion Pdins, once faced off against Kalsen Miller at that monastery. Who do you think won?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure¡­¡±

    Even though Isaac knew the answer, he pretended not to. The result of that battle had never been officially disclosed.

    Both Dera Heman and Kalsen Miller were top-ranking warriors within the Codex of Light, so the confrontation had garnered immense attention. However, the oue had been ssified as a secret.

    ¡°I see. Well, how about this: If you, Sir Isaac, were to face Dera Heman, what do you think the oue would be?¡±

    ¡®I don¡¯t know about Dera Heman, but I¡¯d sure love to p you across the face.¡¯

    Honestly, Isaac felt confident that he could handle the consequences if he were tosh out. The only thing holding him back was the political debt he would owe to the clergy afterward.

    ¡°I¡¯m still just an ordinary believer. How could I possibly face the top pdin of the Codex?¡±

    Isaac feigned humility, knowing that modesty cost nothing.

    Whether Soltnar was satisfied with that answer or not, he finally seemed to have said everything he wanted. With a smile, he tore open the scroll.

    Isaac resumed his formal stance, listening carefully.

    The beginning was the usual tedious rhetoric. It praised Isaac¡¯s aplishments, urged him to remain humble, and emphasized the importance of ensuring the future sess of the Dawn Army. Then it assigned him a new responsibility: leading the Ciero Dawn Army.

    ¡®Wait, what?¡¯

    Isaac suddenly snapped back to attention, rethinking what Soltnar had just said. While Soltnar continued reading the boring conclusion¡ªsomething about future expectations and praising the glory of the Codex of Light¡ªIsaac cut in.

    ¡°Did you say I¡¯m to lead the Ciero Dawn Army?¡±

 Chapter 327.2

    ¡°Did you say I¡¯m to lead the Ciero Dawn Army?¡±

    Soltnar frowned at the interruption but didn¡¯t chastise Isaac.

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right. Priest Ciero has recognized his own shorings and has stepped down from his position. It is truly a blessing that you, Sir Isaac, will now represent the voice of the Dawn Army. Thus, His Holiness the Pope has appointed the Saint of Resurrection to wield the sword of the church in his stead.¡±

    Though Soltnar¡¯s words were polite, Isaac found them difficult to ept.

    It was clear that the clergy had no intention of strengthening Isaac¡¯s position. In fact, they were trying to rein in the Issacrea Dawn Army.

    ¡°¡­The Issacrea Dawn Army has a unique nature. If I don¡¯t lead them, there¡¯s a high chance they¡¯ll splinter by faction or fail to perform effectively.¡±

    ¡°You needn¡¯t worry. A great pdin will soon arrive to lead in your ce. With the blessings and miracles of the Codex of Light, the Issacrea Dawn Army will soon wield an even stronger sword and shield.¡±

    Isaac struggled to suppress the deep rage welling up inside him.

    ¡®So, this is their move, huh?¡¯The Pope¡¯s intentions were obvious. The Issacrea Dawn Army was too different from the main Dawn Army, as it was a coalition of Isaac¡¯s personal soldiers and heretics. Naturally, this would make the church uneasy.

    Their n was to remove Isaac as the head, mix in various soldiers, priests, and pdins, and blur the army¡¯s identity.

    The problem was that Isaac had no clear grounds to refuse. If he rejected the offer, it would be like admitting that the Issacrea Dawn Army was just his personal force. But if he epted, he would be stuck leading the ragtag Ciero Dawn Army instead.

    ¡®Could I still reim the Holy Land with them¡­ Probably. Yes, damn it, I could.¡¯

    Honestly, Isaac was confident that even with that disorganized army, he could reim the Holy Land. His vast experience and knowledge of strategies gave him that confidence. But doing so would mean sacrificing much of what he had been preparing and epting a significant loss.

    Isaac now understood why the church had sent an Inquisitor instead of just a simple letter.

    They were already suspicious of him.

    They wanted to know if he had any hidden intentions.

    They were likely already questioning his soldiers or associates through the Inquisition outside the camp.

    ¡®The Lighthouse Keeper hasn¡¯t decided to eliminate me. That much is clear. But this is still a warning to not get any foolish ideas¡­ Now, what do I do?¡¯

    If Isaac were purely focused on ensuring the victory of the Codex of Light, he would have epted the offer. He could have even begged the Pope to allow him to keep the core of his current forces intact.

    ¡®But¡­¡¯

    Convincing his allies would be a challenge, and the remaining Issacrea Dawn Army would likely be sent into the most dangerous battles or used as mere cannon fodder.

    ¡°Can I get an answer?¡±

    Soltnar asked, pressing for a response.

    ¡°An answer?¡±

    Isaac knew there was no other choice.

    In truth, the answer had been set from the start.

    Isaac had no intention of handing over his people.

    The only question now was how to refuse in a way that Soltnar would ept.

    But there was one problem.

    He was getting more and more annoyed by those ssy eyes constantly pressing him for an answer.

    ¡®Now that I think about it, if I¡¯m going to refuse anyway, there¡¯s no need to be polite to this bastard.¡¯

    Wham! In the next instant, Isaac¡¯s hand struck Soltnar across the face.

    Thud! Soltnar went flying. Whether it was because he had no realbat skills or because he was too shocked to react, Isaac wasn¡¯t sure. But considering how well Isolde fought, thetter seemed more likely.

    Isaac didn¡¯t stop there. Before Soltnar could get up, he kicked him again. At times like this, it was fortunate that his opponent was a high-ranking cleric¡ªhe didn¡¯t have to worry about killing him by ident.

    ¡°W-Wait, hold on, ugh¡ªjust wait a second¡ª!¡±

    Wham, bam, wham. The fact that Isaac hadn¡¯t drawn his sword or summoned his tentacles already indicated that he had no intention of killing Soltnar. The Inquisitor tried to retaliate several times but failed miserably. Isaac didn¡¯t give him any room to chant a prayer or make a gesture for a spell.

    Just as Isaac was pummeling Soltnar relentlessly, amotion arose as others rushed toward the scene. Among them were the other Inquisitors, as well as Tuhalin and Lianne, who had been keeping watch. Only then did Isaac stop the one-sided beating. He crouched down in front of Soltnar.

    ¡°What do you think will happen if I say ¡®no,¡¯ Inquisitor?¡±

    Soltnar, panting heavily, red at Isaac. His face was covered in bruises, and his bloodstained teeth were visible. Despite the beating, those ssy eyes remained intact. Apparently, they weren¡¯t actually made of ss.

    Isaac smiled and pped Soltnar in the face again. The other Inquisitors tried to rush in, but when Tuhalin and Lianne unsheathed their weapons, they froze in ce.

    Isaac, feeling that he had embarrassed himself enough in front of his allies, spoke once more.

    ¡°I asked what happens if I say no, you piece of shit.¡±

    ¡°¡­You¡¯ll die.¡±

    Soltnar spat out a broken tooth as he muttered.

    ¡°Dera Heman wille. The Golden Lion Pdins are already on their way to rece you.¡±

    Isaac frowned.

    Now he understood why Soltnar had brought up the story of Dera Heman and Kalsen Miller earlier.

    If Isaac refused, they would use Dera Heman¡¯s arrival to intimidate him.

    ¡®Dera Heman¡­ Do I really have to face that monster again?¡¯

    Dera Heman, while powerful, was born with a congenital deformity. This was a closely guarded secret of the church, but Isaac knew it. Dera Heman¡¯s movements were restricted, and he could only act freely in ces blessed with divinity, under the care of priests, or with the aid of special relics.

    His arrival had no purpose other than to bind Isaac and the Issacrea Dawn Army.

    ¡°You throw around the word ¡®death¡¯ pretty lightly.¡±

    Isaac pondered whether to kill Soltnar or not. Whether he killed him or spared him, he would still have to deal with Dera Heman.

    After a moment of thought, Isaac decided to let him live.

    There were too many witnesses. Killing Soltnar now would only be an impulsive act that cut off his options.

    He could teach Soltnar the weight of death another time.

    Isaac stepped aside. The Inquisitors immediately rushed in to tend to Soltnar.

    Soltnar shot a venomous re at Isaac, but when Isaac red back, Soltnar quickly looked away. He must have realized that Isaac wouldn¡¯t hesitate to hit him again before he left.

    As the Inquisitors hurried off with Soltnar, Tuhalin approached Isaac, looking bewildered. Isaac, knowing the gravity of what he had done, was prepared to apologize.

    But Tuhalin gripped Isaac¡¯s bloodstained hand firmly and said:

    ¡°You¡¯re a real man. I didn¡¯t know the Codex of Light had men with such backbone.¡±

    Isaac chuckled bitterly and replied:

    ¡°¡­Gather the allies. I have some things to share.¡±

    Isaac¡¯s eyes gleamed with a violet light.

    ¡®Even if it¡¯s a death trap, I¡¯ll walk into it on my own two feet. I¡¯ll never be dragged or strung up.¡¯

 Chapter 328.1

    Inside the tent, the various representatives of the Issacrea Dawn Army had quickly gathered. They had already been on edge due to the visit of the Inquisitors. And now, word had spread that Isaac had beaten up one of them, leaving everyone visibly shocked.

    Yet, amidst the tension, there was an undeniable air of mirth.

    The pdins from the Codex of Light side seemed especially amused. Among them, Rottenhammer was grinning from ear to ear.

    ¡°That¡¯s ourmander!¡±

    The news of Isaac assaulting an Inquisitor had shocked Rottenhammer, but he couldn¡¯t hide his delight.

    Isaac felt somewhat bewildered by how much more ted Rottenhammer waspared to others like Elil and the World¡¯s Forge, but he understood the sentiment.

    Unlike Elil and World¡¯s Forge, who had long severed ties with the Inquisition out of disgust, the pdins and priests from the Codex of Light had only recently escaped their torment. Those who had grown disillusioned with the church and joined the Issacrea Dawn Army had suffered the most under the Inquisition¡¯s scrutiny.

    However, while the amusement was genuine, the reality remained grim. Rottenhammer, as much as he loathed the Inquisitors, was also well aware of the disasters they could bring.

    ¡°Well, I¡¯ll admit, it was satisfying to see those lunatic crows get what they deserve, but¡­ what do we do now? You must have had a n when you beat him, right?¡±¡°I don¡¯t.¡±

    Isaac answered calmly.

    Rottenhammerughed, thinking it was a joke, but when Isaac didn¡¯t continue, his smile vanished. His eyes darkened with a more feral edge.

    ¡°No n? In that case, should I go chase them down and finish them off? They can¡¯t have gone far yet.¡±

    Isaac wondered if this was something a faithful pdin of the Codex of Light should be saying. When had Rottenhammer be so¡­ corrupted?

    Isaac shook his head.

    ¡°They¡¯ve already reported everything to their superiors through their ¡®ravens.¡¯ Killing them now won¡¯t change the fact that the church has already dispatched someone to keep us in check.¡±

    ¡°Someone to keep us in check?¡±

    ¡°Dera Heman.¡±

    A heavy silence fell over the tent.

    Dera Heman wasn¡¯t a widely known figure outside the Codex of Light. His primary role was defending the holy city, Lichthaim, which meant he rarely made public appearances.

    But those gathered here were experts in their fields. They all understood what it meant if Dera Heman wasing.

    Tuhalin confirmed it with a question.

    ¡°Dera Heman¡­ isn¡¯t he essentially the Pope¡¯s bodyguard? He¡¯sing here?¡±

    ¡°Technically, his role is to defend Lichthaim. But since the Pope is involved in the Dawn Army¡¯s efforts, his role might have shifted.¡±

    The fact that the man who guarded the Pope was being sent to oversee the Issacrea Dawn Army indicated how much of a threat the church considered them.

    In other words, whether Isaac had beaten up Soltnar or not, the result would have been the same. And if given the choice, Isaac would still have chosen to punch Soltnar.

    ¡°So, what do we do now? Are we going to fight the Golden Lion Pdins?¡±

    Rottenhammer asked, his tone growing more serious.

    This was no small matter. Fighting the Golden Lion Pdins was on an entirely different level than just beating up a single Inquisitor. Of course, the fact that Isaac had thrown the papal decree to the ground was also a problem, though no one was willing to mention that right now.

    ¡°Whatever happens, Elil¡¯s Sword will stand by the Holy Grail Knight. We didn¡¯te here to follow the Codex of Light¡¯s clergy¡ªwe came because we believe in you, Sir Isaac. Even if the Pope sends an angel instead of an Inquisitor, that won¡¯t change.¡±

    Edelred spoke first in a solemn tone. Despite his young appearance, his words carried significant weight. And as Lianne and the other knights nodded in agreement, it became clear that they shared his resolve.

    ¡°So you¡¯re saying you don¡¯t mind fighting the Codex of Light, huh?¡±

    Tuhalin smirked as he asked, and Edelred returned the smile.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you know, old man? Elil has spilled more blood from Codex of Light followers than any other faith.¡±

    For warriors who sought honor on the battlefield, the identity of the enemy didn¡¯t matter much. After all, centuries ago, they had waged war against countless other faiths.

    Edelred¡¯s answer made Tuhalin burst outughing. He mmed his hammer to the ground with a loud thud and dered:

    ¡°Good! My heart¡¯s fire won¡¯t burn any less fiercely than Elil¡¯s. Even if the Golden Lion Pdins show up, we¡¯ll just smash their heads in and keep moving forward!¡±

    The two heretical factions had made their decision easily. After all, their home nations were across the sea, so they didn¡¯t face any immediate consequences.

    The problemy with the Issacrea Pdin Order, whose home base was still under the influence of the Codex of Light. If things went wrong, they could be branded as heretics. This was why Rottenhammer hesitated to respond.

    But Isaac understood Rottenhammer¡¯s hesitation all too well. The mere fact that such a loyal follower of the church was wavering showed how deeply troubled he was. And yet, Isaac had no intention of dragging them into a full-on war with the Codex of Light.

    ¡°I appreciate your support, but I don¡¯t intend to wage war against the Codex of Light.¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    Rottenhammer asked, clearly taken aback.

    ¡°What do you mean? Are you nning to surrender?¡±

    ¡°Our enemy remains the same: Holy Land Lua and the Immortal Order that resides there.¡±

    Isaac hadn¡¯t forgotten the main goal. Holy Land Lua had to be reimed, not only to achieve victory but also to prevent direct intervention from the angels.

    To use an extreme example, even if Isaac destroyed the entire Codex of Light clergy, took the throne, and executed the Pope, as long as he reimed Holy Land Lua, the Lighthouse Keeper wouldn¡¯t stop him.

    The Codex of Light¡¯s victory condition was singrly focused on reiming Holy Land Lua.

    Isaac had concluded that the church¡¯s current interference was more driven by its own politics than by angelic influence. Reiming Holy Land Lua remained his primary goal as well.

    ¡°We can¡¯t afford to fight amongst ourselves if we¡¯re to reim Holy Land Lua.¡±

    ¡°¡­Of course. But those bastards aren¡¯t going to leave us alone!¡±

    Rottenhammer eximed, frustrated.

    ¡°So, what exactly are you nning? If you¡¯re thinking of surrendering, you¡¯ll be the first Dawn Army leader to face mutiny.¡±

    Rottenhammer and Tuhalin quickly expressed their concerns. Isaac appreciated their loyalty, but if the Issacrea Dawn Army was to avoid being entangled in this matter, Isaac himself had to resolve it.

    Isaac turned his gaze toward the sea and mentioned the hint Soltnar had dropped.

    ¡°Over there, there¡¯s a monastery where Kalsen Miller¡¯s Milishar Pdins once resided. It¡¯s said a historic duel took ce there.¡±

    Everyone¡¯s gaze followed Isaac¡¯s toward the sea.

 Chapter 328.2

    Everyone¡¯s gaze followed Isaac¡¯s toward the sea.

    Beyond the crashing waves, an old, small fortress rose from the waters¡ªa deste monastery. It was there that Isaac nned to stage his next move.

    ¡°I¡¯ll challenge Dera Heman to a duel.¡±

    ***

    Isaac¡¯s proposal was easily epted by the knights of Elil, but Tuhalin and Rottenhammer stared at him as if he were speaking nonsense. However, Isaac hadn¡¯t made the suggestion lightly.

    He was confident that Dera Heman would ept the challenge.

    Isaac walked along the outer wall of Odryf, the vast ocean stretching below, its blue waves crashing against the towering walls.

    Even in winter, Odryf remained rtively warm, often used as a retreat. But the distant Milishar Monastery, battered by barren waves, stood like a stone tomb, in stark contrast to the sunny southern seas.

    ¡°You think the Golden Lion will ept your challenge?¡±Gebel, walking alongside Isaac, inquired.

    The Golden Lion was one of Dera Heman¡¯s nicknames, given because he always wore a golden lion mask. Isaac even recalled seeing him wear the mask during a midnight appearance in his pajamas when Isaac had infiltrated the secret archives of Lichthaim.

    ¡°He¡¯ll ept it. Absolutely.¡±

    ¡°But the Codex of Light doesn¡¯t value fairness or sanctify duels like Elil does. Why would they agree?¡±

    ¡°There are two reasons.¡±

    Isaac held up two fingers as he turned to look at Gebel.

    ¡°First, the Codex of Light wouldn¡¯t want to create the appearance of forcibly ¡®recing¡¯ me. The Dawn Army is already on shaky ground. If they drag me away and install a recement, it could cause the Issacrea Dawn Army to fall apart. It might even open up a new front in the war.¡±

    Neither Isaac nor the church wanted the Issacrea Dawn Army to turn against the Codex of Light. Therefore, Isaac was confident the duel would be epted as a form of arbitration.

    ¡°That makes sense. What¡¯s the second reason?¡±

    ¡°Dera Heman¡¯s personal pride. He¡¯s paying close attention to me.¡±

    ¡°Paying attention? Why? It¡¯s hard to believe that a zealot like him would care about anyone.¡±

    Isaac shifted his gaze back to the Milishar Monastery, recalling the knights who had once resided there.

    ¡°Because I¡¯m considered the new Kalsen Miller.¡±

    Isaac knew the oue of the duel between Kalsen Miller and Dera Heman. Though it wasn¡¯t public knowledge, Kalsen had won¡ªdecisively.

    The duel wasn¡¯t even close. The result had been so one-sided that the church was left in shock.

    In the end, the oue was kept secret. The church needed to preserve the illusion that Lichthaim¡¯s strongest pdin was an invincible guardian.

    What made it even worse was that Kalsen hade from a humble family and was trained in a remote monastery, whereas Dera Heman came from a prestigious lineage and had been meticulously groomed by the church from birth.

    ¡®That defeat left a deep scar on Dera Heman¡¯s pride.¡¯

    Kalsen, however, wasn¡¯t particrly affected by it. To him, it was just another victory in a long line of them. But for Dera Heman, the loss had been devastating, and he had been biding his time for a rematch. Unfortunately for him, Kalsen had be a heretic and disappeared, leaving Dera without a chance to redeem himself.

    Just because Dera Heman didn¡¯t talk about it didn¡¯t mean it didn¡¯t hurt.

    For this reason, Isaac believed that Dera Heman would bepelled to duel him.

    As Soltnar had said, within the church, Isaac hade to be known as the ¡°new Kalsen Miller.¡±

    When Isaac calmly exined this, Gebel stared at him, jaw agape.

    ¡°¡­How do you even know that? That¡¯s supposed to be a church secret.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s just an educated guess. If Dera Heman had won, do you think they would have kept it a secret?¡±

    Isaac shamelessly lied.

    Gebel didn¡¯t seempletely convinced, but he also knew this wasn¡¯t the first time Isaac had done something inexplicable. Deciding to move on to more important matters, Gebel asked the critical question.

    ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll ept that you have your reasons. But the real question is: Can you beat Dera Heman?¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    This was the real issue.

    Even back in Lichthaim, Isaac had been hesitant about facing Dera Heman. Their abilities were a terrible matchup. In truth, Dera Heman¡¯s powers were practically broken in this world.

    ¡®Divine Absorption¡­¡¯

    While Isaac¡¯s tentacles devoured physically, Dera Heman absorbed divine power simply by breathing, turning it into his own strength. He could be loaded with blessings without suffering overload, and he could still maintain his human form.

    The problem was that if Isaac used even a sliver of his Nameless Chaos power, Dera Heman could absorb it.

    Unlike Kalsen, who was still a pdin of the Codex of Light, Isaac¡¯s situation was far moreplicated.

    In short, Isaac would have to face the strongest pdin of the Codex of Light, covered in blessings and miracles, with nothing but his own raw abilities.

    As Isaac imagined the scenario, his vision darkened.

    ¡°Well, I¡¯ll give it a shot.¡±

    When had he ever fought a battle where the odds were in his favor? If Kalsen had won, Isaac could, too.

    ¡®And this is the only way to convince the Inquisition and the church of my capability.¡¯

    A duel with Dera Heman would force his submission.

    What could the church say if Isaac, the stronger and more capable leader, was willing to continuemanding? If they had a problem with it, they could send someone even stronger than Dera Heman. But who could that be? Unless they were nning on sending an angel.

    Isaac paused in his thoughts.

    It wasn¡¯t likely, but it wasn¡¯t impossible either. After all, there had been terrifying cases like The Sword of May.

    ¡®¡­Maybe I should have some insurance ready.¡¯

 Chapter 329.1

    The rapid tter of horse hooves echoed loudly as they raced westward.

    The Inquisitors, dressed in dark red hoods bearing the emblem of a raven, slowed down as their leader, Soltnar, pulled the reins to stop. They weren¡¯t near any crossroads or rest stops, which left the other inquisitors confused as they approached.

    ¡°¡­Let¡¯s rest for a moment.¡±

    Soltnar muttered, grimacing in pain.

    ¡°Are you feeling unwell, sir?¡±

    One of the inquisitors asked with concern. They had done their best to heal him, but although the external wounds had been treated, the residual pain and internal injuries still lingered. Some injuries simply needed time to heal naturally.

    And, more importantly, the wounds to his pride weren¡¯t as easily mended.

    ¡°No, we¡¯vee far enough. The Golden Lion Pdins should be arriving soon. Let¡¯s join them before heading back to Odryf.¡±

    The inquisitors looked startled by Soltnar¡¯s words.¡°Shouldn¡¯t we prioritize joining the Dawn Army and reporting directly to the Pope about Isaac Issacrea¡¯s true nature?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve already sent a raven detailing everything. His dark, deceitful nature has been fully exposed. Right now, the priority is to meet Dera Heman and punish Isaac.¡±

    On the surface, it seemed like a reasonable n, but the inquisitors who had worked with Soltnar for a long time sensed something off.

    Sending information via raven often omitted key details due to concerns about security breaches. To fully report the findings from interrogating Isaac and any additional evidence gathered, they¡¯d need to deliver it in person.

    What¡¯s more, Soltnar hade across urgent, significant information that absolutely required a direct audience with the Pope.

    There was a high probability that Isaac, the Holy Grail Knight, was guilty of heresy.

    Given the case of Kalsen Miller, who had been both a saint and a candidate for the next Archangel before he betrayed the faith, this was a matter of grave importance. Yet, instead of immediately reporting this to the Pope, Soltnar insisted on meeting with Dera Heman first.

    ¡°Sir, I think you should reconsider¡­¡±

    ¡°Dera Heman? That mute swordsman? Do you honestly think he can make any decisions on his own? All that lunatic knows how to do is slice people up when told!¡±

    Soltnar snapped.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t you see how Isaac used his sly tongue to manipte the King of Elil, the World¡¯s Forge, and even themander of the pdins into following him? Heresy is always seductive, using clever words to deceive people. Do you think Dera Heman is immune to that?¡±

    The inquisitors exchanged uneasy nces but couldn¡¯t deny Soltnar¡¯s point. In cases where a dangerous heretic was discovered, immediate elimination could sometimes take precedence over a formal report. What if, while they were delivering their report, Isaac managed to sway Dera Heman into heresy as well?

    By then, it would be toote.

    ¡°Now is not the time for dys. We need to act quickly.¡±

    The inquisitors couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that Soltnar was letting his personal humiliation cloud his judgment. But they couldn¡¯t risk questioning their superior¡¯s pride, especially after what had happened.

    After all, Soltnar¡¯s disgrace was their disgrace too.

    ¡°Understood. In that case, it would be best to split up here.¡±

    Soltnar nodded.

    ¡°Fine. I will proceed with Dera Heman. The three of you, go to the Pope and deliver a full report. Isaac is highly suspect of heresy. I don¡¯t know what the Lighthouse Keeper ns to achieve with him, but I fear it could be another grave mistake, just like Kalsen.¡±

    ***

    Half a day after splitting from the other inquisitors, the expected sound of hoofbeats came from the west.

    In the distance, banners with a white background and a golden sun emblem fluttered in the wind. The Golden Lion Pdins had arrived.

    The pdins swiftly approached and halted when they spotted Soltnar¡¯s group. Soltnar quickly identified the knight at the front wearing the golden lion mask¡ªDera Heman¡ªand called out.

    ¡°Dera Heman! Sir Dera Heman, is that you? I am Soltnar Culvain, Chief Inquisitor!¡±

    Of course, Soltnar didn¡¯t expect Dera Heman to respond directly. The man beside him, presumably an aide, rode up closer.

    The pdin lifted his visor and looked down at Soltnar.

    ¡°Speak your piece.¡±

    Soltnar felt a surge of irritation. For a mere pdin to speak to an inquisitor without even dismounting was a tant disrespect. But he quickly reminded himself that he was the one who had stopped the pdins during an important mission.

    ¡°During my interrogation of Isaac Issacrea in Odryf, I was severely assaulted. He threw the Pope¡¯s decree to the ground and attacked an official envoy. This is clear evidence that Isaac is trying to hide his heretical nature. I request the assistance of the Golden Lion Pdins to punish this vile traitor.¡±

    As soon as Soltnar finished speaking, Dera Heman made a series of gestures. His aide promptly tranted the signnguage for Soltnar.

    ¡°If the charges are that severe, why haven¡¯t you reported directly to the Pope? My only mission is to rece Isaac and takemand of the Issacrea Dawn Army.¡±

    ¡°Time is of the essence! If we merely remove him frommand, he maysh out in desperation, revealing his true monstrous nature. Worse, if he were to reach the Pope¡¯s side, the situation could be even more dangerous!¡±

    Soltnar¡¯s voice was filled with urgency, but none of the pdins seemed inclined to agree. In fact, Soltnar noticed some of the knights in the back wereughing quietly.

    Even for the Golden Lion Pdins, who directly guarded the Pope, it was hard to resist enjoying the idea of an Inquisitor getting beaten up.

    Even Dera Heman was no exception.

    ¡°Themander says that the Holy Grail Knight is surprisingly spirited for someone with such a delicate appearance¡­ Oh, wait, you didn¡¯t want me to trante that part? Understood.¡±

    Soltnar¡¯s face turned red with anger.

    He was about to respond when Dera Heman¡¯s aide dismounted and spoke soothingly, clearly aware that provoking the inquisitor wouldn¡¯t lead to anything beneficial.

    ¡°My apologies, Inquisitor. I understand your concern, but if you believe there is a strong case of heresy, wouldn¡¯t it be more appropriate to proceed with formal charges and a religious trial? Once we reach Odryf, themander can pass judgment.¡±

    Soltnar gritted his teeth.

    More often than not, he had dealt with heretics not through trials, but through poison or daggers.

    Did they honestly think Isaac would willingly submit to a trial? His ragtag army of mixed faiths was already gathered, and there was no guarantee they would bow to the authority of the Codex of Light.

    ¡°Also, please forgive our earlier demeanor. The truth is, on the way here, we discovered something that made us wary. We were concerned that you might be bandits.¡±

    ¡°Discovered what?¡±

    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and

    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 329.2

    ¡°Also, please forgive our earlier demeanor. The truth is, on the way here, we discovered something that made us wary. We were concerned that you might be bandits.¡±

    ¡°Discovered what?¡±

    The aide signaled to one of the knights in the rear, who brought forth somethingrge wrapped in cloth. As it was unwrapped, Soltnar felt a chill creep down his spine. Inside the shroud was the shriveled remains of the three inquisitors who had been sent ahead.

    Their bodies were dried out, as though all fluids had been drained, and any clothing or symbols identifying them as inquisitors had been stripped away. Soltnar stood in stunned silence for a moment before finally speaking.

    ¡°¡­These are our Inquisitors. This is clearly Isaac¡¯s doing.¡±

    ¡°Oh? So the Holy Grail Knight¡¯s heresy involves the Red Chalice as well?¡±

    ¡°No, there¡¯s a harlot from the Red Chalice Club who travels with him. I had noticed her absence before. She must have ambushed them.¡±

    Soltnar¡¯s words caused the knights to murmur among themselves. The aide quieted them and asked for confirmation.

    ¡°Do you have any evidence to support this?¡±¡°¡­¡±

    In truth, Soltnar wasn¡¯t entirely sure. He had heard reports of human hunters recently being spotted near Odryf during his local investigation. But a good inquisitor never spoke of inconvenient facts¡ªthey only shared what supported their case.

    The aide turned to Dera Heman, who stared at Soltnar for a long moment before making a short gesture. The aide nodded.

    ¡°Very well. You may apany us. However, you are not to act on your own. Remember that we serve directly under His Holiness, the Pope, as the Golden Lion Pdins. Everything will proceed ording to proper order and discipline.¡±

    Soltnar nodded awkwardly at those words, though they felt unfamiliar to him, even as an inquisitor supposedly upholding order.

    ***

    The Golden Lion Pdins finally arrived on the outskirts of Odryf.

    Until thest possible moment, Isaac had considered using the overwhelming power of his gathered forces to intimidate Dera Heman. After all, no matter how mighty the Golden Lion Pdins were, they couldn¡¯t take on everyone who hade to Isaac¡¯s aid.

    But in the end, Isaac decided to only bring Hesabel with him to meet them.

    When he saw the Golden Lion Pdins approach, Isaac was d he¡¯d chosen that route. Soltnar, the inquisitor he had beaten down, had returned with Dera Heman at his side.

    ¡®If I had shown up with a huge army, that bastard would¡¯ve used me of trying to start a war.¡¯ Isaac thought grimly. ¡®I need to present myself with confidence.¡¯

    Isaac confidently strode forward to meet the approaching pdins.

    ¡°Wee. I am Isaac Issacrea, though some call me the Holy Grail Knight.¡±

    Seeing Dera Heman¡¯s golden lion mask brought back a surge of memories from Isaac¡¯s infiltration of Lichtheim, where the mere sight of that mask had triggered trauma. He still didn¡¯t know if Bashul, the ally who had apanied him during that mission, was dead or alive.

    As Hesabel stood confidently by Isaac¡¯s side, the aide turned to nce at Soltnar, who turned red with frustration. Yet, at this moment, Soltnar wasn¡¯t the one representing the Golden Lion Pdins.

    Dera Heman gazed silently at Isaac for a long moment before making a series of hand gestures.

    ¡°It is an honor to meet you, Holy Grail Knight,¡± the aide tranted. ¡°Unfortunately, I bring somber news. Themander has been dispatched with orders to takemand of the Issacrea Dawn Army in your ce.¡±

    Dera Heman¡¯s gestures were far shorter than the aide¡¯s trantion, but the aide smoothly added diplomatic flourishes to the message as if well-practiced.

    ¡°We also heard about the unfortunate incident involving the inquisitor. Themander is curious if there were any issues during the process of delivering His Holiness¡¯s message, or if you encountered any difficulties carrying out the orders.¡±

    Instead of answering, Isaac folded his arms, his gaze settling coldly on Soltnar. He then began the speech he had prepared.

    ¡°I trust that His Holiness is well aware of the unique circumstances surrounding the Issacrea Dawn Army. As you know, this army represents the union of three great faiths: the Codex of Light, the followers of Elil, and the worshippers of the World¡¯s Forge. We havee together as one.¡±

    The aide smiled and continued the diplomatic exchange.

    ¡°His Holiness is indeed very pleased with such a noble alliance and sends his highest praise. He believes that this reorganization will present an opportunity to further unify our forces.¡±

    Isaac smiled back, though his thoughts were already sharpening.

    ¡°Ipletely agree with His Holiness¡¯s wisdom and am fully prepared to carry out any orders.¡±

    ¡°What nonsense are you spouting now!?¡±

    Soltnar, unable to hold back, shouted in disbelief. Was this not the same man who had beaten him senseless in rejection? What kind of backtracking nonsense was this? Did he really think he could undo what had already happened?

    But before Soltnar could continue, his breath caught as he met Dera Heman¡¯s gaze. The cold, gleaming eyes behind the golden lion mask seemed to squeeze his heart like a vice.

    Isaac, still ring at Soltnar, spoke again.

    ¡°However¡­ there is a problem. The inquisitors made several offensive and inappropriate remarks to my allies. They insulted the Elil, calling them a gang of beggars who worship incestuous gods. They imed the followers of the World¡¯s Forge were cave-dwellers who worship a false god buried in the earth. And as for my deputy¡­ well, they made some very indecentments about her as well.¡±

    At this, Hesabel pretended to tear up, her eyes welling with fake emotion. Of course, she wasn¡¯t actually hurt¡ªshe hadn¡¯t even encountered the inquisitors. But Isaac¡¯s words caused the pdins to frown.

    It wasn¡¯t hard to believe. After all, such rumors had long circted about the inquisitors, and in the past, simrments had caused diplomatic rifts between the White Empire and the various faiths.

    The Elil had severed ties with the Codex of Light when their champion, Ashen, had been burned at the stake. The World¡¯s Forge had also distanced itself after its doctrines were insulted by inquisitors. It wasn¡¯t out of character for the inquisitors to insult Isaac¡¯s coalition.

    Soltnar, however, was left speechless. He had never said such things¡ªthis time, at least. But given the history of the inquisitors, no one here would believe him. And after his earlier humiliation, there was no point in protesting further.

    ¡®Consider this payback for the reputation your predecessors ruined, Soltnar.¡¯

    This was why reputation mattered.

 Chapter 330.1

    ¡°As you may know, the Issacrea Dawn Army is not made up of my subordinates, but rather a coalition of allies. In order to prevent a division within this alliance, I had no choice but to discipline the inquisitor for his insults. However, I do apologize for the fact that His Holiness¡¯s missive was cast to the ground in the process.¡±

    Isaac¡¯s humble and respectful demeanor as he addressed the situation left a deep impression on the pdins, a sharp contrast to Soltnar. Here was a man regarded as one of the strongest pdins in the empire, standing before them with such modesty. It was, by all ounts, the behavior of a model knight.

    Yet, Dera Heman showed no reaction to Isaac¡¯s humility. With a neutral expression behind his golden lion mask, he simply gestured in silence.

    Isaac interpreted this indifference positively. At least Dera Heman wasn¡¯t easily swayed by the inquisitor¡¯s words.

    ¡°Themander says he has no authority to judge this matter,¡± the aide tranted, though he too seemed impressed by Isaac.

    ¡°His only orders are to takemand and oversee the operation as a substitute. Anything else should be brought to His Holiness¡¯s attention. Are you ready toply, Holy Grail Knight?¡±

    ¡°Of course.¡± Isaac nodded confidently.

    ¡°However,¡± Isaac continued, ¡°I¡¯m not sure if my allies are equally prepared. Surely, you didn¡¯te all this way to lead a fractured and hollow shell of the Issacrea Dawn Army, did you?¡±

    The aide raised an eyebrow. ¡°What are you suggesting?¡±¡°I propose a contest.¡±

    Isaac¡¯s eyes locked onto Dera Heman¡¯s.

    ¡°Prove that you are a better pdin than I am. Show that you are more capable, more virtuous, and that you can lead this coalition with greater fairness and wisdom than I can. If you can do that, everyone will agree to follow you.¡±

    The word contest cast a heavy silence over the group.

    For a few moments, the air was thick with awkwardness until a soft snicker broke the tension. From that snicker,ughter quickly spread among the pdins.

    ¡°A contest? Surely you aren¡¯t suggesting a duel, Holy Grail Knight?¡±

    ¡°Ha! You¡¯ve spent too much time with those Elil knights. Their penchant for dueling has rubbed off on you!¡±

    Most of theughter carried the tone of mockery, as if saying, ¡°A novice like you challenging Dera Heman? Ridiculous.¡± Isaac, however, weed theirughter. The more theyughed, the better. He simply smiled, without reacting to their jeers.

    The only ones notughing were Soltnar and Dera Heman¡ªthetter¡¯s expression concealed behind his mask.

    Soltnar, however, saw through Isaac¡¯s ploy.

    While he didn¡¯t fully understand Isaac¡¯s game, he knew better than to let Dera Heman fall into his trap. Soltnar thought it would be much better for Dera Heman to continue with his rigid approach, sticking to the assigned duties without entertaining Isaac¡¯s provocations.

    ¡°Commander Heman, this is nothing more than a heretic¡¯s foolish trick. There¡¯s no need to dignify this with a response,¡± Soltnar warned.

    ¡°Worried, Inquisitor? Don¡¯t be,¡± Isaac said, smiling provocatively. ¡°At least Dera Heman won¡¯t get beaten like you did.¡±

    Soltnar¡¯s fists clenched, but he restrained himself fromshing out. Just then, Dera Heman moved.

    Theughter died down as Dera Heman rode his massive warhorse closer to Isaac. The beast, at least one and a half timesrger than a normal horse, loomed over Isaac, who could feel his throat tighten.

    It wasn¡¯t just the physical presence of the horse. Isaac could feel the surrounding holy energy being drawn toward Dera Heman, as though the very air was being consumed. His lips felt dry, and his mouth parched as if the vitality was being drained from him.

    Dera Heman circled Isaac, his gaze never leaving the Holy Grail Knight. He scrutinized Isaac from head to toe as if weighing him, assessing him. Afterpleting the circle, Dera Heman returned to his original position.

    In the silence that followed, Dera Heman raised a hand and made a brief gesture.

    The aide, momentarily surprised,posed himself and tranted the message.

    ¡°Very well. The ce?¡±

    The pdins, shocked, fell into another stunned silence.

    ¡°Commander Heman!¡± Soltnar stepped forward, unable to contain his frustration. But before he could reach Dera Heman, several pdins grabbed his cor and tossed him to the ground.

    Soltnar, now covered in dirt, groaned and struggled to rise.

    ¡°What is the meaning of this¡­?¡±

    He started to protest, but as he looked up, he found himself staring into the steely eyes of a dozen pdins, their expressions cold and unyielding. Dera Heman, meanwhile, didn¡¯t even nce in his direction.

    The aide turned to Soltnar and scolded him.

    ¡°Inquisitor, your duty is to investigate heresy and deliver His Holiness¡¯smands. That is the extent of your authority. If you continue overstepping your bounds, there will be consequences. We obey ourmander, and nothing more.¡±

    A chill ran down Soltnar¡¯s spine.

    Pdin orders were like self-contained societies, often insr and close-knit. Unlike priests and clergy who traveled to various churches, cathedrals, and monasteries, pdins were raised in their orders, often from childhood, and remained together for life.

    It was this closeness that sometimes led entire orders to turn if a single pdin went rogue.

    Within such an order, themander was akin to a patriarch. While grumbling among themselves was one thing, outsiders meddling in their affairs was an entirely different matter.

    ¡®Damn these people,¡¯ Soltnar cursed inwardly.

    Both Isaac and Dera Heman were beyond the reach of his authority as an inquisitor. They didn¡¯t fear him, nor did they fear the Codex of Light.

    And it was clear that, at least here, no one cared about Soltnar¡¯s righteous anger.

    Isaac, satisfied with Dera Heman¡¯s response, turned his gaze toward the sea.

    ¡°I have the perfect location in mind.¡±

    ***

    As Isaac had predicted, Dera Heman epted the duel.

    The pdins of the Golden Lion order were surprised by the decision, but none of them believed that their legendarymander would lose to a mere Holy Grail Knight.

    Though Dera Heman rarely left the capital, his reputation was nothing short of mythical among hisrades.

    Still, when the aide saw the location Isaac had chosen for the duel, a sense of unease crept over him.

    ¡°Milishar Monastery? Isn¡¯t that ce abandoned?¡±

    ¡°There weren¡¯t many other suitable ces for a duel without outside interference. And surely, the Golden Lion Pdins need a ce to stay as well, do they not?¡±

    Isaac¡¯s deliberate choice of Milishar Monastery was not lost on the Golden Lion Pdins¡¯ aide. Having served Dera Heman for many years, the aide knew all too well the significance of this ce. He was aware of Dera Heman¡¯s duel with Kalsen Miller and the wounds it had left, even if they were never openly discussed. He worried that this ce might stir up old memories for Dera Heman.

    But as always, Dera Heman¡¯s expression was hidden behind his golden lion mask, unreadable.

    Not long after, they arrived near the monastery, only to find an unexpected group awaiting them. Shalok, Leonora, and a small force of mercenaries stood nearby. Leonora approached with a warm smile.

    ¡°Thank you foring all the way out to this remote area. I am Leonora Bessia, Vice-Leader of the Golden Idol Guild. We¡¯ve made some preparations for your stay, including refurbishing the facilities and stocking supplies for your convenience.¡±

 Chapter 330.2

    ¡°Thank you foring all the way out to this remote area. I am Leonora Bessia, Vice-Leader of the Golden Idol Guild. We¡¯ve made some preparations for your stay, including refurbishing the facilities and stocking supplies for your convenience.¡±

    The pdins of the Golden Lion Order were caught off guard by this unexpected hospitality but were also pleased. Their hurried journey had left them little time to properly stock provisions. Since handling such formalities was the aide¡¯s responsibility, he stepped forward and responded.

    ¡°We greatly appreciate the cooperation. The Golden Idol Guild has always been a trusted friend of the empire.¡±

    ¡°If there¡¯s anything you need, please don¡¯t hesitate to let me know,¡± Leonora added, her voice full of professional courtesy.

    Leonora¡¯s interaction was a reminder of the delicate rtionship between merchants and local military forces. A wealthy merchant like her always had to maintain friendly ties with the ruling power. As she finished her greetings and passed by Isaac, she whispered something to him.

    ¡°I heard you were nning to sell the Guild Leader¡¯s seat to Shalok?¡±

    ¡°¡­Yes, that¡¯s right. Is there a problem?¡±

    ¡°I bought that right. So, until I take over as Guild Leader, you¡¯ll have to make sure not to get yourself killed or driven out of here.¡±

    Isaac sighed inwardly. He had anticipated such an oue. Shalok¡¯s less-than-enthusiastic expression despite gaining the Guild Leader¡¯s seat indicated that he hadn¡¯t received as muchpensation as he had hoped. Nevertheless, he had still secured a considerable sum.Leonora nced at the sea and added, ¡°It seems the tide is out. We can proceed now.¡±

    Milishar Monastery was built on an ind, only essible bynd during low tide. Once the tide came in, the path would be submerged, making it difficult to leave.

    The aide, still suspicious, approached Dera Heman. ¡°Commander, do you think the Holy Grail Knight might be nning to trap us at the monastery?¡±

    ¡®Perhaps.¡¯

    ¡°He could have set traps or prepared an escape route ahead of time.¡±

    ¡®Perhaps.¡¯

    ¡°¡­Are you confident you can handle whatever might happen?¡±

    At this, Dera Heman turned to look at his aide and gestured. The motion conveyed that he wasn¡¯t entirely confident, causing the aide some surprise. But Dera Heman continued his gestures.

    ¡®It doesn¡¯t matter if the Holy Grail Knight sets traps, tries to escape, or hatches any schemes. If he does, it will simply prove that he is no match for Kalsen Miller.¡¯

    As Isaac had predicted, Dera Heman was seeing him through the lens of his past encounter with Kalsen. It wasn¡¯t just Isaac¡¯s actions and reputation that triggered thisparison. Having personally dueled Kalsen, Dera Heman felt a strong sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu in Isaac¡¯s demeanor and abilities.

    In many ways, Isaac had inherited Kalsen¡¯s techniques and habits, which made the connection inevitable.

    ¡®Once the duel is over, Isaac will face a religious trial.¡¯

    The aide¡¯s expression hardened.

    ¡®Whether Isaac is a heretic, as the inquisitor ims, I can¡¯t say for certain. But one thing is clear: he has certainly been influenced by Kalsen Miller or someone like him.¡¯

    The idea that the most promising pdin in the empire could be a heretic shook the aide, but if Dera Heman believed it, then it must be true.

    ¡®If Isaac proves unfit to lead the Dawn Army, we will execute him and send his head to His Holiness. And until then, there is no better prison for him than Milishar Monastery.¡¯ ?

    Whether Milishar would serve as a trap for the Golden Lion Pdins or a prison for Isaac remained to be seen.

    ***

    As Leonora had promised, the monastery was in rtively good condition, despite having been hastily restored. While the repairs were limited due to time constraints, it was habitable. Then again, the monastery had always been a sparse and grim fortress, designed solely for the training of pdins.

    Although the Golden Lion Pdins unpacked, they had no intention of staying long. Their goal was to takemand of the Issacrea Dawn Army. However, they also knew this transition wouldn¡¯t be quick or easy.

    Dera Heman, on the other hand, had no interest in settling into his quarters. Instead, he immediately headed for the central courtyard. The courtyard, once meant for training, was now a deste ce, with dead trees and overgrown weeds everywhere. Dera Heman, unfazed, drew the Luadin Key and used its divine fire to burn the weeds away.

    ¡°Are we starting right now?¡± Isaac muttered, somewhat incredulous.

    Dera Heman, of course, didn¡¯t respond verbally. He simply stood there, waiting, his imposing figure exuding silent authority.

    ¡®So, it¡¯s not just that he can¡¯t speak¡ªhe¡¯s just a man of few words,¡¯ Isaac mused.

    Reluctantly, Isaac drew his sword, Kaldwin, and took his position across from Dera Heman. The Golden Lion Pdins formed a circle around them to observe. Though Isaac¡¯s only true ally here was Hesabel, he knew countless others across the sea waited anxiously for the oue of this duel.

    Even with Isaac¡¯s sword drawn, Dera Heman did not move.

    ¡®Is he waiting for me to make the first move?¡¯

    Isaac found this odd. Among the knights of Elil, it wasmon knowledge that attacking first often put one at a disadvantage in a duel¡ªassuming both sides were of simr skill. But that was because Elil knights adhered strictly to swordsmanship alone.

    The Codex of Light, however, had no such qualms. Here, using a blinding sh of light to stun your opponent or setting their armor aze with holy fire was perfectly eptable. In this world, miracles were just another part of a knight¡¯s skill set.

    For Isaac, however, using such powers against Dera Heman was out of the question. Dera¡¯s ability to absorb holy energy meant that relying on divine abilities would be a fatal mistake.

    ¡®Still, I¡¯m confident in my swordsmanship.¡¯

    Isaac knew that the first strike would be crucial. Against someone like Dera Heman, there would be no second chance. Isaac lifted his de, its ck edge shimmering as it cut through the air, producing an ominous tearing sound.

    The stage was set.

    It was time for Isaac and Dera Heman to reenact the duel that had once taken ce between Dera and Kalsen Miller.

 Chapter 331.1

    *Bzzt, bzzt, bzzt!*

    A ck orb formed above Isaac¡¯s head. It was a bizarre phenomenon created as Kaldwin absorbed the surrounding light. The wind howled, scattering leaves and sand, and even the pdins felt as though they were being pulled forward.

    ¡°What in the world is that¡­?!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s the sign of a vile heretic!¡±

    As the Commander eximed in shock, Soltnar blurted out nonsense. To someone who followed the Codex of Light, it seemed contradictory for something to absorb light like that. However, experienced pdins like Dera Heman immediately recognized it as a form of high-level swordsmanship.

    They had seen strange phenomena emerge from the fusion of relics, sword aura, and sword techniques before. Yet, the overwhelming power Isaac was disying was something beyond anything they had encountered.

    In the next moment, Dera Heman stepped forward. It was bold of him to approach such a terrifying mass of power, butmon sense dictated that, with such a potent force, one should avoid it and wait for an opportunity.

    However, instead of retreating, Dera charged straight at Isaac.

    At that moment, Isaac realized something.¡®Damn.¡¯

    Before Dera could get any closer, Isaac struck with Isaac Swordsmanship: Event Horizon. The ck sword aura collided head-on with Dera¡¯s drawn Luadin Key.

    *Boom!*

    A tempest erupted, sweeping through the monastery. The pdins, barely able to stay on their feet, widened their eyes to witness what would be a moment for the history books.

    However, there wasn¡¯t much to see. As the dust whipped away in the wind, the scene that unfolded revealed the courtyard shattered into pieces, as though a monster had wed through it. Walls and floors were cracked in bizarre shapes.

    But the most gruesome sight was Isaac himself. It looked as if he had borne the brunt of the explosion alone, leaving him covered in wounds.

    Of course, Dera was not unscathed either. His once pristine white armor was now in tatters, resembling a rag. His mask had been cracked in several ces, and from behind it, Isaac saw Dera¡¯s deformed eyes.

    Three eyes emerged from behind the broken mask, all fixated on Isaac. The moment their gazes met, Isaac felt his strength draining. At the same time, the Luadin Key flew toward him.

    *Shhhk, ng! Crack!*

    Isaac barely managed to block with Kaldwin. He was using every ounce of strength he had to fend it off, but it was clear he was struggling.

    Watching this, the Commander let out a sigh of relief.

    ¡°¡­It seems using such a powerful technique right from the start has backfired on the Holy Grail Knight.¡±

    ¡°A powerful technique? You¡¯re telling me that was swordsmanship?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s an incredibly advanced sword technique. Most people would have been shredded to pieces in an instant. But not ourmander. A move that strong must have a significant recoil, so Isaac must have been overly confident.¡±

    As the Commander pointed out, Isaac was barely managing to hold on.

    However, the Commander couldn¡¯t fathom how Dera Heman had managed to deflect such a potent technique. Still, after closely observing their battle, he found a clue.

    ¡®Could it be¡­ the influence of Kalsen Miller?¡¯

    Isaac was aware that Kalsen Miller had decisively defeated Dera Heman in a duel.

    What he didn¡¯t know, though, was that after the duel, Dera had relentlessly studied and trained to surpass Kalsen Miller.

    The Commander now understood why this battle was so one-sided.

    Whether Isaac was a hidden disciple of Kalsen Miller or a member of his renegade knight order, the influence of Kalsen was evident.

    And Dera Heman had spent countless hours preparing to defeat that very Kalsen Miller. He had studied their fight to such an extent that even if he were to face Kalsen again, he would be able to crush him.

    ¡®It¡¯s over.¡¯

    Isaac was barely holding on. In fact, Dera could have knocked him down at any moment. Yet, for some reason, he wasn¡¯t finishing Isaac off, as though he was waiting for something.

    *Crunch!*

    But no reversal came.

    Isaac¡¯s wrist twisted at an unnatural angle, rendering him unable to hold his sword, and Kaldwin was sent flying. At that moment, Dera hesitated, then raised his sword, ready to deliver the final blow.

    That¡¯s when Hesabel and the Commander rushed forward instinctively. The Commander frantically stopped Dera, while Hesabel shielded Isaac.

    ¡°Commander, Commander! We agreed to put him on trial! You can¡¯t kill him now! Think of the Issacrea Dawn Army!¡±

    Thankfully, Dera Heman lowered his sword. His bloodshot eyes, still full of rage, stared at Isaac before he finally sheathed his weapon and left the courtyard without a word.

    The Commander let out a sigh of relief as he nced at Isaac and the other pdins.

    ¡°Isaac Issacrea. The duel is over, and as of now, your position as themander of the Issacrea Dawn Army is revoked. Inquisitor Soltnar Culvain has also charged you with heresy. Until a fair trial is conducted, you will be held under the custody of the Golden Lion Pdins.¡±

    The words struck like thunder, and one would have expected immediate bacsh.

    Yet, Isaac showed no resistance. Far from looking like a defeated man, he appeared calmer than anyone else, even moreposed than Dera. The Commander found this unsettling but gestured for the pdins to take Isaac away.

    ¡°Escort him.¡±

    ***

    Every monastery of the pdin orders was equipped with a prison meant for confining heretics, apostates, and pagans.

    Of course, most of those confined were apprentice knights who were caught sneaking out of the monastery to drink.

    The Milishar Monastery had its own underground prison as well.

    What set it apart from other prisons, though, was that its windows faced the sea, allowing saltwater to seep in with every crashing wave. The walls were rough, cold, damp, and reeked of fish¡ªa prison in every sense of the word.

    ¡°We understand that it¡¯s improper to ce a renowned Holy Grail Knight in such a ce, but we ask that you quietly await your trial. We are certain there will be a fair oue.¡±

    One of the pdins who had escorted Isaac cautiously spoke. As with most prisons of this nature, prayers and seals had been ced to prevent the activation of miracles, though no one knew if they would still work after being neglected for so long.

    But Isaac had no intention of causing trouble. The pdins seemed visibly relieved.

    They kept their distance from Isaac¡¯s cell and whispered to each other.

    ¡°If even half the rumors about the Holy Grail Knight are true, this prison wouldn¡¯t hold him for a second, right?¡±

    ¡°Commander¡¯s keeping watch. If you try to escape, he¡¯ll behead you on the spot. What choice do you have?¡±

    Isaac chuckled bitterly but didn¡¯t bother to argue.

    ¡®So it¡¯se to this,¡¯ he thought, ncing around the prison.

 Chapter 331.2

    ¡®So it¡¯se to this,¡¯ he thought, ncing around the prison.

    As a nod to his status as the Saint of Resurrection, they hadn¡¯t stripped him of his armor, but all his weapons were confiscated. Not that it mattered¡ªIsaac¡¯s true weapon was hidden within his body. It wasn¡¯t something he could casually wield, though.

    Lying down on the rough floor, Isaac called out to Hesabel. She had been expelled from the monastery, as they feared she might help him escape.

    ¡®Hesabel.¡¯

    ¡®¡­¡¯

    ¡®Hesabel?¡¯

    ¡®¡­Why did you lose?¡¯

    Her tone was annoyed, as if she had expected Isaac to bring down even the pdinmander like the haughty inquisitor he often resembled.

    Indeed, this oue differed from the scenario Isaac had originallyid out for her.¡®I didn¡¯t lose on purpose. I really couldn¡¯t win. Or rather, I shouldn¡¯t have won.¡¯

    Isaac had truly intended to defeat Dera Heman right before the duel. However, just as he was about to strike Dera down with the Isaac Swordsmanship: Event Horizon, Dera had instead closed the distance and countered, forcing Isaac to abandon his n.

    Dera had been prepared to counter whatever swordsmanship Isaac threw at him.

    It was a counter that struck at the very foundation of Isaac¡¯s swordsmanship.

    Back when Isaac was still a greenhorn in the monastery, catching rats with his sword, he had trained endlessly¡ªswinging, thrusting, and shing thousands of times to refine his technique.

    Isaac possessed tremendous talent. Once he built a solid foundation, his innate gifts allowed him to bloom into a prodigy at an extraordinary pace.

    And that talent was derived from Kalsen Miller.

    The core of Isaac¡¯s swordsmanship came from Kalsen. No matter what technique Isaac employed, its rootsy in Kalsen¡¯s style. And Dera Heman, after his crushing defeat, had meticulously trained to counter Kalsen¡¯s foundation.

    It was an obsessive level of dedication. A testament to how much that previous loss had scarred him.

    ¡®So, in the end, I had to cancel the Event Horizon and take the full recoil myself. After that, I couldn¡¯t match Dera with any high-level swordsmanship. The bigger and stronger the technique, the more dangerous it became.¡¯

    Dera Heman¡¯s swordsmanship was certainly formidable, but was he overwhelmingly superior to Isaac? No, not quite.

    In fact, realizing how Dera had countered him from the first strike was impressive in itself. If Isaac hadn¡¯t noticed, he would¡¯ve been immediately defeated.

    But even after recognizing it, Isaac had no real options left.

    In terms ofpatibility, it couldn¡¯t have been worse. Dera was like a trap specifically designed to ensnare Isaac.

    The result was inevitable.

    Had it been Kalsen Miller standing in Isaac¡¯s ce, the oue might have been different. After all, while Dera had been training relentlessly, Kalsen hadn¡¯t been sitting idly either.

    Kalsen was a swordsman who had secured the status of Archangel with just his de, a man who even aspired to challenge the gods. He was the strongest swordsman since Elil.

    Or perhaps, if Isaac had been given another year or two, the fight could have gone differently.

    ¡®Maybe it would¡¯ve been better to face him at Lichtheim¡­ No, if we¡¯d fought there, he might have read the traces of Kalsen¡¯s influence on me.¡¯

    However, Isaac hadn¡¯t lost solely due to the difference in swordsmanship.

    Even if Isaac had defeated Dera Heman, there was still the possibility of an angel intervening. The contingency n Isaac had prepared wasn¡¯t fully ready, and he needed to buy time until it was.

    Thus, the duel had ended in an unsatisfactory manner.

    Isaac had left Dera Heman thirsting for more.

    Even though Isaac would¡¯ve lost if he¡¯d gone all out, he held back, making it seem like there was a reason for his defeat, as if he had deliberately thrown the fight.

    ¡®There¡¯s still time. I knew from the moment Soltnar arrived with Dera that he wouldn¡¯t kill me right away. There¡¯s time before the trial, and maybe I¡¯ll have another chance. You keep an eye on things outside. When the timees, I¡¯ll need your help.¡¯

    ¡®And what if Dera Heman suddenly decides you are worthless and barges in to kill you on the spot?¡¯

    Isaac was about to reassure her when strange sounds came from outside.

    ¡°Commander, you¡¯re here? What¡¯s that? The Holy Grail Knight? You want us to open the door?¡±

    Isaac began to sweat. He wondered if smashing the window and diving into the sea would even allow him to escape in time.

    ***

    When Dera Heman¡¯s massive frame entered the cramped prison cell, Isaac felt a sudden onset of ustrophobia. The pdins watched nervously, noting that even though Isaac was in handcuffs, themander still intended to meet him alone. At a gesture from Dera, they withdrew withoutint.

    Since Dera wasn¡¯t going to speak first, Isaac broke the silence.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you think we should have someone to interpret?¡±

    Instead of calling for his Commander, Dera slowly removed his Golden Lion mask. The sight of his face made Isaac feel an unfamiliar sense of dread.

    Dera¡¯s skin was pale, almost porcin-like, as if it hadn¡¯t seen sunlight for decades. His face was smooth, but seven eyes stared directly at Isaac, evoking a primal fear. The unnaturalness of it sent a chill down his spine.

    It was a basic human instinct to fear something ¡®unnatural.¡¯ Dera¡¯s existence defied naturalw, and it was a vition of the very order the Codex of Light was meant to uphold.

    [You were weak.]

    Suddenly, Isaac heard a voice in his head.

    He immediately recognized it as Dera Heman¡¯s. Among the many miraclesyered upon Dera¡¯s body, one allowed him tomunicate his will directly. It seemed he could only use it when his mask was removed.

    [You were much weaker than Kalsen. What happened? How did you defeat the angels and bring Elil¡¯s swordsmen to their knees with such poor skills?]

    ¡°You never considered that maybe you were just strong?¡±

    [I am weak.]

    Isaac had to wonder if this was really the same pdinmander hailed as the strongest within the Codex of Light. Then, as if struggling, Dera put his mask back on. To Isaac, it looked like he was putting on an oxygen mask, as though he couldn¡¯t survive without it.

    After a brief pause, Dera removed his mask again and whispered:

    [¡­I am weak. It¡¯s people like Kalsen who are truly strong. I thought you were like him, but now, I¡¯m not sure. Are you just pretending to be weak, or are you really this fragile?]

 Chapter 332.1

    The Codex of Light was the world¡¯srgest and most powerful faith, an undeniable fact.

    Since the Lighthouse Keeper emerged from the pyre holding the Tablet of Dawn, the Codex had grown by crushing and devouring its enemies, one by one.

    There had been crises, of course. Elil¡¯s Rebellion, the Nameless Chaos¡¯s suicide, and the Immortal Order¡¯s seizure of the Holy Land¡ªall had brought the Codex to the brink of copse.

    But what all these crises had inmon was that they originated from within the Codex itself.

    Nothing else could push the Codex of Light into peril except the Codex itself.

    Other faiths?

    The Olkan Code was nothing more than a pest that piged momentarily before passing. The once-mighty Salt Council had been buried. The World¡¯s Forge couldn¡¯t even escape its ind, and the Red Chalice was nothing but a parasite.

    The Codex of Light was not a peaceful faith, nor was it a benevolent one.

    This was the lens through which the Codex viewed the world and other faiths¡ªa fact. Even the Immortal Order, which had suffered countless attacks, dared notunch an offensive against the Codex, resorting only to sporadic acts of terror.In other words, if someone was the strongest within the Codex, they had the right to im to be the strongest in the world.

    Of course, boasting about human strength in the presence of angels was absurd, but by the time one reached such heights, they were often already receiving the favor and support of angels.

    Isaac was now faced with that very paradox¡ªDera Heman, whom he had assumed was the strongest pdin of the Codex, was showing an unexpected weakness.

    ¡°Why do you think I¡¯m pretending to be weak?¡± Isaac asked carefully, probing for the meaning behind Dera¡¯s words.

    Dera Heman gazed intently at Isaac.

    [Then are you saying that someone who has defeated angels is actually weak?]

    ¡°¡­I have not hidden my strength. Sir Dera Heman is undoubtedly the greatest pdin of the Codex of Light. But your words sound as if you believe I went easy on you.¡±

    Isaac was being truthful. Even if he had unleashed his Tentacles, he couldn¡¯t guarantee victory against Dera Heman. Yet, Dera was pressing him, using him of pretending to be weaker than he was, which only left Isaac feeling frustrated.

    ¡°Why do you believe I¡¯m so much stronger? Is it because my path resembles Kalsen¡¯s?¡±

    Dera remained silent for a moment, seemingly sensing the sincerity in Isaac¡¯s words.

    After a pause, Dera took a deep breath, still wearing his mask, and then removed it again to speak.

    [Kalsen was a free man. He didn¡¯t act like a pdin, bound by rules. He wandered where he wished, cutting down anyone he wanted. Even the angels trusted him and gave him missions. The Sword of May herself personally taught him the de.]

    Isaac recalled the simrities between himself and Kalsen. Even Dera¡¯s ount highlighted their parallels.

    But then, Dera¡¯s eyes darkened as he muttered:

    [But that freedom led him to ruin. He fell intocency, forgetting where his strength came from. Pride. Unchecked power always leads to destruction.]

    Kalsen¡¯s apostasy. It was clear that this event had deeply affected Dera Heman.

    In fact, it might have scarred him even more than his defeat at Kalsen¡¯s hands.

    But Isaac, listening to Dera, realized something new.

    ¡®He doesn¡¯t know that Kalsen¡¯s betrayal was orchestrated by the angels.¡¯

    Kalsen had been sent to rece the Nameless Chaos. In the process, he had hunted down the Archangel White Owl, with the Burning Maiden and the Sword of May coborating to bring him down. ?

    But the n had failed when Kalsen entered Isaac¡¯s body.

    In other words, Kalsen didn¡¯t betray the Codex out of pride; he was faithfully executing the angels¡¯ orders when he became an apostate. Isaac briefly considered whether or not to tell Dera this truth, but there was no way he could exin how he knew.

    [I still regret that day.]

    ¡°¡­¡±

    [If only I had been stronger than Kalsen, I could have guided him. Then the Codex would be even stronger and shine even brighter than it does now.]

    Isaac understood something new. What drove Dera Heman wasn¡¯t the pain of defeat, anger, or even inferiority¡ªit was regret.

    A deep sense of loss over having failed to save a valuable pdin due to his own shorings.

    Only now did Isaac grasp the true reason behind Dera¡¯s approach to their duel.

    Dera Heman, with heavy eyes, fixed his gaze on Isaac and spoke again:

    [Join me.]

    ¡°¡­What?¡± Isaac, stunned by the unexpected offer, asked for rification.

    [I can already see how deeply influenced you are by Kalsen. But it¡¯s not toote. I¡¯ll guide you down the right path. I¡¯ll even push for you to be the nextmander of the Golden Lion Pdins.]

    Themander of the Golden Lion Pdins. Isaac could aim for a position like chief knight or deputymander, but if Dera personally supported him, themander¡¯s position would almost be guaranteed.

    It was the highest rank a pdin could aspire to.

    But it was a path Isaac could never take.

    After a long pause¡ªlong enough to not make his decision seem rushed¡ªIsaac finally spoke.

    ¡°What happens if I refuse?¡±

    [You¡¯ll die.]

    ¡®Of course,¡¯ Isaac thought.

    Dera¡¯s meaning was clear: he wouldn¡¯t allow another Kalsen to emerge.

    That meant either shackling Isaac under hismand and reeducating him or executing him. And with the inquisitor¡¯s usation hanging over him, Isaac knew that the trial, sentencing, and execution would all be swift.

    Isaac¡¯s answer was already decided.

    But to buy a little more time, he asked, ¡°Can you give me some time to think?¡±

    [The trial is tomorrow morning. You have until then to decide.]

    ***

    One of the horrors of the Milishar Monastery was the constant sound of crashing waves echoing through the walls.

    The waves wore down the stone, forcing air through small gaps, creating eerie noises. Just when Isaac was about to fall asleep, salty water would spray onto his face, adding to the maddening atmosphere.

    Isaac found himself suffering from an odd form of insomnia that night.

    ¡®I must be exhausted,¡¯ he thought, looking at the figure sitting across the cell.

    At first, Isaac wasn¡¯t sure whether he was dreaming or hallucinating. The figure¡¯s presence was so out of ce.

    ¡°Well, it¡¯s a bit of an in-between state. But I¡¯ve got something important to tell you.¡±

    Kalsen Miller stood, leaning against the opposite wall of the cell. Water seeped in through the window above him as waves crashed, but Kalsen didn¡¯t get wet at all.

    Watching this surreal scene, Isaac finally asked, ¡°Are you a hallucination or a ghost?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re just imagining things,¡± Kalsen replied, sounding almost amused.

    Isaac wasn¡¯t particrly surprised. This was Kalsen Miller¡¯s former monastery, and with Dera Heman¡¯s deep connection to Kalsen, it wasn¡¯t shocking that his specter¡ªor a figment of him¡ªwould show up again.

    ¡°What nonsense have youe to spew this time?¡± Isaac asked with a sarcastic tone.

 Chapter 332.2

    ¡°What nonsense have youe to spew this time?¡± Isaac asked with a sarcastic tone.

    Kalsen chuckled bitterly at Isaac¡¯s attitude, brushing a hand over his weathered lips before speaking slowly.

    ¡°Take Dera Heman¡¯s offer, Isaac.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡± Isaac asked, genuinely curious.

    ¡°Dera¡¯s a straightced man. He¡¯s a devout believer in the Codex of Light and utterly incapable of suspicion. The only reason he¡¯s still alive is because of the Codex. Every day he lives is a miracle to him.¡±

    Isaac thought about Dera Heman¡¯s life.

    His appearance, unsettling to anyone who saw him. His body, unable to survive without the constant help of high-ranking priests and holy relics.

    It was only the Codex of Light that gave him the means and purpose to continue living.

    Isaac could understand Dera¡¯s profound faith.¡°But how does that give me any reason to follow him?¡± Isaac asked.

    ¡°Because you need to guide him. Dera is too valuable to die, just to be used as a sword until he¡¯s spent.¡±

    Isaacughed dryly.

    They were both saying opposite things. Dera wanted to guide Isaac, while Kalsen was suggesting Isaac should be the one guiding Dera.

    It wasn¡¯t entirely absurd, though. The rtionship between a master and disciple could be symbiotic¡ªthey both influenced each other. As a master taught, they themselves grew.

    The problem was that Isaac had no intention of making Dera Heman his mentor or his pupil.

    ¡°So, it really is you, Kalsen, and not just some figment,¡± Isaac said with a smirk.

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°The pdin who fell into ruin due to his pride, Kalsen Miller. It must be you. Dera is already a finished product. Neither you nor I have the qualifications to teach or guide him. Dera will never change.¡±

    Isaac hade to this conclusion after many attempts to manipte Dera Heman.

    Dera was the embodiment of the Codex of Light¡¯s ideals¡ªa pdin who would never falter or betray his faith.

    When it was time to fight, Dera would fight. When it was time to die, he would die. Nothing more, nothing less.

    Trying to change him was like attempting to alter the path of a typhoon.

    It was impossible.

    Kalsen narrowed his eyes at Isaac, who was curious about how Kalsen really viewed Dera Heman. He hadn¡¯t had many chances to understand Kalsen¡¯s inner thoughts. He only knew that, despite defeating Dera, Kalsen hadn¡¯t thought much of it and hadn¡¯t taken any pride in the victory. ??

    ¡°And right now, I¡¯ve got bigger problems than Dera. If I follow him, don¡¯t you think he¡¯ll quickly figure out what¡¯s inside me? What do you think will happen first¡ªDera discovering my secret, or me seducing him with my ¡®demonic charm¡¯?¡± Isaac asked sarcastically.

    ¡°¡­¡±

    Kalsen had no immediate retort, which Isaac found amusing.

    ¡®Does he pity him?¡¯

    The strongest pdin of the Codex of Light, Dera Heman, had said he was weaker than Kalsen, while Kalsen himself saw Dera as ¡®pitiful.¡¯

    A foot soldier caught up in the chaos of the Ciero Dawn Army would be furious at such thoughts.

    Isaac suddenly thought that perhaps he could use this peculiar rtionship.

    ¡°But if Dera follows me instead, that¡¯s a different story,¡± Isaac said.

    ¡°¡­What?¡±

    ¡°I mean, if I defeat Dera Heman, the whole game changes. To be honest, when I fought him, I hit a wall. His swordsmanship shook the very foundation of my own. I couldn¡¯t think of a way to beat him using conventional methods.¡±

    Perhaps if Isaac was ready to die, he could push the battle to a razor-thin margin. But every oue he could imagine ended with Dera narrowly winning, thanks to his overwhelming divine power.

    ¡°The only way to shake Dera, just like you did, is to defeat him.¡±

    Isaac said this while locking eyes with Kalsen, his gaze calm and measured.

    As he had said earlier, Dera Heman was like a typhoon. Trying to change its course was foolish. The only option was to harness the wind from the storm to move the sails of his own ship.

    ¡°You could defeat him with just your swordsmanship, right?¡±

    ¡°¡­Yes,¡± Kalsen answered quietly. Despite being within Isaac, Kalsen was aware of everything happening to and within his body.

    Kalsen was confident he could defeat Dera Heman.

    ¡°Dera Heman is judging me based on who I was when we first fought. Back then, I had already reached the pinnacle of what a pdin could achieve with a sword. But I¡¯ve grown stronger since then, beyond that limit.¡±

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t I learn that?¡± Isaac asked.

    ¡°me your teacher,¡± Kalsen replied with a wry smile.

    ¡°Your swordsmanship is based on the most fundamental style¡ªthe Saint Arte technique. I mastered that in my apprenticeship. But my true swordsmanship is something else, influenced by heretical techniques. There are plenty of insane swordsmen in the Immortal Order who had centuries to lose themselves in their craft.¡±

    Isaac nodded. He knew about those fanatics.

    Never eating, never sleeping, and never tiring, they had spent hundreds of years honing the things they loved. The Immortal Order was full of such lunatics.

    ¡°They took apletely different path from the Saint Arte style. You trained under Gebel, so you never had the opportunity to learn or even be influenced by it. Maybe if your experiences in the East were more diverse, it would have been different.¡±

    Isaac tilted his head at Kalsen¡¯s response.

    ¡°¡­Are you getting arrogant again?¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°I get that you¡¯re a genius, Kalsen, but it¡¯s not like I¡¯ve been cking off. Just because I¡¯ve been influenced by you doesn¡¯t mean that¡¯s the only reason Dera countered my swordsmanship. I think Dera Heman didn¡¯t even use his full power against me.¡±

    Dera was strong¡ªmaybe even stronger than Kalsen realized.

    The fact that Dera constantly believed he was still weak and kept pushing himself was what made him truly terrifying and powerful.

    Isaac thought about it for a moment, then shrugged.

    ¡°But regardless, there¡¯s no solution right now. Since I¡¯mcking confidence, I might as well learn from your arrogance. Teach me that swordsmanship.¡±

    Kalsen was taken aback by Isaac¡¯s casual demand, as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

    ¡°Now? In one day? Do you think swordsmanship is like stuffing a sack of potatoes?¡±

    ¡°You must not know how fast I learn.¡±

    Of course, it was because Isaac had consumed Kalsen, but there was no need to bring that up.

    Kalsen, having watched Isaac for a long time, was well aware of how quickly he could learn. But that only made him more realistic about what was possible.

    ¡°Go ahead, try teaching me. Otherwise, my head might be hanging from the gallows by tomorrow.¡±

    After a long pause, Kalsen finally spoke.

    ¡°There is¡­ one way.¡±

 Chapter 333.1

    The following morning.

    The trial took ce in the very courtyard where the duel had urred the previous day, with numerous pdins present to witness. Soltnar Culvain, the inquisitor, had charged Isaac Issacrea, the Holy Grail Knight, with heresy, and Dera Heman presided as the judge.

    ¡°The used, Isaac, has been found guilty ofing into contact with heretical and vile relics during the relic recovery process. Instead of destroying or returning the items immediately, he used them, clearly allowing his mind to be tainted by the beliefs of heretics and apostates. There are testimonies that he has spread heretical teachings, notably the ¡®Teachings of the Owl¡¯¡­¡±

    While Soltnar passionately recited the charges, drawing on his limited knowledge of religious trials, Isaac¡¯s mind wandered elsewhere.

    It wasn¡¯t that he had no intention of defending himself. If he wanted, he could seize control of the trial. That is, if it were a normal trial.

    But religious trials were far from rational.

    Almost all of them ended in a guilty verdict, driven by evidence nted by inquisitors and the testimonies of ¡°witnesses¡± that seemed to appear out of nowhere. The used¡¯s only choice was to either resist and die horribly or confess and die more mercifully.

    Moreover, Dera Heman, acting as the judge, had already given Isaac the ultimatum: ¡°Join me or die.¡±

    Thus, Isaac saw little point in devising a clever defense.His true concern was Kalsen¡¯s proposed n.

    ¡®¡­Can I really trust that bastard?¡¯

    Kalsen¡¯s method seemed far too risky to Isaac. The ¡°safest¡± method, at least for Isaac personally, was to summon his allies and wipe out the Golden Lion Pdins before fleeing to the Holy Land.

    But that would only ensure Isaac¡¯s safety¡ªand even then, it wasn¡¯t truly safe. The Codex of Light¡¯s terrifying wrath woulde crashing down on the Holy Land, and on Isaac himself. Perhaps an angel would evene knocking on his door.

    On the other hand, Kalsen¡¯s method was low-risk, high-reward: face Dera Heman in a rematch and win. It was the cleanest way to resolve everything. The downside, of course, was that Isaac would be taking an enormous personal risk.

    ¡®If I could trust Kalsen, everything would be solved¡­¡¯

    Up to now, Kalsen had helped Isaac a great deal.

    Isaac wanted to believe that Kalsen wasn¡¯t as terrible as he seemed. But upon reflection, the man had betrayed hisrades to the Immortal Order, ughtered innocent civilians, and had even tried to kill Isaac when he was just a child.

    Even the undead wouldn¡¯t stoop that low.

    ¡®¡­It¡¯s hard to trust him.¡¯

    ¡°¡­So, Isaac. What do you think?¡±

    Isaac snapped back to reality upon hearing his name suddenly called.

    It was Dera¡¯s Commander speaking on his behalf. All eyes were now on Isaac.

    Isaac opened his mouth and replied.

    ¡°No.¡±

    The crowd burst into snickers and murmurs. Isaac knew his response had been inappropriate, but he didn¡¯t bother hiding the fact that he had been daydreaming.

    Seeing the frustration on Soltnar¡¯s flushed face made it worth it.

    The Commander, unfazed, calmly repeated Dera¡¯s question.

    ¡°Inquisitor Soltnar Culvain argues that you chose to travel south to Odryf, rather than march east with the main Dawn Army, because you were nning to betray them. It¡¯s a reasonable suspicion. After all, to reach the Holy Land, you would have to head back north. What was your true intent?¡±

    ¡°¡­Why assume I wouldn¡¯t simply cross by boat? It¡¯s a shorter route,¡± Isaac replied.

    ¡°A boat? Ha¡­¡±

    The Commander stared at Isaac incredulously before ncing back at Dera, silently asking for permission to continue exining. When Dera nodded, the Commander resumed.

    ¡°Do you really think the 7th Dawn Army turned into a bunch of pirates by sheer bad luck? No one can cross that strait. Even the smugglers of the Golden Idol Guild take a long detour to the east.¡±

    Truthfully, Isaac had no desire to cross that cursed strait either.

    There was a reason most of the Dawn Army marched bynd. Not only was it difficult to secure a ship, but navigating that treacherous route was no easy feat.

    But Isaac knew a way to break through that insane strait.

    He just wasn¡¯t inclined to reveal it at the moment.

    ¡°With enough faith, one can ovee any obstacle. I, for instance, sank to the depths of the ocean with the Angel of the Salt Council, yet, by the grace of the Codex of Light, I returned alive. My very survival is proof of my words.¡±

    Isaac deliberately yed the fool.

    However, given his remarkable journey and history, even his nonsensical words sounded like a convincing testimony of faith. Some of the pdins seemed swayed, murmuring among themselves and nodding.

    ¡®The fools are always the first to be persuaded,¡¯ Isaac thought with amusement.

    Unfortunately, neither Soltnar nor Dera Heman were among the fools. Soltnar opened his mouth to retort, but Dera raised a hand to stop him.

    Dera gazed at Isaac quietly for a moment, then gestured to the Commander.

    The Commander tranted.

    ¡°You seem deep in thought. Have you made up your mind yet?¡±

    It was a reminder of Dera¡¯s earlier offer: follow him or die.

    Isaac¡¯s decision had already been made¡ªhe wouldn¡¯t follow Dera. His only concern now was how to avoid death while refusing.

    Isaac sighed but remained silent. Sensing his hesitation, Dera kept quiet as well before making a gesture that everyone present immediately recognized.

    Dera stood up and drew the Luadin Key.

    ***

    A tense atmosphere rippled through the ranks of the Golden Lion Pdins.

    They all knew what that gesture meant.

    Execution. Though the trial had followed proper procedure, the pdins wondered how the Issacrea Dawn Army would react to this oue. But they couldn¡¯t keep Isaac as theirmander after he had been charged and convicted by the inquisitor.

    Isaac, now realizing how things would end, slowly backed away.

    The Commander started to move toward Isaac to restrain him, but Dera held him back. The Commander, puzzled, took a moment to survey the scene and then understood Dera¡¯s intention.

    As Dera took a step forward, Isaac took one step back.

    In that strange dance, Isaac¡¯s back finally pressed against the wall. With no room left to retreat, Dera adjusted his grip on his sword.

    ¡°Sir Dera Heman,¡± Isaac called out.

    Isaac grinned as he spoke.

    ¡°Thank you for the opportunity.¡±

    With that, Isaac turned his gaze toward Kaldwin, which had been stuck in the wall since the previous night. Before he had been imprisoned, Isaac had warned everyone about the sword¡¯s cursed properties, ensuring that no one would foolishly try to handle it and identally injure themselves.

    As a result, Kaldwin had been left embedded in the wall, untouched.

    Isaac rushed toward the sword, pushing his shackles against its razor-sharp de. In one swift motion, the sword sliced through the metal cuffs like they were made of soft tofu.

    Seeing this, Soltnar erupted in fury.

    ¡°Heresy! The heretic is trying to escape!¡±

 Chapter 333.2

    Seeing this, Soltnar erupted in fury.

    ¡°Heresy! The heretic is trying to escape!¡±

    As Soltnar attempted to rally the pdins around him, the Commander sharply intervened.

    ¡°The trial is still in session! Silence yourself!¡±

    ¡°What?!¡± Soltnar eximed.

    ¡°Sir Dera Heman has called for a trial bybat to determine the used¡¯s innocence!¡±

    Trials bybat were mostmonly associated with Elil, but the tradition was not entirely absent within the Codex of Light. They were usually invoked when judges found it too burdensome or politically dangerous to make a ruling themselves.

    Of course, it wasn¡¯t considered as sacred, nor did it invite divine intervention like in Elil.

    But for a judge to personally enter thebat? That was unheard of.Soltnar fumed, remembering that Dera had already decisively beaten Isaac the day before. He assumed this was just Dera¡¯s way of carrying out an execution under the guise of a trial.

    In fact, Dera was thinking along simr lines.

    He approached Isaac withrge, deliberate strides, ready to enforce his offer from yesterday.

    Kneel or surrender your neck. Those were Isaac¡¯s only two choices.

    Unless, of course, Isaac had undergone a significant change overnight.

    This time, there was no hesitation. Unlike the previous day, both Isaac and Dera charged at each other simultaneously, their swords shing with a loud *ng*.

    Isaac¡¯s knees buckled under the force, just as they had the day before.

    Dera Heman had already memorized Isaac¡¯s every move¡ªthe way he nted his feet, the rhythm of his steps, the bnce of his sword, the way he exhaled. His focus was terrifyingly sharp, predicting Isaac¡¯s every action.

    Everything proceeded exactly as Dera expected.

    Isaac knew he was being analyzed, but he swung his sword again. He could learn and analyze Dera¡¯s techniques as well, but no reversal took ce.

    You are weak.

    That was the message Isaac felt Dera wasmunicating through his sword.

    So, either follow me, or die here. Before you end up like Kalsen.

    ¡®Ah, this is inevitable,¡¯ Isaac thought, clicking his tongue in frustration. He knew it might be time to reveal the truth he had kept from Dera.

    Taking a deep breath, Isaac gathered his thoughts.

    After a moment of controlled breathing, Isaac shifted his stance.

    Dera felt a sudden, intense sense of unease.

    Before he could pinpoint the source of this strange sensation, Isaac dashed toward him with unexpected speed.

    *Crack.*

    Dera stumbled back, caught off guard by Isaac¡¯s unanticipated move. For the first time, since their encounters began, Dera Heman retreated.

    Isaac didn¡¯t let up. His attacks became relentless¡ªquick, powerful, and unpredictable. The sudden shift in Isaac¡¯s swordy left Dera unable to read his movements. Yet it wasn¡¯t that Isaac had be significantly faster or stronger than before.

    The problem was something else.

    ¡®Kalsen?¡¯

    Dera¡¯s mind screamed silently.

    What he saw now was not what he had predicted. In fact, the very unpredictability of it all made it feel so clear.

    Someone else¡¯s presence was emanating from Isaac¡¯s swordsmanship¡ªa presence much more defined than before.

    The figure standing before Dera wasn¡¯t Isaac.

    It was Kalsen Miller.

    ***

    Kalsen¡¯s proposed n had been simple.

    ¡°Dera Heman will give you another chance. He believes you weren¡¯t using your full strength. If you do, and you defeat him, he¡¯ll think he can guide you properly.¡±

    ¡°I think so too. But I have no way to win,¡± Isaac had replied.

    ¡°That¡¯s when you hand your body over to me.¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°Do you really think you can master the essence of my swordsmanship overnight? Sure, I know you¡¯re capable of quickly creating advanced techniques. Your foundation is strong. But the true essence of my swordsmanship lies beyond that.¡±

    Isaac had no idea what Kalsen meant by the ¡°next realm¡± he had reached.

    Perhaps it was a level reserved for those who could rival angels. If it was that grand, maybe Kalsen could teach him a part of it overnight, but the full extent? That would certainly be impossible.

    ¡®Hand my body over to Kalsen?¡¯

    This had been the source of Isaac¡¯s greatest inner conflict. He hadn¡¯t even known it was possible for someone like Kalsen, who resided inside his body, to take control of it. But Kalsen had known all along.

    Sensing Isaac¡¯s doubts, Kalsen had reassured him.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I have no intention of taking over your life, or all those political acrobatics you¡¯ve been performing among the faiths. If I were in your shoes, I¡¯d be dead by now.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°I want you to seed. I believe in you. For that reason alone, I hope neither you nor Dera dies.¡±

    Kalsen had focused solely on saving both Dera Heman and Isaac.

    And now, the legend of the apostate had returned once more to Milishar Monastery.

 Chapter 334.1

    ng! ng!

    Isaac¡¯s sword shed violently with Dera Heman¡¯s de.

    The most skilled pdins present were the first to notice the change. The sound of the swords striking was different¡ªsharper, fiercer. As they realized something unusual was happening, the rest of the onlookers widened their eyes, watching the duel with rapt attention.

    Yet, only Dera Heman truly understood what had changed. The others merely saw Dera starting to lose ground, confused by his sudden disadvantage.

    But Dera? He knew exactly what was happening.

    To him, the opponent before him wasn¡¯t Isaac.

    It was Kalsen.

    Although the movements weren¡¯t identical to what Dera had studied and prepared for, only Kalsen could wield such unpredictable and powerful swordsmanship.

    This was the Kalsen Miller he had fought before.The Isaac before Dera now wielded his sword with an eerie, refined precision¡ªlike a predator lurking in the depths of a dark abyss, ready to strike at any moment. Yet, unlike before, there was no wild, raw killing intent. This was a swordsmanship that had been honed to perfection.

    Dera¡¯s instincts brought forth memories of the distant eastern snowstorms, where the Immortal Order could conjure deathly cold with their magic. In those storms, nothing could survive. The sharp, icy wind was as deadly as a de, and hiding within that storm was always a hunter. The storm wasn¡¯t a threat itself; it was merely a tool for the hunter, using the blizzard, the biting snow, and the howling wind to mask his presence and trap his prey.

    Kalsen had been the hunter in the snowstorm.

    And Dera had been the prey.

    ¡®You¡¯ve returned! Kalsen, you¡¯re back!¡¯

    Despite being treated like prey once again, Dera felt no humiliation. Instead, he was filled with excitement and deep regret.

    He had no idea what kind of transformation Kalsen had undergone to stand before him now. But he didn¡¯t care. The man he had longed to fight again was finally here.

    ¡®Of course, you didn¡¯t remain idle! I, too, have imagined countless times how much stronger you¡¯d be, and trained myself relentlessly for this moment, to ensure I could surpass whatever monster you¡¯d be!¡¯

    Though it was difficult to fathom, the idea that Kalsen could have returned as a Holy Grail Knight now seemed irrelevant.

    All that mattered to Dera was that the long-awaited rematch had finallye. His desire to win burned even hotter.

    ¡®I will lead you to the right path this time, Kalsen!¡¯

    Whoosh¡­ The mes surrounding Luadin¡¯s Key red up, burning even brighter and transforming into pure white fire. Inside that raging fire, Dera began to unleash his true power.

    The celestial lion of the heavens roared¡ªa force even Kalsen Miller had never seen before.

    Boom! Kalsen, controlling Isaac¡¯s body, flinched as the fierce snowstorm hemanded was shattered by the lion¡¯s roar. The hunter hidden in the storm was now exposed, fully revealed, as the burning lion charged forward without pause.

    Kalsen tried to counterattack, swinging his de once more, but Dera pressed down harder. The hunter¡¯s sharp de was no match for the lion¡¯s ws. Dera¡¯s relentless assault, indifferent to minor wounds, drove Kalsen back, forcing him off-bnce once again.

    The swordsmanship of the Golden Lion Pdins was simple yet overwhelming: crush your opponent with sheer force and stamina. Of course, that kind of power and endurance wasn¡¯t something just anyone could achieve. It required divine miracles and blessings beyond what any ordinary human could ess.

    And Dera Heman, who could receive dozens of times more blessings than anyone else, was born for this style ofbat.

    Kalsen felt both surprise and admiration.

    ¡®¡­You¡¯ve grown. You¡¯re still half a step slower, but you¡¯ve learned to use your overwhelming strength and miracles more intelligently. You¡¯re using my own movements against me.¡¯

    With overwhelming physical power, ack of finesse could be forgiven.

    But now, Dera wasn¡¯t just relying on brute force and miracles.

    He was still slower than Kalsen, but the moment he closed the gap, he knew exactly when to break his opponent¡¯s bnce and when to strike. The more power Kalsen exerted, the more Dera retaliated with even stronger counterattacks.

    A bitter smile formed on Kalsen¡¯s lips.

    Isaac had been right.

    To dere so confidently that he would ¡°win easily¡± had been pure arrogance. Dera Heman had clearly undergone grueling training and discipline, pushing himself to the limits of his physical restrictions.

    Kalsen couldn¡¯t help but feel impressed by Dera¡¯s progress. Defeating Dera had not been just another of Kalsen¡¯s countless victories. It had been one of the most honorable aplishments of his career, one that could stand at the forefront of his many triumphs.

    ¡®But I¡¯ll still win this time.¡¯

    Because it wasn¡¯t just Kalsen and Dera in this battle.

    Boom! Crack! Smash!

    The sh of their swords and the pressure from their strikes created a scene that was almost impossible to believe. In mere moments, the once-pristine courtyard of the Milishar Monastery was reduced to rubble. The walls and pirs bore deep scars from the fierce swordy, and the pdins, watching from the sidelines, struggled to keep up with the intensity, knowing one misstep could cost them their heads.

    ng!

    And then, another sudden change.

    Once again, Dera Heman was the first to notice.

    He sensed not just a hunter in the storm¡ªbut another lurking, monstrous presence within the abyss.

    ***

    Isaac felt as though his entire body was melting in a scorching-hot cauldron.

    Kalsen Miller¡¯s memories, experiences, knowledge, aura, and understanding of swordsmanship were flooding into him. With every sh of their swords, Kalsen¡¯s life¡ªthe decades he had lived and fought¡ªwas seeping into Isaac¡¯s muscles, his very cells. Isaac was absorbing everything that made Kalsen who he was,pressing years of experience into mere minutes ofbat.

    Every time their swords met, Isaac¡¯s body was tempered like metal being hammered into shape. Every wound left a mark on his soul, engraving itself in his memory.

    Even his shallow breaths felt like they were being tempered in freezing water.

    The pain was excruciating, but it was working.

    The more Isaac absorbed Kalsen¡¯s experience and knowledge, the more Kalsen¡¯s presence within him seemed to fade. At some point, Isaac realized that he was now the one swinging the sword¡ªnot Kalsen.

    It wasn¡¯t that Kalsen had willingly handed over control. It was as if Isaac had always been Kalsen from the start.

    ¡®Go.¡¯

    As Kalsen¡¯s fading consciousness whispered in Isaac¡¯s ear, he left him with one final message.

    ¡°The next era belongs to you, Isaac.¡±

    Isaac, still feeling somewhat dazed, swung his sword upward. Dera Heman, following his usual approach, moved to block the strike with his own sword. However, something made him hesitate, and he stepped back, a rare action that did not go unnoticed by the surrounding pdins.

    Those watching were shocked.

    ¡®He took that ck sphere head-on yesterday, but now he¡¯s backing off?¡¯

 Chapter 334.2

    Those watching were shocked.

    ¡®He took that ck sphere head-on yesterday, but now he¡¯s backing off?¡¯

    Isaac¡¯s swing cut through nothing but air, yet Dera felt an unsettling chill. Under normal circumstances, he could have endured the strike easily¡ªhis armor, blessed by divine miracles, should have withstood it without issue. But something in his instincts screamed at him to be wary of the man before him.

    The person standing before Dera was no longer Kalsen.

    It was a new beast, a monster that had emerged from the storm of the hunter and the lion¡¯s battle.

    Isaac, with his hazy gaze and staggering movements, seemed lost in thought. Dera was on the verge of shouting at him to ¡°give Kalsen back,¡± but before the words could leave his mouth, Isaac transformed¡ªbing the storm itself, charging at him like an avnche.

    Isaac unleashed his Isaac Swordsmanship: Eightfold Path, the strikes moving to engulf Dera from every direction. To Dera, it appeared as though an entire mountain was copsing on top of him, with a monster lurking deep within the avnche.

    ¡®What¡­ what is this?!¡¯

    Dera retaliated with his own high-level swordsmanship, bright beams of light erupting as they tore through the dark energying at him. Trusting in his miracles and holy power, he epted the risk of being wounded to break through Isaac¡¯s attack.The more ferocious Isaac¡¯s strikes, the greater the risk for him if Dera could deflect them. Isaac still bore the remnants of Kalsen¡¯s influence, and Dera saw his chance.

    Crack, crack!

    Dera¡¯s armor and body sustained blows that would have ripped an ordinary person apart, but his limbs stayed attached. Knowing that as long as his body remained intact, he could push through, Dera shattered through the core of the Eightfold Path with a decisive strike aimed at cutting Isaac in half.

    Crash!

    But waiting for him was Kaldwin, Isaac¡¯s sword, held in a perfect counter to block the deadly strike. Dera was stunned. The powerful attack he had just delivered was nothing more than a feint, a move to keep Dera off-bnce.

    ¡®He anticipated my movements?¡¯

    At this distance, the fight should have already been over. Dera¡¯s Luadin Key was now glowing so brightly it drained the color from everything around it. It was the pinnacle of the Golden Lion Pdin¡¯s swordsmanship, a technique only a handful of formermanders had ever mastered.

    The Sword of Judgment¡ªa de forged in the image of the weapon used by angels to punish sinners.

    Dera had reserved this secret weapon specifically to defeat Kalsen.

    But as he raised the sword to strike, Dera saw something that made him question his sanity.

    Isaac mimicked his movements¡ªperfectly.

    It was an impossible, yet terrifyingly real vision.

    His hand moved on instinct, the Sword of Judgment slicing through the air, calling forth a blinding light from heaven itself. The sh and the deafening sound of the attack were so overwhelming that none of the pdins watching doubted Isaac had just been executed. It was a method far too luxurious for an execution, but fitting for one who hadmitted such sins.

    However, as the light faded, what was revealed left the gathered pdins speechless.

    Isaac stood there, sword raised as if he had sliced upward from below. Beside him, the Luadin Key, split cleanly in two,y on the ground, its once-glowing brilliance reduced to a dull, ashen hue. Before Isaac, Dera Heman knelt, clutching his face, blood dripping between his fingers.

    Crack, crack¡­

    The shattered fragments of Dera¡¯s mask fell to the ground, slipping through his trembling hands.

    Isaac had won.

    ***

    Despite the rity of the oue, the scene was so shocking that no one could speak.

    Dera Heman, themander of the Golden Lion Pdins, was on his knees, and the Luadin Key, a symbol of the pdin¡¯s honor,y broken on the ground.

    More shocking still was that the Sword of Judgment, a technique imparted by angels themselves, had been defeated. Historically, no human had ever managed to deflect, let alone destroy, such a divine weapon.

    The whole sight bordered on sphemy.

    Isaac, panting heavily, finally rxed his stance, the adrenaline draining from his body.

    His entire body screamed in agony.

    Kalsen¡¯s use of advanced swordsmanship had taken a massive toll on him, and Isaac had strained his body even further by forcing himself to absorb Kalsen¡¯s knowledge in such a short time. His muscles spasmed in pain, and his strength waspletely sapped, causing him to copse.

    ¡®I couldn¡¯t even beat a squirrel with a stick right now.¡¯

    Isaac briefly worried that Soltnar might charge at him out of revenge. He could only hope that the pdins still had some sense of honor. However, when Isaac turned his gaze to Dera Heman, he realized his current concern wasn¡¯t with Soltnar or anyone else¡ªit was with Dera.

    Blood was steadily dripping from the cracks in Dera¡¯s mask.

    Dera¡¯s mind raced as he recalled the moment their swords had shed.

    ¡®It¡¯s certain now. He watched my swordsmanship¡­ and mimicked it on the spot.¡¯

    As Dera had brought down the Sword of Judgment, Isaac had subtly shifted his de¡¯s trajectory, striking upward from below. But just as the heavenly light fell from above, Isaac had summoned a dark force from deep within, meeting the angelic strike head-on.

    The precision with which Isaac had timed and executed his counter was unnerving. He had exploited Dera¡¯s weakest point, striking directly in front of his mask.

    What do you call a sword that defies an angel¡¯s judgment?

    The word that crossed Dera¡¯s mind was sphemy. The sheer irreverence of it sent chills down his spine. What had Isaac seen, or what had he aimed to strike, that allowed him to manifest such a terrifying technique?

    Dera looked down at the pool of blood gathering in his hands. It had been a long time since he had bled this much.

    And whenever that happened, she appeared.

    His seven eyes, hidden behind the shattered mask, suddenly turned pure white.

 Chapter 335.1

    Isaac watched as Dera Heman¡¯s body slowly began to glow, his form consumed by a brilliant white light.

    The first to ignite were his seven eyes, burning with an otherworldly brilliance¡ªlight from beyond this world, using Dera¡¯s mortal body as a vessel. It was a glow that seeped from the cracks of heaven itself. Even the drops of blood Dera had shed began to shimmer, turning into sacred mes.

    As the light spread across the monastery, the surrounding pdins were the first to react. They immediately fell to their knees, bowing in reverence. They knew what was happening.

    With their faces to the ground, they began chanting hymns, praising the angel who had descended upon this forsaken monastery. Soltnar Culvain, too, realized the identity of the celestial being and felt a feverish warmth overwhelm him. Instinctively, he fell prostrate, offering praises to the approaching divinity.

    Isaac, utterly drained, could barely move, but he, too, understood what was happening.

    An angel wasing.

    An angel who divided the world into ck and white with the rity of their light.

    ¡°The Burning Maiden, may your holy me illuminate us, leaving not a shadow behind!¡± Soltnar cried out in fervor.

    Dera Heman, now engulfed in silent mes, slowly rose to his feet. His mask shattered, he should have been on the verge of death. Yet, the mere presence of the angel filling his body rejuvenated him, infusing him with divine strength.¡®As expected¡­ it¡¯s Isboseth,¡¯ Isaac thought grimly.

    He had anticipated this particr angel¡¯s arrival.

    Of the four Archangels currently active within the Codex of Light, only one seemed likely to intervene¡ªIsboseth, the Burning Maiden.

    And from Soltnar¡¯s excessive, borderline fanatical praise, Isaac understood why. Isboseth was the first Inquisitor¡ªthe very embodiment of heresy¡¯s judge and executioner.

    The Burning Maiden, now upying Dera Heman¡¯s body, turned her radiant gaze upon Isaac.

    ¡°¡­I greet the Burning Maiden,¡± Isaac managed to say, his body growing ufortably warm under her gaze. Though she wasn¡¯t literally spewing fire, the sheer intensity of the light emanating from Dera¡¯s seven eyes felt as scorching as the mes of the Luadin Key. If she wanted, her gaze alone could likely incinerate a man.

    Barely able to withstand the heat, Isaac forced himself to continue.

    ¡°It was a fair trial bybat, and I emerged victorious.¡±

    He needed to speak before Soltnar could twist the situation in his favor. The pdins remained silent, clearly unsure of how to respond. But angels rarely cared for human words.

    [How are you still alive?]

    The voice that rang out in Isaac¡¯s mind wasn¡¯t one of kindness or curiosity. The Burning Maiden seemed genuinely puzzled by his survival as she extended her hand toward him. Isaac¡¯s instincts screamed in warning¡ªhe knew that if she touched him, he would die.

    [The Nameless Chaos is watching you.]

    Angels brought both absolute fairness and unthinkable absurdity with their presence. For Isaac, the only way to survive the sheer unfairness of their divine intervention was to prepare for it.

    *BOOM! BOOM!*

    Suddenly, the Milishar Monastery shook violently.

    ¡°What the¡ª! An earthquake?!¡± someone shouted.

    The moment an angel descends, the area bes a sacred temple, a holy sanctuary. Unsure if they should cause amotion within such a sanctified space, the pdins hesitated, unsure of what to do. The Burning Maiden, too, paused, retracting her hand as her seven eyes turned toward the source of the disruption. ?

    Several more tremors followed, louder each time, until their cause was revealed. *Boom!* A massive object crashed through the ancient stone walls of the monastery, stopping just short of striking the Burning Maiden. It was a harpoon¡ªone asrge as the anchors used to halt ships weighing thousands of tons.

    Harpoons pierced through various sections of the monastery.

    ¡°Pull!¡± a voicemanded from outside.

    With a ring horn in the distance, the chains attached to the harpoons tightened, straining with immense force.

    *Crack! Crack! Crack!* The Milishar Monastery, which had stood for centuries, began to crumble. Neglected and worn down by time, the monastery¡¯s stone walls were now exposed to the fierce sea wind. Outside, the silhouette of dozens of ships could be seen through the mist and spray of the ocean as they retrieved the harpoons.

    ¡°It¡¯s the Salt Council¡¯s fleet!¡±

    ***

    ¡°So it¡¯se to this, hasn¡¯t it? Chairperson Yenkos Hare,¡± said the Salt Council fleet captain, standing on the deck of her ship, watching as the monastery began to fall apart.

    ¡°All we can do now is hope no one gets skewered by one of those harpoons, Captain Eidan.¡±

    Chairperson Yenkos gnawed at her fingernails as she nervously watched the once-sturdy Milishar Monastery copse under their assault. If she knew they had nearly impaled the Burning Maiden herself with one of their harpoons, she might have fainted on the spot, but thankfully, she remained unaware.

    It was, after all, still a monastery of the Codex of Light, even if it had long been abandoned. For the Salt Council, who had suffered greatly at the hands of the Codex, there was an underlying sense of fear that gripped them despite their actions. And to make matters worse, inside that monastery were the Golden Lion Pdins, the Codex¡¯s strongest knights.

    But they had no choice but to attack. Captured inside the monastery was the man who might be their savior, the Dreamer¡ªIsaac.

    ¡°Sir Isaac didn¡¯t want things toe to this either. He agreed to a fair trial, but if they persecuted him unjustly, he asked for our help. We¡¯re just doing our best,¡± Eidan said grimly.

    The sudden appearance of the Salt Council¡¯s fleet was no coincidence.

    When Isaac sent out the Issacrea Dawn Army, he had also informed the Salt Council of his intentions. The unknown fourth unit of the Issacrea Dawn Army was, in fact, the Salt Council¡¯s fleet, which had departed to intervene if things went wrong.

    And just as they arrived, the Golden Lion Pdins had detained Isaac. He had asked the Salt Council to serve as his ¡°insurance¡±¡ªto offer him a chance to escape if the trial¡¯s oue turned against him unfairly.

    Of course, whether the process was fair or not, Isaac had never intended to die.

    And now, with Isaac having emerged victorious in his trial bybat, the intervention of an angel was nothing short of unjust. As such, it was time for Isaac to fight back.

    ¡°Let¡¯s just hope Sir Isaac makes it out safely,¡± Eidan muttered, watching the chaos unfold.

    Eidan kept his eyes on the skies above the Milishar Monastery.

 Chapter 335.2

    ¡°Let¡¯s just hope Sir Isaac makes it out safely,¡± Eidan muttered, watching the chaos unfold.

    Eidan kept his eyes on the skies above the Milishar Monastery.

    It wasn¡¯t just the Salt Council¡¯s fleet that was moving. A dragon, Nel, and Hesabel descended like a storm,nding with a force that shook the monastery, already weakened by the harpoons. Though the monastery¡¯s fragile structure teetered dangerously, the winged beings had no trouble remaining steady.

    But for the pdins gathered in the courtyard, the situation was different. They recoiled, uneasily watching the crumbling building around them.

    Nel did not roar or cry out. Hesabel, too, didn¡¯t raise her voice to decry the injustice unfolding. Instead, she coldly surveyed the pdins, as though indifferent to the authority of the angel presiding over the scene.

    Soltnar, however, was furious at this brazen defiance.

    ¡°How dare these hereticsmit such sphemy before the Codex of Light!¡± he shouted.

    ¡°Does the Codex know no fairness?¡± Hesabel retorted icily.

    ¡°I have served my master and learned the Codex¡¯s teachings of fairness, discipline, and restraint. Yet everything I witness here runs counter to those principles. Are you truly going to defile the oue of a duel fought in the name of themander¡¯s honor?¡±Of course, Hesabel had never learned any such values from Isaac¡ªsuch lessons would be beneath his notice. Her statement was a lie, delivered smoothly in the hope of stirring the pdins¡¯ guilt.

    But they stared back at her with puzzled expressions, unmoved.

    It was Dera¡¯s Commander who shot back sharply, ¡°If the Holy Grail Knight is a heretic, then it¡¯s right to execute him, regardless of the duel¡¯s oue. Did you really think a duel would lead to a fair judgment? What¡¯s the issue here?¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    The response, though blunt, was logical in its own way, leaving Hesabel momentarily speechless. These weren¡¯t the pdins of Elil, who attached divine significance to duels. Elil had split from the Codex precisely because of the Codex¡¯s underhanded tactics.

    For these pdins, Dera Heman¡¯s duel had been a mere formality¡ªan execution disguised asbat. Since the execution had failed, they would simply resort to another method. The angel¡¯s arrival only served to legitimize this course of action.

    ¡°Your actions only confirm the Holy Grail Knight¡¯s guilt! Stand down!¡± the Commander ordered.

    ¡°We cannot! Is it right for a chosen saint of the Church to be executed in secrecy by a handful of conspirators in a secluded ce? Elil, the World¡¯s Forge, the Salt Council, the Golden Idol, and the Codex of Light¡¯s own righteous followers¡ªall are watching!¡± Hesabel dered.

    As chaos erupted around them, Isaac managed to regain some of his strength. He struggled to his feet, though barely able to stand, gripping his sword for support.

    Once again, the Burning Maiden turned her fiery gaze on Isaac.

    ¡°It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you, mdy, but I¡¯m afraid I must be going¡ª¡± Isaac began.

    [You are a man who should have died.]

    The Burning Maiden reached out her hand once more. Her movements,pared to Dera¡¯s swordsmanship, were slow and riddled with openings. Yet Isaac knew he couldn¡¯t deflect her touch.

    He recalled the miracle the Burning Maiden had created in her lifetime¡ªthe very same miracle Isaac had once experienced through Abbot Yevhar, the Proof of Faith. It was a miracle that plunged the body into the heavens, burning those whose faith wascking.

    Isaac had survived that test once, but this was different.

    This was a simple, deadly touch meant to burn him to ashes.

    Just as her fiery hand approached his cheek, a familiar voice whispered in Isaac¡¯s ear.

    ¡®ept me.¡¯

    Isaac recognized the voice immediately. Without hesitation, he nodded.

    At that moment, Isaac swung his hand, swatting the Burning Maiden¡¯s grasp away.

    ***

    *p.*

    The sound echoed through the monastery, silencing the heated argument between Hesabel and the Commander. The only noise that remained was the indifferent crashing of the waves against the crumbling walls.

    ¡°How dare¡­¡±

    Soltnar¡¯s face twisted in disbelief. The word ¡°dare¡± had be so ingrained in his mind that he could scarcely utter anything else.

    Someone had struck away an angel¡¯s hand. It was an act of defiance that Soltnar, or anyone present, had never witnessed.

    Everyone braced themselves, expecting Isaac to face divine punishment, but when they looked at him again, their minds went nk.

    Around Isaac¡¯s head, ancient swords floated like a halo, revolving in slow, deliberate circles. His entire body, armor, and even the strands of his hair had turned an ethereal white, glowing softly. For the first time, the pdins witnessed something nearly impossible¡ªtwo archangels standing together in one ce.

    The Sword of May, Saint Arthe, the teacher of all pdins, had manifested through Isaac¡¯s body.

    And the Commander suddenly realized what had just happened.

    The Sword of May had struck away the Burning Maiden¡¯s hand.

    ¡®An archangel¡­ had intervened in another archangel¡¯s judgment?!¡¯

    Few in the highest echelons of the Church knew that archangels sometimes shed in secret. Most followers of the Codex of Light only saw the aftermath, unaware of the power struggles that took ce among the heavens.

    It was an unspoken rule that archangels never openly disyed discord before the faithful. Such conflicts, if known, could provoke unnecessary division or theological confusion.

    Realizing this, the Commander immediately bowed his head. His urgent hand gestures quicklymunicated the message to the other pdins, who also dropped to their knees, pressing their faces to the ground. They pretended not to have seen or heard anything, knowing that if the archangels wished to keep this quiet, they might very well kill everyone present.

    It was their only chance of survival.

    The Sword of May, undeterred by the pdins, focused solely on the Burning Maiden.

    Both archangels knew better than to air their conflict before the faithful. Theymunicated silently, their wills locked in a quiet exchange.

    [You have no ce here, Isboseth.]

    The Burning Maiden tilted her head in confusion, her finger pointing toward Isaac.

    [That one is an abomination. A half-blood. He reeks of chaos.]

    From his position just behind the Sword of May, Isaac felt a cold sweat break out as Isboseth continued speaking. As the first Inquisitor, she was quickly unraveling all of his secrets.

    [And more than anything¡­ he smells of the White Owl. Could it be? Did the White Owl leave behind a child?]

 Chapter 336.1

    The mention of the White Owl sent a chill through Isaac.

    He suddenly realized that all the key figures responsible for the White Owl¡¯s purge were present: the Burning Maiden, the Sword of May, and Kalsen Miller, though technically still residing in his stomach.

    While the Sword of May was currently shielding him, Isaac couldn¡¯t be sure if she would continue to protect him if she knew he was the child of the White Owl.

    Fortunately, the Sword of May didn¡¯t seem swayed by the Burning Maiden¡¯s usations. Calmly, she repositioned Kaldwin, signaling she had no intent to fight.

    [Are you certain? Is he really the White Owl¡¯s child?]

    The Burning Maiden¡¯s seven eyes rolled in different directions as her radiant gaze examined Isaac. Each beam of light cast shadows that shifted and morphed, defying the naturalws of light. Though there should have been seven shadows, they flickered erratically, sometimes increasing or decreasing in number and density.

    It felt as if she was probing every hidden corner of Isaac¡¯s soul, using her light to reveal his deepest secrets.

    In front of the Burning Maiden¡¯s relentless gaze, no secret could remain hidden. But despite her efforts, her expression grew sour as she red at the Sword of May.

    [Don¡¯t interfere, Arte.]The Sword of May wasn¡¯t just protecting Isaac¡¯s body; she was also guarding his inner secrets. Isaac couldn¡¯t fathom why she was going to such lengths for him.

    Her response to the Burning Maiden was calm but sharp.

    [I asked you if you¡¯re certain, Isboseth. You shouldn¡¯t be rummaging through a person¡¯s soul without evidence. You weren¡¯t this disrespectful in life, as far as I remember.]

    [¡­He¡¯s definitely tied to the Codex of Light. And if any of us had left behind offspring, it could only be either Elil or the White Owl. But Elil¡¯s child was female, so that rules him out.]

    The Burning Maiden spoke of Nephilim with disdain, as if they were animals.

    [White Owl or not, it¡¯s undeniable he¡¯s a Nephilim. To let one grow to this extent is a failure of the Inquisition. Do they no longer understand what¡¯s truly dangerous?]

    [Isaac has served the Codex faithfully, producing remarkable results. It¡¯s not right to execute him solely for being a Nephilim.]

    The Sword of May¡¯s argument was measured and reasonable, but to the Burning Maiden, an inquisitor who believed in eradicating evil at its roots, such logic didn¡¯t hold weight.

    She locked her gaze directly on the Sword of May, her anger palpable. Isaac felt an intense heat building in his forehead, though no physical harm came to him.

    [You foolish knight. Are you suggesting we return to the barbaric times when gods and humans mixed freely, breeding like animals? Nephilim are nothing more than abominations, creatures born from the union of pigs and humans!]

    The Burning Maiden¡¯s fury was unmistakable.

    Her reaction was, in fact, the typical response of angels toward Nephilim. Nephilim invoked a visceral, instinctive disgust in angels. Even if this disgust was nted intentionally, it didn¡¯t change its strength.

    In hindsight, Isaac realized how unusual it was that he had been treated with a measure of leniency until now.

    [Nephilim easily sway people, gathering followers wherever they go. Do you understand how dangerous that is? They seduce humans, build faith in themselves, andy the foundation for rebellion! Nephilim are a gue!]

    ¡®So that¡¯s why,¡¯ Isaac thought, finally grasping why the gods wanted to eliminate Nephilim. The Nephilim¡¯s greatest weapon wasn¡¯t their ability to steal miracles or their striking appearance¡ªit was their natural charisma, their ability to draw people to them.

    In this world, faith was the force that kept everything in motion. A Nephilim was a living challenge to divine authority.

    Merely prohibiting their existence wasn¡¯t enough to stop them from appearing.

    So, someone clever had decided that birthing a Nephilim should be considered a grave sin, a shameful act. They had imnted a deep-rooted disgust for Nephilim, ensuring that even the thought of creating one was abhorrent.

    The fear of Nephilim was ingrained so deeply that no one dared to give birth to them.

    ***

    ¡°What¡¯s happening in there?¡± Eiden asked, his voice trembling as the Salt Council¡¯s fleet halted its bombardment, watching the sudden bright light shining from the heart of the Milishar Monastery.

    He already had a sense of what was happening but found it difficult to voice aloud.

    ¡°¡­An angel has descended,¡± replied Chairperson Yenkos, her voice strained. She was crouched behind the railing, trying to hide, though no one could me her for it. Most of the crew had retreated into the ship¡¯s cabins or were preparing to abandon ship entirely, so Yenkos was one of the braver souls.

    ¡°I already told you this might happen. No need to panic,¡± Eiden tried to reassure her.

    ¡°But if the angels are here to capture Sir Isaac, what could we possibly do? We can¡¯t even speak to the gods!¡± Yenkos said, her thoughts fixated on Isaac, who was somewhere within the monastery.

    ¡°We can offer him courage. We can give him hope.¡±

    ¡°¡­That sounds like we¡¯re doing nothing at all, Chairperson.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s not be too blunt, Captain Eiden.¡±

    But Yenkos was, in some ways, sincere. As both the Chairperson of the Salt Council and a priestess, she knew more than most about the mysteries of Urbansus. She also understood that prayer wasn¡¯t simply a wish for blessings.

    So, Yenkos prayed earnestly. She prayed that someone woulde to Isaac¡¯s aid.

    ***

    Despite the Burning Maiden¡¯s fury, the Sword of May remained calm, tilting her head slightly as she studied her fellow archangel.

    [I don¡¯t care what you say. Isaac is under my personal protection. You should know what that means.]

    [It means nothing. I will burn this seed of sin before it can sprout.]

    As the Burning Maiden¡¯s words echoed, a strange emotion stirred within the Sword of May¡ªan odd sensation for an angel, but one that felt familiar.

    It was irritation mixed with malice.

    [Really? Because from where I¡¯m standing, it seems like you¡¯re just jealous of Isaac.]

    [What?!]

    The mes surrounding the Burning Maiden red up even more violently, but the Sword of May continued speaking without a hint of hesitation.

    [You were the White Owl¡¯s prized disciple, weren¡¯t you? You even organized the White Owl¡¯s teachings. Based on those teachings, you led the internal reform movement and founded the Inquisition, didn¡¯t you?]

    [Silence!]

    [Are you sure your obsession with Isaac isn¡¯t just jealousy? You were once the ¡®favorite student¡¯ of the White Owl, but maybe the fact that she left a child behind stings a little, doesn¡¯t it? I can¡¯t think of another reason for your fixation on Isaac.]

    Isaac couldn¡¯t help but be intrigued by the exchange. Was the Burning Maiden truly the White Owl¡¯s top student? From what he knew, the White Owl had likely ascended to be an archangel long before the Burning Maiden, which meant she must have been taught by the White Owl after she became an angel.

    It was a rare urrence¡ªan angel taking on a human disciple.

 Chapter 336.2

    It was a rare urrence¡ªan angel taking on a human disciple.

    Isaac imagined their rtionship might have been simr to that of Lianne and the Lady of the Lake, An and Manseungja, or even Dera Heman and the Burning Maiden herself. And yet, despite their past, the Burning Maiden had been involved in the White Owl¡¯s purge.

    [The Owl filled my head with lies and arrogance! It was the Lighthouse Keeper who showed me the true me of righteousness! When I was consumed by that fire, I saw the light of truth! Don¡¯t insult me!]

    As the Burning Maiden raged, Isaac felt an old memory flooding into his mind like a vivid hallucination.

    Lichthaim, long ago. A za. A woman dressed in the robes of an inquisitor, standing before a man while all the other priests knelt in reverence. Only the inquisitor stood tall, staring at the man.

    The inquisitor raised her hand, glowing brightly with the miracle of the Proof of Faith. She reached out to touch the man, but the moment her hand made contact, it was her own body that ignited. With a terrifying scream, she was engulfed in mes, reduced to ashes in an instant.

    The man spoke: ¡°I respect her for standing firm in her doubts, even when everyone else worshiped blindly.¡± He molded the charred remains into a form, breathing a heavenly fire into it. From the ashes, the Burning Maiden was reborn as an angel, eternally aze with the fires of Heaven.

    [Yes, I once trusted the White Owl! If she was truly right, then it should have been that man who turned to ash! But it was me! Even then, the Lighthouse Keeper¡¯s me granted me revtion and showed me the way!]

    The Burning Maiden¡¯s fury culminated as she pointed aggressively at Isaac.[You say I¡¯m jealous of him? Arte, if you keep spouting nonsense and getting in my way¡ª]

    [Good. I¡¯m d to see you haven¡¯t forgotten the teachings of the Lighthouse Keeper.]

    The Sword of May cut her off nonchntly, clearly unbothered by the Burning Maiden¡¯s threats. The Burning Maiden¡¯s expression twisted as if she had been caught off guard, then slowly hardened into a grim realization.

    The Sword of May continued calmly.

    [As I said before, Isaac is under my personal protection. You should reflect on what that means.]

    The Burning Maiden paused for a long moment, then asked softly,

    [Is sparing him part of the grand n?]

    [I cannot say. Nor can I reveal anything further. Don¡¯t specte or jump to conclusions. It would be unwise for us to show our disagreement in front of the faithful.]

    The Burning Maiden red at Isaac once more, as if trying to pierce through his soul. But this time, all she could see was the unwavering gaze of the Sword of May, burning bright like a shield around him.

    She chuckled darkly and turned away. Her eyesnded on Soltnar.

    [It seems the Inquisition is in dire need of purging.]

    At that moment, Soltnar¡¯s body suddenly erupted into mes. Fire bloomed from within, consuming him from the inside out. The oxygen in his lungs burned first, leaving him no chance to scream. In a matter of seconds, nothing remained but a charred husk.

    The Burning Maiden¡¯s gaze shifted toward the pdins, but the Sword of May quickly intervened.

    [That¡¯s enough.]

    [It would be better for us if they didn¡¯t know of our discord.]

    [The Golden Lion Pdins guard the upper echelons of the Church. They are discreet. Like Dera Heman, they will remain silent about today¡¯s events.]

    At the mention of Dera Heman, the Burning Maiden reluctantly nodded in agreement. If she killed the pdins, there would be no one left to serve under Dera, her chosen protector. That was not a favorable oue for her. ?

    She picked up her shattered mask and slid it back over her face. With a single sweep of her radiant hand, the mask was restored to its original state.

    Without a word or further ceremony, she vanished from sight.

    As soon as the Burning Maiden disappeared, Dera Heman copsed to the ground, exhausted. The pdins, who had been holding their breath, rushed forward but came to a halt when they saw Isaac still imbued with the presence of the Sword of May.

    It wasn¡¯t until the Sword of May gave them a silent nod that they hurried to help Dera.

    Isaac had aplished his mission and the Sword of May was ready to depart, but Isaac wasn¡¯t about to let her leave so easily.

    [Are you fully recovered?] Isaac asked.

    [More or less.]

    Though Isaac wasn¡¯t keen on imagining a battle between them, he knew that, even if she hadn¡¯t been fully healed, abat angel like the Sword of May could have easily bested the schr-angel Burning Maiden. Then again, situations where angels fought each other rarely urred, except in extreme cases like the purge of the White Owl.

    [How did youe to possess me?]

    [You are Elil¡¯s grand warrior and the White Owl¡¯s offspring. No living human has been more steeped in the influence of the Codex of Light than you. It would be strange if I couldn¡¯t possess you.]

    Adding to that, Kalsen Miller, who had been a prime candidate to be an archangel, was also inside Isaac. Though Isaac hadn¡¯t mentioned that detail, he was still surprised to learn that the Sword of May knew about his parentage. She hadn¡¯t even bothered to hide it.

    At this point, Isaac could begin to understand how the Burning Maiden felt¡ªwhy was he still alive? Why were they sparing him?

    The Sword of May seemed to sense his thoughts and spoke softly.

    [Complete the mission, Isaac.]

    It was a message he had heard countless times before. But this time, there was a crucial addition.

    [You must reim the Holy Land before the fracture caused by Beshek¡¯s failure shatters the world. It is the only way to preserve this world¡¯s continuity.]

 Chapter 337.1

    Before Isaac could ask what the Sword of May meant, she vanished, as if she had never been there. However, her voice continued to echo in his ears.

    ¡°A mistake created by Beshek? A crack that will shatter the world? Does she mean the descent of the afterlife onto the living world?¡±

    Isaac wasn¡¯t entirely sure what she was referring to, but it was clear that the situation was dire enough to overlook his ¡°sphemy.¡± The urgency implied that, even if they had to rely on another faith, the remation of the Holy Land must bepleted.

    Isaac also suspected that the recent sudden shifts in various faiths were rted to this.

    The Dawn Army¡¯s goal wasn¡¯t solely a human one. Even the gods and angels were moving to fulfill this world¡¯s fate.

    ¡®Well, truthfully, I am the most likely person to lead the Dawn Army to sess.¡¯

    The Codex of Light was powerful, but they had already failed multiple times.

    The Immortal Order¡¯s territory¡ªwhere the terrifying desert alternated between scorching heat and freezing cold, swelling with their forces after each battle¡ªwas practically a fortress on its own.

    It was no wonder that the Immortal Order¡¯s victory derations were simply a result of holding off invaders.¡®If you think about it differently, this might mean that this Dawn Army will be thest.¡¯

    If the Immortal Order imed victory by merely defending their ground, it meant that the cycle of reiming and losing the Holy Land woulde to an end.

    There would be no 14th Dawn Army. If the current Dawn Army failed, the Holy Land would remain forever in the hands of the Immortal Order.

    And that was a situation the Codex of Light could not ept.

    ***

    After the Burning Maiden and the Sword of May left, only the pdins and the charred remains of Soltnar were left behind. Yet none of the pdins looked back at the ruined body of Soltnar. Tending to those judged by the hands of an angel was considered an unholy act.

    Of course, no one was now moring to have Isaac executed either.

    ¡°Holy Grail Knight.¡±

    Themander tending to Dera Heman approached Isaac and bowed deeply.

    ¡°I¡¯vemitted a grave disrespect. I apologize. I will not make excuses for being deceived by the inquisitors¡¯ schemes.¡±

    ¡°Sounds like you just did, though.¡±

    ¡°¡­.¡±

    Themander bowed silently, pretending not to hear Isaac¡¯s pointed remark.

    Isaac didn¡¯t feel inclined to get angry at the pdins.

    After all, what fault did they have? It was true that Isaac bore traces of Kalsen Miller¡¯s swordsmanship, that he was a follower of the sphemous Nameless Chaos, and that he had even killed a pdin in the past.

    It was only because of the sudden intervention of the Sword of May that they no longer had a reason to kill him.

    They had merely acted ording to their duties, swept up in the angelic tempest just like Isaac himself.

    [Isaac.]

    Dera Heman stumbled toward Isaac, partially removing his mask as he leaned close and whispered with great effort.

    [¡­I still believe that I should kill you here.]

    Isaac was taken aback but remained silent, knowing that he now held the upper hand. Dera, with dull eyes, continued to speak slowly.

    [But you¡¯ve be too strong for me to do anything about it. In the end, it will be like it was with Kalsen Miller¡ªI will have no choice but to let you go. I had hoped that you would live to bring glory to the Codex of Light. But if even that is part of the grand design, I must ept it.]

    Dera Heman remained stubborn, unyielding to the end.

    He was a man like a mountain.

    Isaac realized why the Burning Maiden had chosen Dera Heman, a pdin, over an inquisitor. Dera¡¯s unwavering convictions mirrored something in the Burning Maiden herself.

    When the man presumed to be the Lighthouse Keeper¡¯s proxy appeared in Lichtheim, everyone worshiped and praised him¡ªeveryone except the Burning Maiden, Isboseth, who alone doubted him. She dared to demand proof of faith, and as a result, her entire body had been consumed by mes.

    There aren¡¯t many who, when the entire world deres something true, have the strength to stand alone and say otherwise. Whether they are right or wrong.

    Dera Heman silently donned his mask again and gestured to the pdins.

    Themander tranted hismand.

    ¡°Pack up, we¡¯re retreating!¡±

    None of the pdins questioned the order. They all swiftly began gathering their belongings. Whatever trial or judgment they had been involved in, the appearance of angels had resolved everything. Despite having been saved, Isaac still felt an ufortable resentment about the whole situation.

    Angels had a way of making all human efforts seem insignificant. Everything humanity had built, the foundations of their actions and decisions, was trampled beneath the weight of the angels¡¯ footsteps.

    In the presence of such overwhelming power, humans felt small and powerless, even though that very power ultimately stemmed from their faith.

    ¡®Maybe that¡¯s exactly what the angels want. To instill the belief that angels are invincible and humans are helpless against them.¡¯

    Isaac nced at the charred remains of Soltnar, which no one tended to. Just then, a gust of wind blew through as Hesabel and Nel descended into the courtyard. The ashes of Soltnar scattered into the sea with the breeze.

    It was a quiet funeral, with no one to mourn him.

    ***

    As the Salt Council¡¯s fleet docked at Odryf port, Isaac reunited with themanders of the Dawn Army from Issacrea, whom he hadn¡¯t seen for several days.

    The moment Tuhalin saw him, he erupted in anger.

    ¡°What the hell were you doing without consulting us?!¡±

    Isaac was baffled by the outburst, unsure why Tuhalin was so furious.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t I inform you that I would handle Dera Heman personally?¡±

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    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 337.2

    Isaac was baffled by the outburst, unsure why Tuhalin was so furious.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t I inform you that I would handle Dera Heman personally?¡±

    ¡°Does the Codex of Light normally have conversations that revolve around deciding whether to chop off someone¡¯s head or burn them alive? I mean, seriously, what kind of conversation happens when two Archangels show up and start burning things up? You do realize everyone, including Dera Heman, almost died back there, right?¡±

    Tuhalin, the master of the forge, had been utterly terrified when he sensed the descent of the Archangels.

    In fact, Tuhalin¡¯s reaction was typical for most humans. Archangels could kill with mere incidental movements¡ªnot out of cruelty or ack of empathy, but simply because they paid as much attention to humans as one does to ants when walking.

    Though Isaac acted as if the presence of two Archangels was no big deal, Tuhalin, who had received the formal notice of their names, had been rightfully rmed.

    ¡®If I told him those two Archangels almost fought while possessing Dera and me, he¡¯d probably faint.¡¯

    Isaac decided to take that secret to the grave. If word got out, the Burning Maiden would surely hold a grudge against him. Tuhalin¡¯s anger quickly subsided, and he began patting Isaac¡¯s back, his frustration fading.

    ¡°Don¡¯t ever get yourself stuck alone with those fanatics again! I followed your lead, not to babysit those crazies! What in the world are they even thinking?¡±¡°Haha, I¡¯ll be more careful.¡±

    Despite his gruff tone, Tuhalin was showing concern in his own way.

    The othermanders shared simr concerns. If Dera Heman had executed Isaac through ¡°proper procedure¡± or sent him away, the Dawn Army of Issacrea would have been impossible to merge into therger alliance.

    ¡®Well, I can¡¯t say I don¡¯t understand the Church¡¯s position.¡¯

    Isaac acknowledged the Codex of Light¡¯s perspective.

    While the Dawn Army was officially part of the White Empire¡¯s alliance, at its core, the Issacrea faction was essentially a private military force that brought in foreign warlords¡ªoperating without central control.

    If Isaac were in the position of the Pope or an emperor, he might have tried to destroy the Dawn Army first, before even dealing with the Immortal Order.

    But with the angels¡¯ intervention, that was no longer an option.

    The ¡°blessing of the angels,¡± which had previously been a silent protection over Isaac, was now publicly recognized. The Church would no longer dare to openly obstruct him, at least not directly.

    The Burning Maiden¡¯s attempt to kill him wasn¡¯t because she was unwilling to see the bigger picture¡ªit was simply that her focusy more on enforcing doctrine. She was more like a tailor removing lint than someone shaping therger fabric.

    Her upromising, rigid nature was perhaps precisely what made her suited to be an inquisitor.

    ¡°Either way, I apologize for causing concern. But this should clear things up¡ªthe Codex of Light will no longer interfere with me.¡±

    ¡°They¡¯d better not! Being held up over nonsense like this¡­¡±

    ¡°Um, Holy Grail Knight.¡±

    At that moment, Lianne raised her hand hesitantly. She had been fidgeting for a while, looking visibly anxious, and Isaac cast a curious nce her way.

    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡±

    ¡°So¡­ did you defeat Dera Heman?¡±

    Lianne¡¯s question brought the room to a sudden hush. Her words carried a clear implication.

    For the followers of Elil, who could hardly resist a challenge, it was one of the most important issues.

    Isaac nodded quietly.

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    A roar of cheers and excitement immediately followed.

    While they had suspected as much when the Golden Lion Pdins withdrew, they had wanted to hear it directly from Isaac. Unlike with Kalsen, Isaac¡¯s victory was undeniable, making the celebration all the more fervent. ?

    ¡°Our Holy Grail Knight bested the Golden Lion!¡±

    ¡°I knew he would!¡±

    Though they were all on the same side, the soldiers still took great pride in theirmander being the strongest. Even among the officers, there was a simr sentiment. While a general didn¡¯t need to be the strongest, people naturally gravitated toward leaders who were.

    Lianne, with a pleased smile, muttered to herself.

    ¡°As expected of someone who held their own against me. If only Emperor Edelred hadn¡¯t interfered back then¡­¡±

    ¡°Would you like a rematch now?¡± Isaac teased.

    ¡°My old wound from that fight is still acting up¡­¡± Lianne deflected with a grin.

    Though the followers of Elil never shied away from battle, Lianne wasn¡¯t the type to dwell on it. However, the knights who had heard about Isaac¡¯s victory over Dera Heman were eager for a fight, itching to challenge him.

    The one to put a stop to the brewing brawl was Tuhalin.

    ¡°You bunch of thugs! Issacrea¡¯s Knight just got tossed around by fanatics and barely made it back! He needs rest, not another fight! Now get out of here!¡±

    Isaac was relieved that Tuhalin had intervened at just the right moment, as the exhaustion had indeed started to weigh on him. Though the Elil knights grumbled, they eventually withdrew. Isaac, too, wanted to reflect on the lessons he had learned from his battle with Dera Heman.

    But before that, there was something far more pressing.

    ¡°First, let¡¯s get something to eat. I¡¯m starving.¡±

    ***

    The Golden Idol Guild provided the Dawn Army with enough food to sustain them. On top of that, Leonora, the guild leader, ensured they received the necessary supplies for their campaign. Of course, all of this was put on Isaac¡¯s tab as ¡°credit.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s good if you repay it, but you don¡¯t really have to,¡± Leonora said.

    Isaac had been specially invited to dine with Leonora. Though he had considered eating with his soldiers, showing his monstrous appetite in front of them felt inappropriate. While Leonora was surprised by his enormous intake, she didn¡¯t disy much curiosity.

    ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t I need to repay it?¡± Isaac asked.

    The Golden Idol Guild wasn¡¯t known for giving anything away for free, not even to the Codex of Light. Whenever they made donations, they always extracted payment¡ªbe it material or otherwise. Isaac eyed her with suspicion, knowing they wouldn¡¯t show kindness without a reason.

    ¡°As you know, we can¡¯t just give away supplies for free. So, technically, this is marked as an ¡®investment.¡¯ Luckily, the Holy Grail Knight has excellent credit, so there¡¯s no problem.¡±

    While Isaac devoured an entire roasted pig, Leonora delicately picked at a few pieces of fish as she continued.

    ¡°And besides, this was issued in the name of the tinum Society. Even our internal audit team won¡¯t question losses under their name. Whether you repay it or not, it will simply be written off as a loss. No interest, either.¡±

    Isaac looked down at the tinum ring on his finger with newfound respect. To think that such a small object could carry the extraordinary miracle of ¡°no interest, unlimited credit, and unlimited repayment time¡­¡±

    ¡°This might be the most valuable artifact I own.¡±

    Though he meant it sincerely, Leonora burst outughing, as if he had just told an amusing joke.

    Apparently, even sociopaths find jokes about money amusing.

    After some time, Leonora looked at Isaac and said with a more serious tone.

    ¡°Great power alwayses with a great price. I trust you understand what the tinum Society is paying for with this immense expenditure.¡±

 Chapter 338.1

    ¡°¡­ It seems you still haven¡¯t given up on reiming Midas¡¯ Hand.¡±

    Isaac had clearly warned her, yet it seemed she still hadn¡¯t abandoned the idea of acquiring Midas¡¯ Hand.

    Well, after all, she had already wasted too much money and time to give up just because of a few words from Isaac.

    Isaac, tearing off a piece of pork leg, spoke again.

    ¡°Since I¡¯ve been treated to such a fine meal, I suppose I should repay the favor. But let¡¯s make one thing clear¡ªif you manage to secure Midas¡¯ Hand, I¡¯ll be the first to inspect it. Once I¡¯m certain there¡¯s no issue, I¡¯ll hand it over.¡±

    ¡°

    ¡°This isn¡¯t something to negotiate. I¡¯ll confirm for myself whether my concerns are unfounded before I hand it over. After all, even you don¡¯t really know what kind of relic it is, do you?¡±

    Leonora shrugged, as if admitting she had no argument there.

    They only knew that Midas¡¯ Hand was a ¡°relic that grants wishes,¡± but its origins and true nature were unknown. If it turned out to be something as cursed as the ¡°Monkey¡¯s Paw¡± Isaac knew of, he nned to destroy or bury it immediately, regardless of their rtionship with the Golden Idol Guild.¡°You¡¯re saying you hold the hilt of the sword. Fine. But don¡¯t forget that you¡¯re still a member of the tinum Society.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, sure.¡±

    Isaac knew that Leonora would never be satisfied with just that. She would certainly try something behind his back. Whether by nting a spy or bribing someone, she¡¯d make an attempt to steal Midas¡¯ Hand. That was just her nature.

    Her misfortune was that Isaac knew her far too well.

    ¡°I¡¯ll have to take care of it as soon as it¡¯s in my hands.¡±

    But whatever the oue, it was still a matter for the distant future. Before they could get their hands on Midas¡¯ Hand, they first needed to reim the Holy Land.

    And before that, they had to cross that nightmarish sea.

    ***

    The Dawn Army of Issacrea was diligently loading the necessary supplies onto the ships.

    There had been some concern about how to board Elil¡¯s warhorses, but since they had already crossed the sea once when moving from the kingdom to the continent, the knights efficiently secured the horses on board. There were no unruly incidents from the horses.

    While Isaac watched the loading process, someone approached him.

    ¡°Master, atst, I find you alone.¡±

    ¡°Your Majesty.¡±

    It was Edelred.

    He had been one of the people most delighted when Isaac had emerged from Milishar Monastery. Though he had maintained a solemn facade in front of his subordinates, now he approached with a bright smile.

    ¡°I always believed you would return alive. There¡¯s no way someone like Dera Heman could stand against Elil¡¯s grand warrior.¡±

    For a moment, Isaac was unsure whether to feel insulted as a Pdin of the Codex of Light or to feel pride as a warrior of Elil.

    He replied with a serious expression.

    ¡°Dera Heman was strong. I nearly died.¡±

    ¡°Truly? Was he really that powerful?¡±

    Edelred asked with a concerned expression.

    ¡°In truth, I was more worried about the Inquisitor¡¯s treacherous schemes than Dera Heman himself. I know that there are honorable warriors within the Codex of Light, but I¡¯ve heard many stories of those who were wrongfully used and met unjust deaths rather than falling honorably in battle¡­¡±

    Isaac thought about how he had nearly died at the hands of the angel, rather than Dera Heman, which made Edelred¡¯s worries not entirely unfounded.

    Even Ashen, the Archangel of Elil, had been a distinguished Holy Grail Knight in life, only to be burned at the stake by the Inquisitors.

    However, Edelred soon smiled again.

    ¡°But here you are, having escaped unscathed. It reminds me once again that a warrior needs not only strength and skill but also wisdom.¡±

    ¡°Please make sure Reyna Hilde hears that.¡±

    Isaac muttered, thinking of the famous ¡°Boar Knight¡± of the Aldeon Knights.

    ¡°Still, hearing you say that only piques my curiosity about Dera Heman¡¯s strength. Everyone spoke so highly of him, yet here you are, having defeated him without so much as a scratch¡­¡±

    Isaac found Edelred¡¯s uncharacteristic curiosity somewhat surprising. Wasn¡¯t Edelred known to despise the chivalric way, finding things like strengthpetitions tedious? Yet, as Isaac observed him more closely, he could see whaty beneath the surface.

    Isaac smiled and faced Edelred directly.

    ¡°How about we spar lightly for old times¡¯ sake, Your Majesty? I can give you a small demonstration of Dera Heman¡¯s skill.¡±

    Edelred¡¯s face brightened instantly.

    It seemed that what he truly wanted was a chance for some ¡°training¡± from Isaac. Though it wasn¡¯t so much a lesson as a chance for him to show how much he had grown and improved in front of his teacher. His body had grownrger, and his skills had progressed rapidly, so it was only natural for him to feel that way.

    ¡®At this stage, he¡¯s a Swordmaster. He¡¯s at that age where he wants to show off,¡¯ Isaac thought to himself.

    Isaac drew Kaldwin, and Edelred unsheathed Kaldbruch.

    As soon as Edelred unsheathed Kaldbruch, his eyes began to glow a faint green. It seemed he had finally learned to release the sword¡¯s power at a ¡®moderate level.¡¯ He would need more than moderation to face Isaac, but they couldn¡¯t exactly risk breaking the ship.

    Isaac, too, had to hold back his strength. Both were bound by simr restrictions in this fight¡ªneither could use their full power.

    ¡®Let¡¯s see how far he¡¯se,¡¯ Isaac thought.

    He was the first to move.

    Rather than an offensive stance, Isaac adopted a defensive one, as it would allow him to observe more. He aimed a clean, straightforward sh from top to bottom, fast but not overlyplex. Edelred, though slightly surprised by the speed, managed to block it cleanly. Then, using the rebound, he immediately executed an advanced sword technique.

    Crack!

    Three streaks of energy suddenly appeared on the deck, surging toward Isaac. He was momentarily taken aback.

    ¡®Three paths? Not eight yet? I see¡­¡¯

 Chapter 338.2

    Chapter 338.2

    ¡®Three paths? Not eight yet? I see¡­¡¯

    It was the first time Isaac had seen his sword technique, Isaac Swordsmanship, performed by someone else. Though Edelred could only produce three paths instead of eight, Isaac wasn¡¯t sure if it was due to ack of power or a unique aspect of Edelred¡¯s style. Still, it was impressive. Considering his age, Edelred was mastering advanced techniques far earlier than Isaac had.

    ¡®Gebel waste teaching him advanced swordsmanship, but¡­ let¡¯s see how he reacts to a counterattack.¡¯

    While Edelred¡¯s sword energy came toward him, Isaac had enoughposure to analyze and think. It wasn¡¯t that Edelred was slow, but rather that Isaac¡¯s reaction speed had skyrocketed after his battle with Dera Heman.

    Isaac moved his sword.

    sh, sh, bang!

    In three swift motions, he shattered the three streaks of energy Edelred had unleashed. That part was expected. What was unexpected, however, was what happened next¡ªone of the shattered energy streaks reversed direction and flew toward Edelred.

    ¡°Ah!¡±

    Isaac was momentarily caught off guard, and in the blink of an eye, Edelred was thrown back by the counterattack. Protected by *Kaldbruch*, he wasn¡¯t hurt, but the stunned look on his face showed how unexpected the hit had been.Isaac hurried over to check on him.

    ¡°I apologize, Your Majesty. I seem to have picked up a habit while fighting Dera Heman without realizing it.¡±

    ¡°¡­A habit from fighting him? Did you fight him for hours or something?¡±

    Isaac thought back to the battle. Even with Kalsen¡¯s help, it hadn¡¯tsted more than thirty minutes.

    ¡°Dera Heman had a nasty technique where he could break through an opponent¡¯s big moves and counter them. I must¡¯ve unconsciously mimicked it. I suppose it left quite the impression on me.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re saying you learned and copied Dera Heman¡¯s technique in just a few days? Impressive¡­¡±

    Technically, it wasn¡¯t even days¡ªmore like thirty minutes¡ªbut Isaac didn¡¯t bother to correct him. Edelred already looked disheartened.

    Isaac couldn¡¯t understand why Edelred felt so down. After all, he was the youngest Swordmaster and possibly the youngest user of advanced swordsmanship. Even though he had drawn on the power of an angel, his achievements in such a short time were extraordinary.

    ¡®He shouldn¡¯tpare himself to me.¡¯

    ¡°But using three paths in advanced swordsmanship is still impressive. I never had the chance to properly teach you, yet you¡¯ve managed to manifest three paths, even if only faintly. That¡¯s an excellent achievement.¡±

    ¡°Only three paths¡­ and they were faint¡­,¡± Edelred muttered dejectedly.

    Isaac sighed, thinking he had no talent for mentoring. He briefly considered calling in Ang to y the role of a younger sister to cheer him up but found more appropriate words instead.

    ¡°Your Majesty, what you¡¯ve aplished is amazing. You¡¯ve simply set your expectations too high. And we¡¯ll have plenty of time while crossing the sea. I¡¯ll be sure to teach you more along the way.¡±

    Edelred¡¯s face lit up again at that, not so much from the praise but from the prospect of spending more time training with Isaac.

    After securing a promise to train together, Edelred withdrew, leaving Isaac to his thoughts.

    ¡®Dera Heman¡¯s swordsmanship¡­ It¡¯s more than I thought.¡¯

    ***

    After sending Edelred away, Isaac returned to his cabin and swung his sword lightly. It wasn¡¯t a vigorous exercise, just an attempt to mimic Dera Heman¡¯s swordsmanship. The confined space of the cabin wasn¡¯t a problem for such precise movements.

    After repeating the techniques a few more times, Isaac came to a startling realization.

    ¡®It¡­ devours divinity?¡¯

    Dera Heman had a unique body that absorbed the divine energy around him. His massive reservoir of divinity allowed him to wrap himself in miracles and blessings, making him resilient to most attacks. His swordsmanship was simr in nature¡ªit didn¡¯t create any shy effects but instead rapidly absorbed the divine energy around him. Isaac wasn¡¯t sure if it couldpletely nullify miracles or blessings, but one thing was clear: it would be incredibly effective against divine beasts or angels.

    Isaac adjusted his stance a few more times, testing the different techniques.

    With a simple shift of focus, he could seamlessly switch between what he now thought of as the ¡°Dera Heman stance,¡± the ¡°Kalsen Miller stance,¡± and his own ¡°Isaac stance.¡± Since they all stemmed from the same *Saint Arte Swordsmanship*, it was easy for him to switch between them with just a little concentration.

    In short, the ¡°Dera Heman stance¡± was ideal for fighting angels, divine beasts, or heavily blessed opponents. The ¡°Kalsen Miller stance¡± was better suited for one-on-one duels, while Isaac¡¯s own stance was versatile but particrly effective againstrge groups.

    Isaac gave each style a simple name based on its traits.

    ¡°Golden Lion¡­ Hunter¡­ and Tentacle Stance.¡±

    His name for his own stance was unttering, but since it wasn¡¯t meant to be shared with others, he didn¡¯t care.

    The reason he could suddenly switch between these stances so effortlessly was clear.

    Kalsen Miller had left a powerful mark on Isaac¡¯s body.

    In that brief moment when Isaac had absorbed Kalsen¡¯s swordsmanship, he had felt Kalsen¡¯s essence rapidly fade away. At the time, he had been too focused on the battle to fully realize it, but now it seemed that aplete absorption had urred.

    ¡°Kalsen?¡±

    He called out into the empty air, but as usual, there was no answer. Either Kalsen only spoke when he wanted to, or perhaps Isaac really had fully absorbed him.

    Then, Kalsen¡¯sst words floated back to him.

    ¡°You, Dera, and the next era belong to you.¡±

    ¡°Hah, that damned fool.¡±

    Isaac let out a bitterugh, unsure of how to remember the enigmatic knight. Kalsen had been an onion-like figure, withyer uponyer ofplexity. In the end, Isaac could only remember him as a Pdin who had served the Codex of Light with unwavering loyalty, only to go down in history as one of its greatest traitors.

 Chapter 339.1

    Since humanity began recording history¡­ in this world, that meant about a thousand years.

    Expressions like ¡°since the Lighthouse Keeper Luadin brought forth the Dawn Tablet¡± or ¡°since the beginning of the Age of Light¡± followed the same pattern. Human civilization had begun alongside the Codex of Light, and all civilizations before that, no matter how grand their structures or nations, were ssified as the era of ¡°barbarism.¡±

    The history before that was erased and worn away, passed down only through oral tradition. Only the glorious history of humanity after the start of the Age of Light was preserved in written records.

    And now, Brother Horhel, a monk, was standing on the verge of witnessing thergest war since the dawn of history. He watched from a high hill as the main forces of the Dawn Army marched forward.

    Once a crowd grewrge enough, it no longer appeared as individuals moving, but like the flow of a river.

    People bumped into each other, split apart, and bypassed obstacles in motions that mirrored the behavior of fluids.

    However, what Horhel imagined now was not a river. He envisioned the tide slowly rising toward the shore, an unstoppable force that would soon submerge thendpletely.

    Yet, this tidal wave did not consist solely of humans.

    Thud. Thud. Thud.Giant, white marble statues in the form of stags walked with heavy steps through the marching army. These colossal beings, known as the White Guardians, had been summoned from heaven through a ritual. Each over ten meters tall, they moved on six legs, dragging an enormous amount of supplies and siege equipment that no human strength could hope to carry.

    Among the equipment they hauled were the ¡°lighthouses.¡±

    These structures, which indeed resembled towers, had sled-like bases to support their immense weight, as wheels could not handle the load.

    The role of these lighthouses was much like theirmon function¡ªguiding the lost. However, these lighthouses guided the lost by burning them. Priests stationed atop the towers used special relics to incinerate and obliterate enemies in an instant.

    The sight of dozens of beams of light pouring from the lighthouses onto the enemy was simple yet majestic. The lighthouses not only indicated where the enemy was but also made it easier tomand the troops.

    But the lighthouses were not the only tools used to annihte the enemy.

    There were ¡°Ivory Idols,¡± which could paralyze and render minds nk just by the recitation of scripture. The ¡°Baptists¡± rained down sacred fire from the heavens. And the ¡°Teeth of Saint A¡± granted vitality and healing to allies whenever heretics were thrown into mes. These were only a few of the many sacred weapons prepared for battle.

    Some of these devices had been crafted by the Blind Sentinel, an Archangel of the Holy City Lichtheim, specifically for its defense. They had even stripped some defenses from the Holy City itself to arm the Dawn Army for this campaign. The entire strength of the Codex of Light had beenmitted.

    Horhel was overwhelmed with emotion, unable to express in words how it felt to witness such a glorious moment before his death.

    But it was too early to be excited. The war had only just begun.

    ¡°A grand sight, isn¡¯t it, Brother Horhel?¡±

    Arge pnquin approached, gleaming in the sunlight. Inside, surrounded by golden decorations, sat Cardinal Rohen Otter.

    ¡°To be honest, when we first started assembling the Dawn Army, I had doubts if we could really pull it off. But the Codex of Light is indeed powerful.¡±

    Horhel looked at Rohen Otter with a nk expression.

    He had no thoughts of his own, only followed the instructions given by the angels, the messengers of God.

    That was the mindset of the Watcher¡¯s Council.

    However, it seemed that Rohen had indulged in luxury for far too long.

    ¡°At this point, there¡¯s no need for the angels to intervene, don¡¯t you think? We should be able to crush the *Immortal Order* easily.¡±

    ¡°Overconfidence leads to defeat,¡± Horhel replied calmly.

    ¡°Many of the weapons and sacred beasts here participated in previous Dawn Army campaigns. Yet, despite that, we¡¯ve failed to reim the Holy Land for a long time. We¡¯ve only had our equipment seized, allowing them to grow stronger.¡± ?

    Horhel gestured toward the vast numbers of soldiers. The ranks of tents stretched endlessly toward the horizon, and more soldiers continued to arrive, their march seemingly unending.

    ¡°Every day, we burn through an entire forest¡¯s worth of wood just to provide these soldiers with enough firewood. Feeding them consumes as much food as an entire city would need.¡±

    Rohen tilted his head, struggling to grasp the scale of what Horhel was saying.

    ¡°War is a cycle of consumption, exhaustion, and attrition. The side that can sustain this irrational, inefficient state the longest will win. In that sense, the Immortal Order has a clear advantage. They consume nothing, so just by enduring, they can win.¡±

    No matter how thoroughly they prepared, they could not afford to becent. The reason the once weak Immortal Order had survived and risen to challenge the Codex of Light was not due to anything other than the fact that time itself was on their side.

    Rohen¡¯s expression hardened slightly at Horhel¡¯s words. It irritated Horhel¡ªthis young cardinal still saw war as something distant and abstract.

    ¡°That¡¯s why we must wipe them out, even if it means pushing ourselves to the limit. This could very well be ourst chance with the Dawn Army.¡±

    Rohen awkwardly nodded, coughing several times before shifting the conversation to his original purpose.

    ¡°Ah, yes¡­ I understand. On another note, it seems that Dera Heman failed to bring Isaac back to the main Dawn Army force.¡±

    Horhel raised an eyebrow in surprise.

    ¡°Dera Heman?¡±

    ¡°Yes. He reported his defeat rather calmly. Apparently, Inquisitor Soltnar Culvain both died as martyrs during the battle.¡±

    ¡°¡­Soltnar died, but the Golden Lion survived?¡±

    ¡°Yes, it seems the Burning Maiden incinerated Soltnar, while Isaac was protected by the Sword of May. It appears the angels wish for Isaac to lead the Dawn Army of Issacrea.¡±

    The Holy Grail Knights had not been informed about any disagreements between the archangels. But Horhel sensed that there had been a subtle conflict among the angels. After all, the Burning Maiden was Dera Heman¡¯s guardian angel.

    The Watcher¡¯s Council directlymunicated with the angels, but that didn¡¯t mean they always understood their intentions. Sometimes, the angels gave contradictory or conflictingmands.

    Bringing Isaac into the main force of the Dawn Army hadn¡¯t been a directive from the angels¡ªit had been a decision made by the Council. Yet, when they consulted the angels, none had objected.

    Only when it came time to actually bring him did they intervene and stop it.

    Of course, they didn¡¯t know the specifics of what had happened at Odryf, so the exact reasons for the angels¡¯ actions were unclear.

    Horhel felt a creeping sense of fear rise within him once again.

    ¡®There is no guarantee that the angels¡¯ goals align perfectly with the interests of the Codex of Light.¡¯

 Chapter 339.2

    ¡®There is no guarantee that the angels¡¯ goals align perfectly with the interests of the Codex of Light.¡¯

    As countless dynasties and empires that had risen on thisnd had once been mere tools for the Codex of Light, the Codex itself was just a tool for the angels. Even if the Codex changed its name several times, a new order of believers would eventually emerge.

    ¡®This Dawn Army may just be another treaty like the Licht Agreement,¡¯ Horhel thought, recalling the records of how the Codex had suffered through unbearable bloodshed when it lost all itsnds during the Licht Agreement. This time, however, it wasn¡¯t just the Codex, but all faiths and all of humanity that would sh. The bloodshed would be on an entirely different scale.

    Even though Horhel could sense impending catastrophe, he knew he had to ept and endure it all.

    That was the grand design.

    Horhel raised his head and looked beyond the front lines. If the Dawn Army was a gleaming sea of white, whaty ahead was a dark, ashen gray wave. Even though the priests had lit their incense burners thickly around them, the stench of corpses from the frontlines still reached them.

    Thend ahead was now part of the ck Empire, the territory of Urdantu.

    Imitating the angels, Horhel gestured toward it.

    ¡®Go. It is God¡¯s will.¡¯***

    The moment the main force of the 13th Dawn Army set foot on thends of the ck Empire for the first time, Isaac found himself in a dire situation¡ªon the verge of being thrown into the sea.

    And it was by the hands of his own Dawn Army of Issacrea.

    ¡°South? You¡¯re going south?!¡±

    The most vocal in their protests were the sailors from the Salt Council.

    ¡°Are you insane? Do you even know what¡¯s in the southern sea? We¡¯ll all die there! How many ships and how many people do we have here? You¡¯re nning to kill us all?!¡±

    Isaac had intended to call the captains to calm their crews, but it was the captains themselves who reacted most violently. Isaac may have been a formidable Holy Grail Knight onnd, but at sea, the captain was king. The sailors¡¯ unrest quickly spread to the other factions as well.

    The ships hade to aplete halt on the sea, andmanders from other vessels boarded to inquire about the situation. Isaac, deciding this was as good a time as any, confronted the captains directly.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t I say from the beginning that we would be crossing the sea?¡±

    ¡°Of course, we thought you¡¯d be heading east to target either Belv or the fortress of Gehenna. It¡¯s closer to Ushak, the capital of Urdantu, and we¡¯d be better positioned to receive support from the main Dawn Army,¡± Yenkos protested.

    Her assessment was almost entirely correct from a strategic standpoint. Belv and the fortress of Gehenna were near the capital of Ushak, which was controlled by the Immortal Order. If Isaac attacked there, the Immortal Order would have to split their forces, and the main Dawn Army would find it easier to make their move.

    The issue was that Isaac had no desire for such a situation.

    Isaac hoped the main Dawn Army would take on the entire might of the Immortal Order, leaving him unscathed. And there was another reason he wasn¡¯t interested in targeting Ushak.

    ¡°It takes us further from the Holy Land,¡± Isaac replied.

    Yenkos had no response to that. The primary goal of the Dawn Army wasn¡¯t to capture the capital¡ªit was to reim the Holy Land Lua, so Isaac¡¯s reasoning wasn¡¯t wrong. ??

    Of course, geographically speaking, it didn¡¯t put them much further from the Holy Land. The capital of Ushak just happened to lie in the path toward Lua.

    ¡°You don¡¯t want to waste time breaking through Gehenna or Ushak? So, you¡¯re heading directly for the Holy Land? And for that, we have to go south?¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s so terrible about the southern sea?¡± Tuhalin frowned, disliking the fact that the captains were challenging themander. Yet, the sailors, who had long abandoned decorum in favor of survival, continued to speak bluntly.

    ¡°There¡¯s the damn Nightmare Strait!¡± Yenkos eximed.

    The moment the words left her mouth, sailors from various ships began hurriedly crossing themselves or clutching superstitious relics while muttering prayers. Even Tuhalin, unfamiliar with maritime lore, could sense that merely mentioning the name was considered bad luck.

    ¡°What exactly is the Nightmare Strait?¡±

    Tuhalin, though ustomed to sea travel from the Svalbard archipgo and the Kingdom of Elil, was unfamiliar with the far southern seas. He hadn¡¯t heard of this strait.

    Isaac, deciding it was best to exin before Yenkos could exaggerate, spoke in a calm, concise manner.

    ¡°It¡¯s the sea that blocks ess to the Salt Desert of Miarma.¡±

    ***

    The legends of Miarma, the former sacred city of the Salt Council, still passed through the lips of sailors.

    Once, the Salt Council had built a vast maritime empire rivaling the Codex of Light. But for breaking their pact with Luadin, all their glory had been buried beneath the Salt Desert. Since then, the Salt Council had fallen into perpetual decline, with only their sailors keeping their faith alive.

    But they never forgot Miarma.

    A golden city, bustling harbors filled with thousands of ships, sacred temples built beneath the sea, ands overflowing with fish, courtesy of angels.

    Now, all that remained were ruins, scorched by blistering heat and dry winds that stole even thest traces of moisture.

    ¡°In front of the Salt Desert is the Nightmare Strait, where, thanks to strange weather conditions created by the Lighthouse Keeper, all manner of terrible events ur. Storms, waves as tall as houses, whirlpools that reach the ocean floor¡­ they say when the god trapped beneath the Salt Desert thrashes, it causes tidal waves.¡±

    Isaac muttered as if sighing.

    ¡°The 7th Dawn Army attempted to cross by sea, just like me. They chose the shortest route, entering the Nightmare Strait, and were all drowned, transforming into undead pirates who now roam the sea forever. Some say the icebergs that sometimes drift down into the warm southern seas are their doing.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    Tuhalin stared at Isaac with a slightly horrified expression. Even Yenkos, who had spoken out so loudly, seemed at a loss for words, merely nodding in agreement.

    Tuhalin, still skeptical, asked Isaac, ¡°So, from what I¡¯m hearing, this Nightmare Strait is a hellscape filled with ciers, storms, whirlpools, tidal waves, ghost ships, and pirates¡ªbasically every sailor¡¯s worst nightmare. Is that right?¡±

    ¡°Correct.¡±

    ¡°Are you sure your goal in this Dawn Army isn¡¯t to strengthen the Immortal Order¡¯s navy?¡±

    ¡®Hmph. In the game, it was a thrilling adventure course that everyone wanted to try.¡¯

    Isaac thought to himself, but he knew no one here would find that reasoning convincing, so he didn¡¯t say it out loud. Instead, he chose a more usible exnation.

    ¡°I can¡¯t do much about the pirates or ghost ships, but I do know a route that will help us avoid most of the other deadly obstacles.¡±

 Chapter 340.1

    ¡°Obstacles? You¡¯re saying you can avoid the storms, whirlpools, and tidal waves? Are you sure you didn¡¯t misspeak?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    Typically, people avoid pirates, not storms. How could one possibly evade massive weather phenomena? Moreover, the storms in the Nightmare Strait would never disappear as long as the Lighthouse Keeper¡¯s curse over Miarma remained unbroken.

    Yenkos looked at Isaac with a doubtful expression.

    ¡°Sir Holy Grail Knight, you must not know much about the sea. The sea doesn¡¯t have shortcuts like forests or cliffs.¡±

    ¡°But you¡¯ve heard the legends about a sea route through the Nightmare Strait, haven¡¯t you?¡±

    Yenkos¡¯ expression hardened, and the other sailors began murmuring among themselves.

    The Nightmare Strait¡¯s treacherous conditions were the greatest obstacle blocking their path to their sacred city, Miarma. Naturally, they had tried to break through it many times.

    ¡°¡­Of course, we¡¯ve heard the legends. Plenty of captains have written their wills before embarking on such a journey, but none returned¡ªexcept for the wreckage of their ships. Well, there¡¯s the story of some bing ghost ships, but I doubt that¡¯s the answer you¡¯re looking for.¡±Yenkos replied with a snort. It was a painful topic for them.

    ¡°Why else do you think people say captains head south only when they¡¯ve gone mad or know they¡¯re about to die? If we had any better knowledge, we wouldn¡¯t be withholding it.¡±

    Isaac understood. The sailors of the Salt Council couldn¡¯t lie, but there was no need for them to know everything.

    ¡°I know.¡±

    Isaac¡¯s calm response silenced everyone. Yenkos, Eidan, and the captains¡¯ eyes widened in disbelief.

    ¡°Y-you¡­ you really know? How? Did you learn this from Urbansus? Please, exin in detail¡­!¡±

    Eidan rushed forward, practically begging Isaac for answers, but Yenkos pulled him back.

    ¡°¡­But you¡¯re and-dweller, Sir Knight. From what I¡¯ve heard, this is your first time sailing the southern seas. How would you know anything about such a route?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not exactly a route, more of a ¡®method.¡¯ To be precise, it¡¯s the ¡®key¡¯ to passing through the Nightmare Strait.¡±

    Isaac shrugged.

    ¡°The terrible conditions of the Nightmare Strait are not natural but miraculous in origin. So, if we can find the key to breaking the miracle, we can pass through the storm.¡±

    The captains fell silent at Isaac¡¯s exnation, which, despite its simplicity, was logical in this world. They, too, had heard of relics that could calm the seas and tame the waves. Isaac¡¯s words struck a chord, and they knew that if such a relic existed, it was likely in the hands of the Salt Council.

    Yenkos was already half-convinced.

    ¡°¡­That makes sense.¡±

    ¡°But, as I mentioned, the ghost pirate ships are another matter. There¡¯s no relic that can stop them.¡±

    The only beings capable of freely sailing through that cursed strait were the undead ghost ships of the Immortal Order, which could survive even after spending days submerged in the sea. But to the sailors of the Salt Council, who were as skilled and often as brutal as pirates themselves, ghosts were less frightening than the storm. ??

    ¡°Where¡¯s the key?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s the problem.¡±

    Isaac replied with a vague smile.

    ¡°It¡¯s inside the Nightmare Strait.¡±

    ***

    Thanks to Isaac¡¯s persuasion, the fleet of the Salt Council resumed their journey southward.

    Though the sailors couldn¡¯t hide their fear of heading toward what many called the abyss of the sea, the captains¡¯ enthusiasm about the relic that could calm the waters helped instill a mix of fear and anticipation in the crew.

    ¡°That doesn¡¯t mean they¡¯ve ovee their fear, though. It seems some of the sailors¡¯ anxiety has spread to the soldiers.¡±

    The Dawn Army of Issacrea, particrly the knights who had never sailed before, seemed more affected by the fear than the World¡¯s Forge or Elil followers, who were at least somewhat used to sea travel. But the bigger issue was seasickness.

    Rottenhammer, who suffered the worst, was often found hanging over the ship¡¯s railing for half the day. Isaac could also see that Gebel, who was speaking with him now, looked more gaunt than usual since boarding the ship.

    ¡°Is this your first time at sea, Gebel?¡±

    ¡°¡­You could say that.¡±

    Gebel answered curtly, but Isaac had never seen him sumb to seasickness. However, as they got closer to the ck Empire, Gebel¡¯splexion had noticeably worsened.

    Isaac could sense that Gebel¡¯s fear had nothing to do with the sea or the ghost ships. His fear was rooted in his past.

    ¡°Gebel, are you worried about facing the Immortal Order?¡±

    ¡°Who isn¡¯t afraid of battle? But no, I¡¯m not nning on running away¡­¡±

    ¡°No, I mean, are you worried about meeting your formerrades¡ªthe Avnche Knight Order?¡±

    Isaac¡¯s direct question made Gebel¡¯s expression stiffen. For a moment, Gebel red at Isaac in anger, but he soon bit his lip and nodded.

    ¡°¡­Yes. I fear that I¡¯ll meet them again, as Death Knights. And I¡¯m almost certain I will.¡±

    It wasn¡¯t just Gebel. Most of those who had fallen during previous Dawn Army campaigns had been resurrected as undead in thends of the Immortal Order.

    Whether a soul could retain its self-awareness or be enved as a mindless servant depended on how long it could resist submission. And the longer they felt abandoned by the Codex of Light, the harder it became.

    The enemies the Dawn Army would face were once some of the most passionate and courageous warriors who had fought for the same cause.

    ¡°But it doesn¡¯t matter. I have no intention of running anymore. In fact, I almost hope to meet them¡ªto end their wandering.¡±

    If his formerrades had fully turned to the Immortal Order, there would be no way to save them. But if they were still mere ves, burning their bodies could free their souls. Gebel was willing to risk his life for that possibility. It might have been the only form of revenge he could take against the Codex of Light.

    Isaac looked at him thoughtfully and then spoke.

    ¡°I¡¯ll help you.¡±

    ¡°¡­Isaac, I¡¯ve already burdened you with my heavy load of vengeance. I don¡¯t know the full truth yet, but I don¡¯t want to burden you further. Just having this chance is enough for me.¡±

    ¡°Did you forget, Gebel? I¡¯ve also learned some of the Avnche Knight Order¡¯s swordsmanship.¡±

    Isaac grinned.

    ¡°Your goal is my goal as well. If the seniors are wandering around in disgrace, what kind of junior would I be to leave them like that? Whether we meet them on our way to the Holy Land Lua or after the Dawn Army¡¯s mission is over, if we can¡¯t find them, then let¡¯s go search for them ourselves.¡±

    Gebel was momentarily speechless at Isaac¡¯s bold deration. It had been Gebel who had drawn Isaac into his quest for revenge against the Avnche Knight Order and taught him their techniques.

    Isaac, as the final sessor of the order, certainly had the qualifications to take on this mission.

    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s do that.¡±

 Chapter 340.2

    Isaac, as the final sessor of the order, certainly had the qualifications to take on this mission.

    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s do that.¡±

    Gebel gave a faint smile. Seeing the hint of fear fade from his face, Isaac felt a sense of relief.

    In truth, Isaac had been worried that afterpleting his revenge, Gebel might follow his fallenrades and take his own life. But with Isaac by his side, perhaps Gebel would find new purpose.

    ¡°However, my current concern isn¡¯t my oldrades. It¡¯s what lies beyond once we reach the maind. If we¡¯re heading to Miarma, then just beyond the desert is the Outer Realm, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°The Outer Realm?¡±

    ¡°A ce beyond the reach of the Codex of Light¡¯s order, where creatures of chaos roam. It¡¯s said to be a refuge of the old gods. There might be monsters from there crossing over.¡±

    Isaac, of course, was familiar with the Outer Realm. In the game, it was an unfinished zone, a ce where rebellious yers would venture, only to meet inevitable death at the hands of monsters far beyond their abilities. The creatures there were portrayed as impossible to defeat.

    But in this world, the Outer Realm wasn¡¯t an ¡°unfinished zone.¡± It was a realnd, inhabited by the ancient monsters born from Nameless Chaos. Isaac wondered if Gebel was aware of the full implications of what he was talking about.¡°Well, we¡¯ll figure something out.¡±

    ¡°¡­I¡¯ve been watching you for a while now, Isaac. It seems like you never really have a solid n, yet you always manage to get through somehow.¡±

    Isaac couldn¡¯t predict how the former servants of Nameless Chaos might react to seeing him. So far, their reactions hadn¡¯t been particrly friendly, but there was no way to know for sure. For now, though, his attention needed to be on the ominous clouds approaching on the horizon.

    The Nightmare Strait was drawing near.

    ***

    ¡°Wrap the sail lines around your bodies!¡±

    ¡°This is madness! We need to turn back!¡±

    The farther they sailed into the southern sea, the more violent the waters became. What had started as a gradual increase in turbulence had now turned into a full-blown frenzy. The sailors, all seasoned members of the Salt Council, had thus far managed to keep the ship from capsizing, but it was only a matter of time.

    They hadn¡¯t even entered the true madness of the Nightmare Strait yet.

    ¡°Aaahhh!¡±

    A young sailor was suddenly swept overboard by a massive wave. Eidan immediately began chanting a prayer, his eyes wide with determination. Instead of sinking, the sailor bounced back up to the surface, where ropes were quickly thrown to pull him back aboard.

    If even the sailors were struggling, the soldiers fared far worse. Trapped inside the cabins, they had no choice but to endure the terrifying conditions. It was in these moments that they truly understood why this sea was called the Nightmare Strait.

    ¡°The fleet¡¯s breaking apart!¡±

    One by one, ships began to fall out of formation, some retreating north, either by choice or due to the overwhelming force of the storm. Isaac didn¡¯t order them to return.

    It was part of the n.

    If breaking through is too difficult, retreat. No soldier¡¯s life is worth less than any objective.

    His words had sounded noble, but in truth, those retreating ships were bait. Isaac needed them to lure out the key to crossing the Nightmare Strait.

    Despite being pounded by the relentless waves, Isaac clung to the mast, keeping his gaze fixed on the horizon.

    ¡°Sir Holy Grail Knight! Shouldn¡¯t we turn back now?!¡±

    Eidan approached Isaac, his waist tightly bound by sail ropes. Despite his decades of experience as a sailor, even he struggled with the storm. And knowing that they were only at the entrance of the Nightmare Strait filled him with dread for whaty ahead.

    But Isaac shook his head.

    ¡°Not yet!¡±

    ¡°¡­I¡¯ll follow your orders, but I can¡¯t guarantee there won¡¯t be a mutiny soon!¡±

    Eidan grumbled as he mbered back across the deck, though a mutiny in such conditions was unlikely. His words were more an expression of his frustration than a genuine threat.

    Isaac, however, was just as anxious. If the ship sank before they caught what he was after, everything would be for nothing. Just then, a thought crossed his mind. Tying himself securely to the mast, he drew the Luadin Key from his cloak.

    Under the stormy, cloud-filled sky, the Luadin Key shone like a beacon.

    ¡°Come!¡±

    The nearby sailors were divided in their opinions. Some thought Isaac was attempting to use a powerful relic to cut through the storm, while others believed the Holy Grail Knight had finally lost his mind. Thetter seemed more likely as time went on, especially as more ships disappeared from view.

    Only Eidan¡¯s ship remained, loyal to Isaac.

    The rest of the fleet of the Dawn Army of Issacrea had scattered. Now, Isaac was the sole captain of the only ship left.

    But Isaac continued to wave the Luadin Key confidently.

    ¡°Sir Knight, now¡ª¡±

    Just as Eidan began to protest again, the ship lurched forward violently, almost capsizing. With all his might, Eidan managed to keep the ship upright. He was about to defy Isaac¡¯s orders and turn the ship around when Isaac suddenly shouted.

    ¡°It¡¯s here!¡±

    Isaac wasn¡¯t looking at the horizon but at the water beneath them. A ship, surrounded by foam and icy mist, was rising from the depths at a terrifying speed. The reason Isaac¡¯s ship had nearly tipped over was because of the turbulent water caused by the rising vessel.

    Apanied by a chilling cold, one of the infamous ghost ships of the Nightmare Strait emerged from the sea.

 Chapter 341.1

    The first thing the sailors felt was a bone-chilling cold, an unusual sensation for the southern seas. Already drenched, they felt their body heat rapidly dissipate, but Isaac only stoked the mes of the Luadin Key even more fiercely.

    ¡°Why are you sote, you pirate bastards?!¡±

    Isaac shouted with a face filled with exhration as he watched the ghost ship approach.

    Eidan was slightly horrified at the sight. Though the sailors of the Salt Council didn¡¯t harbor superstitious fears toward ghost ships, since they understood their origins and nature, these spectral pirates were still terrifying in their own right.

    ¡°Captain Eidan, prepare the harpoons! We need to capture them!¡±

    ¡°What?! What are you saying?¡±

    ¡°Hurry! They¡¯re the only way we can pass through the Nightmare Strait!¡±

    Eidan, shocked by Isaac¡¯s n to capture a ghost ship, quickly rallied the crew. Though the sailors were flustered by the sudden order to engage inbat, they swiftly loaded the harpoons. Eidan, observing their efficiency, suddenly realized that the storm had calmed somewhat.

    ¡®Could it be that there¡¯s a relic on that ship capable of calming the sea?¡¯If so, it made sense why Isaac had been so eager to make himself visible, lighting up his ship like a beacon to lure the ghost ship in. Sending the other ships away had also been part of his strategy¡ªto make it appear as if the fleet had been scattered by the storm, tricking the ghost ship into approaching.

    ¡°Fire!¡±

    Bang, bang! Several harpoons shot through the air, aimed at the ghost ship. Most missed due to the rough seas, but two hit their mark, embedding themselves in the hull. The ghost ship hadn¡¯t anticipated being attacked so suddenly and failed to react in time.

    ¡°Pull them in! We need to board that ship!¡±

    Isaac had already prepared to run across the chains first. Just then, he noticed a gleam from beyond the ghost ship¡¯s railing.

    Sensing danger, Isaac immediately hurled himself into the sea.

    Bang!

    ¡°Sir Knight!¡±

    Eidan cried out in horror, searching for Isaac, who had plunged into the churning waters. But finding someone in such rough seas was no easy task. The ghost ship had fired a harpoon of its own, and only then did Eidan realize that the ghost ship belonged to the Salt Council.

    ¡°Damn it! He¡¯s wearing armor! He can¡¯t swim like that!¡±

    Eidan prepared to dive into the sea to rescue Isaac. He couldn¡¯t afford to lose the one who carried such hope and potential in this perilous moment.

    ¡°Over there!¡±

    One of the sailors pointed toward the ghost ship, and only then did Eidan witness what was happening beyond its deck.

    A crimson mist had begun sweeping across the ghost ship, engulfing the undead crew.

    ***

    Just before falling into the sea, Isaac had used the Red Worship tounch himself onto the ghost ship. Without fully regaining hisposure, he immediately began his attack. ???

    With his heart at the center, the first parts of his body to regenerate were his hands and arms. He used the Luadin Key to slice through the skeletal crew. As his legs and feet reformed, Isaac advanced, burning and cutting down five skeletons before his head even fully reappeared.

    The sight of him regenerating his limbs in midair while cutting down undead sailors was unsettling, even to the undead themselves.

    Of course, simply cutting them down wouldn¡¯t be enough to fully defeat them. Unless they werepletely incinerated, the undead would rise again.

    But the yet-to-be-formed parts of Isaac¡¯s body, still trailing behind, took care of the finishing touches.

    [¡°You can now use ¡®Red Worship¡¯ to consume your enemies.¡±]

    After giving up the Rite of Division, the enhanced Red Worship allowed Isaac to move his body more flexibly, enabling him to fight even without fully reforming. The crimson mist that followed him like a cloak consumed the skeletons, gnawing at them like a swarm of locusts.

    Even though the undead provided no nourishment when consumed, rendering them beyond repair was still a significant advantage.

    [¡°A Pdin! A Pdin is here!¡±]

    The skeletal sailors, most likely former members of the Salt Council, drew their cusses and charged at Isaac.

    They were brave, but their fatal mistake was that they had never heard of the famed Holy Grail Knight¡¯s reputation.

    Isaac didn¡¯t need to focus much to deal with thesemon sailors, but he took the opportunity to practice his recently acquired techniques. His stance shifted slightly.

    The Hunter¡¯s Stance, modeled after Kalsen Miller.

    One of the skeleton sailors swung his cuss down at Isaac¡¯s head. In a sh, Isaac¡¯s de barely seemed to move before it sliced through the sailor from crown to pelvis. The other skeletons were stunned¡ªthey hadn¡¯t even seen Isaac take a step, let alone swing his sword.

    Without a word, Isaac calmly took another step toward them.

    Crack, snap, shing. There were no loud impacts, no cries of pain. Only the sound of his de slicing through the wind and the faint noise of bones being severed.

    With each step Isaac took, more sailors were cut down, their remains enveloped in the crimson mist, dissolving like melted wax.

    The sight of the sailors being harvested one by one by the crimson mist, as if they were stalks of grain reaped by death itself, filled the remaining undead with terror.

    [¡°That¡¯s not a Pdin! Run! The Reaper hase!¡±]

    Of course, the Immortal Order, in their pursuit of eternal life, didn¡¯t believe in the existence of a reaper. However, these undead were once sailors of the Salt Council, and even in death, they clung to superstitions. To them, Isaac could only be interpreted as some manifestation of death itself.

    When some of the skeleton sailors began throwing themselves into the sea, Isaac couldn¡¯t help but be impressed.

    ¡®Fascinating. Is this what Bashul referred to as the ¡°sword that suppresses killing intent?¡±¡¯

    Kalsen¡¯s swordsmanship was different from Isaac¡¯s in that it refined the killing intent to an extreme degree. The irony was that the more the killing intent was controlled, the more effective it was at taking lives. Bashul would have loved to see this.

    ¡®I should have asked Dera Heman about Bashul.¡¯

    Of course, asking Dera Heman would have meant revealing that Isaac had been the one who infiltrated Lichtheim during that time. While it was unlikely that a Bashul would die so easily, Isaac could only assume Bashul was still alive somewhere.

    [¡°You¡­ die, now!¡±]

    Thest opponent was an undead dressed in ornate clothing, clearly the captain. He had been waiting inside the captain¡¯s quarters, a heavy harpoon at the ready. As soon as Isaac opened the door, the captain fired.

    In an instant, Isaac transformed his body into a mist of blood with Red Worship, avoiding the harpoon and slipping into the captain¡¯s quarters.

    The captain, who thought he had disintegrated Isaac into dust, barely had time to process what had happened before realizing his head and body had been separated. His decapitated skull dangled from the end of the Luadin Key, flickering mes in his eye sockets as he muttered in disbelief.

    [¡°Who¡­ what are you? What in the world¡­ are you?¡±]

    ¡°Are you the captain?¡± Isaac asked.

    [¡°Yes¡­ my name is Naith Roanne. What is it you¡­¡±]

 Chapter 341.2

    [¡°Who¡­ what are you? What in the world¡­ are you?¡±]

    ¡°Are you the captain?¡± Isaac asked.

    [¡°Yes¡­ my name is Naith Roanne. What is it you¡­¡±]

    ¡°No need. That¡¯s all I need to know.¡±

    With the captain¡¯s skull still impaled on the Luadin Key, Isaac stepped back out onto the deck.

    By then, Eidan¡¯s ship had drawn close, pulling the ghost ship toward it with the harpoon chains. The sailors aboard Eidan¡¯s ship stared in shock at Isaac.

    Capturing a ghost ship single-handedly was unheard of.

    ¡°Is that the relic that calms the sea?¡±

    Eidan asked, eyeing the ming skull of the ghost captain hanging from the Luadin Key.¡°No,¡± Isaac shook his head. ¡°This is just the key to get to the key. There¡¯s still one more step.¡±

    ***

    ¡°I never imagined you¡¯d take over a ghost ship by yourself. You seem much stronger than when you faced the Drowned King.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯tpare an Archangel with the Drowned King or these skeletal pirates.¡±

    The sailors, while initially afraid of the ghost ship, began cautiously boarding it, inspecting its condition. Though it had been submerged for ages, the ship showed signs of maintenance, with barnacles removed and the rigging reced.

    The ghost ship could sail underwater and weather storms, likely due to some miracle from the Immortal Order. Despite that, it seemed the undead sailors still maintained it.

    Eidan offered an analysis.

    ¡°It¡¯s probably because they were sailors from the Salt Council. Even though they knew it was pointless, they couldn¡¯t bear to see their ship rot away.¡±

    ¡°So, it was like a hobby, tending to the ship?¡± Isaac joked.

    ¡°¡­You could say that. When you have an eternity of time as the undead, I suppose a hobby bes necessary,¡± Eidan replied, inspecting the equipment and cargo aboard the ghost ship. Despite its age, many of the items were still functional thanks to the ongoing upkeep. The harpoon cannons and various supplies were still usable. Eidan seemed to feel a strange connection to this ship, which had belonged to an older generation of his fellow sailors.

    ¡°The storm seems to have quieted down a bit, doesn¡¯t it? The waves are still rough, and the mist is thick, but¡­ is it because of this ghost ship?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Isaac confirmed.

    The ghost ship emitted a chilling cold that seemed to calm the abnormal weather conditions around it. This was likely how the undead pirates had been able to roam freely through the Nightmare Strait. Realizing that the ghost ship itself was the ¡°relic¡± that could calm the sea, Eidan was at a loss for words. ??

    ¡°The Immortal Order doesn¡¯t need to train an elite navy. The storm tears apart the fleets, and once the ships are exhausted, they ambush and take them. That¡¯s why they let ghost ships like these roam the waters.¡±

    ¡°So, they were just waiting for our fleet to scatter¡­ But now, we can use this ship to gather our ships and push forward, right?¡±

    ¡°No. One ghost ship isn¡¯t enough for all our ships.¡±

    ¡°Then¡­ what¡¯s the n?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re going to hunt a few more ghost ships. We¡¯ll capture them as they appear and tie them up like dogs to lead us forward.¡±

    Eidan couldn¡¯t help but feel that Isaac¡¯s tone sounded more like that of a pirate than a pdin.

    Even if he tried to look at it optimistically, Isaac didn¡¯t sound much like a Holy Grail Knight at the moment. Instead, he had quickly transformed into a pirate hunter, eagerly awaiting the arrival of more prey.

    ***

    However, Isaac¡¯s wishes didn¡¯te true easily.

    Two days after capturing the first ghost ship.

    The waters around the ghost ship had calmed down enough to be tolerable, but the ship¡¯s chilling aura made life unbearable for the sailors.

    They hadn¡¯t prepared for the freezing conditions, and that only made it worse.

    Isaac did his best to use the Luadin Key to provide some temporary relief, but it was a makeshift solution. To make matters worse, the thick fog surrounding them began to dampen the morale of the crew.

    ¡°The fog is thick,¡± Eidan muttered beside Isaac as they both stared into the same direction.

    ¡°With all this fog, it looks like a quiet sea, but it¡¯s hard to believe that beyond this, there are massive waves and whirlpools.¡±

    ¡°This fog is part of the Nightmare Strait¡¯s curse. It makes you crash into rocks or drags you into deeper waters.¡±

    Isaac gazed warily into the dense mist.

    ¡®¡­Have I been discovered?¡¯

    The absence of any ghost ships for so long made him wonder if his intentions had been found out. After all, without ghost ships, they couldn¡¯t cross the Nightmare Strait. Perhaps the Immortal Order didn¡¯t see a need to take the risk and attack him directly.

    If that were the case, Isaac¡¯s entire n would fall apart. His options would be either to follow Yenkos¡¯ original suggestion and join the main Dawn Army to the east or take a long detour west and face the Outer Realm head-on.

    The former didn¡¯t appeal to him, and thetter was a suicidal idea, even by Isaac¡¯s standards.

    He needed to head south, no matter what.

    ¡®Worst case, I¡¯ll break through the strait alone and figure things out once I reach Miarma. At least I could summon my subordinates once I¡¯m there¡­¡¯

    At that moment, Eidan narrowed his eyes, peering into the fog.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±

    ¡°Isaac, you said the fog pulls ships toward rocks or other dangers. Couldn¡¯t it also be drawing us toward ghost ships?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s possible, but we¡¯ve been here two days without any sign of¡­¡±

    Isaac¡¯s voice trailed off as he spotted a faint silhouette in the direction Eidan was watching.

    It wasn¡¯t one of the Dawn Army of Issacrea¡¯s ships. Its appearance was far grander andrger than any ship belonging to the Salt Council.

    Both Isaac and Eidan were astonished by the size of the vessel. It was at least twice asrge as their own ship.

    Isaac was reminded of the warships of Duke Brant¡¯s fleet back in Rougeberg. Eidan quickly scanned their surroundings and urgently called out to Isaac.

    ¡°Sir Isaac.¡±

    Without needing to be told, Isaac already knew that new silhouettes were appearing all around them. Ships were rising from the sea as if materializing out of the mist. Their numbers were staggering, even from what they could see.

    As some of the fog cleared, a massive emblem on one of the sails became visible.

    Isaac instantly recognized the symbol.

    ¡°¡­The Dawn Army.¡±

    It was the lost 7th Dawn Army, believed to have been wiped out in the Nightmare Strait¡¯s storms.

    Now, they emerged from the fog.

    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and

    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 342.1

    Swoosh¡­

    There was nomotion. Even the sound of the waves hadn¡¯t changed from before. The only difference was the thick, sticky fog that clung densely around them. No cannon fire, no shouting¡ªjust silence.

    The crew aboard Eidan¡¯s ship held their breath, nervously scanning their surroundings.

    Beyond the gray fog, they could only see strange ships. The fact that such vessels had surrounded them without making a sound sent shivers down the spines of the Salt Council¡¯s sailors. If those ships had intended to attack, they could have done so at any moment.

    They wouldn¡¯t have even had the chance to call for help or escape.

    Now, they understood how the ships that disappeared in Nightmare Strait had met their end.

    Thud. Just then, Isaac walked toward the railing, his footsteps breaking the silence.

    The crew snapped out of their daze, watching Isaac as he moved calmly toward the nearest warship. Hanging from the end of the Luadin Key he held was the skull of the ghost ship¡¯s captain.

    ¡°Hey!¡±Isaac¡¯s voice, as if casually calling out to a friend, made the sailors feel as if they were trapped in a surreal dream.

    Could it be that Isaac knew someone on board? Had they nted a spy in advance?

    But the sailors¡¯ faint hope was crushed when they saw the ship approaching through the fog.

    The ship¡¯s hull bore the symbols of the Codex of Light and the wave emblem of the 7th Dawn Army. Like the other ghost ships, the ship and its g were suspiciously well-maintained, despite the long years they must have spent beneath the sea.

    The railings were adorned with countless hanging skeletons, which ttered noisily whenever the wind blew. Barnacles clung to the bones, and crabs and lobsters scurried between the seaweed draped over their remains.

    ¡°Hey, is anyone there?¡±

    Isaac¡¯s nonchnt voice, as though he saw nothing unusual, contrasted sharply with the crew¡¯s rising fear that the skeletons might suddenlye to life.

    And just as they feared, a presence stirred beyond the ghost ship¡¯s railing.

    [Who dares?]

    A voice, carrying the eerie resonance unique to the undead, echoed from within the skulls. Isaac lifted the captain¡¯s skull and called out.

    ¡°Isaac Issacrea, Count of Issacrea, Lord of Issacrea, Holy Grail Knight, the Saint of Resurrection, the Grand Warrior of Elil, the Dreamer¡­ and so on.¡±

    [Hah, it¡¯s been a while since I met such a boastful fool. Never heard of you.]

    ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter if you don¡¯t. Anyway, I need you to guide us through here.¡±

    Isaac spoke as if he were making the most reasonable request, and the voice on the other side fell silent, as if momentarily at a loss for words. After a pause, another voice, more serious and weighty, responded.

    [Why are you here? Do you have a death wish?]

    ¡°Is this the captain? I¡¯m on my way to reim Holy Land Lua. I¡¯m finishing the job you couldn¡¯t, so be grateful. That¡¯s all the introduction you need.¡±

    The Salt Council¡¯s sailors wanted to mp their hands over Isaac¡¯s mouth. While they questioned Isaac¡¯s sanity, a faint mental wave, filled with amusement, rippled out from within the ghost ship.

    The undead had started tough. Even the skeletons hanging from the railings began to rattle withughter.

    [Hahahahaha!]

    The sailors were horrified to realize that the skeletons they thought were mere decorations were all actually living undead. At that moment, an undead figure dressed in a captain¡¯s uniform appeared on the ghost ship¡¯s railing. With one swift blow from his club, he shattered the skull of one of theughing skeletons.

    [Stopughing, you deserters! You have no right tough at that!]

    The skeletons¡¯ughter quickly died down.

    The captain, still standing on the railing, looked down at Isaac and asked:

    [What did you say your name was?]

    ¡°Isaac. Isaac Issacrea.¡±

    [I am Captain Horace Casho.]

    At the mention of his name, murmurs began to spread among the Salt Council¡¯s sailors.

    ¡°Horace? The legendary pirate captain?¡±

    ¡°So the rumor about him guiding the 7th Dawn Army in exchange for a pardon was true¡­?¡±

    Whispers about Horace circted¡ªhow he had once plundered the followers of the seven other faiths, how he was the only one to ever break through the Nightmare Strait, and how he had once been chosen by the Archangel. But Isaac paid no attention to these stories.

    Though the Salt Council had fallen, heroes were still born. Horace was a raider and explorer who had truly earned his title of hero. If even half the stories of his exploits were true, he may well have been chosen by the Archangel.

    But in a world where even the gods were trapped beneath the Salt Desert, such spections were meaningless. Especially since Horace himself had long since be one of the undead.

    ***

    [Isaac Issacrea. I will remember that name. But what do you mean by ¡®finishing the job we couldn¡¯t¡¯? We haven¡¯t given up on the Dawn Army yet. The Orca Fleet is still intact. In fact, our numbers have only grown. We¡¯re merely dyed by a storm.]

    ¡°If it¡¯s been 180 years since your expedition set out, most would consider that a failure by now. We¡¯re already on the 13th Dawn Army.¡±

    [180 years? Has it really been that long?]

    ¡°Yeah, more or less.¡±

    [180 years is nothing. A thousand years would mean little for the divine n.]

    Horace shamelessly responded, his tone unwavering. Isaac chuckled briefly before speaking again, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

    ¡°By the way, Captain Horace. If the Dawn Army is still ongoing, where are themanders and Pdins who led the 7th Dawn Army? Duke Arachel Brant was the Supreme Commander, and the White Eagle Pdin Order was the main force, wasn¡¯t it?¡±

    For the first time, Horace, who had been responding arrogantly, fell silent at Isaac¡¯s words. Isaac calmly surveyed the surrounding ships and continued speaking.

    ¡°I am the Supreme Commander of the Issacrea Dawn Army, a significant pir of the Dawn Army. It feels beneath me to discuss serious matters with a mere guide like you.¡±

    On the sea, the captain might be king, but it was different when it came to the religious Dawn Army. The captain could not ¡°dare¡± to act as Isaac¡¯s equal.

    [They are all faithfully fulfilling their roles,] Horace replied, his voice tinged with amusement.

    [Follow me, and I¡¯ll show you, junior.]

    Amotion began to stir aboard Horace¡¯s ship.

 Chapter 342.2

    Amotion began to stir aboard Horace¡¯s ship.

    Isaac signaled Eidan, who had been watching quietly from the back. Eidan, gripping his cuss tightly with a tense expression, approached Isaac.

    ¡°As expected, he¡¯s out of his mind. Looks like we won¡¯t be able to avoid a fight.¡±

    Eidan¡¯s face turned pale.

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t they attack us from the start and instead surrounded us?¡± he asked nervously.

    ¡°They probably wanted to gauge my level,¡± Isaac responded.

    ¡°Your level?¡±

    ¡°To see if they should offer prayers to the Archangel of the Immortal Order or not.¡±

    Eidan¡¯s face paled even further.Isaac had also been assessing Horace¡¯s state. He needed to know just how far gone Horace¡¯s mind was.

    Just as Isaac hade to his conclusion, Horace opened his mouth again.

    [Isaac, this ancient senior of yours has only one suggestion for you.]

    ¡°And what would that be?¡±

    [You can either be conscripted or submit. Choose one. That is the only option for your pitiful ship and crew.]

    To be conscripted meant bing a mindless undead ve for eternity, while submission meant keeping one¡¯s consciousness but still bing an undead servant under Horace.

    Just like the countless crew members on the surrounding ships.

    Instead of replying, Isaac twirled the skull hanging from the Luadin Key and flung it toward Horace. The moment it touched Horace, the skull exploded with a bang.

    Inside the skull were a handful of lightstones,mon relics that even the Salt Council sailors could acquire. The lightstones, having absorbed the heat from the Luadin Key, burst into a fierce glow upon contact with the cold air, reacting violently.

    Though Horace was momentarily engulfed in mes, he didn¡¯t fall. Instead, he gazed down at Isaac from within the zing inferno, his blue eyes glowing with a pitying look.

    ¡®Not that I expected it to work, but still. A bit disappointing.¡¯

    In any case, the captain¡¯s skull had been nothing more than bait to lure in more ghost ships. And it seemed Isaac¡¯s response had been effective, as the surrounding ghost ships began to move in unison. The mes engulfing Horace were quickly extinguished by the surrounding cold, and a heavymand followed.

    [Recruit the crew.]

    ***

    ng, tter, ng!

    Sharp sounds rang out from various parts of the ship. The crew heard the ghost ships¡¯ sailors attaching grappling hooks to the railings as they closed in.

    Although the enemy numbers were overwhelming, there was a silver lining: this small ship only had two narrow sides where they could attach. Since the undeadcked buoyancy, they couldn¡¯t swim, so the crew didn¡¯t need to worry about them climbing up from the sea.

    The second bit of luck was that most of the enemy ships weren¡¯t equipped with whaling harpoons.

    Cannons didn¡¯t exist during the time of the 7th Dawn Army, and harpoons were typically seen as tools for fishermen, not for war.

    In other words, the undead could only capture the ship by shooting arrows or engaging in closebat.

    ¡°Cut the grappling hooks! Cut them off!¡±

    The sailors rushed to sever the ropes attached to the hooks, but iing arrows forced them to take cover behind the railings. Despite their best efforts, some sailors were unlucky enough to get hit. Trying to retaliate was difficult, as the undead archers held the advantage of higher ground.

    That¡¯s when Isaac stepped in.

    Even the Orc archers of the Olkan Code, famous for their marksmanship, would struggle to hit Isaac. As he dashed along the deck, he swiftly cut every grappling hook attached to the ship. Skeletons trying to cross over fell helplessly into the deep sea.

    A few fortunate skeletons managed to board the ship, but they were immediately met by the fierce and enraged sailors of the Salt Council.

    The sailors quickly and ruthlessly dealt with the skeletal soldiers.

    ¡®They¡¯re trying to exhaust us,¡¯ Isaac thought.

    Although Eidan¡¯s ship was putting up a decent resistance, they were at a significant disadvantage in terms of manpower, ship size, stamina, and time. Both Isaac and Horace knew that this fierce resistance was only temporary.

    [Seize Captain Roan¡¯s ship. Without a ship, they can¡¯t escape.]

    Without a ghost ship, attempting to escape Nightmare Strait would only result in being swept away by the storms.

    Horace had decided there was no need to defeat Isaac head-on. It would be easier to simply capture the ghost ship.

    And if Isaac had indeed garnered the favor of the Archangel, it could lead to a more troubling situation.

    Thud, thud! Skeleton soldiers leaped onto the deck of the ghost ship Isaac had seized. They nned to make contact with the soul of the ship and take control. However, when they opened the ship¡¯s hatch, what greeted them was a dark, otherworldly hue.

    [What is this¡­?]

    The Color Beyond, which Isaac had densely packed within the ship, swelled and exploded outward.

    The color engulfed the skeleton soldiers, spilling out of the ship and recing the surrounding fog.

    Although the eerie illusions and sounds emitted by the Color Beyond didn¡¯t shake the skeleton soldiers¡ªwho had long surpassed the fear of death¡ªthere was more lurking within that color than mere hallucinations.

    Seeing that Horace had brought his ship close enough to board, Isaac twisted his hands into a strange shape.

    In response to Isaac¡¯s gesture, from outside the ghost ship, a mass of crimson-ck tendrils surged up from the depths. The tendrils crushed Captain Roan¡¯s ship, wrapping themselves around Horace¡¯s ghost ship instead.

    The nightmare that haunted sailors had arrived in these cursed waters.

 Chapter 343.1

    Both the sailors aboard Eidan¡¯s ship and those of the ghost ships stared in a trance.

    The tendrils stretching out from the ghost ship were unmistakablyrger than the ship itself. They crushed and shattered the hull as they overflowed, resembling the flesh of a mollusk spilling out of a broken shell¡ªor perhaps the sight of intestines bursting from a shattered skull.

    The sight itself was a cascade of sacrilegious and abominable images.

    The immeasurable chaos surged forth, swiftly engulfing Horace¡¯s ship.

    The tendrils rising from the abyss wrapped around the ship, dragging it toward the depths¡ªa nightmare every sailor carried in the back of their mind.

    [Retreat!]

    A booming shout jolted everyone from their stupor.

    Horace¡¯s bellow brought both the undead sailors and the Salt Council¡¯s crew back to reality, dispelling their frozen fear. The undead crew scrambled, hacking at the tendrils with axes to free their ship from the grip of the monstrosity.

    Fear, after all, stirs the survival instinct in those with intelligence. And survival instinct manifests in two ways: either through retreat or awe.Horace instinctively chose the former, but the Salt Council¡¯s sailors, watching the tendrils chew through the ghost ship, felt thetter.

    ¡°The wrath of the sea stretches out its hand!¡±

    ¡°The Drowned King has sent his beast, the Kraken!¡±

    Though the Kraken was typically depicted as an octopus, and this beast clearly had far more limbs, the sailors didn¡¯t care. Between the mist and the Color Beyond, they could hardly make out the creature¡¯s full shape anyway.

    But most of all, the sailors, ovee by awe, didn¡¯t want to believe that ¡°it¡± wasn¡¯t on their side.

    [What foul beast is this¡­!]

    Unlike them, Horace, who was still in partial control of himself, turned his glowing blue eyes toward Isaac. Isaac stood there, his hands twisted into a peculiar shape as he focused on Horace¡¯s ship. He was clearly controlling the ghastly mass of tendrils.

    He was no ordinary entity, that was certain. Was he truly a Pdin of the Codex of Light? Yet, there was no time for Horace to ponder Isaac¡¯s true identity.

    Horace¡¯s eyes shed as he took hold of the helm.

    He had once encountered a real Kraken in the nearly sacred waters of reverence. And he¡¯d survived that encounter. Granted, the Kraken clung to ships with its suckers, but this ched on with teeth and ws. ???

    [Hoist every sail! First Mate, release all the armor rings on the hull! We¡¯re getting out of here!]

    Though Horace¡¯smand surprised the crew, they obeyed without question, executing his orders mechanically.

    Now, the miracle of the Salt Council¡ªthe council he had once belonged to¡ªbegan to manifest.

    Crrrack, crack! Horace¡¯s ghost ship twisted and wriggled with fierce speed, slowly wrenching itself free of the tendrils. A precisely angled rudder, perfectly timed sails, and a favorable wind¡ªall aligned, propelling Horace¡¯s ghost ship forward with startling speed.

    Simultaneously, the barnacles and outer armor dding the ghost ship¡¯s surface began to shed, peeling off like old skin. The ship, slipping free from the tendrils, surged forward, widening the distance.

    ***

    ¡°Ah, he escaped.¡±

    Isaac sighed, disappointed as he watched. He¡¯d thought it was a deadly trap, but capturing a Salt Council ship at sea had proven more challenging than expected. The Grasp of the Abyss couldn¡¯t extend over too great a distance, so he would soon need to withdraw it to Urbansus.

    ¡°Sir Isaac, look over there!¡±

    As the Color Beyond dispersed and the tendrils receded, another ship shot toward them through the mist at an incredible speed.

    The sails bore the emblem of a white eagle rising against the backdrop of the sun.

    It was the emblem of the White Eagle Pdin Order, the main force of the 7th Dawn Army.

    The ship approached with such speed that it seemed intent on slicing Eidan¡¯s ship in half with a single blow. The crew shouted, trying to steer the ship, but the grappling hooks attached to the sides made movement nearly impossible.

    The prow, carved in the shape of a white eagle, loomed as it closed in, seeming ready to snatch up Eidan¡¯s ship.

    In that moment, the Salt Council¡¯s miracle extended its grace to Eidan as well.

    The waves, surging forward, lifted Eidan¡¯s ship. The sudden shift ckened the grappling lines momentarily, and the ship rose high enough that its deck nearly matched the height of the ghost ship.

    Eidan, quick to seize this miraculous moment, shouted.

    ¡°Pull the sail lines!¡±

    Creak, snap! The crew, catching onto the miracle, pulled the sail lines tight, stretching them until they screamed. The ship leapt forward, breaking free as some of the grappling hooks snapped, recoiling to m back against the undead sailors.

    Just as Eidan¡¯s ship swerved sharply, the White Eagle warship¡¯s hull skimmed past, narrowly missing.

    Crash! The White Eagle warship, now without control, collided with the ghost ship that had been restraining Eidan¡¯s ship. A cacophony of shattering wood echoed as the two ships splintered upon impact. Eidan felt a chill as he realized he had narrowly avoided being caught between the two ships.

    ¡°Well done, Eidan! Keep it up!¡±

    Isaac called out with ease, seemingly unaware of the miracle that had just taken ce. Eidan and the crew exchanged incredulous looks, but Isaac had a new, formidable opponent of his own to face.

    Skeletons hung from the side of the White Eagle warship, dangling limply like marites. Unlike the other undead, however, these skeletons wore **Pdin armor** marked with the symbol of the Codex of Light.

    Snap, bang! The sound of ropes being released apanied the descent of the Pdins of the White Eagle Order¡ªor rather, Death Knights¡ªonto Eidan¡¯s deck. The corpses, appearing as if they¡¯d been hung from nooses, moved with jerking motions as though restrained by invisible cors.

    [¡­¡­!]

    Unable to produce a proper voice, they let out strained wails that sounded like a twisted parody of agony as they charged toward the crew.

    In a sh, Isaac charged forward.

    With a swift nk, he deflected the Death Knight¡¯s sword and drove his own de into its brow. The Death Knight¡¯s body shuddered from the strike, and as Isaac twisted the de free, it copsed and exploded into fragments. Without hesitation, Isaac turned his focus to the next Death Knight and struck.

    ¡°Unbelievable¡­¡±

    Eidan was stunned as he watched Isaac effortlessly dispatch three Death Knights in rapid session. The fact that the Pdins of the White Eagle Order had be Death Knights, whether willingly or not, meant that they still retained the same strength and skill they had in life.

    Yet Isaac was cutting them down almost as quickly as he¡¯d dealt with the skeletal sailors. His movements made it seem as if he could single-handedly battle an entire order of Pdins¡ªand indeed, he was.

    In truth, Isaac¡¯s ease in fighting them was expected.

 Chapter 343.2

    In truth, Isaac¡¯s ease in fighting them was expected.

    He wielded the sanctity of Kaldwin, as well as the powers gained from ying the Reaper: enhanced damage to spirits and the effect of Soul Predation. Fighting the undead was no longer the challenge it had once been. Unlike the meager, half-souled skeletal sailors, the Death Knights possessed some degree of faith that could be absorbed.

    [¡°Consumed ¡®Rusty Death Knight (C-)¡¯.]

    [¡®Intestines of the Dead God¡¯ grants increased consumption efficiency.]

    [Insufficient faith to obtain special perks. More nourishment is needed.]

    Unfortunately, they offered little sustenance. Isaac could guess why.

    ¡®As I thought, these Death Knights are much weaker than usual.¡¯

    Death Knights were powerful not only because of the strength and personality they retained from life but also because they had countless years to hone their skills and refine themselves. They might have found custom weapons or received blessings over time.

    But the White Eagle Pdins hadn¡¯t been afforded that luxury.Their armor, encrusted with barnacles and tangled in seaweed, was rusted a sickly yellow, as though they had wandered the depths of the sea for untold years. To call them Death Knights seemed almost a mockery.

    In their grim appearance, Isaac sensed not only neglect but disdain, perhaps even malice.

    Isaac recalled Horace, who had briefly disappeared into the fog to escape the Grasp of the Abyss. Specifically, he recalled Horace¡¯s defiant promation that, despite being a servant of the Immortal Order, he had never abandoned the Dawn Army.

    ¡®The efficiency of Soul Predation is pitiful here. To make it worthwhile, I¡¯d need a soul as powerful and rich as that of someone like Villon Georg.¡¯

    With a final sh, Isaac cut down the eighth Death Knight, causing some of the sailors on the White Eagle warship above to falter. It was clear that a few were untying ropes to drop Death Knights onto Isaac¡¯s ship in desperation.

    Isaac steadied himself and charged toward the White Eagle warship¡¯s hull. As he plunged forward, his de sliced through the air, releasing eight streaks of dark energy, all converging on a single point with devastating force.

    A vision filled the minds of those watching, as if several ferocious serpents were simultaneously tearing into a massive beast, bringing it down.

    Boom! With a shattering crash, the White Eagle warship¡¯s hull tilted precariously. The impact left splintered remnants as if it had collided with a reef. The sheer power was something even a whaling harpoon couldn¡¯t achieve, leaving the sailors in shock, while Isaac still wasn¡¯t satisfied.

    As he prepared for another strike, the White Eagle warship finally reacted in panic.

    ng, crash! A tremendous weightnded on Eidan¡¯s ship, causing it to lurch. Isaac sensed a foreboding presence.

    The mist took on a bluish hue.

    A massive Death Knight with an intense blue gaze emerged from the fog. His aura alone told Isaac that this one was themander of the Pdin Order.

    Isaac grinned as he regarded the figure.

    ¡®This one might actually be worth consuming.¡¯

    ***

    Meanwhile, Horace, having gained some distance, was deep in thought, trying to puzzle out Isaac¡¯s true nature.

    ¡®Immortal Emperor, could he really be¡­?¡¯

    Horace possessed the keen insight, skills, and experience of a Salt Council captain from life, and those instincts had only sharpened since he became undead. Though his knowledge was frozen in time from 180 years ago, that limitation now helped him piece together a possible answer about Isaac¡¯s identity. ?

    ¡®Could he truly be a survivor of the Nameless Chaos Cult?¡¯

    In his lifetime, chaos and terror from the Nameless Chaos¡¯s fall and the Immortal Order¡¯s rise were still fresh. The Codex of Light zealously erased all remnants of the Nameless Chaos, so much so that most had since forgotten, but Horace, having seen many worlds, retained fragments of those memories.

    Still, he couldn¡¯t understand why a supposed apostle of Nameless Chaos would pose as a Pdin of the Codex of Light or why he would be under the Salt Council¡¯s protection. This mystery held him back.

    Then, Horace noticed something.

    The White Eagle Pdin Order¡¯smander was now fighting Isaac. At that sight, Horace¡¯s eyes widened, and he roared in fury.

    [I told them not to release that bastard!]

    Without wasting another moment, Horace seized the helm, turning his ship sharply.

    Themander, with his immense size and weight, seemed poised to crush Isaac, yet Horace saw him only as a small frog standing before a snake.

    The rtionship was that of predator and prey.

    [None shall escape from this sea! None!]

    Horace¡¯s warship, riding the wind, charged fiercely.

    Around Eidan¡¯s ship, the chaos of broken and entangled ships left a tangle of wreckage. With Horace¡¯s ship bearing down like an unstoppable force, sailors scrambled in all directions across the deck.

    Eidan, seeing the mayhem, called out desperately to their only hope.

    ¡°Sir Isaac!¡±

    Isaac didn¡¯t even nce at Horace¡¯s approaching ship. Instead, he drove Kaldwin into themander¡¯s sr plexus, then shed upward, cleaving him in half.

    With Horace¡¯s scream echoing around them, Isaac felt themander¡¯s soul being absorbed into his de.

    [¡°Consumed ¡®Corrupted Delrod Siel (A+)¡¯.]

    [¡®Intestines of the Dead God¡¯ grants increased consumption efficiency.]

    [Acquired temporary perk: ¡®Unyielding (Temporary)¡¯.]

    [Blessing will remain until the perk is digested.]

    Then Isaac turned toward the oing Horace¡¯s ship and extended his open palm.

    The Hidden Rite.

    The most secretive of veils descended in silence, slowly, yet it was as if it had always been there, awaiting its time.

    And within that veil, a brutal and unholy mass was about to unfold.

 Chapter 344.1

    Chapter 344.1

    The Hidden Rite Isaac cast this time was massive,rge enough to engulf the entire surrounding sea.

    While he aimed to capture Horace¡¯s ship, a secondary goal was to prevent any angelic intervention from reaching them prematurely.

    As the surroundings grew pitch ck, Horace felt as though he¡¯d plunged into the depths of the ocean. The undead typically had excellent night vision, and the only time they sensed ¡°darkness¡± was when something physically blocked their view, like the deep sea or dense fog.

    In other words, this darkness was not just an absence of light; it was a tangible substance.

    Crack! Before Horace could fully grasp what was happening, his ship came to a sudden halt. The abrupt stop sent him and everything else onboard¡ªcrew, cargo, and even the skeletons hanging from the rails¡ªflying and crashing against the deck with a deafening noise. If he were still alive, Horace would have been knocked unconscious, but instead, he quickly regained his bearings and looked skyward.

    There, he saw the force holding his ship in ce.

    Emerging from the darkness, the familiar crimson tentecals were gripping the ship. Twisted and knotted, they crushed the skeletal sailors entwined in their coils, pulling them into gaping, toothed mouths scattered along their length, devouring them greedily.

    [Laughs¡­]

    A shiver of fear climbed Horace¡¯s spine, something undead rarely experienced. This ¡°thing¡± possessed an innate horror that stirred even the dead.Suddenly, Horace noticed that everything around him was bathed in a bloody hue. Turning back, he saw Isaac, shrouded in crimson mist, looking down at him.

    ¡°No one survives after witnessing that.¡±

    As Isaac spoke, the tentacles continued to descend, devouring the crew one by one. Though summoning the Grasp of the Abyss drained his strength rapidly, Isaac was determined to end Horace here and now.

    Seeing Isaac, Horace felt an overwhelming urge to ask countless questions.

    Was he truly an apostle of the Nameless Chaos? How did he know the forbidden name without sumbing to the White Death? Why was the Salt Council aiding him, and why did he im to be part of the Dawn Army?

    But the first question he asked was entirely different.

    [What about Commander Delrod?]

    ¡°Who?¡±

    [Themander of the White Eagle Pdin Order. Did you kill him?]

    Isaac found the question strange.

    Unless one were an angel, souls couldn¡¯t truly be killed; they could only be dispersed or sent back to Urbansus. But Isaac sensed that Horace wasn¡¯t asking in that context.

    ¡°I devoured him.¡±

    [Did you, now?]

    Horace¡¯s response was chillingly simple.

    [Then I¡¯ll have to rip you open. That soul cannot leave here.]

    Horace¡¯s response was nothing short of mad. His interesty more in the soul Isaac had consumed than in Isaac himself. Before he could act on his strange intent, Isaac swiftly swung his de, decapitating Horace. Although Horace was a legendary captain, he wasn¡¯t legendary for his swordsmanship.

    What Isaac desired wasn¡¯t Horace¡¯s life but rather his skull, or more specifically, control over this fleet through the skull.

    Even reduced to a skull, Horace murmured a prayer.

    [Immortal Emperor, I beseech thee¡­]

    ¡°Calling for an angel¡¯s help? Sorry, but no one can enter or exit this space while the Hidden Rite is active. Even summoning the Archangel is impossi¡ª¡±

    Just then, Isaac felt a tremor. Horace¡¯s ship shook violently.

    Isaac initially thought it was a sudden wave, but given that the Grasp of the Abyss held the ship in ce, that shouldn¡¯t have been possible. As the tremors intensified, Isaac noticed that the tentecals binding the ship were being stretched taut.

    ¡®Could it be¡­?¡¯

    Isaac quickly looked over the railing. Waves surged furiously, all converging toward a single point. A massive whirlpool began to form, its mouth widening to an enormous size, as if ready to swallow not only the fleet but the very sea itself.

    Horace, lying in Isaac¡¯s hand, let out a low, mockingugh.

    [No one leaves this sea. No one.]

    ***

    Crack!

    Realizing that his ship was on the verge of being torn in half, Isaacmanded the tentacles to release it. The moment they let go, Horace¡¯s ship surged forward on the waves.

    The Hidden Rite couldn¡¯t hold up for much longer. Though its barrier was designed to withstand substantial impacts, the immense pressure of the whirlpool forced it to shatter and dissipate.

    ¡®Damn it.¡¯

    Inside the Hidden Rite, no one could escape, and the barrier could only be broken by the caster or an external force. Anything happening within couldn¡¯t be observed from the outside.

    For an Archangel to intervene, they would need to respond to or observe the summoner. The Hidden Rite blocked both possibilities.

    This barrier should have prevented such interference, yet the whirlpool had broken through it.

    It was hard to believe that such a phenomenon had urred by chance.

    ¡®Could an Archangel have already arrived?¡¯

    At that moment, a powerful image struck Isaac and everyone nearby.

    A vision appeared: a gaunt monk sitting in a dark room. The monk¡¯s face was split into twelve, each gazing in a different direction. His body was riddled with small andrge holes, from which centipedes, snakes, and insects crawled.

    The vision, embodying the essence of death, hammered into their minds, and Horace¡¯s body suddenly sprang up andnded a powerful punch under Isaac¡¯s chin.

    ¡°What the¡­?!¡±

    This time, Isaac felt no impact from Horace¡¯s desperate attack, but Horace¡¯s body quickly snatched up his own skull and bolted away. Isaac was momentarily speechless, but it hardly mattered¡ªthere was nothing more the mad captain could do.

    No one could resist the giant whirlpool looming ahead.

    Isaac took a moment to reflect on the image he¡¯d just witnessed.

    ¡®A twelve-faced monk¡­ if that¡¯s the Archangel I think it is, then it must be The Dead December. He won¡¯t show up here in person, then.¡¯

    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and

    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 344.2

    Isaac took a moment to reflect on the image he¡¯d just witnessed.

    ¡®A twelve-faced monk¡­ if that¡¯s the Archangel I think it is, then it must be The Dead December. He won¡¯t show up here in person, then.¡¯

    The Dead December, like the other Archangels of the Immortal Order and the Immortal Emperor, was bound to a physical form. Unlike the others, though, he had entombed himself deep within a burial ground, lost in a state of meditation. He was known to respond to prayers by bestowing blessings and miracles, instead of appearing directly to his followers.

    While Isaac was somewhat relieved that no Archangel was physically present, it also meant Horace possessed a powerful artifact or miracle potent enough to invoke the Archangel¡¯s strength.

    There was no doubt that the enormous whirlpool was the work of The Dead December.

    The catastrophe was ruthless yet fair, sparing no one. Ghost ships unlucky enough to be near the maw of the vortex were the first to be sucked in. Though built to withstand the ocean depths, the ships were torn apart the moment they touched the swirling waters, pulverized like they¡¯d been fed into a grinder.

    ¡°¡­¡±

    Isaac, who had briefly considered escaping by clinging to Horace¡¯s ghost ship, quickly abandoned that n. Doing so would leave Eidan¡¯s ship without any means of escape.

    Eidan, having shaken off the White Eagle warship, was now struggling desperately to steer his ship away from the whirlpool. Isaac couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit of admiration as he watched.Assuming that humans could do nothing against such a colossal disaster had been his arrogance.

    Salt Council captains knew how to handle such situations, even now.

    ¡®Wait, that means Horace too¡­¡¯

    Rumble! Horace¡¯s warship surged forward with a deafening roar, riding the waves of the whirlpool as it chased down Eidan¡¯s ship.

    [No one leaves!]

    Horace, gripping the helm, guided his ship with feverish precision. He knew that if he destroyed Eidan¡¯s ship, Isaac would be trapped in this sea forever.

    Isaac cursed as he tried to catch Horace, but it was difficult on the swaying deck.

    ¡°Damn it¡­¡±

    And the closer Isaac drew to Horace, the stronger he felt the crushing weight of The Dead December¡¯s presence. Isaac had faced countless Archangels before, but this was on a different level; it was a direct manifestation of hostility and restraint.

    He needed to find another way.

    [The Nameless Chaos watches you.]

    Just then, Isaac¡¯s sword, Kaldwin, trembled with a faint hum.

    [Look to the sea, Holy Grail Knight.]

    It was Calurien, the Archangel of Elil bound to Kaldwin and tasked with watching over Isaac.

    [Even I would rather avoid being imprisoned in the depths for millennia. I sense a sibling nearby, one who serves as the source of this miracle.]

    Isaac took Calurien¡¯s advice and focused on the water below.

    It was difficult to make out anything meaningful within the violently churning waves, but he eventually spotted a dark, serpent-like form moving rapidly beneath the surface. ?

    ¡°A serpent?¡±

    [Technically, a dragon enved by The Dead December. That creature is the catalyst for this miracle. It¡¯s down there, maintaining the whirlpool and supporting Horace. Can you catch it?]

    Isaac had faced merfolk pirates and captured the Drowned King before. But jumping into this whirlpool would be fatal even if the Salt Council invoked the Doctrine of the Waves.

    ¡®Perhaps I could use the tentacle? Or try the Grasp of the Abyss again, maybe invoke the Event Horizon¡­ no.¡¯

    Isaac looked around.

    The destruction of the Hidden Rite wasn¡¯t entirely a disadvantage for him.

    Isaac, too, had allies he could call upon.

    Horace wasn¡¯t the only one who could summon natural disasters on the sea.

    Boom! Crackle! With a fierce, heart-pounding rumble, lightning surged upward from the ocean¡¯s depths like a dragon, incinerating a nearby ghost ship and scattering its ashes into the sky.

    ¡°There he is! Our mad Supreme Commander!¡±

    Through the raging storm, the ship carrying Tuhalin and Yenkos arrived in the misty waters of Nightmare Strait.

    ***

    Isaac had explicitly instructed everyone to wait outside the Strait until he retrieved the key.

    But an ally who follows orders to the letter isn¡¯t a true ally. Doubting orders and questioning motives were hallmarks of a genuine ally.

    And Tuhalin, knowing that Isaac was a Holy Grail Knight who often took reckless risks, fit this description perfectly.

    That was why Isaac had granted Tuhalin and Yenkos permission to act independently from the start. There was a specific reason underlying this decision, too.

    Tuhalin was blessed by the Thunder Artisan, granting him control over storms.

    While the Thunder Artisan¡¯s blessing was limited to protecting a single ship without calling upon the deity directly, it was still a potent force.

    Isaac had considered initially going in with Tuhalin but had dismissed it. Horace might not know Isaac, but he certainly knew Tuhalin. If Tuhalin had been with him, Horace would likely have changed his strategy or hidden himself entirely.

    As evidence, Yenkos had isted her ship just as Isaac had, intending to capture ghost ships, yet she hadn¡¯t encountered a single one¡ªjust as Isaac had predicted.

    Now, finally facing the enemy, Tuhalin¡¯s fighting spirit surged.

    Upon spotting the ghost ship, Tuhalin was eager for battle, but he quickly recognized Isaac standing on the deck and grew curious. Though Isaac was desperately signaling to them, the distance and the sound of the waves made it hard to hear.

    However, Isaac¡¯s frantic gestures to look beneath the water were unmistakable. Following his gaze, Tuhalin spotted the enormous skeletal serpent swimming beneath the surface.

    Soon, a lightning bolt as wide as a warship arced from the ocean, reaching up to the heavens.

    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and

    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 345.1

    Tuhalin¡¯s Lightning Hammer was no ordinary thunderbolt. It struck upward from the ground to the sky, triggered by a ritual where he¡¯d tap his hammer on the deck in prayer, summoning lightning to the desired location.

    Tuhalin likened it to the sparks that fly off during the forging process, brief but intense bursts of energy.

    Boom! Crackle¡­ A blue bolt of lightning shot upward, spreading like branches in the stormy sky. The serpent, scorched by Tuhalin¡¯s miracle, iled in pain, briefly surfacing above the water. Its body was half the width of Aidan¡¯s ship, but its length seemed to stretch endlessly.

    ¡°You filthy snake! How dare you stand before your elders!¡±

    Tuhalin roared as he mmed his hammer on the deck again. While his blow had the strength to shatter Yenkos¡¯s ship, the deck remained unscathed.

    Instead, a powerful shockwave and lightning erupted from the ocean, sending the serpent writhing and shuddering in agony. Charred marks and fractured bones along its spine made its weakened state clear.

    With its movement disrupted, the whirlpool began to noticeably slow. It was indeed the serpent generating the vortex.

    But instead of retreating, the serpent turned to attack Yenkos¡¯s ship, hoping to silence Tuhalin. Yet Tuhalin didn¡¯t flinch as the massive creature charged straight toward him.

    When Yenkos attempted to turn the ship away, he yelled out.¡°Stay on course!¡±

    ¡°But¡ª¡±

    ¡°Imagine this monster¡¯s skull mounted on the prow as a trophy! We¡¯re taking it down!¡±

    Yenkos was exasperated but had no choice; the serpent¡¯s spine was already coiling around the ship, blocking any escape route.

    As the serpent lunged toward Tuhalin on the bow, he spun his hammer before bringing it down with full force on the creature¡¯s brow.

    Boom! The shockwave rippled outward, even shaking Yenkos¡¯s ship.

    The serpent thrashed silently, its mouth spilling venomous corpse-poison in all directions. Engulfed in burning agony as though his hand had been plunged into molten iron, Tuhalin onlyughed.

    ¡°Pathetic!¡±

    Once more, lightning erupted from the deck.

    ***

    Watching the relentless shes and thunder erupting from Yenkos¡¯s ship, Aidan gripped the helm tightly.

    A legendary hero was locked in battle with a creature from ancient myth. It was a sight that would seem usible only in the oldest myths predating the Age of Light.

    Aidan could hardly believe he was present at such a moment.

    But elsewhere, another hero was in hot pursuit.

    If Tuhalin was the hero forged by the World¡¯s Forge, then Horace was the hero of the Salt Council. Though he¡¯d lived over a century ago, his tales had been retold in countless forms, turning him into a figure of legend and folklore.

    And here he was, resurrected from death, fighting Isaac, a hero of the current age.

    ¡®No, to be precise, it seems Horace¡¯s true target is¡­ me.¡¯

    Horace seemed to believe with unwavering certainty that if he sank Aidan¡¯s ship, Isaac would be trapped in the sea forever. Though Tuhalin¡¯s arrival had thrown that certainty into question, Horace continued to fixate on Aidan¡¯s ship. ??

    Aidan found himself in the unenviable position of matching wits with a hero from legend.

    ¡®Am I really going to pit my sailing skills against Horace?¡¯

    While the whirlpool created by the serpent had slowed, it remained a massive hazard for any sailor. To make matters worse, a storm had arrived, bringing rain that pelted down and debris from broken ships swirling like jagged reefs in the vortex.

    Any mistake here would mean instant wreckage.

    ¡®Here? With Horace?¡¯

    Aidan let out a strainedugh.

    His grip on the helm was tight enough to cramp, but instead of weakening, he felt a surge of resolve. He would have no better chance than this to test his skill against the legendary pirate captain.

    ¡°Haul in the sails, you sea dogs! Let¡¯s see what we¡¯re made of!¡±

    With a loud snap, the sails filled to their limit, trembling under the strain. Riding the winds and the whirlpool, Aidan¡¯s ship sped forward faster than he¡¯d ever experienced. He could barely believe he was controlling the ship at all.

    But at that moment, ship, crew, and captain moved as one.

    The only words for this were that the sea was taking care of them.

    Aidan judged the distance to Horace. Despite having lost many of his own crew, Horace was keeping pace, his skill driving Aidan to a simultaneous fear and admiration.

    But honestly, Aidan wasn¡¯t certain whether he feared Horace or another figure battling alongside him.

    ***

    While Tuhalin fought the serpent and Aidan raced against Horace, a different, invisible battle was unfolding.

    Isaac stood, eyes locked on Horace¡ªor rather, on the invisible presence of The Dead December, the one who blessed Horace from afar. Though Horace was before him, Isaac could see the spectral form of a monk asrge as an ancient tree, with twelve faces each staring in a different direction, hollow eyes fixed on him.

    [Step back, child.]

    The Dead December¡¯s voice wasn¡¯t one of scorn or contempt; it was the soft tone of an elder gently consoling a child.

    Directly within Isaac¡¯s mind, the Archangel began to speak.

    [Captain Horace is a pitiable man. I vowed to watch over him until he fulfills his oath. You, followers of the Codex of Light, should not interfere with him.]

    The Dead December¡¯s tone was patient, almost fatherly, as though confident that once Isaac understood, he would retreat. But Isaac ignored his words, stepping closer to Horace. The presence of the Archangel suddenly intensified, weighing down on Isaac so heavily that each step felt like pressing through the deep sea. A crushing force seemed ready to break him.

    Gritting his teeth, Isaac managed to steady his breath, staring defiantly at the Dead December.

    ¡°An oath, you say? The one where he swore to continue serving the Dawn Army until the Holy Land Lua was reimed?¡±

    The Dead December seemed intrigued, scrutinizing Isaac.

 Chapter 345.2

    The Dead December seemed intrigued, scrutinizing Isaac.

    [That oath is known only to the dead now. All who could have spoken of it hang as bones upon his rail. Where did you learn this?]

    Isaac didn¡¯t answer. It was all he could do just to breathe in the oppressive atmosphere. The Archangel continued to speak as if simply exining the situation would be enough to make Isaac step back willingly.

    [When Horace was taken captive, Arachel Brant, Supreme Commander of the 7th Dawn Army, offered him a bargain: his life in exchange for a task. They were attempting to establish a sea route to the Holy Land Lua and needed him to lead their fleet.]

    It was an unusually bold move for the Codex of Light, especially in those days. At that time, the Codex was so mired in ideological conflict with Elil and the World¡¯s Forge that their banner of the White Empire had be almost meaningless.

    Perhaps it was only possible because the Brant family, with its naval resources, held power within the Empire.

    [Given Horace¡¯s sense of honor and faith, a simple promise would have sufficed. The Salt Council captains were men of their word. But you of the Codex of Light refused to trust in other faiths. Instead, they forced Horace to swear upon his own faith that he would not leave the Dawn Army until the Holy Land Lua was reimed. It was a brutal insult, a p to his pride.]

    ¡®Or perhaps not so terrible,¡¯ Isaac thought.

    He imagined that Horace, at the time, might have simply epted it with a ¡°Well, that¡¯s how things go.¡± Salt Council captains had little patience for formalities; they were capable of handling any ship.[Horace obeyed Arachel Brant¡¯s orders faithfully. Through his miraculous seamanship, he led a fleet of 60 ships, bringing 20 of them through to Miarma.]

    Though they lost two-thirds of their ships, Isaac, who had experienced the storm firsthand, understood what a miracle it was that even twenty ships survived.

    Horace had sessfullypleted his mission.

    But that was only the beginning.

    [Arachel Brant was disheartened and discouraged by the heavy losses. However, returning through the storm was out of the question. They tried to reach the Holy Land Lua by crossing Miarma¡¯s Salt Desert¡­ but their path was blocked by the Lighthouse Keeper.]

    To be precise, it was the zing sun the Lighthouse Keeper had raised over Miarma.

    That burning sun continued to scorch the Salt Desert night and day, shining like a lighthouse over a barren, sea-less port. The 7th Dawn Army was caught off guard by its oppressive heat and unending thirst.

    There was no moisture in the Salt Desert, no life to be found. Monsters from the Netherworld constantly ambushed them, while the undead of the Immortal Order watched from a distance, amused and unaffected by the searing heat.

    [Desperate, Arachel Brant prayed to the Lighthouse Keeper, begging him to lift Miarma¡¯s curse, to allow them to fulfill their mission¡­]

    The Dead December¡¯s voice held a hint of pity.

    Isaac suddenly realized that he spoke as though he¡¯d witnessed the events himself. During the 7th Dawn Army¡¯s campaign, the Dead December may have watched, like other undead, as his Archangel destroyed the faithful from afar. ?

    [But the Lighthouse Keeper ignored them.]

    The Lighthouse Keeper only cared to maintain the city¡¯s cursed, lifeless state.

    To him, preserving the dignity of the dead city was more important than saving the lives of believers.

    [Arachel Brant, his soldiers, his Pdin Order¡­ they all slowly sumbed to madness. Finally, before the 7th Dawn Army was wiped out, Arachel, clutching onto hisst scraps of sanity, ordered a retreat. The vow to die at the Holy Land Lua was long forgotten.]

    Ironically, they realized that their god had abandoned them only in the face of a miracle.

    [Yet, when everyone epted the order to retreat¡­ one man, zing with fury, refused themand.]

    Isaac¡¯s blurry vision shifted from the Dead December to Horace, the captain beneath him.

    [¡®You told me I couldn¡¯t leave the Dawn Army until the Holy Land Lua was reimed. Now you would drag me here only to break my oath?¡¯]

    Horace¡¯s voice rang in Isaac¡¯s mind, a fierce, unyielding echo.

    In ancient times, a Salt Council captain had broken his vow to the Lighthouse Keeper and fallen to ruin.

    The brilliant Holy Land, Miarma, had been reduced to a ruin, its faithful scattered across the world. And once again, Horace was being pushed by the Codex of Light to break an oath.

    [Yet the 7th Dawn Army knew they couldn¡¯t survive the storm without Horace. So they took his crew hostage, chained Horace himself to the ship, and dragged him out to sea, ensuring that if the ship sank, they would all drown together.]

    At this, the Dead December¡¯s voice wasced with satisfaction.

    [It was a needless measure. Horace never hesitated.]

    The undead Horace at the helm, and the countless skeletons hanging from his ship¡¯s rails, told the story well enough.

    [The moment they reached open sea, Horace sank the entire fleet off the coast of Miarma. The 7th Dawn Army was annihted.]

    With an almost tender gesture, the Dead December reached out to stroke Horace¡¯s head. But it was an illusion, felt only by Isaac. Horace, deeply focused on his navigation, remained unaware of the Archangel¡¯s presence.

    [I pitied him, that man clinging to his oath even as hey dying. I granted him mercy and a second chance. Though the Codex enforcesw and order without mercy, we offer second chances, even in death.]

    Thus, Horace became an admiral of the Immortal Order¡¯s vast fleet.

    He had sworn to reim the Holy Land Lua as part of the Dawn Army, but now he served the Immortal Order. The Holy Land Lua was under the Order¡¯s dominion, and Horace¡¯s duty, by their standards, had thus been fulfilled, albeit in a twisted way.

    He was no longer part of the Dawn Army.

    He had be a symbol of mockery.

    Isaac¡¯s mind shed again to the Pdins hanging from the rail, degraded into decorations.

    The ¡°deserters¡± Horace had smashed as they dangled from the railing were none other than the soldiers and Pdins of the 7th Dawn Army, the very ones who had attempted to flee.

 Chapter 346.1

    [¡°If only you hadn¡¯t forced him to swear, things wouldn¡¯t havee to this. You followers of the Codex of Light treat oaths too lightly, demanding the price from others with cruelty.¡±]

    The Dead December shouted these reproachful words, ament in his voice.

    [¡°Behold, the symbol of cowardice!¡±]

    With a subtle flick of his fingers, the illusion of Dead December brought forth a wave of darkness that flowed like a billowing sleeve before dispersing like a mirage.

    From within the darkness, a single undead figure dropped to the ground.

    Once, this figure might have held an esteemed status, d in a once-fine armor and a flowing cape. Now, however, it was merely a decrepit skeleton, covered in barnacles and corroded by seawater.

    [¡°This is Arachel Brant, who was forced to swear loyalty to Horace.¡±]

    Arachel Brant, bound in heavy chains, ttered like a wooden puppet with every movement of Dead December¡¯s fingers. Dead December,cking any finesse in manipting puppets, rendered the scene grotesque and absurd.

    [¡°Like Delrod Ciel, he hangs by the ship¡¯s edge, facing punishment befitting a deserter. What¡¯s fascinating is that all those who stepped onto Miarma ultimately agreed to surrender their souls. They realized the Codex of Light would not protect them.¡±]Dead December¡¯s tone was both merciless and gentle.

    Though abandoned by the Codex of Light, these souls were tended to, albeit after death, by Dead December. Perhaps some of them had hoped to conclude their service with the Dawn Army in heavenly glory, but could deserters who turned their backs under the fierce desert sun ever expect such grace?

    Looking at Arachel now, it was evident that the ce the Dawn Army had chosen was not heaven, but home.

    [¡°I intend to grant the wishes of those who surrendered their souls¡ªafter they¡¯ve served their penance, of course.¡±]

    Dead December leaned forward as he spoke.

    Isaac knew the figure before him was only an illusion, yet he felt an intense sense that Dead December himself was watching him from a great distance.

    [¡°You¡¯ll fall into despair when you reach Miarma, regardless. So turn back now, child. Don¡¯t create more souls like Horace¡¯s.¡±]

    A potent wave of resistance bore down on Isaac, pressing him with such force that he nearly stumbled back. Blood vessels burst one by one in his eyes, staining the whites a fierce red, yet he forced himself to stand firm.

    Isaac slowly opened his mouth to speak.

    ¡°Do you think Horace is pitiful?¡±

    Horace lifted his head at Isaac¡¯s unexpected words, his gaze questioning as though he hadn¡¯t expected Isaac to still be there.

    ¡°You¡¯re right. The Seventh Dawn Army was made of deserters and defeated remnants. They lightly made oaths while pressing them heavily upon others.¡±

    Dead December silently watched Isaac.

    ¡°But Horace is no pitiable man.¡±

    [What did you say¡­?]

    Just as Horace was about to snap back, Isaac continued.

    ¡°Horace isn¡¯t a defeated man like the Seventh Dawn Army. He remains a member of the Dawn Army and chose another path to see it seed. Unlike the weak ones who broke under rejection, he alone in the Seventh Army was truly strong. Don¡¯t speak of him with contempt.¡±

    With that, Isaac took a resolute step forward.

    A powerful wave surged over him, threatening to scatter his mind. The divine power descended upon him, suffocating, as voices, illusions, and screams battered his will, attempting to shatter it.

    It was the pressure of Urbansus.

    Yet, clutching Kaldwin in his hand, Isaac pushed forward toward Horace, his blood-red eyes zing.

    ¡°I won¡¯t retreat, no matter what you say. If a few trivial words from an insignificant angel could deter me, I wouldn¡¯t have started this at all.¡±

    Isaac¡¯s words, seething with a grandeur beyond arrogance, left Horace and Dead December speechless.

    Then, in Isaac¡¯s crimson eyes, a purple hue began to emerge. His pupils dted fully, radiating an eerie, searing intensity.

    As the Eye of Chaos activated, tentacles sprouted from beneath his left eyelid, seeping outward. Horace felt a shiver of unease at the sight of the tendrils writhing out of Isaac¡¯s eye¡ªproof that he was indeed an Agent of Nameless Chaos.

    Yet it was this very Agent of Nameless Chaos who spoke.

    With a tone more resolute than any pdin or priest Horace had ever known.

    ¡°I will reim the Holy Land.¡±

    ***

    Isaac delved into Horace¡¯s consciousness through the Eye of Chaos.

    Isaac didn¡¯t need to probe deeply into Horace¡¯s consciousness; he was only searching for the link between Dead December and Horace. Atst, he spotted a tangled thread-like trace connecting them.

    Just as Dead December controlled Arachel Brant¡¯s corpse like a marite with chains, his influence extended over Horace as well. However, because Horace was already under powerful motivation, Dead December hadn¡¯t needed to exert full control over him.

    ¡®The Immortal Order grants a measure of control from higher undead to lower ones, regardless of influence.¡¯

    Many aspiring undead failed to realize that being granted the status of a ¡°follower¡± did not meanplete autonomy. All souls in the Immortal Order were bound under the sway of the Immortal Emperor Beshek. Angels held authority below him, followed by bishops and priests in a hierarchical pyramid of control.

    In its absolute control over souls, the Immortal Order was more rigidly hierarchical than any other faith.

    Yet, in most cases, the Immortal Emperor forbade the exercise of ¡°strong¡± influence on souls. Therefore, the undead generally lived independently, pursuing their own lives in individualistic ways.

    However, some level of influence remained in effect as needed.

    A life devoid of desire and purpose would inevitably degrade.

    In Horace¡¯s case, it seemed Dead December had suggested he roam the stormy sea, ¡°recruiting¡± any trespassers as a sort of pastime.

    Focusing his obsession on the past oaths and grudges he¡¯d let slip away.

    Isaac believed it was this very obsession that had driven Horace mad.

    ¡°I swear.¡±

    Isaac took another step forward.

    To break that unseen chain wrapped around Horace¡¯s neck.

    ¡°I will reim the Holy Land.¡±

    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and

    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 346.2

    Yet it was this very Agent of Nameless Chaos who spoke.

    With a tone more resolute than any pdin or priest Horace had ever known.

    ¡°I will reim the Holy Land.¡±

    ***

    Isaac delved into Horace¡¯s consciousness through the Eye of Chaos.

    Isaac didn¡¯t need to probe deeply into Horace¡¯s consciousness; he was only searching for the link between Dead December and Horace. Atst, he spotted a tangled thread-like trace connecting them.

    Just as Dead December controlled Arachel Brant¡¯s corpse like a marite with chains, his influence extended over Horace as well. However, because Horace was already under powerful motivation, Dead December hadn¡¯t needed to exert full control over him.

    ¡®The Immortal Order grants a measure of control from higher undead to lower ones, regardless of influence.¡¯

    Many aspiring undead failed to realize that being granted the status of a ¡°follower¡± did not meanplete autonomy. All souls in the Immortal Order were bound under the sway of the Immortal Emperor Beshek. Angels held authority below him, followed by bishops and priests in a hierarchical pyramid of control.In its absolute control over souls, the Immortal Order was more rigidly hierarchical than any other faith.

    Yet, in most cases, the Immortal Emperor forbade the exercise of ¡°strong¡± influence on souls. Therefore, the undead generally lived independently, pursuing their own lives in individualistic ways.

    However, some level of influence remained in effect as needed.

    A life devoid of desire and purpose would inevitably degrade.

    In Horace¡¯s case, it seemed Dead December had suggested he roam the stormy sea, ¡°recruiting¡± any trespassers as a sort of pastime.

    Focusing his obsession on the past oaths and grudges he¡¯d let slip away.

    Isaac believed it was this very obsession that had driven Horace mad.

    ¡°I swear.¡±

    Isaac took another step forward.

    To break that unseen chain wrapped around Horace¡¯s neck.

    ¡°I will reim the Holy Land.¡±

    At Isaac¡¯s simple yet resolute deration, Horace felt a tremor run through him. He had already heard these words upon first seeing Isaac. But now, they resonated with a weight and conviction beyondpare. ???

    Isaac¡¯s face, half-covered by writhing tentacles, moved steadily forward, sword in hand. Even Horace, for a moment, felt fear. He wanted to release the helm and retreat, yet the ship of Aidany directly before him.

    To withdraw in front of this junior would be an affront to his pride. Besides, the corpse of Delrod Ciel hung just above him.

    Thud! Dead December¡¯s force surged again toward Isaac. His eyes rolled back briefly, revealing the whites, yet he didn¡¯t falter.

    Horace ground his teeth and shouted.

    [You devotees of the Codex of Light scoff at oaths!]

    A thunderous roar ran through the waves, shaking the ship.

    [When you arrive, you¡¯ll find excuses to back out just like the rest!]

    Isaac bit his tongue, enduring the pain to hold his ground.

    Blood flowed from his eyes as he red at Horace, who locked gazes with him.

    In that instant, as Isaac delved into Horace¡¯s psyche, Horace simultaneously prated Isaac¡¯s.

    ¡°If neither angels nor gods are to be trusted, then I swear by my own name¡ªIsaac Issacrea.¡±

    Horace felt an eerie silence settle over him.

    In a strange fusion of visions, neither able to distinguish whose memories were whose, Horace sensed Isaac¡¯s unmistakable resolve. Isaac¡¯s words in this unified consciousness felt as though they were Horace¡¯s own.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    And that deration was as sincere as any oath Horace had ever taken.

    Isaac would reim the Holy Land. Cutting down whatever stood in his way¡ªbe it angel, demon, or god.

    [What do you think you are?]

    Without hesitation, Isaac answered, giving the only answer that would ever be true.

    ¡°I am human.¡±

    Isaac continued, ¡°Just a human.¡±

    Finally, he stood before Arachel Brant. He adjusted his grip on Kaldwin, taking a stance like a fierce lion preparing to strike.

    The deadliest swordsmanship in the Codex of Light, a style that devoured all divinity.

    Dead December¡¯s fury erupted, and he poured all his will against Isaac.

    For a moment, Isaac¡¯s consciousness went white, his mind nearly obliterated.

    Yet, his hand did not falter.

    [Unyielding (temporary effect)]

    Regardless of conditions such as fear, unconsciousness, shock, or death, the user¡¯s body will continue a predetermined action for a short time if consciousnesspses. The duration is proportional to the user¡¯s willpower. If consciousness returns, the unyielding state ends.

    [Impossible¡­]

    The effect Isaac had gained from devouring Delrod Ciel activated, and he swung his sword. Arachel Brant clumsily raised his weapon to parry.

    But the golden lion¡¯s de cleaved through his sword, armor, bones, and Dead December¡¯s influence in one sweep.

    ***

    With a burst, Arachel¡¯s remains crumbled, and Isaac¡¯s vision cleared as if a fog had lifted from his mind.

    Dead December¡¯s influence over Horace had been anchored through Arachel Brant¡¯s remains.

    Isaac barely regained his bnce, managing to stay upright.

    ¡®It¡¯s fortunate Dead December didn¡¯t know about Unyielding.¡¯

    If he had, Isaac would¡¯ve needed a moreplex, difficult approach. Thanks to that ignorance, he had rid himself of Dead December¡¯s influence with surprising ease.

    But it wasn¡¯t just Isaac¡¯s mind that cleared. Horace, too, felt a sudden rity, disoriented by the unexpected freedom. The obsessive fixation on past oaths and grudges faded, bing distant memories.

    [Is this¡­ a miracle, one that erases hatred?]

    Isaac looked as though he might copse, yet he held back a smile as he responded.

    ¡°It¡¯s just the way things are.¡±

    [Just the way things are?]

    ¡°People naturally forget past grudges and memories over time. You already avenged yourself; clinging to it for 180 years was what was odd. Maybe find a healthier hobby from now on.¡±

    *Krrrroo-boom!* Right then, Tuhalin¡¯s thunder hammer resounded in the distance with twice its usual force. In the background, a ckened serpent crumbled to dust.

    Tuhalin, too, had defeated Dead December¡¯s pet snake.

    Isaac realized that by destroying two of Dead December¡¯s prized toys, he¡¯d likely earned a deep enmity. But this was the Immortal Order¡¯s territory. Here, umting grudges with the Immortal Order¡¯s angels was inevitable.

    [Indeed.]

    Horace watched as Aidan¡¯s ship, the vanquished serpent, the dying whirlpool, and finally, Arachel Brant¡¯s remains¡ªall the things binding him¡ªvanished from sight.

    His time had passed, and new things hade.

 Chapter 347.1

    [¡°Thank you, Isaac¡­ but you didn¡¯t expect me to join your side, did you?¡±]

    Even though Isaac had restored Horace¡¯s rity, it didn¡¯t mean he had won.

    Now that Horace was undead, Dead December could exert his influence on him at any time. If Horace chose not to oppose Isaac here, he could be branded as an ¡°apostate,¡± a fate that would strip him of his will and enve him until forgiveness was granted.

    No faith was ever kind to those who renounced it.

    And, more importantly, Horace himself had no intention of turning away.

    [¡°One betrayal in life is more than enough. By joining the Immortal Order, I¡¯ve already broken my vow to the Salt Council. There will be no second time.¡±]

    No longer a member of the Salt Council, he wasn¡¯t bound to uphold any vow or truthpulsions. His willingness to lie easily when first meeting Isaac had proven that.

    Yet Horace still seemed uninterested in apostasy.

    After all, as an undead, renouncing the Immortal Order was hardly possible.¡°I¡¯m not asking for your apostasy.¡±

    [Then what are you asking?]

    ¡°I¡¯m asking for you to lose, with honor. Acknowledge your shorings, feel the weight of the years and the neglect of your god, but surrender with dignity, as if it doesn¡¯t faze you.¡±

    Horace looked at him as if to say, *How is that any different from renouncing?* But soon he grasped the difference.

    After a moment, he looked at Isaac, speechless, before finally speaking.

    [¡°You want me to give up the ship?¡±]

    ¡°Victoryes with spoils. Elil himself considers it a sacred right.¡±

    Horace gazed silently at the stormy horizon.

    If he scuttled this ship rather than handing it over, Isaac would have no way to reach Miarma through the storm. He would be forced to turn back or reach his destination battered and barely alive like the Seventh Dawn Army.

    Could he truly survive the Salt Desert in that state?

    Horace remembered that the spirit and sense of duty of the Seventh Dawn Army were no less than Isaac¡¯s. Even if Isaac didn¡¯t falter, those around him might.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    But Horace did not wish for that oue.

    Heughed to himself, letting go of the helm and drawing his cuss.

    [¡°Trying to take my ship, are you? Kill me first, for a captain never leaves his ship!¡±]

    Isaac couldn¡¯t help butugh too.

    He was utterly drained, but at this moment, he couldn¡¯t let Horace¡¯s spirit go unchallenged. For the captain of the Salt Council, surrendering his ship without a fight was simply not an option.

    ***

    As Horace¡¯s ghost ship came to a halt, Aidan and Yenkos¡¯s vessels gradually approached. They had anticipated the oue, yet the eerie silence on Horace¡¯s ship unsettled them. Tuhalin, defying his squat stature, leapt aboard the ghost ship.

    ¡°Isaac!¡±

    The shipy as silent as a graveyard.

    A chill ran through Tuhalin. He felt an impulse to smash the ship with his hammer immediately, yet he knew this would unleash the surrounding storm upon them.

    ¡°Where¡¯s the Holy Grail Knight? And Captain Horace?¡±

    Aidan and Yenkos joined him, climbing aboard to search for Isaac. Just as they were about to enter the ship, bubbles began to froth around the vessel.

    One by one, ghost ships emerged from the turbulent waters, their shattered forms restored to a semnce of their original shapes, even the ones wrecked or sunk in the whirlpool.

    Tuhalin growled and raised his hammer, ready to destroy the ghost ships. At that moment, the cabin door creaked open, and Isaac appeared, holding a skull wrapped in the Colors from Beyond.

    He looked bewildered at the gathered captains and Tuhalin.

    ¡°What¡¯s everyone doing?¡±

    ¡°Isaac! We thought you were trapped¡­ What were you doing in there?¡±

    ¡°Oh, I was just exining the change in admiralty to the Orca Fleet andpleting the recognition process. The ghosts aboard the ships are rather docile and obedient. It seems theyck any self-will, as if they¡¯ve been ¡®enved¡¯.¡±

    Noticing Tuhalin¡¯s raised hammer and the fleet of ghost ships, Isaac added,

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. There are no undead aboard.¡±

    Isaac had cast all the ship¡¯s undead overboard. Though their will had eroded and their purpose faded, he didn¡¯t know what awaited them in the deep sea. Perhaps they would find their way back to their homnd, somehow. But he couldn¡¯t care for the souls bound to the Immortal Order¡¯s control.

    Their lives had ended in Miarma 180 years ago.

    Aidan¡¯s jaw dropped in astonishment at Isaac¡¯s words.

    ¡°Did you¡­ did you actually subdue Captain Horace¡¯s Orca Fleet and the Seventh Dawn Army?¡±

    ¡°Technically, only the ships.¡±

    Though the feat and spoils were monumental, Isaac spoke calmly.

    These ghost ships would serve no purpose once they crossed the sea. If brought into the Codex of Light¡¯s territory, they would be incinerated immediately, and Holy Land Luay far ind, beyond the reach of these ships.

    He couldn¡¯t take any undead with a shred of consciousness, nor even those enved; they belonged to the Immortal Emperor.

    But the ghost ships themselves, akin to sacred artifacts, would move in ord with the captain¡¯s will. And the key was the skull infused with the soul of the previous captain.

    ¡°It¡¯s Captain Horace. He agreed to surrender his ship to me after his defeat.¡±

    Aidan¡¯s eyes widened at the skull in Isaac¡¯s hand.

    ¡°Is that¡­ Captain Horace¡¯s skull?¡±

    ¡°Yes. It¡¯s devoid of consciousness now.¡±

    The act of relinquishing the fleet was not an act of apostasy but one of defeat, and Horace had room to justify it as such.

    Yet, a punishment awaited him nheless. His soul was now bound to a small skull, stripped of self-awareness.

    No longer a captain, he had be little more than a relic used to guide the Orca Fleet.

    Isaac spoke of it as if it were nothing, but Aidan and Yenkos, members of the Salt Council, saw it differently. They stared at Captain Horace¡¯s skull as if they might lick it and im ownership.

    Before they could start muttering nonsense about ¡°finders keepers,¡± Isaac subtly hid Horace¡¯s skull behind his back.

    Tuhalin looked at the skull with a conflicted expression, momentarily torn over whether using the remains of the dead tomand spirits was the act of a lich and therefore heretical. However, he quickly cast his doubts aside, assessing it as a ¡°useful tool¡± in the pragmatic spirit of a World¡¯s Forge artisan.

    ¡°So, what¡¯s next?¡±

    ¡°What else?¡±

    Isaac lifted Horace¡¯s skull. Immediately, the entire Orca Fleet turned north, setting course toward the waiting Issacrea Fleet.

    ¡°We bring our allies and, this time, reim the Holy Land.¡±

 Chapter 347.2

    ¡°So, what¡¯s next?¡±

    ¡°What else?¡±

    Isaac lifted Horace¡¯s skull. Immediately, the entire Orca Fleet turned north, setting course toward the waiting Issacrea Fleet.

    ¡°We bring our allies and, this time, reim the Holy Land.¡±

    ***

    A father is the first wall a son must face, his earliest rival. A son grows by learning disappointment and authority from his father, and when he finally surpasses his father, he is prepared to be one himself.

    But within the cycle of rebirths dictated by the Olkan Code, this besplicated.

    For most orcs, the lineage of one¡¯s father is uncertain, so their n societies are matrilineal. Yet things differ for the most honorable raiders in the Khan¡¯s army. The Khan is both a father and a symbol of authority, and through him, orcs learn what a father should be. However, the rare exception existed in An, a keshik of the Olkan Code, who knew precisely who his father was.

    His father was none other than the current Khan, Sahn Khan.[An, look ahead.]

    An lifted his gaze and focused on his father, Sahn Khan, standing on the opposite side of the in. Since the recent defeat at Issacrea, Sahn had visibly withered. His appearances on the battlefield had grown rare, and the pace of the Great Raid had slowed to a crawl.

    Whether it was the shock of his defeat or the loss of his beloved steed that had weakened him, none could tell. But the orcs had begun whispering.

    They said Sahn Khan could no longer wield the Netherworld Bow.

    [No one knows what the Netherworld itself thinks, for choosing the Khan is its sole authority. But it is true that no one has seen Sahn Khan draw the Netherworld Bow since his defeat by Issacrea¡¯s lord. Do you understand what that means?]

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    [Then go and kill Sahn Khan. If he cannot wield the Netherworld Bow, the next Khan will be you.]

    With the calm authority of a Manseungja, shemanded An to kill the supreme leader of the Olkan Code.

    The words were hardly shocking. The Olkan Code had always changed Khans this way. When Khans could no longer wield the Netherworld Bow, most voluntarily stepped down by taking their own lives. However, not all could bring themselves to do so.

    It was likely that Sahn would be one of thetter.

    ¡°What if he can still shoot the Netherworld Bow?¡±

    A question with an obvious answer, yet An wanted to hear it from the Manseungja¡¯s own mouth.

    [Then you must die. But die facing forward, for that is the only choice left for you, a keshik who defied the Khan¡¯smands.]

    Most orcs knew that An had taken a divergent path from Sahn. The only reason he had not been assassinated or executed was because of the Manseungja¡¯s protection.

    An sighed and scraped the ground with his hoof.

    The earth was soft and uneven¡ªpoor footing for a charge. If Sahn drew the Netherworld Bow, he could likely shoot twice at this distance. An knew he couldn¡¯t evade two arrows and still close in for the kill.

    All he could do was hope that the bow would not be drawn.

    [Go.]

    An¡¯s massive bodyunched forward. His speed rivaled that of a flying arrow.

    Sahn deftly raised the Netherworld Bow. Despite his aged and wrinkled arm, his muscles swelled with strength unbefitting his years. The bowstring tightened under the iron-tipped arrow. An clenched his jaw.

    The distance closed by half. Close enough that Sahn would likely only need one shot. Yet he held back, whether waiting for a perfect chance or desiring closer proximity.

    An charged head-on, eyes fixed on the arrow aimed at him.

    They were close enough to see each other¡¯s expressions.

    Close enough to see each other¡¯s eyes.

    Just when An reached the range where the slightest release of the bowstring would skewer him¡ª

    An¡¯s curved de shed through Sahn¡¯s shoulder, down to his sternum.

    Sahn let out a brief gasp and copsed. The taut bowstring slipped from his fingers, yet the arrow did not fly, nor did it even budge. Numerous eyes watched, yet none dared voice shock or anger.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    ¡°¡­Olkan, I return to the yellow ins you have prepared after my wandering is done.¡±

    Kneeling, the Khan continued his quiet prayer.

    ¡°But and without my steed can never be a paradise for me¡­¡±

    With hisst words, Sahn released his final breath, leaving nothing else for An¡ªno advice, no anger.

    As Sahn¡¯s bow touched the ground, it absorbed his final breath, emitting a soft, golden light. Like every Khan before him, Sahn would not reincarnate but would be one with the Netherworld Bow. Thus, his power and wisdom would aid the next Khan.

    An breathed heavily, reflecting on Sahn¡¯sst words.

    ¡®Were you so unwilling to part from a world without your beloved steed that you clung to life, even knowing you were unfit to be Khan? Did you wish to find a way to that afterlife of other faiths?¡¯

    To the Olkan Code, the Netherworld was a realm for plundered faith and wisdom. While some thought of it as a ce where one might pige beside Olkan in glory, few saw it as a spiritual refuge.

    To them, true valuey here on this earth.

    Thus, Sahn Khan, now one with the Netherworld Bow, would never be reunited with his beloved steed.

    The mare who had been his beloved and An¡¯s mother had likely found her rest in another paradise.

    At that moment, someone stepped forward to wipe the blood from An¡¯s body. It was Teherma, the shaman-general who had served Sahn. Draping a yellow nket over An¡¯s shoulders, he wrapped a string of prayer beads around his neck and muttered a prayer.

    Only then did An look around. All the orcsy prostrate before him, honoring the birth of a new Khan. An felt aplex surge of emotions. Just then, the Manseungja whispered,

    [Raise the Netherworld Bow.]

    Anplied, lifting the bow high.

    [As Khan, make your first decree for the Great Raid. Shoot the bow in the direction you wish to go.]

    Although she spoke of a raid, it was clear that she meant for him to decide the nation¡¯s direction.

    For nomads, choosing a path was a matter of life and death, a decision that determined the fate of the tribe.

    If An fired west, it meant continuing the Great Raid. If he fired east, it signified a return to their ancestral homnd, the Great ins of Man Sahar. Either path would be difficult.

    A figure came to his mind.

    Isaac Issacrea, the Holy Grail Knight. The one who had delivered defeat to the Khan¡¯s army.

    After a moment¡¯s consideration, An lightly plucked the bowstring.

    The immense Netherworld Bow was heavy, impossible to lift even for ordinary Khans. Drawing the bow was another matter entirely. Yet as An held it and drew the bowstring, it bent like a reed. Power pulsed through the empty string.

    The orcs¡¯ eyes widened as he raised it.

    With a mighty *thrum*, the bowstring released, sending a glowing arc soaring into the sky.

    The orcs watched the receding light, ncing around uneasily, worried that their new Khan mightck a sense of direction. But An soon spoke to reassure them.

    ¡°We march south.¡±

    South. Thend where the Codex of Light and the Immortal Order shed.

    Thend of Holy Land Lua.

    The new direction of the Olkan Code¡¯s Great Raid had been decided.

 Chapter 348.1

    ¡°¡­ It seems you still haven¡¯t given up on reiming Midas¡¯ Hand.¡±

    Isaac had clearly warned her, yet it seemed she still hadn¡¯t abandoned the idea of acquiring Midas¡¯ Hand.

    Well, after all, she had already wasted too much money and time to give up just because of a few words from Isaac.

    Isaac, tearing off a piece of pork leg, spoke again.

    ¡°Since I¡¯ve been treated to such a fine meal, I suppose I should repay the favor. But let¡¯s make one thing clear¡ªif you manage to secure Midas¡¯ Hand, I¡¯ll be the first to inspect it. Once I¡¯m certain there¡¯s no issue, I¡¯ll hand it over.¡±

    ¡°

    ¡°This isn¡¯t something to negotiate. I¡¯ll confirm for myself whether my concerns are unfounded before I hand it over. After all, even you don¡¯t really know what kind of relic it is, do you?¡±

    Leonora shrugged, as if admitting she had no argument there.

    They only knew that Midas¡¯ Hand was a ¡°relic that grants wishes,¡± but its origins and true nature were unknown. If it turned out to be something as cursed as the ¡°Monkey¡¯s Paw¡± Isaac knew of, he nned to destroy or bury it immediately, regardless of their rtionship with the Golden Idol Guild.¡°You¡¯re saying you hold the hilt of the sword. Fine. But don¡¯t forget that you¡¯re still a member of the tinum Society.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, sure.¡±

    Isaac knew that Leonora would never be satisfied with just that. She would certainly try something behind his back. Whether by nting a spy or bribing someone, she¡¯d make an attempt to steal Midas¡¯ Hand. That was just her nature.

    Her misfortune was that Isaac knew her far too well.

    ¡°I¡¯ll have to take care of it as soon as it¡¯s in my hands.¡±

    But whatever the oue, it was still a matter for the distant future. Before they could get their hands on Midas¡¯ Hand, they first needed to reim the Holy Land.

    And before that, they had to cross that nightmarish sea.

    ***

    The Dawn Army of Issacrea was diligently loading the necessary supplies onto the ships.

    There had been some concern about how to board Elil¡¯s warhorses, but since they had already crossed the sea once when moving from the kingdom to the continent, the knights efficiently secured the horses on board. There were no unruly incidents from the horses.

    While Isaac watched the loading process, someone approached him.

    ¡°Master, atst, I find you alone.¡±

    ¡°Your Majesty.¡±

    It was Edelred.

    He had been one of the people most delighted when Isaac had emerged from Milishar Monastery. Though he had maintained a solemn facade in front of his subordinates, now he approached with a bright smile.

    ¡°I always believed you would return alive. There¡¯s no way someone like Dera Heman could stand against Elil¡¯s grand warrior.¡±

    For a moment, Isaac was unsure whether to feel insulted as a Pdin of the Codex of Light or to feel pride as a warrior of Elil.

    He replied with a serious expression.

    ¡°Dera Heman was strong. I nearly died.¡±

    ¡°Truly? Was he really that powerful?¡±

    Edelred asked with a concerned expression.

    ¡°In truth, I was more worried about the Inquisitor¡¯s treacherous schemes than Dera Heman himself. I know that there are honorable warriors within the Codex of Light, but I¡¯ve heard many stories of those who were wrongfully used and met unjust deaths rather than falling honorably in battle¡­¡±

    Isaac thought about how he had nearly died at the hands of the angel, rather than Dera Heman, which made Edelred¡¯s worries not entirely unfounded.

    Even Ashen, the Archangel of Elil, had been a distinguished Holy Grail Knight in life, only to be burned at the stake by the Inquisitors.

    However, Edelred soon smiled again.

    ¡°But here you are, having escaped unscathed. It reminds me once again that a warrior needs not only strength and skill but also wisdom.¡±

    ¡°Please make sure Reyna Hilde hears that.¡±

    Isaac muttered, thinking of the famous ¡°Boar Knight¡± of the Aldeon Knights.

    ¡°Still, hearing you say that only piques my curiosity about Dera Heman¡¯s strength. Everyone spoke so highly of him, yet here you are, having defeated him without so much as a scratch¡­¡±N?v(el)B\\jnn

    Isaac found Edelred¡¯s uncharacteristic curiosity somewhat surprising. Wasn¡¯t Edelred known to despise the chivalric way, finding things like strengthpetitions tedious? Yet, as Isaac observed him more closely, he could see whaty beneath the surface.

    Isaac smiled and faced Edelred directly.

    ¡°How about we spar lightly for old times¡¯ sake, Your Majesty? I can give you a small demonstration of Dera Heman¡¯s skill.¡±

    Edelred¡¯s face brightened instantly.

    It seemed that what he truly wanted was a chance for some ¡°training¡± from Isaac. Though it wasn¡¯t so much a lesson as a chance for him to show how much he had grown and improved in front of his teacher. His body had grownrger, and his skills had progressed rapidly, so it was only natural for him to feel that way.

    ¡®At this stage, he¡¯s a Swordmaster. He¡¯s at that age where he wants to show off,¡¯ Isaac thought to himself.

    Isaac drew Kaldwin, and Edelred unsheathed Kaldbruch.

    As soon as Edelred unsheathed Kaldbruch, his eyes began to glow a faint green. It seemed he had finally learned to release the sword¡¯s power at a ¡®moderate level.¡¯ He would need more than moderation to face Isaac, but they couldn¡¯t exactly risk breaking the ship.

    Isaac, too, had to hold back his strength. Both were bound by simr restrictions in this fight¡ªneither could use their full power.

    ¡®Let¡¯s see how far he¡¯se,¡¯ Isaac thought.

    He was the first to move.

    Rather than an offensive stance, Isaac adopted a defensive one, as it would allow him to observe more. He aimed a clean, straightforward sh from top to bottom, fast but not overlyplex. Edelred, though slightly surprised by the speed, managed to block it cleanly. Then, using the rebound, he immediately executed an advanced sword technique.

    Crack!

    Three streaks of energy suddenly appeared on the deck, surging toward Isaac. He was momentarily taken aback.

    ¡®Three paths? Not eight yet? I see¡­¡¯

 Chapter 348.2

    Noticing their worry, Isaac offered a reassuring exnation.

    ¡°True, these are creatures from the Outer Boundary, but those that have wandered this far into the boundary are weakened. And just like us, this cursed sun and salt are lethal to them too. Just ensure the soldiers don¡¯t suffer any casualties, and we¡¯ll be fine.¡±

    ¡°Hm, in that case, I¡¯ll take the vanguard,¡± Edelred volunteered, stepping forward. Isaac had been nning to ask him for this very role, so he was pleased.

    ¡°Would you? That¡¯d be a great help.¡±

    ¡°Of course. This salt desert looks suited for a horse¡¯s gallop. I¡¯ve never actually encountered an Outer Boundary creature myself, but I did see a skull of one in the sanctum beneath the Holy See.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve faced them before,¡± added Lianne. ¡°Though I doubt they¡¯ll be exactly the same¡­¡±

    Those from the Gerthonia Empire, the hearnd of the Codex of Light, rarely saw these beings, but those living in the outskirts had glimpsed creatures from the Outer Boundary. However, this wasn¡¯t the task Isaac needed them to focus on.

    ¡°If you push forward while clearing out these creatures, your horses will tire quickly. First, reach Miarma as fast as possible and prepare a campsite for the following troops. That way, we can tend to the heatstroke victims when they arrive. Look for any wells and buildings that can be used for shelter.¡±

    It was more of an advance party than a vanguard. Edelred looked a bit taken aback by the change from his expected role, but this task was crucial. The greatest enemy was not a few stray monsters but the relentless sun that had defeated even the Seventh Dawn Army.¡°Tuhalin, I¡¯d like you and the priests of the Forge to clear a path by handling the creatures. If anyone can withstand the heat, it¡¯s a World¡¯s Forge artisan.¡±

    Tuhalin grinned. The Salt Desert was a wide, t expanse with nothing but Outer Boundary monsters to hinder them. Without those creatures, they could move even faster.

    ¡°This is barely a warm-up.¡±

    ¡°Perfect. I¡¯ll leave it to you.¡±

    ¡°Commander, what¡¯s our role then?¡± Rottenhammer asked. Isaac already had a n for the Codex pdins, who would face the miracle of the Lighthouse Keeper head-on.

    ¡°I have the most important task for you.¡±

    ¡°Oh? And what would that be?¡±

    ¡°Pray for us to cross this desert safely.¡±

    ***

    ¡°Ang.¡±

    Half a day after Elil and the vanguard had set off, the Issacrea Dawn Army began to move.

    Isaac approached the youngest member of the Dawn Army, Ang, who was being escorted by knights from Issacrea. Though she, as usual, disyed calmposure, Isaac knew the heat of the desert would be particrly grueling for her.

    ¡°I¡¯m still not sure if it was right to bring you here. But since we¡¯re already here, we have to keep going, don¡¯t we?¡±

    Ang didn¡¯t reply, but it seemed like she gave a slight nod. He still wasn¡¯t certain of the exact knowledge she held, but whatever it was, it would greatly ease their reiming of Holy Land Lua. ?

    Still, Isaac was more focused on breaking the curse that chained her mind, restoring her fully. If reiming Lua came as part of that, then so be it.

    ¡°It¡¯ll be tough, but hang on just a bit longer. Understand?¡±

    This time, she nodded clearly.

    Isaac¡¯s next destination was the group of people still gathered on the beach.

    Since they couldn¡¯t bring the Salt Council¡¯s ship into the desert, Isaac had entrusted Horace¡¯s skull to Yenkos. Holding the skull of his ancient hero, Yenkos looked both awed and a little overwhelmed but also somewhat excited about the power to control the legendary Orca Fleet.

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to wait for us in this inhospitable ce. Feel free to return to Odryf Harbor and wait there.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d love to im I could wait here as a show of dedication, but¡­ the salt levels here are so high that there¡¯s not a fish in sight. I¡¯ll station a ry ship and arrange for periodic visits to check in.¡±

    Isaac nodded. The fleet was their only supply line and retreat route across the sea. A ry would be more than enough reassurance.

    If things went wrong, he could summon them with the Salt Council¡¯s relic Amunds had given him.

    However, Isaac knew the reason for their loyalty. Unlike other captains, some Salt Council members had chosen to join the Dawn Army onnd.

    Among them were Aidan and a few of his crew.

    Grinning awkwardly, Aidan exined, ¡°I¡¯m a captain, yes, but I¡¯m also a bit of an amateur archaeologist. I couldn¡¯t miss the chance to visit Miarma.¡±

    Isaac knew exactly what they were hoping for, which made him feel a bit guilty.

    ¡°I hate to disappoint, but I don¡¯t have a way to break through the Salt Desert and let the sea flood in¡­ yet. It¡¯ll be a while before that can happen. But I¡¯ll be looking into it.¡±

    A lie. Isaac knew exactly how to achieve their dream, having reached an ending with the Salt Council¡¯s help in the past. But he didn¡¯t have the necessary resources now, and it might interfere with reiming the Holy Land.

    Their wish would have to wait until after Lua was reimed.

    Aidan nodded understandingly. ¡°That¡¯s alright. I didn¡¯t expect everything to be solved the moment we arrived in Miarma.¡±

    Yenkos smiled. ¡°Honestly, my biggest fear was that you¡¯d say, ¡®It¡¯ll be easy.¡¯ I¡¯ve never seen anything go smoothly when you¡¯ve put it that way.¡±

    ¡°¡­Me?¡± Isaac blinked, caught off guard.

    ¡°Think back,¡± Yenkos continued, ¡°the Drowned King, the kingdom of Elil, fighting Dera Heman in Odryf, even the Nightmare Strait¡­ Every time you said, ¡®It¡¯ll be simple,¡¯ things got pretty rough, didn¡¯t they?¡±n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    Isaac stared at them nkly for a moment.

    That was true. He¡¯d scraped by, often by a stroke of luck or a near brush with death. It dawned on him then that his idea of ¡°simple¡± might not align with that of others.

    Whenever an angel obstructed his goal, things teetered on the edge of impossible.

    That was just how this world worked. But Isaac knew how to make things happen ¡°despite¡± angelic interference, even if it meant facing near-death situations along the way.

    Many failed to seed even in death, so if he achieved his aim despite an angel¡¯s interference, wasn¡¯t that ¡°simple¡± enough?

    ¡®Maybe it¡¯s a difference in how we value life,¡¯ he mused.

    Isaac was living in this world with the mindset of a yer. Life was precious, of course, but he saw it differently than those born and raised here. To him, victory was still victory, even if he barely survived with 1 HP left.

    ¡°This time, there¡¯s no need to worry,¡± Isaac said confidently.

    Yet Aidan and Yenkos exchanged nces, their expressions darkening slightly.

 Chapter 349:

    ¡°¡­Well, in any case, we have no way of breaking through the Salt Desert other than trusting in Isaac, the ¡®Dreamer¡¯ mentioned in the prophecy.¡±

    Though it sounded as if they trusted Isaac reluctantly, the members of the Salt Council did indeed ce their faith in him. For now, that was sufficient. Even Aidan, who had witnessed Isaac¡¯s unsettling side more than once, remained loyal enough to keep silent.

    ¡°We¡¯ll wait here for about a week before departing, just in case. Should anything happen, don¡¯t hesitate to return. Now that the Orca Fleet is in our hands, the Nightmare Strait is no longer a threat to us.¡±

    ¡°And don¡¯t even think about sailing back to Odryf Port with that fleet.¡±

    ¡°Oh, of course not.¡±

    Yenkos chuckled, patting Horace¡¯s skull as if she might end up gilding it for decoration.

    ¡°Sir Isaac, we¡¯re ready.¡±

    Just then, Hesabel hurried over to report. It meant the main force had departed, leaving only Isaac and his unit behind.

    Elil was assigned to reconnaissance, with Tuhalin at the lead, the Issacrea Knight Order at the core, and Isaac covering the rear. They had chosen a formation that prioritized speed, as no organized attack was expected.Isaac nodded, bidding farewell to Yenkos.

    ¡°Then, we¡¯ll see each other again.¡±

    ¡°Yes, hopefully near the shores of Mirmia.¡±

    ***

    Isaac flew through the skies over the Salt Desert on Nel¡¯s back, surveying the destendscape.

    Hesabel was particrly vulnerable to this desert¡¯s harsh environment. Only her eyes were exposed, but even they were nearly scorched by the cursed sun¡¯s intense heat. In the end, she was wrapped tightly in cloth and stowed like cargo in a wagon.

    Isaac assumed this vulnerability was due to Hesabel being a vampire. But once he took to the skies on Nel, he realized it wasn¡¯t just that.

    ¡®The reflected light here is no joke.¡¯

    Though the Salt Desert was mostly yellowish-brown, it reflected the heat and light with an intensity that was overwhelming. It reminded him of the snow blindness one could suffer after staring at an icy in for too long. To make matters worse, the cursed sun hung directly in their path, making it difficult to look away or find shade.

    ¡®The soldiers might suffer more exhaustion than expected. Can they handle it?¡¯

    Isaac carefully monitored the soldiers for any signs of stragglers or casualties. Thanks to his preparations¡ªcovering themselves with heat-resistant cloth and carrying plenty of water¡ªthey seemed to be holding up for now. The dry climate of the Salt Desert made it somewhat bearable as long as they shielded themselves from direct sunlight.

    The Issacrea Knight Order¡¯s prayers and hymns apanied them as well.

    Isaac himself refrained from praying to the Lighthouse Keeper, who he knew wouldn¡¯t listen anyway. Instead, they offered a prayer for the scattering and reflecting of light. Although the pdins struggled to grasp the concept of ¡®reflecting¡¯ or ¡®scattering¡¯ light¡ªsomething that should ideally be embraced¡ªit was not entirely against their teachings.

    After all, no one could withstand the pure brilliance and heat emanating from Urbansus. That light, softened and moderated after passing through the hands of angels, popes, and priests, was already tempered. When applied toward the cursed sun, this created a makeshift ¡®miracle canopy¡¯ that shielded them.

    It couldn¡¯t block everything, but it reduced the intensity enough to be somewhat bearable. The ground¡¯s radiating heat, however, remained a constant challenge.

    ¡®A side effect, perhaps¡­ we¡¯re too conspicuous.¡¯

    The Issacrea Dawn Army, with their radiant prayers refracting the cursed sunlight, had be a gleaming, jewel-like force visible from kilometers away. Every monster in the area would likely be drawn toward them.

    Yet, what irritated Isaac most was that cursed sun, more so than the monsters.

    After all, monsters could be struck down.

    ¡®Even so, there are fewer monsters than I feared.¡¯

    While they¡¯d found several dead monsters likely felled by Elil¡¯s forces, there were no signs of living ones.

    Not entirely, anyway. For some time, Isaac had noticed one creature lurking on the fringes of the Salt Desert¡ªa monster watching them from a distance.

    Its movements hinted at awareness, and it kept a cautious distance from Isaac. He remained alert. Naturally, intelligent creatures posed more of a challenge than merely powerful ones.

    ¡°Grrr¡­¡±

    At that moment, Nel let out an irritated rumble. The intense heat was exhausting even for the dragon. Flying beneath the full re of the cursed sun had worn her out. Realizing this, Isaac decided it would be better to descend, allowing her to rest and to only fly when absolutely necessary.

    ¡®That creature¡­ I¡¯ll kill it the first chance I get.¡¯

    ***

    After marching for about half a day, soldiers started showing signs of fatigue, despite every precaution taken against the heat. The ring reflected light, the dizzying mirages, and the endless horizon that distorted their sense of direction had long eroded the sentries¡¯ focus.

    ¡°Aaaargh!¡±

    Just then, a scream pierced the air.

    A section of the Salt Desert copsed, sucking in several soldiers. The ground had given way into a funnel-shaped pit of salt, its edges widening as it continued to crumble. Rottenhammer quickly shouted out an order.

    ¡°Fall back! Pdins, to the front!¡±

    The pdins sprang forward, readying themselves to leap into the salt pit.

    ¡°The creature is beneath the surface! Stay alert!¡±

    Isaac quickly issued a warning. He had recognized the creature¡¯s identity.

    This monster, called the ¡°Desert Phantom¡± as a nod to the antlion, hid itself beneath the salt pits instead of sand, ambushing unlucky creatures¡ªoften other monsters¡ªthat ventured into its territory. Within its domain, the Desert Phantom could prey on even stronger creatures, pulling them into the pit to devour them. Rather than engaging it directly, it would have been better to strike it from afar with Tuhalin¡¯s thunder hammer.

    Unfortunately, Tuhalin was too far away, and the Desert Phantom wasn¡¯t about to stay still.

    As the pdins hesitated on the edge of the pit, brown tentacles erupted from the ground, wrapping around the knights¡¯ ankles and pulling them in. From within the funnel-shaped pit, a massive maw emerged.

    It resembled a grotesque flower, its insides flipped outwards,posed of strange, writhing flesh. Instead of a stamen, sharp teeth and a parched tongue swirled within. Tentacles anchored below reached up to seize victims who struggled to escape, dragging them toward the gaping maw.

    ¡°You fiend!¡±

    The pdins, true to their order, instantly drew their swords and severed the tentacles. Rottenhammer, seeing the pdins being pulled in, rushed forward without hesitation. Isaac did not attempt to stop him.

    ¡°How dare such a vile beast stand in the way of the Dawn Army!¡±

    Even as he slid uncontrobly toward the pit, Rottenhammer swung his hammer, tearing apart the tentacles. mes engulfed his weapon, scorching any tentacles it touched. He mmed his hammer against the ground, sending a wave of heat that caused the Desert Phantom to recoil, thrashing as it retreated into the earth.

    Yet, several soldiers were still entangled and being pulled down. The pdins worked quickly to rescue them, but three were still bound. At that moment, Isaac leaped into the pit, severing two of the remaining soldiers¡¯ bindings in one swift stroke.

    But one soldier had already been swallowed by the monster¡¯s maw. Just as a collective gasp of despair began to rise, Isaac hurled himself further into the beast.

    ¡°Isaac!¡±

    Rottenhammer shouted in horror, raising his hammer to strike down the creature, but the Desert Phantom had already burrowed back into the ground, sealing the pit with mounds of salt. Rottenhammer stared at the copsed hole, his expression stricken.

    Then, with a powerful crash, the Desert Phantom erupted from the earth once more, its elongated body writhing out in agony as it iled its tentacles. It then slumped over, lifeless. From a gash in its side, Isaac emerged, helping the rescued soldier to his feet.

    ¡°Good heavens, do you have multiple lives or something?¡±

    Rottenhammer, uncharacteristically flustered, scolded him, forgetting his usual manners. He went on, halfmenting, half-scolding, about the importance ofmand, symbolism, and authority. What would happen to their alliance if Isaac were to die?

    Isaac responded, unfazed.

    ¡°If you truly thought I¡¯d die from something like this, you wouldn¡¯t have followed me in the first ce.¡±

    ¡°You¡­!¡±

    ¡°I knew I wouldn¡¯t die, and I was confident I could save him. If I chose not to act out of some sense of restraint, it would be as good as killing him myself. Wouldn¡¯t you agree, Sir Rottenhammer?¡±

    Rottenhammer had no response to that, sighing deeply.

    ¡°To keep up with you, I may need a spare heart. Mine nearly stopped.¡±

    Meanwhile, the rescued soldier, though too weakened to stand, repeatedly expressed his gratitude.

    ¡°Th-thank you, Sir Grail Knight. I¡¯ll never forget this kindness¡­¡±

    The other soldiers supported him as they escorted him to a wagon.

    ***

    Word of Isaac¡¯s daring rescue spread quickly throughout the army.

    For many soldiers, seeing an Eldritch creature for the first time was a mind-numbing terror. Yet, Isaac¡¯s and the pdins¡¯ bravery quickly overshadowed their fear. In fact, stories of Isaac¡¯s heroics were already being exaggerated, passed along to inspire courage¡ªor to distract from the lingering fear.

    After all, a hero was a necessary presence on the battlefield.

    ¡®Honestly, I feel a little guilty,¡¯ thought Isaac.

    He had followed the soldier into the monster¡¯s maw for another reason as well.

    He didn¡¯t disregard the soldier who hade to aid him, but he was also curious¡ªwondering if he could control the creature.

    Although he had extensive knowledge of every conquest strategy in this world, the rules of Nameless Chaos, including victory conditions and tactical details, remained unknown to him. He was uncertain of his abilities and limitations in dealing with it.

    Many of the Eldritch creatures were agents of the Nameless Chaos. Though they had consistently shown hostility, Isaac hoped to understand their motives and perhaps even find a way to influence them, allowing him to avoid unnecessary battles.

    ¡®But in the end, I had partial sess¡­ or rather, failure.¡¯

    Inside the creature¡¯s maw, he had sensed its consciousness.

    It possessednguage, vocabry, even a will, but these were crude and degenerate¡ªbarely human. It was like a pig or chicken capable of mimicking human speech.

    In the end, Isaac had opted to perform *Predation* before the soldier died, but he gained little besides filling his stomach. There was no special predatory effect.

    ¡®Now, even feeding doesn¡¯t yield much unless I consume something significant¡­ perhaps there¡¯s not much room left to grow?¡¯n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Isaac was already one of the most powerful humans alive¡ªa modest way of putting it. Based on his knowledge, there were few individuals who could rival his strength, and most who could were blessed by angels. For his age, Isaac had aplished an impressive feat.

    He was at a near-max level. Gaining new traits through simple *Predation* was no longer likely.

    ¡®To gain something meaningful, I¡¯d have to devour a notable being, like Delrod Ciel¡­¡¯

    Then, something clicked in his mind. He turned his gaze toward the desert, recalling the mysterious creature that had been watching them from afar. But wherever it had gone, it was now nowhere to be seen.

    Still, he had a nagging feeling that it was watching him from somewhere nearby.

 Chapter 350.1

    After the attack by the Desert Phantom, the journey through the Salt Desert thankfully remained uneventful.

    Some soldiers began showing signs of fatigue, but Isaac, keeping a watchful eye from the rear, ensured no one fell behind. In a ce like this,gging meant death, so the soldiers pressed on, clenching their jaws.

    The endless expanse of the salt desert created mirages that drained the soldiers¡¯ spirits and added to their exhaustion.

    Curious, Isaac asked Aidan, ¡°This might sound like a dumb question, but doesn¡¯t salt dissolve in seawater? How is it that this salt desert lies right next to the sea yet doesn¡¯t melt away?¡±

    Originally, he had thought it was simply a ¡°miracle of divine omnipotence.¡± However, the question was rted to how they nned to retrieve the god of the Salt Council from beneath this desert.

    He knew methods involving relics, rituals, and sacrifices, but a thought struck him¡ªwhat if they could just flood the salt desert with seawater and dissolve it all?

    Aidan, looking slightly uneasy, began to exin. ¡°I don¡¯t know the exact details, but from observing the coastline and seafloor on our way here, I believe that the Mirmia coastline forms a sort of basin.¡±

    ¡°Like a bowl?¡±

    ¡°Yes. When the Lighthouse Keeper raised that cursed sun, the seawater in the basin began evaporating. As the water level dropped, seawater continued to flow in, only to evaporate just as quickly¡­ I¡¯ve heard the process was rapid and abrupt. There¡¯s even a legend that the curses within the resulting vapor gave rise to the storms in the Nightmare Strait.¡±As the tidal flows and waves repeatedly caused seawater to seep in and evaporate, the water levels gradually slowed, with the salt forming a massive ridge. Eventually, the evaporation rate outpaced the inflow, creating a salt barrier that prevented further seawater entry. Any water that seeped in would dry up, solidifying into the barrier itself.

    Thus, even now, the Salt Desert¡¯s terrainy below average sea level.

    Isaac even wondered if this disaster had slightly lowered sea levels across the world.

    ***

    Under normal circumstances, by the end of the day, they would have spotted Mirmia through the heat haze. It looked like a mirage at first, but upon closer inspection, it was unmistakably Mirmia.

    Even though this ancient city had been abandoned for a thousand years, it stood imposing and grand, a city turned to ruin yet filled with enduring splendor.

    Just then, a group of riders approached from Mirmia.

    ¡°Sir Grail Knight!¡±

    The rider leading the charge was Lianne Georg. She carried the holy sword Lumiarde, which radiated a pleasant chill in the arid air.

    Isaac immediately moved to the front of the column.

    ¡°Did Elil¡¯s forces suffer any casualties?¡±

    ¡°Oh, no, just a few horses that got worn out, but they¡¯re recovering. No lives were lost.¡±n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Relieved that the heat precautions for Elil¡¯s army had worked, Isaac nodded. He had been worried that the knights from the cool northernnds might struggle with the heat, but they had proven resilient, fighting with the same tenacity that kept them standing even after dozens of wounds on the battlefield.

    ¡°As you suspected, the ruins are in rtively good condition for an abandoned site. Some soldiers mentioned feeling uneasy, but it seems stable enough for the whole army to stay. We¡¯ve also located a well.¡±

    Isaac nodded. ¡°Good. Sir Rottenhammer is guiding the stragglers from the rear, so please help redistribute their burdens.¡±

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    With Lianne¡¯s return, the Issacrea Dawn Army¡¯s pace increased, and as the soldiers grew excited about reaching the legendary ancient city, they whispered legends to each other. Yet, as the grand city of Mirmia loomed closer, they fell silent.

    This ancient city, untouched by rain and left deste for nearly a thousand years, looked as if it had be a mummified relic of its past glory, preserved from the day disaster had struck.

    The cursed sun hanging overhead glowed a dull, ominous red, not as bright as the real sun, and its burning corona resembled the whites of an eye watching them from above.

    Because this cursed sun had caused the sea to evaporate and the water level to recede, Mirmia, once a port, now stood on a hill like a fortress. The former harbor, once bustling as a southern center, was now a graveyard of hundreds of ships, half-buried in salt, giving thendscape an eerie, deathly feel.

    As Lianne had said, the city itself was in surprisingly good condition for a ce left untouched for a millennium.

    Though some buildings had copsed or were partially buried, most of the structures remained eerily intact, as if people might still emerge from them at any moment. The fact that such a vast city was utterly deserted only added to the eerie atmosphere.

    Lianne, shivering slightly, asked, ¡°Where did everyone who lived here go?¡±

    ¡°They scattered across the world. Those left in the city couldn¡¯t sail and fled into the desert, while those abroad heard about the catastrophe at home and tried to return, only to drown¡­ or ended up settling at other ports,¡± Aidan replied calmly.

    The Salt Council traced its faith back to thisnd, to Mirmia. The Mirmians, once sea worshipers, had been driven to wander the world as exiles after the catastrophe.

    The people who managed to survive were mainly those who had ships and were out at sea when disaster struck. Naturally, these scattered people eventually converged on new ports for survival.

    Though a thousand years had passed, and bloodlines had mixed, the tradition lived on. Aidan himself might even be a distant descendant of those people.

    But bloodlines weren¡¯t what bound the Salt Council. Their shared purpose was to retrieve the god buried beneath the Salt Desert.

    Aidan gazed at the cursed sun hanging over Mirmia, his expression filled with mixed emotions.

    ¡°And yet, we have returned. Even though that sun still looms.¡±

    ***

    Elil¡¯s forces had set up the camp as Isaac had instructed.

    As soon as they arrived, Isaac ordered everyonemanders, officers, knights, pdins, priests, and soldiers alike¡ªto rest, save for a minimal guard detail.

    Elil¡¯s army, being not only experts inbat but also adept at setting up camps, quickly arranged their resting area, allowing the soldiers to rx without much trouble.

    ¡°Sir Isaac, would it be all right if I explored the city a bit?¡±

    The one who resisted resting was none other than Aidan, the captain and archaeologist from the Salt Council.

    Isaac gave him an incredulous look, noting that Aidan didn¡¯t have the stamina of a knight and still hadn¡¯t taken any real rest.

    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you take a break?¡±

    Aidan scratched his head sheepishly. ¡°I can¡¯t seem to sleep, really¡­ I can¡¯t stop thinking about where we are.¡±

    For Aidan, both as a member of the Salt Council and as an archaeologist, the thrill of standing in this historic ce left his heart too restless for sleep.

    Looking around with a nostalgic expression, he continued, ¡°Honestly, I¡¯ve never had a particrly strong attachment to the Salt Council. My curiosity about ancient sites has always been my main drive. I thought I¡¯d just find Mirmia interesting, but¡­ actually being here feels different.¡±

    ¡°Different, how?¡±

 Chapter 350.2

    ¡°Different, how?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s as if the lives of our ancestors are still here, lingering. The disaster struck so suddenly that they had no time to pack or sort their belongings. Even a single abandoned spoon or a broken door tells a story¡­ I¡¯d like to look around a bit before the soldiers start disrupting things.¡±

    Isaac understood his sentiment.

    Though time had likely eroded much of the original setting, a ce could be quickly destroyed once people started moving through it inrge numbers. Aidan¡¯s wish to explore before that happened made sense.

    After a moment¡¯s thought, Isaac nodded. ¡°I did promise you cooperation, saying I¡¯d break the Salt Desert for you. Since I can¡¯t do anything right away, I suppose I owe you this much.¡±

    ¡°Oh, no, I didn¡¯t mean it that way. But I might find some useful clues while searching around here.¡±

    Isaac doubted it would be that easy, but he also acknowledged that this assumption might be a product of his own arrogance.

    There wasn¡¯t just one way to achieve victory in this world. While he had found one possible path to clear the game, there could well be faster or more efficient methods.

    ¡°Just in case, I¡¯ll assign a guard to apany you. If you encounter anything dangerous or suspicious, retreat immediately and inform me.¡±¡°I¡¯ll do just that,¡± Aidan promised, nodding.

    Though Aidan, as a Salt Council captain, was capable of performing minor miracles and had proven himself willing to risk his life with the Dawn Army, Isaac wasn¡¯tfortable letting him go alone.

    While the city seemed empty, there was an unsettling feeling about it.

    ¡®Is it that creature we noticed watching us from the desert?¡¯

    He had already mentioned it to Tuhalin and Lianne, both of whom had sensed its presence but didn¡¯t think it was particrly threatening.

    Still, with its true nature unknown, Isaac didn¡¯t want to risk sending Aidan unprotected. Besides, there was a vague sense of unease that seemed to permeate all of Mirmia.

    ¡®Who would be a suitable guard to keep him safe?¡¯

    ***

    ¡°Reina Hilde at your service! Please, call me Reina!¡±

    ¡°Ah, I¡¯m Aidan¡­ pleased to meet you¡­¡±

    Isaac assigned Reina Hilde, one of the Elil knights who had managed to get a bit of rest, to apany Aidan. Her straightforward and somewhat intense personality made her well-suited to focus on her task without distractions. However, her bold energy was slightly overwhelming for the more reserved Aidan.

    ¡°I heard we¡¯re uncovering ancient secrets in Mirmia. Who do we need to kill?¡± she asked enthusiastically.

    ¡°What? No, I¡¯m just nning to examine old spoons and study the architecture of pirs. There¡¯s no one to kill¡­¡±

    ¡°But isn¡¯t itmon knowledge that you kill things when exploring dungeons?¡±

    Aidan realized they had different perceptions.

    Where he saw ¡°ruins filled with the wisdom of ancient civilizations,¡± Reina envisioned a ¡°dungeon teeming with treasures and monsters.¡± He wondered how to correct her assumptions but then figured most Elil knights likely shared her perspective. ?

    ¡°Just stay close and don¡¯t touch anything. If we do end up in a fight, that¡¯ll be your time to step in.¡±n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    ¡°Understood!¡±

    Reina responded cheerfully, following Aidan closely.

    Aidan began inspecting the relics and artifacts scattered throughout Mirmia. The ruins were so dense that he would stop every few steps to brush away dust and uncover another item of historical interest.

    At first, Reina watched intently, her hand gripping her sword with excitement even when he only stirred up dust. But soon enough, her enthusiasm began to wane, and a look of boredom crept over her face.

    This was clearly different from the ¡°dungeon crawl¡± she had anticipated.

    ¡°Captain Aidan, I understand that what you¡¯re doing is important, but¡­ could we focus on something more¡­ dramatic?¡±

    ¡°Huh? Examining the lifestyle of the ancient people is part of the work too.¡±

    ¡°Well, I don¡¯t know much about that. But as you know, our mission here is to reim the Holy Land. While we¡¯ll be staying here for a while, we won¡¯t linger long given theck of supplies. We¡¯ll probably head out again within two days. I don¡¯t know if you¡¯ll find all the spoons you¡¯re looking for by then. Surely, you don¡¯t intend to stay here alone?¡±

    Aidan was surprised by her insight, though it was onlymon sense for Reina. While she might not understand relics or ruins, she was well-versed in logistics, supply lines, and tactics, more so than Aidan.

    As a member of the Salt Council, Aidan¡¯s interest in Mirmia ran deeper than in Lua, the designated holy site of the campaign. Without realizing it, he¡¯d already been thinking he¡¯d spend more time here.

    In the end, he decided he should prioritize his tasks.

    ¡°Hm, you¡¯re right,¡± he admitted, nodding. He turned his gaze toward arge temple that had caught his attention since their arrival.

    It was a pyramid-shaped temple situated directly beneath the cursed sun.

    ¡°Then let¡¯s start by investigating over there today.¡±

 Chapter 351.2

    ¡°Different, how?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s as if the lives of our ancestors are still here, lingering. The disaster struck so suddenly that they had no time to pack or sort their belongings. Even a single abandoned spoon or a broken door tells a story¡­ I¡¯d like to look around a bit before the soldiers start disrupting things.¡±

    Isaac understood his sentiment.

    Though time had likely eroded much of the original setting, a ce could be quickly destroyed once people started moving through it inrge numbers. Aidan¡¯s wish to explore before that happened made sense.

    After a moment¡¯s thought, Isaac nodded. ¡°I did promise you cooperation, saying I¡¯d break the Salt Desert for you. Since I can¡¯t do anything right away, I suppose I owe you this much.¡±

    ¡°Oh, no, I didn¡¯t mean it that way. But I might find some useful clues while searching around here.¡±

    Isaac doubted it would be that easy, but he also acknowledged that this assumption might be a product of his own arrogance.

    There wasn¡¯t just one way to achieve victory in this world. While he had found one possible path to clear the game, there could well be faster or more efficient methods.

    ¡°Just in case, I¡¯ll assign a guard to apany you. If you encounter anything dangerous or suspicious, retreat immediately and inform me.¡±¡°I¡¯ll do just that,¡± Aidan promised, nodding.

    Though Aidan, as a Salt Council captain, was capable of performing minor miracles and had proven himself willing to risk his life with the Dawn Army, Isaac wasn¡¯tfortable letting him go alone.

    While the city seemed empty, there was an unsettling feeling about it.

    ¡®Is it that creature we noticed watching us from the desert?¡¯

    He had already mentioned it to Tuhalin and Lianne, both of whom had sensed its presence but didn¡¯t think it was particrly threatening.

    Still, with its true nature unknown, Isaac didn¡¯t want to risk sending Aidan unprotected. Besides, there was a vague sense of unease that seemed to permeate all of Mirmia.

    ¡®Who would be a suitable guard to keep him safe?¡¯

    ***

    ¡°Reina Hilde at your service! Please, call me Reina!¡±

    ¡°Ah, I¡¯m Aidan¡­ pleased to meet you¡­¡±

    Isaac assigned Reina Hilde, one of the Elil knights who had managed to get a bit of rest, to apany Aidan. Her straightforward and somewhat intense personality made her well-suited to focus on her task without distractions. However, her bold energy was slightly overwhelming for the more reserved Aidan.

    ¡°I heard we¡¯re uncovering ancient secrets in Mirmia. Who do we need to kill?¡± she asked enthusiastically.

    ¡°What? No, I¡¯m just nning to examine old spoons and study the architecture of pirs. There¡¯s no one to kill¡­¡±n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    ¡°But isn¡¯t itmon knowledge that you kill things when exploring dungeons?¡±

    Aidan realized they had different perceptions.

    Where he saw ¡°ruins filled with the wisdom of ancient civilizations,¡± Reina envisioned a ¡°dungeon teeming with treasures and monsters.¡± He wondered how to correct her assumptions but then figured most Elil knights likely shared her perspective.

    ¡°Just stay close and don¡¯t touch anything. If we do end up in a fight, that¡¯ll be your time to step in.¡±

    ¡°Understood!¡±

    Reina responded cheerfully, following Aidan closely.

    Aidan began inspecting the relics and artifacts scattered throughout Mirmia. The ruins were so dense that he would stop every few steps to brush away dust and uncover another item of historical interest.

    At first, Reina watched intently, her hand gripping her sword with excitement even when he only stirred up dust. But soon enough, her enthusiasm began to wane, and a look of boredom crept over her face.

    This was clearly different from the ¡°dungeon crawl¡± she had anticipated.

    ¡°Captain Aidan, I understand that what you¡¯re doing is important, but¡­ could we focus on something more¡­ dramatic?¡±

    ¡°Huh? Examining the lifestyle of the ancient people is part of the work too.¡±

    ¡°Well, I don¡¯t know much about that. But as you know, our mission here is to reim the Holy Land. While we¡¯ll be staying here for a while, we won¡¯t linger long given theck of supplies. We¡¯ll probably head out again within two days. I don¡¯t know if you¡¯ll find all the spoons you¡¯re looking for by then. Surely, you don¡¯t intend to stay here alone?¡±

    Aidan was surprised by her insight, though it was onlymon sense for Reina. While she might not understand relics or ruins, she was well-versed in logistics, supply lines, and tactics, more so than Aidan.

    As a member of the Salt Council, Aidan¡¯s interest in Mirmia ran deeper than in Lua, the designated holy site of the campaign. Without realizing it, he¡¯d already been thinking he¡¯d spend more time here.

    In the end, he decided he should prioritize his tasks.

    ¡°Hm, you¡¯re right,¡± he admitted, nodding. He turned his gaze toward arge temple that had caught his attention since their arrival.

    It was a pyramid-shaped temple situated directly beneath the cursed sun.

    ¡°Then let¡¯s start by investigating over there today.¡±

 Chapter 352.1

    Isaac began by addressing the most pressing question.

    ¡°Have you been watching us from the Salt Desert?¡±

    During the Dawn Army¡¯s journey across the Salt Desert, they had often felt an unseen gaze upon them. The silhouette they had glimpsed from a distance matched Sadraza¡¯s appearance before them.

    Sadraza¡¯s tentacles twisted and writhed restlessly as his eyes rolled in contemtion.

    ¡°¡­Yes. Living creatures are rare here. A group like yours hasn¡¯t appeared since long ago, and they fled soon under the burning sun. I watched you because I didn¡¯t know what you would do.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡± Isaac pressed.

    ¡°You are followers of the Lighthouse Keeper, aren¡¯t you? I recognized it from your banners. I assumed you would try to kill me the moment you saw me. I needed to know exactly when and where you were headed, so I hid.¡±

    At that, Aidan approached and whispered to Isaac.

    ¡°It seems genuine. When we tried to open this door, he resisted, trying to hold it closed. If he meant to attack us, he would have flung the door open and struck first.¡±Isaac agreed, though not just due to Aidan¡¯s logic. Despite Sadraza¡¯s fearsome appearance, his presence seemed frail and harmless.

    It was as though, beneath the cursed sun, he had exhausted himself solely in the struggle to survive,cking the power to even perform basic miracles. This underwhelming revtion about the supposed ¡°monster¡± made Isaac sigh with disappointment.

    Yet, Isaac wasn¡¯t ready to rx his guard. In this catastrophic environment where abominable beings frequently crossed into Miarma, only the strong could survive.

    ¡®He¡¯s hiding something.¡¯

    ¡°Alright, Sadraza. What have you been doing here?¡±

    ¡°I¡­ At first, my only goal was survival. But as I grew confident in my survival, I began searching for a way to release the god trapped beneath the sea.¡±

    Aidan, who had been carefully interpreting Sadraza¡¯s words, looked startled at the mention of ¡°releasing a god.¡±

    Isaac, also on edge, pressed further.

    ¡°Did you find a way?¡±

    Sadraza hesitated, his tentacles twitching as he nced warily at the protective wards and sealing rituals Aidan had prepared. Finally, he replied cautiously.

    ¡°¡­I cannot tell you.¡±

    Seeing Isaac¡¯s hardened expression, he quickly added in his defense.

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you a follower of the Lighthouse Keeper? It was the Lighthouse Keeper who brought ruin to our order, our empire, and this city. How could I reveal the means to summon the Caller to someone like that?¡±n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    The ¡°Caller¡± was one of the titles used to refer to the Salt Council¡¯s god. Isaac remembered this term from his studies on the beliefs of the Salt Council, so he understood Sadraza¡¯s wariness. With a sigh and a furrowed brow, he continued. ??

    ¡°¡­You know, mypanion here represents the Salt Council¡¯s sessors. Though the name and customs have changed, they still strive to release the Caller from the sea. I promised to help him with that mission.¡±

    Sadraza blinked in surprise, staring at Isaac. Isaac waited until the other Elil knights had withdrawn to a safe distance, then spoke softly.

    ¡°And as for this idea that I serve the Lighthouse Keeper, I follow the order of the Codex of Light, not the Keeper himself. I don¡¯t owe him my loyalty.¡±

    It was a subtle way of distancing himself from the Lighthouse Keeper¡ªalmost a heretical statement, given how closely the Codex¡¯s interpretation was tied to the Keeper. Isaac hoped Sadraza would pick up on the nuance.

    Sadraza stared at him intently before asking, ¡°The Codex of Light?¡±

    His reaction suggested he was hearing of it for the first time.

    ¡°So, that¡¯s the name he eventually gave it? Fitting for him. Still convinced they¡¯re subject to order and rules, it seems.¡±

    The tone of Sadraza¡¯s words gave Isaac an uncanny feeling, as if Sadraza had once known the Lighthouse Keeper personally.

    It made sense. If he had been present when Miarma fell a thousand years ago and held the rank of high priest, he might have even conversed with the Keeper.

    Encountering such a being¡ªone whose body burned like the sacred light¡ªwas rare even in the world a millennium ago.

    ¡®It feels almost like speaking to an angel.¡¯

    If Sadraza were an angel, he would likely be the world¡¯s weakest angel.

    Isaac decided to use his final card to win Sadraza¡¯s trust.

    He pulled out The Homnd of the Drifter (Rare).

    [A model ship¡¯s bow will always point towards the sea from which the bottled water was originally collected.]

    As Isaac produced the relic from Urbansus, Sadraza¡¯s eyes widened, recognizing the holy aura it emitted.

    ¡°You must know what Amunds is if you¡¯re a priest. This relic was taken from Urbansus. Though I don¡¯t fully understand its nature, the water inside it is said to have been drawn from the sea off Miarma three years in the future. Amunds entrusted this to me as a token of faith.¡±

    One way or another, it hinted that water would return to Miarma.

    Isaac couldn¡¯t yet fathom the details, but he knew he¡¯d be involved in that future event. Sadraza reached out with trembling tentacles, attempting to touch *The Homnd of the Drifter*, but Isaac pulled it back, his hand brushing empty air.

    ¡°I think I¡¯ve shown enough trust¡­ Now it¡¯s your turn to show me yours.¡±

    Sadraza let out a quiet groan. Realizing he had no choice but to trust Isaac, he finally whispered the secret he had guarded for a thousand years.

    ¡°The Caller¡¯s divine essence remains in the underground chamber within this pyramid.¡±

    ***

    The pyramid was the mostmon temple form in this desert region, ranging from small shrines to colossal royal tombs.

    The Holy Land of Lua was said to contain thergest pyramid ever built. Simrly, the ¡°fisherman¡¯s home¡± in which they now stood was constructed as the ¡°Temple of the Land¡± for the Caller.

    ¡°To be precise, this ce connects to the Sea Temple, built beneath the ocean. Below here lies a staircase descending deep underground, leading through an underwater cave to the sea. It was once a direct passageway to the Sea Temple.¡±

    Sadraza quietly continued his exnation of the forgotten ancient order.

    ¡°Only those called ¡®Swim-ddered,¡¯ the high priests permitted to breathe underwater, were allowed to pass along this ¡®Salt Path.¡¯ Through it, we could directlymune with the divine presence in the Sea Temple and receive sacred oracles.¡±

    Then the disaster struck. Or rather, they had brought it upon themselves.

    The followers of the Sea Cult had been inpetition with a neighboring nation that worshipped a powerful ancient god. When a troublemaker from that nation named Luaddin arrived in Miarma with his followers, the cult made the fateful choice to support him fully.

    ¡°We had agreed to assist him. But for some reason, the captain who was supposed to lead the fleetmitted sabotage¡­ infuriating Luadin, who cursed our city and dried up the sea.¡±

 Chapter 352.2

    ¡°We had agreed to assist him. But for some reason, the captain who was supposed to lead the fleetmitted sabotage¡­ infuriating Luadin, who cursed our city and dried up the sea.¡±

    Isaac understood Sadraza¡¯s confusion and anger. He was a victim of the sudden devastation caused by Luadin¡¯s curse. Sadraza would have no way of knowing why the captain had betrayed Luadin¡¯s n.

    In fact, if the will of angels or the Caller had intervened in this incident, who could predict how Sadraza would react? Isaac decided not toplicate matters by mentioning it.

    ¡°¡­The Lighthouse Keeper may have dried up the sea, but he overlooked this temple¡¯s underground passage. As a result, the Salt Path remained open. Although the water levels gradually receded, I was still able tomune with the divine essence.¡±

    At this, Aidan straightened abruptly, his voice excited as he shouted in clumsy archaguage.

    ¡°Are you saying you can stillmunicate with the Caller?!¡±

    This was a feat Salt Council captains risked their lives to attempt. They could only hear the faintest whispers from the divine by nearly drowning themselves, stepping one foot into the afterlife.

    But Sadraza imed he could effortlesslymune with the god through this temple.

    ¡°¡­I once could,¡± Sadraza admitted. ¡°But mostly, what I heard were cries of pain and anger, from the Caller as well as the angels trapped below. In recent years, though, they¡¯ve all fallen silent.¡±Aidan slumped in disappointment, but Isaac sensed that Sadraza hadn¡¯t yet revealed everything.

    ¡°So, did you find a way to release the god?¡±

    Sadraza hesitated once more. Isaac resolved to smack him if he dodged the question again; sometimes physicality got the point across better than miracles.

    ¡°¡­I once considered human sacrifice.¡±

    ¡°Hm. Perhaps that beating is necessary after all,¡± Isaac muttered to himself. These ancient religions clung too readily to the idea of sacrifice. Was it impossible to change their fundamental beliefs?

    Sadraza quickly continued, ¡°It was only a consideration. Look around¡ªthere is no one here to sacrifice. But in the end, it turned out for the best. Rather than defile the god¡¯s essence, I found another way.¡±

    ¡°Another way?¡±

    ¡°Nearby, creatures imbued with divine energy often appear. The Caller¡¯s essence, left lingering here, serves as bait, attracting ancient gods and monsters. I¡­ sacrificed those.¡±

    Isaac realized what Sadraza was implying.

    ¡°You¡¯re offering up abominable creatures from the Outer Reaches as sacrifices?¡±

    ¡°Yes. The Outer Reaches are popted with banished gods and monstrous beings, especially since the Lighthouse Keeper gained influence.¡±

    ¡°And yet, you don¡¯t seem powerful enough to fight these creatures.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t hunt them. When the Caller draws them near, the cursed sun kills them. I simply bring them to the fisherman¡¯s home, perform the rituals, and offer them as sacrifices. That¡¯s all.¡±

    Isaac recognized that Sadraza¡¯s method, while brutal, straddled a fine line of restraint. Although he was still sacrificing entities, they were vile monsters and ancient gods.

    Destroying such creatures in the name of the divine was, after all, not umon. In fact, it was one of the primary duties of a pdin.

    ¡°I¡¯ve spent centuries gathering the blood of these ¡®intruders,¡¯ waiting for the time when the god might awaken.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°And as that time seemed to draw near, you appeared. I assumed you might be followers of the Lighthouse Keeper sent to prevent the god¡¯s resurrection. So I hid.¡±

    ¡°Or you were hoping we¡¯d copse from exhaustion?¡±

    ¡°I won¡¯t lie. Given my situation, wouldn¡¯t you do the same?¡±

    Had the Dawn Army fallen to fatigue and copse, Sadraza would likely have sacrificed them as well. His avoidance of human sacrifice stemmed not from any moral qualms, but simply from practicality.

    Yet Isaac scoffed coldly.

    ¡°A creature that devours people is no god. It¡¯s a monster wearing a god¡¯s mask.¡±

    A thought crossed Isaac¡¯s mind, and he asked, ¡°Previously, a Dawn Army from the Codex of Light reached this area. They never made it to Miarma¡ªdid you ¡®use¡¯ them as well?¡±

    Isaac was referring to the Seventh Dawn Army, who¡¯d arrived at the Salt Desert only to turn back. Sadraza shook his head.

    ¡°Are you talking about that group I mentioned? They seemed almost obsessed with leaving no remains. They burned all the Armyes, and if they couldn¡¯t burn them, they dragged them back to the sea. I couldn¡¯t touch them.¡±

    Having confirmed this, Isaac turned to Aidan.

    ¡°Would you mind if I discuss this with myrades?¡±

    Sadraza nodded. ¡°As you wish.¡±

    ***n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Isaac briefly summarized his conversation with Sadraza to Lianne and Cedric. They were astonished to learn that Sadraza was a priest from a thousand years ago, but even more so that he had nearlypleted preparations to awaken the god.

    Isaac exined the situation regarding those preparations.

    ¡°That exins the stench from inside the ck pyramid.¡±

    ¡°What is it?¡± Lianne asked.

    ¡°It¡¯s the rotting remains of the monsters and ancient gods Sadraza has sacrificed over the centuries, as well as the umted blood he¡¯s channeled into the underground canal system.¡±

    Lianne clicked her tongue in disgust. ¡°And with the other end blocked by salt, that water has been festering, filled with decaying Armyes and blood, growing more foul with each passing year.¡±

    At least, human blood had not been involved.

    Isaac regarded this as a minimal reassurance. After a long silence, Aidan spoke up cautiously.

    ¡°Do you think Sadraza¡¯s ritual has a real chance of seeding?¡±

    Isaac sighed, not because he intended to disappoint Aidan but because he foresaw a challenging road ahead.

    ¡°It¡¯s not just a possibility¡ªit¡¯s likely.¡±

    It was more than mere potential; Isaac was certain. Sadraza¡¯s ritual closely resembled a modified version of the ¡°Thirsty Feast,¡± a ceremony Isaac himself had been seeking to enact to restore the Salt Council¡¯s glory.

    (Continued)

 Chapter 353.1

    No, the term ¡®altered¡¯ wasn¡¯t entirely correct. In fact, the procedures Isaac knew were more likely ¡®altered,¡¯ whereas the ritual Sadraza intended to perform was closer to the ¡®original.¡¯

    Regardless of the ritual, there were always three minimum essential elements required to proceed: a temple, a priest, and a sacred artifact.

    The term ¡®temple¡¯ referred to any historically significant or divinely charged ce. Even if small and humble, a site would serve as a worthy temple as long as divinity had once resided there.

    For the priest, it was best if they were respected and had achieved aplishments worthy of divine attention. As for tools, their rank depended on the history and meaning imbued in them.

    If at least two of these were of exceptional quality, any shorings in the remaining element could be overlooked. This was why priests often fixated on acquiring excellent sacred artifacts or an ideal temple.

    This was also why Isaac could aplish so many rituals using only the Rite of Division.

    However, to perform a miracle of the magnitude needed to break the Salt Desert, even the strictest fulfillment of these three conditions could hardly guarantee sess.

    Isaac had to use every trick he knew to align with these conditions.

    ¡®In that sense, this ce is¡­ optimal.¡¯An ancient, thousand-year-old temple directly connected to a god¡ªsuch an ideal location was rare, even in the Codex of Light. Only in the Holy Land of Lua could something ofparable significance perhaps be found.

    And Sadraza was now the only remaining high priest of the Salt Council, unique in the world. Isaac considered Sadraza¡¯s physical transformation a form of ¡®acquired holy body¡¯ within the Salt Council. There were cases where a holy body could emerge through acquired means, so it wasn¡¯t strange that he, as a Salt Council priest, had taken on that form.

    In other words, the priestly condition was excellently met.

    As for the tools¡­ though a bit ambiguous, the Armyes Sadraza had offered over the millennia had be a fine sacrificial instrument.

    It was, in a sense, an altar.

    From the perspective of Nameless Chaos, it might be a peculiar situation, as its own servants were essentially ced on a sacrificial table. However, they were depraved enough that they wouldn¡¯t even be recognized by the Agents of Chaos.

    And in Isaac¡¯s mind, such beings deserved to die anyway.

    ¡°There exists a ritual called the Thirsty Feast.¡±

    Isaac began exining a ritual even Aidan, a member of the Salt Council, was unaware of. Ordinarily, one would have to delve into dungeons linked to the Salt Council, painstakingly restoring and tranting any information found. However, Isaac already knew the necessary steps. ????????

    ¡°It involves gathering divinely charged offerings and performing a sequence of steps to rouse enough of the god¡¯s power to fracture the Salt Desert. I don¡¯t know the exact procedures myself¡ªSadraza likely knows them better.¡±

    Aidan no longer looked at Isaac in surprise. He had grown ustomed to Isaac¡¯s detailed knowledge of mysteries unknown even to them.

    ¡°So, it¡¯s possible to conduct the ritual? Is there any reason why we shouldn¡¯t do it now?¡±

    Isaac looked conflicted.

    ording to his n, it would be troublesome for the Salt Council¡¯s god to be released now. His objective wasn¡¯t to fulfill the Salt Council¡¯s victory conditions, but rather to reim the Holy Land Lua.

    ¡°There¡¯s a chance the Outer Boundary could temporarily copse.¡±

    Lianne¡¯s eyes widened.

    ¡°The Outer Boundary?¡±

    ¡°The Outer Boundary is maintained by the power of the Codex of Light, and this region is heavily influenced by the power of the Lighthouse Keeper. If that force were removed, even for a moment, there would be a void. It would mean that creatures from beyond the Outer Boundary could pour into Miarma.¡±

    Aidan seemed momentarily confused by Isaac¡¯s words.

    ¡°Why would we remove the Lighthouse Keeper¡¯s power? Aren¡¯t we just trying to break the Salt Desert?¡±

    ¡°Well, if you want to see the sea dry up again as soon as the Salt Desert is shattered¡­ it would require extinguishing the Cursed Sun first. Without achieving that prerequisite, the Thirsty Feast ritual won¡¯t evenmence.¡±

    In other words, to bring the sea back to Miarma, the following process was necessary.

    First, extinguish the Cursed Sun.

    This alone risked drawing the ire of the Lighthouse Keeper, who might crush their skulls in fury.

    Second, perform the Thirsty Feast ritual.

    Depending on how thoroughly Sadraza had prepared, it might require additional sacrifices and undoubtedly would attract the Lighthouse Keeper¡¯s attention, leading to more skull-crushing¡­ and so on.

    Third, the seawater would flow in.

    And as the Outer Boundary weakened, monsters would enter along with it. The recently revived, still-weak ¡®Caller¡¯ would likely appear as a tempting meal to them.

    In short, the Issacrea Dawn Army would be dealing with a horde of Outer Boundary creatures.

    Each step was utterly harrowing.

    There was a reason Isaac had opted to use an altered version of the Thirsty Feast ritual for the Salt Council¡¯s victory.

    Though moreplex and challenging, it was a far safer approach.

    ¡°To safely shatter the Salt Desert, you would need to ovee a trial from the Lighthouse Keeper, gather three critical artifacts rted to the Salt Council, y the sacred monsters connected to the Outer Boundary to gather offerings, and proceed through the steps.¡±

    However, both time and resources were too scarce to aplish all that.

    ¡°So, you¡¯re saying it¡¯s impossible right now.¡±

    Aidan looked disappointed, but Isaac shook his head.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    ¡°If one condition could be met, it might just be possible.¡±

 Chapter 353.2

    ¡°If one condition could be met, it might just be possible.¡±

    ***

    ¡°A way to avoid the Lighthouse Keeper¡¯s wrath?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Even if we shatter the Salt Desert and bring the sea back, it would dry up again quickly as long as that cursed sun remains in the sky. We can¡¯t handle a ritual to oppose the Lighthouse Keeper as soon as we perform the Thirsty Feast. Is there any other way to keep the Lighthouse Keeper at bay?¡±

    In truth, merely extinguishing the Cursed Sun would eventually eliminate the Salt Desert over a long period.

    All they needed was to mobilize workers to dig a channel between the boundary of the sea and the Salt Desert. An enormous volume of seawater would pour in, filling the area off Miarma¡¯s coast and dissolving the salt as it went.

    Of course, it would take tens or even hundreds of years.

    The critical issue, then, was how to safely extinguish the Cursed Sun.

    Sadraza¡¯s solution was simple.¡°Don¡¯t extinguish it.¡±

    ¡°What? Then?¡±n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    Sadraza wriggled his tentacles and pointed at the ceiling.

    ¡°You probably noticed it as you entered the Fisherman¡¯s House¡­ This area is beyond the reach of the Cursed Sun¡¯s heat. That¡¯s because the Lighthouse Keeper has established a mp¡¯ here based on the Fisherman¡¯s House itself. It allows him to maintain it by drawing power from the house rather than from his own strength.¡±

    Using the lingering energy of a trampled and scorched faith to uphold a curse¡ªwhether this was thriftiness or a masterful disy of dominance was hard to tell. Regardless, this trick led Sadraza to discover a way to bypass that miracle.

    ¡°I n to use the Lighthouse Keeper¡¯s miracle. By expanding his mp¡¯¡­ I intend to envelop the Cursed Sun. I won¡¯t need to cover itpletely¡ªjust half will be enough. That way, the heat won¡¯t reach thisnd or the sea.¡±

    ¡°Hm¡­ So, instead of cleaning up the mess, you¡¯re just hiding it out of sight.¡±

    Beside him, Aidan gave Isaac a look, as if wondering why he¡¯d use such a crass analogy, but Isaac didn¡¯t mind. The important thing was whether others could understand it well enough.

    Sadraza also nodded heavily in agreement.

    ¡°We can leave that ¡®mess¡¯ for the Caller to clean up once he returns.¡±

    Isaac found Sadraza¡¯s idea surprisingly usible. It was a method Isaac hadn¡¯t considered, but it had potential.

    ¡°Are you performing this separately from the Thirsty Feast ritual?¡±

    ¡°The mp¡¯ draws its strength from the Fisherman¡¯s House¡­ so I can modify it myself.¡±

    ¡°It sounds workable. There¡¯s potential.¡±

    Suddenly, Sadraza leaned in closer.

    Reyna, who had been standing some distance away, instinctively gripped her sword, but Lianne held her back.

    Sadraza fixed his gaze on Isaac from so close that he could peer directly into his eyes.

    ¡°You really think there¡¯s potential? Are you sure?¡±

    ¡°This is the ritual you¡¯ve prepared for a thousand years, isn¡¯t it? You should know better than anyone.¡±

    ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know. For a thousand years, I¡¯ve had no one to exchange ideas with, no angel to seek counsel from, no god tomand me. I just nned alone, imagined alone, simply thinking about what I could do with what I had.¡±

    There was a profound bitterness in Sadraza¡¯s words.

    Everyone he had known was either dead or gone; his country and faithy in ruins; his god had fallen silent; everything had turned to a wastnd, and he had gradually transformed into an octopus-like being. To call what he felt mere ¡®loneliness¡¯ would be an understatement.

    Yet after nearly a thousand years, someone had finally told him, ¡°There is potential.¡±

    This alone stirred emotions in Sadraza beyond simple joy.

    ¡°Then, do we simply need to help with the Thirsty Feast ritual?¡±

    ¡°Yes. But are you truly going to help me? Why would you¡­?¡±

    For Isaac, whose primary goal was to reim the Holy Land as swiftly as possible, this was a ¡®distraction.¡¯ Anymander in his ce would have grumbled about getting tangled up in an unnecessary sidetrack.

    But Isaac spoke resolutely.

    ¡°I made a promise. That¡¯s all there is to it.¡±

    ***

    ¡°That¡¯s not the whole truth. I wouldn¡¯t leave you stranded in this barren wastnd over a personal promise alone.¡±

    Isaac had set up themanders¡¯ tent in a building that looked like some sort of administrative hall. After returning from the Fisherman¡¯s House, he gathered the alliedmanders there to inform them of what had transpired during his meeting with Sadraza.

    Aidan looked skeptical at Isaac¡¯s words, but the othermanders were curious. Tuhalin was the first to ask.

    ¡°Then why did you agree to assist with that ritual?¡±

    ¡°The primary reason is that his n is grounded in practicality. If it had been oundish, I wouldn¡¯t have given it a second nce. But if we can avoid incurring the Lighthouse Keeper¡¯s wrath and help the Salt Council regain its full power, we¡¯ll have gained another powerful ally.¡±

    Isaac nced between Tuhalin and Edelred as he spoke.

    ¡°Of course, I consider each of you valuable allies, but wouldn¡¯t it be worth it to secure the title ¡®Savior of a God¡¯? Especially if the risk level isn¡¯t particrly high?¡±

    Tuhalin smirked, nodding his head.

    ¡°I¡¯m not exactlycking in aplishments, but that¡¯s an enticing feat. However, that¡¯s not your only reason, is it? What else?¡±

    ¡°Transforming Miarma into a port city would be a major strategic advantage for us.¡±

    The biggest vulnerability of the Issacrea Dawn Army was theck of an escape route or supply line.

    While a Salt Council ship had been stationed beyond the Salt Desert, it was impossible to cross the desert without arge force, and any attempt to cross risked death.

    But if they could bring ships directly to Miarma, it would make supplies and retreats far easier, significantly boosting the army¡¯s morale.

    Edelred, too, nodded in understanding. Despite the slight dy, he agreed it was a cause worth supporting.

    ¡°Is there anything else?¡±

    ¡°There is, but¡­ it¡¯s not confirmed yet, so it¡¯s hard to say. It¡¯s a n with too many variables.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re as secretive and adventurous as ever, Commander. So, what would you have us do?¡±

    ¡°There is an important role I need you to y. You¡¯ll have to act swiftly.¡±

    Isaac warned them with a serious tone.

    ¡°We must deceive Sadraza. We need to make him believe the ritual is proceeding smoothly.¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    Tuhalin asked in surprise, his voice rising. The others looked equally shocked. As murmurs started to fill the room, Aidan stepped forward, as if determined to be the one to exin this part.

    ¡°I¡¯ll exin. I trust Sadraza¡¯s words and find them credible. However, with him as the sole leader of the ritual, we would be entrusting much of our n to someone we only met a few hours ago.¡±

    ¡°¡­That¡¯s true.¡±

    ¡°I have no desire to betray him, but neither do I wish to gamble recklessly with the lives of our allies. In short, we want to prepare a safeguard.¡±

    Isaac nodded at Aidan¡¯s words, continuing the exnation.

    ¡°If everything proceeds smoothly ording to the agreement, Sadraza will get what he desires. But if he betrays us¡­¡±

    Isaac nced at Aidan as he finished his sentence.

    ¡°¡­he will lose everything.¡±

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 Chapter 354.1

    Better to betray than to be betrayed.

    Why wait for revenge after being betrayed when one could eliminate the threat preemptively?

    This might seem like an apocalyptic mindset devoid of trust, but the concept of ¡®betray first to avoid betrayal¡¯ was surprisingly traditional. Perhaps the most famous historical example was Cao Cao.

    Trust, after all, was a rtively recent invention.

    People tend to envision a contrast between innocent savages and cunning, faithless civilized people, but reality is the opposite. Trust and honor were inventions of civilization.

    When people began to form agricultural societies, build cities, and recognize closebat groups as nobles, concepts like ¡®morality, honor, and trust¡¯ emerged. These were social restraints to keep powerful military groups from throwing society into chaos.

    Groupsmonly known as ¡®knights¡¯ pursued the illusion of honor and wore this yoke willingly, which ultimately became the privilege of the nobility.

    People admire the sessful, and so, civilized people came to revere the values of ¡®morality, honor, and trust¡¯ once reserved for nobles. This became the foundation of social order, something barbarians never understood.

    Not because they were necessarily practical-minded, but because they simply hadn¡¯t needed it. That¡¯s why they remained barbarians.In dealing with a barbarian, then, one sometimes had to be a bit of a barbarian oneself.

    Sadraza was, after all, a being from a thousand years ago who might not grasp concepts like honor or morality.

    ***

    ¡°Do you truly believe Sadraza will betray us?¡±

    Rumble, crash.

    At the outskirts of Miarma.

    Isaac was out hunting monsters in the desert.

    A small city, likely a satellite town of Miarma in the past, had been built around what seemed to have once been an oasis.

    At the center of this empty space was a massive spider-like creature, with limbs as thick as arms¡ªthough it was questionable whether it was really a spider. It appeared to have at least twenty legs, and the mass in the middle was a writhing amalgamation of tentacles, grotesquely imitating a human face.

    ¡°Hmm? What was that?¡±

    Isaac had just finished hacking off its legs and plunging his own tendrils into the body, so he hadn¡¯t quite heard Aidan.

    ¡°I asked if you really believe Sadraza would betray us.¡±

    Once again, he¡¯d only filled his stomach but hadn¡¯t gained any particr benefit from Predation. Still, consuming a beast of Chaos brought him a feeling of fullness much faster than with ordinary creatures.

    Isaac paused before responding.

    ¡°When we arrived in Miarma, something felt missing.¡±

    ¡°Missing?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s no cemetery.¡±N?v(el)B\\jnn

    ¡°A cemetery¡­?¡±

    As Aidan scattered ceremonial salt over the Armye of the spider-beast, ensuring it would remain unspoiled for the ritual, he repeated Isaac¡¯s words.

    ¡°From what I know, there were survivors in Miarma shortly after the disaster struck. There¡¯s even a well still here, so it¡¯s not entirely uninhabitable. Sure, the people were probably on the brink of death after the sea dried up¡­ but there were people here.¡±

    ¡°That¡­ makes sense?¡±

    ¡°But there wasn¡¯t a single Armye in Miarma.¡±

    Aidan, who had been about to suggest that it was only natural for thousand-year-old Armyes to turn to dust, felt a strange unease and closed his mouth.

    A millennium would certainly reduce bodies to dust.

    In a normal ce.

    But this was a ce so extreme that even the sea had dried up.

    ¡°There might not be Armyes, but there could be mummies.¡±

    An environment without rain, intensely dry air, abundant salt, and consistent weather with no temperature variation.

    The perfect conditions for natural mummification.

    Of course, Isaac wasn¡¯t an expert in mummification, so it was possible he¡¯d overlooked some factor. Other forces could also have removed the remains.

    Finally, Aidan voiced what Isaac was hinting at.

    ¡°You think Sadraza offered the bodies as sacrifices?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s no cemetery. And without a sea to bury them in, that¡¯s entirely usible.¡±

    Isaac added, as if making an excuse.

    ¡°Of course, I¡¯m not certain. There could be any number of reasons the bodies disappeared. But one thing¡¯s sure: someone who has done it once can always do it again.¡±

    ¡°But¡­¡±

    ¡°Aidan, Sadraza has lived as a scavenger for a thousand years. It¡¯d be foolish to expect the honor or purity of a high priest from him. Not that it¡¯s Sadraza¡¯s fault. But the Sadraza of today might be a very different person from who he was a thousand years ago.¡±

    Time changes people.

    Many who endure severe mental trauma end up with apletely different personality.

    Sadraza had endured both.

    ¡°But as I said, if Sadraza doesn¡¯t betray us, then nothing will happen. He¡¯ll be a bit disappointed in us, at most. The problem arises if he does betray us. In that case, the Issacrea Dawn Army could be annihted. We can¡¯t afford to take that risk, can we?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I understand. I was only wondering if Sadraza would truly risk betraying us. As you mentioned, he could break the Salt Desert without betraying us.¡±

    Logically, Aidan was right. But Isaac, having experienced a victory on behalf of the Salt Council, knew that a ritual as powerful as Sadraza¡¯s might fuel additional desires.

    Sadraza might cravepensation for his thousand years of hardship and istion.

    And scavengers were often those who had cast aside principles like loyalty and morality to im everything for themselves.

    It was simply because Sadraza had lived this way that Isaac suspected him.

    ***

    Isaac continued southward, searching for the required sacrifices, until he finally reached an area close to the Outer Boundary.

    The Outer Boundary was closer to Miarma than Isaac had expected.

    He wondered how people could have once built a city so near such a dangerous ce, but then recalled that a thousand years ago, the Great Empires had centered themselves around the Holy Land of Lua.

    Perhaps back then, this region was the heart of civilization, while areas now within the Gerthonia Empire were considered the outer reaches. For the people of Miarma, Lichtheim might have felt as distant and wild as the Outer Boundary did now.

    Despite this, Isaac had no intention of venturing any closer to that crazed bordend. The Outer Boundary wasn¡¯t a strict border like a line in the sand, but rather a hazy area between light and shadow.

    In reality, the ¡®line¡¯ known as the Outer Boundary spanned tens of kilometers.

    ¡°What exactly lies beyond there?¡± Aidan asked, his voice tinged with fear as he looked southward over a valley of barren, rocky desert. Dark clouds thickened further out, casting an ominous shadow over the featureless gray wastnd that stretched into the distance. A lukewarm breeze drifted toward them from the void beyond.

    Though they were nowhere near the actual Boundary, Aidan felt a sense of dread emanating from that wastnd, making him nauseous.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Isaac replied.

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 Chapter 354.2

    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Isaac replied.

    ¡°It¡¯s rare to hear you admit ignorance, Isaac.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s plenty I don¡¯t know. Honestly,pared to others my age, I¡¯d be little more than a durd.¡±

    ¡°Coming from someone who¡¯s uncovered the secrets of gods and glimpsed the shadows of Urbansus?¡±

    ¡°Of course.¡±

    Isaac was sincere.

    There were countless things he didn¡¯t know that weremon knowledge for any ordinary person in this era: nting seasons, how to identify edible nts, how to butcher animals, and which types of wood made good firewood.

    Hunger never pressed him to hunt, and his tentacles provided more than enough sustenance. Without them, Isaac would probably have starved to death long ago.

    But when it came to the Outer Boundary, Isaac doubted that anyone, including himself, truly knew whaty beyond. Nothing about it had ever been revealed.The concept was limited to being ¡®a ce outside the Codex of Light¡¯s reach, where the ancient gods and the minions of Chaos fled.¡¯ Isaac couldn¡¯t even imagine what kind of demondscape it would be.

    ¡°The only certainty is that we must not cross into that ce.¡±

    Though Isaac himself could be considered a servant of Chaos, he instinctively felt an intense aversion to going any closer. Just looking out over the gray wastnd filled him with an uneasy nausea.

    Isaac stared hard at the dark clouds that melded with the gray ins, as if trying to glimpse something beyond. The slow, undting clouds seemed almost to whisper.

    [Traitor.]

    The horizon opened, and a murmuring voice drifted from a mouth formed between the cracked ground and the sky. Crimson-ck tongues writhed out from the fracturedndscape, slithering like serpents.

    [Keep your promise, traitor¡­ Did you not vow to us?]

    [Why do you abandon your minions, O god¡­?]

    [The promise will be fulfilled in the end. The traitor¡¯s schemes will only dy its execution.]

    Isaac staggered, nearly swayed by the whispering voices with their flickering tongues.

    He felt something writhing at the back of his throat, as if a tentacle had formed there too, straining to answer the voices from beyond the horizon.

    [The Nameless Chaos watches you.]

    ¡°Shut up, you lunatics!¡± Isaac shouted instinctively, and stumbled backward, copsing to the ground.

    It was only then that he realized Aidan was clutching his waist tightly from behind.

    Aidan quickly released him, his voice indignant.

    ¡°What were you doing?¡±

    ¡°I should be the one asking that.¡±

    ¡°You were staring into the void like a madman, muttering to yourself, and then started walking toward the cliff edge! I had to grab you by the waist, and even then, I nearly got pulled over with you!¡±

    Isaac was flustered. Had he really been in such a state? Now that he looked, he had indeed drifted several paces from where they¡¯d been standing. A few more steps, and he¡¯d have fallen into a chasm. ???????§¦??

    If not for the Nameless Chaos snapping him out of it, he might have gone over the edge.

    He nced back at the horizon. The red-ck tongues and the voices that had appeared with them were gone, yet the unsettling clouds still pulsed ominously, so he quickly looked away.

    ¡°Thank you. You saved my life.¡±

    ¡°Hah, unbelievable¡­¡±

    The reason Aidan had remained unaffected was likely because he had no connection to the Nameless Chaos.

    Isaac reflected on the pressure exerted by the voices of Urbansus. They were calling to him from beyond, urging him to join them, to keep his promise.

    A promise he didn¡¯t remember making, nor wanted to honor even if he did. Any vow forced upon him by such madmen would hardly be anything sane.

    At that moment, responding to his outburst, something began emerging from the dark clouds.

    ¡°Isaac!¡± Aidan shouted, pointing toward the shifting form.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Isaac¡¯s lips curled into a faint smile. The creature he had been waiting for had finally appeared.

    ¡°A wineskin for a parched throat, atst.¡±

    This was the reason Isaac hade all the way to hunt near the Outer Boundary. He needed a fresh offering to meet the conditions of the Thirsty Feast ritual.

    This creature was one Isaac had once hunted before, during his time with the Salt Council. He knew precisely where it would appear.

    ¡°Get ready, Aidan. Once we catch this, we¡¯re heading back.¡±

    ***

    With a heavy thud, Nel dropped the enormous Armye in front of the Fisherman¡¯s House.

    The creature was so massive that without Nel, they wouldn¡¯t have been able to drag it here at all. Soldiers stared in awe at the winged serpent lying in the front yard.

    ¡°Kleatoul, an ancient god who fled to the Outer Boundary. A god born from a yearning for the sky. It¡¯s said tomand the power of rain and thunder. This should be enough to supply the missing divinity, don¡¯t you think?¡±

    Originally, this ancient god would have roamed within storms, swimming through the clouds. However, something had twisted it in the harshness of the Outer Boundary, causing fungal growths and tentacles to sprout all over its body. Although its divine nature had mostly faded, the fact that it was ¡®fresh¡¯ still made it valuable.

    Sadraza, watching from inside the Fisherman¡¯s House, looked pleased.

    The Armyes of the monsters and ancient gods Isaac had gathered over the past few days more than sufficed for the ritual.

    Sadraza slowly pulled Kleatoul¡¯s body into the dark pyramid with his writhing tentacles.

    Isaac observed silently.

    ¡°Is this enough?¡±

    ¡°If I could ask for more¡­ but I suppose that¡¯s not possible?¡±

    ¡°That would be difficult. We have our own timeline to keep. I¡¯m sure I brought more than the amount you specified.¡±

    Sadraza looked somewhat disappointed but nodded.

    ¡°Very well. I¡¯ll manage with this. I will begin the ritual now. In the meantime¡­ the Outer Boundary may stir, so it would be helpful if you could protect Miarma.¡±

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