Dark Fantasy Paladin

Dark Fantasy Paladin Chapter 8

Episode 8.

Blue embers ignited the bodies of sinners.

Iden turned his head and looked at Xerath.

“It’s not mine anymore.”

The small ember suddenly turned into a flame and burned the two people.

The fire was so cool that it felt uncomfortable. It was burning proudly, swallowing up sinners in an instant and sending them back to nothing but a handful of ashes.

Iden was overcome by a feeling of extreme helplessness. It felt like all energy had disappeared from my entire body and I was about to collapse at any moment.

“The flame consumes an extreme amount of divine power and stamina, so handle it carefully.”

The flames died down in an instant. It did not spread to other places, but only judged sinners and then dispersed.

Aiden had complicated feelings. I was very happy to have gained new power and grown, but I couldn’t figure out why the power had transferred.

If the growth so far came from Iden’s plans and intentions, then the flames were closer to chance.

Xerath was looking at Iden with a refreshed and satisfied expression.

“······Master, are you okay?”

In the game, Changflame was Xerath’s identity. The reality may not be much different.

“Those who are qualified have taken on the power of God. “What’s not to be okay with?”

There was no pretense about him.

“You just have to use that power for good.”

“I have no intention of burning an innocent person to death.”

“Haha, I guess I have some old feelings. I hope the public will sympathize with your view of justice. Even though I failed.”

I didn’t know anything about justice, but I knew what to do.

Iden asked, changing the topic.

“First, I need to listen to the archbishop. Did Forel tell you in detail?”

“no. “All I knew was that they were in some kind of relationship.”

Forel was not a vessel worthy of hiding the truth from Xerath’s interrogation.

“I need to meet the archbishop.”

“I will participate in the saint’s investiture ceremony. “Most bishops and above will at least show their faces.”

“All right. First of all… I need to get some rest. “I’m sorry, but Master, please sort out the rest.”

“Go up and get some rest. “When we wake up, there will be a lot of talk about you.”

Iden took difficult steps to the room that Xerath had given her.

*

Forel’s apostasy and numerous evil deeds were made public through the Holy Synod.

Some argued that the incident should be quietly covered up, but the Holy Council judged that cover-up was impossible because the route on which Xerath escorted the apostate overlapped with the Sacillie family’s procession.

Some high-ranking priests even sent a reprimand to Xerath for tarnishing the church’s reputation.

He rebuked them, saying they should have moved a little more secretly so that work could be completed within the church.

Of course, no official pressure could be applied.

Dozens of girls were discovered in the basement of Forel’s home in the southwestern diocese where he served as bishop.

Some were long dead, and most were mentally damaged by horrific abuse.

The religious order decided to send the children to the monastery for protection and treatment.

The church’s special task force began a large-scale investigation to identify heresy, but there were no visible results.

Some priests who had simply committed minor irregularities were hanged. Most of those who died were low-ranking people below the rank of bishop.

A lot of attention was focused on Aiden, the center of all these incidents.

The temple where the investiture ceremony for saints is held. This incident was by far the most buzzing topic in this place where many people, including the imperial guests, gathered.

“oh! You are Lord Iden. Nice to meet you. “I am Viscount Garfield, Lord of Grandell.”

“I have heard of the title. You defeated the Dark Warrior. “I am Beckman, a knight of the Imperial Knights of the Empire.”

“I heard you came back alive in the flames of a fire. “Is that true?”

“God will remember your dedication to saving young lives. “My name is Priestess Amelia.”

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When I first created Iden as a character, I set his status as a commoner. This is because the lower the lineage, the stronger the ability and characteristics were.

An orphan abandoned in a monastery. In a society where status determines most things, this served as a fatal weakness.

The disdain of many nobles followed him until he went on a journey of asceticism, slaughtered numerous demons, and rose to fame.

Therefore, Iden was very unfamiliar with this kind of treatment.

Before the investiture ceremony began, the main chapel of the temple resembled a social gathering for nobles.

If it weren’t for Archbishop Tegain, he wouldn’t have come here.

Aiden felt uncomfortable and bothered by nobles approaching him wearing masks.

The friendship with the Holy Knight was a valuable asset, so there was a constant flow of people coming to the table where Iden was sitting.

I was spending time talking about things that weren’t like poetry. A huge man approached me, holding Iden’s weapons in both hands.

“I am Lady Uriel’s bodyguard. “I’m here to return the luggage you left with me.”

Euron spotted the figure and came running from behind.

“Give it to me!”

Aiden was puzzled. If it was the Euron he knew, he wouldn’t be able to wake up even if he died, right?

Euron, who had taken over the armament, held on for a little while and, as expected, it was different. My legs lost strength and I sat down.

However, Iden was quite satisfied. It’s been a week since I arrived in the Holy Kingdom. I saw Euron concentrating on training all day at Xerath’s private residence.

That was a huge step forward.

The three Holy Knights who were watching this from afar burst into laughter.

“Haha, I can’t even use it for anything like that.”

“Isn’t the reputation exaggerated? “If a squire behaves like that, the owner’s reputation will be tarnished.”

“Let’s not be mischievous. “The great Lord Iden must have a reason for taking such a handsome guy with him.”

Euron’s face was stained with shame. There was no greater honor for a new soldier than serving a paladin.

Euron wanted to do well. Even though it was a temporary job, I wanted to leave a good impression at least while I was there.

To him, Iden was a paladin worthy of respect.

“Get up. “Spread your shoulders.”

Iden lifted the weapon that was holding Euron down.

“It was presumptuous. sorry.”

“It was your job. “Do better next time.”

It sounded a bit cold, but it was an opportunity for Euron.

Iden and the Paladins’ gazes collided in the air.

They came up first and said hello.

“Nice to meet you. It’s Tyrun. You passed the ordeal in two years? It’s a great achievement. “If that’s true.”

Typically 7 years. It was four years at the earliest.

Looking through the records, Iden was the only paladin who passed the ordeal in two years.

“Nice to meet you. But about your story… I’m sorry. “I’ve never heard of it.”

For a moment, a feeling of victory flashed across Tyrun’s eyes. He smiled and shook my hand.

“Hmm, that’s probably because I don’t have enough experience yet. If you get the chance, visit the north. You will hear the story of the paladin who tore up the monster Monta and killed it. haha.”

Aiden also smiled and held the hand he offered. The remaining two paladins had smiles on their faces as if they were watching something fun.

I heard the sound of bones twisting. Aiden’s expression was calm, and Tyrun’s face turned red.

“Rumors are meaningless when I say them with my own mouth.”

Iden released more strength into his grip.

“I think it’s a lie on your part to say that you tore the monster to death.”

Tyrun wanted to scream and shake off his grip. But I couldn’t do that. Pride. Because he was also a paladin.

Aiden slowly relaxed his strength. Fights like this were common. We had to show our skills but not go too far.

Tyrun’s thoughts seemed a little different. The burning fighting spirit was shaking as if it would explode at any moment. If it had been outdoors, I might have challenged him to a duel.

When the atmosphere became a little cold, the noisy hall suddenly became quiet.

Yuriel was entering where the attention of the VIPs was focused.

The woman walking on the pure white carpet was, just like in the game, a beautiful woman who could not even tolerate jealousy.

Groans erupted from everywhere in the audience. Iden couldn’t help but feel the impact of her appearance.

Tyrun, who had the fighting spirit of a fighting dog, was also distracted by her.

Yuriel scanned the crowd with his eyes. He found Aiden and slowly approached him.

People’s eyes also moved along.

The three Holy Knights welcomed Yuriel with polite expressions and gentle tones.

“I meet the saint. Northeastern Diocese…”

“I am not a saint yet. Rather, Lord Iden.”

Yuriel showed her respect by slightly rolling up the hem of her white dress.

“Your advice saved my life. “On behalf of the Sacillier family, I would like to express my formal thanks.”

People were buzzing. That paladin even saved the life of a saint? They said things like that, but Iden was quite pleased with Uriel’s performance.

It was because Iden’s integrity level rose subtly, as if someone sincere was truly impressed.

“My father promised sufficient compensation.”

“I will not accept compensation. It was God’s will that saved your life. “Not me.”

“is that so?”

A look passed by Yuriel’s pupil. Her power. My mind’s eye, which can see through lies, saw through Iden’s bullshit.

It didn’t matter. Because her mind’s eye had always seen the absurdity of the religious order and the hypocrisy of the clergy, there was nothing romantic left in her heart.

Such people do not have expectations from others. So there was no way to be disappointed.

The ‘noble hypocrisy’ that falls due to the disappointment of others was an exception in front of this woman.

“That’s right. “If you really care, offer it to God.”

“I will. “Can we talk more about it?”

Iden pointed to the other side of the table. When Yuriel asked for understanding from those around her with her eyes, the gathered Holy Knights and nobles left the place.

She sat down across from him.

“You threw yourself into the interrogator’s fire to save your child. Was that God’s will too?”

I thought he was going to ask about the group that attacked the procession, but I was wrong.

“That’s not it.”

There was no reason to lie if there were no listening ears around. Because I’m going to get caught anyway.

“So what?”

“That was what I meant.”

“Can I ask why? “I’m sure the Lord didn’t know about Changyeom.”

“It was for me.”

Yuriel looked at Aiden curiously. This was because her mental eyes could not see through the true meaning of those words.

That meant that Aiden himself was not confident in what he said.

Even if I had answered that I did it for the child, my mind’s eye would not have worked.

“Dara jumped into the fire for herself… At first glance, it seems like an ambiguous expression. I’m not sure, but your dedication deserves to be fully rewarded. “God wants him too.”

Yuriel placed both hands neatly on the table.

“Lord Iden, take my hand.”

What Yuriel wanted to do was receive the saint’s blessing. It is a kind of buff that increases the target’s stats by a certain amount. Of course, since it was a setting in a game, I had no idea how it worked in real life.

No matter what, there was no need to kick the rice cake that rolled in. Although it was limited to a one-time event, it was a highly valued blessing.

Iden took her hand.

“The agent of judgment here has faithfully performed his original duties. With the strength to call out for destruction and the gentleness to care for the weak, you spread your teachings far and wide. “If God permits, I would like to share the interest and blessings.”

A warm light source enveloped Aiden’s whole body. People clapped their hands or nodded and watched.

Satisfactory results followed.

“Will you always be faithful?”

“I will.”

“Will you always spread God’s teachings?”

“Yes, I will.”

“Would you take the lead in destroying evil for God?”

“Of course.”

Every time the question was repeated, Uriel’s expression wavered a little.

“······Will you always be devoted to God?”

“of course.”

She lifted her eyelids. His eyes were twinkling with suspicion.

“Lord Iden? “Perhaps you…”

Most people in this world had faith. Because this is a world filled with unexplainable unknowns, even evil people do not deny the existence of God.

What’s more, a paladin doesn’t believe in God. That was impossible.

Aiden stood up, leaving the embarrassed Uriel behind.

“I will put the blessing you gave me to good use. thank you.”

“wait a minute.”

“Let’s talk again later. “Now I have some work to do.”

Archbishop Tegain. The ultimate purpose of being here was entering the chapel.