Paladin of the Dead God - Chapter 157



Only Krnovel

Episode 157 The Holy Grail Knight of Wonderland (2)

Ethelred Aldeon.

He is the head and king of a family based in Aldeon, the current capital of the Kingdom of Elil. The king of his predecessor was also famous as a tyrant, and he died of high blood pressure caused by excessive drinking and gluttony. Although he was tragic, he could be said to have lived a long life simply by not being killed by a sword in the Kingdom of Elil.

Fortunately, Ethelred seemed to have learned her lesson and became a vegetarian who did not even drink meat or drink alcohol. But if there is one thing that is extremely rare in this shrine to honorable knights… … The point was that he absolutely hated knights.

‘It’s not that I lack faith in the faith of Elil. ‘I just hate macho people who only call for justice, courage, and honor.’

Isaac gathered his thoughts while recalling the information about Ethelred.

Anyway, although she inherited the throne at an early age due to her father’s sudden death, Ethelred was not a bad king. This was especially true for Isaac.

Ethelred bit her nails nervously and then asked.

“I heard that there would be a message from Emperor Waldzemer. “Do you have any correspondence?”

Isaac took out a letter from his pocket. It was a letter sealed with the emperor’s seal.

Although he could not and had no intention of opening it, Isaac knew roughly the contents. He expressed his wish for the Kingdom of Elil to participate in the Dawn Army and appointed Isaac as ambassador plenipotentiary… … Because it was something like that.

As it was a short letter, it was difficult to secretly convey other information.

Ethelred quickly read the letter and let out a long sigh.

He walked nervously as if he was organizing his thoughts and suddenly opened his mouth.

“It seems that Emperor Waldzemer has finally changed his mind to participate in the Dawn Army? “I heard that the situation in the empire is not sufficiently stable yet.”

“You seem to have thought that this expedition of the Dawn Army was unavoidable. No, on the contrary, you probably intend to take away the leadership from the church through this expedition to the Dawn Army.”

At Isaac’s words, Ethelred looked at him with slightly surprised eyes.

Unlike Elil, where the church and the monarchy were unified, even Ethelred knew that the Gertonian Empire kept the Code of Light in check. However, you might have been surprised to hear that the Holy Grail Knight, known as a member of the Code of Light, spoke as if he was siding with the emperor. However, if he had not been part of the emperor’s faction in the first place, he would not have been able to serve as an envoy.

Ethelred nodded to Isaac, trusting the contents of the letter.

“Right. Well, since it is the Eucharist, it would be possible to take the initiative from the church… … But as you have seen, our kingdom has many problems.”

Isaac nodded cautiously.

The Kingdom of Elil is less centralized than the Gertonian Empire. Not to mention the small rebels, four major forces were dividing the Kingdom of Elil. Even if Ethelred wants to participate in the Dawn Army, it is an impossible situation.

The biggest problem is that Ethelred is too young.

“First of all, I have to persuade my subjects, but as you have seen, I have barely been able to push ahead with my personal command. Everyone treats me like a kid on a cliff. “You look down on me.”

“It would be loyalty. your majesty.”

Isaac said sincerely.

The previous king was a tyrant who regularly carried out terrifying purges, but if there was one thing he did well, it was that he cut down the yellow guys without mercy. Thanks to this, Ethel Red was able to avoid being stabbed by his subjects, despite his abilities. Those who had the ability to do so had already died during the reign of the previous kings.

“That would be fortunate.”

Ethelred seemed skeptical about whether Isaac’s words were consideration or praise, but she accepted them favorably.

“Others are the problem. In particular, the witch Hecatli Sisters and the traitor Georg, we must somehow subjugate them in order to be able to do anything… … .”

Ethelred muttered bitterly.

“Let’s take a walk and talk first. In fact, there are not many people in this country with whom I can reveal my true feelings. But I think I can tell my story to the Holy Grail Knight.”

***

“This country is crazy.”

As Ethelred walked through the garden, she spoke to Isaac as if complaining.

“Everyone is crazy about swordsmanship, self-discipline, arbitrary justice, courage that regards life as a fly, and petty honor that only they recognize. Justice, courage, honor. Yeah, good. That’s a good thing. But if everyone fights with swords! “Who on earth is going to carry the plow, chisel, and hammer?”

The anger in his heart seemed old.

He didn’t know if he was raised by watching his father, or if it was because of the knights who were driving the kingdom into a state of eternal civil war, or if it was because of his subjects who still saw him as a ‘knight not worthy of a knight.’

For them, a king who fought bravely was a constant.

“You probably saw a lot of things you shouldn’t have seen on your way to this castle.”

“… … “I can’t say it never happened, Your Majesty.”

Isaac said, recalling the messed up roads, the squalid poor people, the men who were crazy about stabbing people, and even the sight of one port worker carrying a knife. I definitely understood why Ethelred was angry. I don’t know if there are any subjects who share the same thoughts, but it is clear that not even the subjects can understand Ethelred’s words, so it is natural for him to be angry.

“Everyone is so obsessed with stabbings that the country is like this. Yes, the strong have a duty to protect the weak! Elil said so. But that only applies when there is a strong person who can hold the world in one hand!”

The strong have a duty to protect the weak.

This may seem obvious at first glance, but at the same time, it contains a very disdainful view. This is because it is difficult to establish an equal relationship between the protected and the protected. If done incorrectly, the ‘duty to protect’ can lead to fences, rules, oppression, taxes, and punishment ‘to protect the weak.’

In Ellil’s time, there may have been romantic knights who maintained chivalry.

However, if that is distorted and distorted for about 700 years, the current Elil Kingdom is born.

“I have never been to the Gertonian Empire, but I have heard of the culture and stories handed down there. Yes, of course, that place is not without its negative effects. However, like in this country, farmers must hold swords, merchants must hold swords, and all the talent and resources in the world will not be sucked into the military.”

“That’s right. your majesty.”

“That doesn’t mean the army is strong. because? They’re pouring all that talent, lives, and resources into killing one another! “This is why the country is going crazy, damn it.”

The strong set the rules.

The only people who are respected in this country are those who are a little stronger. Or someone who is trying to become stronger. But even a strong man like Bachel would die if he starved. In that case, the farmer could be said to be stronger than Bachul, but the Kingdom of Elil did not accept it that way.

Plowing the field and herding cattle are considered jobs only done by losers. So, of course, its development was much slower than that of the Gertonian Empire and its level had no choice but to regress. The only things that have advanced are swordsmanship, strategy, and tactics?

“Actually, I have already met the emperor.”

“Have you met His Majesty, Emperor Waldzemer?”

Isaac asked back in surprise. This was information I had no idea about.

“exactly. This was before I became king. I discussed something with my father, but he refused. It was probably a story about Yeomyeong-gun. At that time, I met him briefly and had a brief conversation. He was an amazing man… … .”

Ethelred muttered as if she was dreaming.

Isaac thought it was a natural reaction. If a child were to meet an emperor with shining horns, he would naturally be entranced. Isaac himself would have done the same.

“At that time, I realized it while talking with the emperor. “This country is crazy, and it is impossible to bring this crazy country to its senses without involving foreign forces.”

Isaac’s face became serious.

Intervention by foreign powers is not just a traitor in this world. This is no different from handing over the kingdom established by Elil to the Code of Light. Even though he was accused of being an apostate, he had nothing to say.

“Your Majesty, what you said… … .”

“There’s nothing to think about seriously. Because I didn’t think about it seriously. What I am saying is that I felt that I needed stimulation for self-reflection. But I couldn’t have done it on my own.”

Ethelred said and looked back at Isaac.

Isaac could understand why Ethelred had revealed such an intimate story to him. Meeting Emperor Waldsemmer was the moment that made him hate knights and was also the most important event that occurred during his growing years.

And since Isaac was sent by the emperor, Ethelred places absolute trust in him.

Isaac had a confused expression as he looked at Ethelred, whose height was close to his chest. He also knew how lonely he felt when he felt like he was the only normal person in a world where his values ​​were so different from his own.

Ethelred lowered her head as if she interpreted Isaac’s expression as embarrassment.

“okay. It must be a difficult problem. I know very well that you cannot simply follow my wishes. “I came here to request the troops needed for the Dawn Army, but I don’t think you want to take on such a painful problem.”

“no. your majesty.”

Isaac spoke calmly to Ethelred.

Although Ethelred spoke as if complaining about her circumstances, they were all in line with Isaac’s purpose. Moreover, the things he was worried about were things that Isaac had already experienced and solved.

Normalizing the kingdom and sending it to war in the Dawn Army.

This is the minimum prerequisite to seeing the Elil Faith ending.

“I came to return the kingdom to Your Majesty.”

Ethelred suddenly raised her head.

“A kingdom? to me? how?”

Isaac mentioned the secrets kept most secretly by the high-ranking officials of the Kingdom of Elil, and the reason why the Aldeon royal family was not recognized as a proper royal family and the Kingdom of Elil became engulfed in civil war.

“Elil has been silent for 100 years, right?”

Ethelred’s pupils suddenly widened. Seeing how his eyes were constantly shaking, Isaac thought that he needed to learn how to manage his facial expressions.

“… … “How?”

In the Elil Church, there is no significant distinction between priests and paladins. Because everyone goes around holding swords and fighting.

However, those who reached the transcendental level, called sword masters, communicated with angels and received oracles from Elil.

However, about 100 years ago, all communication from Elil suddenly stopped. Even when I asked the angels, they only answered that they did not know. As the unprecedented situation continued, the Kingdom of Elil had no choice but to be embroiled in a long civil war.

“I will help you gain Elil’s recognition, Your Majesty.”

***

Scepter of Aldeon Castle.

The subjects lined up in front of the empty throne were talking with serious expressions about the recently visited Holy Grail Knight.

They did not like the Grail Knight from across the sea. I couldn’t help but be proud of the fact that the pagans claimed to be Holy Grail Knights, a tradition that was disappearing even among themselves, and that they were even very good at that job.

And more than anything, I didn’t like Isaac’s handsome appearance.

Isn’t a strong man supposed to have about nine scars on his bulky, muscular body? However, regardless of his handsome appearance and slender body, Isaac did not seem like the rumored Holy Grail Knight.

Perhaps it would be better if it were the dancer who possessed Elil.

“… … I’m not sure. Is that Holy Grail Knight really this Holy Grail Knight? “It didn’t look like that.”

“The Code of Light bastards may have made it up to create a proper hero. “He doesn’t have Elil’s blood, so how can such a hero suddenly appear?”

“It is clear that the Dawn Army or whatever is trying to drag our blood into their senseless actions. “Let’s treat them appropriately and kick them out.”

“By the way, didn’t you say that someone from the Elil Knights faced off against the Holy Grail Knight?”

“Reina Heald!”

The subjects, who had been talking seriously for a while, called out to Raina, who was standing guard near the entrance. Originally she was supposed to stand guard next to her throne, but the swelling on her face from her beating still hadn’t subsided and she was pushed into a corner.

“You said you faced the Holy Grail Knight, right? “Is he that strong?”

Reina looked at the person who asked the question with a puzzled expression.

“Can’t you see my face?”

“… … Take good care of the bridge of your nose. What I mean is, wasn’t there more excellence than that?”

Reina grinned at those words and stroked the bridge of her broken nose.

“It was radiating black energy. And I survived that.”

Wow, a mixture of admiration, astonishment, and sighs flowed from the subjects. They were silent for a moment, then looked at each other and muttered.

“Hmm, if that’s true then what… … .”

“There’s nothing we can do about it.”

“The time has finally come when the Code of Light can also be helpful.”

“It seems that even those petty bastards have not forgotten their roots as King Elil.”

“After all, you deserve to be called a Holy Grail Knight!”

Meanwhile, Isaac was eavesdropping on their conversation through Hesabel. She felt absurd as she saw the hostile reputation towards her being reversed with a single word of sword energy, but this was how Elil was supposed to be.

The simplicity was both an advantage and a disadvantage.