Paladin of the Dead God - Chapter 228



Only Krnovel

Episode 228. Earth for Man, Heaven for God (4)

Even at that time, the Brandt family had the power and ability to create an emperor.

The Brandt family, which had merged the legacy left by Elril on the continent, was one of the most powerful forces even before the unification of the Baltsemer Empire. So much so that the successors of the previous dynasties did not seek his help but rather regarded him as an implicit rival.

However, the Brandt family has always maintained neutrality, as they are now a strong ally to both the church and the emperor. However, the support of the Brandt family, which broke neutrality, was enough to make Waldsemer a strong candidate for emperor in one fell swoop.

But at this point Isaac began to wonder.

“Then why… … .”

Isaac was about to finish speaking, but then realized that his remarks were not only rude but could be interpreted as disrespectful or, if interpreted maliciously, as conspiracy to rebel, and so he closed his mouth. However, Dietrich opened his mouth, perhaps because he had asked a similar question or pondered it many times.

“Why did you make Baltzemer the emperor instead of me?”

“… … Honestly, I’m curious.”

In fact, Dietrich also had imperial blood flowing through him, albeit not directly, but through a collateral line. Therefore, if he had become emperor, even if everyone had grumbled behind his back, it would not have lacked legitimacy.

In any case, all the dynasties of the empire had short histories. It would not have been strange for a new dynasty to emerge. And at that time, it was not strange for any of the princes to become emperor.

However, Dietrich did not become emperor himself.

“There is only one. It is because Baltzemer was chosen.”

“Because he’s an adult?”

“okay.”

It did not mean that it was because he was a sacred body chosen by the Code of Light.

Dietrich’s process of selecting him was a bit more complex and elaborate.

“Who do you think is the real enemy of the imperial family?”

The answer that they are the Immortal Cult is incorrect. They are enemies of the Code of Light, not the Imperial Family.

However, the existence that can be called the enemy of the Gertonian Empire is subtle. In name and reality, the national power of the Gertonian Empire is the strongest on the continent. If only the intervention of the gods were eliminated, there would be no country or organization that could oppose it.

Isaac had a word that immediately came to mind, but he couldn’t bring himself to say it out loud.

But Dietrich was sure that his clever son-in-law knew exactly what he was referring to.

He pointed to one side of the window. It was the Ultenheim Cathedral, the Church of the Code of Light, a dynasty with a history longer than any other dynasty that had shared the history of Ultenheim.

The ‘enemy of the Gertonia Empire’ is the ‘Cult of the Code of Light’.

The reason why previous empires, including Jeondae, were scattered and destroyed one after another was because the religious order did not want a strong, unified nation.

After the Elil schism, the sect did not want to create a force as powerful as themselves.

A time when Elril spread the name and fame of the Code of Light across the continent through his sword.

The incident where the most powerful tyrant tore the empire in half was a great wound and betrayal to the sect. They were traumatized by any force other than themselves having absolute power since the incident called the Elril Sect.

Especially after the Treaty of Licht, when all land was transferred to those in power and the power to control them was limited, it tore them apart and made them fight.

The Treaty of Licht rather served as a means to encourage further fighting within the empire.

“For a common man to become emperor was simply a repetition of the previous process. The nobles now wanted to end the civil war. To do this, they needed proof that their power was entrusted to them by God.”

Dietrich smiled bitterly and whispered.

“To be honest, I didn’t care who the successor was as long as he had the Holy Body. I figured the only superhuman capable of ending this mess was Baltzemer.”

It was a surprising statement, but I could understand it.

“Fortunately, Baltzemer was neither a bloodthirsty berserker, a pervert, nor a god-worshiping fanatic. Not only that, he was a man of strong ambition and wisdom. I don’t know about his subjects, but it’s difficult for an emperor without ambition. It was the best condition, so there was no reason to hesitate.”

In this way, the emperor went after all his brothers with his horns and sat on his bloody throne. No one raised any objections or complaints during the process, because his head was already covered with authority stronger than a crown.

“I guess the church had no choice but to accept it.”

“Yes. The Emperor only confirmed that he was a follower of the Code of Light and acknowledged his imperial title. He took the oath to inherit the Treaty of Licht and became the Emperor.”

No matter how much unprecedented power he had acquired, he could not escape the hands of the sect. After completing the formalities, Baltzemer received the sacred power that God had permitted him to exercise on earth.

“But this dawning will be a great turning point. Just as the light codes from the ancient gods restored order and glory to this world, His Majesty the Emperor will gain new authority.”

Isaac didn’t answer.

Although the conflict between the Emperor and the Church was a headache, Isaac’s goal was still the same as before.

Winning in the Dawn Army.

He had no intention of being swayed by the squabbles of these power-haunted figures. Isaac had to make an effort to ensure that they would not lose sight of their goal.

‘At least make sure that we don’t end up in a situation where we end up destroying the Dawn Army while fighting.’

Then it’s putting the cart before the horse.

Isaac secretly cheers for the Emperor because he thinks he can better organize the Dawn Army. The Pope is just an incredibly powerful miracle machine, and he has failed to bring victory to the Dawn Army several times before.

***

“Your Majesty, your luggage has been loaded.”

“Well, good job.”

As the servants nodded and reported, Isaac looked at the pile of luggage loaded onto the carriage.

It was a reward given to Isaac by Baltzemer in recognition of his success in forming an alliance with Elril. Treasures and goods were piled up like a mountain, enough to fill three wagons.

They were all to be sent to the Isacre territory.

Some of the wealth sent to the Kingdom of Elril was also embezzled by Isaac under the pretext of a fee, so the total reward received for this mission was enormous. It was probably ten times the amount of wealth Isaac had earned while working hard in the Isacrea territory.

There were still a few things to do in Ultenheim, so we weren’t planning on leaving right away, but we were just organizing things so that we could leave at any time.

‘The CEO personally earns more money from being a mercenary than from the company… … Well, the Isacre territory isn’t just a territory; it’s more like a personal safe.’

You could call it a kind of personal Swiss bank. If you don’t have a fixed residence or a mansion in a big city, you can’t hide such wealth, and it might diminish the public’s respect for the Grail Knights.

Then Isaac saw the servant standing there, hesitating, instead of going.

“Do you have any business?”

“Excuse me, Holy Grail Knight. If it’s okay… … Could you hold my hand just once?”

Isaac thought for a moment, ‘This Nephilim’s fatal charm again,’ but soon realized what he meant.

Even in real history, when a famous saint appeared, there were many people who wanted to be healed by touching just one hand or foot. It was even common for saints to be dismembered and displayed in churches and cathedrals when they died.

“If you need healing, why don’t you go to the village priest?”

But this is a world where miracles are real. They may ask for some money, but they are not low-level slaves, and it is unlikely that a servant employed by the imperial family would not have that much money.

“That’s… … I think that if I receive the blessing of the Saint of Resurrection, my son will be able to return from the Dawn Army.”

Isaac’s head felt hot for a moment.

Before his eyes were the victims of the war he had instigated and drawn into.

Now, it is a war that cannot be ignored, as it would have happened even if you were not there.

A sudden, strange sense of reality squeezed Isaac’s lungs.

[Nameless chaos watches you.]

But Isaac soon came to his senses.

He strode over to the wagon laden with goods, picked up a handful of gold coins, and placed them in the servant’s hands. The servant lowered his head in bewilderment at the enormous amount of gold coins he had suddenly been given.

“Ah, no! I can’t accept it! I can’t touch the gift that His Majesty the Emperor has bestowed upon me! If the knights find out, they’ll be furious!”

“It is not the Emperor who gives me this gold. Instead of praying or offering anything, use this money to buy your son a good sword and armor. Feed him good food without regrets before the battle.”

“Sir, Holy Grail Knight… … .”

“Please let my son think about wanting to go to heaven and not die in vain, but to return home and eat home-cooked meals. That is the only blessing I can give him.”

The majority of the soldiers who fought in the Dawn Army chose a beautiful and happy heaven over a painful reality.

Isaac didn’t want to blame them for their choices.

But he realized one thing he had to do. He didn’t want to be one of those guys who looks down and tsks and tsks.

Isaac thought about what he had to do before leaving Ultenheim.

***

“You will donate the treasures bestowed by His Majesty the Emperor to the Yeomyeong Army?”

“Don’t leave out the fact that it’s one in three.”

Imperial Guard Vaclav Norton looked at Isaac’s calm answer with a dumbfounded expression.

Selling off the Emperor’s gift as soon as you receive it is not only presumptuous, but can even be seen as challenging the Emperor’s authority. Furthermore, why would you say that to yourself, the chief knight of the Imperial Guard?

“I thought you were acting well after returning from the Kingdom of Elril, but what kind of strange thing is this?”

‘The news is late. I guess you haven’t heard yet that the priest’s head was cut off on the way here?’

Isaac thought so to himself, but he didn’t show it.

“Just think of it as a pure and upright Grail Knight who cannot accept too much wealth, so I have no need for it since my wife’s family already has a lot of wealth. And I am not refusing the Emperor’s kindness, but rather donating it to the Dawn Army.”

“Either that or that.”

Basch pretended to stride past Isaac nervously, but it was only an imitation. As a follower of Elil, he could not ignore the authority of Isaac, the great warrior of Elil.

Finally, he turned again and pressed against Isaac.

“If it’s just a name, isn’t it already high? Why bother?”

“I didn’t like the way the soldiers who were drafted into the Dawn Army looked like a bunch of beggars, holding only spears and straw hats. If the Dawn Army that the religious order is sending out is such a bunch of beggars, His Majesty the Emperor must do something better for people to join him.”

Baschle burst into laughter at Isaac’s answer.

As is the case with any nation in any era, the Empire’s treatment of conscripts is poor. Even the Dawn Army, a ‘sacred war’, had to procure weapons at their own expense.

It is no exaggeration to say that conscripts are auxiliary soldiers and that the war is waged by priests, paladins, and the military.

Isaac wanted to make some improvements in the treatment of the conscripts.

However, the Imperial Guard, which was responsible for protecting the Emperor and other duties, already had a lot of work to do. I didn’t want to bother with the treatment of conscripts.

“Even if you do that, it’s only like pouring a cup of water into a river. It would be better if you at least change the soles of your shoes.”

If it were a treasure worth a carriage, it would seem like a lot, but the number of soldiers who participated in the Dawn Army was incredibly large. Isolde suggested that if it was for that purpose, it would be better to donate more wealth in the name of the Brandt Dukes. However, Isaac did not make the suggestion without knowing that fact.

“Yes. But if a rumor spread that the Dawn Army departing from the capital had good soles thanks to the donation of wealth by a famous Grail Knight, wouldn’t things be different? Wouldn’t that put some pressure on other wealthy priests, nobles, and royalty?”

If the Emperor is really smart, he will start using Isaac’s donations in that way.

If you can’t bleed, then at least pay money.

Of course, the priests, nobles, and royalty who were beginning to feel oppressed would hate Isaac, but that was no problem.

“Then why didn’t you donate all three?”

“We need to invest in the Dawn Army that will depart from Isacrea Territory.”

Baschl looked as if he had been hit again.

In fact, everything I’ve said above is just Isaac’s expectations, and I don’t know what will actually happen.

There is also the possibility that the donated goods will not be properly distributed and someone may steal them in the middle. In order to minimize such a possibility, it was entrusted to the imperial guard, Baschul, but even he cannot take care of everything.

So, what Isaac can save is ultimately the area within his reach, the area he can see and touch.

The Dawn Army departing from the Isacre territory will be much smaller in number, but will have much better quality weapons as they have invested more resources.

This was the least Isaac could do for the man he had dragged into the battlefield.