Paladin of the Dead God - Chapter 236



Only Krnovel

Episode 236. When looking into the abyss (2)

One of the bad habits of the priests of the Church of Light is sleeping late.

There is no need to save on candles like the common people, and the lighting can be maintained as bright as day even in the middle of the night. In particular, the Ultenheim Cathedral is lit up like a castle even in the middle of the night, and thanks to this, the high priests work without resting even at night, enjoy hobbies, or practice self-cultivation.

More important than what they did while staying up late was that they had much more time to be productive than ordinary people. What others could only do while the sun was up, priests could do for a few more hours a day.

The difference accumulates over time.

Camille was someone who understood the importance of that time and tried to use it more valuably. At a time when the Emperor and the Church were in a delicate conflict even though the Dawn Army was right around the corner, the role she took on was crucial.

“hmm.”

So, Camille was barely finishing her work and on her way back to her room when she saw Isaac in the dark hallway, feeling even more tired. It was already close to midnight.

“It would be a shame for you to come here in the middle of the night with such an attractive face, Holy Grail Knight. I am already past the age where I can be excited by such a sudden visit.”

If a Grail Knight of Isaac’s caliber had visited, it should have been reported to Camille. However, since I never heard anything like that, Isaac must have avoided the attention of the cathedral guards.

“You guys go in first. I have something to talk to the Grail Knight.”

There were no knights standing guard inside the cathedral, but there were priests who attended. The priests who attended bowed their heads and left without any suspicion.

Even though Isaac suddenly showed up in the middle of the night, he didn’t seem to worry about his safety.

Isaac didn’t seem like the kind of person who would do something like that, and even if he had the will, it wouldn’t be easy to harm a cardinal who was covered in miracles and holy relics.

However, Camille was slightly wary, as she thought that the clever Grail Knight might be a little angry if he had fully grasped the situation.

Isaac handed Camille a book. Camille smiled wryly when she realized it was a collection of materials on nameless chaos.

Isaac opened his mouth.

“This is the evidence we found in the catacombs. We have completed our investigation into the cult group and taken appropriate action.”

“You are indeed a Grail Knight. Are you done with your work already? So, how were the criminals?”

“You were doing something dangerous. I gave you a severe scolding, but that doesn’t mean your sins will be erased. But those guys were just low-level people.”

“end?”

“They were just curious kids. What matters is who put that dangerous object in the hands of kids who didn’t know anything and for what purpose.”

Camille still had a smile on his face. This old, weasel-like politician, the Cardinal, was also good at keeping a poker face.

“Have you found out anything about what’s behind it?”

“Roughly speaking. But there are still some parts that are not explained, so I’m not sure yet.”

“If there is anything that is not explained, what is it?”

“For example, it was too long of a preparation to be blamed on someone, or why did you pass on the knowledge to someone who was a blood relative… … .”

Isaac knew that it had been at least half a year since Claire and her men had performed the ritual.

It would have taken that much time for ghost stories and fear to build up in the old town. It was too early to plan to trap Isaac by linking him up.

It was also a subtle detail that Claire and Camille were grandparents.

Because if it is revealed that her grandson is a cult member, it could also have a negative impact on Camille.

These were the parts that Isaac couldn’t understand no matter how much he thought about it.

Camille smiled as she realized that Isaac had some idea of ​​the situation.

“I think you’re ready to talk now, Isaac.”

Ready? Isaac muttered something, but Camille turned her back to him and motioned for him to follow her.

“Then, although I’m a little tired, the new doctrine… … no.”

Camille corrected the words she had said.

“Let’s talk about the owl’s teachings step by step.”

***

The place Camille led Isaac to was the backyard of the Ultenheim Cathedral. The backyard, unlike other cathedrals built in the middle of the old town, was built with high walls and densely packed trees, giving the impression of being in a deep forest. The lights from all over the cathedral did not reach the forest.

Camille strode across the mowed lawn, stopping halfway through.

Isaac thought it was a trap, but he didn’t feel any such signs. Of course, Camille was a powerful priest, so she could perform miracles that could burn an ordinary person to death in an instant. However, Isaac was no ordinary Grail Knight.

I didn’t think about who would survive the fight. It would be difficult to deal with the aftermath, no matter who it was.

Camille sat on a cut-down stump among the dark trees, her face obscured by the shadows cast by the light from the cathedral.

“They say the sun has angel ears. At this rate, no one will be able to eavesdrop.”

“Is the teaching of the owl really that dangerous?”

“It depends on who mentions it.”

At Camille’s answer, Isaac felt a hint of an answer to one of his own questions.

Why did Camille tell her grandson Claire about the teachings of the owl and the clues to the Nameless Chaos?

“Are you perhaps the successor to the teachings of the Owl?”

It would not be surprising if the teachings of the Owl had long ago been designated heretical and censored. However, the material remained and was passed on to Claire and the young priests. Isaac could see that the materials he had obtained through Claire were neither too old nor grammatically outdated.

It meant that someone was consistently organizing and copying it and passing it down.

“The term ‘successor to the teachings’ is misleading, Grail Knight. Knowledge exists, and we are all merely humble students before the elaborate order. The term ‘successor’ gives the impression that we have a monopoly on knowledge.”

Isaac was convinced by Camille’s answer.

It is hard to believe, but Cardinal Camille was someone who was fascinated by the teachings of the owl, or maybe the owl himself. It is hard to be sure, because there are no accurate records of the owl himself, let alone the teachings of the owl.

“Are you an owl?”

“No. The Owl is a figure from about 500 years ago… or even earlier. I don’t know who he is. I just assume he’s one of the angels.”

An angel with a strong heretical nature. Among the angels of the Light Code that Isaac remembered, there was no angel named Owl. That meant that he had already become an archangel, or that he was hiding his name.

Whoever it was, it was clear that it wasn’t on good terms with the lighthouse keeper.

“It doesn’t matter what the owl is. It’s what he teaches.”

Camille said with a dry smile.

“Grail Knight, do you know when the teachings of the owl were most popular?”

“… … When?”

“It was 300 years ago. It was just before the White Plague broke out.”

Isaac kept his mouth shut. Just before the White Plague. Before the name of the nameless chaos was forgotten.

A time when the church was extremely corrupt and apocalyptic madness was sweeping the entire continent.

Camille was saying that the doctrine of the new world, or the teachings of the owl, that Isaac was talking about was popular at the time.

Isaac fired back without losing his composure.

“I heard that the church was very corrupt at that time. If the Owl’s teachings demanded fundamentalism and moral reform of the church, it would naturally have received support from the people.”

“The group that most actively embraced the teachings of the owl were the nameless Chaos believers.”

Isaac felt like he was being punched in the face every time he heard Camille’s answer.

‘These kids are no help now or in the past.’

Isaac thought bitterly and wondered how he could make excuses for not knowing. If you think about it, the teachings of the Chaos Cultists, an apocalyptic group, and the Owl, who demanded that ‘gods not interfere with the world’, are bound to overlap to some extent.

After all, what the owl’s teachings demand is the end of the order that currently rules the world.

“… … Then, studying the nameless miracles of chaos while learning the teachings of the owl is the most fundamental of fundamentals, is that it?”

Camille burst out laughing at Isaac’s answer.

“That’s not possible. I think the nameless Chaos believers’ citation of the Owl’s teachings was a misinterpretation. The Owl’s teachings are to study the order of the world and use it in accordance with reason. However, in the process, they brought the White Death to the world, which is their karma.”

“… … .”

“In that context, I personally think that studying nameless chaos is not a bad thing. We need to rein in the monsters that could awaken at any moment.”

***

Only then was Isaac able to guess Claire’s true intentions.

As someone who has learned the teachings of the Owl, Claire believes that she must study everything, including other faiths. However, as a believer in the Code of Light, other faiths are nothing more or less than subjects of study and experimentation.

Even the nameless chaos is the same.

Camille may have heard about the teachings of the owl from her parents, grandparents, or teachers. She too had gone through the same process as Claire in the past, and this time she had tried to pass on the knowledge by pretending it was by chance and mistake.

It was a problem that had to be addressed even if his grandson was sacrificed in the process.

The pursuit of knowledge is natural for a follower of the Law of Light, and through sacrifice, another path may be found.

Camille said that past believers had misinterpreted the Owl’s teachings, but Isaac saw it as the same for her.

The nameless followers of chaos only partially supported the claim that ‘gods should not interfere with humans’, and Camille also only looked into one part of it, saying that ‘miracles are just a law and phenomenon of how the world operates’.

They were people who interpreted the doctrines of faith as they pleased.

Isaac realized that the group that would have the most information on the Nameless Chaos was the Code of Light. Over the centuries of censorship and investigation, they would have burned and simultaneously collected countless documents.

“… … Then why did you entrust me with the investigation of your grandson?”

“First of all, I trusted your character and believed that you had the ability to solve the problem without sacrifice.”

Camille said with a smiling voice.

“But more than anything, I was wondering if you really felt the same way as us.”

Isaac didn’t spread the nameless miracles of chaos while spreading the new doctrine… … but there was something about that that made me feel a little guilty.

It is true that they tried to create their own faction within the Code of Light and cause division. However, that had already happened to the Code of Light 300 years ago. They finally brought about the end of the world in order to end the corruption, or to prevent the world from changing further.

‘Is this perhaps the result that the nameless chaos wants?’

Repeating the same thing as 300 years ago?

It was hard to think that way. There was no need to do it now, and Isaac would not have accepted it. If he had, there would have been someone who was much more obedient and more obedient than Isaac.

But Camille simply summarized her words.

“Grail Knight, I know you have no connection to the Nameless Chaos.”

“… … .”

Isaac averted his gaze to the empty space. Fortunately, the shadows of the dark forest hid his gaze.

“But I must warn you that the new doctrine you have been openly preaching is catching the attention of quite a few priests. The religious order cannot ignore you, considering your influence.”

Camille is still a cardinal of the Order of the Light, even though she has learned the teachings of the Owl. She has no intention of leaving the order of the Order.

Her knowledge of the nameless chaos is solely for instrumental use.

To rein in the nameless chaos that may awaken at any moment.

Isaac also felt like he was about to be reined in by her.

Isaac was silent for a moment, then opened his mouth.

“So, you are saying that you explored the nameless doctrine of chaos for research purposes, secretly tried to pass it on to your grandson, and at the same time, tried to lure me to the same side?”

“The expression ‘luring’ is a bit uncomfortable, Grail Knight.”

Camille answered listlessly, as if she was tired.

“I wanted to imply that your intentions are aligned with ours. Of course, if you insist on going your own way, the Knights of the Holy Grail… … may suffer the unfortunate fate of being accused of being associated with a cult.”

Isaac laughed.

Just as the Emperor was doing, the religious order was also trying to keep Isaac on their side. However, instead of the Emperor trying to gain favor by giving him various things, the religious order tried to tighten the reins.

In fact, this is how the world was ruled by a sect with overwhelming power.

In the vision Amundalas gave 300 years ago, there were people who were wealthy and powerful, yet tried to bring about the end of the world.

Isaac could tell that they were Cardinal Camille, right in front of him.

Those who were willing to invite the end for their own victory.

They have not learned their lesson even though they have been through a great disaster.

“Even though I was so careful, I ended up getting accused of being involved with a cult.”

“If you follow the instructions of the church from now on, it’ll be fine. But… … You were careful?”

Camille frowned at his tone, which suggested he was trying to avoid evidence of his cult connections.

Isaac opened his mouth, ignoring Camille’s question,

“Your Excellency, I have just one question for you.”

“What is it?”

“When you handed over dangerous materials to those young priests, didn’t you think that their mistake would lead to victims?”

Camille tilted her head at Isaac’s question.

“Well, if we were unlucky, a few people might have died. But even if a few of the lower class people of the old city die, it wouldn’t harm the cause. Rather, there are too many suspicious people of unknown origin in the old city, so it would be better to clean them up a bit when the opportunity arises.”

“Yeah. I see.”

Isaac felt his mind clearing up somewhere.

It felt like an old question was being answered.

Camille doesn’t know that the information she released will kill her grandson and burn the Old City to the ground, causing thousands of casualties. It didn’t happen, so she won’t know.

But Isaac was sure that even if something like that happened right before his eyes, Camille wouldn’t blink.

Her purpose is in the high heavens, not in the cesspools of the Old City.

Isaac took something out of a small leather bag on his back. It was usually a bag that knights carried on expeditions to store their Bibles, but what came out of it was no ordinary Bible.

Camille’s expression hardened at the powerful pagan aura she felt from the book. It was a pagan relic of a power far beyond anything she had ever collected or gathered.

“I think it would be better to organize things as you said.”