Paladin of the Dead God - Chapter 252



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Episode 252. The Coming Temple (1)

“Wolsten, you never told anyone about these archangels?”

“Of course. Who on earth would I consult about this?”

If sales and production have been temporarily halted, it means that even Wolsten got sick of it the moment he saw it. He must have realized what kind of being he would have to deal with if he made a mistake.

But instead of stopping there, Isaac decided to go one step further.

“Very well. But please do not stop the production. If they were going to wake up just by pulling off a few feathers, they should have woken up long ago. And could you please find out about these things as quietly as possible within the World’s Brazier Church?”

The ‘rebirth’, the declaration of victory of the world’s brazier sect, ends with the earth’s crust being shattered and a new code of light being revealed from beneath the ground. Isaac hypothesized that the ‘new code of light’ might be the being that exists underground.

This is a low probability guess, as this place has nothing to do with the world’s brazier sect, but it is certain that it is connected in some way.

“What you’re saying is… … that these archangels might be connected to the hearth of the world?”

Isaac nodded.

Wolsten also understood what he was implying.

Although it was scary, it was an interesting proposition for Ulsten, who had come out of the Svanvar Archipelago to the continent to personally create the ‘new god’.

“Okay, I’ll find out as much as I can from my perspective. But… … .”

Wolsten, who had expected Isaac to simply bury this, showed interest in his investigative instructions.

“You don’t seem scared?”

“How could you not be afraid?”

Isaac smiled, touching the corners of his trembling lips.

“But no matter what happens to these things later, I don’t want to be left in the dark. At the very least, I need to find a way to keep them buried in this ground.”

“That’s right. If all of this were to move, the Isacre territory would just collapse underground. Then what are you going to do?”

“Me? I am… … .”

It was already decided that Isaac had to do something.

“I have to keep thinking about how to survive with my people in this crazy world.”

***

Autumn has begun to color the high places of the mountainside.

The farmers, who had never had a bad harvest since Isaac began ruling the Isacre territory, expected another bountiful harvest this year. Now that the population had grown considerably, there was no need to import food from outside.

Also, thanks to the exemption from trade taxes from the empire, many goods were gathered here for trade. It was not yet a city, but it was certain that it would become a very important trade hub as time went on.

The number of immigrants also increased significantly due to the rapidly developing Isacre territory. In particular, thanks to the rumors of the Knights of the Holy Grail, who treated both Barbarians and pagans kindly without discrimination, the talents who had been persecuted naturally gathered there.

And the dozens of immigrants who arrived with Neria were among such groups.

Isaac had never ordered them to go there, but there weren’t many places the hordes of pagans could go when they suddenly poured out of their stronghold.

At first, when a group of dozens suddenly wanted to settle down in the territory, the people of the territory were wary. However, they ate well without any discrimination, slept well without complaining even in a shabby house, worked hard, and were kind to people and even animals, so everyone soon accepted them as one of their own.

In particular, the reason they were able to quickly join the Yeongji community was because their level of education was quite high.

For example, Neria was currently working as an accountant and doctor in the estate. She had originally worked hard to help with farm work, but after helping merchants try to make fun of illiterate farmers a few times, it naturally became her job.

Just being able to do math and read was considered a great ability in that era. She also had knowledge of herbal medicine, so many people came to her.

Of course, it is right to go to a priest when you are sick or injured. However, there are times when it is difficult to ask a priest for help. This is the case with mental illness, animal illness, or mild stomachache or cold.

The other immigrants also knew how to read and write, and they all had extensive knowledge of technology and other fields, which made them a great help to the territory.

“Miss Neria, my son got better after using the herbs you told me about before. Thank you.”

“Thank you for your help. I’m glad it helped.”

Neria politely responded to the farmers who greeted her politely and passed by. Seeing her like that, the farmers whispered some rumors about Neria.

Judging by his speech, his refined manner, and his high level of education, he was clearly a nobleman or a priest. However, I could not understand why he lived in such a lowly place, living in poverty with them.

Because of this, all sorts of speculations were going around, but it was clear that Neria and her group were becoming a major force in the territory.

“Phew… … .”

Returning to her room, Neria let out a deep sigh and laid down on her bed. It was the first empty house where Neria and the immigrants were allowed to stay. Since the atmosphere among the immigrants was still strong towards Neria as the leader, she was given a small, solitary cell.

Today, I looked over the farmers’ newly written contracts and told them what to do by rummaging through the dung of calves that had eaten something wrong.

Although it was a daily routine that could not help but be exhausting, she felt more fulfilled than ever. As she prayed to the nameless chaos, she felt the emptiness in her heart being filled.

‘At first I couldn’t understand his teachings, but now I think I can grasp them.’

Neria thought of the masked man who had saved them from Calamity Camille.

It was clear that Camille had been turned into a monster by the nameless chaos. But the man who saved them was also an agent of the nameless chaos.

Although it was unclear how to accept these conflicting results, it was clear who to serve.

***

[I was watching.]

Suddenly Neria opened her eyes wide and woke up.

A man was standing at her feet.

[You have been teaching well so far.]

It wasn’t that she had misheard in her sleep. Neria rolled out of bed and bowed her head to the masked man, Isaac. Looking at his mask made her feel frozen, so she couldn’t dare to look at him.

“I have been waiting for you, O Prophet.”

[You were waiting?]

“I know very well that what you said at that time was not all. The teachings that the Prophet gave us were actually a great gift. I thought that since we had not yet fully cleansed ourselves of our sins, He would come to punish us when He was ready.”

Isaac was dumbfounded for a moment.

Of course, the current life of Neria and her group was a bit too poor to be called a punishment.

But now they were an important axis in Isaac’s domain. I didn’t feel like punishing them.

But to assuage their guilt, it was also necessary to exploit that guilt.

[Okay, now that you seem ready, I’ll tell you what to do.]

“I will devote my body and soul to fulfill my mission.”

[Spread my teachings in this land. Let all whisper my teachings, let them listen, let them be in the grain of the farmer, in the carts of the merchants, and in the whispers of the priests.]

Neria froze for a moment.

Evangelism is one of the most common and ordinary doctrines. But this is the territory of Isaac, the Holy Grail Knight. Even she couldn’t help but be afraid.

“This is the domain of Isaac Isaacrea, O Prophet. No matter how kind and compassionate he is, I fear that he will fall by the sword before we can fully pay for our sins.”

[… … Don’t worry about him, I’ll take care of it.]

Isaac said, trying not to sound awkward.

[You don’t have to preach loudly. It will be of great help if you maintain your own teachings, have a certain philosophy, and set an example of what kind of attitude toward life is right.]

Isaac said this to Neria seriously.

[You are the scriptures and sacred relics of the religious order. You can read the doctrines just by looking at you without having to raise your voice, so you are scriptures. People will be moved by my teachings by having you close to them, so you can be called sacred relics.]

Neria felt her heart flutter at Isaac’s words. No one had ever said anything like this to them before. Even when they had studied in the Order of the Light, the priests had always spoken as if they were the sole mouthpiece and instrument of the temple.

Isaac’s teachings did not stop.

[You have no need for temples, altars, or priests. You will not have a set of prayers. You will not need to search for the name of God.]

“Prophet, then… … how should I turn to you when I need help?”

In a world where there are gods, not being able to expect help from them is like being alone on a vast ocean. Neria, who had felt that way countless times as the leader of a cult, asked with a sense of desperation.

[I can’t help you.]

Isaac answered calmly.

[I am not omnipotent. I am imperfect, just like you, and so is everything in the world.]

Isaac recognized his own imperfections early on.

All the harm and contradictions that faith causes in the first place stem from the claim that God is omnipotent and perfect. Of course, there is a God in this world who makes anything possible.

However, it comes from the wishes of ordinary people.

[So you must strive to make your own lives a miracle. Be a warm and kind miracle to yourself and to each other.]

Isaac gave a revelation to himself as if he were affirming it.

[If a trial comes that you cannot handle, I will also come to you as a miracle.]

“I will respectfully… accept it.”

Neria managed to give an answer in an atmosphere where it was difficult to even breathe.

She realized that the teachings she had received in the basement of Baelbaden were not really punishments but doctrines and miracles. Despite their great sins, the Prophet was lovingly embracing and supporting them.

So Neria accepted the new faith.

Atheism, which says that since there is no god to call by name, you must become the miracle of life yourself.

***

Isaac returned, promising to continue teaching Neria and the believers. He was surprised at how well Neria had adapted, but even more surprised at their faithfulness.

‘Honestly, I thought they would be full of ignorant opportunists since they were nameless Chaos believers… … Did what happened in Baelbaden give you some kind of mental shock?’

Maybe he was a little foolish because of the trauma. Or maybe he was deeply impressed by the effects of the ‘Dark Eucharist’. If not, the idiots may have already fallen long ago and only the best have arrived at the Isacre territory.

I remember that there were many more believers who left Baelbaden than they were.

Isaac didn’t care about that fact. He decided to protect and care for only those who came into his arms anyway. After all, people can only protect those within their reach.

‘But why hasn’t Claire arrived yet?’

Claire and her party, who had set out much earlier than Neria, had not yet arrived. It was natural for the inexperienced priests of the seminary to wander around for the first time, but they thought it was too late. However, Isaac could not go out and look for them himself.

Even though he is a priest, he will never die as he is a priest, so he will come back at any time.

Isaac wasn’t too worried.

Isaac lightly patrolled the territory on his Nell. Now the people of the territory were no longer surprised by the silhouette of a dragon flying across the sky.

The sun had already set in the Isacrea Estate located in the valley, but Isaac, flying in the sky, could still see the sun hanging in the west. While looking around to see if there were any wanderers walking along the path where the sun had set, Isaac discovered a person dressed in a monk’s habit walking alone from the east.

I thought it might be Claire because of her monk’s attire, but unless she took a very wrong turn, she didn’t seem like she would come from the east.

Isaac descended first.

At that moment, a man in a monk’s robe drew his sword in an instant as Nell approached. Isaac’s eyes widened at the unusual movement.

At least the skill of a Paladin. There was no need to scare him right away, but I had to confirm who it was first.

Knock. Isaac prepared to draw his sword as soon as he landed, keeping his eyes on his opponent.

“Who are you?”

At that moment, the opponent stopped.

Instead of answering Isaac’s question, he slightly pushed up the hood he was wearing and asked.

“Isaac?”

The moment Isaac heard that voice, he suddenly felt as if time had flown back several years. He was barely able to come up with an answer.

“Gebel?”

The deserter whom Isaac had cared for and taught swordsmanship while at the Ariet Monastery was right before his eyes. Isaac threw down his sword, rushed forward, and embraced him in one breath.