Paladin of the Dead God - Chapter 329



Only Krnovel

Episode 329. Eyes and Sword (2)

Dudududu… … The sound of horseshoes running west echoed loudly.

The inquisitors, wearing crimson hoods and a raven seal, ran for a while and then stopped when the leader slowed down. Since there was no fork in the road or a place to rest, the inquisitors approached with puzzled expressions.

“… … Let’s take a short break and go.”

Saltnaga muttered with a frown on her face.

“Are you feeling very unwell?”

The Inquisitor asked with concern. He had tried to heal her as best as he could, but the minor pain that remained internally did not go away even after the wounds disappeared. Some wounds had to be left to heal naturally.

And above all, the wounds of the heart were not easily healed.

“No, the Golden Lion Knights will be arriving soon. Let’s meet up and head back to Odrif.”

The Inquisitor looked at him in confusion at Soltna’s words.

“Shouldn’t we first join the main force of the Dawn Army, visit His Holiness the Pope, and report on the identity of Isaac Isacre?”

“I have already sent a crow to report the details of the conversation. I have already revealed all of the bastard’s dark intentions. It is more important to join forces with Derra Heman and punish Isaac.”

At first glance, it sounded plausible, but to the Inquisitors who had been with Soltna for a long time, it sounded like nonsense.

Reporting via crow leaves out a lot of important information because of the risk of confidentiality leaks. That means that if Saltna wanted to fully report on her interrogation of Isaac and the results of her investigation into his surroundings, she had to report in person.

And Saltna had found out information of such importance that she had to immediately meet with the Pope and report to him.

It is very possible that the Knights of the Holy Grail are suspected of heresy.

It was an urgent matter, as there was the example of Carlsen Milter, who was both a saint and a designated future Archangel, but then apostatized. However, Soltna was insisting that she would join Dera Heman instead of reporting.

“Chief, please think about it again… … .”

“Dera Heman, what kind of judgment and thinking can that dumb thing have? That crazy swordsman knows nothing but to kill people as he is told!”

Saltna shot back sharply.

“Haven’t you seen how Isaac, with his wicked tongue, has lured the King of Elil, the Master of the Hearth, and the Commander of the Knights? Heretics always use their cunning and sweet words to entice people. Do you think Dera Heman would be an exception?”

The Inquisitors were perplexed when they heard this, but they could understand Soltna’s thinking. When a serious heretic is suspected, there are times when eradication takes priority over reporting. What if Isaac had tricked Dera Heman into apostatizing with them while they were reporting?

By then it’s too late.

“Now is the time to hurry.”

The Inquisitors honestly judged that Saltna was reacting emotionally due to the humiliation she had suffered. However, they could not afford to hurt their superior’s pride at this time.

And Saltna’s humiliation was also humiliating for them.

“Okay, then I guess we should split it in half here.”

Saltna nodded.

“Very well. I will go with Dera Heman. You three will go to His Holiness and report in detail. Isaac is highly suspected of heresy. I do not know what the lighthouse keeper intends to do with him, but I am telling you that it is very likely that he will make a terrible mistake like Carlsen.”

***

Half a day after Saltnag had parted ways with the Inquisitors, the expected sound of horse hooves was heard from the west.

From afar, a flag with a golden sun design on a white background could be seen waving. It was the Knights of the Golden Lion.

The knights ran quickly and stopped when they encountered Soltna and her party. Soltna shouted as she immediately spotted the knight in the lead, Dera Heman, wearing a golden lion mask.

“Dera Heman! Are you Sir Dera Heman? I am Saltna Culbane, the Head of the Inquisition!”

Of course, Saltna did not wait for Dera Heman to answer directly. The man who seemed to be an adjutant who had been waiting nearby rode closer on horseback.

The paladin raised his visor and looked down at Soltna.

“Please speak.”

Saltna was momentarily offended by the fact that a mere paladin would speak to the Inquisitor without getting off his horse. However, he did not forget that he was the one who had stopped the paladins who were carrying out an important order.

“While interrogating Isaac Isaacrea in Odrif, he was severely beaten. The letter containing the authority of His Holiness the Pope was thrown to the ground, and the envoy was beaten. This clearly shows that Isaac was trying to hide the suspicion of heresy, and with the help of the Knights of the Golden Lion, we intend to punish this evil apostate.”

As soon as Soltna finished speaking, Dera Heman made a gesture. The adjutant immediately interpreted the sign language and relayed it to Soltna.

“If there are such serious allegations, why don’t you report them to His Holiness right away? He says that he was only given the task of commanding the Isacrea Dawn Army on behalf of the Grail Knights.”

“This is a matter of urgency! If we simply remove Isaac from his position as commander, he may reveal his true colors and commit atrocities. No, if he goes to the Pope’s side, that could be even more problematic!”

Saltna spoke desperately, but none of the Golden Lion Knights seemed to agree. In fact, Saltna even found a knight laughing behind her.

Even the Knights of the Golden Lion, who were right next to the Pope, could not help but be delighted at the news that the Inquisitor had been beaten.

Even Dera Heman was the same.

“The Commander says that the Grail Knights have surprisingly strong spirits despite their delicate appearances… … Oh, don’t tell me to translate this? Okay.”

Saltna’s face turned red.

Just as he was about to say something, the adjutant got down from his horse and spoke soothingly. After all, he knew very well that it would be no good to offend the Inquisitor.

“I apologize, Inquisitor. I understand what you are saying, but if there is suspicion of heresy, wouldn’t it be right to file a complaint and conduct an Inquisition trial? Once we arrive at Odrif, you can make a ruling.”

“… … .”

Saltna, who had executed people summarily with poison and dagger more often than through trial, ground her teeth internally.

Do you think Isaac will submit to trial meekly? There are armies of all sorts of mongrel religions gathered there who follow Isaac. There is no guarantee that he will submit to the authority of the Code of Light.

“And please forgive our attitude. In fact, we found this on the way here. We were worried that you might be thieves.”

“Something like this?”

At the adjutant’s beckoning, a knight in the rear ranks brought something wrapped in cloth. The moment he saw the thing, which was as big as a person, Soltna felt a chill. The things wrapped in the revealed shrouds were none other than the Inquisitors sent earlier.

They were so skinny that it seemed as if they had lost all their bodily fluids, and they had lost all clothing or markings that could identify them. After a long silence at the sight of the dead subordinates whom he had just exchanged greetings with, Saltna opened her mouth.

“… … These are our inquisitors. It’s definitely Isaac’s doing.”

“Yes? Then, the heresy suspicions that the Grail Knights are facing are on the Red Grail side?”

“No, there’s a prostitute from the Red Grail Club that he’s leading. I haven’t seen her for some reason. She must have been ambushed and attacked.”

The knights began to murmur at Soltna’s words. The adjutants silenced them and confirmed Soltna’s words.

“Is there any evidence?”

“… … .”

This may not be true. Saltna had heard reports of recent sightings of human hunters while conducting field investigations in Odrif. However, the model Inquisitor was to keep quiet about unfavorable clues and only talk about favorable ones.

The adjutant looked at Dera Heman.

Dera Heman stared at Soltna and made a brief gesture. The adjutant nodded.

“Very well. Let us go along for now. However, we must not act as we please. Please remember that we are the Knights of the Golden Lion, who serve His Holiness the Pope. Everything will proceed according to order and discipline.”

Saltna nodded awkwardly at the unfamiliar words, even though he was an enforcer of discipline himself.

***

The Golden Lion Knights have finally arrived at the outskirts of Odrif.

In fact, until the very end, Isaac had thought of just threatening Dera Heman with a huge and huge army as a backdrop. No matter how great Dera Heman and the Knights of the Golden Lion were, they couldn’t stand up to all the people who came to help Isaac.

However, the only person who agreed to go out with Isaac to meet him was Hesabel.

When Isaac finally encountered the arrival of the Golden Lion Knights, he decided that it was a good idea to bring only Hesabel with him. Soltna, who had been beaten and escaped, had returned with Dera Heman.

‘If there are a lot of people, they must have been threatening me by saying that there are a lot of people. For now, I have to create a confident atmosphere.’

Isaac boldly approached the approaching knights.

“Hello? I am Isaac Isaacrea. I am a humble man, but I am called a Knight of the Holy Grail.”

Isaac, who saw the golden lion mask, felt his trauma from Lichtheim come back again. At that time, he didn’t know whether Baschl, who had infiltrated with Isaac, was still alive or dead.

As Hesabel stood proudly beside Isaac, the adjutant stared at Soltna. Soltna’s face turned red, but he was not the representative in this place right now.

Dera Heman looked at Isaac and made a silent gesture.

“It is truly a blessing to meet the Knight of the Holy Grail. And although it is sad to deliver this news on a day like this, you have been dispatched with orders to lead the Isacrea Dawn Army.”

Dera Heman’s gesture was obviously shorter than the adjutant’s words, but the adjutant interpreted it with a familiar, diplomatic tone.

“And I heard that there was an unpleasant incident with the Inquisitor. I wonder if there was any problem in the process of His Holiness’s issuance of the Holy Word, or if there was any difficulty in carrying out his orders.”

Isaac crossed his arms instead of answering. He glared at Soltna and began to speak the words he had prepared.

“I believe His Holiness the Wise Pope is aware of the special circumstances of the Isacre Dawn Army. As you know, the Isacre Dawn Army is an army of the three faiths that serve the Code of Light, the Elil, and the Brazier of the World, and that have joined hands in unity.”

“His Holiness the Pope also rejoiced and praised this noble alliance, and said that this personnel change will provide an opportunity to become one.”

“I fully agree with the wisdom and judgment of His Holiness the Pope, and I am ready to carry out his commands at any time.”

“What the heck are you talking about… …!”

Saltna glared at him and shouted without realizing it. Didn’t he clearly say that he couldn’t accept it and beat himself up? He couldn’t understand why he was evading it now. Do you think you can turn back now?

But before he could get any angrier, he met Dera Heman’s gaze and held his breath. Dera Heman’s eyes, shining behind the mask, were sharp as if they were holding his heart in their hands.

Isaac also glared at Saltna and said.

“However… … the Inquisitors were rude to my allies and treated them with rudeness. They called the Elil a group of beggars and thugs who worshipped an incestuous god, and that they were buried in caves and would not come out because the furnace of the world was buried underground and they worshiped a false god… … They even made lewd remarks to my adjutants.”

Hesabel’s eyes welled up with tears as if she had been hurt. Of course, she wouldn’t have been hurt to that extent, but she had never heard of it in the first place. She had never met him before. However, the knights frowned at Isaac’s words.

In fact, it was something that the heretic inquisitors kept saying, and in the past, such outrageous remarks had led to the severing of relations between the Baekje Kingdom and the other countries.

As the Holy Grail Knight, Ashtoreth, was burned at the stake, the relationship with the World’s Furnace was also cut off after being insulted by the Inquisitors during the interpretation of doctrine. It would not have been at all strange if he had insulted the alliance of the Isacrea Dawn Army while delivering the Pope’s orders.

But this time, for the polite Saltna, it was an incredibly unfair situation. He seemed like he wanted to protest, but he couldn’t even open his mouth because of the humiliation he had suffered from interfering in the conversation earlier.

‘Consider this as paying back the karma your seniors have accumulated, Soltna.’

This is why reputation is important.