Paladin of the Dead God - Chapter 346



Only Krnovel

Episode 346. The Sea of ​​Nightmares (8)

[If you hadn’t forced us to take an oath, we wouldn’t have come to this point. You followers of the Light’s Code take oaths too lightly. While you cruelly demand the price of your oath from those you’re dealing with.]

The dead December cried out in lamentation.

[Behold, the symbol of cowardice!]

The illusion of the dead December moved the tip of my finger. Darkness, fluttering like a sleeve, came and went gently, then dispersed like an illusion.

An undead fell out of it.

Originally a noble person, he was wearing splendid armor and a cloak, but now he was just a shabby skeleton soaked in salt water and covered in barnacles.

[Arezel Brandt, who forced Horace to swear an oath.]

Arezel Brandt, her whole body entangled in iron chains, moved like a wooden doll at the fingertips of the dead December. The dead December had no particular talent for playing with dolls, so the sight was simply comical and grotesque.

[Like Delrod Ciel, he is being punished as a deserter by hanging on the side of the ship. The funny thing is that all those who set foot on Mirmia eventually agreed to hand over their souls. They realized that the Code of Light did not care for them.]

The dead December’s criticism was cruel yet kind.

Those who were turned away from the Light Code were eventually cared for by the dead December. Of course, the dead may have wanted to enter heaven after completing the glorious dawn, but would such consideration be given to those who eventually turned their backs and fled before the blazing sun?

As you can see just by looking at Arechel in front of you, the place that the Yeomyeong Army has chosen is not heaven, but home.

[I also intend to grant the wishes of those who have handed over their souls. After they have served their full sentence.]

The dead December bowed down as he spoke.

Isaac knew that what was before his eyes was nothing more than an illusion, but he felt strongly that the dead December was watching him from afar.

[You will despair when you reach Mirmia anyway. So back off now, child. Don’t create more pitiful people like Horace.]

A strong will to refuse weighed heavily on Isaac. Isaac felt as if he would back away at any moment, but he forced himself to stand. The blood vessels in his eyes burst one by one, and the whites of his eyes turned red.

Isaac opened his mouth slowly.

“You feel bad for Horace?”

Horace raised his head at the sound of Isaac’s voice suddenly opening his mouth. It seemed as if he was still there.

“You are right. The 7th Dawn Army was a defeated army of deserters. They took their oaths lightly, but imposed them heavily on others.”

Dead December looked at Isaac quietly.

“But Horace is not a poor man.”

[what…….]

Just as Horace was about to snap at Isaac, he continued.

“Horace is not a loser like the 7th Dawn Army. He is still a member of the Dawn Army, and he just chose a different way to succeed. Unlike the weaklings who were defeated by being ignored. The only truly strong member of the 7th Dawn Army is Horace. Don’t make fun of him.”

Isaac said that and took a big step forward.

A wave that seemed to blow his mind struck his body once. A suffocating divine power was rushing toward him. The power that surged like a wave was a mixture of illusions, whispers, and screams that broke Isaac’s will.

It was the pressure of Urbansus.

Still, Isaac drew out Cachulain and approached Horace step by step with his red eyes.

“I also have no intention of giving in to whatever you say, so get out. If I had been thinking of giving in to a few words from a lowly angel, I would not have even started.”

Both Horace and the dead December seemed speechless at Isaac’s words, which were so mad that even the word madness was inadequate.

Then, a purple hue was added to Isaac’s red eyes. Soon, his pupils opened wide and a strange heat came out.

As the Eye of Chaos activated, tentacles began to spurt out from under the left eyelid. Horace felt strange seeing the tentacles flowing out of the eye. As expected, it was a nameless member of the Chaos faction.

But it was the nameless Chaos faction that spoke.

With a more resolute tone than any paladin or priest I have ever seen before.

“I will restore the Holy Land.”

***

Isaac searched Horace’s consciousness with confused eyes.

There was no need to search deep into his consciousness. What he was looking for was a connection between the dead December and Horace. And finally, Isaac found a thread-like trace in Horace.

Just as the dead December chained Arezel Brandt’s remains and moved them like a puppet, so his influence extended to Horace. Of course, since Horace was dominated by a powerful motive, there was no need to exert his influence too strongly.

‘The Undead Order, whether its influence is great or small, has a certain degree of control over the lower undead by the higher undead.’

Many undead aspirants mistakenly believe that the Undead Cult does not grant 100% of their will to those who are accepted as “followers.” All souls of the Undead Cult are bound under the influence of the Undead Emperor Beshek, and are controlled in a pyramidal manner, with angels below them, and bishops and priests next.

The Cult of the Immortals is more hierarchical than any other faith in that it can control the soul itself.

However, in most cases, the Immortal Emperor prohibits ‘strong’ influence on souls, so the undead usually lead individualistic lives, doing whatever they want.

But when necessary, it does exercise ‘some’ influence.

Because a life without desire or purpose is bound to become desolate in an instant.

In the case of Dead December, it seemed as if Horace had been suggested to take up a hobby of wandering the stormy seas and ‘recruiting’ raiders.

Making him obsessed with the past vows and revenge he let go of.

Isaac saw this obsession as what drove Horace mad.

“I swear.”

Isaac took another step.

To break that invisible chain around Horace’s neck.

“I will restore the Holy Land.”

Horace felt a thrill at that simple but ordinary declaration. It was something he had already heard the moment he saw Isaac. But the will and weight contained in those words were incomparable.

The sight of the tentacles that covered more than half of Isaac’s face and came at him with a sword in tow was enough to frighten even Horace. Horace wanted to put down the wheel and retreat right away, but Aidan’s ship was right in front of him.

His pride could not allow him to retreat without even catching up with his dark junior. Above all, there was the corpse of Delrod Ciel up there.

Boom! The dead December energy rushed towards Isaac again. Isaac’s eyes rolled back, revealing the whites of his eyes, but he did not collapse.

Horace gritted his teeth and snapped.

[The Light’s Code bastards make fun of oaths!]

Kurururur, the loud noise of the waves crashing and rolling shook the ship.

[Anyway, when you actually arrive, you’ll probably make up some excuse and try to get away!]

Isaac barely endured the pain of biting his tongue.

He stared at Horace with bloodshot eyes. Horace met Isaac’s eyes in return.

As Isaac penetrated Horace’s mind, Horace also penetrated Isaac’s mind.

“If you cannot trust in God or angels, then I swear on my name, Isaac Isaac.”

Horace felt a strange sense of loneliness.

In the midst of the hallucinations that were intertwined, making it impossible to tell whose memories were whose, Horace felt Isaac’s clear will. In a unified mind, Isaac’s words seemed to be Horace’s own words.

And that declaration was as sincere as the oath Horace himself had made.

He will reclaim the Holy Land, cutting down whatever stands in his way, whether angels, demons, or gods.

[What the hell are you talking about?]

Isaac answered Horace’s question without hesitation. It was an answer that would never change.

“I am human.”

Isaac answered.

“Just a human.”

And Isaac barely managed to stand in front of Arezel Brandt. He fixed Cachulain and assumed the pose of a golden lion.

The swordsmanship of the most ferocious beast in the Codex of Light, devouring divinity.

Dead December burst into a rage and poured out his strong will towards Isaac.

For a moment, Isaac’s consciousness went blank.

But his hands didn’t stop at all.

[Indomitable (Temporary)]

[Regardless of the state of fear, fainting, shock, death, etc., the moment consciousness is blown away, the body continues the planned action for a short time. The time is proportional to the user’s willpower, and the indomitable state is released when consciousness is restored.]

[no…….]

Isaac swung his sword as the effect gained from preying on Delrod Ciel was activated. Arechel Brandt clumsily raised his sword to block it.

However, the black sword and armor of the Golden Lion, Arechel’s frame, and even the influence of the dead December were all cut down.

***

Paaaaak! The moment Arechel’s remains collapsed, the fog in my head cleared and my surroundings became clear.

The medium through which the dead December exerted its influence on Horace was the remains of Arezel Brandt.

Isaac barely regained consciousness and balance.

‘It’s a good thing the dead December doesn’t know about indomitable.’

If he had known, Isaac would have changed his strategy. To a more complicated and difficult path. But thanks to that, he was able to easily get rid of the influence of the dead December.

Isaac was not the only one whose consciousness had become clear. Horace was also bewildered by his sudden clarity of mind. The past and the obsession with vows that had been keeping him captive had turned into memories from long ago.

[Is this… … a miracle that will make me forget my grudge?]

Isaac looked like he was going to collapse at any moment, but he held back his laughter and opened his mouth.

“That’s how it was originally.”

[Is that how it was originally?]

“People usually forget their grudges and the past as time passes. It’s strange that you’ve already completed your revenge and have continued to do the same thing for 180 years. From now on, find a more wholesome hobby.”

Kurururur, kukung! At that moment, the thunder hammer of Tukhalin rang out loud from the other side. It was twice as loud and intense as before. And then I saw the charred Serpent crumbling into a crushed form.

Tukhalin also defeated the dead December pet snake.

Isaac must have been quite resentful since he had ruined two of the dead December’s toys. But now it was the territory of the Undead Church. It was only natural that he would build up a grudge with the angels of the Undead Church.

[I see.]

Horace took one last look at Aidan’s ship, which was leaving him behind, at the Serpent’s collapse, at the whirlpool that was beginning to subside, and at Arezel Brandt’s remains. Everything that had bound Horace was disappearing.

His time has passed, and new things have come.

And it wasn’t as bad as Horace thought.