Paladin of the Dead God - Chapter 374



Only Krnovel

Episode 374. Division (4)

It is true that this action somewhat delayed the schedule of the Dawn Army. However, Isaac was relieved in a sense. The fact that the enemy was deliberately trying to divide them meant that they were not prepared for such overwhelming force.

Since the power is not enough, they are trying to deal with it in a cost-effective way.

‘It seems that the main force of the Dawn Army is stronger than expected.’

Isaac found it a little surprising.

Isaac also knows the limits of the power that the Church of Light’s Code can exert.

The Code of Light may have great influence as the world’s largest and most powerful sect, but its tactics, strategies, economy, operations, supply, command, etc. are completely different areas.

Because that is an area that cannot be solved with faith.

Originally, Emperor Baltsemer was in charge of controlling that part. The original Dawn Army was barely able to succeed with the addition of the power of the ‘main character’.

But now the Code of Light was showing unexpected power.

‘Could it be that… the fall of Emperor Baltzemer himself helped the Code of Light?’

To be exact, it may have been the effect of the breach of the Treaty of Licht and the proclamation of the Holy Empire of Gertonia. Isaac did not know what was happening in the main force of the Dawn Army. However, when he saw the poor performance of the Siero Dawn Army, it was clear that some dramatic change was taking place within the Dawn Army that he was unaware of.

When Isaac later encountered the Dawn Army again after the Holy Land Lua, he was unable to tell if they were normal.

***

“We found a group of Death Knights on the upper ridge to the north.”

Two days have passed since the ‘split’.

Finally, one of the Paladins who had led the scouting party returned and reported to Isaac. The group of Death Knights, presumed to be the Avalanche Paladins, were keeping a close eye on them, seemingly within reach. It was clear that they were trying to lure them, but there was no reason to refuse this invitation.

Isaac, who was about to tell the scout that he had a hard time, suddenly realized that the face looked familiar. He quickly recognized who it was.

“Thank you for your hard work, Ansel.”

Paladin Ansel brightened up at Isaac’s words.

He was one of the few paladins who had been guarding the castle when Bishop Al Duazad of Liberation invaded Isacrea territory after Juan had ordered him to stay. He was not a paladin who had served under Rottenhammer, but a real paladin who had been by Isaac’s side for a long time.

“You remembered my name! It is an honor, Holy Grail Knight!”

“I should remember you, a knight who willingly jumped into an unfamiliar place, in an area where there might be an ambush. I also remember the dance you showed me before.”

To be honest, the reason I remember Ansel is not because of his impressive dancing, but because he survived despite being mentioned in the ‘List of the Dead’. Of course, Isaac had to force him to save someone who was about to die, but thanks to that, even if I don’t remember his face, I can definitely remember his name.

“The Holy Grail Knight saved my life back then. Since that day, I have considered my life as an extra life. If there is a way I can repay the favor, I will gladly jump in.”

Ansel said happily.

“But I felt that I would never die, no matter where I went, as long as I was with the Knights of the Holy Grail. As long as I was under the banner of the Isacrea Dawn Army, I was invincible!”

Isaac smiled awkwardly at Ansel’s excessive praise. As they moved towards the Avalanche Knights, Isaac had a brief conversation with Ansel.

Isaac remembered that Ansel had no particular affiliation. Ansel was a sort of free knight that Juan personally took with him. There were often knights who did not belong to a knight order like the Grail Knights for reasons such as personal protection or regional defense. Gebel could also be considered a free knight, if you look at it that way.

“Aren’t you a member of the Knights of Isacrea?”

“Ah, that’s… … First of all, I did receive a recommendation from Captain Rottenhammer, but our styles are different, and we also have pride in having fought under the Holy Grail Knights first… … .”

There were many other similar knights besides Ansel. This meant that they had formed a separate group. Although the Knights of Isacrea were formed, from the perspective of the knights who had worked under Isaac, they were stones that had rolled in.

‘It’ll be hard to mix in with the original Brienne Knights at once. I’ll have to take care of them a bit. I hope this battlefield will be their chance to mix in.’

But after hearing Ansel’s subsequent words, Isaac realized that it wouldn’t be easy.

“Isn’t it okay if I don’t belong to the Holy Knights? I’m satisfied just working under the Grail Knights. I’ll take on any danger for that.”

Ansel’s words even conveyed a kind of faith. No, Isaac actually felt his faith surge. Ansel was already Isaac’s personal follower rather than a knight of the Code of Light. He thought there must already be many people like him.

It was fortunate that they did not seem to ignore or reject the chain of command. However, Isaac was troubled by the fact that there was a group that was united solely by Isaac’s personality cult rather than a spiritual connection with their comrades.

***

“It’s over there.”

As Ansel had reported, a group of Death Knights were standing on the ridge. Just as Rottenhammer, Gebel, and Isaac were watching them, the Death Knights were also watching the Knights of Isacrea.

Isaac looked around. The rolling dunes of sand were frozen in ripples. There was no higher terrain visible than where the Death Knights were.

“It’s not great terrain, but it’s not the worst either. It’s like this for hundreds of kilometers anyway, so there’s not much of a choice.”

The enemy has already taken the high ground, but it is not to the extent that they cannot handle it. Rather than taking a good position for a surprise attack, the enemy seems to have judged that they are now separated from the other Isacrea Dawn Army forces and are ready to start attacking.

Isaac winked at Gebel.

“Gebel, take it out.”

Gebel silently took out a sealed skull from his bag. It was the Death Knight he had captured on the battlefield, wrapped tightly in melted candle wax. The light contained in the candle wax tightly sealed not only the Death Knight’s resurrection ability, but also his mental waves.

Gebel tore off the lower part of the seal.

A splitting wave rang out. It was more like a siren than a message or expression of emotion. Isaac grabbed the thing by the jaw and strode forward. He may have been Isaac’s senior, but he had little room to respect it as an undead.

“You guys are comrades! Are you going to leave me here like this?”

The Death Knight’s skull emitting a siren sound could have several meanings, either to indicate location or to inflict psychic damage.

Either way, Isaac waited for the guys to react.

As expected, a Death Knight glided down from the hill on his Phantom Steed. It was a thin and slender Death Knight. It was hard to tell the gender of the undead, but Isaac had a feeling that it was a woman.

[You’re not Rottenhammer or Gebel. Who are you?]

It was a loud, old lady-like voice. She was probably around the same age as Rottenhammer.

“Isaac Isaac. And you?”

[Excuse me. My last name is Go Ara, but my first name is Amarinde. People usually just call me Linde.]

The voice of the Death Knight named Linde reached all around. There was only one reason why it was allowed to be heard, even though it was a message sent through mental waves and could be limited to a certain number of people.

Bam. The sound of Gebel gnashing his teeth was heard from behind.

Only then did Linde turn her gaze and look over the hill.

[There you are, my little shit. And old Hammer is with you.]

Linde said, slowly tilting her head sarcastically.

[Have you already retired from the front lines as you are getting older? Why are you stepping back and leaving everything to a rookie like me? Is it because all the big guys are at an age where they are dying?]

“Linde.”

Isaac cut off Rottenhammer and Gebel before they could become angry. But his eyes were already cold.

So much so that I want to tear Linde to pieces right now.

“You are talking to me. They are only silent out of respect for me. I will always open the door to conversation, but if you ignore me one more time, I will tear off your skull and have you talk to me.”

Linde stared at Isaac. Her gaze seemed to gauge his level, but she soon realized that his words were not a bluff.

But it didn’t matter to her whether Isaac was strong or not. She didn’t like Isaac being in this position in the first place.

[I came to talk to my subordinate. Not some unknown child. Rottenhammer is also a comrade who stood shoulder to shoulder with me, so he is qualified. But who are you? Who are you to talk to me?]

Isaac slowly drew out Kachulain. Linde didn’t show any reaction or warning. Isaac aimed the tip of the sword at Linde and said.

“Because I am the last descendant of the Avalanche Knights. I have the duty to cleanse the name that my senior has sullied.”

***

Isaac’s words brought silence to the battlefield. The one who broke the silence and taunted was Linde.

[A defiled name. Does that mean the Avalanche Knights?]

“okay.”

Linde looked over Isaac’s shoulder, as if to ask Gebel for an explanation, but Gebel remained silent. It was a moment he had been waiting for, but now Isaac had to take the lead in the conversation.

This was a special request from Isaac.

‘Conversations between the parties involved are prone to impulse. If I can find out the truth and prevent conflict, I must intervene.’

Luckily, Isaac deserved it.

[I’m seeing your face for the first time. There are many pretty women in the world, but handsome men are rare, so there’s no way I’d forget you. There’s even a pretty new recruit that I, the leader of the Avalanche Knights, don’t know about.]

Srrrrrr. Linde slowly pulled out a long sword. It was the sword that Gebel had said was made by a craftsman of the Immortal Cult using all sorts of techniques.

Kkiiiiiiii… … As soon as Linde pulled out her sword, the sharp sound of the sword’s name rang out.

It was a sobbing sound, almost like crying.

It was a sword with too much evil energy for a sword used by the commander of the Knights. No, perhaps only the commander of the Knights could control it. After becoming a Death Knight, it seemed as if he had no intention of controlling the evil energy, and an ominous aura rippled around.

‘Is it something like the Holy Sword of the Immortal Church?’

Isaac doesn’t know about Captain Linde. She’s not a very important figure in the Undead Order. But the sword she’s holding feels unusual.

Linde lightly scattered her swords and then rushed straight towards Isaac.

[Then let’s take a look at the newbie’s skills.]

Shhh! Phantom Steed rushed silently and quickly in front of us. It was a difficult movement to respond to because we couldn’t read the warning signs. However, Isaac’s horse also reflexively bounced back and immediately moved in response.

Thud, thud! The moment their blades met, the two were surprised in different ways. Linde was surprised by Isaac’s skills, but Isaac was surprised by the familiar energy he felt from Linde’s sword.

It was as if demons were coming out of the sword, biting and clawing at Isaac’s sword.

Before Isaac could figure out what the aura was, Linde swung her sword again and attacked Isaac. The attacks were fast and fierce. The essence of Avalanche Knights’ swordsmanship that Gebel had been talking about was right before his eyes. Even if there were three Gebels, would they be able to deal with one Linde?

But the opponent was Isaac.

‘If it had been before the dawn of the war, it would have been difficult to guarantee the result.’

Isaac grew up several times after he went on the Dawn Army expedition.

In other words, Linde was no match for Isaac.

In the first place, Isaac did not come out to compete with Linde. He came out to prove his qualifications to talk to her. By now, Linde should have known that Isaac had trained under Gebel, but Linde stubbornly refused to stop attacking.

‘I guess there’s nothing I can do.’

Isaac’s blade rose upward. At that sight, the flame burning inside Linde’s skull shook violently. Even Gebel, who was watching the fight between the two from behind, straightened his waist.

Isaac’s sword came down with a fierce force.

The moment the blade fell, Linde saw the surrounding terrain shaking, ice breaking, and sand flowing down. Isaac’s swordsmanship was truly causing a landslide. Linde also fought back using his advanced swordsmanship as if in a fit of rage.

Urrrrrr! With a loud noise like a landslide, a shock wave spread around. The two were not clearly visible due to the dust cloud that erupted like an explosion. After a while, someone was seen quickly escaping from behind the dust cloud.

It was Linde.

The sword Linde was holding was intact, but the back of the sword had pierced through the armor and dug into the chest. Instead of breaking, the blade had become embedded in its master’s body.

Following this, Isaac also emerged from the cloud of dust, naturally in good health.

Isaac shouted at Linde as she returned to the throng of Death Knights.

“Is this enough for you? Next time, you should come back with the courtesy and respect to talk. Otherwise, you will no longer have any respect for your senior.”