Chapter 1479 – 1479. Paladin: A Journey Of Eradication
Having used Full Recovery, I narrowed my brow and glared at the demon’s corpse.
I had tried my best not to use Full Recovery. Using it would erase the taint of corruption that had seeped into my body. Or so I had thought. In reality, some of the corruption did disappear.
‘As soon as I used Full Recovery, the taint of corruption clung to me.’
In a way, it was obvious.
The taint of corruption looked like a curse, but its true nature was the souls of demons and the corrupted. Full Recovery was a skill that restored my body to its perfect state. It had no effect on purifying the souls of demons and the corrupted that clung to me.
‘I should return to the sanctuary and purify the taint of corruption with a purification ritual to accumulate the power of blessing. I can become stronger.’
I looked at the demon’s corpse.
‘I should take this too.’
It was the demon’s corpse, with only its head and arms remaining. It wasn’t a burdensome size. I picked up the demon’s corpse and returned the way I came. I encountered the paladins along the way.
“Paladin! The movements of the rats have suddenly slowed, making them easier to deal with! You have slain the demon!”
“That you are carrying… is the demon’s corpse. It has a gruesome appearance.”
“Please return first. We will return after clearing the underground waterway.”
The paladins were enthusiastic. I nodded and said to them,
“Good work. The demon’s minions are of no help to us. Burn them all as you see them.”
After that, I returned to the sanctuary.
The Saintess was, as always, praying in front of the statue of the goddess. She rose as I approached.
“You’re always in the sanctuary. Do you even sleep here?”
“There is a room behind the sanctuary. I take my meals and sleep there.”
“And the rest of the time you pray?”
“I manage the sanctuary. Only a minimal number of people are allowed in the sanctuary… so I have to do all the small tasks myself.”
“For example?”
“I replace the candlesticks and manage the quality of the holy water. I also take care of cleaning the sanctuary.”
The Saintess.
Compared to her position, the treatment she receives from the Order is not as great as one might think. The Saintess’s duty is focused on assisting the Paladin.
I feel like she is a bird trapped in a cage, but she seems to be satisfied with her life.
‘It might be much better than struggling to survive outside.’
As someone who knows the conveniences of modern life, I cannot understand her restrained life. Nor can I carelessly pity her.
“I see. Please perform the purification ritual.”
“Yes, Paladin.”
I took off my clothes and entered the sacred pond, lying down. The purification ritual washed away all the taint of corruption. I felt refreshed. I sat in the sacred pond for a while.
“Amelia.”
“Yes, what is it?”
“Is there any information about the next demon?”
“…Yes. Traces of a demon have been found in a small village east of Valentier.”
“I should go.”
“Right away? Please rest a little more.”
“The thought of demons running rampant while I rest makes me sick. There is no time to rest.”
“I see…”
Looking at the Saintess, I was reminded of the original game.
The developers of the original game put the most effort into the Saintess NPC. The Saintess’s modeling was exceptional, and she had several times more interactions than other NPCs. In particular, there was even a favorability system.
Of course, the player could not know the Saintess’s favorability. However, if you talked to the Saintess often and gave her a few gifts, you would notice that her attitude became friendlier over time. Sometimes, she would even give gifts to the player.
It didn’t affect the main quest, so her favorability wasn’t important.
‘Conversely, there’s no need to maintain a tense relationship with the Saintess.’
As I was about to leave the sanctuary, I took out a box containing several small candies from my inventory and handed it to her.
“Paladin, what is this?”
“It’s candy.”
“Candy…?”
“It’s something to eat.”
“It’s a food I’ve never seen before. May I try one now?”
“Yes. Don’t chew it, roll it on your tongue and savor it.”
She opened the candy box. And she was taken aback.
“It looks like a jewel. Is this really food?”
“Do I look like I’m lying?”
“I apologize. That was a slip of the tongue.”
She carefully picked up a candy and put it under her veil. The candy entered her mouth. Amelia’s body froze. I couldn’t see her expression because of the veil. But her stiff body showed that she was greatly shocked.
“It’s… incredibly sweet. This is the first time I’ve had such a sweet food.”
I thought about the food, clothing, and housing culture of this world. Because of demons and the corrupted, civilization was not developing. It was worse than the Middle Ages.
“I don’t think it’s ordinary food. May I accept this?”
“It’s a food just for you. Don’t report it to the Order and eat it alone. If the Order finds out… it will be troublesome in many ways.”
“I understand. Thank you for giving me such food, Paladin.”
I turned away from her and left to kill demons.
•••
[Name: Eugene
Origin: Paladin
Level: 44
Strength: 25 Agility: 15 Stamina: 15 Divine Power: 17
Skills: Holy Aura (Lv. Master), Holy Aura (Lv.3), Holy Sword (Lv.5), Sprint (Lv.1), Holy Light (Lv.1)]
This was the result of wandering around the city of Valentier for two weeks, slaying demons and the corrupted.
‘At this point, I won’t easily die fighting demons and the corrupted, except for the Great Demon in Valentier.’
I began to plan how to become stronger. I intended to find and obtain the things hidden in this Valentier.
‘First, elixirs. I’ll drink the elixirs, and I’ll hand over any unnecessary ancient relics or holy objects to the Order. The more influence I have on the Order, the more support I can receive.’
I also thought about enhancing elixirs or weapons with the Light Ascension Path. But there wasn’t enough time to do that. It would take at least dozens of days to enhance an elixir. In the worst case, it could take years, not days.
I didn’t have time to waste. Just as I was getting stronger by killing demons, the Great Demons were also active.
Right now, they were acting according to the original story, but I didn’t know when the original story would be twisted and they would act unexpectedly. The worst case would be if they went into hiding. Then I might fail the quest.
“Paladin. There are rumors that a witch is in the Ghostly Forest on the outskirts of Valentier. Please confirm the rumors. If there is a witch as the rumors say…”
“I will eliminate her. A witch is no different from a demon.”
A witch. A woman who uses magic by receiving some of the demon’s power through a contract with a demon.
“It is said that witches manipulate people’s souls with their evil magic. Please be careful.”
“The Goddess Herianne protects me, so my soul will not be manipulated by a witch.”
I rode the horse that the Order had provided. It was a white horse. It was larger than other ordinary horses. Its strength and stamina were also far superior. Its breed was special, and it was a horse that had been blessed and raised by the Papal Court. It was not afraid of demons and the corrupted. And it had the combat power to fight and win against wild beasts.
The horse’s name was Kabileina, and she was a mare. I had a belief that I would not ride a stallion, so I requested a mare from the Papal Court.
“Let’s go, Kabileina.”
“Neigh!”
I arrived at the Ghostly Forest. I left Kabileina at the village church near the forest. It was too dangerous to enter the Ghostly Forest together.
As I was walking proudly alone towards the front of the forest in my armor, a man hiding behind a large tree suddenly jumped out. I reflexively drew my sword and aimed it at the man.
The man, who looked like a mercenary, knelt before me and bowed his head.
“Please calm down! I have no intention of harming you, Paladin!”
Kiiiiiing.
I used Holy Aura. The man was not a demon or corrupted. I lowered my greatsword. But I still didn’t let my guard down.
The man fell to his knees in front of me.
“I am Hans! I work as a mercenary! I know that the Paladin has come to subjugate the witch! Please take me in! Please give me a chance to avenge that hateful witch! Please!”
I was taken aback, but I didn’t show it. There was no such side quest in the game. This was a kind of variable.
“Revenge?”
“My wife died with her body rotting away from the witch’s magic. My young son and daughter were kidnapped by the witch. I will do anything. Please give me a chance for revenge!”
“Don’t you want to save your children?”
The mercenary bit his lip at my question. Blood dripped from his lips.
“…My children were kidnapped a week ago. I finished my work yesterday and came back to hear the news.”
“A week is too long. There’s no chance they’re alive. You didn’t go in alone… were you waiting for me?”
“Yes. I heard the rumor that the Paladin was coming and waited here.”
I stared at the kneeling mercenary. He would secretly follow me even if I refused. Revenge was all he had left.
“Alright. Come with me. I will give you a chance for revenge. But don’t interfere with me. The moment you hold me back, I will abandon you. What’s important to me is eliminating the witch.”
“I will never hold you back, Paladin. Thank you for giving me a chance for revenge.”
I threw a silver dagger at the mercenary.
“It’s a dagger with blessed poison. Blessed poison is harmless to humans, but it causes terrible pain to evil beings. I’ll lend it to you.”
“…Thank you! Paladin!”
I walked forward. Hans followed me closely.
Swoooooooosh.
I heard a chilling wind sound. It was different from an ordinary wind sound. I stopped walking and turned my head towards the source of the wind sound. Immediately after, a translucent ghost popped out of a tree. A ghost in the form of a gruesome monster screamed and flew towards me.
“Kieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek!”
I stabbed my sword into the ghost’s body. The ghost, which had no physical form, was pierced by the sword. The ghost looked at the sword as if it couldn’t believe it.
“I’ve already prepared for you.”
It was a sword blessed by Holy Aura. Even a ghost with no physical body had no choice but to be defeated.
“Holy Sword.”
The sword’s blade glowed golden.
“Kuaaaaaaaaaaaaaaak!”
The ghost’s scream changed. Before, it was a scream that attacked with fear and madness, but now it was a scream of writhing in pain. I swung my sword down. The ghost flickered like a candle and disappeared. The ghost’s soul clung to my body without fail.
“The screams of the ghosts inject fear and pain into humans. Are you alright?”
“…I’m fine. My mind is not so weak that I would crumble from just this.”
“Alright. Let’s move forward.”
