Chapter 1500 – Paladin: The Journey Of Eradication
I slammed my fist into the sanctuary door.
*Bang!*
The shattered door tumbled to the floor.
The sight of the sanctuary was appalling. There was no holiness to be found. Only blasphemy resided here.
Blood flowed down the walls where holy water should have been, and the pond where holy water was meant to gather was filled with blood. The statue of the goddess was half-destroyed.
Beneath the statue, a demon resembling the goddess sat on a chair, legs crossed.
“You’ve arrived? You’re quite late, aren’t you?”
“Die!”
I swung the Executioner’s Blade, using the Holy Sword skill. Golden sword energy sliced through the air, heading towards Bleart. Bleart raised a pincer-like finger. She flicked it as if playing a game. The Holy Sword vanished along with an invisible barrier.
My face hardened.
That was a full-power strike. And it was blocked in an instant. Of course, it wasn’t blocked by a single finger. The finger flick was more of a performance. The real power came from the vast magical energy she wielded.
‘…Even so, it was blocked too easily.’
*Slosh.*
The stagnant blood rippled.
All of that was human blood. I couldn’t even begin to imagine how many humans had been sacrificed to fill that pond.
I took a step towards the Great Demon. If attacking from afar didn’t work… I’d kill her up close. I would plunge the Executioner’s Blade into that hideous body and directly cut off the Great Demon’s breath.
“Shall I tell you something interesting? Our Great Demons and the goddess you’re so fond of share the same origin. Why do you think my face is identical to the goddess? Herianne and I are sisters. We were born on the same day, at the same time, in the same place.”
“So?”
“…Judging by that reaction, you already knew?”
The starting point for the five Great Demons and the goddess was the same.
The Primordial Demon.
The four Great Demons were born from the Primordial Demon’s flesh, while Bleart and the goddess Herianne were the Primordial Demon’s split souls.
It’s a common story. Bleart is the evil part of the soul, and Herianne is the good part.
It might be hard to understand that the Primordial Demon had a good part. But the Primordial Demon is only called a ‘demon’; in reality, it’s closer to a creator god. The name ‘Primordial Demon’ is just what the demons called it.
The distance closed. Herianne let out a sensual breath.
“Herianne and I are connected. If I die, Herianne dies too. Will you kill the goddess with your own hands?”
“Don’t talk nonsense.”
I swung the Executioner’s Blade. From top to bottom. It was the fastest strike, using even the briefest moment.
Bleart’s body, which had been sitting on the chair, distorted and appeared in the blood-filled pond beside it.
“It doesn’t work. That’s right. It’s nonsense. We’re already separated. We’re the same yet different beings. But it’s not like there’s no effect at all. If I die, Herianne won’t be able to use her power for at least a thousand years, you know?”
“If you and the other Great Demons are annihilated, the goddess won’t have much reason to use her power.”
“Do you think Herianne will be satisfied and do nothing if we disappear? Herianne’s goal is to return. That bitch who was banished from us just wants to come back to this land. And after she returns? Humans will just be Herianne’s livestock.”
“No, we will become believers, not livestock.”
“Even when I tell you the truth, you don’t listen. Then how about this? Saintess. Don’t you want to save the Saintess you love? Abandon your faith and turn to us. Then we’ll let you live with the Saintess for a thousand years, ten thousand years. You two can be together for eternity.”
“……”
I clenched my fist and bit my lip. Blood flowed from my bitten lip. This anger wasn’t directed at the demon in front of me, but at myself.
For a moment, I was genuinely shaken. I dreamed of abandoning everything and living eternally with her.
But that was something I couldn’t allow myself to do. Amelia wouldn’t accept it either.
Corruption is a transformation and a surrender.
The moment you become corrupted, human emotions become useless. Demons and the corrupted don’t know love.
“Bleart. I won’t listen to your words anymore. I should have done this from the start.”
Thunder Sky Style (雷天流) Gale Lightning (疾風迅雷).
*Crackle, crackle, crackle.*
Golden lightning enveloped my body.
‘Holy Aura.’
A golden halo flashed behind my head.
‘Holy Sword.’
The golden light that started from my hand coated the Executioner’s Blade. Perhaps due to the influence of Gale Lightning, its shape resembled lightning.
I charged towards Bleart. In the blink of an eye, I closed the distance and attempted to plunge the Executioner’s Blade into her chest.
Bleart flapped her bat-like wings and retreated. At the same time, demonic hands erupted from the ground and struck my body. I smashed through the ceiling and flew high into the sky.
I coughed up blood as I watched the city of Valenteer grow smaller and smaller. Drops of blood scattered in the sky through the gaps in my armor.
I was dead. My holy power wavered when I was attacked. Bleart’s magic seeped into my body through the cracks in my wavering holy power. My internal organs, including my heart, exploded.
‘It was a problem that I was exhausted.’
But there was a chance.
Resurrection.
My body recovered. Vitality returned to my tired body. My body began to fall back to the ground.
I wrapped my entire body in holy power. *Crack, crack.* Golden currents spread throughout my body.
Below, I saw Bleart standing seductively on the top of the cathedral. Bleart was sneering at me. I pointed the tip of the Executioner’s Blade at Bleart.
‘Heavenly Mind. Moment.’
[Heavenly Mind (天心) is activated. It will last for 1 minute.]
[Moment (刹那) is used. Remaining stacks: 2]
Shadow Sky Style (影天流) Ultimate Technique (極技) Heavenly Light (天光).
I became a beam of light and fell to the ground.
Everything around me was swept away. Lightning raged, and fragments of buildings flew.
A chase began within the city. I ran like a madman, chasing after Bleart, and Bleart tried to keep as much distance from me as possible.
As time passed, wounds began to appear on her body. It wasn’t just a one-sided attack. Bleart cleverly counterattacked while running away from me.
‘This won’t do.’
I was quickly getting exhausted. On the other hand, Bleart showed no signs of fatigue. I would be the first to tire out and fall. That must be what Bleart was aiming for.
‘Sacrifice.’
I bet my life, trusting in complete recovery.
[Complete Recovery is used.]
The miracle of sacrifice returned with immense power.
I swung the Executioner’s Blade, feeling the surging omnipotence. Every time I swung the sword, lines were drawn in the air. Lines were drawn and cut into the world.
“Uh…?”
First, I cut off Bleart’s wings. The composure disappeared from Bleart’s face, who had lost her mobility. I kicked off the ground and closed the distance.
A tidal wave of magic rushed at me from the front, overturning the ground.
‘Holy Sword!’
I cut through the tidal wave of magic.
Demonic hands appeared from the ground, trying to grab my body. I ignored them and leaped.
I cut Bleart’s legs as she tried to run away. Bleart fell to the ground.
I felt the omnipotence fading. My strength drained away, and a sense of exhaustion washed over me. I gritted my teeth and endured. This was the end.
“Demons will be annihilated!”
I plunged the sword into Bleart’s chest.
•••
The goddess Herianne was before me.
I knelt before the goddess. And I proudly declared.
“Goddess! I have killed all the Great Demons! Fill this world, which has fallen into darkness, with your light!”
The goddess looked down at me silently.
Then, a benevolent smile appeared on the goddess’s lips.
“Paladin. You have successfully fulfilled your duty. Now, what you need is rest, so carry out your last remaining duty.”
“What is my last remaining duty?”
“To eliminate the seeds of evil.”
Humans appeared between the goddess and me. There were newborns who hadn’t even been weaned, little girls, and brave boys. There were also frail old people, sick young people, and a woman who was praying.
“They are the seeds of evil, and one day, those seeds will sprout and become demons. You will kill them.”
I rose, holding the Executioner’s Blade.
Since the goddess had told me to eliminate the seeds of evil, as a paladin, I had to follow her will.
The first place my feet turned to was, disgustingly, the woman who was praying to the goddess. Praying to the goddess when she was a seed of evil? How arrogant.
I hesitated as I was about to cut her throat.
“…Goddess. She is a pitiful woman. She is not a seed of evil.”
“Are you saying that my words are wrong?”
“She is a saintess. She has sacrificed everything.”
“She has fallen. A seed of evil has been planted in her. Now, final paladin. Eliminate the seed of evil.”
“…I see. I understand.”
I raised the Executioner’s Blade with my right hand. And my left hand moved like lightning, grabbing the goddess’s neck.
“Kuh-eok?!”
“Goddess, how have you fallen?”
The goddess struggled. She grabbed my hand with both of her hands, and her pure white wings fluttered.
“If you’ve fallen.”
*Thud.*
The Executioner’s Blade was buried in the goddess’s floor. The goddess’s blood splattered on my body. I didn’t care. I was carrying out my duty now. At the same time, I was proving my faith.
“You must die.”
I broke her neck and slashed down with the sword. The goddess’s blood and entrails spilled out.
“Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaak!”
The goddess’s scream hit my ears.
I suddenly came to my senses. I was holding swords in both hands, and below me, the Great Demon Bleart was lying on the ground, impaled by my sword.
I quickly grasped the situation.
“You played a trick, Bleart…!”
“Keuk…. You crazy bastard…. To think you’d kill the goddess you believe in without hesitation the moment you judged her to be corrupted…. Even though it wasn’t even certain if she was corrupted.”
I stepped on Bleart’s shoulder. The sword moved, tearing her abdomen.
“…A faith more important than the goddess…. Damn it. Where did such a crazy bastard come from…!”
*Kiiiiiiiiing.*
The sanctuary automatically activated.
I could see Bleart’s soul rapidly compressing.
Self-destruction.
Bleart’s last struggle.
“Holy Sword.”
The golden shining sword fell and split Bleart’s soul. Bleart’s soul lost its power and clung to my body.
I had finally eliminated all the Great Demons.
But this wasn’t the end. The Great Demons’ souls hadn’t been annihilated.
“……”
There was still a problem to solve.
•••
“Waaaaaaaah!”
People were shouting. Their lively cheers could be heard even in the sanctuary of the Papal State.
It had been half a year since I had eliminated the Great Demon Bleart.
I had postponed the Eradication Ritual to annihilate the Great Demons’ souls as much as possible, under the pretext of eliminating the demons that had hidden themselves in various parts of the world.
In reality, I had spent the past half-year searching for a way to annihilate the Great Demons’ souls without performing the Eradication Ritual.
There was none. Even after searching through ancient books, finding secret ancient ruins, and torturing demons who had lived for a long time, I couldn’t find the answer I wanted.
“Paladin, today is a joyous day. Please relax your expression and smile.”
“…Well. No matter how much I think about it, I can’t seem to smile.”
Amelia walked out of the holy pond. Having cleansed her body with holy water, she wiped herself with a white cloth and put on a white priestess robe.
She would die with the Great Demons’ souls.
She would be burned to death while hanging on a cross.
Tens of thousands of people would cheer for her noble sacrifice.
“You’re going to be burned to death. Aren’t you afraid?”
“I am afraid. But this is my duty.”
“…The goddess said that she paid the price for the sacrifice, right? What was it?”
“My family members were afflicted with a plague. I asked the goddess to save my family, and the goddess granted my request.”
“…Is that all? What happened to your family?”
“They were eaten by demons.”
“……”
The Saintess tried to speak as calmly as possible, but she couldn’t completely erase the sadness in her voice.
“Thank you for everything, Paladin. You have saved me and this world. As promised, I will bear the Paladin’s sins and the Great Demons’ souls and depart.”
She walked out of the sanctuary. I grabbed her wrist. She was trembling slightly.
I pulled her towards me. The trembling of the Saintess’s body intensified. She opened and closed her mouth repeatedly as she was held in my arms. Tears flowed down her cheeks.
“Paladin, this is not right. The ritual must proceed on time…”
“Don’t take away my duty.”
“…Huh?”
“Killing demons is my job. And I will bear my sins.”
Holy power moved.
At this point, my holy power easily overwhelmed the Saintess’s immense holy power. The seal engraved on her back broke. The four Great Demons’ souls were released. They didn’t disappear; they clung to my body. I was the one who killed the Great Demons. I was the one the Great Demons’ souls should curse.
I wouldn’t have been able to endure it before, but now that I had more holy power than the Saintess, it was a different story. I could handle even ten Great Demons’ souls.
“Paladin! This is not right!”
Amelia said firmly. I knew she would react like this. She wouldn’t be happy; she would scold me. And she would try to sacrifice herself. I had already predicted how Amelia would react. It was so predictable that I laughed.
I had to give Amelia a reason to live. And that wasn’t a difficult task.
I stroked the Saintess’s lower abdomen.
“If you die, our child in your belly will die too. Surely you weren’t thinking of sacrificing a child who hasn’t even been born yet?”
“Huh…? Th-that can’t be. I have devoted everything to the goddess. There’s no way the goddess would allow it…”
“It would be stranger if you weren’t pregnant after all that.”
The Saintess’s face turned red. She and I had sex whenever we had the chance. The demons were almost completely annihilated, so we had quite a bit of free time.
“Hmm. You don’t seem to believe me? Check it out. You can do that much, right?”
She used her holy power to thoroughly check her physical condition. Her mouth twisted in shock and bewilderment.
“Amelia. You must live. Live and raise our child. I hope you become a wonderful mother. Yes. If possible, to the point where you’re called a holy mother.”
“This… this is too much. Are you taking away my last duty like this?”
Her tears flowed endlessly. I wiped away her tears with the hand that was holding her cheek. But her tears didn’t stop. I looked at her for a moment and then kissed her. Only then did the Saintess’s tears stop.
“Are you resentful?”
“…I’m just sad. Because there’s nothing I can do for the Paladin…”
“There’s one thing you can do for me. It’s what I want from you. Live. That’s all I need.”
She leaned against my chest and cried. I stroked her head.
After that, I shook her off and went out of the sanctuary. I walked through the corridors of the Papal State. The voices of the people grew louder.
I wanted to stop and turn around. But if I turned around here, I would probably make another choice that would make Amelia sad.
I decided to think about something else.
The Eradication Ritual.
I was worried about whether I could do it, since I wasn’t the one chosen as a sacrifice like the Saintess.
But I had something to rely on.
‘Status window.’
[Name: Eugene
Origin: Paladin
Level: 99
Strength: 121 Agility: 92 Stamina: 97 Holy Power: 150
Skills: Holy Sanctuary (Lv. Ultimate), Holy Aura (Lv. Ultimate), Holy Sword (Lv. Ultimate), Sprint (Lv. Master), Holy Light (Lv. Master), Holy Enhancement (Lv. Master), Resurrection (Lv. Master), Descent (Lv. Master), Sacrifice (Lv. Ultimate), Perfect Body (Lv. Master), Wings of Dawn (Lv. Master), Sanctification (Lv. Master), Light Shackles (Lv. Master)]
Sacrifice.
A skill that creates miracles.
I had strengthened Sacrifice with the heart I obtained after killing the Great Demon Bleart. This skill was the only thing I was relying on.
I could only desperately hope that I wouldn’t fail.
I left the Papal State. The dazzling sun welcomed me. At the entrance of the Papal State, there was a path leading to the plaza. I walked down the path. Amelia would be watching me from the sanctuary, so I walked as calmly as possible.
The priests and paladins guarding the path were flustered.
“P-Paladin?”
“Why are you here…?!”
“Don’t panic. And please take care of her.”
The cheering people began to murmur. To be honest, seeing the cheering crowds was a bit annoying. But it wasn’t something I couldn’t understand. Today was a day of sacrifice, but it was also a joyous day when the demons were annihilated.
“Goddess, I offer this body.”
I used Sacrifice.
Along with the excruciating pain of my body exploding, holy power erupted. The golden light became a path, guiding me to the cross.
“The eradication has been achieved, and my duty ends here… Please, protect her and her child.”
I believed that the goddess Herianne was a goddess with some sense of shame. She wouldn’t kill Amelia just because I died.
Sacrifice.
[Complete Recovery is used.]
I felt a miracle happening. I felt that something that had been connecting me and Amelia had been severed.
I climbed onto the ritual platform where firewood was piled high. I leaned my back against the cross.
*Crack.*
The electricity ignited the fire. The firewood quickly blazed up.
I couldn’t use Sacrifice. That would ruin the Eradication Ritual. It would be troublesome if I used Sacrifice just to die comfortably and the Great Demons’ souls were released.
The crimson flames turned golden at some point and began to burn my body.
-Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaak!
-Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaak!
-Stooooooop!
-Save meeeeeeeeeee!
The Great Demons were screaming. I endured the pain, using their screams as motivation. While dying, I saw Amelia at the highest point of the Papal State. She had her hands clasped together, and she was crying and praying. It was obvious who she was praying for.
“Goddess. Please bless her.”
As if responding to my murmur, light fell from the sky. The light enveloped me.
I closed my eyes, feeling the pain disappear.
