Paladin of the Dead God

Chapter 34:

A brief silence fell.

Rotenhammer asked with a hint of suspicion, “You want to become a Paladin, right?”

“Yes.”

“But you won’t join our Briant Knight Order? Do I seem unsatisfactory to you?”

“Of course not, Commander Rotenhammer. I have no doubts about your abilities…”

Isaac pondered how to delicately phrase his decision in a way that Rotenhammer would accept.

Choosing not to join the Briant Knight Order was a conclusion Isaac had reached after careful consideration.

Had he stayed at the monastery, he would have followed Gebel’s guidance. However, his experiences fighting the Wallachia hunters in the valley had led him to realize the life he needed to lead. Up until now, he hadn’t understood this, cocooned as he was in the safe shell of the monastery.

[The Nameless Chaos watches you.]

It signaled a crucial crossroads in life. Even without the implicit warning from the Nameless Chaos, Isaac knew. He dismissed the warning.

‘I know the best strategies for this game.’

Neither Gebel nor Rotenhammer were the players.

Not even the many-eyed tentacled monster that brought him to this world.

‘I’m the one who will see this game’s ending.’

With that resolve, Isaac asserted to Rotenhammer, “I intend to become a Holy Grail Knight.”

***

Holy Grail Knights.

Righteous knights who wander the world, seeking holy relics, vanquishing evil beings, and aiding the weak. They are the solitary heroes of countless epics and songs. In the game, Grail Knight is a secondary class for Paladin, typically considered part of the same group. However, while Paladin operate in armed units with comrades, Holy Grail Knights are lone warriors, roaming in search of holy relics.

Their endless wandering requires not only unwavering faith but also limitations on possessions. Searching for relics often involves aiding the wronged and confronting evil.

The only thing they can count on is their reputation.

Now considered a relic of a bygone era, they’re often viewed as outdated.

‘But this is the best, no, the only path for me.’

Isaac stood in the open area of the Briant Knight Order’s camp, lost in thought.

Becoming a Paladin brings many benefits: resources, fortresses, swordsmanship, mentors, comrades, financial gain, and social privileges. Grail Knights, roaming solo, must forego these advantages.

In return, Grail Knights gain the ‘Noble Quest’ buff based on their fame and achievements. This buff strengthens with the number of enemies and grows more powerful against formidable foes. The value of discovered relics directly enhances miraculous abilities.

Their heroic deeds often stem from this buff.

If a powerful relic is found, a Grail Knight might even rival the strength of a whole order of Holy Knights.

‘Most Grail Knights die before that, though.’

Most importantly, Isaac had the ‘The Rite of Division,’ a relic taken from Heinkel, on his back. It’s a top-tier relic, intertwined with the birth of gods. Though it’s not from the Codex Light and may not show its full potential, that’s irrelevant to Isaac.

To a Holy Grail Knight, what matters is the greatness of the relics they unearth.

To others, a relic might be an object of reverence, but for Isaac, it’s merely a useful tool.

‘I can join a Holy Knight Order later if I need their power.’

In the game, a Grail Knight couldn’t revert to being a Holy Knight, but this wasn’t a game. Now that it’s clear he can’t perform miracles, joining a Holy Knight Order later is still an option.

What he needs is the recognition and fame of a Holy Knight.

Isaac waited for the right moment.

“Hey, you.”

As Isaac idly kicked pebbles in the open area, a young man in light armor approached him. Isaac didn’t realize he was being addressed until the young man spoke again.

“What are you doing here? Are you from the monastery? Why are you just standing there…”

Mistaking Isaac for a soldier, perhaps, the young man stopped mid-sentence as they faced each other.

Isaac glanced at him briefly.

‘Freshly minted Holy Knight, judging by the shiny armor. Maybe a few months in?’

Feeling Isaac’s scrutinizing gaze, the young man, Ian, blushed and coughed awkwardly.

“Hmm, must be curious about the Knight Order coming to the village. This is a dangerous place, lots of scary men and adults around. I’ll take you back.”

Realizing Ian’s absurd misunderstanding, Isaac ran a hand through his hair.

‘It’s been a while since I’ve cut my hair… Did it get this long?’

Isaac’s appearance could easily be mistaken for the opposite gender with just long hair. He rarely faced such confusion in the monastery, but this naive Holy Knight seemed to be making

a big mistake.

“What are you waiting for? Follow me.”

“I have some business here, so I can’t leave yet.”

Ian looked flustered by Isaac’s response. His voice, still charmingly androgynous due to the charm enhancement, added to Ian’s confusion. Then, someone called out to them.

“Ian, do you need something from this friend?”

Rotenhammer was approaching.

“Commander.”

Identified as Ian, straightened up immediately.

“This is the lad I mentioned who escaped the Wallachia hunters unscathed all night. I thought he was making a ridiculous mistake, so I was about to correct him.”

Ian’s jaw dropped.

The hunt for the Wallachia hunters had ended, and the plot was thwarted, but no culprits were caught – an unsatisfying conclusion. The real struggle would now start within the Order’s upper ranks: dealing with the Wallachia Kingdom, diplomacy, and posturing.

But all that was no longer Isaac’s concern.

His concern was the open area Rotenhammer had arranged to ‘fix young Isaac’s foolish thinking.’

‘It’s understandable, though.’

To Rotenhammer, it must look like a talented recruit was heading towards certain doom.

It’s said the foot of a hero’s path is piled with corpses. Few Grail Knights die of old age; most meet a heroic end on a daring adventure.

“Are you ready, Isaac?”

Rotenhammer had no intention of letting this young man face such a fate.

So, he decided to give him a harsh lesson.

“Remember your promise, Commander Rotenhammer.”

“Yes. As promised, if you beat three, you win.”

But the lesson wouldn’t come directly from Rotenhammer. It would be inappropriate for him to beat Isaac himself, and it would be awkward for Gebel, who had recommended him.

So, Rotenhammer proposed a duel to Isaac.

“If you win…”

Rotenhammer replied, “If you win, I’ll appoint you as a Paladin in the name of the Briant Knight Order Commander and issue a document certifying you as a Holy Grail Knight legitimately in pursuit of holy relics under the Codex of Light’s.”

“That’s acceptable. What are the terms?”

“One-on-one. Real swords, as we have priests around. Avoid lethal strikes. If you defeat three opponents, you win. But,”

“But?”

“If a duel lasts longer than 30 seconds, another opponent will join.”

Isaac frowned. He thought Rotenhammer’s conditions seemed unfairly harsh, but the commander’s expression was stern.

” Holy Grail Knights travel alone. They often fight against multiple opponents. If you can’t settle a fight quickly, it’s better to give up.”

Isaac realized Rotenhammer wasn’t just trying to teach ‘a young man a lesson’ but was seriously testing whether he had the skills to be a Grail Knight. If it was just about discipline, Rotenhammer himself would have been sufficient.

‘To become a Grail Knight, I first need to be a Holy Knight. Not a bad deal.’

Isaac agreed.

***

The first opponent was a trainee, whose name Isaac couldn’t remember.

He seemed to have a solid foundation, but the moment their swords clashed, Isaac twisted his angle slightly, causing the trainee’s wrist to bend awkwardly. The trainee dropped his sword, clutching his wrist, and Rotenhammer dismissively kicked him off the field.

The second was also a trainee, a bigger and older-looking young man. Isaac recognized he had moved beyond basic training and was on the path to becoming a Holy Knight.

But to Isaac, he didn’t feel much different from the first trainee.

‘I should give Rotenhammer a face-saving fight.’

Isaac exchanged a few blows with him, but perhaps too nonchalantly, as the trainee realized he was being humored. Agitated, he launched a reckless attack. Isaac exploited a minor gap, swiftly coiling around his sword and striking the back of his hand with the flat of his blade.

“Wow!”

Someone exclaimed at Isaac’s deft move. The Holy Knights cast discontented glances, but since the exclamation came from Isolde, they had to retract their resentment.

However, unease was spreading.

Isaac was one of the younger trainees in the Briant Knight Order. Yet, even older trainees couldn’t last 30 seconds against him. The last one was even on the verge of becoming a Paladin.

The real issue was whether the Holy Knights themselves could have fared better.

‘Looks like I am quite strong, after all.’

It might sound absurd given he had defeated Wallachia’s Duke, but honestly, Isaac had never objectively measured his skill in swordplay.

Beasts, Zihilrat, and Wallachia hunters were no real benchmarks for him. A true knightly duel, aside from Gebel, was new to him.

‘If advanced swordplay is the criterion for a decent Paladin… am I at least average?’

Then it made sense for the trainees to be no match.

Isaac faced Rotenhammer, ready for the next challenger.

“Who’s next? Are they hiding, waiting to jump in after 30 seconds?”

Gebel, sending a ‘take it easy’ look to Isaac, couldn’t help but feel a bit proud. His young apprentice, in some way a successor to the Avalanche Knight Order, was thrashing other trainees.

“Ian, you’re up.”

“Me?”

Ian seemed surprised at being called, not originally scheduled to duel. Rotenhammer didn’t repeat himself. Ian hesitated but didn’t let pride get in his way.

He drew his sword and stepped forward.

Isaac, recalling Ian was an official Paladin, was slightly taken aback. Now he’d really see where he stood.

Ian glared at Isaac, then twisted his face disdainfully.

“You survived the Wallachia hunters? You look too frail and delicate, probably ignored for lack of blood worth draining.”

‘What’s his deal?’

Isaac puzzled over his attitude, then realized Ian was recalling their earlier embarrassing encounter. He was just picking at Isaac’s appearance. Or maybe, Ian was using the valuable skill of provocation in real combat.

‘Real Holy Knight, huh? Using any means for the proof of faith?’

Ian didn’t stop there and kept hurling insults. Isaac, unmoved, carefully closed the distance while holding his sword. Ian, pretending to be agitated by his own words, trembled slightly.

“So staring with those wide eyes and cute face is going to make me fall for you again—”

“Ian!”

Rotenhammer’s warning shout interrupted Ian’s continued provocations. In that instant, Ian’s sword moved.

Isaac’s gradual closing of the distance suddenly vanished as they collided.

‘Wow.’

In that brief moment, locking eyes with Ian, Isaac was mildly impressed. Ian’s previously agitated swordplay had been a ruse, his eyes now coldly calculating.

‘So it was a deliberate provocation.’

Ian had hurled insults and feigned agitation at a stranger, only to launch a surprise attack. And his current offensive was advanced swordplay. To Ian, this was going all out.

But that was it.

For Isaac, the moment seemed prolonged enough for thoughts to wander.

‘If he’s gone to this extent, I should show some courtesy in return.’