Paladin of the Dead God

Chapter 209. Supreme King (1)

Since he had only consumed Calurien’s blood and flesh, rather than his essence or entirety, no special abilities had increased. However, a healthy body was what Isaac desired above all else, especially now when his life hung by a thread.

Thanks to this, despite being wounded to the point where his entire body should have been shattered, he now looked quite human.

‘Was it the legend of Siegfried? In that story, bathing in dragon’s blood made his body impervious to any weapon. I wonder if I could get something like that?’

He entertained the thought for a moment, but if such an ability existed, Calurien himself wouldn’t have been injured by Isaac’s sword in the first place.

[The Nameless Chaos is watching you.]

Isaac found it amusing, yet also felt a strange mix of concern and worry knowing that the Nameless Chaos was observing him.

Come to think of it, despite sustaining near-fatal wounds this time, the tentacles hadn’t erupted from his body. Although Isaac generally preferred to avoid such occurrences, he found it surprising.

‘Is it because of the Immortal Will ability? Or is it because this is Elil’s heaven?’

In any case, it was good that the ability hadn’t manifested. The consequences were unknown, and the cost was unclear.

Isaac believed the Nameless Chaos had trusted and considered him. Or perhaps he had finally succeeded in controlling the tentacles.

However, unlike Isaac with his reliable backing, there was someone else without such support. Isaac slowly stood up and staggered towards the fallen Calurien.

The heavily wounded Calurien was lying down, struggling to breathe.

“What is your god doing?”

Calurien did not answer Isaac’s question. After all, even Elil would have little desire to tend to his rebellious offspring.

Isaac noticed that the Dragon Heart, visible through the now larger wound, had sustained significant damage.

‘Even after that attack, it didn’t break.’

Isaac found it ridiculous that he had attacked so desperately, only to leave a mere crack. But in a way, he also felt it was for the best.

Isaac prepared to transform his left hand into a tentacle as he approached.

Calurien only watched him with deep teal eyes.

“Stop.”

At that moment, a woman leapt in front of him, blocking his path.

A woman armed with a golden spear and shield.

She was Nimloth, the second celestial angel of Elil and the Reaper of Death, Lady of the Lake.

With a troubled expression, she glanced at Calurien before pointing her spear at Isaac.

“I cannot allow you to harm the wizard. You must stop here.”

***

“My lady…”

Isaac let the Luadin Key hang to the ground and addressed her.

“I’ve come this far, I can’t stop now.”

Having barely managed to subdue the injured Calurien at the cost of his own life, now facing another celestial angel immediately afterward? Isaac’s rational mind screamed the question a hundred times, but his instincts had a different verdict.

He could handle it. No, Nimloth had no genuine desire to fight.

At some point, Edelred and Hesabel had also approached, each taking their positions. Edelred had a complex expression upon seeing the wounded Calurien, but he had not forgotten their more important objective.

“My lady, did you also participate in imprisoning Elil?”

Isaac’s question made Nimloth’s expression contort as if she had been stabbed. She bit her lip and glared at Isaac but couldn’t bring herself to respond.

At that moment, Calurien’s head moved slightly.

[Step back, Nimloth.]

“Calurien! They know nothing…”

[I was arrogant. With the Great War approaching, thinking I could stop its course with my power alone was foolish. Everyone desires war, and our silence alone cannot prevent it…]

Calurien, unable to even lift his head, turned his gaze to Edelred.

[Yes. We hid Elil’s will and distorted His voice from reaching the earth. When angels commit foolish deeds, God always moves providence to correct it. The arrival of humans as my punishers is just one such correction.]

‘It’s time for a conversation.’

With Calurien completely incapacitated, it was time to extract the truth of the events from him. Isaac allowed Calurien to speak freely.

However, one person was shaken by Calurien’s words.

“You…”

Edelred’s voice trembled as he spoke.

“Were you the one blocking Elil’s oracle?”

[Yes. Elil’s young king.]

“Do you know how many people died in the civil war because of that? Without Elil’s guidance, we fell into chaos, our relations with other countries were severed, and the knights couldn’t rally under a single banner! For a hundred years, we’ve been killing each other, reducing our kingdom to a ruinous state!”

Once a kingdom built by Elil who ruled the world, the Elil Kingdom had immense wealth, power, and a mighty army. However, in Elil’s silence, only random miracles were granted, with no clear revelations, leading to continuous internal strife.

That immense wealth and power had been almost entirely consumed.

If it had been mere human folly for relying solely on God, there would be no excuse. But Calurien’s words went beyond that.

[Yes. You were not meant to unite. That’s why I instigated the civil war.]

“You…!”

Edelred was about to burst out in anger when Isaac intervened.

“To prevent the ‘Great War’?”

***

Calurien and Nimloth turned their eyes toward Isaac.

[Yes. Do you know about the Great War?]

“I know quite a bit.”

In fact, he might know more about it than Nimloth or Calurien themselves.

Another name for the Great War is Ragnarok, the final war, signifying Elil’s declaration of victory.

And the angels of Elil were trying to prevent that declaration of victory.

[It’s surprising that a heretic knows of the Great War… then again, given that you are a servant of the Nameless Chaos, no anomaly would be too strange.]

Calurien’s mention of Isaac as a servant of the Nameless Chaos caused Edelred’s eyes to waver. Despite being a knight of a kingdom, Edelred, who had studied theology to some extent, couldn’t be ignorant of what the Nameless Chaos was.

However, having been with Isaac, he trusted Isaac’s character, actions, and the trust he had shown, rather than feeling betrayed by him.

[Just as the coming of the Millennium Kingdom draws near, the signs of the Great War are also approaching. I didn’t want it to come, regardless of who started it first. Therefore, I had to prevent Elil’s will from manifesting on earth.]

“Why is that?”

[Because when the Great War begins, at its end, the Elil Kingdom will undoubtedly be destroyed, and Elil will meet his final death on the battlefield.]

Edelred fell into a deep silence. After a long pause, he finally spoke.

“Final death?”

[Yes. Elil… is mentally unstable. Of course, one cannot say a god is insane. Even such mad actions could be part of some grand providence. It’s arrogant to judge a god’s actions. But if…]

Calurien looked at Edelred with a desperate expression.

[If he merely desired the destruction of the Elil Kingdom, I would have let it be and perhaps even encouraged it. But that’s not what he wants. He desires the destruction of himself and the entire Elil faith.]

“Why?!”

Edelred’s voice sounded almost like a scream.

Isaac approached Edelred, patting him on the shoulder as he whispered.

“Your Majesty, do not be easily swayed by your opponent’s words. Shocking statements that emotionally unbalance the opponent are the easiest way to manipulate.”

Calurien’s words held some truth, but it was possible he had hidden or omitted parts to suit his needs. In his struggle for survival, he could say anything.

Calurien, seemingly having heard Isaac’s whisper, chuckled.

[It would be nice if it were deceit. It’s good to be cautious, Holy Grail Knight. But even I, influenced heavily by Elil, cannot think so cunningly. I simply believed that preventing him from harming himself was my duty as an angel.]

“Very well. Let’s assume that leaving Elil unchecked will lead to a Great War, the destruction of the Elil Kingdom, and Elil’s death. Is it even possible for a god to die?”

Ragnarok, the Great War, signified Elil’s declaration of victory, a war of re-conquest over the world. Players could not participate in that expedition.

With Elil’s successful resurrection, his victory was assured.

But why would the Great War lead to Elil’s death again?

[Hahaha…]

Calurien burst into laughter at Isaac’s question.

“Why are you laughing?”

[Because it’s funny hearing you say it. You, a servant of the Nameless Chaos.]

Isaac fell silent.

A god who had committed suicide, the only believer of that god was none other than Isaac himself, standing right here.

The god’s followers had vanished, heaven had fallen, and even the name was forgotten. Isaac was the sole remaining follower. A new faith was just beginning to sprout, but it was unclear if this new god was the same as the old one.

[Whether you believe me or not, I acted solely out of love for Elil. If it were mere faith, I would have blindly believed. If it were loyalty, I would have tried to persuade him. But as his creator, first disciple, and guardian, I could only act desperately to protect him…]

Isaac believed Calurien’s methods were wrong.

Ultimately, he had committed apostasy, and the Great War wouldn’t unfold as Calurien envisioned. He had simply distrusted Elil, committing the sin of pride. But Isaac had no way to prove this right now.

While Edelred remained silent, Isaac approached Calurien.

“Holy Grail Knight!”

Nimloth shouted, raising her spear. Isaac glared at her and snapped.

“Step back, angel. This is not your place to interfere.”

It was the moment for the victor of the duel to claim his prize. In Elil’s faith, this moment was considered legitimate and rightful. No one else could interfere with this honor and Isaac’s audacity. Nimloth hesitated. This was a force that humans should not possess.

Isaac simultaneously tried to reassure her.

“The Great War will not happen, and the Elil Kingdom and its faith will not be destroyed. I swear this on my faith.”

Nimloth bit her lip but stepped back, seemingly somewhat reassured. The fact that an angel like her was overpowered by Isaac’s presence was astonishing, but everything happened so naturally that no one felt out of place.

***

Isaac stood before Calurien’s Dragon Heart.

[Is it time for you to devour me?]

Isaac didn’t respond to his words. However, killing Calurien was both the command and request of the Sword of May. The Sword of May had even risked its life to save them when the mountain fell.

Isaac couldn’t defy the Sword of May.

‘Do not trust the Sword of May.’

At the same time, he recalled Kalsen’s warning. Although the Sword of May had shown him kindness, it was uncertain what it ultimately sought. If all of this was part of a grand plan by Luadin? If Isaac had been burdened with guilt deliberately to herald the coming of the Millennium Kingdom?

[The Nameless Chaos is watching you.]

Just as Isaac’s mind began to clutter with confusion, a message rang out, clearing his thoughts.

He distanced himself from everything, objectifying the world.

He wasn’t fighting for the Codex of Light, for Elil, or for the Nameless Chaos.

Isaac found the most perfect answer.

“Calurien.”

Calurien’s teal eyes blinked.

“You will pull out your Dragon Heart and hand it to me yourself.”

–TL Notes–

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