Paladin of the Dead God

Isaac wondered if the Red Chalice had taken the cat as a hostage. It was an absurd and petty act, but it was something the Red Chalice would do. However, what the early undead of the Immortal Order did was even more ridiculous.

“They heard that I liked cats, so they started tying random cats to their shields to confront me. I couldn’t kill them without cutting down the cats first.”

“…….”

Isaac’s expression grew complex. Using innocent, speechless animals as shields was indeed an atrocity. But he doubted it was enough to defeat Yulihida Arte, a war hero and a candidate for Archangel at the time. Instead, Isaac sensed just how desperate the undead of the Immortal Order must have been.

At his peak, Yulihida must have truly been a formidable presence.

“You didn’t lose because of that, did you?”

“If I had, I wouldn’t have become an angel. I killed and purified all the cats and the undead. They couldn’t even retrieve the bones. It was the greatest victory of my life.”

It was an expected outcome. Yet, Isaac couldn’t understand why the Sword of May was afraid of cats.

Then Yulihida continued speaking.

“Only after the battle did I realize… how strong I had become.”

‘……?’

It was a strange realization to have after cutting down cats, but the Sword of May was speaking the truth.

She looked at Isaac with heavy eyes.

“There was no difference between the hundreds of undead and the cats I killed. It was like the difference between petals and stems. Since that day, I’ve been a little afraid to wield my sword.”

Imagine someone strong enough to crush iron with one hand holding an egg. Would there be a difference between the eggshell and the yolk? Even a slight squeeze would crush the egg. Unless handled with extreme care.

“My sword is a righteous weapon that destroys the undead, but it can also easily kill a kitten. How is this world different from those cats I killed? It’s small, soft, and lovely but easily broken.”

“…….”

“I’ve tried countless times to forget that day, but every time I see a cat, I’m reminded of what I hold in my hands. That’s why I’m afraid of cats. And Isaac, you should be afraid from now on too.”

Isaac recalled the first time he met the Sword of May and her boastful threats about ending the kingdom of Elil and blowing up the royal castle.

She wasn’t just boasting. She feared and was wary of her own destructive power.

Isaac had always thought the world was violent, sharp, and rough.

But now, looking back, he realized that he, chosen to wield the tool to cut down Calurien, was also one of those sharp and rough edges of the world.

If he ever found something to love in this world, Isaac would have to fear it too.

***

After the conversation, Isaac gazed at the countless stars adorning the sky. Unlike the stars that consistently flowed in one direction, these stars shifted slowly or quickly in irregular patterns. It was an odd sight, but he understood it reflected the anomalous time flows occurring across Urbansus, a place where normal time didn’t apply.

Isaac suddenly noticed a peculiar constellation.

“The constellation you’re looking at is called the Wanderer. It has no fixed position and can’t be predicted.”

Turning toward the voice, Isaac realized he was no longer by the campfire but at the edge of a lake. Despite the sudden change, he calmly observed the figure who had summoned him here.

A woman stood with her toes dipped in the water, dressed in a soft, dark green velvet dress with silver hair cascading down to the lake like a waterfall. Around her feet, aquatic plants and flowers flourished, and a light mist rose from the surface.

She held a spear and shield, and despite her delicate appearance, she looked entirely natural in that stance.

“What brings the Lady of the Lake to me?”

“…What brings me? It’s your lot that has invaded. Asking the homeowner why they’re here is like a thief questioning the owner of the house.”

The Lady of the Lake, Archangel Nimloth, responded incredulously but did not brandish her spear with hostility. Isaac, who had somewhat anticipated this meeting since encountering her at the lake, found the situation quite intriguing.

They were on their way to eliminate Calurien, yet Calurien hadn’t shown himself, and only the Lady of the Lake had been interfering with them.

“If my words were offensive, I apologize. I merely thought there must be a reason for a being as esteemed as the Lady of the Lake to invite me to such a beautiful place instead of punishing me.”

Nimloth was known in Elil’s faith as a guardian of knights, guiding young knights, leading mature knights in battle, and ushering fallen knights to heaven, a kind of reaper and protector of knights.

Although she appeared as a beautiful lady, legends said she discovered and trained the Supreme King Elil in his youth.

If Elil learned wisdom from Calurien, it was said he learned swordsmanship from Nimloth.

Nimloth gazed at Isaac for a moment before speaking.

“I heard you’re a devout Holy Grail Knight, yet your tongue is quite eloquent.”

“Thank you.”

“It’s not a compliment.”

Nimloth struck the water with her spear, creating ripples that disturbed the lake.

“You ask why I summoned you? Because you’re invading Elil’s sanctum. By what authority does the Codex of Light commit such acts? We’ve already split from the Codex! This kind of intervention violates the covenant!”

Isaac assumed Nimloth didn’t recognize him as a servant of the Nameless Chaos, but rather was angered by the presence of the Sword of May. Still, Isaac felt some injustice himself.

Was this situation something he desired? A paladin had to obey the angels’ commands.

“I share your anger, Nimloth. But how can a mere mortal like me defy the grand designs of the gods?”

In truth, if defiance could benefit him, Isaac would do so without hesitation. For now, he yielded. There were many secrets he didn’t know yet. If he could sway Nimloth, he might learn what the Sword of May was hiding.

“Moreover, the Sword of May told me that Calurien has imprisoned Elil.”

Nimloth fell silent at Isaac’s words. Sensing her hesitation, Isaac quickly continued.

“Lady, Elil has been silent on earth for over a century. If Calurien has indeed imprisoned him, isn’t it right to free him? Elil is your god, but also your disciple.”

Nimloth’s face twisted as if struck by Isaac’s words. Shame, anger, and sorrow flashed across her features.

“Silence! How dare an outsider question our faith? If Calurien did such a thing, it’s only because Elil needed it, embracing sorrow and anguish to achieve it!”

Nimloth’s voice trembled with rage.

“Even if it’s true, how can an outsider interfere in our internal matters? This isn’t in the Codex of Light’s doctrine! The Lighthouse Keeper is just being greedy for the Millennium Kingdom!”

Millennium Kingdom.

Isaac focused as he heard the term again, having previously heard it when the Sword of May roared. It wasn’t an unfamiliar term to him. In Nameless Chaos, it was said that when the Holy Land was conquered and unified under the Codex of Light, the “arrival of the Millennium Kingdom” would be declared, signaling victory.

In the game, each faith had a victory declaration: “Midas’ Touch” for the Golden Idol faith, “The Last War” for the Elil faith, and so on. The Millennium Kingdom was the Codex of Light’s victory declaration. Isaac had thought of it as a mere figure of speech, but it seemed to hold a different meaning for the angels.

“Why is the advent of the Millennium Kingdom a problem?”

If the Millennium Kingdom arrived, the Codex of Light would win, and it would also signify the victory of the White Empire. Helping the Codex of Light to succeed in the Dawn Army was also Elil’s goal. It seemed strange that Calurien or Nimloth, Archangels of Elil, would oppose it.

At Isaac’s question, Nimloth’s eyes flashed. The mere act of meeting her gaze felt like being pierced by a spear. Not just a feeling—blood trickled from Isaac’s mouth.

[The Nameless Chaos watches you.]

Isaac’s body jerked as he roughly drew the Luadin Key. The pure white flames that burst forth invigorated him, slightly diminishing Nimloth’s imposing presence. Isaac realized that for a moment, all his internal organs had ceased functioning. A regular person would have died without knowing what hit them.

“Elil’s faithful do not shy from a fight. Why would I be any different?”

Nimloth looked at Isaac and slightly bowed her head.

“My apologies. I was angry, thinking you knew what the Millennium Kingdom’s advent meant and were actively aiding it. But it seems you don’t even know what it is. Ignorance can’t be punished.”

Isaac found it ridiculous.

Nimloth might never have seen the Millennium Kingdom, but he had seen it firsthand and even played a role in bringing it about. In this respect, Isaac had the upper hand, even against an angel.

“Sure, you might know about the advent of the Millennium Kingdom. But do you know what happens after?”

“……”

That was true. Players had no way of knowing what happened after the game’s ending.

However, Isaac aimed his sword at Nimloth and said, “If you try any tricks again, I won’t stay quiet.”

Nimloth smiled slyly and tilted her head.

“A warning from the ‘Angel Slayer’? Don’t get cocky just because you killed a couple of washed-up angels.”

Despite her words, Nimloth seemed to appreciate Isaac’s boldness and continued with a smile.

“Fine… I’ll tell you why the Codex of Light shouldn’t interfere with Elil’s internal matters.”

***

Nimloth extended her hand toward Isaac.

He hesitated but then took her hand, stepping onto the lake. Instead of sinking, his feet felt as though they were treading on soft sand. It was a different sensation from when he used the Doctrine of Waves.

“Follow me. We’ll talk while we walk.”

From the beginning, it was clear Nimloth had no desire to fight Isaac. She seemed intent on persuading him to abandon his expedition. Isaac understood that the success of this mission depended not on the Sword of May, but on him.

Amid the quiet sound of gentle waves, Nimloth began to speak.

“Do you know why the Elil schism occurred?”

The decisive event that caused the split between the Codex of Light and Elil. Isaac only knew that the event had halved the great empire that once was under the Codex of Light. At the time, Elil’s kingdom was a vast nation, controlling the western and southern parts of the empire.

The rebellion of Elil, the second Archangel appointed after Luadin under the Codex of Light’s blessing, was a shocking event not only for the Codex of Light but for the entire world. There were many stories surrounding the incident.

One story that was always mentioned was about Elil’s daughter and lover, the dancer.

“I heard that Elil rose against the Codex of Light because he couldn’t stand its vile acts and did so with a righteous heart.”

Of course, Isaac wasn’t about to tell an Archangel that their god had rebelled because he couldn’t marry his daughter. While he had the courage to fight an angel if necessary, he wasn’t foolish enough to provoke one unnecessarily.

However, Nimloth scoffed and gestured with her chin.

“I know what the Codex of Light claims. Speak honestly.”

“…I also heard the rumor that Elil split from the Codex of Light because they wouldn’t allow him to marry his daughter.”

“Which one do you think is true?”

“Who knows…”

Isaac’s expression, which clearly said, “How would I know? Just tell me the answer,” made Nimloth chuckle.

“The answer is ‘both’.”

“Ah, I see…”

Even if the Codex of Light committed vile acts that Elil couldn’t overlook, Elil’s actions inevitably led to a scandalous end. No matter how righteous, the truth was wrapped in an unavoidable disgrace.

No matter how righteous Elil was, there was no way to justify his incestuous desires.

–TL Notes–

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