With her silver hair gently swaying and a pure white sword hanging at her waist, the girl, or rather, the lady she seemed to have become, aries gave a faint smile that could easily be missed unless looked at closely.
‘It’s been months since we last met, and she’s changed so much.’
Kids grow up so fast, don’t they? Of course, it wasn’t just her aura that had changed.
‘She’s become stronger.’
Her calm demeanor and stable posture hadn’t changed much compared to before. Her swordsmanship skills probably improved, but without confirmation, it was uncertain. Nevertheless, Khan felt Aries’ growth. He was sensing it.
‘They’re resonating.’
The ‘Mark of the Abyss’ located near his right chest stirred the moment it faced Aries, as though being drawn to her. As if both halves were trying to come together.
An artifact embodied with the goddess’s divinity, drawn to a paladin who serves the goddess? It may seem natural, but there was no such reaction from Elena, the goddess’s balance. This meant Aries was special.
‘She said she was receiving divinity at the main temple.’
He recalled hearing this when he faced the Goddess of Justice in Al-Ranzas. He thought it merely meant receiving more divine power, but perhaps there was more to it…
“Have you become an apostle?”
“No. Just preparing.”
Her casual reply concealed content that would astonish all on the continent. One of the higher gods of the Pantheon, the Goddess of Justice, had designated her apostle and bestowed divinity? It was synonymous with the arrival of a new superhuman.
Not the superhuman commonly referred to by laypeople as knights, paladins, or mages. But a true ‘superhuman’ transcending human realms!
‘Damn, that’s ridiculously unfair….’
Even in a mellow RPG game, there usually are quests like job changes involving hunting minor mobs, but merely receiving divinity propels significant growth. It’s a stark demonstration of how irrational the existence of a paladin could be.
“Of course, one must possess the corresponding aptitude and a character beloved by the gods. But still….”
Some trek naked across the snowfields, wrestling with snowfield greenskins, enduring near-death experiences through devilish mazes, playing tag against ogres, demolishing a city trying to knock out a wyvern, encountering minions of the void…
Just listing them tightened the chest with how tirelessly one must grind away yet failing to hit level 30-.
“Ahem. Well, congratulations are in order.”
Khan, coming back to his senses, offered Aries his congratulations. On reflection, him, with his endlessly growing stats and skills, was truly the epitome of irrationality.
“Not really?”
“…Next time, ask the goddess to extend your growth plate or something. Ouch.”
Khan, about to complain about being hit, suddenly closed his mouth and turned away.
“….”
“….”
As if they had seen an elf learn humility, hundreds of eyes froze and concentrated on them.
‘A paladin of the church conversing amicably with an almost heretical barbarian?’
Such thoughts were transparently conveyed through their gazes, making Khan scratch the back of his head. It wasn’t the time for easing tensions.
“First, we should deal with these….”
“Let the two of you continue your unfinished conversation in peace. I’ll handle the aftermath.”
“Hmm?”
Interrupting Khan, the one who stepped forward was a golden-haired knight…No, he was a paladin.
“Squire.”
If one were to interpret Aries’ speech pattern, which was akin to an interjection, it meant that this shiny guy was claiming to be her squire. And his face felt vaguely familiar.
Even compared to the nobles of the empire, his blond hair was dazzlingly splendid. His blue eyes seemed indifferent at first but held a burning passion. Opposite to his delicate facial features, his body was well-trained. Truly, he bore the image of a nobleman as if he were straight out of a painting.
Perhaps, his face was most suited for the role of a hero or a warrior in stories. If seen somewhere, it was a face one couldn’t easily forget, irritating as it might be.
‘Where have I seen him before…?’
The contemplation didn’t last long. If not in reality, then it must be from within a game. Considering Khan remembered him, it meant he was a notable character within the game, specifically narrowing down to a paladin…
“My name is Leonir. Please, feel free to call me Leo.”
It clicked. Leonir. Adding his omitted last name, leonir von Istanil.
‘So this is how the future is supposed to unfold.’
In the distant future, he would become the youngest leader to take office as the commander of the paladin order, enjoying a splendid reputation as one of the continent’s heroes and receiving the affection of most gods in the pantheon. Also, he would be the main culprit hastening the fall of the Pantheon Church.
One of the bosses in the 7th Act, contributing to the empire’s downfall.
‘The Traitor Leonir.’
Assigned as the squire of Aries who survived by Khan’s doing, and as a result.
Just as Darkin Perayas, who was the boss of the 5th Act but got involved due to an accidental chance. Khan encountered Leonir much earlier than expected.
***
“Why is that?”
“Nothing much.”
“You do have that look, though.”
“It’s just a bit surprising a little girl to have a squire.”
Although attempting to lighten the mood with a playful joke, aries, sensing an odd tone in Khan’s face, just closed her mouth tight. Khan, for one, wished he could spill everything but divulging his biggest secret wasn’t something he could afford.
“Anyway… it’s not immediately relevant. We should prioritize our tasks, shouldn’t we?”
“That’s right.”
“As I’ve also written in the letter, augrabas’ will descended here in Bates. Thankfully, we were able to fend it off, but it almost caused a catastrophe. Pantheon Church is aware of this, right?”
Aries nodded slightly.
It was an affirmation. Considering her concise way of expressing, it heavily implied that the Pantheon Church took the matter very seriously. The fact that Aries, who was virtually affirmed as the next Apostle, personally came all the way to this remote area proved it.
“The demon’s power remaining in Khan’s chest. That’s what it was after.”
“Correct. It might have ended as a simple attack otherwise – at most, the number of demon contractors increasing. It decided to descend its physical embodiment the moment it recognized my presence.”
Had he not been in Bates, shae would not have ended as a vessel for the demon, but instead would have become a demon contractor, plunging Midland into chaos.
“That’s not the only thing.”
Before Khan had a chance to ask, aries continued with additional information.
“Aecharis. That demon’s powers have weakened.”
Factions stirring up, demon worshippers that the church needed to be wary of, or dark mages often used the ‘Pit of Aecharis’ for their escapes, making their pursuit a rather tricky affair. However, due to a fragment of power being sealed in the ‘Vessel of Greed’, the activation of the ‘Pit of Aecharis’ itself became unstable.
“The church has launched a surprise purge, making them anxious as well.”
“They must be desperate to take the power from me, in such a situation.”
Aries nodded.
‘It’s only the Pantheon Church that’s riled up.’
Just as they were desperately thrashing about to survive, so too, the Pantheon Church would be able to expel more dark mages and demon worshippers from the continent.
It seemed the church’s intent of willingly handing over an apostolic candidate had finally become clear.
“You must have been told to stay by my side and cling to life as best as you can, right?”
“Half correct.”
“Half?”
“Would you like me to explain that part, sir Khan?”
“…Leonir.”
“You may call me Leo, if you please.”
Khan furrowed his brows at the appearance of the nobleman, who seemed to brighten the surroundings merely by entering.
“Let’s hear it.”
“Yes.”
Traitor Leonir.
Or rather, the future would see him as such. Currently, he was a prospective paladin whom the church was focusing on after Aries. With a light smile, leo began to explain.
“First, I must express my admiration for Your Excellency’s astonishing martial prowess in vanquishing a demon alone…”
“Get to the point.”
“Haha… I was thinking the same. Well, let me explain in my own way.”
Where did the stern face he showed at first go? Leo laughed out loud, wearing a refreshing smile.
“You mentioned sealing the essence of a demon using a certain method. The Cardinals, however, doubt the credibility of those words. It’s a natural suspicion, I suppose. Although it was reported to the church by your illustrious actions alongside Dame Aries and Priestess Elena…”
“Well, being a barbarian, it’s understandable they wouldn’t easily trust me.”
“Yes. Exactly.”
Leo, who readily acknowledged this without showing any prejudice or wariness, said:
“However, I believe the Cardinals have made a mistake. How could the servants doubt the warrior chosen by the Goddess of Justice? That would be blasphemous in itself. A major disrespect to both apostles. Above all.”
He then sparkled his eyes towards Khan.
“We should take a page from your heroic deeds and the wisdom you displayed in breaking down the prejudices against barbarian. It’s time for us to reform.”
“…”
What nonsense is this?
Before Khan could respond to the oddly straying conversation, leo knelt on one knee and bowed his head.
“Please, come with us to the headquarters!”
In the midst of silence shared between Khan and Aries, leo, seemingly oblivious to the atmosphere, shouted once more, “We beseech you to contribute the artifact of the demon to the heavens. That is the collective will of the Church.”
With those words, leo quietly awaited Khan’s response, curious about how his image was constructed in the minds of others, seeing in their gaze the bright sparkle typical of a loyal dog.
‘Surely not…’
“Out of curiosity, have you ever spoken with a mercenary named Ron?” he asked.
“Of course, I have. He was a man of great faith. I’ve even heard some tales of justice from him.”
That damned mouth again… Grinding his teeth at the thought of the fool’s face that flashed through his mind, Khan frowned.
The future boss mob admiring him was unthinkable. That burning, pure passion in his eyes couldn’t possibly be an act. If it were, the man should have been employed by a theater, not a paladin.
Above all, the ‘turning point event’ that would corrupt him had not yet occurred. Currently, he was nothing more than a paladin brimming with zeal, genuinely concerned about the future and direction of the Church. Depending on how things were handled, it was possible to fully convert the future boss mob into an ally.
‘No, that’s not what’s important right now.’
Setting aside the matter of Leo for the moment, the immediate concern was the proposition from the leadership of the Pantheon Church. The suggestion to come to the Empire, the headquarters of the Church…
‘It’s not the will of the Pantheon.’
The gods residing in the heavens rarely reveal their opinions. Khan had faced the Goddess of Justice several times mainly because she mistook him for the Warrior God’s champion and also due to saving Aries’ life.
As evidence, the priests calling themselves the Inspection Team failed to perceive her intentions until she made an indirect descent. And that would be no different for the priests at the headquarters.
‘Perhaps the Pope.’
This proposition likely stemmed solely from the judgement of the church’s leadership. The gods of the Pantheon probably intended to observe the situation from afar, dignifiedly.
Therefore, what Khan needed to consider was just one thing.
‘The intention of the church’s leadership.’
If there was a reason to invite a barbarian warrior from Hoarfrost Gorge, practically a heretic by birth, to the main headquarters of the Church, it would be…
“I’ve made my decision.”
Considering the events that would unfold in the future, how the church’s leadership maneuvered, and separate from that, the intention of the Goddess of Justice in sending Aries to him—a magnet for demon worshippers—Khan came to a conclusion.
“I will…”
TL’s Corner:
I will what?