Chapter 121

Chapter 121
The warrior of the cloth sat in a cross-legged position upon the dirt. He had discarded his headpiece and the broken remains of his polearm a good distance away. Kadim had also ceased the flow of his celestial radiance. Sustaining such a state for any longer would have pushed his physical form past its breaking point.

Even so, he remained vigilant, keeping the sharp edge of his hatchet pressed firmly against the neck of his adversary.

The holy warrior spoke with a quiet composure, seemingly unbothered by the lethal steel at his throat.

“Allow me to present myself once more. I am Hendark El Vernieta Elgarus, the Arch Paladin of the Elga Church, holding the third position within the Decagram, known as ‘The Star that Pierces Truth.’ And you… you are the wanderer who exterminated the hellspawn upon the Golden Highway, the one they call the ‘Demon Slayer,’ am I correct?”

“……”

“Indeed, it appears my assessment is right. As I previously stated, my intent here is not combat. I have come to converse. There is no requirement for you to maintain that axe in such a taxing position.”

“……I would place my confidence in a dishonest street merchant before I trusted a hound of Elga.”

“I see. In that case, I shall pledge upon the very name of Elga that no falsehood shall escape my lips during our talk.”

“……”

Kadim did not alter his stance in the slightest.

Three centuries prior, when the Elga Church still walked a path of virtue, he might have entertained such a vow. But in the present day? It was impossible. He had been deceived and mistreated far too often by the stubborn, self-important holy men of this age…

Arch Paladin Hendark offered a faint, knowing smirk, as if reading the man’s history.

“I can perceive the nature of your doubts. Truly, because of those villains who invoke the deities’ names for trivial gain, even that hallowed title has been stripped of its significance. Yet, you may rely on my speech. For I… am physically incapable of deception.”

“……”

“If my word is insufficient, I shall provide a demonstration.”

Kadim watched him with a piercing gaze, half-expecting some physical manifestation of a lie to appear.

Nothing of the sort happened. Hendark pulled off his armored glove, exposing the skin of his hand. A striking ten-pointed star was branded there as well.

He lifted his palm toward the heavens and made a grave proclamation:

“……I am an Atalain.”

In an instant, a concentrated shaft of brilliance descended from the high sun, slamming into his flesh.

―――――― Tzzzzzzt!

the pungent scent of charred skin permeated the air, and a plume of ash-colored smoke drifted from the back of his hand. Hendark winced in pain, shaking his hand sharply to dull the sting.

Kadim’s eyes stretched wide in astonishment.

He did not have the luxury to ponder the sheer absurdity of the statement. He had seen this phenomenon before.

It had occurred when Ilenia spoke a reality that was forbidden from the world—the revelation that ‘Elga’ was an illusion.

“What was that? Was that truly the ‘divine punishment’ of Elga?”

“Ugh…? You possess knowledge of ‘divine punishment’? That is quite unexpected. Scarcely any within the ministry are aware of its nature… Are you then also familiar with the proverb, ‘The sun is the eye of Elga watching the realm’?”

Kadim gave a silent nod of confirmation. Hendark clicked his tongue in wonder, pulled his gauntlet back on, and whispered that this mutual understanding would quicken their business before resuming his narrative.

“What I have just displayed is the ‘stigmata.’ It is the holy sigil bestowed only upon the ten elite Arch Paladins of the Decagram. Once it is seared into the body, it provides a unique, superhuman gift. However, it carries a heavy price. To break the vow attached to it is to invite the wrath of the Lord of Eternal Light, as you just witnessed.”

The idea was not entirely foreign to Kadim. It functioned similarly to a protagonist’s ‘innate gift’ or the ‘sovereignty’ possessed by high-ranking devils.

Still, it was startling to learn that the Arch Paladins had been granted such additional strength. They were already formidable enough without these boons…

“The mark I bear is ‘The Star that Pierces Truth.’ It allows me to see through the fabrications and realities of all things, cutting through false appearances and tainted spirits. No trickery or mistruth, regardless of its complexity, can evade my sight.”

“……”

“But to perceive all the clarity of the world, my own essence must remain transparent to it. The weight I carry is that I ‘cannot lie.’ A trivial, well-meaning fabrication results in what you saw, but a grand, deliberate deception would result in my execution by holy fire, leaving nothing but cinders.”

Hendark continued to hold his gloved hand over the injury, which clearly continued to burn. For a warrior who had remained stoic after an axe struck his skull, this pain was evidently of a different magnitude.

Regardless, because the heavens had not struck him down again, his claim of wanting to talk was verified.

Naturally, Kadim did not abandon his wariness entirely. If anything, the paladin’s willingness to share such deep vulnerabilities only heightened his suspicion. The sigil itself could be a masterful trick…

Kadim shifted his weight, pressing the metal closer until it drew a bead of blood.

“That might be a reason to believe your words.”

“……”

“But it is no reason to grant you life. Were you not sent here with the command to slay me? It is better to eliminate the threat now than to face it again later.”

“……I cannot deny that. My instructions were to carry out your execution. However, engaging me in a full confrontation at this moment would be an ill-advised path.”

Kadim stared at the confident knight, a grim, predatory smile touching his mouth.

“Do you believe you lack the capability? That you are unable to kill me?”

“……”

Hendark lowered his eyes and replied with total honesty.

“No. To be truthful, I have no certainty that I would walk away from a battle with you as the victor. My concern was for the environment surrounding us.”

“……”

“If you and I were to release our full power, everything within a ten-kilometer radius would be leveled. The neighboring settlements would be wiped out, and countless commoners would be shredded into a crimson mist. Furthermore… that individual who appears to be your ally would certainly not survive the collateral damage.”

Upon hearing those words, a hellish fire ignited within Kadim’s eyes.

That was a boundary that should have remained uncrossed. Kadim drove the axe downward with a sudden burst of strength, as if intent on decapitating him then and there. Hendark struggled for breath, his neck muscles bulging as he gasped out:

“Guhk, this is… no threat……. You have surely… seen… the innocent… broken by… paladins before……. I am aware. But… I have walked… that path too……”

“……”

“The Arch Paladin… Helia Munel… whom you took down… months ago… she was my student… I raised her from a child……”

Gradually, the crushing weight of the axe lifted from the holy man’s throat.

The fury in Kadim’s eyes vanished, extinguished like a fire hit by a torrential downpour. In its wake remained a cold, detached stillness. Kadim looked at the paladin without emotion and spoke.

“Helia Munel—the high knight who fought with the blade of embers?”

“……Indeed.”

“I offer my regrets. I had no choice; had I not ended her, she would have ended me. But if that is the case, why are you not seeking blood for her death?”

“……Since I received the stigmata, my perception of existence has shifted. I rely on the truths I have witnessed and felt personally over the rhetoric of others or my own grief. Helia was already beginning to lose her way… Have you ever taken the life of a righteous paladin without cause?”

“No.”

“Then do you walk beside the servants of the Forgotten God, a monster who embraces the dark arts?”

“……I am no monster.”

“That suffices. All of that is the truth. I shall not categorize you as a foe.”

The validation was startlingly simple.

Kadim recalled all the past enemies who had ignored reason to spout their own dogma, and he felt a strange sense of hollow relief. His posture relaxed as he sat down heavily on the dirt. He wiped his face with a rough hand, thought for a moment, and decided to let this odd, clinical Arch Paladin live for the time being.

Exhaling a weary breath, Kadim prompted him.

“Speak.”

“……You wish to know why I went to such lengths to speak with you?”

“I do. Explain why you would seek a dialogue with the man who killed your student instead of demanding my head.”

A fleeting, mournful smile crossed the paladin’s face for a second. It disappeared as quickly as a shadow, replaced by a look of profound seriousness.

“You must be aware of this yourself. The modern Elga Church is rotting from within. One symptom is our reckless obsession with murdering anyone we deem a heretic or a demon the moment we see them.”

“……”

“That aggressive philosophy may have expanded our influence, but it solves nothing in this world. Instead, our rivals multiply and the people’s hatred grows. If the Church is to truly represent the heart of Elga, we must prioritize compassion and structure over brutality, and we must find a way to tear out the roots of these demonic swarms…”

“……Your introduction is too long. Get to the point.”

Hendark complied immediately.

“I am convinced that the Magic Tower is the true architect behind the demonic plagues ravaging our lands.”

“……”

There was a heavy pause.

Kadim’s focused gaze flickered. He had told him to move forward, but this was a massive leap. Hendark waited for him to process the claim before continuing his reasoning.

“To be precise, they might not be the hands performing the deeds, but I suspect they are deeply intertwined with the cause.”

“……What is your proof?”

“The very first recorded instance of a demonic outbreak happened in Imperial Year 28—precisely 220 years ago. That was the era when the Magic Tower solidified its power and began its rapid growth. And that moment in history aligns perfectly with a single, monumental change.”

“What change?”

“The total vanishing of ‘ancient mana’ from the entire continent.”

Kadim’s brow twitched.

Ancient mana—the primal energy that had fueled all sorcery until three hundred years ago.

He thought back to his encounter with the sorcerer who had served Lemtana but perished in the body of an ogre. He had said that ancient mana was gone, and thus modern magic required ‘mana’ to function.

This was why even Kadim, despite having nearly zero sensitivity to mana—specifically, ancient mana—could sense the magic of this era. It was tainted with a trace of the demonic. Yet, it remained a mystery. How could the ancient mana, which Melissa had once used in such vast quantities with no sign of depletion, simply evaporate?

This was his chance to find an answer. Kadim asked,

“Why did the ancient mana dry up?”

The response was a letdown.

“That is a secret I do not possess. Investigating that mystery is precisely what I wish to ask of you.”

“Ha.”

Kadim let out a sharp, mocking laugh. Of course, only the Master of the Tower and the inner circle would know the truth. Hendark licked his lips and pressed on.

“Reflect on it. The arrival of demons and the death of ancient mana—two world-altering events happening in tandem. It is far too convenient to be mere chance. Furthermore, the Magic Tower did not fall when their power source vanished. Instead, as if they had been waiting for it, they unveiled the replacement they now call ‘mana.'”

“……”

“My theory is this: perhaps the Magic Tower attempted a global magical ritual that went horribly wrong. As a consequence, the ancient mana was consumed, the demons were unleashed, and the Tower simply shifted to their backup plan to maintain control…”

“Then why not search the Tower yourself? If you lack the courage to go alone, take the Elga Church with you.”

Hendark shook his head slowly.

He wished it were possible, but it wasn’t. The theory was far too inflammatory to act upon without absolute proof; to march the Decagram to the Tower’s gates would be to declare a world war. Even meeting Kadim like this was a massive gamble.

Kadim’s expression remained skeptical, but Hendark did not waver.

“The Grand Bishop, with his usual narrow-mindedness, gave me the simple task of killing you, the ‘monster.’ He believed my grief for my student would make me a loyal assassin.”

“……”

“But I saw a different path—a chance to find the source of the plague. I saw you not as a target, but as the only individual capable of this task. You belong to no one, and even if you are discovered, you possess the power to fight your way out of the mages’ stronghold…”

“……”

“Do you not have your own reasons to visit the Magic Tower? I ask you to hunt for the truth regarding the demons and the ancient mana while you are there. If the reality is exposed, we might finally end this age of darkness. If you succeed, the world will remember you as a savior, and the Church will be unable to hunt you.”

The paladin’s outlook—ignoring personal loss for the sake of the world—was undeniably honorable.

However… the danger still rested entirely on Kadim’s shoulders, and there was no guarantee of safety or gratitude.

Kadim sat in silence, a small, knowing grin appearing on his face.

“……”

After a moment of heavy thought, he decided to take the deal.

He had been searching for the truth of the ancient mana’s disappearance for a long time. The demons were part of the same puzzle. While the paladin only had theories, Kadim had more tangible clues.

He remembered Hydra’s words: that one of his old allies had returned to life and set the demons loose.

And he knew the Tower harvested demon remains to fuel their spells.

Perhaps… Melissa was at the center of it all.

Furthermore, there was a specific piece of information he could extract from this paladin in return.

“Very well. I accept your terms.”

“Truly? You have my thanks! I will provide any compensation within my reach—simply name your price.”

“……My requirement is easy to meet. I will pose one question, and you will answer it with everything you know, holding back no lies.”

Hendark showed the brand on his hand and gave a solemn nod. Kadim took a long, steady breath before speaking.

“Gordon Elgarok—a priest of your Church from three centuries ago. He struck down a high demon alongside a legendary champion. Yet, his name has been scrubbed from every record. What do you know of him?”

This was the question that would define his next moves after the Tower.

He didn’t have high hopes. The Arch Paladin’s own student had known nothing. If the erasure was total, perhaps Gordon was lost to time.

However, Hendark repeated the name with a heavy tone, his eyes suddenly widening as a visible shiver ran through him.

He asked with great caution,

“……Gordon—do you refer to the one known as ‘Gordon Who Turned His Back on the Light’?”

Kadim only responded with a sharp, inquisitive stare.