Chapter 122

Chapter 122
## Chapter: 122

### Chapter Title: The Star That Pierces the Truth (7)

—

Hendark’s expression was a mask of visible agitation. He seemed caught between bewilderment at how the warrior knew that name and a deep-seated hesitation to speak of it.

However, he had pledged to grant any request as a debt of gratitude. The Arch Paladin, a man sworn to seek and uphold the truth, wiped his weary face with a heavy hand before finding the resolve to speak.

“……There is very little recorded regarding ‘Gordon Who Turned His Back on the Light’. Historically, his very footprint was scrubbed from existence. Only the highest-ranking archbishops and the elite Knights of Elga possess fragments of his story, shared only in hushed tones.”

“…….”

“My knowledge is limited to what my former mentor passed down to me, so I apologize if the details are sparse. Furthermore, you must pledge to keep this narrative strictly between us…….”

Kadim gave a sharp nod of consent, and the history began to unfold.

“As you suspected, roughly three centuries ago, he served the Church as a priest. While his official standing was merely that of a common cleric, his unwavering devotion and remarkable spiritual strength earned him widespread veneration. One day, he was entrusted with a monumental secret mission and departed on a perilous trek.”

“…….”

“I was only told he was given a task…… I never imagined it involved the execution of a great demon. Can you confirm that is the case?”

Kadim offered a slow, affirming nod. Hendark, the one who pierced truth, rubbed his jaw and let out a low, pained sound. After wrestling with his inner doubts for a moment and seeing the expectant look in Kadim’s eyes, he went on.

“Regardless…… he achieved his goal, and the Church showered him with glory. They raised a statue in his name and bestowed the title of saint upon him while he still drew breath. Even in the present age, declaring a living man a saint is an almost unheard-of honor.”

“…….”

“Strangely, these honors brought him no joy. Claiming that a wound sustained during his travels refused to mend, he retreated into the Church’s most ancient archives and isolated himself completely. He didn’t even attend his own ceremony of canonization.”

“…….”

“The duration of his strange withdrawal is unclear. But one day, during a pivotal religious festival…… he unexpectedly walked into the grand cathedral. There, in front of a vast assembly of clerics and Knights of Elga, he shouted a terrifying blasphemy.”

He hesitated, his voice gaining a slight tremor.

“He claimed that Elga, the deity the Church worships, is a ‘sham’. A ‘deceptive entity’ wearing the mask of Elga.”

A violent storm of emotion flickered in Kadim’s eyes.

He found it difficult to process what he was hearing.

He had encountered this claim once before from Ilenia, but hearing it now carried a far more profound weight. It was nearly impossible to wrap his head around the idea that such words had come from a priest as famously pious as Gordon.

Automatically, Kadim’s eyes shifted toward the sun, anticipating a strike of celestial wrath. But since the speaker was merely recounting a memory he personally doubted rather than making a defiant claim, the eyes of Elga remained silent.

Nevertheless, Hendark looked pained to have even repeated the words. He made the sign of the cross and took a shaky breath before resuming the tale.

“Why a champion honored as a saint would utter such heresy…… the true motivations remain a mystery. My mentor thought perhaps the trauma of his mission had shattered his mind, but my gut tells me the truth is more complex. If he truly did slay a great demon as you claim, perhaps some darkness took root within him during the struggle…….”

“…….”

“Ahem, in any case…… such a crime could not be ignored, even for a legendary figure. The reigning emperor and the archbishops reached a consensus to strip him of his titles and sentence him to death.”

Yet, the Church of that era found they lacked the strength to contain the fallen priest.

Reports claimed Gordon broke through the prison’s enchantments and departed at his leisure. How a man who had renounced his god could still command such power was a mystery. Rumors said he traveled to the far side of the sun, refusing to live under the gaze that watched the world, which is how he became known as ‘Gordon Who Turned His Back on the Light’.

“Following his escape, all tracks of ‘Gordon Who Turned His Back on the Light’ vanish. With every official record burnt, we have no clues to follow; only his dark reputation and whispered legends remain…….”

“…….”

“That is the extent of my knowledge. The final end of the champion who defied his creator…… only Elga, watching over the world with those piercing eyes, truly knows the outcome…….”

The Arch Paladin finished his story with a heavy, somber tone. The warrior looked up at the sun with a hint of contempt and nodded slowly.

With this, a major enigma from his second life had been unraveled.

The mystery of why the hero who killed a great demon three centuries ago had been forgotten was solved. Somehow, Gordon had discovered that his god was a fraud and spoke out, resulting in his excommunication and the systematic deletion of his history.

Yet, Gordon’s path after his disappearance was still a void. Was it possible he truly succumbed to darkness…… and began working to release demons? Was he seeking vengeance against the institution that cast him out?

‘……No, that seems wrong.’

The revelation that Elga was a ‘sham’ didn’t seem to be tied to demonic corruption. If it were, Ilenia—who held the same belief—would have been a puppet of the abyss as well.

Furthermore, if Gordon had truly turned into a monster, his companions wouldn’t have ignored it. Cyril and Melissa wouldn’t have been preoccupied with ancient ruins or the Magic Tower; they would have prioritized stopping or saving their friend.

As he thought it through, a faint theory started to form regarding Gordon’s destination.

“…….”

It was a suspicion born from the title ‘Gordon Who Turned His Back on the Light’. It was merely a feeling for now…… but Kadim vowed to test this theory if the opportunity presented itself.

Pulling himself back to the present, he noticed the Arch Paladin watching him with intense curiosity, clearly waiting for Kadim to explain how he knew of Gordon. However, Kadim had no intention of revealing his secrets.

“I’ve heard what I needed. As we agreed, if I find anything of interest at the Magic Tower, I will send word.”

“…….”

Revealing his sources wasn’t part of the bargain. Hendark looked disappointed but nodded in begrudging acceptance.

At the very least, Kadim had gained a lead on the priest’s destiny after his departure in the first timeline without giving up much. Now, it was time to hunt for clues regarding the mage. Melissa, the brilliant mage who kept exhaustive journals—her writings would be the key.

Before that, there were matters to conclude with the Knight of Elga. Kadim established a way to communicate after his investigation and requested that the Church stay out of his way for now. He then brought up one final point.

“That demon you dispatched—I required its blood to deal with the mages, so its disappearance is a problem. Do you have anything that can counter their magical abilities?”

The blood of the ‘Mysterious Species’ demon provided a significant resistance to hexes and spells. Kadim had intended to use it for his confrontation with the mages, but the demon had been obliterated, ruining his plan.

Though it wasn’t Hendark’s fault, the Knight of Elga surprisingly produced a solution.

“I had intended to offer this to you regardless. Take it. It is a sacred tool known as the ‘Lantern That Burns the Blackest Night’. If you find yourself at odds with the mages, activating this will provide great protection. Be warned, it will shatter after two uses, so save it for a crisis…….”

Hendark passed over a small, ornate lantern. As Kadim held it, he immediately understood the nature of the relic and how it functioned.

That realization led him to another conclusion.

“So, the Church of Elga was aware of the source of the mages’ power?”

“……Yes. The traces are subtle and difficult for most to see, so it isn’t common knowledge. However, Arch Paladins like myself and the bishops are acutely tuned to the presence of demonic energy…….”

Kadim gave a mocking smirk.

“How hypocritical. Aren’t you lot supposed to be obsessed with purging demons and heretics? Why allow people openly using ‘demonic qi’ to walk free?”

“That is…… for the same reason I am not treating you as a foe.”

It was because they couldn’t win without devastating losses, and even then, the mages provided a service that outweighed the cost of their existence.

“……It’s no wonder the previous emperor allowed the Free City Alliance to govern itself. The Knights of Elga couldn’t possibly police every demon across the continent……. Mages who utilize a fraction of demonic energy but use it to hunt demons were viewed as a necessary evil that couldn’t be removed…….”

Hendark spoke his justifications.

Regardless of the phrasing, it was a clear admission of religious morals bowing to political reality. Recognizing the weakness of his own argument, his voice trailed off, and his face showed a flicker of shame.

To Kadim, however, it made perfect sense.

It all came down to strength. Every obstacle could be overcome with sufficient power; if a problem remained, it was because the power to solve it was lacking.

He needed to continue his ascent.

……Until even the Church of Elga was forced to ignore its own laws because they feared him.

Their business was concluded. Hendark called forth the Radiant Horse again. The beast, which had been struck by the axe and dismissed earlier, stomped its hooves and let out a wary cry upon seeing the barbarian.

* Whiiiin! Whiiiin!

“Easy now, settle down……. Easy…….”

“…….”

It was time to part ways. Hendark offered a blessing of luck and prayed for Elga’s favor to follow him. Hearing that, Kadim felt a wave of discomfort and debated whether to speak plainly to the Knight of Elga.

To tell him that ‘Elga’ was indeed a lie—that it was the truth.

If he truly was one who pierced truth, he would have to recognize it.

But with the celestial eyes watching so intensely, a reckless confession seemed dangerous. Unsure what side effects the stigmata—another supposed blessing—might trigger, Kadim held his tongue and asked a different question.

“Hey, one more thing.”

“Yes, what is it?”

“You’re more aware of the Church’s failings than anyone. Why stay? No matter how hard you try to fix things, you’ll be standing alone.”

“…….”

“Is it because you can’t walk away from the power and blessings Elga gives you?”

The Arch Paladin closed his eyes.

A smile more bitter than any venom touched his lips as he lowered his visor to hide his face. With a heavy, exhausted breath, he shook his head slowly. In a voice that sounded like a dying star, he gave his final answer.

“Even when the world is swallowed by the deepest night, a single star must remain lit. Only then can a traveler look up, see that light, and find their way home…….”

—

The inhabitants of Quern, having only just escaped their trapped village, found themselves once again pushed into a desperate trek.

“Move! We don’t have a second to waste! If you fall behind, you’re dead—everyone, keep moving!”

“Mama, my feet are hurting……. I can’t walk anymore…….”

“Just a little further, sweetheart……. We’ll rest soon, I promise…….”

“Village chief! C-Can we please go back for just a moment? We ran so fast I didn’t even grab any supplies…….”

“Shut your mouth! You want to go back and die? Go by yourself then! You think a Knight of Elga is going to wait for you to pack a bag?”

A few voices suggested returning, but the chief silenced them instantly. The villagers could only sigh and keep walking.

Watching the line of exhausted people, the chief chewed his lip in terror.

He had good reason to be afraid. A man on a glowing horse was undoubtedly a Knight of Elga—a high-ranking one. A being capable of summoning disasters. He doubted they could move fast enough to escape the destruction such a man could bring.

He thought he knew why the knight was there. The Empire was clearly moving to swallow the Alliance.

Therefore, the knight’s primary objective was likely ‘Vesta’, the heart of the mages’ power.

The evacuation was heading in the opposite direction. War would likely consume the entire Alliance eventually…… but the chief focused on surviving the immediate threat.

“Everyone, pick up the pace! We have to put distance between us and that Knight of Elga…….”

Unfortunately, the chief’s grand theory of impending war was slightly off the mark.

Doong, doong-doong, doong-doong-doong—!

The sound of hooves thundered through the air. A blue radiance lit up the sky again. This time, no one saw it as a miracle. Their faces turned the color of ash.

“K-Knight of Elga…….”

“He’s coming for us…….”

“E-Everyone, run for your lives!!!”

“Uwaaaaaah!!!”

“Kyaaaaaaaah!!”

The Knight of Elga wasn’t heading for Vesta; he was closing in on them.

The chief shut his eyes tight. He realized they had been spotted. Before the knight attacked the mages, he was cleaning up the witnesses—it was the only explanation.

It was over. No matter how fast they ran, they couldn’t outrun a god. He collapsed in the dirt, waiting for the end……

Doong-doong, doong-doong, doong…….

The streak of light flew over them like a shooting star, heading west, and then vanished.

It didn’t come back.

““……?””

The villagers looked at one another in confusion. After a moment, they looked to the chief for an explanation, but he was just as baffled.

Then, a towering figure stepped out from the trees.

“What’s the holdup. Why are you all standing around here.”

“…….”

“Taking a break to celebrate leaving home?”

It was Kadim, the Atalan warrior who had gone to face the demon. The chief rushed toward him, eyes wide.

“M-Mercenary? How are you here…… D-Did you finish off the demon?”

“……I didn’t have to kill it. I just followed it until it ran into its own grave.”

“H-How…… N-No, more importantly, did you see the Knight of Elga? The executioner sent to wipe out the Alliance…….”

“……No. He wasn’t here to fight the Alliance—he had business with me. We finished our talk, and he went on his way.”

The chief’s jaw dropped. He tugged at his beard, his voice rising in an excited whisper.

“Th-Then, you mean to say…… after a grand battle, you emerged victorious and drove that terrifying Knight of Elga back to the Empire?”

“…….”

Kadim wondered how his words had been so catastrophically misinterpreted.

He stared at the chief with an expression of pure disbelief, but the chief, lost in his own hero fantasy, turned to the crowd and shouted.

“Listen up, everyone! This man has slain the demonic beast and defeated the impossibly powerful Knight of Elga! We can return to our homes and live in peace!! See for yourselves!! Without asking for anything in return, he stopped a war and saved our lives—a true hero stands before us!!!”

““……!!!””

Eyes that were once filled with terror now overflowed with worship and awe. Everyone, from the children to the elderly, looked at Kadim as if he were a god.

Kadim stared back at the crowd, his mind blank.

“…….”

If he had known the chief would start screaming such fairy tales, he would have left the man tied up in that tent.