Chapter 123

Chapter 123
## Chapter 123: The Star that Pierces Truth (8)

—

Stomp, stomp. The heavy resonance of boots on stone drifted from the hallway.

The rhythmic vibrations were clear even within the private suite. The white-haired elder resting upon the mattress peeled back his eyes.

Just as he draped his priestly vestments over his shoulders and settled into a plush chair, the source of the noise crossed the threshold. It was an aged Arch Paladin encased in gleaming white steel. His martial skill was legendary, but his standing among the flock was even more profound—he was a titan of the faith who held the absolute devotion of every warrior in the priesthood.

The Third Seat of the Decagram, “The Star that Pierces Truth,” Hendark.

He gazed down at the elder and offered a shallow tilt of his head.

“May the radiant star guide your path through the deepest shadows. I have arrived, Your Grace, having finished my assignment ahead of schedule.”

“…….”

The snowy brows of Archbishop Erensko gave a slight twitch. He realized instantly that Hendark had returned without a prize.

Nonetheless, he maintained a mask of saintly kindness and spoke with a gentle lilt.

“As I suspected, you have returned with nothing left behind.”

“…….”

“It is exactly what I thought would happen. After all, a foul creature took the life of your prized pupil in a most savage manner. It stands to reason you would wipe it from existence, leaving not even a splinter of bone. Given that your strike was fueled by the terrible power of ‘Lucaon’s Meteor,’ I am hardly shocked that no physical proof remains.”

“…….”

“Of course, you are aware that my previous words were not entirely truthful. Now, provide an account of why you permitted the creature to survive and came back empty-handed, Sir Hendark.”

Erensko’s tone remained balanced, his face showing no outward sign of being moved. Yet, it was painfully simple to feel the volcanic rage simmering just beneath his skin.

Hendark answered with the cold efficiency of a soldier.

“I was concerned about the potential for massive collateral damage to the surrounding territory. The hamlet of Quirn was less than five kilometers away—had the slayer of demons engaged there, the village would have been turned to cinders with immense loss of innocent life. Furthermore, its closeness to the Magic Tower meant we had to factor in potential interference from the sorcerers.”

“…….”

“Most importantly, there was no certainty I could take him alive using only my own strength. He displayed the power of an Arch Paladin while keeping hidden advantages in reserve—if he had revealed his full capability, even I might have…….”

Kreeee—ck. A grating, metallic laugh interrupted the knight’s explanation.

Hendark’s forehead creased. The very oxygen in the room seemed to vibrate with chaotic energy. Erensko ran his fingers through his white mane as if he intended to pull it out, then slowly popped his joints and spoke.

“Word has reached me that a sacred artifact kept within the cathedral’s inner vault has gone missing.”

“…….”

“‘The Lantern that Burns the Black.’ At what point during your mission did you see fit to employ it?”

Hendark’s expression turned to stone.

The Arch Paladin, bound by his nature to speak only what was true, remained silent. The archbishop’s mouth twisted into a biting smirk. His voice emerged as dry as the brittle roots of a dead tree.

“I truly believed we were united in our sorrow…….”

“…….”

“Linton Pelliferus, Helia Munel…… They were both children of Elga who possessed such luminous potential. One a brilliant young knight, the other the youngest Arch Paladin the empire had ever seen…… If given more years, they might have ascended to become stars like yourself, shining for the eternal pride of Elga.”

“…….”

“So, I assumed that since you failed to safeguard their lives, you would at least deliver a terrifying retribution. But instead of punishing that disgusting demon, you presented him with a holy artifact?”

Despite the sharp accusations, Hendark did not flinch.

“I place my faith only in what I have witnessed and felt personally, Your Grace. That man is no demon, and the deaths of Linton and Helia were not without cause.”

“Sir Hendark, Sir Hendark…… You seem to be under a profound delusion. Your holy brand reveals only subjective truths, not universal ones. If you encountered a lunatic who was utterly convinced he was Elga himself, would you drop to your knees and worship a madman as a god?”

“…….”

Hearing this, Hendark’s mind drifted momentarily. He thought of the heretical “Gordon, who turned his back on the light,” the man who had denounced Elga as a fabrication. To that man, the entire Church of Elga must have seemed like a collection of maniacs bowing to a phantom.

……It was a blasphemous thought that had no place in his heart. Hendark traced the sign of the cross and regained his composure.

“I did not merely see a glimpse of the truth within the vessel, Your Grace. I scrutinized the very essence of its nature. The slayer of demons was not a vessel capable of faking the truth. It is far more likely that the knights of our order committed a terrible blunder first…….”

“I find myself worrying for your younger pupils. For a mentor celebrated as the order’s guiding light to speak in defense of a demon…… With such a strong bond between teacher and student, it will be quite difficult to prove their purity separate from your own…….”

“…….”

The words were spoken with a veneer of genuine pity. But the underlying message was a clear extortion. A frigid spark ignited in the Arch Paladin’s gaze.

“You would be wise to leave my disciples out of this.”

“Good heavens, why would I ever dream of hurting your students? They are youths who could grow to be even better knights than those two who have already passed…….”

“……Do not forget that my purpose is to pierce the truth, Your Grace.”

“And what action will you take? Will you fight me? As you are well aware, I have nothing left to lose, Sir Hendark.”

“…….”

A bitter frost seemed to coat the archbishop’s mouth. The dark centers of his eyes were like black pits that sucked in all light. As the two men stared each other down without backing away, the air grew thick with a tension that felt like walking a wire over a pit of swords.

Erensko barked the order once more at the defiant knight.

“I will be plain: travel back to the alliance lands and execute that demon. If you fail, your students will endure great suffering. Surely one experience with the agony of losing a student is enough, is it not?”

Hendark squeezed his eyes shut, battling an internal storm of misery.

However, his indecision was short-lived.

“I refuse. Such an act would be a sin. And if so much as a single strand of hair is taken from my disciples, I will wipe Your Grace from the face of this earth entirely.”

Erensko erupted into a loud, soundless fit of laughter at the threat, as if he had heard the most amusing joke in the world.

Then, just as suddenly, he cut his laughter short and gestured for the knight to leave.

“Get out. I will secure a more obedient servant for this task. And I will not touch your students.”

“…….”

“For the moment, at least.”

The Arch Paladin gave the archbishop a final, heavy look before offering a small bow and leaving the room. The sound of his metallic strides echoed away down the hall.

Left to himself, Erensko cracked his knuckles and sat back on the mattress. Gazing at the stone floor, he began to wheeze with laughter again, sounding like air escaping torn lungs. Only when he was gasping for air did he settle down, gathering his divine energy and snapping his fingers.

Woooong—

A flickering sphere of light materialized in the void.

Erensko whispered in a low growl.

“……Is there still no update from ‘The Star that Swallows Darkness,’ who traveled to the realms of the demons?”

ZZZzt. A series of coded mental signals pulsed from the light. Erensko sat in silence for a moment before giving a secret command.

“Cease the hunt for the flesh of the great demon for now and return to my side immediately. A more pressing matter has come to light…….”

—

Within the village of Quirn, Kadim and Duncan were treated with the highest honors.

They were given an entire tavern to themselves free of charge and gorged on delicacies such as spiced fish chowder, bread stuffed with noodles and leafy greens, and mugs of apple cider and ale. Considering the town had been cut off and hungry for days, it seemed the people had gathered every bit of food they had left for a massive feast.

Yet, no one in the village seemed to mind. They were now free to trade with the world for more food. If anything, they worried they weren’t doing enough. The men who had fended off a demon and a holy knight deserved everything the village could give.

“Our thanks to you, master mercenary! Please come back to see us anytime!”

“The next time you pass through, the food and drink will be even better!”

“May the golden light of Lord Remillion watch over your path, mercenary!”

The enthusiastic farewells didn’t stop, even after they had rested for a night and set out at daybreak. The townspeople huddled at the edge of the village, waving cloths and hands until they were out of sight.

“…….”

“…….”

Despite the cheers, the faces of Kadim and Duncan were clouded.

It wasn’t merely the guilt of being thanked for things they hadn’t actually done.

Duncan had been shocked but relieved when he heard the outcome of the talk with the Arch Paladin. But Hendark’s final words had cast a shadow over that relief.

The warning that a different Arch Paladin would eventually follow.

‘The man who gave me my orders is the archbishop of the priesthood—he will certainly send another member of the Decagram to find you. I have bought you what time I can…… but you must prepare yourselves.’

That warning was enough to leave them deeply troubled.

Kadim made a clicking sound with his tongue. The Decagram consisted of ten elite members, and Hendark held the third position. He was a monster in his own right, but there were others even stronger? It was madness. Even the ones lower in rank could be a catastrophe if they worked together.

He hadn’t considered that killing that first holy knight would turn into such a persistent nightmare. If only the man hadn’t been the archbishop’s beloved kin…… There was no easy fix for the danger they were in—only the realization that they needed a level of power that the church could not touch.

At the very least, they had avoided a fight this time. It was a bit of luck.

He wasn’t scared of losing. But a direct battle might have left his companions badly hurt again and made it impossible to reach the Magic Tower. The fact that Hendark was an Arch Paladin who actually listened to reason—rare even in the history of the last 300 years—was a miracle.

Even so, he couldn’t offer the man his full trust.

Even the most brilliant stars can be hidden by a storm. Given what the church had become, Kadim’s suspicion of holy knights remained. It was best to view Hendark as a one-time business partner: information on the Magic Tower in exchange for news about Gordon.

These messy thoughts spun in their heads. The shadows of leaves shifted across their faces. Amidst the cool shade of the trees, the sun broke through in waving patterns, but their minds were not on the green woods, but on the path ahead.

There were no more turns. Just a simple, pleasant road. They didn’t need to speak about where to go. Thud, thud. Only the sound of their mismatched footsteps filled the quiet air.

“…….”

“…….”

After a long walk, something caught Duncan’s eye.

A brilliant radiance started to glow at the edge of his vision.

“Wait……?”

It was the end of the thick forest.

He ran toward it as if he were in a trance. A cool breeze messed up his hair, and a strange excitement filled his chest. He was so energized he didn’t even notice the weight of his gear. Out of breath, he stepped into the light and finally saw the view.

“Haaah…….”

A sound of pure amazement left his throat. He turned around, waving his arms wildly.

“M-Master! Master! Get over here! Quickly, look at this! We finally, finally made it!!”

Kadim moved faster and stepped out of the trees. And then, he saw it too.

A massive expanse of stinging blue sea, and a city that looked like white foam crashing against the shore.

The city had no outer walls. Instead, a shimmering, clear dome protected it. Behind the waving veil of light, white towers and homes stood close together like fine jewelry. Broad white streets led down to the sand and the water, creating a beautiful contrast of colors. Every part of the city looked like a masterpiece.

But it was the tower that truly commanded the view.

In the center of the city, a white spire shot up toward the clouds like a giant horn. Its bottom touched the earth, its middle sat against the sea, and its top reached for the heavens—each section standing out in perfect, glass-like detail. Looking at this incredible building, one couldn’t help but agree with the city’s nickname.

The Miracle City, Vesta.

“……Ha.”

Kadim had thought he was past the point of being impressed.

The hard travel had worn away his normal feelings. He no longer felt the need for loud excitement or shocked gasps. But in this moment, just this once, even he gave in to a sense of awe, a small smile touching his face.

From the center of the land to its eastern coast—a trek that had lasted nearly half a year.

Finally, they had arrived at the first goal of their journey.