Chapter 1477

<Paladin: The Journey of Evil>

“Paladin, welcome. I am Amelia. As the Holy Maiden of Valentier, I have been entrusted with the role of guiding and assisting you on behalf of our Goddess.”

The Holy Maiden spoke in a calm voice.

Holy Maidens.

They exist in equal number to the Paladins. They receive the will of the Goddess to guide and assist the Paladins.

In the game, she was the most crucial NPC. She was both the beginning and the end of the main quest.

“I am Eugene. I’ve come here upon receiving the revelation of the Goddess.”

“Yes, I am aware. The aura of corruption is attempting to infiltrate your soul. Shall we perform the purification ritual?”

“…Let’s do it.”

“Please remove your clothes and enter the Sacred Ground.”

She pointed to the pond on the right. Filled with holy water, the pond continuously replenished itself with purity. I stripped down until I was completely naked. Approaching the sacred pond with bold steps, I lay down within it. She showed no disturbance at the sight of my nudity.

Normally, the purification ritual requires participation from multiple priests, including a bishop. However, for a Holy Maiden, it was different. A Holy Maiden, entrusted by the Goddess to assist the Paladin, could conduct the purification ritual alone.

Lying down in the sacred pond, I was fully submerged.

The souls of demons and corruptors clinging to my body were purified. Some merged into me, granting power, while others were sucked away into an unknown place.

[Divine Power has increased by 1.]

I raised my upper body. The sacred pond rippled gently beneath me. Leaning against the edge of the pond, I remained still. Being immersed in the holy water was incredibly soothing, quickly relieving both physical and mental fatigue.

The Holy Maiden approached me. She carefully placed a towel and new clothes beside me. The attire was befitting of a Paladin—elaborate and luxurious.

I shifted my gaze slightly to glance at her face. Her veil fluttered, revealing a glimpse of her features. It was the most beautiful face I had ever seen in this world.

My eyes returned to face forward. Before the sacred pond stood a jar, faintly glowing.

The energy of corruption purified from the sacred pond was contained within that jar.

‘This is also why I rushed here as quickly as possible.’

Only the Holy Maiden can handle the energy of corruption, and only the Paladin can grow stronger through the energy of blessings.

“Can I use the Blessing Energy now?”

“The Blessing Energy can be used here at any time. This sanctuary is also a resting place exclusively for you. However, the amount of Blessing Energy available now is very limited. There aren’t many blessings you can receive.”

“I don’t care. I must become stronger.”

“Put on your clothes and pray before Lady Heryanne.”

Following Amelia’s words, I walked toward the statue of Lady Heryanne, knelt on one knee, and bowed my head. Behind me, the Holy Maiden clasped her hands in prayer. Immediately after, the statue’s eyes lit up, gazing directly at me.

An alert window visible only to me appeared.

[Current Accumulated Blessing Energy – 155]

[Select…]


[List of Available Blessings]

Holy Smite – 2,500


Diffusion of Light – 700


Resurrection – 5,000


Sprint – 3,000


Descent – 15,000


Perfect Flesh – 100,000


Wings of Dawn – 100,000

…

Blessings are skills.

A paladin can use the power of blessings to learn or enhance skills.

‘There’s just not enough blessing energy. There’s hardly anything I can choose from.’

If only there were more blessing energy, I could obtain those other skills like Perfect Flesh and Wings of Dawn that were available when I first received my calling as a paladin.

‘For now, they’re nothing but pie in the sky.’

I discard my longing and focus on finding the skill I originally intended to acquire.

[Holy Blade – 100]

I selected the skill.

‘A skill that grants a bonus to attack power when using a sword.’

Although paladins and holy knights can use various weapons, swords are the most commonly used.

‘I prefer swords.’

Some of the blessing energy flowed into my body.

[Holy Blade (Lv. 1) has been bestowed upon you.]

[Name: Eugene


Origin: Holy Knight


Level: 27


Strength: 20 Agility: 10 Health: 10 Holiness: 8


Skills: Holy Sight (Lv. Master), Holy Aura (Lv. 1), Holy Blade (Lv. 1)]

I checked my status window.

‘Not bad.’

Considering that players usually reached around level 10 when they first arrived at the holy sanctuary in the original game, I’ve grown much faster than that.

I stood up.

“Your prayer was too short. Would you not like to pray some more? Prayer will strengthen your faith.”

“My prayer is slaying demons and corrupt souls. Extermination is the proof of my faith. It’s also why I became a paladin after receiving the goddess’s revelation.”

“May your faith never falter…”

“It never will. Even if I die at the hands of a demon.”

“…”

If I die, so does the holy maiden. The holy maiden is one who takes upon herself the sins of the paladin. She is a kind of scapegoat.

When a holy maiden dies, another nun receives the goddess’s revelation and becomes the new holy maiden, supporting a new paladin. All the paladin has to do is kill demons and the fallen. That’s the system.

“I want the holy sword of Valenthier.”

“The holy sword is currently being reforged.”

“Reforged?”

“The holy sword of Valenthier broke two years ago. The curse of the Great Demon took two years to purify, but the blade remains broken. The archbishop and priests are conducting a ritual to reforge the holy sword of Valenthier, so please wait.”

It’s exactly like the original story. As expected. Having the holy sword would have made things much easier.

I took out the demon hearts and other trophies from my backpack and handed them to the holy maiden.

“These are what I obtained by killing demons.”

“Products of demons possess special powers. They will be of great help to the church. Is there anything you desire?”

“I want the Sword of Wrath and Explosive Holy Water.”

“Fortunately, these are items the Valenthier Cathedral has in stock. I’ll prepare them for you right away. What would you like to do with the hearts?”

I was surprised. I thought I’d earn contribution points by handing over the demon products to exchange for items, but it seems they’re offering them for free.

‘…Ah, this isn’t a game after all.’

The setting of this world takes precedence over the game system.

“I’d like them turned into elixirs that enhance physical strength. Is that possible?”

“Of course. I shall personally purify the demon hearts and create the elixirs. However, it will take some time.”

“I understand.”

“Please wait ten days.”

“I don’t plan on waiting idly. Finding and killing demons during that time would be more worthwhile. Is there any information about demons or the fallen?”

“There has recently been an increase in the number of the fallen in Valenthier. Please help the inquisitors find the fallen ones and investigate the cause of their corruption.”

Just as I thought, they won’t send me straight to slay demons since I’m still weak.

“Understood.”

“I’ll bring you the Sword of Wrath and Explosive Holy Water. Please wait…”


“Grant me this.”

After stepping out of the holy place, she reappeared with the nuns. The nuns clad in black handed me various items. I first placed the holy water grenades into my backpack. As the name suggests, these were holy water grenades that exploded. They could deal area-of-effect damage to demons and heretics.

The Sword of Zeal is a blade blessed by the Zeal’s favor.

‘Just by wielding this sword, my mobility increases and grants me the ability to perform a heretic jump.’

Personally, I thought it was one of the most useful swords in the early stages.

Amelia handed me three pebbles.

“These are Return Stones. Using a Return Stone will allow you to return to the holy place no matter where you are. However, if there are any demons or heretics nearby, the stone won’t work.”

“…Thank you.”

Having gathered everything necessary, I left the holy place.

I met the Heretic Inquisitor.

Compared to paladins or priests, he wore rather plain clothing: leather clothes, a leather coat, and a leather hat. He was armed with a sword, a bow, and an axe. At a glance, the Heretic Inquisitor looked like a mercenary.

Squeeeeeeak.

As soon as I met the Heretic Inquisitor, I used my Divine Eye. He flinched in surprise.

“That eye must be the Divine Eye, correct?”

“…Ah, sorry about that. It’s become a habit to use the Divine Eye whenever I meet someone.”

“The Divine Eye can distinguish between demons and heretics, so I’ve heard. That’s a good habit. I envy you. If I had the Divine Eye too… things would’ve been much easier.”

The Heretic Inquisitor sighed.

Even without the Divine Eye, there are ways to distinguish demons and heretics in this world. For example, talismans. However, the value of talismans isn’t cheap. For ordinary people, using them would result in significant losses for the church. Therefore, Heretic Inquisitors interrogate those they suspect to differentiate between heretics and demons.

I followed the Heretic Inquisitor down into the basement of the cathedral. A pungent and acrid smell filled the air.

“…Can’t we gather the townsfolk in the square? It’d be faster to use the Divine Eye to find them.”

“It might be faster in smaller villages, but Valen-tier has a population of 30,000. Gathering all citizens in the square is difficult, and there’s a risk they’ll notice and escape. Word that a Paladin has arrived has already spread throughout the city.”

“…True. We can’t act rashly and let them slip away. The important thing is to thoroughly exterminate them…”

“Indeed, you understand our situation. The previous Paladin didn’t align well with us Heretic Inquisitors on such matters.”

“What was the previous Paladin like?”

“That one possessed Holy Wings and was merciful—too merciful.”

“Did they try to save the heretics?”

A heretic who hasn’t fallen too far can be saved through ritual. However, the church rarely bothers to save heretics unless they’re nobility. The reason is simple: efficiency. Salvation rituals require considerable time and money.

“Yes, exactly. And because of that, we suffered greatly.”

We arrived at the basement.

It was a dungeon full of suffering. Whether children, young women, or the elderly, everyone groaned in agony.

“Inquisition!”

Heretic interrogation. Synonymous with torture.

“Bring her forward.”

Another Heretic Inquisitor dragged out an old woman. The frail elder trembled before me, wiping her palms nervously.

“Spare me! Spare me! I haven’t fallen! I’m not a heretic!”

“She’s a heretic.”

I swung my sword. The old woman’s head was severed and fell to the ground. The face of the head lying on the floor twisted in anger as it glared at me.

“You bastards! Paladin! I won’t go alone! I’ll take all of you with me….”

Crack!

I crushed the old woman’s head underfoot.

The Heretic Inquisitors immediately beat her body with iron clubs. The remains of the heretic were dragged away, reduced to mush.

“Remarkable. Were you once a Heretic Inquisitor?”

“I was a Holy Knight. Bring forth the next one.”