Chapter 1483

<Paladin: A Journey of Evil Destruction - Chapter 1483>

Hiding behind a rock, I gazed at Salot Castle.

Salot Castle.

Built by humans and ruled by the noble Salot, it was stolen by demons decades ago. The church hadn’t retaken it in all those years—truthfully, they hadn’t even tried. At least three demons were confirmed to be within its walls, with fallen ones and undead constantly patrolling.

To storm Salot Castle, no less than 300 paladins would be required—that was the Church’s assessment back then.

“Salot Castle isn’t close to the city.”

Thus, it wasn’t an immediate threat.

So the Church left it be. No need to stir up a hornet’s nest unnecessarily. Besides, Salot’s demons had been behaving… until now.

“The Church kept an eye on Salot and discovered a ritual underway.”

A ritual that would hasten the resurrection of a Great Demon, which normally took decades.

I observed Salot Castle for a long time, searching for differences from the original game. Those discrepancies could become variables.

“Almost no difference. That game paid attention to even the tiniest details.”

The castle’s defenses were tight. Fallen ones guarded the entrance, undead loitered in the outer walls, and the inner defenses were even more formidable. Most annoyingly, ghosts flew around the skies.

“There’s a way in. Either through the underground sewers or this little hole.”

I looked behind me. Five hundred paladins and inquisitors waited for my orders, half of them reinforcements from regions beyond Valentinor.

“According to the plan, I’ll infiltrate Salot Castle. You wait here and hold your ground against them.”

“Yes, Paladin!”

With their response, I began circling the castle. Going straight ahead would be madness; I’d surely be spotted. So I moved while hiding behind rocks.

Success. I reached the western City Wall without being noticed.

Once clinging to the wall, the patrols became less frequent. Demons and fallen ones weren’t as meticulous as humans. Undead had cognitive abilities worse than animals. The ghosts flying above only monitored specific spots, and they often slacked off.

“In human terms, it’s an army of ragtags. There’s no commander—a Great Demon—and the demon officers are too busy with the ritual to care about discipline.”

I pressed myself against the wall, moving carefully, tapping it with my foot. Despite its sturdy appearance, there was something unusual about one section.

“I found it.”

Crouching down, I pounded on the wall. Crumbling bricks revealed a small hole, barely large enough for a small dog. But after a few punches, it widened…


It had grown wide enough for an adult man to enter and still have room to spare.

“There’s no way humans would leave their fortress to be managed by demons or corruptors.”

I crawled inside the city wall through a hole.

As I looked around the inner sanctum of the castle, I let out a sigh. This was the real beginning.

“Kill those who must die… and take what needs to be taken.”

A putrid stench filled the air.

The source of the smell sat at the dining table—an undead creature.

Clatter clatter.

The zombie was in the middle of eating. Holding a fork in one hand, it shoveled rotten food into its mouth, swallowed, but the food wouldn’t go down its damaged throat—it spewed back out through the gaping hole in its neck and landed on the plate. The undead didn’t seem to care and continued eating endlessly.

In front of the undead, there was a large birdcage. Inside, a middle-aged man was trapped. His attire marked him as a priest. Upon spotting me, his eyes lit up with hope, silently pleading for rescue.

I moved quietly behind the undead. Gripping its shoulder with my gauntleted hand, I drove my sword into its back. The undead, lacking vocal cords, couldn’t even scream. With a holy blade, I ended its existence.

“Oh, great Goddess! Thank you! You’ve sent me a savior!”

“What are you doing here?”

“You don’t see it? I was captured by that thing. Sir Paladin, please release me!”

“How long have you been imprisoned?”

“About three months ago, I believe. I was on a pilgrimage when I was caught… Those wicked demons locked me in this cage and kept me as entertainment. They tried to corrupt me, but I resisted with unshakable faith!”

“Hmph. Impressive.”

“You must have your own purpose for infiltrating this castle. I’ve been trapped here for three months—I’ve seen and heard much. I can help you. Please, open this cage quickly!”

I approached the cage. Grabbing the iron bars with one hand, I tore them apart effortlessly. Creak! As the metal split, the priest’s eyes widened in astonishment.

“Oh! Incredible strength! I thought you’d need to cut the bars with a sword… Gasp?!”

Before he could finish, a greatsword slid through the broken bars and pierced his chest. The priest stared at me in disbelief.

“W-What is the meaning of this?! Aren’t you a paladin?!”

“Fool. Your little act won’t work on me.”

“But I am no fallen one! I haven’t fallen! My faith remains steadfast!”

“No, you’ve already fallen. You said you were captured three months ago—but you don’t look like someone who’s been trapped for that long.”

“That’s because… the demons fed me water and food regularly! They intended to use me as a sacrifice!”

“I doubt that. They probably just used you as a toy. Maybe they even bet on when you’d finally admit to falling.”

“I… I haven’t fallen! Don’t you need the information I possess?!”

“I don’t need your information. Don’t you find it strange? Even though your heart has been pierced—a wound fatal enough to kill any normal human—you’re still speaking to me!”

“B-But this is the blessing of the Goddess! She protects me!”

“Is that so? Then perhaps you’ll enjoy another proof.”

Chink!

My helmet automatically lifted off, revealing my face. The priest froze in horror as his gaze met mine. My holy eye (聖眼) glowed an intense blue.

“P-Paladin…!”

“My eyes cannot be deceived. You are a fallen one.”

“Accept reality.”

I activated my holy blade. A golden light enveloped the sword. The priest’s face began to…


It distorts. Just before he could scream, I struck the black priest’s neck. I even cut off the falling head.

“One down.”

In the game, saving this priest would’ve gotten me info on Saloth Castle. But in the end, he’d always ambush me at critical moments, which was kinda annoying.

“Might as well, I know everything that bastard’s gonna blab about anyway. No reason to keep him alive.”

I moved again.

I killed every undead or fallen one roaming around the castle that I came across. Most were wandering alone, so it was doable. Groups of four or five? I ignored them. With my current strength, I could’ve taken them out, but engaging quietly wasn’t an option.

I opened and entered a tower door on one side of the castle. The stairs led upward. I climbed, taking out undead sitting on the steps one by one.

At the very top, there was a locked door. After confirming no presence near the door, I sliced it with my greatsword. The diagonally cut door fell with a thud.

The room had nothing but a bed—it was practically a prison cell. She stood in front of the barred window, wearing a stained dress. Without turning around, she spoke.

“Did you come here to kill me?”

“No. I’m here to save you, Lady Polaris.”

She turned around. Despite her disheveled appearance, her calm eyes betrayed her noble bearing. Her brown hair framed her face.

“…Are you a paladin?”

“I’m a Paladin.”

I removed my helmet to show the emblem on my armor. A duke’s daughter would’ve been educated in all sorts of knowledge—there was no way she wouldn’t recognize the insignia of a Paladin.

“I’ve heard rumors of a new Paladin appearing in Valentier. So it’s you.”

“That’s right.”

“I never thought you’d come to rescue me after half a year… What happened to the Astail Dukedom?”

She asked tensely.

“Still intact.”

“Huh? W-what do you mean still intact? If they were fine, my father wouldn’t have left me abandoned like this!”

“It’s *too* intact—that’s the problem. A demon stole your face and voice and has been impersonating you. The Astail family doesn’t even know you’re missing.”

“…”

For a moment, despair crossed her face. But soon enough, anger replaced it.

“How dare some demon mock our house… I will never forgive this! Paladin, please take me back to my house—I’ll reward you handsomely.”

“Not now.”

I explained the current situation of Saloth Castle to her. Smart as she was, she groaned upon hearing my words.

“—So they’re performing a Great Demon resurrection ritual… They kept me because of the ritual, huh.”

“To them, you—a Paladin lineage and a Lady—are the ultimate sacrifice.”

“The ‘ultimate sacrifice’ thing sounds pretty bad…”

She frowned. Regardless, I continued speaking.

“You were captured while transporting the Holy Spear. That spear is needed.”

“The Holy Spear Lotis, a family treasure. Only direct descendants can use it.”

“I’m a Paladin.”

“…Is that so? Paladins can use the Holy Spear too? That’s news to me. While I can’t give it to you, I can lend it. But right now, I don’t have it—the demons took it.”

“And I know where it is. Your job is to undo its seal.”

“The seal too… You seem to know quite a lot, Paladin.”

Her wariness toward me deepened.

My patience was wearing thin. Time was critical; we didn’t have time for idle chatter.

“As long as you don’t interfere, feel free to doubt or be wary of me. As long as you don’t interfere.”

I turned away from her.

“Let’s go. We don’t have time.”