Chapter 1480

<Chapter 1480> 1480. Paladin: The Journey of Evil Annihilation

We arrived at the witch’s house deep within the forest.

The witch’s house was ordinary—just a regular wooden house you’d see anywhere.

I turned around with the witch’s house in front of me. Hans was drenched in sweat, breathing heavily, his face ashen. He looked like he could drop dead from a heart attack any second, all thanks to the continuous ghostly screams we heard on our way here.

“I’ll confront the witch head-on. You ambush her from behind.”

“…Understood. At the right moment, I will plunge this dagger into the witch’s back.”

Hans, knowing his condition wasn’t good enough for a frontal fight, nodded and hid himself in the woods.

“Hmm, they said you were a hunter-turned-mercenary… Your skill in stealth is impressive.”

At this level, there’s no way Hans would be detected by the witch.

I boldly approached the witch’s house, tightly clenched my left fist, and slammed it against the wooden door. The door flew backward, smashing the table inside. Things on the table fell and shattered, turning the witch’s home into chaos in an instant.

“WHO DARES?!”

A witch with fiery red hair burst out from the room. The witch, dressed in black, was strikingly beautiful.

Her flawless white skin and sharp features—any man would call her gorgeous.

And her figure? Oh, what a sight. Her body-hugging black dress revealed every alluring curve: a slender waist and voluptuous hips.

Truly, the kind of physique that drives men wild.

But I won’t fall for her tricks.

KIIIING!

I activated my Sacred Aura. Demon energy swirled violently around her.

The witch, who had been wearing a venomous expression, saw me and burst into giggles.

“You! You’re the new Paladin of Valentinier, aren’t you?! Hahaha! So the rumors about you coming to kill me are true!”

“Witch Helen. In the name of Goddess Herianne, I shall punish thee.”

“Paladin? You’ve only held that title for a month! I’ve lived three times your lifespan! I made a pact with demons and obtained eternal youth. If I kill you and offer your corpse to the Great Demon… ah! Just imagining it gets me wet down there. How about it? Want to join me in bed?”

“Filthy wench! Go roll around in hell with monsters!”

“Hahaha! There’s no such thing as hell, and you know it better than anyone! We just wander this world after death—or get eaten by demons!”

“My soul will be taken by Goddess Herianne. Die, witch!”

[Accelerate activated. Duration: 10 minutes. Remaining stacks: 6]

Gripping the hilt of my sword with both hands, I charged at the witch using Sprint and Accelerate. BOOM BOOM BOOM! My heavy footsteps echoed three times as I reached the witch and swung my golden divine sword.

KABOOM!

A loud explosion resounded.

My body was sent flying backward, rolling across the ground outside the cabin.

‘Air Blast! Was that magic? If I hadn’t worn armor, that could’ve been dangerous.’

I quickly jumped up and swung my sword again. A golden blade of energy sliced through the wooden cabin and flew toward the witch.

The witch covered her mouth with the back of her hand and giggled. The energy blade…


Just as the witch’s face began to show signs of strain, I grinned beneath my helmet. She may have been floating smugly in the air, her broomstick spinning with each cackle, but every deflected projectile and canceled spell was costing her. The weight of my holy aura still hung heavy in the air, disrupting her magic.

“Kee hee hee… what are you planning?” she sneered, though her voice wavered just slightly. Her once-perfect makeup was starting to smear, her hair losing its careful styling as sweat formed on her brow.

With a roar, I hurled another chunk of debris – this time a shattered table leg – followed by a rapid succession of objects. Each one forced her shields to flicker, each flicker draining more of her energy. Her laughter turned shrill, then desperate.

“Oh? Trying to wear me down? How quaint!” she screeched, though her trembling hands betrayed her words. “You paladins are all the same – so predictable!”

But predictability has its merits. Step by step, I closed the distance, timing my movements between her increasingly sluggish spells. The monsters she summoned earlier lay scattered around me, their twisted forms silent testament to my resolve.

Then it happened – the briefest moment when her guard faltered. Just long enough for me to launch myself forward, my greatsword held high…

The witch’s eyes widened impossibly as I soared toward her, propelled not by wings but sheer momentum. Her broomstick wobbled precariously as she tried – and failed – to maintain her balance against my charge.

“You insolent…” she gasped, raising a trembling hand that couldn’t summon even a spark now.

This battle… was almost over.


The laughter had completely vanished. The witch pointed at me with her finger. Invisible bullets of air were fired in my direction. Relying on my combat instincts, I dodged the air bullets. Even if one managed to hit, my armor would withstand it at least once.

Kicking off the ground, I charged toward the witch. As I reached the precarious distance using a double jump, the witch panicked and ascended even higher.

My sword narrowly missed her ankle.

With a thud, I landed on the ground and let out a small groan. The weight of the armor was not working in my favor.

‘I confirmed that the magic protecting the witch is gone.’

The witch raised her hand. A fierce wind began swirling around her palm. It was so intense it was visible to the naked eye. Getting hit by that now would surely result in instant death.

‘But I have a skill prepared for moments like this. Holy Light.’

A sacred light descended from Heaven, striking the witch.

Her body ignited upon contact with the holy light. However, its power wasn’t strong enough to finish her off instantly.

“AAAAAAAHHHHHHH!”

Screaming in agony, the witch fell to the ground. During her descent, she used magic to maximize the distance between us. It was both a wise decision and a desperate attempt, but I wasn’t the only one here.

“Die, witch!! Revenge for Bill, Dora, and Julia!!”

Hans thrust the dagger I gave him down onto the witch. Puck puck puck! The dagger didn’t stop moving. The witch’s screams gradually diminished.

I approached Hans.

“Khuh… Bill… Dora… Julia…!”

“Stand aside, Hans.”

“Paladin-sama! I… I killed the witch! I’ve avenged them!”

“The witch isn’t human. Don’t let your guard down and step aside. We need to make sure she’s finished. Let me handle it with my holy blade… Hans!”

The witch’s arm grabbed Hans by the head and pulled him close. His head was buried into her chest… no, absorbed.

[Using Instant (刹那). Remaining stacks: 5]

Using Instant, I leaped directly and slashed her head off with my holy blade. Her soul screamed as it clung to me. My body wavered. Clenching my teeth, I endured. Her soul was far more powerful than any demon or fallen ones I’ve slain before.

“Paladin-sama! My body… something’s wrong with my body!”

Hans’s body was trembling. His skin was decaying, and veins wriggled like worms. His face was filled with terror. I aimed my greatsword at him.

“It’s the witch’s curse. You’re succumbing to corruption. You probably have three minutes at most.”

“…If corrupted, they say you won’t recognize your family. Is that true?”

“You’ll recognize them. Your memory won’t fade. But you’ll see humans as less than livestock. Corruption affects not just your body but also your mind.”

“…I can feel the changes. Hatred for the witch is fading. I can feel my love for my family disappearing. Paladin-sama, please… end me. I want to die as a human… as a father.”

“There’s still time. Is there anything you wish to leave behind?”

“No. My family and friends are no longer in this world.”

“O Goddess, have mercy on this poor soul.”

I beheaded Hans. His head rolled across the ground. The corruption-induced decay continued. I crushed his head underfoot.

‘It’s over.’

Just as I turned around, the witch’s corpse rose with grotesque puppet-like movements.

Creeeak!

Her body split in half. The intestines mutilated by the dagger fused together, forming a mouth-like shape.

I immediately understood what was happening. This was the doing of the demon contracted to the witch.

“Paladin of Valenthier! That Lord of yours will fall….”

I swung my greatsword, imbued with divine energy, cutting through the witch’s corpse.

“Silence. Both you and your master will die by my hand. Wait quietly for your day of judgment.”

“Hahaha. So arrogant….”

Puck!

I kicked the talking corpse. It collided with a tree and exploded.