Chapter 1484

<Chapter 1484> 1484. Paladin: A Journey of Evil Annihilation

We were descending the tower.

Saloth Castle was getting busier. Looks like they found remnants of the undead and fallen ones’ corpses. They hadn’t detected my presence yet—just more on edge.

I quickened my pace down the stairs. All I need is the Holy Blade, then this game’s over.

“Wait! Slow down a bit!”

Princess Polaris, who was following me, panted as she called out. I sighed and stopped. I get it—our physical differences—but still, the frustration lingers.

After a moment, she descended, drenched in sweat. Behind her, something pale shot out—a ghost. Without hesitation, I swung my sword at it.

“AAAAHHHHH!”

The ghost screamed and vanished. Thankfully, its scream stayed within the staircase and didn’t reach outside.

“…”

Polaris’s face turned pale.

“Why so shaken? You’ve seen ghosts before, right? Scared of a mere scream?”

“…I thought you were trying to kill me.”

“You’re not a fallen one. No reason to kill you. Unless… you’re a heretic consorting with demons?”

“Absolutely not! Take that back! That’s an insult!”

“I take it back. Stop whining and follow. I’ll slow down from now on. If you want to live, stay behind me.”

We exited the tower. Corrupted ones and undead were bustling about, mostly heading toward Saloth Castle’s entrance. The corrupted ones shouted:

“Damn it! The Holy Knights are coming to the gate! Move, you corpse bastards! Faster! Why are these tireless bastards so sluggish?”

“Prepare weapons!”

“The Demon Lords command it! Die defending the entrance! Hold your ground!”

The Holy Knights and Inquisitors outside noticed the commotion, drawing attention. Thanks to them, we could move freely. I led Polaris to the castle’s underground.

A corrupted one was removing weapons from the underground storage, likely arming the undead.

I approached silently from behind, covering their mouth with my left hand while plunging my sword into them. One less corrupted one.

I checked Polaris’s state. If she can’t handle this, things will get annoying later. She remained calm, staring coldly at the dead corrupted one. Her faith seemed stronger than I expected. We moved further underground.

The deeper we went, the more corrupted ones and undead appeared. I killed them as I advanced, no longer sneaking like with the first one. This deep, their screams wouldn’t reach the surface.

‘Kill them all. Each one is experience.’

I hunted down even those hiding in corners.

“…”

Polaris stared at me, disapproving.

“Something to say?”

“…Didn’t we have a hurry? Don’t understand why you’re wasting movement for nothing.”


No matter how urgent it is, demons and heretics must be exterminated. They have no reason to exist in this world. Or what? Are you saying we should show mercy to these creatures? Are you a heretic?”

She pressed her sword against the girl’s throat. Shocked, the girl took a step back.

“No, no way! There’s no chance I’m a heretic! The Paladin is right! Demons and heretics are bugs that eat away at this world! They all need to die! Hail Lady Herianne! Hail the Church! Hail the Paladins!”

“Sorry about that. For a moment, I doubted your faith.”

She lowered her sword, and the girl let out a sigh of relief.

“You… you really intended to kill me, didn’t you?”

“Heresy is punished by death.”

“…Didn’t you want to break the seal on the Holy Spear?”

“I know how to break it.”

Lady Polaris shivered. Clutching herself as if trying to steady her trembling body, she looked at me with eyes full of fear.

“If I die, my father won’t just sit there and do nothing.”

“Duke Astel doesn’t even know you’re here, let alone that you’re dead. And besides… if the daughter is a heretic, there’s a good chance the father might be one too. If you’re a heretic, I’ll question your family later.”

“…”

Lady Polaris closed her mouth tightly.

It was a vast space. Corrupt energies gathered here. At the center stood a spear embedded upside-down into the ground. It resembled a gray statue.

“What… what is that thing?”

Lady Polaris pointed toward the Holy Spear Rotis. Strange symbols and human corpses were scattered around it like a magical circle.

“Don’t tell me you can’t see? It’s the work of demon lackeys.”

“I get that much. But what’s the purpose behind all this…?”

“Isn’t it obvious? They want to destroy the Holy Spear. Just its existence in this world bothers them.”

“Do you really think the Holy Spear can be broken? It cannot be shattered.”

“There’s no such thing as absolute in this world.”

I stepped onto the magic circle.

Immediately, resistance came. Impure energy surged toward me from the Holy Spear, attempting to consume me.

“Holy Aura!”

A divine light erupted from within me. Golden energy clashed with the crimson corrupt energy, neutralizing it. Despite the immense pressure bearing down on me, I approached the Holy Spear.

I grasped the Holy Spear. Its stone-like form returned to its original pristine white state. However, since the seal was still intact, it was currently nothing more than an ordinary spear. Infusing holy aura into the tip, I swung it. A storm of sacred energy swept through, eradicating all impurities.

‘Hmm, the Holy Aura briefly amplified. Even sealed, the Holy Spear remains the Holy Spear.’

I walked over to Lady Polaris and extended the Holy Spear to her.

“Break the seal.”

“Alright.”

She pulled a dagger from her robes. It was something she’d picked up along the way. Gripping the blade tightly with her left hand, blood began to flow from her palm. She sprinkled her blood onto the blade of the Holy Spear.

The Holy Spear started to shine brilliantly. The seal had been undone.

“So it feeds on blood to break the seal. Feels more like a cursed weapon than a holy one.”

“…It’s a precaution so others outside our family don’t misuse the Holy Spear. Besides, the Holy Spear is picky about who wields it… but seeing how obedient it’s being, it seems to recognize you, Paladin.”

“Even if it’s the Holy Spear, it’s ultimately a creation of the Goddess’s power. I am a Paladin blessed by the Goddess. Follow me. We’re heading upstairs.”

“What’s next?”

“We open the entrance to Saloth Castle. Knights and Inquisitors will arrive. You wait outside with the knights until the battle ends.”

“Yeah, understood. Though… you probably already know this, but the Holy Spear’s power isn’t infinite.”

Holy Spear Rotis.

It operates on the concept of accumulating and releasing power.

Right now, Rotis has been storing power for a very long time—roughly over 200 years. Although the Astel family used it occasionally, the massive amount of stored power shows no signs of depletion.

“There’s no time to hesitate. Let’s go.”

And so, together with her…


I ascended upward.

The moment I arrived on the ground, the enemies’ gazes turned toward me. It was because of the Holy Lance. Emitting dazzling light and divine power, its presence was impossible to ignore.

“That… that armor! A Paladin! A Paladin of Valentinier!”

“The Paladin wields the Holy Lance!”

“Where are our Demon Lords?! Demon Lords, please lend us your aid!”

“Undead! Attack the Paladin immediately! Hurry!”

I summoned my Holy Aura. The Holy Aura reacted with the Holy Lance. Feeling the sacred force embedded in the spearhead, I swung the lance toward the enemies.

A massive wave of energy swept through them. Dozens of undead and dozens of fallen ones were instantly wiped out.

“Not bad at all.”

Eliminating every visible foe, I headed toward the entrance. I manipulated the mechanism to open the castle gates.

“The castle gates are opening!”

“The Paladin has opened the way!”

“Charge! Annihilate the evil ones!!”

Knights of the Order and Inquisitors stormed into the castle, rushing toward the undead and the fallen ones. While the undead fought to the end, the fallen ones panicked and began to flee. The relentless Inquisitors chased after them and killed them.

I called over two nearby knights.

“The Lady Polaris has been captured by demons. Escape the castle and protect her.”

“We shall follow the Paladin’s orders!”

With that, Lady Polaris’s safety was secured. There was no doubt that House Astail now owed me a favor. Firmly gripping the Holy Lance, I made my way toward the center of the castle, ordering the knights to deal with the scattered enemies throughout the fortress.

The corridor leading to the Grand Hall was soaked in blood—a clear sign that the Great Demon resurrection ritual was proceeding successfully. I felt relieved.

‘I wondered if I had arrived too early… but fortunately, everything is going according to plan.’

My goal was to kill the Great Demon. To do so, the Great Demon first needed to be resurrected.

‘The ritual must succeed.’

All events were unfolding exactly as I had planned.

Arriving at the entrance of the Grand Hall, an unholy and malevolent aura emanated from the doors. With great effort, I pushed open the massive doors.

It was a damp place. At its center stood an altar surrounded by countless human corpses. More than ten demons gathered around it. They noticed me but continued focusing on the ritual. One of the demons climbed onto the altar.

“Lord Suthon! I offer this being to thee! UAAAAAAAAAAH!”

The demon tore out its own heart and placed it on the altar. The demon’s heart and body began to burn. The surrounding demons bowed their heads and started muttering something.

“Stop your futile actions right now, you filthy bastards!”

I shouted, spreading my Holy Aura. The demons flinched but did not halt the ritual.

“Tsk. Looks like we have an uninvited guest. As you can see, these gentlemen are quite busy conducting the ritual. Paladin of Valentinier, allow me to entertain you.”

A man cloaked in black robes approached me. He held a staff adorned with a skull.

“Barbaroyax! Demon who betrayed humanity! How dare you show your face before me!”

“Betrayal? I’ve never been on humanity’s side. Not everyone who is human believes in the Goddess Heryanne, you know. And certainly, I’m not on your side either.”

“Selling your soul to a demon and still acting so proud. Have you no shame?”

“I didn’t sell my soul. I evolved.”

“Evolved? What a joke. That’s nothing but corruption. And the end of corruption is death. I’ll kill you, and then I’ll slaughter all the demons behind you.”

“It seems there’s no reasoning with you. Paladin, let me kill you to celebrate Lord Suthon’s resurrection.”

Crack.

Barbaroyax struck the floor with his staff.

Suddenly, the space where Barbaroyax and I stood began to tremble.

The scenery changed.

A red sky, pitch-black earth.

Barbaroyax smiled faintly as he looked at me.

“Welcome to the Plains of Death.”

The ground heaved, and thousands of undead began to rise.