Chapter 1490

<Chapter 1490> 1490. Paladin: The Journey of Evil Annihilation

The fallen ones have revealed their true nature all at once.

They’ve admitted they can’t deceive my eyes any longer. Like receiving some kind of command, the fallen charged at me to kill, while the uncorrupted paladins and priests began attacking the corrupted.

As I slew the charging fallen ones, I assessed the situation.

Less than 10% of the paladins and priests have fallen. However, shockingly, over 80% of the nuns are corrupted.

“Destroy the fallen!”

“For Lady Herianne!”

Paladins mercilessly swung their swords at the fallen.

I beheaded a nun who was pretending to still be human until the very end.

Nuns.

The women from the church who prove their faith through the strictest discipline. Ironically, it’s these very disciplined lives that make them the easiest to fall. Their extreme discipline makes them overly pure.

And nothing is easier to defile than untainted purity.

“AAAAAHHHHH!”

A nun who had been pretending to still be human screamed and revealed her true form. The fallen one crawled on all fours and lunged toward me in an instant. I instinctively unleashed a kick. The fallen leapt into the air, swinging sharp claws at me.

Her claws couldn’t even scratch my armor. Calmly, I grabbed her head with my left hand and crushed it.

Continuing the… no, carrying out the work. With every swing of my sword, a fallen one dies. For those trying to flee, I threw whatever was nearby—swords or corpses.

The situation was soon under control.

The paladins steadied their roughened breathing, and the priests prayed for the dead. The nuns looked confused, unable to fully grasp what had happened. It made sense—they thought most of their companions were still allies.

One paladin approached me.

“…Oh Paladin. I still cannot believe there are so many fallen ones within the Vatican.”

“Do you seek an explanation from me?”

“This is the Vatican, protected by the sacred barrier of relics. Never has the Vatican allowed a single demon to infiltrate. I assumed, Paladin, that you might know the reason behind this calamity.”

Not just the paladin but everyone here turned their gaze toward me.

It wouldn’t be wise to simply say I noticed something off because of the holy aura. That’s not the answer they’re looking for.

“There exists a demon who delights in playing with humans.”

“All demons do that.”

“Among them, there is one particularly malevolent demon. A demon that deceives humans and sows chaos within human society. Once, due to its whisperings, an entire city fell. Humans lost their faith and turned their swords against each other because of this demon’s schemes.”

“…You speak of the city of Galteks. That incident involved the Great Demon Arias… Could it be? Has Arias interfered with the Vatican?!”

“Arias has form, yet is also a great formless demon. It has seeped into…”


“There is no demon capable other than Arias.”

At the mention of the Great Demon’s name, everyone tensed up. Even they acknowledged the severity of the situation.

“…Then where is Arias right now?”

“Arias’ ability is possession. Arias corrupts humans by possessing them and turning their power into their own. If you were Arias, who would you possess?”

“…The Pope? Has His Holiness been possessed by Arias?! That’s absurd! The Pope is under the blessing of Lady Herianne!”

“Arias is a Great Demon.”

“……”

In this world, the fame of the Great Demon was immense. The name alone was enough to make paladins and priests tremble. Of course, it made sense. The Great Demon was an immortal being that had tormented humanity for thousands of years.

“I will kill the Great Demon Arias.”

“…We shall follow the Paladin.”

At that moment, the messenger approached me.

“My lord Paladin! What about requesting aid from paladins in other regions? With the use of the Return Stone, we could receive support immediately!”

“If we can contact the paladins in other regions… then it might be possible.”

“We can establish contact using divine law.”

“It won’t work. Arias already knows the current situation. They’ll interfere with any communication through magic.”

“Huh?”

I turned around.

Through the open entrance, the outer city came into view. Black smoke was rising from various places in the outer city.

“You didn’t think Arias’ influence only reached the inner castle, did you? The heretics hiding in the outer city have begun to run rampant.”

“This can’t be… My lord Paladin, what should we do?!”

The holy knight gasped in shock, gripping the hilt of their sword tightly. They looked ready to charge out to the outer city at any moment, but the Great Demon Arias was still lurking in the inner castle. And there were likely heretics hidden throughout the inner castle as well.

“Trust the holy knights and priests in the outer city. You must find and eliminate the heretics hiding within the inner castle. I will… punish Arias.”

“As you command, my lord Paladin.”

I entrusted all the minor matters to them. Without needing detailed orders from me, they gathered together to devise a strategy.

I walked forward. Down the long corridor, the place was spotless, adorned with magnificent sculptures on the walls. Sunlight streamed in warmly through the windows, creating an outwardly peaceful atmosphere.

Clang clang.

The sound of armor clinking was accompanied by someone’s laughter.

*Hehehehehehe*

The light-hearted laughter of a woman clung to me like glue. There was something decadent about the voice, overtly tempting me.

My vision began to warp. The scenery before me distorted, the ground rippling like a lake. But the sensation under my feet remained unchanged.

This is an illusion. Arias is messing with me.

‘If I had absolute spirit, I wouldn’t have fallen for such illusions.’

Divine spirit isn’t entirely useless, though. Minor curses don’t affect me at all, and my mind itself remains intact. Though the illusion plays tricks on my eyes, my spirit stays clear.

-The goddess gives you nothing in return.

-Even if you kill demons for the goddess, she will merely remain silent.

-Wouldn’t you like to become emperor?

-I’ll make you an emperor. I’ll make every human kneel before you.

-With that power, you can live forever. Become immortal like us and live eternally. You have the qualifications.

“Shut up, Arias.”

-Amazing.

-A spirit unshaken in the slightest truly sets the standard for a holy knight.

-But you’re human.

-I can feel it. Despite your strong willpower suppressing it… that intense desire you can never fully erase.

-Don’t restrain your desires.

-Why should you restrain your desires? Aren’t they part of what you truly want?

-Accept your desires. When those desires are fulfilled, you’ll gain—


The joy that exists is far more pleasant than you think.

“Tsk. Your words fail to shake my mind and spirit. I’m aware of your attachment to the Pope. Prepare for death as he arrives soon.”

*Evil laughter*

“Frightened?”

“Planning to kill the Pope?”

“The Pope is the most revered human to you all, yet you’ll still kill him?”

“The Pope succumbed to desires, accepting gold from nobles, indulging in lavish feasts every meal.”

“Wearing soft, warm clothes, raping nuns every night.”

“You can do it too.”

“I’ll let you do it.”

“You just need to unleash your inner desires.”

“Blab all you want. The outcome won’t change anyway.”

My vision wavers. The hallucinations grow stronger.

Women appear.

Naked women. Their cackling laughter pierces my ears.

They’re everywhere in the corridor, each with different allure. Some flaunt their legs, others shamelessly tempt with exposed breasts. There are shy ones and seductive ones licking their lips at me.

Women thrusting their butts, spreading their vaginas, beckoning me with gestures. I ignore them all and keep walking forward.

A sweet scent fills my nose. Is this the smell of flesh? It’s a scent that stirs a man’s heart.

Of course, this is merely an illusion.

“This is your hidden desire.”

“There’s a massive lust within you. You’ve been restraining it with strong willpower.”

“Truly impressive mental strength.”

“Isn’t it hard to endure?”

“Don’t hold back. Your happiness awaits right here.”

At the end, I see the Pope’s luxurious room.

The Holy Eye reveals to me that a Great Demon lies within.

The women lined up on the corridor walls start moving, clinging to my body despite my armor. I can vividly feel their soft skin. My male body reacts to their touch.

I swing my arms to shake them off. Useless. They’re mere illusions after all.

There’s nothing to do but walk straight ahead, ignoring them.

The closer I get to the door, the more explicit their seductions become. Plump breasts wrap around my shoulders, secret areas rub against my thighs.

The door nears.

The women begin disappearing one by one. By the time I reach the door, not a single woman remains. Aria’s voice is also silent.

I push the door with all my might.

Bang!

The door opens.

It’s a grand hall. At the end sits a middle-aged man with a kind face.

Surrounded by over ten naked nuns sprawled around him. The floor is soaked with blood flowing from the nuns. Their vaginas are torn apart, abdomens ripped open.

Pope Haines holds the entrails of nuns in both hands. His kind-looking face is covered in blood and chunks of organs.

“Oh! Paladin of Valenthia! Good of you to come. I was having dinner. Would you like to join me?”

Haines speaks in a friendly tone.

I raise the Holy Sword of Valenthia.

“You’ve fallen as far as you could. Die!”

I swing my sword. A golden energy blade flies toward Haines. He raises his palm and a golden barrier blocks my attack.

“I haven’t fallen. See? Am I not using holy power? If I had fallen, I wouldn’t be able to use holy power.”

“Think I don’t know you’re using magic to fake holy power? Arias, Demon of Deception! I know your abilities!”

Haines smiles and stands up.

“You’re clever. But you’re too dangerous. You must die here.”