Paladin of the Dead God
chapter-58

Raela’s whispers continued, reinforcing her manipulation.

“The Lord is far too noble and significant. There’s no one but you who can protect this beautiful domain from the clutches of those malevolent forces.”

Kyle felt her words becoming more plausible.

His downfall was due to the machinations of wicked people. Being entangled in their schemes meant losing the domain to their strategies.

Thus, protecting the domain was synonymous with standing against evil.

It wasn’t about dodging financial responsibilities!

“You must stand against this conspiracy, my Lord. If you, standing at the forefront of the Gerthonia Empire, succumb to this scheme, the Codex of Light will lose its luminance, and order will dissolve.”

“Is it… Is it up to me to act?”

“Yes. You, who dare to confront these dark times and the vile plots, might well be the saint of our era! Stand at the forefront against this malevolent horde and crush the enemy!”

“No, that’s a bit… terrifying.”

Kyle wasn’t the heroic type, to put it mildly. More accurately, he was a coward.

He was known for his hesitation, missing crucial moments for decisive action. His only proactive venture into the Loracus investment ended disastrously.

And true to his nature, Kyle wasn’t easily swayed by Raela’s temptations.

“But isn’t it uncertain whether Reinhardt has really invaded? If he were serious, he’d have brought more soldiers and siege equipment. Plus, it’s planting season. For Reinhardt’s agriculture-based domain, now’s a critical time. If there’s to be war, it would need to conclude swiftly, yet he doesn’t seem prepared for that. We’ve agreed to negotiate until tomorrow, so let’s wait and see.”

Raela’s lips twitched slightly.

After muttering something inaudible for a while, she quietly lowered her head.

“As you wish, my Lord.”

***

“This worthless man only gets sharp when he doesn’t want to make a decision. Oh, to think that such an indecisive fool would waste so much of my time here. It’s maddening.”

Raela paced back and forth in her room, muttering incessantly. The black knight, summoned by her call, listened silently to her venting.

“The previous lord was too clever, so I had him killed, but who knew his successor would be too dumb to manipulate. Just when I figured out how to coax him, it turns out it takes an age for him to decide anything. Damn it.”

“Why not use drugs to addict him or control his mind?”

The black knight, unable to stand by silently, spoke up.

At his words, Raela whipped around.

“Are you suggesting deceit and conspiracy in front of me? In front of the angel of the Red Chalice, the one who turned the entire Kyle Monastery into a banquet hall, the prophet of the Red flesh?”

The knight hastily bowed his head. It was a foolish suggestion. Deception and conspiracy are the first tactics chosen by the Red Chalice. Among them, a celestial being like the prophet of the Red Flesh, considered a true angel, would possess near-omnipotent power and wisdom compared to mere mortals.

But was the woman before him truly the prophet of the Red Flesh? The knight harbored a trace of doubt. Yet, as if to forbid even that doubt, Raela suddenly gripped the visor of the knight’s helmet.

In that instant, the knight’s mind was filled with visions of hell.

Or rather, it was a live feed from the Red Chalice’s version of heaven.

In the afterlife of the Red Chalice, there’s no distinction between heaven and hell. It’s merely a matter of who’s the guest and who’s on the table. The knight easily found himself on the table in his vision.

After a moment, having peered into the knight’s mind filled with fear and guilt, Raela withdrew her hand.

The knight collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath.

Raela, without even glancing at him, murmured,

“I’m conducting operations simultaneously in numerous locations besides here. Just as the Codex of Light, the world’s Forge, Elil, the Immortal Order, the Golden Idol, the Council of Salt, and the Olkan code are all significant. Since the Red Chalice entrusted me with worldly affairs, I can’t neglect any area.”

“I, I apologize…”

“To uncover the secret hidden by the former lord, Kyle’s mind must remain intact. Damaging it would leave us with nothing. Though whether his current state of intelligence is ‘intact’ is questionable.”

Raela scoffed sarcastically.

“Keeping control of this domain until then might be challenging. Forget about that foolish man. But you met the Holy Grail Knight? Did you find Hesabel?”

“Yes. I found it.”

The Black Knight was among the knights dispatched to find Isaac. It wasn’t hard to find Hesabel. After all, a beauty wearing attire that covered her entire body even in broad daylight and a deeply hooded cloak was hard to miss.

“Seeing you alive, it seems you really did betray us.”

“Yes. I tried to cause a disturbance using trolls, and from what I heard in their conversation, it seemed they were loyal to the Grail Knight. The Grail Knight seemed oddly wary, so I couldn’t directly interrogate them.”

“Ha, loyalty.”

Raela muttered as if it was amusing.

“A vampire who can’t live in the sun is loyal to a paladin of the light? If it were a serious deception rather than loyalty, I might actually believe it. If it’s acting good enough to deceive a paladin, it deserves recognition.”

Raela actually considered the possibility. Maybe Hesabel was feigning loyalty to deceive Isaac and win his trust.

But she could feel the faith. Hesabel’s faith was directed not towards the Red Chalice but somewhere unexpected.

“That Grail Knight must be out of his mind. I don’t know why he keeps the successor of the Gulmar family close… but anyway, he’s not important in the grand scheme of things.”

Raela muttered, looking down at the village below the valley.

“Bring me the neck of a lost kitten. I want to hear directly from its mouth what excuses it will meow.”

***

“This damned kid.”

The next day at lunch, Reinhardt muttered as he saw Bexter enter the inn’s restaurant. Everyone there heard the curse, but it was clear that the curse was directed not at Bexter but at Kyle.

Bexter silently walked in and bowed deeply to Reinhardt. Reinhardt slammed his sword with its sheath onto the ground and snapped back.

“So, is Lord Kyle Hendrak still unwell?”

“His body has always been frail…”

“With that annoying face, he’s good at clinging to lies. Sir Bexter. Isn’t it tiring to babysit a child?”

“I merely serve my lord.”

Reinhardt clicked his tongue at the calm response. The Imperial Knights’ firm loyalty seemed to persist even after retiring and serving other superiors. The respect Reinhardt showed to Bexter also stemmed from this irritating loyalty.

“So, you came to talk on his behalf?”

“Yes.”

“The situation doesn’t look good, Sir Bexter.”

Reinhardt was displeased with how angry the nobles of the capital were, even involving high-ranking figures of the Light’s Scripture, and even the Brandt ducal family had sold out their name… He added these details to scare him.

It was a long and drawn-out threat but not something that could be ended with simple intimidation.

“I came here because this might be the last chance to settle things moderately, Sir Bexter.”

Reinhardt murmured, looking even older.

“Do you know what’s being said now? I’m also a victim of Lord Hendrak, they said they’d give me a big share if I handle it. It would be more moderately settled that way. What do you think it means?”

“If it’s not settled, you’re considering hiring mercenaries, I suppose.”

“Right. The war experts will take action. What will become of this domain after they ravage it? What if the bishop decides to conduct a heresy trial here? I stepped in before seeing that happen.”

In the end, Reinhardt was there to collect a debt. But he was also the only person who could settle things most moderately. The worse Kyle entrenched himself in the castle, the worse the situation would get.

“You might lose the domain. Might have to settle the castle or other assets. The name of Hendrak domain might be all that’s left. But wouldn’t I create a stepping stone for a comeback? How much do I owe to the previous lord?”

“Thank you for your thoughtful words.”

But Bexter only answered quietly.

Just as Reinhardt was about to get angry at his calm demeanor, Bexter spoke.

“I’m also trying my best within what I can do.”

Reinhardt paused.

“Trying your best, you say?”

“Yes. So, even if only for a while, I hope you can avoid any situations that might lead to a fight. The current situation is not good, and even a small fight could escalate into a big one. Please give us a chance to resolve the issues within the domain.”

Reinhardt, having known Bexter for a while, twitched his lips upon hearing him speak so lengthily for the first time. He referred to the situation as “domain matters”. It wasn’t about people coming from outside causing trouble, but rather something happening within the domain itself.

Reinhardt sighed deeply, leaning on his waist. After a moment of silence, he opened his mouth as if he had no choice.

“Two days… I’ll give you two days. In two days, an investigation team will arrive. There’s a rumor that an inquisitor sent by Bishop Pinchet is among them. Find a way to resolve this before then.”

“Thank you.”

Bexter bowed deeply in gratitude.

Reinhardt, looking even more tired, went upstairs. Isaac, who had been quietly observing the meeting, wondered what exactly was going on.

Then, his eyes met with Bexter’s. Bexter approached Isaac with determined steps.

“Are you Grail Knight Isaac?”

“Um? Yes, that’s me.”

Bexter looked around and then whispered.

“May I speak with you in private?”

***

Isaac and Bexter headed to the inn’s backyard.

Isaac didn’t know why Bexter had asked for a conversation but imagined him suddenly picking a fight.

Perhaps saying something like, “You seem capable, let’s see your skills,” or “You might become an enemy, so d*e now!”

Such trivial thoughts.

They were just thoughts sparked by curiosity.

‘He seems quite strong.’

Judging by his aura, he seemed slightly less or comparable to Gebel. Isaac had never seen someone who wasn’t a holy knight but still this strong. The talk about him being an agent of the Imperial Knights wasn’t just for show.

Though retired due to age, he seemed stronger than all seven of the Hendrake knights combined.

“This place seems good.”

Bexter stopped under a tree. It was a spot where no one else could listen in or hide. Once Bexter confirmed they were alone, he went straight to the point.

“I’ll ask you directly. Has Hesabel Gulmar defected to you, Grail Knight?”

Isaac couldn’t help but be surprised by the unexpected name. He never thought there would be another who knew of Hesabel Gulmar’s identity.

“The rumors that the heir of the Gulmar family has become a dog of Yukhar in Seor have already spread quite a bit. Naturally, I regarded it as mere rumors, but the circumstances seemed suspicious. Then I saw a face matching the wanted posters beside you, Grail Knight. May I inquire about the situation?”

To think that someone would recognize Hesabel as soon as she was taken in as a companion. Isaac felt a serious dilemma about whether it was right to accept Hesabel.

He had taken her in, confident that her identity wouldn’t be discovered, and also because he thought she was too valuable a talent to waste. But if her identity was so easily exposed, it might have been better to keep her at a distance.

Isaac debated whether to deny it or pretend ignorance, but then he recalled what Bexter had said.

Only then did Isaac know what he had to say.

“Yes.”

Isaac spoke confidently.

“The follower of the Red Chalice Club, the heir to the ducal family of Gulmar, Hesabel Gulmar, has witnessed the glory of the Codex of Light in Seor and has been converted. She is now my servant.”

A story of an originally evil heretic being converted upon meeting a holy knight.

How common, yet magnificent and beautiful is that?