Paladin of the Dead God

Inside the tent, the various representatives of the Issacrea Dawn Army had quickly gathered. They had already been on edge due to the visit of the Inquisitors. And now, word had spread that Isaac had beaten up one of them, leaving everyone visibly shocked.

Yet, amidst the tension, there was an undeniable air of mirth.

The paladins from the Codex of Light side seemed especially amused. Among them, Rottenhammer was grinning from ear to ear.

“That’s our commander!”

The news of Isaac assaulting an Inquisitor had shocked Rottenhammer, but he couldn’t hide his delight.

Isaac felt somewhat bewildered by how much more elated Rottenhammer was compared to others like Elil and the World’s Forge, but he understood the sentiment.

Unlike Elil and World’s Forge, who had long severed ties with the Inquisition out of disgust, the paladins and priests from the Codex of Light had only recently escaped their torment. Those who had grown disillusioned with the church and joined the Issacrea Dawn Army had suffered the most under the Inquisition’s scrutiny.

However, while the amusement was genuine, the reality remained grim. Rottenhammer, as much as he loathed the Inquisitors, was also well aware of the disasters they could bring.

“Well, I’ll admit, it was satisfying to see those lunatic crows get what they deserve, but… what do we do now? You must have had a plan when you beat him, right?”

Isaac answered calmly.

Rottenhammer laughed, thinking it was a joke, but when Isaac didn’t continue, his smile vanished. His eyes darkened with a more feral edge.

“No plan? In that case, should I go chase them down and finish them off? They can’t have gone far yet.”

Isaac wondered if this was something a faithful paladin of the Codex of Light should be saying. When had Rottenhammer become so… corrupted?

Isaac shook his head.

“They’ve already reported everything to their superiors through their ‘ravens.’ Killing them now won’t change the fact that the church has already dispatched someone to keep us in check.”

“Someone to keep us in check?”

“Dera Heman.”

A heavy silence fell over the tent.

Dera Heman wasn’t a widely known figure outside the Codex of Light. His primary role was defending the holy city, Lichthaim, which meant he rarely made public appearances.

But those gathered here were experts in their fields. They all understood what it meant if Dera Heman was coming.

Tuhalin confirmed it with a question.

“Dera Heman… isn’t he essentially the Pope’s bodyguard? He’s coming here?”

“Technically, his role is to defend Lichthaim. But since the Pope is involved in the Dawn Army’s efforts, his role might have shifted.”

The fact that the man who guarded the Pope was being sent to oversee the Issacrea Dawn Army indicated how much of a threat the church considered them.

In other words, whether Isaac had beaten up Soltnar or not, the result would have been the same. And if given the choice, Isaac would still have chosen to punch Soltnar.

“So, what do we do now? Are we going to fight the Golden Lion Paladins?”

Rottenhammer asked, his tone growing more serious.

This was no small matter. Fighting the Golden Lion Paladins was on an entirely different level than just beating up a single Inquisitor. Of course, the fact that Isaac had thrown the papal decree to the ground was also a problem, though no one was willing to mention that right now.

“Whatever happens, Elil’s Sword will stand by the Holy Grail Knight. We didn’t come here to follow the Codex of Light’s clergy—we came because we believe in you, Sir Isaac. Even if the Pope sends an angel instead of an Inquisitor, that won’t change.”

Edelred spoke first in a solemn tone. Despite his young appearance, his words carried significant weight. And as Lianne and the other knights nodded in agreement, it became clear that they shared his resolve.

“So you’re saying you don’t mind fighting the Codex of Light, huh?”

Tuhalin smirked as he asked, and Edelred returned the smile.

“Don’t you know, old man? Elil has spilled more blood from Codex of Light followers than any other faith.”

For warriors who sought honor on the battlefield, the identity of the enemy didn’t matter much. After all, centuries ago, they had waged war against countless other faiths.

Edelred’s answer made Tuhalin burst out laughing. He slammed his hammer to the ground with a loud thud and declared:

“Good! My heart’s fire won’t burn any less fiercely than Elil’s. Even if the Golden Lion Paladins show up, we’ll just smash their heads in and keep moving forward!”

The two heretical factions had made their decision easily. After all, their home nations were across the sea, so they didn’t face any immediate consequences.

The problem lay with the Issacrea Paladin Order, whose home base was still under the influence of the Codex of Light. If things went wrong, they could be branded as heretics. This was why Rottenhammer hesitated to respond.

But Isaac understood Rottenhammer’s hesitation all too well. The mere fact that such a loyal follower of the church was wavering showed how deeply troubled he was. And yet, Isaac had no intention of dragging them into a full-on war with the Codex of Light.

“I appreciate your support, but I don’t intend to wage war against the Codex of Light.”

“What?”

Rottenhammer asked, clearly taken aback.

“What do you mean? Are you planning to surrender?”

“Our enemy remains the same: Holy Land Lua and the Immortal Order that resides there.”

Isaac hadn’t forgotten the main goal. Holy Land Lua had to be reclaimed, not only to achieve victory but also to prevent direct intervention from the angels.

To use an extreme example, even if Isaac destroyed the entire Codex of Light clergy, took the throne, and executed the Pope, as long as he reclaimed Holy Land Lua, the Lighthouse Keeper wouldn’t stop him.

The Codex of Light’s victory condition was singularly focused on reclaiming Holy Land Lua.

Isaac had concluded that the church’s current interference was more driven by its own politics than by angelic influence. Reclaiming Holy Land Lua remained his primary goal as well.

“We can’t afford to fight amongst ourselves if we’re to reclaim Holy Land Lua.”

“…Of course. But those bastards aren’t going to leave us alone!”

Rottenhammer exclaimed, frustrated.

“So, what exactly are you planning? If you’re thinking of surrendering, you’ll be the first Dawn Army leader to face mutiny.”

Rottenhammer and Tuhalin quickly expressed their concerns. Isaac appreciated their loyalty, but if the Issacrea Dawn Army was to avoid being entangled in this matter, Isaac himself had to resolve it.

Isaac turned his gaze toward the sea and mentioned the hint Soltnar had dropped.

“Over there, there’s a monastery where Kalsen Miller’s Milishar Paladins once resided. It’s said a historic duel took place there.”

Everyone’s gaze followed Isaac’s toward the sea.