Dark Fantasy Paladin

Dark Fantasy Paladin Chapter 9

Episode 9.

Archbishop Tegain was not a figure who remained greatly in Aiden’s memories.

Although he is one of the leaders of the moderate faction and holds a key position within the Holy See, he does not interact directly with users.

In conclusion, he was a character who did not have much influence on the story. He wasn’t even a villain.

From the denomination’s perspective, it can be interpreted as a good deed that is faithful to its duty.

He’s in secret with the Demon God Cult?

The characters’ behavior was slightly different from what was expected. However, the nature itself did not change. At least so far.

If a good person were to turn into a villain, it would be not only difficult but dizzying.

‘please.’

The person who had been causing Iden trouble for the past week was right in front of me.

“Lord Iden, I still have something left to say…”

“I’m sorry.”

I feel sorry for Yuriel, but the conversation had to be postponed until later.

Aiden got up from his seat and headed toward the entrance of the chapel.

The area around the archbishop was crowded with people. Aiden slipped into the crowd and said hello to him.

“See you Archbishop.”

Tegain was a fairly young man for his status. Middle-aged person. His short hair and wide eyes gave him a rather strong impression.

“Who are you?”

A knight whispered something into Tegain’s ear. The archbishop nodded as if he finally understood.

“I didn’t know of a hero like this. I apologize. “This is Archbishop Tegain of the main office.”

In the past, he was someone you couldn’t get close to. A holy family with the right to succeed to the Pope. The Tega people were a privileged class who ruled the Holy Empire.

“I am Paladin Iden. “It is an honor to meet you.”

“What are you talking about? This is truly an honor. I have heard your story many times. “You have a lot to contribute in this case too, right?”

“This is too much praise. “Everything was possible with the support of the church.”

Tegain burst into laughter.

“haha! There’s no need to dress up. The church has done nothing for you. That’s why you and the interrogator worked hard. “It’s great.”

Aiden looked at his expression closely. I thought that if all of those appearances were acting, I would be a very difficult opponent.

“Yeah, that’s right. Is there anything else I need to see? Even if it’s not like that, let’s get to know each other and have a cup of tea with me. After the investiture ceremony. “What do you think?”

I also expected that Tegain would come up with such a proposal first.

The premise was that Tegain was Forel’s superior.

He’ll wonder if Forel gave away his name. They might try to leave Iden under the pretext of having a cup of tea.

Iden also thought about having a chat with him for now.

This was because he was an untouchable opponent right now, and securing evidence by moving secretly was a distant task.

Iden had so much to do.

“All right. “After the investiture ceremony, I will go to the archbishop’s office.”

“good. I’m going to hear the story of heroism directly from you. “Look forward to it.”

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Aiden bowed to the grinning archbishop and left the main chapel.

I felt Uriel’s gaze stinging behind me, but I tried to ignore it.

*

Aiden did not attend the investiture ceremony.

The investiture of a saint was one of the most sacred rituals of the empire and the imperial kingdom, and as such, it took a great deal of time.

The empire’s dignitaries and feudal lords were still passing through the gates of Arheim, and the drawbridge was crowded with pilgrims and merchants.

Festive atmosphere. It was as if the Holy Kingdom was a world away from this world.

It was quite different from the outskirts of the empire that Iden had wandered around during his time as an apprentice knight. Those places were indescribably cruel.

I have seen residents living like livestock in a village that has been turned into a devil’s farm, and I have witnessed terrible atrocities committed by a lord who was beguiled by the devil.

It wasn’t just the devil that was the problem.

People starving to death due to the great famine, slash-and-burn farmers wandering after losing their hometowns, and bands of bandits who degenerate to survive.

The inside is so rotten and rusty that they insist on an expedition.

Iden could not help but agree with the statement that the true enemy is within.

The expedition discussion had to end quickly. Valuable human resources called Holy Knights were stuck idle in the Holy Empire.

‘Shit.’

I shouldn’t have blended into the atmosphere of this place.

“Take it easy.”

Iden was concentrating on training in the garden of Xerath’s residence while the investiture ceremony was in progress.

In front of Aiden, a man was tied to a wooden pole, naked.

He was Forel’s subordinate.

A training scarecrow that Xerath brought to Aiden to help him with his fire flame training.

“Isn’t the killing intent soaring? The author castrated boys and exploited the sex of girls under Forel. “I heard that he enjoyed killing his parents in front of his children.”

The scarecrow cried out for help. It was hard to hear because I was gagged.

Iden thought back to the moment when the flames were transferred to Forel and the necromancer.

I thought I had to kill him. However, it was not an idea born of extreme hatred or a grand cause of judging sinners.

It seemed like I had the wrong focus.

“······Master, I don’t think my fire flame will ignite in this way.”

Xerath nodded slowly.

“The flame burns when God sympathizes with the believer’s conviction. In my case, it was both judgment and salvation. “Yours is hard to understand.”

When Iden thought about it, his flames seemed to be burning towards the target who was trying to undermine his planned ending.

If that were the case, there was no way to practice. All I had to do was learn how to use it in practice.

A bad criminal tied up in front of Iden?

He definitely deserves to die. Regardless, whether he lives or dies has no influence on Iden’s plans.

Aiden let out a low sigh.

It had the highest level of power that was classified as unique in its worldview, but it was very difficult to handle.

A fire that burns until the target dies. It would be a great help if I could fully understand it, but the future seemed a little distant.

Iden looked up at the sky. The sun and the moon coexisted. The investiture ceremony was almost over.

Iden drew his sword and walked towards the scarecrow.

“Please wait. He doesn’t deserve to be saved yet. “I was no help to you, so I will have to pay the full price in this life.”

After saying that, Xerath called Euron, who was doing strength training behind him.

Euron came running, drenched in sweat.

“Yes, Interrogator. “Did you call me?”

“Wouldn’t it be better if the more a seed knows how to do?”

“That is a reasonable statement. But…”

Xerath pointed to the tied scarecrow.

“I’ll tell you various things, so grab your bags and follow me. There will definitely be times when you need it. Even if Iden looks like that, he’s a bad person like this.”

Euron and Xerath headed to the basement, and Iden went to the archbishop’s office in the main office.

*

Iden glanced at the military service medals and honorary badges neatly displayed in the corner of Tegain’s office.

These were awards he earned while serving as an imperial officer in his youth.

“Haha, I’m a little embarrassed to show it to you, but they are my only pride.”

“no. These are things that are well worth it. “I understand that you contributed greatly to the extermination of barbarians.”

Until a few days ago, Iden had no idea about Tegain’s past history or its detailed settings.

I wasn’t even paying attention until this man’s name came out of Forel’s mouth.

That was why Aiden studied him so hard for a week.

As more information was filled in, Iden became more suspicious.

Why on earth are people like this?

He had everything. Bloodline status power honor. If such a person’s motivation was such that he would make a deal with the Demon God Cult, there was no way it could have ended with greed.

He was a person who could cause great harm to future developments.

This meeting was to gauge Tegain.

Iden had no intention of mentioning Forel or the matter of the Demon Cult.

The archbishop sat at the head table and handed over a teacup. His expression became a little more serious.

“I know why you came to see me.”

For a moment, Iden wondered what would happen if he killed the archbishop right now.

Tegain spoke immediately.

“Forel is not a great man who can withstand interrogation. My name would have come out, but they covered it up. Why? “I guess you have other thoughts.”

Iden looked him straight in the face.

“Are you confessing?”

As soon as he finished speaking, something came up behind Aiden.

It was an article hidden somewhere in the office.

Aiden tensed his nerves. The moment I heard the sound of the sword being drawn, I was thinking of breaking the neck of someone standing behind me and smashing the archbishop’s head.

Tegain shouted.

“Durelle! “Did you forget my order not to come forward?”

“······sorry. “Because Sir Iden’s mood is unusual.”

Iden glared at the archbishop like a wild beast.

“I can kill you before he draws his sword.”

The Archbishop nodded knowingly.

“There was no intention to provoke you. I apologize. “I just wish you would listen to what I have to say.”

Tegain nodded to the knight. The knight approached Iden.

“Forgive my rudeness. However, I have a duty to protect my master. “If the Lord shows hostility, I have no choice but to draw my sword.”

Iden tried his best to contain his excitement. If we kill the Archbishop here, a lot of things will go wrong.

First, I had to listen to what he was trying to say.

“Say it. “I will not respect you until you are cleared of the charges.”

“I will accept it.”

Tegain clasped his hands and slowly opened his mouth.

“As you know, the Demon God Cult is rapidly expanding its influence. “Not to mention the outskirts of the continent that we cannot reach, they invade the country and cause problems.”

Iden was also conscious of that. It made no sense for the Demon Cult commanding the Dark Warriors to be roaming around the empire at this time.

“so?”

“We have started an investigation. “We secretly formed an investigation team and tracked the movements of the Demon God Cult.”

“That’s strange. “If it was a matter related to the Demon God Cult, the church itself moved in secret because even its full efforts would not be enough?”

“Why do you think we haven’t been able to exterminate them for two hundred years?”

“This is because the information power of the Demon God Church reaches all the way to the leadership of the empire and the church. Plus, they have no substance.”

“That is my answer to your question.”

Tegain was keenly aware of the reason why the church repeatedly failed in its subjugation. A fight that never ends as long as the enemy remains inside. In other words, Tegain’s investigation team was a group that even the church leadership did not know about.

I still can’t believe everything he says, but Iden seemed to see a faint glimmer of hope.

This is because Tegain’s actions were originally the user’s role.

“Then why did your name come out of Forel’s mouth?”

“Out of the list of apostates identified during the investigation, we selected those whose motives for apostasy were shabby and whose intelligence was low compared to their status.”

That was Forel.

“He slowly approached Forel and showed his willingness to deal with the Demon God Cult. Just here. “Afterwards, you intervened and arrested Forell.”

He tried to infiltrate the Demon God Church directly and act as a Ganja. Archbishop jumping with his feet. Iden felt that the character of Tegain was a bit unique.

Of course, everything he said might have been an outright lie. I’ll have to check it out.

“Do you have any evidence to prove what you say?”

“A record of the past few years. The investigation team that moved under me. A document that identifies the apostates. Finally, God is watching me.”

“These are all things that can be manipulated.”

“If you don’t believe me, you can arrest me. However, there must be a reason why you covered up the incident. My guess is that you don’t want the expedition to be aborted? “If I am arrested and investigated, the expedition cannot be stopped.”

Iden felt relieved. It was because of the hope that among the high-ranking priests there might be a capable person with a clear mind.

The congestion I had been suffering from for the past few days was gradually going down.

“I will send all documented evidence to the Inquisitor’s private residence. “If what I say turns out to be true, will you be able to grant me one favor?”

If the archbishop was cleared of the charges, it was not a request but an order.

Tegain took out a map and placed it on the table. The place where the tip of his index finger was pointing was a place that Iden was familiar with.

Grandel Ancient Tomb. It was a huge tomb where ancient warriors were buried.

“At first, I thought it was just a plan to commandeer the souls sleeping there. Of course, that is also a problem.”

Tegain’s face darkened.

“It was a bigger problem. It seems that the Demon God Church is planning to sacrifice all of the numerous heroic spirits in the ancient tomb. The children they have kidnapped and collected over the years will be sacrificed as a bonus.”

Aiden’s expression also distorted.

“Can you guess what will be summoned?”