We passed through the ruins and cut across the forest.
After walking for quite some time, I began to see the tall, silvery world trees in the distance.
It was just then.
Sseuaeek—
Bang!
From the sky, a blinding white sword struck down like a bolt of lightning.
And it landed right in front of my nose.
“W-What the! An attack?!”
“Saint! Are you alright?!”
The knights surrounded me and watched all directions vigilantly.
I brushed them aside and stared at the sword.
“This is… the White Ghost, isn’t it?”
The sword that had crashed down as if to split me in half—it was none other than the infamous White Ghost.
“How could that appear in front of the Saint…?”
The Lord of Ord and the Temple Knights frowned in disbelief.
And so did I.
I had thought the White Ghost would have rotted away inside Kalgos’s stomach.
But for it to come flying here like this…
Did someone retrieve it from his belly and throw it over here?
“That doesn’t make sense.”
Crack.
I drew out the White Ghost and inspected the radiant, snowy blade from every angle.
It’s white.
Truly, nothing but white.
So white that the name White Ghost almost felt meaningless—the peculiar madness or the visage of a spirit that the sword was known for showed no sign of appearing.
Something was off.
“For now, let’s take a short break. The soldiers must be exhausted as well.”
I requested a halt to the march and closed my eyes.
The fact that the White Ghost had come flying here surely meant something had happened to Kalgos’s corpse.
This was not something that could be dismissed as a mere mishap.
***
Divine Sight.
Immediately, I shifted my point of view to where the body was.
The knights assigned to guard duty all wore faces of confusion and bewilderment.
I also spotted a soldier approaching, likely to report the situation to the commander.
“What on earth happened?”
I turned my gaze to the corpse.
Kalgos’s body, encased in light, was slowly shrinking.
It looked just like a balloon deflating.
But there was no foul plague energy leaking out.
The light sealing him showed no sign of failure.
“I’ll have to keep watching closely.”
Ssshhhh—
As a precaution, I reinforced the light barrier around him even more firmly.
Even now, it was unpleasant enough; the White Ghost that had been in Kalgos’s stomach left me with an uncomfortable feeling in itself.
I couldn’t just carry it around like nothing happened, so I thoroughly wrapped it in divine power for the time being.
After a brief commotion, things settled down, and we began our march anew.
“Yaaaaah!”
Only after returning safely to Riot Castle did we finally let out the triumphant cheer we’d been suppressing.
The hundred or so defenders who had remained at Riot Castle to protect it welcomed us, tears welling in their eyes.
“Saint. What is the situation on your side…?”
“…The plague was not just suppressed, but completely eradicated.”
Of course, after I reported the strange incident with Kalgos to the Lord of Ord, he remained on guard.
I, too, checked on Kalgos from time to time with Divine Sight.
And just recently—
That massive body of his had vanished without a trace.
The Lord of Ord’s face grew dark at the news.
“We’ll need to increase the guards. No telling what might happen.”
A few days later, the hundred-strong garrison at the castle departed for Polin Castle.
In the meantime, I had finished the purification of the Magical Armor Corps.
“Ho. What a sight.”
The thousand Magical Armor Corps lined up along the ramparts gave off such a menacing presence that anyone who saw them would feel their power.
Each was the equal of an intermediate to advanced knight.
It was as if we had gained the combined strength of five knight orders at once.
Even I, along with the leaders, couldn’t help but smile in satisfaction.
Then, one day.
The messenger who had set out bearing news of our victory returned.
It was a true homecoming, accompanied by wagons loaded with wine and meat.
“Whoa!”
The soldiers, grinning from ear to ear, rushed to the wagons to help unload the supplies.
As I watched their boyish excitement with amusement, someone approached and gave a deep bow.
It was a royal noble who had accompanied the messenger from Riot Castle.
He kept bowing and, for a while, showered us with words of gratitude.
“…Therefore, if Saint Richard and the other heroes of Baren would honor us by attending the royal banquet prepared by the Baren Royal Family, we would be most grateful!”
In short, the royal family was inviting us to a banquet.
Truly, a grand royal invitation.
***
Richard’s body lay buried in the cold earth.
The man who’d been grimacing in sleep suddenly sprang up.
“Haah. Another nightmare.”
Lately, nightmares plagued him almost every other night.
A crimson giant standing tall in an endless darkness.
The image of Kalgos kept appearing in his dreams.
“Damn that bastard, even in death he’s causing trouble…”
Grinding his teeth, Richard’s gaze shifted to a wooden box in the corner of his room.
The wooden box in which the White Ghost was stored.
He’d even wrapped the box in light just in case, but he couldn’t shake the hollow feeling.
Richard was not afraid of Kalgos.
He wasn’t weak enough to have nightmares just from facing that fiend.
There was no reason for him to fall into a mental abyss, but something heavy and oppressive pressed on his chest.
Ssshhh—
With a distinctly displeased look, he summoned his faith.
Only then did his mood improve a little, and Richard looked out the window.
Dawn was breaking across the sky.
“Status Window.”
[Hor] [Intermediate Divinity]
》 [Church Level – 3]
ㅁ Devotee – 91,531
ㅁ Faith – 84,637,550
ㅁ Authority – [Devotee Appointment] [Receiving Prayer] [Divine Sight] [Divine Revelation] [Law]
ㅁ Unlocked Positions – [Lowest-Ranked Evangelist] 50/500, [Lowest-Ranked Paladin] 260/300, [Lowest-Ranked Priest] 43/200, [Low-Ranked Evangelist] 5/50, [Low-Ranked Paladin] 21/30, [Low-Ranked Priest] 7/20, [Intermediate Evangelist] 0/5, [Intermediate Paladin] 2/3, [Intermediate Priest] 0/2
A greatly changed Status Window floated before Richard’s eyes.
“From now on…”
Richard grinned, raising the corners of his mouth.
After the desperate battle with Kalgos, in which he’d achieved the divine advancement he’d so long desired, this Status Window was now a treasure worth more than gold.
“Intermediate… so this is what it means to be intermediate.”
Many things had changed, but what he looked at most carefully was the Intermediate Paladin position.
He had already looked into Intermediate Paladins on his return journey.
The ones who had advanced were Aaron and Moritz.
These two, once rivals in constant competition, had ended up advancing together amicably.
More than anything, they’d gained a new specialty.
Resonance.
That was the power that would allow the Temple Knights to fully display their true capabilities.
Thanks to those two, the other devotees in various positions would likely be able to play even greater roles.
“And the new authority is…”
Law.
Norms defined in the name of the god.
In truth, Law was an essential aspect of the Hor Church.
Richard nodded as he organized his thoughts.
“When we go to the royal capital this time, even more will change.”
The journey to the capital was scheduled for three days later.
Those accompanying Richard would be Sig and all of the Temple Knights 1st Division.
“Our true enemy is the Wizard. Just because the Plague War is over doesn’t mean we can completely let our guard down.”
The Lord of Ord and the knights of Baren, for some reason, refused to go to the capital.
They said they would remain here and fulfill their duties as castle defenders.
And so, as the sun that had risen set once more—
He accepted the royal family’s goodwill by hosting a simple meat party at the barracks.
“Wow! This is great!”
Even just a mug of beer and a few chunks of meat had the men chattering with excitement.
Knights and soldiers, allies and reinforcements—
Everyone mingled as equals, clinking their mugs together like old comrades.
“For Hor!”
“For Baren!”
For Richard, sitting down late to join them, it was a truly heartwarming sight.
“Hey, little brother.”
Just then, Sig approached as if he’d been waiting for this moment.
“After we visit the capital, I plan to return home right away.”
He raised his beer mug as he continued.
“It was quite an experience. Spending time with you, Moritz, and the men of this castle.”
“If you enjoyed it so much, why not just stay here? You won’t get bored for a while, at least.”
“Haha, do you really think you could sway this big brother with a line like that?”
Richard chuckled.
He swallowed the comment that Sig had almost been drawn over to the Hor Church.
Sig’s decision to return home meant he’d made up his mind in his own way.
“I do believe in Hor’s existence. I have no choice, after witnessing several miracles.”
With a flourish, Sig gulped down his beer.
“Still… I will become the head of the Bartenberg family. Everything I want to do, I intend to achieve with my own strength. I know what deal you made with Father.”
That was Sig’s conviction.
Just like Ludwig and Vallach.
“Right. I’ll support you.”
The two brothers clinked beer mugs.
Before long, Sig pulled Richard into a tight hug.
“I’m proud of you, you brat. So proud!”
“W-What’s gotten into you all of a sudden?”
“As your big brother, how could I not be delighted seeing my little brother turn out so splendidly! The arrogant brats from the Marks Family don’t even dare lift their heads!”
Richard, clearly uncomfortable, tried to pry him off.
But the strength of the Great Bartenberg’s next heir was formidable.
“Looks like I’m saying my farewells in advance, but take care of Moritz for me. He may not look it, but he’s got a soft heart, so Father worries more about him than you.”
“Hey, would you let go—”
“I’m serious, you hear! Taking care of him doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice yourself. You both need to live well! If you say otherwise again, I’ll—!”
Richard understood.
Sig, who was hugging and shaking him right now, was drunk.
Even after just a few sips of beer.
“Haah… geez…”
Richard looked around for help.
But everyone else’s attention was focused in one direction.
“Hahaha! I am Intermediate Paladin, Moritz Bartenberg!”
“Intermediate Paladin, Aaron Meyer, at your service!”
Radiant light shimmered around the two proud men.
Having advanced to the intermediate rank, their divine power now shone even more brilliantly.
“Ah, those drunkards…”
The god could only sigh.
***
Three tumultuous days after the meat party.
Richard’s party set out for the capital.
At each territory they passed, they received a hero’s welcome.
The Heroes of Baren!
In some territories, the townspeople followed after Richard’s party, chanting Hor’s name.
Especially Richard, from whose whole body light seemed to radiate—he attracted the most attention.
Unfortunately, that attention continued even in the dead of night.
『 Kheh! Khehheh… Father… Father…!』
The wooden box opened on its own.
Inside, the blade of the White Ghost floated into the air.
Soon, the gleaming white blade became tinged with a murky black.
『 Damn you, Father! Weak, pathetic Father!!』
A ghostly visage appeared on the blade.
The Red Plague Giant, Kalgos.
He looked down at his father with a cruel smile.
“Ugh…”
Richard, asleep, flinched.
The more he did, the more ecstasy shone in Kalgos’s eyes.
『Why, Father?!』
『Tch, are you even dreaming of me?』
Madness poured from the blade, enveloping Richard.
To a Saint, such a force was nothing.
But it was enough to give him nightmares.
『Ah! Wonderful!!』
『Even better than when I swallowed you whole!』
For Kalgos, now trapped within the sword, these moments were his only pleasure.
A defenseless father!
The power to torment that father!
『Die in your dreams, Father.!』
Brrrr—
The blade of the White Ghost trembled.
But that, too, was only for a moment.
“You damn wretch…”
When had it started?
Richard’s eyes snapped open, icy blue.
And his face twisted fiercely.