Chapter 43: White Knight (2)

「Rise and fight! Today, we will protect our home! Our sanctuary…!」

Jeanne d’Arc’s clear voice echoed thunderously throughout the battlefield.

Then, a spark flickered in the eyes of the staggering Rivera soldiers.

“He descended from the heavens! Riding an Asura Beetle…!”

“Surely, she must be the Saintess blessed by God!”

“God and the Saintess are with us!”

“Fight! Defend Rivera!”

Like a dying ember rekindled in an instant,

the morale of the Rivera army soared anew with the arrival of the Saintess, Jeanne d’Arc.

Soon, the Knights and soldiers straightened their stances, weapons in hand.

The Deputy Commander, who had been staring blankly at Jeanne d’Arc, clutched his side and knelt down.

“Ughh…”

It seemed the wound on his side was quite severe.

Jeanne d’Arc pulled out Medicasol Ointment from her waist and applied it to his injury.

Ssssss—!

As the white ointment seeped into the wound, the bleeding stopped instantly, and the wound began to close.

Witnessing this unbelievable miracle, the Deputy Commander blinked his eyes wide open.

“W-What is this…?”

“It’s a miraculous medicine sent down by God. It heals all wounds completely.”

Jeanne d’Arc explained calmly.

With a trembling voice, the Deputy Commander asked,

“I have scorned and insulted you countless times, calling you a mere farmer’s daughter. Why would you give such a precious medicine to someone like me?”

Jeanne’s answer was simple.

“Because there was someone injured and collapsed before me.”

…!

The Deputy Commander bowed his head deeply, then began mercilessly striking his own face with his fists.

Startled, Jeanne d’Arc tried to stop him, but he lowered his head so far it almost touched the ground and shouted,

“Foolish and stubborn! Not recognizing the Saintess! For my disrespect, I am truly sorry!”

It seemed he could not forgive himself, recalling all the atrocities he had committed against Jeanne d’Arc.

The contrast between Jeanne’s generous nature and his narrow-mindedness was unbearable.

Yet, his nature was honest and upright, and he immediately acknowledged his faults and apologized.

‘…Still, beating your own face? What a muscle idiot.’

Jeanne d’Arc smiled gently and helped the Deputy Commander to his feet.

“I have already forgiven you. Now, please stand up quickly. This is the time to fight!

Only together can we protect Rivera!”

“Ugh… How can you be so kind and resolute! I didn’t know…!”

Moved beyond words, tears welled up in the Deputy Commander’s eyes.

But only for a moment.

Returning to his resolute expression, he turned to the Knights and shouted,

“Rivera Knights! From now on, we will assist the Saintess and eradicate the monsters! Are you ready?!”

“Yes, Deputy Commander!”

Drawing his sword bravely, the Deputy Commander led the charge.

Following him, the Knights began attacking the Goblins fearlessly.

“…Then I’ll start supporting fire as well.”

I smiled slyly, holding a Mini Fan in my left hand and Chikchiki Spray in my right.

My remaining Divine Power hovered around 200 points.

“Today’s Creator Living Points! It’s far more efficient to use items to defeat each enemy rather than brute force!”

Pressing the strong wind button on the Mini Fan,

Whoooosh~!

The fan blades spun fiercely, and a powerful gust of wind swept over the Goblin army.

“What is this? Suddenly the wind is blowing!”

“This is a typhoon! Scary stuff!”

“I’m flying awayyyy!”

“Don’t catch me! You’ll send me flying toooo!”

“Goblin goblin goblin goblin~!”

Goblins toppled under the wind, were swept away by its currents, or tripped over each other and flew through the air.

In an instant, the Goblin army’s formation fell into utter chaos.

“…Alright, now I’ll switch from the fan to Chikchiki Spray on this side.”

I sprayed the Chikchiki Spray toward the Goblins in the opposite direction.

Chik-chik-chik!

“It burns! Too spicy!”

“Ah! It got into my mouth! Ah! I’m dying!”

“It stings! My eyes! Nose! Mouth! Aaaaaah!”

“Goblin goblin! My body’s on fire!”

The Goblins rubbed their faces incessantly, tears, snot, and drool streaming down.

‘It’s natural chemical warfare water made with wasabi, Cheongyang chili powder, pepper, and even vinegar.’

But something had been bothering me since earlier.

The bandits attacking the Goblin rear weren’t quite up to the task.

Not only were they not fighting diligently, but they were lazily swinging their weapons, merely trying to intimidate the Goblins from approaching.

Holding the Chikchiki Spray above the bandit leader’s head, I spoke quietly.

“If you’re not going to do anything, then you’re just half-assing it. You want to end up like those guys?”

Startled, the bandits glanced at the Goblins being ‘tortured’ by the Mini Fan and chemical warfare water.

Perhaps haunted by past nightmares, they shook their heads vigorously.

At that moment, someone shouted, as if protesting unfairly.

“L-Lord! I’ve been fighting hard since earlier!”

Checking the source of the voice, I saw the bandit chief fiercely swinging twin axes and knocking down Goblins.

Sure enough, the area around the bandit chief was littered with fallen Goblins.

He lifted a Goblin high and then shouted loudly to his subordinates.

“Hey, you bastards! You’re making me look bad because you’re not doing your job right! The chief himself is fighting with both arms rolled up! And you’re just sitting around? Wanna taste these twin axes?!”

Startled by the chief’s roar, the bandits raised their weapons.

Finally, they charged toward the Goblins.

Grinning, the bandit chief bowed politely, then swung his twin axes and charged again.

Meanwhile, the Rivera soldiers cheered, pointing at the Mini Fan and Chikchiki Spray.

“God is working miracles!”

“It’s God! God is fighting alongside us!”

“Let’s teach those Goblins a lesson!”

“Chop ‘em down!”

Meanwhile, Jeanne d’Arc moved straight toward the leader of the Goblin army—the Goblin Lord.

As Jeanne d’Arc approached steadily, the Goblin Lord trembled, sweat beading his brow.

“…Ugh, ugh?!”

A noble knight clad in pure white armor, descending from the sky on an Asura Beetle.

Moreover, a gentle radiance constantly emanated from the pure white armor.

Frowning, the Goblin Lord pulled out a glass bottle from his pocket and hurled it violently.

“Take this, you ugly human!”

Crash! Ssshhh—!

Black, murky corrosive solution burst out of the shattered bottle and drenched Jeanne d’Arc.

The Goblin Lord sneered cruelly, raising the corners of his lips.

“Kya ha ha ha! Humans are so dumb! No matter how good your armor or weapons, if they get hit by this, it’s all over…

Oh, no…?!”

Contrary to his boastful claim, not a single scratch appeared on Jeanne d’Arc’s pure white armor.

Looking closely, the filthy corrosive solution was purified and vanished without a trace just before touching the titanium armor.

Flustered, the Goblin Lord threw several more glass bottles in quick succession.

Clang! Clang!

Jeanne d’Arc blocked all the corrosive solution with her titanium shield.

Her pure white shield showed no signs of damage.

‘…Titanium is inherently a corrosion-resistant material.’

Combined with the Blessing of the Creator, it seemed to gain the ability to purify filth.

Growling with frustration, the Goblin Lord drew out a grotesque sawblade sword.

Screeeeeek~!

With an unpleasant sound, the sawblade sword rushed at Jeanne d’Arc.

But—

Thud!

The sawblade sword was blocked by the pure white shield and bounced off uselessly.

Seizing the moment, the Goblin Lord swung a hidden dagger in his other hand.

Whoosh—

Jeanne d’Arc smoothly twisted her waist to dodge the attack.

At the same time, using the momentum, she spun swiftly.

Smash!

Jeanne’s spinning kick landed cleanly on the Goblin Lord’s side.

“Ghk, ugh…!”

Groaning in pain, clutching his ribs, the Goblin Lord staggered.

Jeanne d’Arc’s blue eyes sparkled as she raised the pure white Twin Dragon Sword high.

At that moment—

“Protect the Goblin Lord!”

“…Human! You’re full of holes!”

Two Goblins suddenly lunged at Jeanne d’Arc from behind.

But—

Thwack! Thwuuush~!

“Kyaaaaak~!”

“Gyaaah!”

Afungi charged like the wind, sending the Goblins flying far away.

Jeanne d’Arc stood back-to-back with Afungi and whispered quietly.

“…Thank you. I’ll leave my back to you.”

“Gruk! Gruk~!”

Afungi snorted fiercely, as if to say, “Leave it to me.”

Soon, the surrounding Goblins began flying through the air mercilessly.

Meanwhile, the Goblin Lord, having barely regained his composure, gritted his teeth and shouted.

“How dare a weak human kick me? …I will kill you! I’ll tear you apart painfully!”

Swinging the swords in both hands wildly, the Goblin Lord charged at Jeanne d’Arc.

At the same time, Jeanne d’Arc pushed off the ground and swung her sword.

Chaaang! Chaaang—!

Like a flash of silver lightning, Jeanne d’Arc’s sword strikes raged like a storm.

The Goblin Lord barely managed to parry the blows.

Then—

Chaaang~!

A dazzling white flash grazed past the Goblin Lord.

With it came a clear, sharp tone resonating across the battlefield.

Clang! Clang!

The Goblin Lord’s weapon split neatly in two along a clean cut.

“Impossible…!”

As Jeanne d’Arc slowly sheathed her pure white Hwandō,

…Thud!

The Goblin Lord, who had commanded hundreds of Goblins, finally collapsed to the ground.