Chapter 74: Lower Deity (1)

“Waaah—!”

This was both a victorious cheer and a roar filled with the accumulated resentment and exhaustion of countless hardships.

We did it.

The Knights shouted with all their might, so that the comrades who had died and ascended to the heavens could hear them.

Then, their shouts soon turned into a song.

“Light the Lamp in the Darkness.”

“Hurry, light the Lamp.”

Those who had been staring up at the pitch-black sky lowered their gazes.

Among the grotesque heaps of corpses lay comrades, their necks broken.

“Someone save those brothers.”

“Brothers, why do you sleep so deeply?”

“Quickly, see the light of the Lamp.”

The voices were so dull.

Yet the song they sang sounded louder than any shout.

“After the dark night passes—”

“A sun like the Lamp rises.”

“Brothers, why do you sleep so deeply?”

Snap.

At some point, the song stopped.

The final verse had someone to sing it.

The Knights looked toward Richard.

Richard’s eyes twitched.

Singing a song all of a sudden?

Yet despite his inner hesitation, his lips were already opening.

In the faces of the men looking to him, he saw faith.

They believed that if Richard the Saint sang, the dead comrades could depart in peace.

[Brothers, you are already asleep.]

[Those eyes can no longer repay their debts.]

[Please, feel even the slightest warmth with your entire body.]

Suddenly, a brilliant light arose and covered everything.

Neither the Knights gazing at him, nor the countless corpses sprawled on the ground were left out.

It was a crude but heartfelt farewell and comfort from Richard.

“…Your singing skill is better than I thought.”

When the song ended, a Knight casually let out a sneeze.

His eyes were wide with astonishment—it seemed he was impressed by Richard’s singing.

“Of course, not better than us though.”

“Nice song, but it lacks fighting spirit.”

“Fool! Singing is fighting spirit. Hmph!”

The Knights, having shed their serious demeanors, began to banter.

If they didn’t do that, it was obvious they would completely collapse from exhaustion.

“Get these bodies cleared out immediately!”

Under Richard’s sharp voice and the commanders’ orders, the cleanup of the battlefield began.

They gathered the arrows that had been mercilessly fired, and collected the bodies and weapons of the fallen soldiers.

Flare—

Bright red flames zoomed in front of the fallen Polin Castle.

The Knights surrounding it quietly looked at their comrades engulfed in the fire.

Among them, a few shed the tears they had been holding back while listening to the Choir’s song.

“Richard. Look over there…”

As everyone’s gaze gathered on the flames, Moritz spoke to Richard with a pale, shocked face.

His finger pointed toward Polin Castle.

“Don’t tell me. I already know.”

But Richard forced silence upon Moritz.

That was a disaster no one could stop, even if they knew about it.

The curse of the Plague Lord’s subordinate corps commander, the Red Plague Giant Kalgos.

That horrific thing had descended upon Polin Castle.

Since the fiend had briefly shown itself, the inevitable followed.

Crack, crack—

The remains of the fortress trembled.

Between the stones that once formed the castle walls, red, gleaming flesh was swelling.

It was spreading.

***

Though the war was over, the Demonic Energy did not fade easily.

Polin Castle and its surroundings had already become a land of death, and the Demon King’s Demonic Energy covering the world still faintly remained.

The Alliance was still pushing through the thick, ominous energy, moving northward.

Though utterly exhausted and drained, the commanders increased the pace relentlessly.

“This filthy energy mustn’t be allowed to spread! Don’t even breathe hard!”

“If you feel like you’re losing your mind, go to Richard the Saint’s side!”

“Hey, you bastard! There’s a madman right beside you! Send him to the Saint immediately!”

As they hastened their steps, some began showing strange symptoms.

They were grabbing the backs of their horses or suddenly slapping their own heads in incomprehensible violent gestures.

Poi—

Looking back from the front line, Richard clicked his tongue.

Perhaps it was due to extreme physical fatigue.

Those passing through the Demonic Energy were beginning to turn into madmen, one by one.

If the symptoms continued, they would become Demons.

“Avart!”

“Sir!”

From behind, a reply came swiftly to the call for the commander who had lost his leader.

“Send everyone I call directly to me.”

Richard opened his System Window and began calling out names one by one.

“Moritz! Aaron! Jack!”

As he called, more Knights dashed forward to the front lines.

What on earth was he planning?

The list of Knights summoned included not only those close to him but also many who had never even exchanged a word with Richard.

When Leo and the others, who had been leading the way, looked at him with curious eyes, Richard called out the last Knight.

“And… Avart.”

“Yes? Ah, yes, I’m coming right now.”

Avart, who surely did not expect to be summoned, hurried forward.

Soon, six Knights were lined up around Richard, each mounted on horseback.

“You are now Paladins.”

Richard spoke the surprising news.

The summoned Knights widened their eyes.

Some showed expressions of overwhelming emotion, while others looked uncertain.

“Though, it doesn’t feel like anything has really changed…”

“Moritz.”

A Knight lowered his voice, and Richard called his brother.

Moritz nodded and drew his sword.

Vwoom—

Holy light radiated from the Sacred Sword, wrapped in pure white Mana and Holy Power.

It was the signature Holy Power Conversion of the lowest-ranked Paladins.

“You can do it too.”

Richard and Moritz began teaching them step by step how to use their power.

Since the conversion rate between their Mana and Holy Power was nearly half, they cautioned not to overexert themselves.

Uryong—uum—

Amidst the barrier of Demonic Energy, a soft Holy Power began to bloom here and there.

“Impressive. Such pure energy! I never imagined the day I’d witness the Mana Trait manifesting in my lifetime…”

“Oh! Hor!”

The Paladins were excited, their hands burning with the Holy Power they wielded.

It was touching to see those who had secretly envied the Mana Trait now able to use it, even if just a little.

“When exactly did we become Paladins?”

“When you were clinging to Polin Castle and screaming.”

Originally, Richard could only accept three lowest-ranked Paladins.

But just after the war ended, the Divine Power had risen, enabling him to accept six lowest-ranked Paladins.

Richard looked at the Paladins with burning eyes.

Gathered together like this, it felt new.

It was as if a Knight Order dedicated solely to himself had been formed, which made his heart feel secure.

He resolved to give the Paladins their first mission.

“Now, the madmen are going crazy because of the Demonic Energy. What should you, as Paladins, do?”

With a determined expression, he intended to encourage his comrades’ courage.

Richard believed that.

But that was not the case.

“Heh heh…”

The Paladins twisted their lips upwards.

Their expressions were a blend of smirks and prideful arrogance.

“This is ridiculous. This is why cowards can’t be trusted.”

“Our Paladins need to show some strength, right?”

“Hwaaah! What’s so scary about Demonic Energy? It just makes you yawn!”

They shook their heads and returned to the gaps in the Alliance’s lines.

They were too quick for Richard to stop.

Thunk, thud.

Among the men, white flames flickered.

It looked like they were jokingly turning on a light.

“Hahaha! Every time you call me ‘Paladin,’ I’ll light it up for a second!”

“Turn it off! You’re the kind of guy Hor would strip of his qualifications! You damn brat!”

Listening to the commotion, Richard sighed dryly.

He wanted strong, reliable Paladins, but they turned out to be nothing but sly rascals.

“I was a fool to expect anything else.”

These were grown men acting like children.

While grumbling, Leo quietly came beside him.

“They talk like that, but they’ll help properly.”

“I hope so.”

From now on, if a madman appears, they’ll be the ones to kick their butts.

“Quite surprising. I never thought the Knights would come to believe in the Saint like this.”

Suddenly, Leo spoke in a serious tone.

“Even if they are irreligious, they’ll be a significant help to you, Young Master. You have gained great strength. I sincerely congratulate you.”

Gained great strength.

They would be no small help.

For a member of the Bartenberg Bloodline, such words were quite sensitive.

For an immature bloodline, strength was directly linked to the status of the family’s successor.

But Richard quietly smiled before opening his mouth.

“Why does Sir Leo talk as if the First Knight Order isn’t mine? Is it not my strength?”

Ha ha ha

A short, meaningless laugh.

No further conversation followed.

Because they already knew each other’s hearts well.

***

Spreading out, the castle walls appeared.

Blood that couldn’t be wiped away stained the cracked stones.

But for the Alliance, no castle was more meaningful.

Because it was a place they had risked their lives to defend.

“Waaah!”

In front of Riot Castle, piled with burnt corpses, the men shouted.

It looked like they finally felt the long ordeal had ended.

But what could be done?

The commanders shattered that mood.

“If you have the strength to shout, clean up the water first!”

“Damn it, clean up the bodies again! We can’t afford an epidemic!”

“What’s with the blood on the castle walls! The King will visit soon! Clean every trace of blood!”

The dreadful sight of Riot Castle, desperately defended, had finally become visible.

Under the relentless orders of the commanders, the Knights wore exhausted expressions.

Even I thought this was too much.

I was just thinking maybe they could rest a little when—

“Uh huh.”

Avart, Helga’s Division commander, gave me a look.

His handsome face scrunched up—was he expecting something?

The other commanders, who had been shouting orders, also looked at me earnestly.

“I see what this means.”

I realized.

I’d been oblivious.

“Stop moving! Leave the cleanup to Baren Kingdom’s soldiers! Don’t touch supplies that require management!”

“Y-yes, understood!”

The authority of the Deputy of Bartenberg is meant for times like this.

Amid cheers louder than those at Polin Castle’s fall, I decided to step up even further.

“Let’s have a banquet! If we saved the country, shouldn’t we at least get some meat and alcohol? Request food from King Barentis!”

“Oh! Yes, Saint Sir!”

“Horuuu~!”

Seeing the men happy like children, I unexpectedly felt proud.

A banquet is a banquet.

But I had other duties to attend to.

“Divine Power.”

Two new powers gained as a low-ranked Deity.

“Divine Revelation” and “Divine Sight.”

I intended to test them out.