Chapter 488
Chapter 488
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 488
Chapter Title: Demon Slaying
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-Puk!
-Puk!
-Puk!
-Puk!
-Puk!
-Puk!
"Grrrrrrrk!!!"
After stabbing it nearly two hundred times, the demon finally melted away completely. No being could withstand such a tsunami of brutal violence.
With the demon's annihilation, the madness vanished, leaving only black bloodstains at the scene.
"Lord Verde forever!!!"
"We dedicate this victory to the heavenly scales!!!"
"Waaaaah!!!"
The kindly smiling religious folk who'd shaken hands before departure were gone. They were true warriors, utterly consumed by violence.
Prayers and cheers echoed loudly.
"Hooray! The birth of the Park Guardian—no, the Scale Guardian!"
I shouted joyfully too.
The violence they displayed was pure hatred incarnate. People needed to hate that purely. Uncompromising, extreme murderous intent—that's what made them strong.
Thus, pure violence was utterly inhuman.
With a clear enemy, humans turn cruel.
"Hahaha! How about that? Satisfying, isn't it? This is our new execution rite! Once the demon is subdued, all present faithful share in the joy of its judgment! Of course, only when there's time."
Seeing my delight, Barkerel clapped my shoulder with a hearty laugh.
He truly believed he'd shown something great—and he had. No one would complain if demon scum were strung up like sausages, families and all.
"Impressive, right? Steadfast faith sharpens the blade. You saw it well, Katt?"
Claudy looked quite pleased too.
"Saw it perfectly. They've got a lot to teach."
"Hee hee, that's what I love about you, Katt—always learning from the good stuff."
Her mood uplifted by the savage lynching, Claudy wrapped her arm around my waist.
Meanwhile, the priests collected every drop of demon blood into their jars. Their packs were stuffed with canteens.
"Well, reliable folks. Seem like good people."
"Yeah. Who else to trust if not the religious?"
Even Winia seemed over her worries.
Anyone would sleep soundly knowing such savagely violent people were on their side.
"Alright, let's head out again! Great start! Surely Lord Verde's blessing. Brothers, remember! The heavenly gods always watch over us. Lord Verde forever!"
"Lord Verde forever!"
"Lord Verde forever!"
The unfortunate demon's utter annihilation skyrocketed the search party's morale. And so we resumed our journey.
Checking the map, we scanned surroundings to find the path.
We marched long, smashed any monsters that appeared midway, and during breaks, sat around eating while discussing justice.
"Indeed! Those were remnants of bandits worshiping the evil god Ezath! No one could stand by. We slew them all with righteous adventurers and Elise of the Radiant Cross Society! They screamed in agony till the end!"
As the mood warmed, I brought up the bandit subjugation we'd taken last time. The holy knights and priests listened intently, applauding.
"Such righteous deeds!"
"Radiant Cross Society... capable allies! Our gods and doctrines differ, but our ultimate goal—judging the wicked—is the same!"
"Carrying on the holy war where none see!"
-Wahahahaha!
As expected of the religious, they loved these murderous tales. Laughter bloomed, camaraderie sprouted. They shared their own bundles of relatable stories.
Judging heretics, personally executing city death row inmates, hacking apart roadside bandit gangs.
Even the most righteous souls accumulate stress from inhuman training and harsh doctrines.
These religious folk vented that ascetic stress by smashing the wicked. Their joyful laughter during such tales said it all.
Even among the wicked-hating faithful, some might recoil at killing humans.
Those would suffer immense stress from murder.
Yet the fundamental stress relief was also murder. So they eased killing's stress with more killing. A cruel cycle, but in this savage era, mercy and love held value—yet weren't paramount.
Only true violence and righteous hatred could punish evil and better the world.
Those fleeing hated duties couldn't become holy knights. Thus, they immersed in faith, fixing life's direction. Killing villains became their way of life, proving devotion.
-A world overflowing with villains.
By Hongik Ingan's will, punish the wicked.
"Amen! No mercy for bandits! They whine about hardship driving them to it, yet kill, rape, and enslave others! All must die!"
"Heh heh, well said!"
The talk veered from demon hunting to human hunting. Natural, since I'd started with that.
We finished eating around then and set off again.
Still far to go.
Push hard to arrive tomorrow afternoon.
"Darkie. I've always thought—you could be a holy knight. Already buddies? Impressive faith-sharing."
Winia said incredulously.
We shared stories and ideals, easy to bond. Surprisingly, I meshed well with the religious.
"Me, a holy knight?"
But I was half one already. What I bore on my shoulders was Fusion Confucianism.
"Katt as a holy knight? Sounds cool. You in paladin plate would suit."
"Heh heh, if this goes well, maybe a set of armor. But holy knights live at church."
"Oh, can't have that."
Marching on, sunset neared.
Position check: on time for destination. Smooth sailing.
"Time to set night watch!"
I went to organize shifts, but holy knights insisted guests like us rest fully—they'd handle. Good people. Graciously accept.
Quick camp with branches and cloaks, then us three bedded down.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Almost there. Extreme caution from now."
March neared end. A bit more, Hildegaard's marked spot. Terrain confirmed.
-Yin eyes.
A gloomy aura felt like hallucination from somewhere.
Fuck, too eerie.
Sudden thought: Hildegaard tailing me? Nonsense.
She's a wary succubus.
Anyway, trap or not reveals soon. If total bluff, nothing found—big trouble. That's why I shared stories to bond.
"Mm... definitely ominous vibe. No monsters from dawn till now."
Barkerel's eyes sharper than ever. With him, I checked map, pinpointed direction.
"Somewhere around here. Fled fast then, didn't scout well, but atmosphere matches."
"Got it. We'll find soon."
But if strong demons from that gate, trouble. Still, twelve pros here—retreat unscathed easy.
Battle-hardened veterans, every one.
"If demons spotted but victory unlikely, we retreat. Remember: justice-fueled sacrifice is noble, but today's goal isn't heroic death."
"Understood. Martyrdom ruins the mission. Live long to judge more wicked."
"Exactly. Say... interested in holy knighthood?"
"Heh heh, got my ethnic faith. Thanks, though."
"Pity. Without Mirkeshia, conversion easy."
-Rustle.
We stuck tight, alert all around. Heightened senses, wicked-sensitive instincts turned us radar-like.
They eyed birds flying, bugs crawling—like detection masters. Iron discipline. Religious folk poured violence when needed, otherwise cool intellectuals.
Religious get educated.
-Crunch crunch.
Autumn forest, yet vibrant greenery. Scattered maples pretty, but no time for that.
After near-hour search, short break, resumed—then.
"Map, please."
Handed it over. He studied, set direction.
"This way. Systematic sweep, not random."
"Wise."
No guide needed now—here's the target. I drew sword too.
-Flash!
Lead priest crawling hill raised hand, dropped low.
"...!"
Full stop!
Something beyond hill. Party hushed, hugged slope. We guarded below.
Demons nearby maybe.
Atop, Barkerel urgently beckoned. Found something. Scouts hid tree-back.
Claudy up first, I pulled Winia slow. All summited—then.
-Whooo...
"Holy shit."
Gazing hill's far side, I gasped.
"...Quiet. Seems that's the source of the ill omen brothers felt."
There: massive black gate, door-sized.
-Floating midair gate.
Spinning like black hole, spewing dark aura wildly.
"Kikikikik!!!"
"Hee hee hee!"
"Human realm! Human reeealm!!!"
-Groooar!
-Krrreeeeek!!
Not just gate.
Imps, lesser demons, high imps poured out nonstop. Emerging ones spread arms to sun in praise, then scattered afar.
-Hildegaard's intel true.
All small fry, gate-open incapable—spot on.
Reward secured.
"...That's the gate."
"Hell's door..."
Claudy and Winia peeked, stared.
"...Demons crossing. Oh, Lord Verde. How in the real world."
Barkerel rarely shocked.
"Annihilation possible?"
"..."
Silent, then: "Honestly, unsure. Attacking to close good idea. Return for larger force? More demons cross, gate might vanish."
Radiant Cross would charge blind, but he pondered deeply.
"But... need think time. First demon gate sighting in paladin life. Recon first, gather intel."
"Got it. I'll help."
"Thanks."
We regrouped mid-hill.
"Lord Verde... grant your blessing..."
Search party prayed softly.