Chapter 616: Abbot Noah
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 616: Abbot Noah
At Overdear’s words, Noah rushed forward.
"No! This is all my responsibility! You must not hold them accountable! I was the one who asked for help—they stepped forward without knowing anything!"
He cried out in a panic, his words barely coherent. Even though the tide of battle had turned, a single stray arrow could still end him. He was being incredibly reckless.
Encrid shifted his body to block any incoming projectiles, thinking to himself:
‘To say they stepped forward in ignorance... didn't I take the lead a bit too much for that excuse to work?’
Noah claimed they had acted out of ignorance, but it was unlikely anyone would take that at face value.
Having sprained his ankle at some point, Noah limped forward and spread his arms wide, standing between Encrid, Overdear, and the man who led the Heretic Extermination Priests.
Encrid stared blankly at the two men, who had finally lowered their swords.
Would he lose if he fought both of them at once? He wasn't sure. If he had to handle them entirely on his own, perhaps. But he wasn't alone here, and he didn't think his side was outmatched.
"I still have a 'Spring Breeze' I haven't shown you yet. Do not worry," Sinar said.
"I also have plenty of strength left from just watching," Luagarne added.
Behind Encrid, Sinar and Luagarne spoke in turn. He didn't know exactly what the elf meant by "Spring Breeze," but he took it to mean she still had plenty of fight left in her.
"Even if there was demon worship, that is my burden alone!" Noah shouted.
Veins bulged in his neck. His words, which might have been a futile cry incapable of persuading anyone, echoed through the crowd. On this continent, how many would actually listen to the plea of the powerless?
But what if that voice was not alone?
Someone took a step forward, standing by Noah's side. Then another. One by one, their numbers grew.
It was a monk who had been watching Noah cry out. Then a priest belonging to the monastery. Among them were priests who couldn't manifest divine power and martial monks who had mended their ways after the Seiki Incident.
A man with a shaved head stood beside Noah, his smooth scalp gleaming. His legs were trembling; he was undoubtedly terrified.
As they gathered, a crowd of about a dozen people eventually formed behind Noah. These were the ones who had helped him run the monastery. Some of them even pushed back a young monk who was trying to join the line.
The middle-aged woman who had pushed the boy back glanced at the remaining children. If her death could save them, wouldn't that be an honor? If so, she would gladly become a martyr. Even if the world condemned them as demon worshippers, if that was the price to save the children, she would bear it.
The woman stepped forward and spoke. "How could this be the problem of just one person? If there is responsibility, it lies with all of us."
"But not the children, nor these outsiders. We are the ones who did it."
"Abbot Noah, why do you try to stand alone?"
They spoke, their voices lending strength to the words of a solitary man. The way to give power to words is for people to stand by your side.
What does a king need to exist as a king? He needs those who recognize him as such and stand beside him. Now, by Noah's side, there were those who lent weight to his conviction.
"Why are you all doing this..."
Noah did not look at them with deep emotion. He seemed flustered, but after taking a breath, his frantic expression softened. When he spoke again, his tone was entirely different—it was calm.
His manner of speaking and his attitude possessed a power to command attention, in a way distinct from Krang.
"I do not know how to wield divine power. The Lord did not permit it to me. Therefore, I cannot stop you with force," Noah continued. "I can only pray. The responsibility lies with me."
Everyone listened intently. His voice was gentle yet striking, naturally drawing them in.
"This matter should not touch the hero from the Border Guard, nor those children who are still so young. Is that not so?"
They say divine power is light. But just because one could not radiate that light did not mean they could not be a priest.
Noah was a priest, and he was a protector. Even if these were the last words he would ever speak, he was a man who would not run if there was a reason to stay. He was someone who knew how to protect others with the shield of conviction he had forged within himself.
These people had done nothing wrong. They were not demon worshippers. Encrid knew this.
So, if those two—including Overdear—started spouting nonsense about demons, his course of action was already decided.
Encrid steeled himself. Becoming an enemy of the Theocracy? He would bear it. Becoming an enemy of the Heresy Purging Priests, known as fierce martyrs and fighters? He would bear that as well. What if the entire continent pointed its fingers at him? He would bear that too.
While receiving praise and cheers was pleasant, he did not live solely for them, nor would he abandon his soul for their sake. This was the pride and conviction of one who lived only for today, yet always hoped for tomorrow.
Amidst the chilling air, the Unnamed Crusader, who had joined them earlier, stepped forward. He felt the need to intervene to resolve the situation.
"Did you come because you heard the monastery worships demons?"
Demon worship was the ultimate heresy. The name "Demon Realm Holy Land Cult" signified exactly that. The sole reason for the Heresy Purging Priests' existence was to annihilate such threats.
"Or did you come to punish me for deserting?"
The Crusader was trying to give them a pretext. It was a roundabout proposal to offer his own life instead of starting an unnecessary slaughter, under the guise of military punishment.
The Leader of the Heretic Extermination Priests was a knight. He led an order that constituted a significant portion of the Theocracy's military power. It was difficult to read any expression on his heavily scarred face. Only the deep, heavy patience of one who had endured long suffering was visible.
Overdear, who had previously lost his temper and shouted "Fool!", pondered Noah's passionate speech for a moment before stepping forward. The Prophet, who knew how to seize an opportunity, saw this as a defining moment—an opportunity to decide where he stood.
"If you came for such a reason, then I believe my place has been decided," Overdear said.
Overdear walked over to stand beside Encrid and shifted his gaze. He had made it clear whose side he was on.
"The 'fool' I was referring to was that Apostle of Abundance over there."
Audin smiled faintly at his words. He had finally beaten Azratic to a pulp, leaving him half-crippled. Azratic had lost an arm and an ankle. No matter how much divine power a human possessed, they could not regrow a severed limb. Unless one was Frok, regeneration was impossible.
The arm was gone. The ankle was in a similar state—crushed and shattered by divine power beyond recovery. Even if flooded with healing, he would limp for the rest of his life. Audin hadn't done it out of malice; it was simply because his opponent wasn't someone he could afford to go easy on.
The scarred Leader of the Heretic Extermination Priests silently watched Encrid. He didn't even seem to be listening to the words of the Crusader who had been under his command. Blue eyes filled with light met dull, dark brown eyes.
After a brief silence, the Leader spoke.
"There is no one here so thoughtless as to frame a mere monastery as minions of the demon."
His tone was surprisingly polite. He continued, "I was late to realize that your words were correct, brother."
The Heresy Purging Priests were a peculiar group. They followed the Pope's orders, but if necessary, the Leader could wage war at his own discretion. They lived strictly to eradicate heresy. It was an organization created by gathering those who had lost everything—families, lovers, homes—to heresy. They were a collective of avengers and martyrs who fought knowing they could die at any moment. Their battles were always desperate, harsh, and brutal.
Though he was the head of such a formidable force, he bowed his head easily.
"Had I seen this monastery burn, I would have regretted it for the rest of my life."
These words were directed at his brother, the Crusader.
"Did you not come to punish my wrongdoing?" the Crusader asked.
"My brother, who walked the right path alone... I came to thank you for opening my eyes."
The Unnamed Crusader stared blankly at his Leader. It meant that the Leader, too, had come to save the monastery.
"So, when this is over, return to us."
"If you will have me."
Encrid didn't know the internal politics, but he could tell the Unnamed Crusader hadn't come with permission. He had forced his way here, yet the Leader spoke of gratitude instead of punishment.
He was an impressive man. Encrid thought so as he looked at him, and just then, the Leader looked back at Encrid.
"I must express my gratitude to you as well, Encrid of the Border Guard. Had it not been for you, I would have been too late."
"Since you didn't stop and kept moving despite being late, I don't think you were late at all," Encrid replied.
"Is that so?"
"That's how I see it."
"Will you allow us to clean up the mess we made?"
"By all means."
Encrid sheathed his sword and stepped aside. Unlike before, the sword Eitri had given him was completely undamaged. His will was the will of the entire Mad Knights.
"What's this? Are we just spectators now?"
Rem approached, and Ragna, who had manifested his "Wall" out of fear, trudged back as well.
"Did you see it? My Wall?" Ragna asked immediately, ignoring everyone else to address Encrid.
"Yeah. It was unrefined," Rem answered for him.
"I didn't ask you, you lucky barbarian."
"Who won by luck? Huh?"
Their bickering wasn't serious, so Encrid didn't bother to stop them.
"Sachsen."
Instead, calling Sachsen was the priority. Sachsen, having moved unnoticed, slipped from behind Overdear back to Encrid's rear. He had positioned himself to slit a throat if things went south, and since Overdear seemed the easier target, he had kept him within striking range.
Since everyone present was highly experienced in wielding Will, they could read Sachsen's intentions to some extent. That made it all the more shocking—until Encrid called him, no one had even sensed his presence.
"I suppose I will have to show you my Spring Breeze next time," Sinar said.
Ropode, Pel, and Teresa also returned, dripping with blood. Naturally, most of it belonged to the enemy soldiers.
"The two under Ropode's command have executed their orders," Ropode said.
"You mean the two runts under Pel's command," Pel retorted.
"Your older sister, who is superior to both of you, is still right here," Teresa chimed in.
Judging by their banter, none of them were seriously injured. Esther had already shifted back into her panther form.
"But why does it feel like everyone is talking except me?" Overdear remarked, watching the situation unfold.
Audin smiled and replied, "Old but quick-witted brother, why don't you just do your job?"
"Right, that's what I came for."
Overdear had already concluded that if he couldn't win Encrid over, he should simply stand by his side. He had no hesitation now. But even without Encrid, he would have protected the monastery. Seeing it in person, there was more than enough reason to do so.
Frankly, he was a little surprised. Overdear was a calculating man who weighed every option. He had even calculated sacrificing the monastery if necessary, but...
‘I almost did something I would regret.’
He had already witnessed the depth of Encrid's character, so there was no need to be surprised by him again. Instead, his eyes sparkled as he looked at someone else. He saw a priest, who supposedly couldn't manifest divine power, standing precariously and letting out a sigh of relief.
His name was Noah. Overdear knew that the people standing beside Noah were not the type to step forward so courageously. He had investigated Noah's monastery while saving Seiki, digging into the pasts of everyone inside. He had predicted their behavioral patterns.
In his estimation, the people standing by Noah's side should have shrunk back. But they hadn't. They had stepped forward to protect. Who was responsible for this change? Was it the Knight of the Iron Wall?
No, it wasn't.
"Is your name Noah?"
"Ah, Lord Overdear."
"Yes. Let us talk once this is over."
"If you're threatening him, I'll be right here," Encrid interjected from behind.
"Do I look like someone who goes around threatening people?" Overdear tilted his head.
"Weren't you?" Encrid retorted.
"What do you take me for? Tsk." Overdear clicked his tongue with a smile and turned around.
Now, it was truly time to do his job. He had to excise the rotten parts of the apple tree he had carefully nurtured. Even if he couldn't cut it out perfectly, this was a start.
‘From here on, it's a matter of time.’
Mull watched the situation unfold and realized she was finished.
"Damn you all. Overdear, is this your doing? Did you set this stage on purpose?"
Overdear was a master of manipulation, and Mull knew it. But for once, Overdear actually felt wronged. He hadn't set this stage; he had merely come to clean up the mess Mull had made. Encrid of the Border Guard moving was completely unpredictable. The Knight of the Iron Wall was a difficult man to read.
"You are not someone who can be reasoned with," Overdear said coldly. "If you resist to the end, I will send you to God's side. Kneel and press your foreheads to the ground. Then, accept the punishment God decrees. That is the final mercy I will grant you."
Overdear was not a gentle man to his enemies. The same went for the Heresy Purging Priests.
"Kill anyone who attacks."
The simple command was far more menacing coming from the Leader of the order. If Overdear's moniker was the Prophet, the Leader's was the Berserker. It was a violent nickname for a priest, but he lived up to it. He fought with madness, as did the priests under his command.
"Is it truly right for the Demon Realm to disappear? Why does divine power exist? Is it right for this continent to remain divided? Why does the Empire not move?"
Mull's final moments were spent spewing endless questions. Where did the gray power come from? If one had delved as deeply as Mull, they couldn't be ignorant of its origin. The gray light she radiated was corrupted, linked to the Demon God said to dwell in the Demon Realm.
Encrid didn't bother digging that deep. It was their business to handle now. Without Overdear and the Leader of the Heresy Purging Priests, it might have been difficult to protect everyone. Seeing how Noah acted, he looked like the type of man who would die first in his eagerness to save others.
He watched the end of the chaotic affair. Mull was unable to chant her fanatical spells; the priests did not allow it. One by one, the heretics knelt, and those who resisted were cut down. It could hardly be called a battle.
Before long, the sun began to set. As the light faded, the night that arrived felt less like a cold chill and more like a velvet robe, warmly wrapping around the survivors.
"O Lord..."
Noah knelt in a corner and offered a prayer.
Even before Overdear took notice of him, Encrid had known: a man like Noah was not destined to end his journey within the confines of a single monastery. He had a feeling it would be so.
And it had manifested exactly as he thought. Overdear would not leave him be.