Chapter 187
Chapter 187
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 187
Chapter Title: The Paladin Trial
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The name "Knight Order" was currently in use among players in Europe.
The guild representing the British royal family, Royal.
It was already a known fact that their sub-guilds used names like the Iron Lion Knight Order.
They also claimed to follow a certain code of chivalry because they used the name "Knight Order."
‘But how many among them could truly be called knights?’
In Go Yohan's view, they were not true knights.
The objects of their sworn loyalty were different as well.
England, the royal family.
Or the lords they professed to serve.
Or perhaps it was just a name they used because it sounded cool.
“…Knights?”
That was why the name "knight" had become nothing more than an empty title in the current era, devoid of any real prestige.
“Are you referring to those in Europe?”
Richard asked.
“Knights….”
But perhaps because the word came from Go Yohan's mouth.
Thump.
It somehow carried a resonant weight.
“Yes. Knights.”
Go Yohan said.
Then he closed his eyes for a moment.
‘I tried to forget the past and live solely as Go Yohan.’
The only thing he hadn't forgotten was the goddess.
He had realized he was no longer Michael, intending to live only as Earth's Go Yohan and judge demons.
But that wasn't the case.
‘Cheol Jung-bae, Yoo Seohwa.’
The connections stemming from Travania.
And.
‘Others as well.’
Another fact he had learned not long ago.
‘I can never discard my past.’
What he had dismissed as merely a past life was no longer just that for Michael.
He wouldn't discard it.
Neither the past nor the present.
‘Michael and Go Yohan.’
Both were simply himself.
That was why.
“They won't be ordinary knights.”
He would harmonize the two worlds of Travania and Earth.
“As I mentioned, the current players or those who call themselves knights have no sense of responsibility or duty.”
Go Yohan said.
“They exist solely for the benefit of their group.”
It wasn't different in Travania either, though he had once thought it his ideal.
-Knight sirs, please save us.
Recalling that past when they had prayed to knights.
“They will be called paladins.”
“…….”
At Go Yohan's words, Go Minji scratched her head with a bewildered expression.
But soon, her arm dropped with a thud due to gravity magic, making her grimace.
“I don't know what cringeworthy nonsense this is, but that's not the point.”
Go Minji.
“What's the difference? They're no different from other players, so spouting that will just get them labeled as crazies or a cult.”
The world's view of the current Republic of Korea.
Foreign media portrayed it as a reality dominated by the monster Go Yohan.
“It's different.”
Go Yohan said.
“Their power, their duties. And above all, what a paladin is….”
Go Yohan's gaze swept over everyone.
People who normally wouldn't meet his standards.
But because he had watched them for so long and been with them.
“It will be up to you, Noona, and everyone here to prove it.”
Swish.
As Go Yohan looked at Yoo Seohwa, she nodded.
Ripple.
And what appeared was, surprisingly, a gate.
“It hasn't been fully opened yet, but I'll keep the monster zone accessible.”
A part of the mage tower, one of its functions.
“Climb Babel. Up to the 50th floor.”
The Babel Tower was now open to the paladin candidates.
“…I don't get it, but.”
Go Minji said.
Had she ever truly understood Go Yohan's words anyway?
But the results had shown.
“Whatever, let's give it a shot.”
That Go Yohan was right.
And so the knight exam began.
*
*
*
-What the hell is this…?
-Mana…? I can't move.
-Weapons can't be equipped either?
The confusion of those entering the 1st floor could be heard.
The system had disappeared, but they could still use their equipment.
That had been a major pillar supporting the pride of players losing their power, yet now they couldn't even wield their gear.
Moreover.
-You bastard! Even here, crushed by magic?
Go Minji shouted at the fact that the suppression magic, which she thought would be weakened in the altered space, was still in effect.
-Don't use that word, bastard. Have you forgotten Yohan is our brother too?
-No, Oppa right now…
-Shh.
And before those on the holy side like that.
-Goblins?
Goblins appeared, rated as the lowest of the low-level monsters.
“It looks dangerous.”
At that moment, Yoo Seohwa, watching the entire scene on a large screen, spoke.
“Dangerous?”
“Go Minji seems likely not to properly recognize the current situation due to her belligerent personality.”
-Oppa, you're telling me to be quiet over something as trivial as goblins?
As Yoo Seohwa predicted, Go Minji stepped forward as if it were no big deal.
In her natural state, without armor or weapons equipped.
-Go Minji!
Go Woojin urgently called her, but it was no use.
The magic applied to them—Go Minji could move somewhat thanks to her desperate efforts.
Stagger.
Go Woojin still didn't seem accustomed to it.
“To Go Minji right now, goblins are…”
-Eh?
“A major threat.”
The goblin suddenly accelerated, thrusting its spear toward Go Minji's chest.
Go Minji let out a startled voice at the sight.
“It doesn't look like the picture you want will come easily.”
Yoo Seohwa spoke as if this entire situation was only natural.
“I was wondering what you meant.”
But Go Yohan was different.
“I recognize and respect you as a deity, but this is exactly why I don't revere you.”
“……?”
“Because you're under such a delusion.”
It was then.
Slash!
The sound of Go Minji's flesh pierced by the spear.
And at the same time.
Crack!
Explosive noises erupted.
“Though Noona is belligerent and hot-tempered, that's only one side of her.”
Yoo Seohwa couldn't tear her eyes from the screen glowing with light.
Go Minji, dominated by magic and unable to properly use mana, was no different from an ordinary person.
She was pathetically slow compared to the goblin, with no means to protect herself.
“Noona…”
-Caught it.
“Is one of the few I've seen with true knightly qualities.”
On the large screen.
Go Minji, riding on the goblin's back, clutched its neck in a bloodied state.
The startled goblin thrashed wildly, but shaking her off wasn't easy.
Crack!
In the end, its neck snapped off at an unnatural angle.
-Oppa, aren't you underestimating me too much?
Without a player's sturdy body, the wounds on her flesh must have been excruciating.
-Just some goblins.
Yet she spoke without even grimacing.
-If I were going to get taken down like this just from losing some power, I'd have to ditch the holy label.
She shrugged boastfully.
However.
“Do you really think so?”
Yoo Seohwa said with a faint smile.
Indeed, Go Minji had more than imagined talent in terms of martial prowess.
-Go Minji! Behind!
-Eh?
-Goblins!
At Go Woojin's urgent voice, Go Minji whipped around.
-You forgot they don't travel alone!
There, several goblins charging toward her.
As Go Woojin said.
Goblins didn't act as solitary individuals but as pack hunters in groups.
“You'll admit she's impulsive, right?”
A fierce battle was unfolding.
*
*
*
“Huff, huff.”
Go Minji spat out ragged breaths, covered in blood.
Beside her was Go Woojin, in an even worse state.
And.
“Ha! Thought I was done for.”
Dozens of goblin corpses as well.
In the end, they succeeded in overcoming the goblin pack.
Thud.
Go Minji collapsed.
“Minji!”
Go Woojin tried to support her, but there was no need.
Squeeze.
Go Minji somehow maintained her balance and stood upright.
“You really…”
“I need a break, so keep watch, Oppa.”
With those words, Go Minji lost consciousness while still standing.
“…All I can say is she's amazing.”
Go Woojin shook his head.
Though Go Woojin's state was worse than Go Minji's, most of it was goblin blood and flesh.
Go Minji had handled most of the fighting, while he provided support.
‘Yohan-ah.’
This place was a barren wasteland like somewhere in a gate.
But Go Woojin felt his youngest brother, Go Yohan, was watching them from somewhere.
‘I don't know what you want.’
The intent of throwing them, practically unarmed, into a monster horde.
‘New players.’
‘Knights.’
‘Paladins.’
New concepts.
‘The mage tower, Babel.’
Even this massive structure and facilities hard to comprehend with modern knowledge.
He couldn't grasp how far Go Yohan was seeing or what he wanted from them.
But.
-Remember this.
He recalled words his father, Go Jaehan, had called him aside to say in the past.
It was the day at the training grounds, crossing swords with Go Jaehan, when he declared he would pass the head of the holy house to Go Woojin.
-The holy house is family.
Young Go Woojin had been.
-To protect family, doing anything is what makes one the head of the house, the eldest.
Those words, which could seem like corny nagging.
-Yes, Father.
Go Woojin had quietly accepted them.
-Yes, that's why. That's why I chose you as successor.
That was the reason the weakest and most lacking in the holy house's bloodline could become its heir.
Grip.
Picking up spears from the fallen goblins.
Thrust!
He began stabbing them into the ground around.
“I'll protect you. Minji too, and you, Yohan.”
For his siblings who had lived in incomparable battlefields, in solitude.
“I don't know what you want from us, Yohan, but to stand with you, I'll do anything.”
He wouldn't give up.